Qwhilks answers the Assemblie allows of, and ordaynes them to be
insert in the books of the Assemblie.
The qwhilk day the Generall Assemblie havand advysedly considerit the
necessitie of appoynting Commissioners from this present Assemblie,
not only to await upon such affaires as shall be for the weill and
utilitie of the Kirk, but also to giue advyce to his Majestie anent
the halding furth of the enemies of the same, qwhen they shall be
requyrit be his Majestic thereto; Therefore the brethren convenit
in this present Assemblie hes giuen and grantit, lyke as they, be
the tenor heirof, giues and grants their full power and commission
to the brethren under written, viz. Mrs Robert Pont, David Lyndsay,
George Gladstanes, David Hoome, John Clappertoune, John Knox,
John Spotswood, Alexander Lyndsay, Robert Howie, John Hall, John
Caldcleuch, John Strachan, Andrew Knox, Gavin Hamilton, James Law,
Andrew Boyd, Alexander Dowglass, Alexander Forbes, Andrew Leitche,
Robert Wilkie, Patrick Scharp, Peter Blackburne, and Patrick Simsone,
with the King’s Majestie’s ministers, or any nyne of them,--Givand,
grantand, and committand to them their full power to plant such kirks
in Burrowtownes, as is or shall be destitute of pastors: Attour,
if it shall happen the King’s Majestie to be greivit at any of the
ministers for qwhatsoever enormitie committit be any of them against
his Hienes, with power to them, or any nyne of them, as said is, to
try and cognosce thereupon, and to take such order thereanent as they
shall think meit, to the glory of God and weill of the Kirk; and,
finallie, with power to them to present the grieves and petitiones of
this present Assemblie to his Majestie’s secret Councill and generall
Conventione of Estates and Parliament, if any shall happen to be, and
to crave redresse of the samen--_promitten de rato_.
The said day, the Assemblie, considering that the conventiones of
the people, especiallie on the Sabbath day, are very rare in many
places, be distractione of labour, not only in harvest and seed-tyme,
but also euery Sabbath, be fisching both of whyte fische and salmond
fisching, and in ganging of milnes of all sorts on the Sabbath day,
under the payne of incurring the censures of the Kirk, and ordaynes
the Commissioners of this present Assemblie, to meine the same to his
Majestie, and to desyre that ane pecuniall paine might be injoynit
upon the contraveiners of this present act.
Anent the overtures giuen in be the Commissioners of the constant
platt, with the qwhilk the brethren were ordaynit to be advysit:
after mature deliberatione and voteing, the Assemblie thinks the
second overture most expedient to be acceptit, bearing the provisione
of ministers to all prelacies, with the conditiones therein contenit,
as is above exprest.
Anent the planting of the kirks within the bounds of Annandale,
qwhilks hes been desolate continually, sen the reformatione of
religione within this realme, after that the King’s Majestie had
made declaratione of his godly intentione thereanent, how that
his Majestie was myndet to cause the barrones and gentlemen of
Annandale, at their compeiring before his Hienes, qwhilk will be
schortly, find sufficient cautione and seurtie for provisione of
reasonable and competent livings to every ane of the kirks within
the bounds of Annandale, and therefore desyrand that ane number of
qualified men may be provydit for to enter in the ministry at the
kirks within the saids bounds.
The Assembly ordaynes every ane of the Commissioners present to
give in the names of such persones qwho are vaikand within their
presbytries, and willing to enter in the ministry, to the effect they
may be exhortit and earnestly dealt with be the Commissioners of
the Generall Assemblie, qwho shall plant them in places they think
maist meet, for to accept upon them the cure of the saids kirks, how
soone sufficient provisione may be found out for them, and security
for themselves; and in caice that after all the discretione be wsit
with them, they then refuse to accept the saids callings upon them,
the Assemblie declares that they shall be counted incapable of the
functione of the ministry, ay and qwhill they meine themselves to the
saids Commissioners, qwhais calling and directione they refuised,
and be content to be employit in any part qwher they shall think
expedient; and in caice they be already actuall ministers, and crave
transportatione, if they refuse to be transportit to any of the saids
vaikand kirks, the Assembly finds that the liberty of transportatione
sall be denyit unto them, so that they shall remaine at the saids
kirks, from the qwhilks they crave to be transportit.
