Part 33
Syndrie Papists, priests, confessing themselves to have said masse and preachit papistrie in this land, being apprehendit be the Magistrats of Edinburgh and putt in ward, are sett at libertie without any punischment or satisfaction of the Kirk, viz. Mrs Alexander M‘Whirrie, James Settoune, John Scott, and uthers.
_In Merss and Teviotdale._
My Lord Hoome, the Laird of Edmestoune, with uthers principall men in the countrie, corrupt in religione, and the said Lord latting his awne kirk ly waist, and mayntaining Mr Androw Clark, enemy to the Gospell and ministers thereof: the haill people readie to revolt because they sie the Prince careless thereof, as they say. Sir John Bennet excommunicat for papistrie. The Lady Farnyhirst, the Lady Mynto, quho horribly usurpit the ministratione of the Supper of the Lord upon Pasche day with bread and water. The Lady Rydder.
_In Striveling._
Walter Buchanane, sonne to the Goodman of Auchinprior, and a Flymis woman his wyfe, indurat Papists, and hes causit a priest lately to baptize their bairne. Helen Hay, maistress of Livingstoune, ane malicious Papist. The Sabbath there is every where abused and profained: the kirks evill plantit; scarcely three hes ministers. Superstitious ceremonies, pilgrimages and Christ’s wells, ffasting, bainfyres, girdls, carrells, and such lyke.
Mr John Cowpar having resolvit that he is willing to accept the charge of the congregatione of Glasgow, the Assemblie ordaynes him to be admittit be the Presbytrie thereof.
Anent the disputs had betwixt Mr James Gordoune and Peter Blackburne, committit to the review of Mr Androw Melvill and certain breither: The said Mr Androw reportit, That on the pairt of the said Mr James and the enemies, they find great diligence and sophistrie--alwayes praised be God for the knowledge gine to their brother, in qwhais answer they had found solid judgement and great light, to the praise of God and the overthrow of the enemies.
Sessio 15.
All Ministers within their paroches with all diligence shall travell with the Noblemen, Barrones, and Gentlemen, to subscryve the Confession of Fayth, and to report their diligence to the nixt Assembly.
Sessio 16.
Mr Patrick Adamsone, Bischop, is convict of transgressing the Act of Conferrence, and is declareit to have incurrit deprivation fra his office of commissionarie, and Mr Thomas Buchanan placit in his rowme quhill the nixt Assembly.
Ane generall fast is appoyntit universallie to be keepit the first twa Sondayes of July: The causes qwhereof, 1. The universall conspiracies of the enemies of the trewth: 2. The flocking hame of Jesuits and Papists: 3. The defection of the multitude from the truith: 4. The conspiracies intendit be great men against the same, intertayners of the Jesuites and Papists: 5, The coldness of all: 6. The wrack of the patrimonie of the Kirk: 7. The abundance of bloodscheds, adulteries, incests, and all kynde of iniquitie, with many uthers quhairof the particular kirks hes their experience.
[FIFTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assemblie of the Kirk conveint at Edinburgh, in the New Kirk thereof, and begune the 6 of August 1588, quhere was assemblit the Commissioners and Brethrene.
Exhortatione made be Mr Robert Bruce. Leitts, Mrs Robert Pont, Thomas Buchanane, Nicoll Dalgleische, and James Robertsone: Be pluralitie of vots the said Mr Thomas was chosen Moderator _hac vice_.
The Kirk nominated Mrs Robert Bruce, Robert Pont, David Lyndsay, John Robertsone, John Keith, Peter Blackburne, James Balfoure, Robert Hepburne, John Durie, James Robertsone, James Nicolsone, Andrew Melvill, David Fargysone, James Andersone, Andrew Young, Andrew Milne, Andrew Hay, John Porterfield, George Gordoune, John Clappertoune, Andrew Clayhills, the Maister of Lyndsay, the Laird of Lochlevine, the Lairds of Elphingstoune and Kerss, and John Johnstoune, Assessors.
Sessio 2.
It is thought expedient that, in the frequencie of this Assemblie, the most necessar things be first handlit, concernyng the present danger imminent to the Kirk within this realme, and to the common weall thereof, be the arryvall of Spainʒards and Barbars; as also the danger and decay of religione be the raritie and povertie of ministers of the Evangell: The Kirk hes thocht for their pairt ane dewtie in this behalfe, that ane fast be proclaimit the morne be the ordinary teacher in the Kirk of Edinburgh, to be continowit in the said toune the whole week.
Sessio 3.
Forsuameikle as, universallie throughout this realme, there is neither religione nor discipline with the poor, but the maist part liues in filthie adulterie, incest, fornicatione, bairnes unbaptized, and themselves never resorts to Kirks, nor participats the sacraments: Therefore it is thought expedient that all ministers, in their paroche kirks, shall make intimatione, and denunce to all poor that aither be parochiners or resorte to them, having women and bairnes, that if they report not sufficient testimoniall of their marriages, and baptizing of their bairnes, so many as hes wyfes and bairnes; and sicklyke, where they have participat the holy communione, that they will be refuisit of their almes at the hands of all good and charitable persones: exhorting also their parochiners that they rather extend their liberality to such as be of the household of ffayth, and having discreit judgement in giving any such persones of their almes, that gives not evidence to them as said is.
