Item, Our Souerane Lord, with auiss and consent of his said Regent, thre Estaittis, and haill body of this present Parliament, hes ratifiit, and be this present act ratifiis and appreves all and quhatsumeuir actes and statutis maid of befoir be our Soueraine Lord or his predecessouris, anent the fredome and libertie of the trew Kirk of God, now publictlie professit within this realme.
II.
Anent the Constitution of the Policie of the Kirk.[28]—5th March 1574.
Forsamekill as the present estate of the Kirk within this realme being considerit be my Lord Regentis Grace, and Estaittis now convenit, and how sen the alteratioun of religioun, albeit the libertie of the evangell hes bene inioyit in vnitie of doctrine, ʒit is thair not to this day ony perfyte policie be lawis and constitutionis set out, how the Kirk in all degreis salbe governit in decent and cumly ordour, qwhairthrow sindry inconvenientis hes followit, and ma are lyke to occur heirafter, gif tymous remeid be not prouidit: The Estaittis finding it impossibill that thay can byde togidder qwhill this mater can be exactlie avysit on, and put in forme, Hes thairfoir thocht meit and concludit, that Johnne Lord Glamyss, chancellair, James Archebischop of Glasgow, &c. Maister James Lowsoun, minister of Edinburgh, and Maister Dauid Lindesay, minister of Leyth, sall tak the panis to convene, confer, ressoun, and put in forme, the ecclesiasticall policie and ordour of the governing of the Kirk, as thay sall find maist agreabill to the trewth of Goddis word, and maist convenient for the estate and people of this realme: Qwhilks personis being for the maist part present, for the gude will thay beir to the avancement of Goddis glory, the Kingis obedience, and commoun weill of the realme, wer content to bestow thair panis for this effect, and to begin thair werk on Mononday the xiiij day of Marche instant, in sic part of the Palice of Haliruidhous as my Lord Regentis Grace will appoint thame to convene in, And swa to continow and abyde togidder frome day to day, qwhill thay haue anys drawin a forme of the said ecclesiasticall policie; qwhilk being endit, It salbe reportit, and schawin to the estaittis at the nixt conventioun, To the effect that than be thair aduise, a Parliament may be appointit, and in the same, the forme qwhilk salbe drawin, or samekill thereof as salbe found meit, to be ratifiit and establissit as a law.
III.
The Ratification of the Libertie of the trew Kirk of God and Religion.[29]—July 25, 1578.
Our Souerane Lord, with aduise of his thrie Estatis of this present Parliament, hes ratifiit and apprevit, and be the tennour heirof, ratifeis and apprevis all and quhatsumeuir actis of Parliament, statutis, and constitutionis, past and maid of befoir, agreable to Goddis word, for mantenance of the libertie of the trew Kirk of God and Religioun, now presentlie professit within this Realme, and puritie thairof. And decernis and declaris the samin to haue effect in all pointis, efter the forme and tennour thairof.
IV.
Act anent the trew and Haly Kirk, and thame declarit not to be of the same.[30]—October 26, 1579.