The names of those that are vaikand.
_Brechine._
Mrs Henrie Fullartone.
Thomas Hague.
Mr Dougal Campbell.
_Aberbrothock._
Mr Thomas Glover.
_Dundie._
Mr David Lyndsay.
Mr John Scrymgeour.
_St Androis._
Mrs Wm. Wedderburne.
Peter Bruce.
Mrs David Wilkie.
David Kynneir.
_Perth._
Mrs Thomas Ross.
James Ross.
Mrs Alex. Balnauis.
Patrick M‘Gregour.
_Merss._
Mrs John Spottswood.
John Gibsone.
Mr Wm. Struther.
_Irvine._
Mrs Robert Boyde.
James Montgomrie.
Mrs Mal. Hamiltoun.
Ro^t. French.
_Lanrick._
Mrs George Clidesdaill.
David Lyndsay.
Mr David Rodger.
Acta Sessione 6.
Anent the supplicatione given in be Alexander Stewart of Gairlies,
Provost of Dumfries, in name and behalf of the councill and
commontie of the said towne, makand mentione, that qwhere [be] the
transportatione of Mr Hew Fullertone, sometyme minister at their
said kirk, the estate of their congregatione is altogether desolate
in such sort, that for inlaike of ane pastor qwho should attend
upon their flock, and to caire the weill of their soules, they are
not only depryvit of the spirituall food and comfort of the word,
but also their towne is become ane seat of excommunicat Papists and
Jesuites; desyrand therfor this Assemblie to consider their miserable
estate, and to provyde some qualified men to be their pastor; and in
speciall, ane of the leits given in be them, viz. Mrs David Barclay,
Wm. Arthure, Alex. Scrymgeour, Wm. Watsone, or Hew Fullartone;
promising that not only they wald be reverent hearers of the word,
but also that they wald assist and concur with him that shall be
nominat to be their pastor, in the executione of discipline of the
Kirk to the uttermost of their power; as at maire lenth is containit
in their said supplicatione: The Assemblie, after voteing, hes chosen
Mr Wm. Arthure to be minister at Dumfreis, quham they ordaine and
appoynt to be minister at the said kirk, after incalling upon the
name of God.
The said day it was thocht good be the brethren, to be meinit, that
notwithstanding his Majestie’s good meaning and intention to have all
the kirks within this realme sufficiently plantit with ministers with
competent livings appoyntit for them, and albeit it was provydit be
the act of Februar, and approvit in Parliament, that all the thirds
of the benefices sould be applyit to the wse of the ministry ay and
qwhill the kirks were plantit, and that, pensiones given in prejudice
thereof should be null, yet be importune suiting, ane great part of
the saids thrids are disponit in pensione, to the great hinderance
not only of the present provisione of the ministry, but also of the
constant platt qwhilk his Majestic intends; desyrand therefore that
his Majestie were informit thereof, and tak such order that the saids
dispositiones made in contrair the said act of Februar should be
retreatit, and that command sould be given to the modifiers of the
platt of this instant year, to assigne out of the saids pensiones for
planting of kirks, notwithstanding of the saids dispositiones: The
qwhilk his Majestie maist willingly grantit, and promised to stay all
further giftes in all tyme coming.
_Item_, The Assemblie thocht expedient to adjoyne and nominat
wthers out of the number of the brethren to be adjoynit to these,
qwhilks were nominat be the Commissioners of Provinces conveint at
Halyrudehouse, the 15th of October 1560, out of the qwhilk number
his Majestie should make choyce of such as he should present to the
benefices vaikand. The names of them all are as follows: Mrs Robert
Pont, Robert Howie, James Nicolsone, Alex^r. Scrymgeour, John Forbes,
Gavin Hamilton, George Munro, James Robertsone, John Howiesone, James
Melvill, Andrew Knox, Patrick Galloway, Alex^r. Douglass, Alex^r.
Lyndsay, Robert Wilkie, John Spotswood, William Malcolme, Alex^r.
Forbes, John Knox, Andrew Lambe, John Clappertone, George Grahame,
Robert Bruce, John Carmichaell, Patrick Lyndsay.
