Sessio 15.
Ane letter being direct be John Duncansone, bearing the King’s command to the Bischope, for delyverance of the books, at leist four of them, and that Mr George Young was stayit qwhill the saids books should be delyverit: The Kirk immediatly directit Mrs James Nicolsone and Alexander Rawsone to my Lord Secretar, to the effect the samen might be presentit; and, after their directione, and reiterat direction of their breither, Mr Andrew Melvill and David Lyndsay, Maister George Young presentit to the sicht of the Kirk ffyve volumnes of their Acts, whereof a great pairt being mankit; and, after the sicht thereof, being redelyverit to the said Mr George: The haill brethren ordaynit ane heavie regrate to be made to his Majestie, in article, lamenting the away-taking and mutilating of the saids books, and to crave that the samen may be restorit; and also, that the saids books may be delyverit in the Kirk’s hands, to remain with them as their awne Register; namely, in respect of the answer returnit from my Lord Secretar, that his Majestie’s will was, that the Kirk sould have inspectione thereof as they have had adoe presentlie, and giue them up again.
Ane letter approvit be the Assemblie, and direct to his Majestie, anent Mr Robert Pont’s matter: tennor thereof:—
Sir,—Let it pleise your Heines; We have receavit your letter willing us to elect Mr Robert Pont to the Bishoprick of Caithness, vaickand be decease of umquhile Robert Earle of Marche, your Heines’ uncle. We praise God that your Majestie hes ane good opinione and estimatione of such a persone as we judge the said Mr Robert to be, qwham we acknawledge indeed alreadie to be a Bischope according to the doctrine of St Paull, and qualified to use the functione of ane pastor and minister at the kirk of Dornoche, or any uther Kirk within your realme, qwhan he is lawfully callit, and worthy to have ane competent living appoyntit to him therefore; as also to use the office of a Commissioner or Visitor in the boundes of Caithnes, if he be burdenit therewith. But as to that corrupt estate or office of them who hes been termit Bischops heretofore, we find it not agreeable to the word of God, and it hes been damnit in diverse uthers our Assemblies; naither is the said Mr Robert willing to attempt the samen in that manner: the qwhilk thocht good to signifie unto your Majestie, for answer unto your Heines’ letter of nominatione, and have ordaynit our breither to be appoyntit Commissioners to awaite upon the nixt Parliament, to conferr with your Heines and Counsell, if neid beis, heirupone. This, after offering our humble obedience, we earnestlie wische the Spirit of the Lord to assist your Heines in all godlie affaires. From our Generall Assemblie, the 28th of Junii 1587.
In respect of diverse conclusions of before, with the daily practise and examples sinsyne, the questione being reasonit de novo, If suspensione of ane minister from the functione of the ministrie for a tyme, for just causes, be repugnant to the word of God, or no?
It is found that the samen agries with the word of God and his scriptures, and therefore the acts made thereanent before, to stand in full strength, and not to be callit back againe in any wayes.
Sessio 16.
It is concludit that all pastors, of qwhatsomever sort they be, shall be subject to the censures and tryell of their breither, alsweill of the Presbytries as Synodall and Generall Assemblies, concernyng their lyfe, conversatione and doctrine; and such as refuises the tryell and censure, that the saids Presbytries, Synodall and Generall Assemblies, proceed against them.
John Erskine of Dune, Mrs Robert Pont, Andrew Melvill, David Lyndsay, Thomas Buchanane, Andrew Hay, Robert Bruce, John Robertsone, Alexander Lawsone, Robert Grahame, Patrick Gallaway, David Fargysone, Nicoll Dalgleische, John Porterfield, James Andersone, John Duncansone, Adam Johnstone, Walter Balcanquall, Andrew Clayhills, and John Brand, or any thirtiene of them, were ordaynit Commissioners to the Parliament.