1561, Dec. 22.--Act of Convention of Estates.
_Sederunt apud Edinburgh, xxij. Decembris Anno lxj^{o.}_
The samyn day, forsamekle as the Quenis Majestie, be the advyse of
the Lords of hir Secreit Counsale, foirseand the eminent truble
quhilk appeirandlie wes to ryis amangis the lieges of hir realme
for materis of religioun, to evaid the samyn, and to stay all
inconuenientis that may follow thairupon, intercomonit with ane part
of the clergie and stait ecclesiasticall, with quhome than ressoning
being had, it was thot gude and expedient be hir hienes that ane
generall conventioun suld be appointit the xv. day of December
instant, quhairto the rest of that estate myt have repairit, and
be the avise of the hale ane ressonable overture maid, and ordoure
takin for staying of the apperand truble, and quieting of the hale
countrey: Quhilk conuentioun being be her Maiestie appointit, and
sindrie dayis of counsale keepit, and the said ecclesiasticall
estait oftymes requirit that the said ordoure myt be takin, and
overture maid, for staying of truble and quieting of the cuntrie:
Last of all, in presence of the Quenis Maiestie and Lords of Counsale
foirsaid, and vtheris of the nobilitie of this realme, comperit
John, Archbischop of Sanct Androis, Robert, Bischop of Dunkeld,
Patrick, Bischop of Murray, and Henry, Bischop of Ross, and, for
thame selffs respectiue, offerit to the Quenis Grace to be content
of thrie partis of the rentis of thair benefices, and the ferd part
thairof to be employit as hir Grace thocht expedient. And becaus
the certantie thairof was not knawin, nor zit quhat sowmes of money
wald sufficientlie sustene the ministrie and ministeris of Goddis
word within this realme, nor zit how mekle was necessar to support
the Quenis Maiestie abone hir awin rent for the commoun effaris of
the cuntrie: thairfoir it is concludit, decernit, and determit be
the Quenis Grace, and Lords of Counsale foirsaids, and vtheris of
the nobilitie present, that gif the ferd part of the fruits of the
hale benefices ecclesiasticall within this realme may be sufficient
to sustene the ministeris throw the hale realme, and support the
Quenis Maiestie to interteny and sett fordwart the commone effaris of
the cuntrie; ffelzeing thairof, the third part of the saids fruits
or mair, quhill it be fund sufficient to the effect foirsaid, to
be takin up zeirlie in tyme cuming, quhill ane generale ordoure be
takin thairin, samekle thairof to be employit to the Quenis Majestie,
for entertenying and setting fordwart of the commone effaris of the
cuntre: And samekle thairof to the ministeris, and sustentatioun
of the ministerie, as may ressonablie sustene the samyn, at the
sy^t and discretioun of the Quenis Maiestie and Counsale foirsaid,
and the excrescence and superplus to be assignit to the auld
possessouris. And to that effect, that the rents and zeirlie avale
of the hale benefices within this realme may be clearlie knawin to
the Quenis Maiestie and Counsale foirsaids, it is STATUTE
and ORDANIT that the hale rentalis of all benefices within
this realme be producit befoir hir grace and lords foirsaid, at the
tymes vnderwritten; that is to say, of the benefices on this syde
of the month,[10] the xxiiij day of Januar nixtocum, and bezound
the month, the x day of Februar next thairafter. And ordainis
letters to be direct to officiaris of the Quenis shreffis in that
part, to pass, charge, and require, all and sindrie archbischoppis,
bischoppis, abbottis, commendatoris, and prioris of this realme,
on this syde of the month, personale, gif thai can be apprehendit,
and failzeing thairof, at the saids archbischoppis, bischoppis,
abbottis, commendataris, and prioris duelling places, cathedrale
kirkis, or abbayis, and all denis, archidenis, subdenis, chantoris,
subchantoris, prouestis, personis, vicaris, ... beneficit men, thair
chalmerlanis and factoris, personalie or at their duelling places,
or at thair parroche kirkis, quhair they suld remane, to exhibit
and produce befoir the Quenis Maiestie, and lords foirsaids, the
said xxiiij day of Januar nixtocum, the just and trew rentale of the
avale and rentis of thair benefices, to the effect foirsaid; and to
charge the prelattis and vtheris beneficit men on the zond syde of
the month, in maner respectiue foirsaid, to produce the just and
trew rentale of their benefices befoir the Quenis Grace and lords
foirsaids, the said x day of Februar nixtocum, to the effect above
rehersit; w^{t.} certificatioun to thame that failzies, the Quenis
Grace and Counsale will proceid heirin as accordis: And sicklyke to
charge the hale superintendentis, ministeris, eldaris, and deaconis
of the principale townis and schiris of this realme, to gif in befoir
the Quenis Grace and Lordis of Counsale foirsaids, the said xxiiij
day of Januar nixtocum, ane formale and sufficient roll and memoriall
quhat may be sufficient and ressonable to sustene the ministrie
and hale ministeris of the realme, that her Maiestie and Lords of
Counsale foresaids may tak order thairintill as accords: And forder,
that the Quen’s Maiestie and Lordis of Counsale foirsaids ryplie and
digestlie wey and considder quhat necessar support is requirit to be
takin zierlie of the frutis of the saids benefices, by her Grace’s
avn zeirlie rent to interteny and sett fordwart the commone effairis
of the cuntrie agane the said xxiiij day of Januar nixtocum, that
than it may be procedit in the said mater, all parties be satisfeit,
and the hale cuntrie and lieges thereof set in quietnes.[11]