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

Mr Thomas Dowglass was accusit for marriage of my Lord Errole and his spouse without his owne paroche, being ane of his parochiners.

Sir James Williamsone, James Logane, sometyme monk of New Abbay, excommunicat for profaining of the sacraments. —— Symsone transportit from Cramond to Strivilling.

Sessio 8^a. 7 Augusti.

Ane supplicatione was presentit be the parochiners of Endercharitie, cravand ane Pastor, qwho will not in their prejudice, transact with the patrone of their kirk my Lord Crawfurd, and sell their teinds over their heads, and that no persone be admittit to the said benefice bot such as shall interdyte himself either to the provinciall Assemblie of Angus and Meirnes, or then to the Presbytrie, qwhilk shall happen to try him: And they desyre ane commission to be given to the Presbytrie of Dundie to that effect, in respect non patet tutis accessus to the Presbytrie of Brechine, and the paroche is neirer to Dundie.

The Assemblie, after advysement heirof, ordaynes the brethren of the Presbytry of Brechine, or such as they shall direct of their number instructit with their commissione, together with the Presbytrie of Dundie, to concurr together with the Towne of Dundie to the tryall of the persone qwhilk shall happen to be presentit be the said Lord, and before they give him any admissione, that he be sworne and interdytit that he shall on no wayes sett tacks or make light of the saids complainers’ teynds to no manner of persone, without the speciall consent of the Generall Assembly had thereto, according to the acts of the same, and lykewise give his speciall consent that the said interdictione shall be published, utherwayes not to admitt him in any wayes.

In presence of the King’s Majestie, the Moderator exponit to his Grace three speciall articles, qwhilk the Kirk hes to crave presently at his Heines hand, viz. The ratificatione of the liberties of the Kirk;—the purging the land of Jesuites, Papists, Seminarie Priests, abusers of the Sacraments;—and last, provisione of every kirk of ane sufficient pastor ane sufficient living: To the qwhilk his Majestie answerit, That in all Parliaments, first the liberties of the Kirk are ratified. His will they knaw concernyng Papists and Jesuites, and how earnest he is to purge the land of all such. As to the provisione, he hes but his awne part: many moe hes interes therein; desyreing that they wald cause Mrs Robert Bruce, David Lyndsay, Robert Pont, and the Moderator’s selfe, to await upon the Councill for answering thereof, and conferring with the Counsell thereanent, qwham the Assembly nominat to that effect.

Humble Petitions of the Generall Assemblie cravit at his Majestie and Honourable Counsell.

First, That in respect that many things hes been promised before, and no executione following thereupon, that now performance may be thereof, and the speciall declaratione of the meine and performance thereof. Item, A ratificatione is cravit of all Lawes that hes been made for the weill of the trew Kirk, together with ane new act of Parliament especially establisching the Kirk’s jurisdictione, their Generall and Synodall Assemblies, Presbytries, and Discipline; and all acts made contrare to the libertie and jurisdictione of the said Kirk preceeding the date heirof to be abolisched: and qwhill ane Parliament may be had, the said act to be constitut in Counsell and Conventione of Estates, if any shall happen in the meantyme to be halden.

The purging of the Kirk and country of all Jesuites, Papists, Seminarie Priests, and excommunicats—ane law for repressing and punishing of the abusers of the holy Sacraments—ane law and meine whereby ministers may be possessed in their gleibs and manses, and peaceably enjoy them, and the contraveeners may be repressit and punished.

Ane order for them that were at the Bridge of Die: ane law and ordinance for keeping of the Sabbath: ane law and ordinance against them that troubles or hurts ministers gangand to ther kirks and executing their offices: ane strait law for repressing of the bloodsched and murder in the countrie and all the quarters thereof, and that the same may be purgit of the samen.