Sessio 7.
Anent the informatione made to the Assemblie by my Lord Paislay, in name of the noblemen interprysers of the lait actioune, giveing the Kirk to understand that the grunds moving them to that actione, simplie were, the danger they perceivit the Kirk of Scotland and religion into—the evident perrill of the King’s Majestie and his estate, and the confusione and misorder of the Commonweall; whereof, as they doubt not to feell good testimonie in their awne conscience, so wald they that the Assemblie sould schaw their good lyking of the same, and give ordinance to ilk minister, at his kirk, to lay out their good grund and actione to their flocks; exhorting all noblemen and uthers qwhatsumever, faithfullie to concurre with them in the said good cause, to the full prosecutione thereof: Qwhilk informatione being weill considerit be the Assemblie, it was thocht very meit and expedient, in particular, to inquire and voit of the saids perrills; and every ane of them was seene and perceivit to haue been to the haill brether, qwhairof the information is made, and be full consent and vote of the haill Assemblie, declaratione was made, that the haill brethren understand the concurrance of all the saids dangers:—And to the effect the King’s Majestie’s mynde also may be gatherit, touching the same, directione was gine to Mrs James Lawsone, David Lyndsay, with the King’s ministers, to passe to his Heines the morne afternoone, to reasone and conferr anent the saids dangers, and to open up the samen at lenth to his Majesty, and to report his answer thereanent.
Sessio 8.
Anent the conferrence of the brethren direct to the King’s Majestie: Report was made be them unto the said Kirk, That his Heines had confest that there was ane perrell to the Religion within this realme, and indirect courses runn to the hurt thereof, qwhairunto his awne perrell was joynit; for he esteimit his standing to be joynit with the standing of religione: As also he acknowledgit syndrie abuses in the Commoneweall before the late interpryze of the Nobilitie, and that all good men shall concurr of dewtie to take away the danger from off the Kirk, his persone and estate, and to the reformatione of the Commonweall.
Anent the twa last heads left unresolvit be the Noblemen undertakand the late reformatione; The haill Kirk, in ane voyce, agreit therwith, and ordained ane speciall act to be concurred therupon, and to be put in forme be the clerk, Mrs Robert Pont and Thomas Smetoune, to be presentit againe to the Assemblie at afternoone, that they may understand and judge thereof if the samen agries with the meaning of the brethrene.
Sessio 9.
Anent Bischops: Seeing the great sclander and offence to the whole Kirk of this realme, be their impunitie and oversicht, to the griefe of good men’s consciences: The haill Assemblie hes gine and gives Commissione to particular presbytries under specifeit, with all possible and convenient diligence, to summond and call before them, every one of them as they be particularly divydit in manner following; That is to say, the Presbytrie of Perth, the Bischop of Morray; the Presbytrie of Edinburgh, the Bischop of Aberdeene; the Presbytrie of Mernes, the Bischope of Brechine; the Presbytrie of Dundie, the Bischope of Dunkeld; the Presbytrie of Striveling, the Bischopes of Dumblane and Isles; the Presbytrie of Glasgow, the Bischop of St Androis—to accuse them, and every ane of them, all or pairt as they are guiltie, viz. of non-preaching and ministratione of sacraments—of negligence of doctrine or discipline—haunting or frequenting of the company of excommunicat persons—wasting of the patrimonie of the Kirk—setting of tacks against the acts of the Kirk—giving collation of benefices against the saids acts—and finallie, for giving sclander any wayes in lyfe and conversation; and after dew tryall, proces, and convictione, to put order to every ane of them according to the qualitie of their offences and acts of the Assemblie, betwixt and the meeting of the haill Kirk, as they will answer thereto.
Sessio 10.
Anent Colledges and Universities within this realme: It is considerit be the haill Assemblie to be maist expedient for the good and weillfare thereof, that certaine good men of meit qualities be imployit to take oversight thereof; and for that effect the Kirk hes gine commissione and power to their lovit and honourable breither afterwritten to concurre with such as the King’s Majestie and Counsell directs with them in visitatione of the haill Colledges within this realme, as they be particularly under devydit, betwixt and the last day of November next to come, and to consider how the rents and livings of every ane of them are bestowit and imployit—how the doctrine is usit be the Masters and Regents—if the same be correspondent to the act of Parliament—how order and discipline is keepit amang the students and schollars; and herein, as disorder and defectione is found, to take order therewith according to the act of Parliament: They are to say, Mrs George Hay, Peter Blackburne, William Chrystesone, Andrew Milvill, the Laird of Glenbervy, to visit the Colledge of Aberdeene; Mrs David Lyndsay, Robert Pont, Nicoll Dalgleische, Thomas Buchanan, the Lairds of Lundie and Culluchie, with Mr David Russell, Commissar Clark of St Androws, the Universitie thereof; Mrs James Lawsone, John Duncansone, Walter Balcanquall, John Porterfield, the Lairds of Keir and Greenock, with Adam Wallace, Bailie of Glasgow, the Colledge thereof; and what herein beis done be them, to reporte againe the next Assemblie.