Because of the rairness of this Assembly, the 25th day of Februar nixt was appointed to conveen on, and letters of advertisement was ordained to be send to every superintendant, whais tennor follows:
The haill brethren presently assemblit, having consideration not only to the bruit and sickness within this burgh, albeit (God be praised) there is no occasione of feare thereof, but also of the great tempest and storme of weather, thought to be universallie within this realme, alswell in the north as in the south, that through feare of the ane and impediment of the other, the Brethren, Superintendants of Angus, Mearns, and Fife, Ministers, Commissioners, and uthers, alsewell of these parts as of the west and south, might not compeir at this Assembly according to the appointment thereof in the last Sessione of the Assembly halden in July last, was thought meit to continow all actions whatsoever unreasonit and undecydit whill the 25th day of Februar nixt to come, and then to haue the haill brethren forsaids to conveen in Edinburgh be themselves, or giue any thing chances in the meanetyme, wherethrough justly they are impedit, thair commissioners sufficiently authorised: give the said day and place please not, the haill brethren or maist part thereof, to reason and conclude all actiones pertayning to the ministrie, to condescend and appoynt some other day and place, not only convenient for the ministers and commissioners of townes and kirks, but also apt for resorting of the nobilitie and privie councill, quhaise presence are very requisite for setting fordward the affaires of the Kirk; and therefore exhorted the saids brethren, ministers, and commissioners of townes and kirks within their bounds respective, as was appointit in the last Assemblie, to conveen in Edinburgh the said 25th day of February nixt to come, as the brethren of the West and South shall be in lyke manner warned thereto. Given in the Generall Assembly and first Sessione thereof, subscribed be the Clerk of the same, day, year, and place foirsaids.
[EIGHTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assembly of the Kirk conveened in Edinburgh within the Over Tolbooth thereof, the 25th day of February 1568(9), In the quhilk were assemblit the Superintendants, Ministers, and Commissioners of Townes, Kirks, and Universities.
As for eschewing of confusione in reasoning among the brethren convenit, presently, with ane voyce was present chosen Mr David Lindsay to be Moderator for this present Assembly.
Sess. 2a. Februarii 26, 1568(9).
The haill brethren conveint and assembled thocht meit that ane supplication be presentit to the Supreame Magistrate anent sic persons as hes receavit their benefices in Papistrie, payand now allanarlie their thrids, thinkand themselves therethrough dischargit of all further cure in the Kirk; Requireing at his Grace what order shall be tane anent sic persones. Item, Qwhidder it be lawfull to ane minister of God’s word having benefice, to sett tacks thereof to any particular persone within the parochine or without the same, and if ane law shall be made, that no minister shall sett his benefice to any particular persone.
Item, Ane supplicatione to be made be the Regent’s Grace for reductione of all benefices gine to any persone contrare the act of Parliament or Secret Councill, grantit in fauours of the kirk, or ministers of the same.