That his Majestie wold command the Lords of Session to minister justice to the brethren of the ministrie that hes gotten any augmentation of their meine stipends or new provisione by the Commissioners appoyntit be his Majestie’s Commissione, the ’95th year, and that according to the Act of February 1567, as they are bound by their solemn oath and promise; and sieing the extraordinary dearth wrges them with so great necessitie, that unless his Majestie have a consideratione of their estate, they and their families will be driven to extreame povertie and want.
[SIXTY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assemblie of the Kirk of Scotland, halden at Perth, the first of March 1597, where there conveint the Commissioners from all Presbytries, according to his Majestie’s missive.
Sessio 1a.
Exhortatione there was nane.
Anent the supplicatione given in be Mr Thomas Nicolsone, advocat, bearing that in respect he was admittit clark to the Generall Assemblie, in place of Mr James Richie, last clark thereof, be seven of the Commissioners deput be the last Generall Assemblie, to intraite and conclude upon the affaires of the Kirk, qwhilk sould fall out and interveine before the next Generall Assemblie, that, therefore, the Assemblie now conveint wald admitt the said Mr Thomas to the said office, and corroborat his admissione with their authoritie: The brethren conveint, all in ane voyce, creatit and electit the said Mr Thomas de novo, and admittit him to be Clark of the Kirk; with power to him to use and exerce the samen, and all priviledge belonging thereto, also frielie as any clark might have done at any tyme bygane.
Sess. 2a. Martii 2o.
Anent the commission direct from his Majestie to Sir John Cockburn of Ormistoune, Knight, Justice-Clerk, and Edward Bruce, Commendator of Kynloss, with all expeditione, to repare to the Commissioners of the Presbytries of the Kirk presently assemblit within the Kirk of Perth, and to inquyre of them if they be ane lawfull Generall Assemblie of the Kirk, and hes sufficient power be themselves to give answer, treat and conclude upon such things as are to be proponit and intreatit in this present convention, according to his Majestie’s warrand and missive, direct to them be his Hienes to this effect, and to report their answer, in wreit, thereanent: The brethren present, after lang reasonyng and conference had anent the premisses, thinks that this their meeting is ane lawfull Generall extraordinar Assemblie, be reason of his Majestie’s letter direct to the presbytries and provincialls to that effect, and the presbytries’ and provincialls’ Commissioners given to meet in the town of Perth, and therefore are willing to hear what his Majestie shall propone, and to treat, conclude, and give answer thereanent, conform to the commissiones with the qwhilks they are authorized be the Presbytries and Synodalls.
Sessio 3a. Martii 2o.