And that they give their advyce how the remanent kirks, whereunto ministers cannot be had presently, may be servit, qwhill mair ministers may be had, and that the present auld possessors of the benefices be departit this life.
That they give us thair opinione and advyce of that portione of the rents pertayning to the kirks before the alteratione of Religion, qwhilk they think shall fall to us in case all benefices were now vaikand; and in the meine tyme qwhill they be, qwhat We shall have yearlie for the supporte of our estate and publick affaires of our realme.
That they consider the forme and proceeding, how the taxt for the speciall meins pairt shall be payit in tyme cuming.
As also to make us some licklie and good overture for the personages that shall occupy the place of the speciall estate in our Parliament in tymes cuming, after the decease of the present possessors of the place, in respect of the greit decay of the rents thereof.
That they send us their good advyce how ane forme of Judgement may be established, qwhill a Parliament, for calling of persones provydit to benefices sen our coronatione, to be depryvit therefrae upon the clauses irritant conteinit in their provisiones, for not doing their dewties in their vocationes, but leaving their charges and medleing with their secular benefices.
That the Assemblie giue their advyce upon the forme of presentation that We shall giue to these to be provydit to benefices, if this order take effect; qwhom to our presentatione shall be direct; qwhat shall be the forme and order of the tryall; and how shall the persone presentit be tryit, and what forme of admissione or collatione?
For ane grund thir heads are to be considerit.
That besyde the Diocie of Argyll and the Isles, of qwhilks boundes never rentalls war yet gine up, there is in Scotland about nyne hundred and twenty-four kirks, countand fyve score to the hundreth. Of thir, syndrie are pendicles and small parochines, and many kirks demolischit. Some parochines also are of greater bounds nor the parochiners may conveniently conveine to their paroche kirks. It lies bein thocht meit, therefore, to reduce thir nyne hundreth and twenty-four kirks to vjc. and at every kirk to have ane minister, their stipend and living to be in four degrees.
Ane hundreth at 500 merks the piece.
Ane hundreth at 300 merks the piece.
Ane hundreth at 100 punds the piece.
Ane hundreth at 100 merks the piece.
Or somewhat mair or less, as it may be neir thir soumes, beneath or above; all stipends and livings to be modified according to the possibilitie of the rent in that place. Thir considerationes are to be taken in, although all the benefices were presently vaikand.