Anent the request made be the moderator, in name of the haill
Assemblie, to his Majestie, in favours of Mr Robert Bruce: his
Majestie declarit that he wold doe in that matter be the advyce of
the Commissioners of the Generall Assemblie, and Mr Rob^t. be his
awne behaviour should give him occasione; and because Mr Ro^t. Bruce
had be his missive direct to his Majestie before his departure off
the countrie, as also by the ratificatione and farther examinatione
and explanatione thereof, in write, at Perth, the 26th of July
1602, declareit his resolutione of his Majestie’s innocencie, and
guiltiness of the Earl of Gowrie and his brother, and promised to
direct the people so farr as in him lay, from their lewd opinions and
uncharitable constructiones anent his Majestie’s actiones, namely, in
this turne; Therefore, his Majestie desyrit the determinatione of the
Assemblie, qwhither, if the said Mr Robert sould likewise make the
same declaratione in pulpit, according as it is at lenth sett downe
in the said missive and explanation thereof, at Perth, qwherof the
tenor follows:
Please your Majestie: Hearing that your Majestie was nothing relentit
of your wrath against me, and now being upon the poynt to schaw my
obedience to your Majestie’s last charge, I could not omitt this as
my last dewtie, to intreat your Hienes’ clemencie, and to mitigat
the extremetie of this intendit wrath. I am not ignorant that the
wrath of the Prince is the messenger of death; so that I crave that
the Lord for Christ’s sake may add his blessing and work effectually
in your Grace, as he shall see expedient for his own glory and your
Majestie’s perpetuall preservatione. Then to be schort: To schaw my
conformitie with the rest of my brether of the ministry, as at all
tymes, so now especially, to schaw my reverence to your Majestie,
and to clear my suspectit affections herein, I offer to give to the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in him, and through him, most hearty
thanks for all your Majestie’s deliveries, from your cradle to this
present houre. But namely, for that deliverie qwhilk he delyverit to
your Majestie, in St Johnstoune, on Tuesday the 5th of August, farr
above all your Majestie’s deserts, and your Majestie’s expectation. I
offer also to steir vp the people to that same dewtie, and attour to
divert the people so farr as in me lyes, from their lewd opiniones,
and uncharitable constructiones of your Majestie’s actions,--namely
in this turne. _Finallie_, there is no dewtie that your Majestie can
crave of men, without the manifest offence of God, and hurt of my
own conscience, but I will doe it with alse good ane heart as ever
I did thing in the earth: That if by any meanes I might testify my
good affectione toward your Majestie my Sovereigne, and to enjoy
my naturall air, and such wther comforts as the Lord hes given me
under your Majestie’s reign, qwhilk I most humbly crave of your
Majestie--beseekand the Lord to move your heart hereunto for Christ’s
sake: So waiting of your Heines’ answer in all humility, I take my
leave.--_Sic subscribitur._
Mr ROB^T. BRUCE.
And upon the back thereof, “At Perth, the 26th of June 1600.
Farther, concerning the heids within containit, I am resolvit of his
Majestie’s innocencie, and the guiltiness of the Earle of Gowrie and
his brother, according as it is declareit be the act of Parliament,
and therefore acknowledges the great mercy of God towards his
Majestie’s haill Kirk and countrie; in his Majestie’s delyverance,
for the qwhilk I thank God from my heart.--_Sic subscribitur._
Mr RO^T. BRUCE.”
The qwhilk, the haill Assemblie, after voteing, thought not onlie
reasonable, but also concludes that the said Mr Robert aucht to doe
the same.
Anent the supplicatione given in be Mr Robert Pont, minister at St
Cuthbert’s Kirk, desyrand, in respect of his great age, and long
travells taken in the Kirk of God, and continwall seikness qwhilk
followeth age, that he might be relieved from the ordinare burden of
teaching, upon condition that he shall substitute ane in his place
when as through infirmitie he sould not be able to teach himself: The
Assemblie thinks his sute reasonable, and therefore condescendit unto
the same.
_Item_, Because his Majestie declarit that he was informit that
sundry of the ministrie neglectit that part of their duty towards
his Majestie in not giving thanks to God for the wonderfull delivery
of his Majestie from the treasonable attempt at St Johnstone of
sometyme John Earle of Gowrie, and his brother, upon every fifth
day of August: Therefore the Assemblie statutes and ordaines that
in all burrow townes within this realme there be ordinar teaching
and preaching every Tuesday, in remembrance of the delyverie of his
Majestie that day of the week, and that every fyfth day of August
there be preaching within every paroche kirk within this realme,
to burgh and land, thankand God of his Majestie’s delyverance that
day of the moneth; and because the people in landwart parochines
cannot so easilie be conveint as in the burrow townes, therefore,
and for better convening, it is ordainit that every minister at
the landwart kirk shall, upon the Sunday preceding the 5 of August,
make intimatione to his parochiners to convene the said day in the
kirk with him, to give God thanks for his Majestie’s delyverance.
