Jacobus Dux de Chattellarault,
Georgius Comes de Huntlie,
Archibaldus Ergadie Comes,
Willelmus Marescalle Comes,
Joannes Atholie Comes,
Willelmus Comes de Montross,
Jacobus Comes de Mortoun,
Alexander Comes de Glencarne,
Jacobus Commendatarius St. Andree et Pittenweme,
Joannes Dns. Erskin,
Mag^r. Robertus Richardsoun Thesaurarius,
Mag^r. Ja^{bus} Makgill de Nether Rankelour Clericus Registri,
Joannes Ballenden de Auchnoule miles Clericus Justiciarie,
Willelmus Maitland de Lethingtoun junior Secretarius.
Presentibus etiam Dominis subscriptis ratione Conventionis, viz.
Joanne Comite de Sutherland, Georgio Comite de Cathenes, Andrea Comite
de Rothes, Joanne Domino de Menteith, Joanne Domino Glammis, Hugone
Domino Somervell, Roberto Domino Boyd, Joanne Domino Flemyng, Georgio
Domino Seytoun, Joanne Domino Innermeth, Alexandro Domino Hume, Davide
Domino Drummond, Andrea Domino Stewart de Vchiltre, Jacobo Domino
Sancti Joannis, Joanne Magistro de Maxwell, et Jacobo Dowglass de
Drumlanrig, milites.][707]
[707] See page 309, notes 1 and 2.
The samyn day, forsamekle as the Quenis Majestie, be the advise of the
Lordis of hir Secreit Counsall, foirseand the eminent truble quhilk
appeirandlie was to aryse amangis the lieges of hir realme for materis
of Religioun; to evaid the samyn, and to stay all inconvenientis that
may follow thairupoun,[708] intercommonit with ane parte of the
Clergie and Estait Ecclesiasticall; with whome then reasonyng being
had, it was thocht good and expedient be hir Hienes, that ane generall
Conventioun should be appointed the xv. day of December instant,
whairto the rest of that Estaite mycht have repaired, and be the
advyse of the haill, ane reassonable overtoure maid and ordour taken
for staying of the appearand truble, and quyetting of the haill
countrey: Quhilk Conventioun being be hir Majestie appointed, and
syndrie dayis of Counsale keaped, and the said Ecclesiasticall Estaite
ofttymes required, that the said ordour mycht be taken and overtoure
maid for staying of truble and quyetting of the countrey; last of all,
in presence of the Quenis Majestie, and Lordis of Counsale foirsaid,
and otheris of the Nobilitie of this Realme, compeired Johne
Archbischopp of Sanctandrois, Robert Bischopp of Dunkelden, Patrik
Bischopp of Murray, and Henrie Bischopp of Ross,[709] and for thame
selfis _respective_ offered to the Quenis Grace, to be content of
Three partis of the rentis of thair benefices, and the Ferd parte
thairof to be employed[710] as hir Grace thocht expedient. And becaus
the certantie thairof was not knawin, nor yitt what sowmes of money
wald sufficientlie susteane the Ministrie and Ministeris of Goddis
worde within this Realme, nor yit how mekle was necessar to supporte
the Quenis Majestie abone hir awin rentis for the commoun effairis of
the countrey: Thairfoir, it is concludit, decernit, and determinat be
the Quenis Grace and Lordis of Counsale foirsaid, and utheris of the
Nobilitie present, that gif the Ferd parte[711] of the fructes of the
haill Benefices ecclesiasticall within this Realme may be sufficient
to susteane the Ministerie throw the haill Realme, and supporte the
Quenis Majestie to interteany and sett fordwarte the commoun effaires
of the countrey, failzeing thairof, the Third parte of the saidis
fructis, or mair, quhill it be found sufficient to the effect
foirsaid, to be tacken up yearlie in tyme cuming, quhill ane generalle
ordour be taken thairin; samekle thairof to be employed to the Quenis
Majestie for entertenying and setting fordwarte of the commoun
effaires of the countrey, and samekle thairof unto the Ministeris and
sustentatioun of the Ministerie, as may reassonablie susteane the
samin, at the sycht and discretioun of the Quenis Majestie and
Counsale foirsaid: and the excrescens and superplus to be assigned
unto the auld Possessouris. And to that effect that the rentis and
yearlie availl of the haill benefices within this Realme may be
clearlie knawin to the Quenis Majestie and Counsale foirsaid, It is
statute and ordanit, that the haill Rentallis of all benefices within
this Realme be produced befoir hir Grace and Lordis foirsaidis, at the
tymes underwritten; That is to say, of the Benefices on this syde of
the Month,[712] the xxiiij day of Januar nixttocum, and beyond the
Month, the tenth of Februar next thairefter. And ordanis letteris to
be direct to officiaris of the Quenis schirreffis in that parte to
pass, charge, and requyre, all and syndrie Archbischoppis, Bischoppis,
Abbottis, Commendatouris, and Priouris of this Realme, on this syd of
