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

9. That all collations grantit be men that had no commissione nor ecclesiastical functione in the Kirk, nor of that place and countrie the tyme of the giving of the collatione, to be declarit null, and the fruits sequestred, at the least qwhill the persones claimand right be such collatione, be of new examined, tryed, and admittit, if he be found worthie be them qwho shall be appoynted to that effect, and authorized be this present Assemblie.

10. That the benefices of cure under prelacies, qwhereunto ministers are admittit, may be frie from payment of the first fruits and fyft penny, and may haue their signators of presentatione expede be the Privy Seall, in his Majestie’s owne subscriptione only, and the Secretars, without any payment or cautione found to the Thesaurer; and such poor men as hes alreadie payit or found cautione, for payment quhereof my Lord Thesaurer hes not already chairgit him in his compts, to haue the same refundit to them, or dischargit.

11. Seing the default of non-depryving the unworthie, culpable, and non-resident ministers proceeds of this, that sundrie of the bischops hes been negligent in syndrie places; in some wther parts there is no bischops or commissioners, and so the acts are not execute: the Books of Modification, full of such persones as haue never schawne themselves as ministers; That, therefore, ane commissione be gine to ane or ma qualified persons, ministers, to sit in Edinburgh, and call the non-residents and wthers delatit to be worthy of depryvatione, or depryvit, qwhere there may be consultatione of learnit men had, and the proces may be led without boast or fear.

12. It is heavilie complainit be many poor men, ministers and readers, having personages and viccarages assignit to them for their stipends, that they are exorbitantly and ungodlie used in taxationes, their benefice being lang syne decayed through the want of corps-presents, wpmost cloathes, peace fies, offerands, and such lyke things, wswallie payit in tyme of papistrie, qwhilks was the principall rents of many personages and viccarages; and that they must pay the extreamitie of the old taxatione according to the rate as rentalls war then, at least without any reliefe, qwhair the most part of the prelates exemit from preaching or service in the Kirk, gets the haile relief of the poor feuars and vassalls, and that therefore there may be found more equitable order of taxatione appoyntit for the tyme to come.

13. That it will please his Grace to cause consider what prelacies hes vaiked since the act of Parliament made in October 1581, and that speciall assignatione be made for sustaining the ministers of the Kirk belanging to them, of the readiest fruits of the same Kirks, wtherwayes the provisione according to the act to be declairit null.

14. That the Bischops, Commissioners of Argyll, and of the Isles, may be subject to attend upon the Assemblies Generall, and to keep their exercises and Synodall Assemblies, as in wther parts of this realme, whilks is ane furtherance to the King’s Majestie’s obedience, wtherwayes they appear as exeimit out of his dominione.

15. That his Majestie now yet give directione to some persones of experience and good will, to searche, enquire, and try the trew estate of the rentalls of all prelacies and wther benefices, at this present, and in qwhaise default, and be qwhat occasione they are so hurt and dismemberit, that thereafter the best remedies that is possible may be considerit and provydit, for helping of them hereafter, both for the weill of the King and the Kirk.

16. That his Majesty will cause the Lords of Sessione declare, whither his Grace or the Earle of Orknay hes right to the patronages of the benefices of Orknay and Zetland, to the effect that titles of benefices conferrit to poor men, ministers, be not ay in danger of annulling, upon incertaintie of the right of the patronage.

17. That no persons or stipends be put in the Book of Modificatione, but such as the Commissioners of the Kirk shall affirme and testifie upon their truth to be qualified persones, and actually making residence at their Kirks.