And to the effect that all ryotousness, drunkenness, and wther
filthie exercises, may be restrainit, his Majestie promised to
cause all insolencie in behaviour to be dischargit and forbidden
yearly, be open proclamatione, and magistrats to take order with the
contraveiners thereof.
_Item_, The Assemblie ordaynes that no marriages be celebrate early
in the morning or with candlelight, and finds lykewayes that it is
leisum to celebrate the said band of marriage upon the Sabbath day,
or any wther preaching day, as the pairties shall requyre and think
expedient: and ordaynes the same to be indifferently done, and that
no ryotousness be used at the same upon the Sabbath day.
_Item_, It is statute that the sacrament of baptisme be not refusit
to any infants if the parents crave the same, he givand ane Christian
confession of his faith, upon any wther particular pretence, and
specially, that baptisme be not delayit to certaine particular dayes.
Anent the supplicatione given in be Mr Edward Bruce, Abbot of
Kynloss, makand mention, that qwher he havand ane tacke and
assedatione of the kirk of Tarbet, sett be Mr John Monro, and
lykewayes be Mr David Lyndsay, Bishop of Ross, the yearly dewtie
qwherof, albeit it extends only to the soume of two hundreth punds,
neverthelesse he, for the better intertainment of the actuall
minister at the said kirk, hes condescendit to convert the said
soume of twa hundreth punds in twa chalders of bier for ane constant
stipend to the said minister and his successors, ministers at
the said kirk of Tarbett, upon conditione that the ministers of
the Presbytrie of Rosse, qwhilks are of the chapiter of the said
bishoprick, wald ratifie and approve this tack of the said kirk,
qwhilk they wald willingly doe, provyding the Assemblie’s consent
were obtainit thereto, as at mair lenth is contained in the said
supplicatione: The Generall Assemblie ratifies and approves the said
tack and assedatione, sett to the said commendator of the said kirk
of Tarbett, alse weill be the said Mr John Monro as be the said Mr
David Lyndsay, and ordaynes the brethren of the presbytrie of Ross,
qwho are members of the said chapter, to consent to the same be
their subscriptiones, because they understand the said kirk to be
sufficiently plantit be the moyen forsaid.
Anent the supplicatione given in be Mr Patrick Carmichaell,
minister at Aberdour, makand mention, that qwher the Assembly
halden at Montrose in Marche 1600 years, it was concludit that Mr
William Patone should serve the cure of both the kirks of Aberdour
and Dalgatie, and for his service sould uplift the old stipend of
baith the saids kirks, ay and qwhill sufficient provisione be made
for planting of both the saids kirks; and trew it is that the said
complainer is now plantit minister at the said kirk of Aberdour,
desyrand, therefore, to cause the half of the said stipend to be
dimittit to him be the said Mr William in respect of his service at
ane of the saids kirks: The Assemblie finds and decerns the haill
stipend controvertit, to pertaine to Mr W^m. Patone, minister at
Dalgatie, conforme to his assignatione of the cropt 1601, except the
viccarage of Aberdour, qwhilk they adjudge to pertaine to the said
minister of Aberdour.
Anent the supplicatione in the north paroche of Leith, makand
mention, that qwher the Presbytrie of Edinburgh hes erected the said
north paroche in ane parochine, qwhilk is also approvine be the Synod
of Lowthiane, desyrand, therefore, the ratificatione of the Generall
Assemblie unto the same: The Assemblie ratifies and approves the
erectione of the same in all poynts.
Anent the supplicatione giuen in be the inhabitants of the ferrie of
Scottscraig, Garpat, Shannwell, and Muirtaine, makand mention, That
they being a great multitude, and farr distant from their paroche
kirk of Leuchars, they, with common consent of the haill parochiners,
Presbytrie of St Androis, and Synod of Fyffe, had erectit ane paroche
kirk in the said Ferrie, and almost compleited the same, for the
commoditie and use of the people most adjacent thereto, and to give
power to the Presbytrie to annex sic villages as are most adjacent to
the said paroch kirk: The Assemblie ratifies the erectione forsaid,
and gives power to the said Presbytrie to the effect above written.
