[FORTY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assemblie of the Kirk conveint at Edinburgh, the 27 of June 1582; Qwhair there were present the Commissioners.
Sessio.
Exhortatione made be Mr Andrew Melvill, qwho was continowit Moderator unto the nixt Assemblie.
Anent the lang discourse made be John Durie, of his calling before the King’s Majestie and Counsell, his answer, and haill proces used against him: as also a charge to him this day, be the King’s letter, to remove off the towne; cravand in end the good advyce of the brether, qwhither he sould remove from his flock according to the charge, or remaine according to his calling, being allwayes readie to follow their determinatione, howsoever the brether thinks expedient to giue it: The Kirk direct David Fargysone and Mr Thomas Buchanane to the King’s Majestie, to understand his meining therin, and to crave at his heines, the performance of the promise made to certaine breither concernyng him; as also to lament unto his Heines the case of their brether of Glasgow, chargit to St Johnstoune, and to make sute for them to this effect: also ane missive to be direct to Johne Duncansone to concurr earnestly with them.
Sessio 2.
Anent the desyre of the Commissioners direct from the Councill of Edinburgh to the Assemblie, craving their counsell anent the charge given to the Proveist, Baillies, and Councill of Edinburghe, for removeing of Johne Durie their minister: The Kirk ordained Mrs James Lawsone, Thomas Smetowne, Andrew Hay, Robert Pont, David Lyndsay, and John Craig, to concurr with such as the Counsell will deput, the morne to consult, conferre, and reasone concerning that matter.
Sessio 3.
Anent the information made be John Durie, that certain brether, direct from the Councill of the Towne, movit to him, as appears, of good affectione, hes desyrit him, for avoyding of the danger that may fall upon his flock, to absent and withdraw himself a space off the towne privilie; desyrand him to understand the good judgement of the Kirk; protesting, for his awne opinione, that because his removeall may be prejudiciall to the commone cause, and his privie departing appear an accepting of the voyce upon him wherwith he is unjustly chargit; that without their counsell herein, his awn deliberat mynde is, to abyde it with the hazard of his life: And farther, sieing that his doctrine qwhairof he was accusit in councill, in force and substance was justified at his own Presbytrie, and be his awne session of Edinburgh, That the brether wald give him that testimoniall, that he hath travellit faithfully in his vocatione, no fault being found with him in his doctrine, or imput to his lyfe; as also, if it please God, that he be compellit to remove, that he may have liberty elsewhere to preache the Evangell, where it shall please God to give him the occasione of tyme and place for discharge of his awne conscience and calling:
The brether, after good advyce and deliberatioune, in ane voyce thocht it not meit that he sould remove off the Towne privilie, but abyde the charge to be gine be the Proveist or Baillie to him; and as to his doctrine, life, and conversatione, the haill Kirk acknowledget nothing in him but sound, trew, and wholesome doctrine, upright and honest in life and conversatione, giving him libertie in caice of his removal to preache the Evangell faithfully, where God shall offer the occasione, until the tyme it please him to restore him to the charge of his awne flock.