Exhortatione being made be Mr Robert Rollock, Moderator at the last Assembly, there was appointed upon the leets, Mrs Patrick Simpsone, David Fargusone, Peter Blackburne, James Robertsone, and Alexr. Wilkie; and, be pluralitie of votes, Mr Peter was electit Moderator hac vice.
Sessio 2a. Martii 8. Ante Meridiem.
Anent the Commissione given to certaine brethren of the North, for absolving of the Earles of Huntlie, Angus, and Erroll, from the sentence of excommunicatione, the Assemblie ordaynes Mr Peter Blackburne, in name of the rest, to give in in write, the haill forme of their absolutione, satisfaction, and the Articles injoynit to them in the last Assembly, to the effect the same may be registrat in the Books of the Assemblie.
Sessio 3a. 8 Martii. Post Meridiem.
Because there is no compt tane of the Acts of every provinciall Assembly; therefore it is statute and ordaynit, that, in all tyme comeing, every provinciall Assembly within this realme send the acts of their Synod made sin the Generall Assemblie immediately preceding with their Commissioners, direct be them to the nixt Generall Assemblie, to the effect the brethren of the Generall Assemblie may take tryall and cognitione, that the proceedings of every particular Synod be done decenter et ordine, and to allow or disallow of them as they shall think meet, and this order to begine at the nixt Generall Assemblie. Item, Because it was meint be some of the brethren, and found fault with, that such as uses to be appoynted Commissioners from the Synodalls to the Generall Assemblie, butt any reasonable causes, refuse to obey and accept their commission, qwherthrough it falls out oftentymes that at the Generall Assemblies there inlaks Commissioners from Synods: Heirfore it is statute and ordaynit, that every Synod shall chuse out them that shall be thought most meit to come as Commissioners to the Generall Assemblie, qwho shall remaine untill the last day of the Assemblie inclusive; and to the effect they may pretend no reasonable excuse in the contrair, and speciallie of povertie, therefore it is statute, that in caice the Commissioners that are chosen may not commodiously awayt upon the Assemblie upon their awne expenses, then and in that caice, the rest of the qwhilk number he is chosen shall contribute unto his expenses, according to the abilitie of their livings, under the paine of tynsell of the tenth pairt of their stipend; qwhilks Commissioners being so furnished be a common contributione as said is, shall repare to the Generall Assemblie, and remaine unto the finall end thereof, under the paine of tynsell of the tenth pairt of his own stipend; and in caice either the Commissioner or the Brethren of his Synodall, through not obeying every ane, their proces of the premisses respective, incurring the danger of the penalties above rehearsit, and yet refuse to make payment of the saids penalties, viz. of the tent pairt of their stipends, then and in that caice, they shall be suspendit from their calling and functione, ay and qwhile they satisfie the samen.
Anent the summons raisit at the instance of the Synodall of Fife against Andrew Arnot, minister of Scotlandwell, cravand the said Andrew, conforme to his promise, to make provisione for the kirk of Auchtermoonsie, one of the kirkes of the said ministrie: The said Andrew Arnot being callit, compearit and declareit, that he promised to make sufficient provisione to the said kirke, provyding alwayes he were releivit of the payment of his third, qwhilk he pays presently to Mr Robert Inchaw, qwhilk promise he presently ratified, and bound himself to make provisione for the said kirke immediately after the dissolving of the Assembly, he being releivit of the payment of his third as said is.
Sessio 4a. Martii 9.
The Commissioners appoyntit in the last Generall Assemblie for planting of the Townes of Edinburgh, Dundie, and Saint Androis, and such uther affaires, as at maire lenth is conteind in the said commissione, and callit to giue ane accompt of such things as had beene done be them be vertew of their commission forsaid, Mr James Nicolsone, in name of the rest, producit a Book, containing ane haill registre of their haill proces and proceedings since the acceptatione of their commission, qwhilk was publickly read in presence and audience of the haill Assemblie; and because there was some of the brethren that thought themselves grievit at certaine of thir proceedings, Therefore it was thought expedient that the brethren after following, sould cognosce upon the saids grieves and commissioners’ answers thereto, qwhilk both sould be given in write before them, and thereafter report to the haill Assemblie, what they fand therein; They are to say, Mrs George Monro, James Dundas, Robert Howie, Duncan Davidsone, William Dowglass, Androw Milne, Androw Lambe, James Robertsone, William Rynde, Archibald Moncreiffe, Alexander Lyndsay, David Fargusone, Robert Wilkie, William Cranstoune, David Spence, John Knox, Gavin Hamilton, John Hall, John Spotswood, Patrick Simpsone, Robert Darioch, Harie Lewingstone, David Barclay, Hew Fullartone, and John Welsh.
Grieves to be proponit to his Majestie.
1. To craue of his Majestie ane reliefe of this present taxatione to such of the ministrie as possesses small benefices within three hundreth marks, seeing they are not able to be sustenit upon the same.