Anent the supplicatione giuen in be ane Noble Lord, Alexander Earle
of Lynlithgow, makand mentione, That qwher it hes pleasit the
brethren of the last Assemblie to relax Dame Helenor Hay, his spouse,
from the sentence of excommunicatione, and to injoyne certaine
particular conditiones to be observit be hir, qwhilks conditiones,
albeit schoe, of the stubbornness of her heart, wold no wayes
condescend unto, to his great grief and sorrow, nevertheless, the
brethren sould have consideratione of his hard estate, who cannot,
be no law, separate himself from her, notwithstanding that schoe
refuises to hear and obey the wholsome voyce of the Kirk, calling her
to grace in Jesus Christ; and that the rather because he himself, as
he hes continuallie and constantly profest the truth and religione
presently profest within this realme, so he hes used all means
possible to bring his house to the trew knawledge of the same; Lykeas
also he is ready in his power, be all good meanes to draw her to the
truth; desyrand, therefore, the Assemblie to pity his dayly grief,
and schaw him some favour in the mitigatione of her punishment, and
staying of the censure of excommunicatione against her, that he be
not compellit to remaine in societie with her that shall be cutt off
from the society of the Kirk: The Assemblie having considerit the
supplicatione, continows the sentence of excommunicatione against her
unto the nixt Generall Assemblie, provyding that the King’s Majestie
remove his Hienes daughter out of her companie, and lykewise that his
Lordship’s bairnes be catechised in the truth, and that his Majestie
give command to him to debarre all Papists from his house, and that
in the meantyme his Lordship cause deall with his said spouse, to sie
if by any meanes she may be drawne to the knawledgeing of the truth.
Sessio Ultima.
Anent the supplicatione giuen in be the brethren of the Synod of
Glasgow, makand mention, That qwher albeit syndrie tymes they had
discharged, be their acts, Mr George Symple, to have any medling
with the ministry of the kirk of Killelane, for the causes and
considerationes knawn to them, and speciallie for a great myslyking
that specialls of the paroche had of him, nevertheless, he not
only insistit in suiting of the said kirk, but also had obtaynit,
be privie moyen, the consent of the Commissioners of the Generall
Assemblie thereto, for planting of him at the said kirk, the
saids brethren not being heard, nor their reasons in the contrair
discusst, desyreing therefore their reasons to be heard, and after
dew tryall, that the Assemblie wald give their finall sentence in
the said matter, qwhilk they would obey: The Assemblie, after dew
tryall, absolves the said Mr George from all evill crymes and eylists
qwhilk were laid to his charge, either be the brethren of the said
province, or be the parochiners of Killelane, and gives him, be thir
presents, ane testimony of his honest behaviour; but in respect he
was never fully plantit minister at the said kirk, and of the great
mislyking that is betwixt him and sundrie of the saids parochiners
of Killelane, as said is, they think it not good that he be plantit
minister at the said kirk, and therefore ordaynes him to desist
therfrae, and dimitt the presentatione made to him of the benefice
thereof in favours of Mr John Cunninghame, qwham the Presbytrie hes
thought good to be minister at the said kirk, upon conditione that
the said Mr George be first satisfyit be the said Mr John for his
said dimissione, paines and loss, susteinit be him in pleying of
the same: Qwhilk satisfactione shall be presently modified be Mr
John Cowper, arbiter chosen for the said Mr John Cunninghame, and Mr
Robert Pont, arbiter chosen for the said Mr George Simple, and, in
caice of variance, be Mr Patrick Galloway, as odsman and oversman
chosen be both their consents: with provisione lykwayes that the said
Mr George be first plantit at the kirk of Kirkbeane, or any uther
place qwher his Majestie shall think expedient in the south-west
parts, with sufficient provisione for his sustentatione thereat.
The said day, the Assemblie ordaynes Richard Browne to be transportit
to the kirk of Holywood, and that the brethren deall with the Abbot
for ane sufficient provisione to the said kirk, and in speciall Mr
David Barclay, Mr Robert Hunter, and Mr Hew Fullertoune.