the Mounth personallie, gif thai can be apprehended, and failzeing
thairof, at the saidis Archbischoppis, Bischoppis, Abbottis,
Commendatouris, and Priouris dwelling-places, cathedrall kirkis, or
abbayis; and all Deanis, Subdeanis, Archdeanis, Chantouris,
Subchanteris, Provestis, Personis, Vicaris, and other beneficit men
whatsomever, thair Chalmerlanis and Factouris, personallie or at thair
dwelling-places, or at thair paroche kirkis, quhair thai suld remane,
to exhibit and produce befoir the Quenis Majestie and Lordis
foirsaidis, the said xxiiij day of Januar nixttocum, the just and treu
Rentalle of the availle and rentis of thair Benefices to the effect
foirsaid; and to charge the Prelattis and utheris beneficit men on the
yond syd of the Mounth in maner _respective_ foirsaid, to [exhibite
and][713] produce the just and treu Rentale of thair Benefices befoir
the Quenis Majestie and Lordis foirsaidis the said tent day of Februar
nixttocum, to the effect abone rehersit, With certificatioun to thame
that failzeis, the Quenis grace and Counsale will proceid heirin as
accordis: And sicklyk to charge the haill Superintendentis,
Ministeris, Eldaris, and Deaconis of the principall townes and schyres
of this Realme, to give in befoir the Quenis Grace and Lordis of
Counsale foirsaidis, the said xxiiij day of Januar nixttocum, ane
formall and sufficient roll and memoriall, what may be sufficient and
reasonable to susteane the Ministerie and hale Ministeris of this
Realme, that hir Majestie and Lordis of Counsale foirsaidis may tak
ordour thairintill as accordis: And farther, that the Quenis Majestie
and Lordis of Counsale foirsaidis may ryplie and digestlie wey and
considder what necessarie supporte is required to be taken yearlie of
the fructis of the saidis Benefices by hir Grace's awin yearlie rent,
to enterteany and sett fordwart the commoun effaires of this Realme,
agane the said xxiiij day of Januare nixttocum, that then it may be
proceided in the said mater, all parties be satisfied, and the haill
countrey and lieges thairof sett in quyetnesse.
[708] In Knox, the words are, "to stay the samyn, and to evit all
incommodities that mycht thereupon ensew."
[709] The names of these Prelates were John Hamilton, Archbishop of
St. Andrews, Robert Creichton, Bishop of Dunkeld, Patrick Hepburn,
Bishop of Murray, and Henry Sinclair, Bishop of Ross.
[710] In MS. 1566, it is, "to be content of the Two parts of the
rentis of thair benefices, and the Fourt part," &c. In MS. G, "and the
Third part to be employed."
[711] The words, "the Ferd parte," here, and also a few lines above,
were altered in the MS. 1566, to "the Thryde parte," but again
corrected in the margin to the original words. MSS. G, and L 4, have
"the Fourt parte."
[712] This name, The Mounth or Mount, was long applied to designate
the mountain pass in the Highlands, in reaching the North of Scotland.
In David Buchanan's editions of Knox's History, where the word occurs
it is rendered "on this side of the Water," or, "beyond the Water," a
rather vague description. The pass or road referred to led from
Fettercairn (in Kincardineshire) to Banchory, on the north side of the
Dee (in Aberdeenshire;) but here it may be considered to denote the
mountain range itself, usually called the Grampian Mountains, which
extend across the Island from Aberdeenshire in the north-east to the
west coast in Argyleshire.
[713] The words enclosed within brackets are omitted in the Register.
* * * * *
[The samyn day,[714] forsamekle as the wechtie and debateable caussis
standand amangis the lieges of this Realme, quhilk micht gif occasioun
of brek thairof, and inquieting of the hale estait of the samyn, for
eschewing thairof the Quenis Majestie appointit ane Conventioun of the
Nobilitie and Clergie of hir Gracis Realme foirsaid, to compeir the xv
day of December instant: quhilk being haldin, and divers tymes
continewit, comperit, Johne Archbischop of Sanctandrois, Robert
Bischop of Dunkeld, Patrik Bischop of Murray, and Henrie Bischop of
Ross,[715] and offerit as efter followis, That is to say, that thai
being restorit to thair Benefices and privilegis, and ansuerit
thairof, offeris to the Quenis Majestie for the space of ane zeir, the
Ferd part of the rentis of thair Benefices, to be employit as hir
Grace thinkis expedient: And this thai offerit, and na forder.]
[714] Namely, the 22d December 1561. This portion is not contained in
Knox: it is here inserted, as it serves to connect the preceding Act
with those that follow.
[715] See page 300, note 2.