Forsuameikle as the Kirk, considering their dewtie first to God, and the necessitie of the charge qwhilk is imposit upon them, seeing the daily decay of religione, and laicke of justice, qwhereof the effect is to the regrait of all trew Christians, mair and mair falls out in miserable experience, and that the dewtie of their office burdeneth them to discharge their conscience in this behalf to their Soveraigne, to qwhome chiefly it appertayneth to procure remedie thereof; Therefore directs their breither qwhilks war nominat before, to present the Articles to his Majestie, together with Mrs Nicoll Dalgleische, Patrick Symsone, Patrick Scharpe, John Malcolme, and David Fargysone, to passe immediately to his Majestie to lament the daily decay of Religione, disorder and laike of justice within this realme, to crave his dewtie, as he wald answer to God, qwhat to be done for remeid thereof, and grauely to admonische his Majestie, in the name of the Eternall, to have respect in tyme to the estate of the trew Religione perishing, and to the manifold murthers, oppressionis and enormities dayly multiplied through impunitie and laike of justice; and to discharge his kingly office in both, as he wald eschew the fearfull challenge of God, and turne his wrath aff his Majestie and the haill land: And to the effect his Majestie may be the better informit of the particular, to lay downe the same particularlie to him, and craue his answer, that they may report the same to the haill Assemblie.
Sessio 10a. Penult Maii.
Forsuameikle as, at the speciall desyre of the Kirk, ane Forme of Examinatione before the Communione was pennit and formit be their brother Mr John Craige, qwhilk is now imprintit and allowit be the voyce of the Assembly: Therefore, it is thought needfull that euery pastor travell with his flock, that they may buy the samen book, and read it in their families, qwhereby they may be better instructit, and that the samen be read and learnit in doctors’ schools in place of the Litle Catechisme.
Sessio 15a. Junii 2d.
Mr Alexander Dicksone compeirand, and being inquyrit if he had subscryvit the Articles of Religione, presently professit and establischit within the Reformit Kirk of this realme, and communicat at the Lord’s Table? Answerit he did, both in the Colledge of St Androws and after. Being inquyrit, in what heads he differs to subscryve? Answerit, he had sundrie heads qwherewith he agreid not with the Confession of Faith and Articles of Religione forsaid; wherewith being pressit with the Assembly, and that either now be word, or the morne be wreit, he sould be speciall, at lenth plainly avowit and protestit he differed from them in all the substantiall heids and poynts of religione qwherein the Papists contraverts with them: With qwhilk confessione and declaration forsaid, the breither of the Assemblie being advysit, ffand that he had committit apostacie, and therefore to have incurrit the paines thairof.
Sessio 17a. Tertio Junii.
Anent the supplicatione of Mr Alexander Dicksone, in conclusione offerand either to subseryve the Confessione of Faith, or within fourty dayes to passe off the realme, and to that effect desyrand to be freed from captivitie; The Assembly being advysit therewith, desyred the Baillie of Edinburgh to take order with him according to the tenor of the act of Parliament, and to sett him frie upon cautione.
Sessio 22a. Junii 6.
Anent the forme and order of excommunicatione to be used againes notorious murtherers: The Assembly hes concludit that the order containit in the excommunication be keepit and followit out according to the tenor thereof.
Anent the haynous and cruell murther of the Earle of Morray, committit be the Earle of Huntly and his complices, the brethren and Assembly present hes given and gives ordinance and strait command to the brethrene of the Presbytrie of Brechine, who hes already interit in proces with him, to proceed with concurrence of two breither of every ane of the Presbytries of Angus and Mearnes, against him for the said cruell fact, according to the acts of the Assembly.