The Booke of the Universall Kirk of Scotland / Wherein the Headis and Conclusionis Devysit Be the Ministers and Commissionaris of the Particular Kirks Thereof, Are Specially Expressed and Contained.

by Unknown

Sessio 5.

Anent the act made in the Assemblie at Dundie against the Bischops beand, some difficultie appearit to some breither to aryse be the word of office conteinit in the said act, what sould be meint thereby: The Assemblie present for the maist pairt of them that votit and was present at the Assemblie in Dundie, to tak away the said difficultie and resolve men of the trew meining and understanding of the said act, declareit they meanit haillilie to condemne the estate of Bischopes as they are now in Scotland, and that the same was the determinatione and conclusione of the Kirk at that tyme.

The Laird of Capringtoun presentit the King’s Majestie’s Letter unto the Assemblie concernyng also ane Commission from his heines to concurr with the Assemblie, together with certain rowes containing the planting of the kirks, and the number of the presbytries, with the kirks of every presbytrie, qwhilk the Kirk ordaynit to be considerit be Mrs John Ross for Rosse, John Ines for Morray, the Commissioners of Aberdeene for Aberden, William Chrystisone for Merns and Angus, Duncan M‘Call for Dunkeld, Thomas Buchanan and David Fargusone for Fyfe, John Johnstoune and Mr Adam Johnstoune for Edinburgh, James Carmichel for Haddingtoune, George Johnstoune for Jedburgh, the Laird of Luce for Lanerk, Androw Hay for Glasgow, John Young for Dier, John Clappertoune for the Merss, William Duncansone for Gallaway, and to conveine the morne at sax houres to sicht the samen, and to report their judgement thereof to the Kirk.[22]

Mr Patrick Gallaway transportit to Perth, Mr Alexander Arbuthnott transportit to the ministrie of Aberdeene, and ordaynit to demitt the principalitie of the Colledge in the favours of Mr Nicoll Dalgleish.

Anent the King’s Majestie’s Petitioune presentit in wreite and exhibite to the Assembly this day be his Grace’s Commissioners, with the answer unto the Articles gine in be the Kirk unto his Heines, and the copie of ane Letter to be direct to the Barrones, Gentlemen, and Ministers, for unione and discipline of the Kirks, with the names of the persones to be chargit to take travells therein. The Kirk, understanding thereby the godly zealous meaning of his Majestie, praisit God greatly, that had movit his heart to have ane care of his Kirk; and first entering to the consideratione of the Answers made to the Articles of the Kirk, thocht good that thir Articles be insistit in at his Heines hand and Councill; his Honor and Councill to be earnestly desyrit to appoynt a Judge in Edinburgh to cognosce and judge upon injuries and wrangs done to ministers in executione of their office, and to punische according to the qualitie of the crymes, according to the forme of punischment to be gine in be the Kirk; and that his Heines wald appoynt Mr John Skeene procurator for the ministers that are so injured: 2^o, That an act of Parliament may be made concernyng the deposition of ministers, and the causes at lenth to be specified in this article: 3, That the benefices vaikand be disponit to the ministers where the benefice vaiks, if they be able, according to the meaning of them that conferred at Striveling.

Anent the King’s Petitions.

As to the first petitione concerning the forming of the Articles agreit upone in the conferrence, The Kirk appoynts Mrs Robert Pont, David Lindsay, John Skene, Thomas Craige, and John Craige, to that effect. As to the second, delayit quhill afternoone; as to the 3d, reasonable, and agreit upon: the haill rest referrit to the reasonyng at afternoone.

The Tennor of the King’s Majestie’s Petitions gine in be his heines Commissioners.

Instructions to our trustie and well-belovit William Cunninghame of Capringtoune, direct be us with advyce of the Lords of our Secret Councill.

To the Generall Assemblie of the Ministers of the Kirk convenit at Glasgow, the 20th of Aprile 1581.