It was our purpose to have included in the present Volume, a Copious Index and Glossary of obsolete words, and also to give a list of errata which we have discovered, arising unavoidably from the frequent obscurity of the MSS. and discrepancies in orthography, besides slips of the pen and the press; but on further reflexion, it appears expedient to combine these useful addenda with the Notes, which will be found the more satisfactory corrective of any imperfections in the text of the Booke itself.
APPENDIX III.
ACTS OF PARLIAMENT relative to the Constitution of the Church of Scotland, betwixt 1592 and 1638.
I.
All Ministers provided to Prelacies suld have vote in Parliament.
19th December 1597.
Our Soveraine Lord, and his Hieness Estates in Parliament, havand special consideration and regarde of the great priviledges and immunities granted be his Hieness predecessours, of maist worthy memory, to the halie Kirk within this realme; and to the special persones exercing the offices, titles, and dignities of prelacies within the samin; quhilks personnes hes ever represented ane of the Estatis of this realme in all Conventions of the saids Estates; and that the saids priviledges and freedomes hes beene from time to time renewed and conserved in the same integrity and condition, quhairin they were at ony time of before; swa that his Majesty acknowledging the samine now to be fallen and becummin under his Majesties maist favourable protection; therefore his Majesty, of his greate zeale and singular affection, quhilk he alwayes hes to the advancement of the trew religion presently professed within this realme, with advise and consent of his Hieness Estates, statutes, decernes, and declares that the Kirk within this realme, quhairin the samin religion is professed, is the trew and halie Kirk: And that sik pastoures and ministers within the samin, as at ony time his Majesty sall please to provide to the office, place, title, and dignity of ane bishop, abbot, or uther prelate, sall at all time hereafter have vote in Parliament, siklike and als freely, as ony uther ecclesiastical prelate had at ony time bygane; and als declaris, that all and quhatsumever bishopricks presently vaikand in his Hieness hands, quhilks as zit are undisponed to ony person, or quhilks sall happen at ony time hereafter to vaik, sall be only disponed be his Majesty to actual preachers and ministers in the Kirk; or to sik uthers personnes as sall be foundin apt and qualified to use and exercise the office and function of ane minister and preacher; and quha in their provisions to the said bishopprickes sall accept in and upon them to be actual pastoures and ministers, and according thereto sall practize and exerce the samine thereafter.
Item, As concerning the office of the saids personnes to be provided to the saids bishopprickes, in their spirituall policie and governement in the Kirk: The Estates of Parliament hes remitted and remitts the samine to the Kingis Majesty, to be advised, consulted, and agreed upon be his Hienesse, with the General Assembly of the ministers, at sik times as his Majesty sall think expedient to treat with them thereupon; but prejudice alwayes in the meantime of the jurisdiction and discipline of the Kirk, established be Acts of Parliament, maide in ony time preceeding, and permitted be the saids Acts, to all Generall and Provinciall Assemblies, and uthers quhatsumever Presbyteries and Sessions of the Kirk.