[425] In edit. 1621, "The Head of the Superintendents." In edit. 1722,
Chap. VI.
Becaus we have appointed ane largear stipend to these that shalbe
Superintendentis then to the rest of the Ministeris, we have thocht
goode to signifie unto your Honouris, suche reassonis as moved us to
mak difference betwix preachearis at this tyme; as also how many
Superintendentis we think necessarie, with thair boundis, office, [the
manner of their] electioun, and causses that may deserve depositioun
frome that charge.
We considder that yf the Ministeris whome God hath endewed with his
[singular] graces amangis us, should be appointed to severall and
certane placis, thair to mak thair continuall residence, that then the
greatest part off this Realme should be destitute of all doctrine;
whiche should not onlie be occasioun of greate murmure, but also
should be dangerus to the salvatioun of manye. And thairfore we have
thocht it a thing most expedient for this tyme, that frome the whole
nomber of godlie and learned [men], now presentlie in this Realme, be
selected twelf or ten, (for in sa mony Provincis have we divideit the
hoill,) to whome charge and commandiment shalbe gevin[426] to plant
and erect churches, to set ordour and appoint ministeris (as the
formar Ordour prescribeth) to the contreis that sall be appointed to
thair cayre whaire none ar now; and by these meannis [your] luff and
common caire ower all the inhabitantis of this Realme (to quhome ye ar
equall debttouris) shall evidentlie appeare; as also the simpill and
ignorant (who perchance have never heard Christ Jesus trewlie
preached) shall come to some knawlege, by the which manye that now be
deid in superstitioun and ignorance shall atteane to some fealling of
godlynes, by the whiche thei may be provocked to searche and seik
farther knawledge of God, and his trew religioun and wirschipping.
Whaire be the contrarie, yf thei shalbe neglected, thei shall not
onlie grudge, but also thei shall seik the meanis whairby thei may
continew in thair blindnes, or returne to thair accustumed idolatrie.
And thairfore no thing desire we more earnistlie, then that Christ
Jesus be universallie once preached throuchout this Realme; whiche
shall not suddanlie be unles that by you, men be appointed and
compelled faithfullie to travell in suche Provinces as to thame shall
be assignit.
[426] In edit. 1621, "ten or twelve," &c., and "and should be given."
II. THE NAMES OF THE PLACIS OF RESIDENCE, AND SEVERALL DIOCESES OF THE
SUPERINTENDENTIS.
Imprimis, the Superintendent of Orknay: whose Diocesye shalbe to the
Ylis of Orknay, Sheitland, Caithnes,[427] and Straythnaver. His
residence to be in the Toun of Kirkwall.
[427] In edit. 1621, "whose diocesse shall comprehend the Isles
Orknay, Zetland, and Caithnes," &c.
2. The Superintendent of Ross; whose Diocesye shall comprehend Ross,
Suthirland, Murray, with the North Ylis of the Sky, and the Lewis,
with thair adjacentis. His residence to be in Channonrie of Ross.
3. The Superintendent of Ergile; whose Diocesye shall comprehend
Argile, [Kyntyre,] Lorne, the South Ylis, Arrane [and] Bute, with
thair adjacents, with Lochquhaber. His residence to be in [Argyle.]
4. The Superintendent of Abirdene; whose Diocesye is betwix Dee and
Spay, conteanand the schirefdome of Abirdene and Bamff. His residence
to be in Auld Abirdene.
5. The Superintendent of Brechin; whose Diocesye shalbe the hole
schirefdomes of Mearnis and Anguss, and the Bray of Mar to Dee. His
residence to be in Brechin.
6. The Superintendent of Sanctandrois; whose Diocesye shall comprehend
the hoill schirefdome of Fyffe[428] and Fotheringhame, to Striveling;
and the hoill schirefdome of Perth. His residence to be in
Sanctandrois.
[428] In edit. 1621, part of this sentence is omitted: it reads "The
Superintendent of Fiffe and Fotheringhame to Stirling."
7. The Superintendent of Edinburght; whose Diocesye shall comprehend
the hoill schirefdomes of Lowthiane, and Striveling on the south syde
of the Watter of Forth;[429] and thairto is added, by consent of the
hoill Churche, Mersse, Lauderdaill, and Weddell. His residence to be
in [Edinburgh.]
[429] See following note, page 204.
8. The Superintendent of Jedburgh; whose Diocesye shall comprehend
Thevedaill, Tweddell, Liddisdaill,[430] with the Forrest of Ethrick.
His residence to be [Jedburgh.]
[430] The words after "the Watter of Forth," in clause 7, are
transferred to this clause, in edit. 1621: it reads, "whose Diocesse
shall comprehend the whole Tivitdail, Tweedaill, Liddisdail, and
thereto is added by consent of the whole Kirk, the Merse, Lawderdaill
and Weddaill, with the Forrest of Ettrick."
9. The Superintendent of Glasgow; whose Diocesye shall comprehend
Cliddisdale, Renfrew, Menteith, Levinax, Kyle, and Cunynghame. His
residence to be in Glasgow.
10. The Superintendent of Dumfriese; whose Diocesye sall comprehend
Galloway, Carrik, Niddisdaill, Annanderdaill, with the rest of the
Daillis in the West. His residence to be in Drumfreise.
Those men must not be sufferred to leave as your idill Bischopis have
done heirtofore; neather most thei remane whaire gladlie thei wald:
But thei must be preachearis thame selves, and suche as may mak no
long residence in ony one place, till thair Churches be[431] planted
and provided of Ministers, or at the leist of Reidaris.
[431] In edit. 1621, "may not make long residence in anyplace till
thair kirkis."
Charge must be gevin to thame that thei remane in no one place above
twenty or threttye[432] dayis in thair visitatioun, till thei have
passed throucht thair hoill boundis. Thei must thryise everie weake at
the least preache; and when thei returne to thair principall town and
residence, thei must be likewise exercisit in preacheing and in
edificatioun of the Churche thaire; and yet thei must not be suffered
to continew thair so long, as thei may seame to neglect thaire uthir
Churches: but efter that thei have remaned in thair cheif toun thre or
four monethis at most, thei shall be compelled (onles be seiknes onlie
thei be reteaned,) to re-enter in visitatioun, in which thei shall not
onlie preache, but also examyn the life, diligence, and behaviour of
the Ministeris; as also the ordour of thaire Churches, [and] the
maneris of the people. Thei must farther consider how the poore be
provided: how the youth be instructed: thei must admonische whaire
admonitioun neidith, dresse suche thingis as by goode counsall thei be
able to appease: and, finalie, thei must note suche crymes as be
haynouse, that by the censure of the Church the same may be corrected.
[432] The words "or threttye," (thirty,) omitted in edit. 1621.
Yf the Superintendent be fund negligent in any of these cheaf pointis
of his office, and especiallie yf he be noted negligent in preacheing
of the word, and in visitatioun of his Churches; or yf he be convict
of ony of those crymis, which in the common Ministeris ar dampned, he
must be deposit, without respect of his persoun or office.