The Kirk having considerit the said supplicatione, Ordaynes their breithern to present or direct to the King’s Majestie, to schaw his Heines this pitious complaint—craving his gracious good answer therein; and farther, as the Assembly shall finde opportunitie, be their Commissioners’ travells, to be done for the weill and comfort of the nobleman.
Mr Robert Pont declared that, with part of his heritage and worldlie commoditie, he had proponit to sit downe in St Androws, and had served on his awne charges ane haill year, and could not have any equall conditione of living, no, not the least provisione that any had that past before, and now altogether his heart is abstractit from them—praying the Kirk not to lay the charge upon him against his will.
Sessio 9.
Anent the citatione direct against William Leirmonth, beallie of St Androis: The Assemblie, in respect of the said William his simple confessione, that he gaue command to Niniane Rule, to read publickly the sclanderous Letter against the Presbytery of St Andrews, in the paroche Kirk thereof, and of his humble submissione to the haill Kirk, Ordayns him, upon Sonday cum aucht dayes, to compeir before the congregatione of St Androis, after sermone, and before prayer, and there confesse his offence forsaid, asking God and his Kirk pardone thairfore, under paine of the censures of the Kirk, to be execute be the said Presbytrie against him.
Sessio 10.
Anent baptisme ministrat be laik persones, and such as hes no ordinarie functione in the ministrie of the Kirk: The Generall Kirk, in ane voyce, hes concludit the same to be no legall baptisme; and that these that in the pretendit manner are baptized shall be baptized according to God’s word.
Anent ministers that makes not residence at their awne Kirks: The Assemblie ordayns the Presbytries, universallie within thair awne bounds, to take order therewith, as they will answer to the Kirke.
Anent the proces deducit before the Presbytrie against Henrie Adamsone, burges of Perth, and approven be the Synodall Assemblie of the province: The whole Kirk, at length having considerit the proces and probatione led in that matter,—being weill resolvit and advysit therwith,—In ane voyce declares and finds the said Henrie, be his familiar and suspect behaviour to Jeane Thorntowne, spouse to Oliver Peblis, resorting with her in privat and suspect places, drinking and conversing with her, and utherwayes behaving himself not so chastly as becomes an honest married persone, as be syndrie circumstances in the said proces appeares, To have gine suspitione that he has committit adulterie with her, and thereby to have gine occasione of sclander in his persone: Therefore, ordaynes him, immediately after his returning from the Assemblie, to compeir before the Presbytrie of Perth, and there, with humilitie, unfeignedly to confesse and acknawledge that he hes gine occasione of sclander, asking God and his Kirk forgiveness therefore; and thereafter, upon ane Sonday to be appoyntit be the said Presbytrie, he shall compear in the paroche kirk of Perth, in tyme of sermone before noone, sit in the place of repentance in his common apparell qwhill the sermone be endit, and immediatly after the end thereof, and before the prayer, stand up in the said place of repentance, and confesse and acknowledge the sclander gine by him, and ask God and his Kirk pardon therefore, with promise in tyme coming to avoyd all sclanderous behaviour and suspition of any such cryme, under the paine of the censures of the Kirk, to be execute against him be the said Presbytrie.
Sessio 11.
Anent the difficultie movit be certaine breither, if it be lawfull to a pastor alreadie appoyntit and serving ane flock, to receave admissione of ane benefice appertayning to ane uther kirk nor qwhere he serues, and remoue him from his awne flock without licence of the Presbytrie qwhere he serves, Synodall, or Generall Assemblie: The haill Assemblie, after many reasones had on aither syde concerning this doubt, resolvit and concludit, That a pastor provydit and serving ane flock, laufully may not remove from his flock qwhere he first serves, without speciall licence obtaynit be him of his presbytrie, Provinciall, or Generall Assemblie, and inhibitand and dischargand all Presbytries, in tyme cumming, to admitt any persone elsqwhere serving, as said is, to benefices, without testimonialls and licence schawne be them, of the consent of the Presbytrie, Synodall or Generall: And if any persone beis fund, against the tenor heirof, to transferr himself without consent forsaid, The Kirk hes concludit and decernit him to be deposed from his functione and calling of the ministrie in all tyme cuming.