_Item_, The Assemblie ordaynes that, in all tyme coming, the licence
be grantit to any beneficit persone to sett tacks, be restraint
aither to ane lyferent tack, or to ane nynetein year tack allanarly.
Anent the supplicatione given in be Mr John Nicolsone of Lesswade,
beirand, that qwher he was kindlie tacksman of the teinds of his
awne lands of Leswade, in respect qwherof he had agreit with Mr
George Ramsay, Deane of Restalrig, for renewing of his said tacks
for payment of ane greater dewtie then they payit of before, so
that the Kirk was sufficiently plantit, to the qwhilks the said Mr
George condescendit, desyrand, therefore, the Assemblie to ratifie
and approve the saids tacks, and declare the same alse sufficient
as if ane speciall licence had been obtained thereto: The Assemblie
ratifies and approves the same taks of the teinds of his awn lands
of Lesswaid, and declares the samen als sufficient, as if a speciall
licence had been obtenit therto.
_Item_, At the earnest sute of the Presbytrie of Clyddisdaill,
Walter, Prior of Blantyre, tacksman of the personage of Glasgow,
had condescendit to give the number of 15 chalder victuall, by and
attour the dewtie of his tacks, for the better provisione of the
ministrie at the said kirk of Glasgow, upon conditione that the
present persone sould ratifie and approve his present tack that he
hes to runne of the said teinds: The Assemblie thinks the conditione
reasonable, and therefore ordaynes the persone to ratifie the same,
and declares that the said Commendator shall not be farther troublit
for any great provisione to the said kirk during his saids tacks, be
nane of the ministry serving that cure.
Anent the propositione made in the Assemblie upon the priuat motiones
of sundry particular brethren, from diverse parts to the Moderator,
desyrand that a certaine number of the brethren of best judgement and
experience should be put apart to consider of the chiefest dangers
appeirand to the estate of religion and quyetness of the countrie,
and of the principall causes thereof, and how the samen micht be
most effectuallie preventit, with power to them to conclude and to
communicat their best advyces to his Majestie thereanent, and to the
Presbytries so far as shall be found expedient: The Assemblie finds
the samen most requisite, and for the effect above-written, nominats,
&c. with power, as said is.
The qwhilk brethren having at lenth communicat their informatione,
together with their awne knawledge anent the premisses, Finds that
ane of the chiefest causes of danger proceeds from the miscontentment
of some malicious and wicked Papists, that rages and leaves nothing
unessayit to trouble; for being out of all esperance to have his
Majestie’s indifferent affection or oversight toward them and their
religion during his reigne, and of others that be the executione of
justice finds themselves or their friends and their houses to have
sustainit any losse, and to be impairit of their grytest dependance,
and redacted to live under the obedience of the lawes utherwayes nor
they were wont, and from the malicious business of certaine craftie
and seditious persones, that either for the present necessitie of
their awne estate, or for the hope of advancement of gaine to be had
in the change of the present goverment, ceases not be all meanes to
inflame the hearts of such as they perceive to be miscontentit in any
estate, and making every man to see his own desyre in the trouble
of the countrey, dealing in the meantyme likewayes with such as are
of the most sincere affectione to Religion and Justice; That things
is not done of that integrity that is profest, pressing to make the
godly and good subjects the more cold, and adversaries to such as
would intend a trouble: ffor remead qwhereof it is thocht good and
concludit, That his Majestie shall be informit hereanent, that be
his awne care and foresight such ungodly plots and counsells may
be frustrate, and suchlyke that every minister within this realme
shall deall generally with their congregationes and auditors at
all occasiones in their publick doctrine in pulpit, and with all
noblemen, barrones, gentlemen, and uthers that are of any speciall
credite or power, particularlie in their private conferrences,
persuading them of the King’s honest mynd toward the establisching
of the trew religione presently profest within this countrie, and
the executione of justice, and of his stedfast resolutione to hazard
his estate, lyfe, and crowne, in the cause of the gospell, with
the standing and falling qwhereof he acknowledges his standing and
falling to be inseparably conjoynit, and that they mark carefully the
actiones of all men, especially of such as either for religione or
executione of justice, or for the necessitie of their awne estate,
mislykes the present government, and are inclynit unto novations,
and qwhom they see in any extraordinar kinde of bussiness by their
custome, and that they make his Majestie’s Ministers acquaintit
therwith, not ceasing in the meantyme to bring them to ane quiet
minde; and for this effect that in all their ordinary meetings
in Sessions, Presbytries, and provinciall Assemblies, there be a
particular and private inquisition in thir poynts as need beis, that
his Majestie’s Ministers may be advertised with all expeditione: And
lykewayes it is thought expedient and concludit that his Majestie’s
Ministers, and such uthers of the ministrie as shall have occasione
to be in any charge about his Majestie, informe the Presbytries of
the estate of things as they proceed, so far as it is needfull for
the weill of the cause, and that this advyce be extractit and sent
with diligence to every Presbytrie in authentick forme.
