The quhilk day Forsamekill as the King and Quenis Majesteis hes
understand and considderit that the Ministeris stipendis quhilkis
necessarlie mon be payit furth of the thridis of the benefices
extendis to sic a sowme that the saidis thridis is nocht abill bayth
to sustene the chargeis of thair Majesteis hous attour the rent of
thair propirtie, as alswa to sustene the saidis ministeris. And
eftir gude deliberatioun takin how thai may be sustenit with leist
chargeis and expensis Thair Hienessis hes fund it maist convenient
and als with avyise of the Lordis of thair Secreit Counsall Statutis
and Ordanis, that in tyme cuming all small benefices personages
vicarages and utheris extending in yeirlie rentall to the soume
of thre hundreth markis or within as thai salhappin to vaik Sall
alwayis be disponit to sic personages as the Superintendentis
and Assemblie of the kirk eftir dew examinatioun sall find abill
qualifiit and sufficient And thaireftir nominat and present to
their Majesteis quhilkis being sa nominat and presentit Thair
Hienessis sall admit thame and be thair authoritie caus thame be
ansuerit of the frutis and dewiteis of the saidis benefices: Attour
quhensoevir ony bischoprik abbacie pryorie or uther prelacie that
hes the patronage of sic small benefices salhappen to vaik and fall
to thair Majesties dispositioun and presentatioun as likewyise
of all thame that ar presentlie vacand Thair Hienessis promittis
_in verbo Principum_ That thai sall alwayis retene in thair awin
handis the power and titill of the dispositioun of the saidis small
benefices to the effect abonewrittin And sall caus the personis
to quhome thair Majesteis disponis the saidis prelaciis and greit
benefices Consent thairto befoir thair Majesteis mak ony rycht of
the principall to thame And in caise it sall happin thair Majesteis
ignorantlie or utherwayis to gif or dispone ony of the saidis small
benefices be gift presentatioun or utherwayis contrair this present
act and ordnance and ony wayis prejudiciall to the samyn Thair
Majesteis expressitlie commandis thair Comptrollar present and
tocum his clerk and collectouris the keparis of the signet previe
seill and greit seill and all utheris thair Hienessis officiaris
liegis and subdittis That they on na wayis admit allow obtempir or
obey ony sic gift or presentatioun or to pas the samyn throw the
seillis Or grant letteris in the four formes thairupoun bot to hald
repute and esteme thame as previe writtingis purchest in defraud
and prejudice of this present lovabill act and publict ordinance
Notwithstanding ony charge or command gevin or to be gevin in the
contrair quhairunto thir presentis sall serve thame for a sufficient
warrand And sicklike thair Majesteis ordanis and requiris the Lordis
of Counsall and Sessioun on na wayis to admit allow or attend to
ony gift provisioun or presentatioun of quhatsumevir small benefice
of the valu abonewrittin disponit be thair Majesties Or utherwayis
quhair the samyn is repugnant or contrarious to this present act
and ordinance And nocht disponit to qualifit personis apt for the
ministerie examinat and admittit be the Superintendentis and kirk in
maner foirsaid And that letteris be direct for publicatioun heirof in
due forme as efferis.