Sessio. Eodem die.
Overtures for resisting of the enemies of the Religione and Estate of the countrie, alsewell forraigne as intestine.
1. First, That all sic that hes kythit action with his Majestie’s forfaultit rebells, and their knawne favourers and assisters, be charged to enter their persone in ward, thair to remaine ay and qwhill they find sufficient cautione that they shall not traffique nor intertaine intelligence with the saids rebells, nor any uthers enemies to the Estate or Religione, naither shall joyn with them nor make them any assistance in caice they repare within the countrie; and that they give their eldest sonnes or nearest friends in pledges for the maire sure observing thereof.
2. That the haill livings of the forsaids rebells to his Majestie be taine up exactly be his Majestie’s officers to be appoyntit for that effect, and to be employed upon the entertainment of hyred men for defence of the good cause against the enemie, and for bearing of uther charges necessare for the advancement of the said cause, as ane of the effectuall meanes to incourage all such as are knawne to be well affectionat to the cause, and to procure their aifauld concurrence to the uttermost.
3. That there be chosen in every paroche be his Majestie’s authoritie, and voite of the minister, session, and principales of every paroche, Captaines knawne to be most meit and of best affection, to conveine the haill parochine in armes monthly in mustures, and to sie that they be all sufficiently armit according to their abilitie, and trainit up in the exercise of their armes: and sicklyke that there be chosen Generall Commanders in diverse schyres and quarters of the countrie to conveen in armes at all occasions needfull, to resist all attempts and interpryses of the enemy, forraine and intestine.
4. That some substantious order be taken for bringing hame sufficient number of corsletts, muskatts, picks, and uther armour needfull, and that the same be brought and receavit off the merchants’ hands with expeditione; and last, that the haill cautioners qwhilk became bound for the good behaviour of the saids rebells without the countrie, be chargit before the Councill, and convict of the penalties containit in the acts of cautionrie; and that the saids penalties be imployit upon the sustentation of hyrit men, and uthers burdens needfull for the weill of the cause.
Sessio. May [March] 26.
Forsuameikle as the Toune of Aberdeene hes taken in purpose and labour in divyding of their populous congregatione, and hes made good progress therein to the good example of the countrie; notthelesse the wark remaines imperfect in a part, throw not divisione of the ald kirk be a parpatt wall, being very commodious and little expensive: Therefore the Assemblie direct my Lord of Kynloss to the King’s Majestie’s Commissioners, the Lord Sinclare, the Justice Clark; Mrs Peter Blackburn, James Nicolsone, Androw Melvill, to the Counsell of the said Burgh, immediately from the Assemblie, to exhort and request the Counsell to farder and perfyte the good beginning, and to divide the said kirk be ane parpatt wall: Quha returning back with the Baillies of the Towne, declareit that the Counsell, be reasone that this day of Law is not frequent, allwayes to the division be a parpatt, hitherto they could not agrie, being myndit to build the Tolbooth; desyrand earnestly the Kirk to request the Lords and Colledge of Justice qwho hes land within the burgh to contribute thereto: qwhairunto the Kirk agried, provyding they wald presently fall to the divisione be ane parpatt; ordayning the Bailzie to report the direct answer of the Councill hereupon, upon Munday nixt to come.