The nixt Assemblie is appoyntit to be halden at Aberdeene, the last
Twesday of July in the year of God 1604 years.
Thanks beand given to God be the Moderator for the comfortable
successe of this present Assemblie, the brethrene were dismissed.
* * * * *
We have now completed the record of all the General Assemblies of
the Church of Scotland, held in and betwixt the years 1560 and 1602
inclusive. The Acts of these Assemblies constitute all that are
regarded as authoritative by the Presbyterian Church. There were
Assemblies, indeed, in the years 1606, 1608, 1610, 1616, 1617, and
1618; but the General Assembly of Glasgow, held in the year 1638,
decreed “every ane of them to have been, from the beginning, unfree,
unlawfull, and null Assemblies, and never to have had, nor hereafter
to have, any Ecclesiasticall authoritie, and their conclusions to
have been and to bee of no force, vigor, nor efficacie; prohibited
all defence and observance of them, and ordained the reasons of
their nullitie to be insert in the Books of Assembly.”[47] And in
the Assembly of 1639 it was also declared, that the proceedings
of these Assemblies “be hereafter accompted as null and of none
effect.”[48] The Acts of those Assemblies thus repudiated, have ever
since been regarded by the Church as of no authority. As, however,
the proceedings in five of those Assemblies are contained in the
MS. copies of the “Booke of the Kirk” to which we have had access,
and as, although apocryphal, the Acts which are recorded tend to
illustrate the history of the Church during the period to which we
refer, we intend to include them in this print of the whole Book as
we find it, but separately, and completely apart from the Acts of the
legitimate Assemblies.
Before, however, proceeding to do so, it is considered expedient to
include, as part of the genuine record, an authenticated Copy of
the Book of Policie. When the transcript of the record for the year
1581 was put to press, and when the “Heads of Policie,” (or Second
Book of Discipline,) should have been inserted as engrossed in the
register, and as part of the proceedings of the Assembly held that
year, the Editor did not consider it necessary to do so; inasmuch
as many printed editions of that document were to be found in
various publications. Since that portion of the work, however, was
printed off, he has been led, by his inquiries, to the conclusion,
that none of those editions which he has yet seen are perfectly
accurate. He has arrived at this conviction by the discovery of an
_authenticated_ copy of it, attested in the year 1591, under the hand
of Jas. Richie, the clerk of Assembly, and by the signatures of the
Presbytery of Haddington, in terms of an Act of the General Assembly.
He has collated that copy with others, and now deems it his duty to
incorporate in this work an exact transcript of it, the authenticity
being thus satisfactorily established. The importance of doing so,
and the addition of some collateral circumstances connected with the
Book of Policie, have been suggested to him by the fact, that the
chief basis of the celebrated ACT ANENT CALLS is alleged
to be found in that document, and much argument has been founded,
both in the Ecclesiastical and Civil Courts, on the interpretation
of various passages in it, and the authority that is due to it as an
assumed record of the “fundamental” principles of our Establishment.
It is therefore desirable that the Church and the Country should
be put in possession of a genuine copy of a production, from which
practical inferences of so much moment have been deduced.
* * * * *
In the Haddington MS. volume, (a small quarto,) from which the
foregoing copy of the Book of Policy has been transcribed, there
are various other documents ingrossed, for the guidance of that
Presbytery in its proceedings. These are--
1. Extracts from the Act of Assembly, 8th August 1590, Sess. 10,
and 5th July 1591, Sess. 4, with reference to subscription of the
Book of Policy by Presbytries, and the clerk supplying them with
copies for that purpose.