Anent the supplicatione given in be the parochiners of Twlliebodie, making mentione, That albeit the said parochine be ane auld parochine, separate from all wthers, having within itself the number of four or fyve hundreth communicants or therby, and payes their teynds to the Abbot of Cambuskenneth, who rigorously exacts the same; neverthelesse the Presbytrie of Striviling hes be their ordinance commandit the said kirk to be united to the chappell of Alloway maist wrangously, seeing the saids complainers, be ane anterior command of the said Presbytrie, not only re-edified their said kirke of Twllibodie, but also upon their awne charges furnishit ane pastor to the said kirk, lykeas yet they are willing to doe, notwithstanding that their teinds are most wrangouslie led away be the said Abbot, as said is; desyreing, therefore, their supplication to be considerit, and the said union dissolved, as at mair lenth is containt in the said supplicatione.
The brethrene of the Presbytrie of Striviling being callit to give a reason of this their union of the said kirk, answerit that the cause moving them was, First, That both the said paroches lay very commodiously to the said kirk of Alloway; Secondly, That the number of both the saids parochines wald make but ane sufficient congregatione; Thirdly, That there could not be ane stipend obtainit to the said kirk of Twllibodie, in so far that at the desyre of the saids complainers, there being ane pastor appoyntit to the said kirk, upon promise that they wald furnische him ane sufficient stipend, ware forcit, for povertie, to leave them; qwhereas be the contrare, be the union of the said two kirks, the Earle of Mar furnisches ane sufficient stipend to ane minister, resident at the same.
The Generall Assemblie having considered the premisses, ratifies and approves the union of the said two kirks, and ordayns Alloway to be the paroche kirk hereafter.
Anent the supplicatione given in be the Presbytry of Deir, makand mention, that qwhair the Laird of Phillorthe having erect ane Colledge upon the town of Fraserburgh, and agreed with Mr Charles Ferme to be both Pastor of the said burgh, and Principall of his Colledge, qwhilk burden the said Mr Charles refuses to accept upon him, without he be commandit be the Generall Assembly; desyrand, therefore, ane command to be given to the said Mr Charles to accept both the said charges, as at mair lenth is containt in the said supplication: The Generall Assemblie having considered the necessity of the said warke, and how the said Laird of Phillorthe hes refusit to sustaine ane pastor at the said kirk, unless he undertake both the saids charges, Therefore commands and charges the said Mr Charles Ferme to undertake and awayte upon, alsweill the said kirk, as to be Principall of the Colledge of Fraserburgh.
Sessio 8. Martii 22. Post Meridiem.
Forsuameikle as the Commissioners of the Synodalls conveint at Falkland, the 25th of July 1598, being of divers opiniones concerning the continuance of this commission that shall have vote in Parliament, qwether he sould endure for his lyfetyme, except some cryme of offence interveine, or for a schorter tyme, at the pleasure of the Kirk, they thocht good to referre the same to this present Assemblie? Therefore, having reasonit at lenth the said questione, after voiting of the samen, ffinds and declares that he shall annuatim give compt of his commission obtained at the Assemblie, and lay down the same at their feet, to be continowit or alterit therfrae be his Majestie and the Assemblie, as the Assemblie, with consent of his Majestie, sall think most expedient for the weill of the Kirk.
It is statute and ordaynit, that nane of them that shall have vote in Parliament shall come as Commissioners to any Generall Assemblie, nor have vote in the same in any tyme coming, except he be authorized with a commission from his own presbytry to that effect.
It is found be the Assemblie that crimen ambitus shall be a sufficient cause of deprivatione of him that shall have vote in Parliament.
It is statute and ordaynit, that every minister intimat this Generall Assemblie that the vote in Parliament is concludit be the Assemblie, and that nane utter speech in pulpit contrare the same.