Anent the citatione direct to the Moderator of the Generall Assembly against Mr Patrick Adamsone, callit Bischop of St Androis, makeing mentione, that forsuameikle as be ane act of the Presbytrie of Edinburgh it was ordaynit concernyng the marriage of George Earle of Huntlie, that his bands sould be proclaimit upon his agrieing to subscryve to certaine articles of religione profest in this realme, qwhilk he did subscryve; and under hope that he sould subscryve the rest before his marriage, ane inhibition was made according to the tenor of the said act, to diverse of the ministers, and speciallie to the said Mr Patrick, that nane of them sould take in hand to celebrate the said marriage, unto the tyme the said Lord Huntlie agrie to subscryve the Confessione of the Fayth, containt in the acts of Parliament; with certificatione to them and every one of them, if they failzied herein, they sould be callit for disobedience to the voyce of the Kirk and Generall Assemblie, and punischit therefore, as accords: Notwithstanding of the said inhibitione, the forsaid Mr Patrick proceidit to the solemnizatione of the said marriage, and celebrate the same upon the 21 day of July instant; disobeying thereby the foresaid inhibitione and admonitione; as the said citatione beares: Qwhilk being callit, and the said Mr Patrick compearing be Mr Thomas Wilsone, his procurator, qwho producit ane testimoniall of his sickness, subscrivit be the doctor, Mr Robert Nicoll, and twa of his bailzies, requyring that the breither wald not disquyit him in his sickness, they fand the said testimoniall not to be sufficient.
Sessio 5.
The Kirk being informit that there is a ane schip arryvit lately in this Firth from Dunkirk, suspect to be ane spie, out of the qwhilk ane man, as appears of some mark, is landit; they, with the Counsell present, desyrit the provest and bailzies to man the schip, take the men and keep them qwhill his Majestie come over; yet it is reportit they refuise, in respect it will be ane hinderance to their traffique: The breither thinks it meit that Mrs Robert Bruce, Andrew Hay, and Andrew Melvill, pass to the Chancellour to let him understand of the said answer, and offer unto his Lordship their concurrence to request the towne.
Forsuameikle as in no countrie qwhere any religione is allowit, it is permittit that the deid be buried in the kirks, and that albeit inhibitione hes been diverse tymes made for avoyding of that abwse, yet the acts and constitutiones of the Kirk are dayly broken: Therefore the Kirk inhibits that any persones in tyme coming be buried in the kirks, and that no minister give consent thereto, but directly oppone thereto; certifying such persones as shall be the authors and inbringers of the dead unto the saids kirks, they shall be suspendit from the benefites of the Kirk, qwhill they make publick repentance therefore; and the minister that giues his consent, or discharges not his conscience in opponyng thairto, shall be suspendit from his functione in the ministrie: And to the effect this act may haue the better executione, supplicatione shall be made to his Majestie that ane ordinance may pass be his Heines and Counsell discharging the said buriall within kirks, and such lyke erecting of tombes, and laying of troches in kirkyards, under such paines as his Heines and Counsell pleise to devyse.
Forsuameikle as sen the last act of Annexatione, his Majestie hes transferrit the right of the patronages of diverse benefices, from his Heines to temporall men, as Earles, Lords, Barrones, and wthers, and hes annexit the same to their lands; of qwhom some hes gotten confirmatione in Parliament, wthers hes obtainit the same sen the Parliament, and the third sort hes gotten gift of the naked patronage alanerlie, to the evident hurt of the haill Kirk: Qwherefore it is thocht good, that his Majestie be intreatit be earnest sute, that the saids dispositiones authorized, as said is, be Parliament, may be brought back in the next Parliament, and such wthers as hes been grantit sen the said Parliament, in lyke manner may be annullit: and in the meintyme, that it may please his Majestie to close his hands from disponing the said right of patronage, and transferring of the same from his Majestie, qwhilk remayneth as yet undisponit; and that his Majestie will provyde that the Commissioners and Presbytries to qwhom the collatione of the saids benefices pertayns be not processit or hornit for not giving admissione thereupone: Inhibiting in the meantyme all Commissioners and Presbytries, that they on no wayes giue collatione or admissione to any persones presentit be said new patrones, as is above specified, unto the next Generall Assemblie.
Anent the supplicatione given in be James Gibsone, desyring that he may be hard to purge himself of the contumacie for non-compearance in the last Assemblie, and to repone him in his awne functione: the Kirk thought it expedient that he should declare the cause of his non-compearance before the breither of the conferrence; quha reportit that he declareit his conscience, the cause of his absence was never rebellion, stubbornes, nor evill will, but only in respect of the good affection he had to the will of the Generall Kirk, being informed that if he had compeired, and had not bein punischit, the matters of the Kirk wald be casten off: Qwhilk reasone being considerit be the breither, they thought the same sufficient to purge him of contumacie.
Sessio 6.
Compeirit Mr Alexander Forbes, minister and persone of Fattercarden, and in presence of the haill Assemblie, ratified ane promise qwhilk before he made in presbytrie, that he sould sett no tacks nor factorie of the teynds of the said kirk, without the speciall advyce of the Generall Kirk; declareing also in their presence that he hes sett nane yett; and farther promising before them, that he shall not sett in tyme comeing, nor make any right thereof to any persone, without the consent of the Generall Assemblie.
Sessio 11.
Mrs Robert Bruce, David Lyndsay, and John Craige, war direct to his Majestie to understand be qwhat meines the religione shall be maintainit within this realme, and continowit to the posteritie.
Sessio 13.
Forsuameikle as in default of Visiting of the North pairts, qwhere chief and greatest necessitie is, hes great inconvenience followit, albeit no wayes in default of the breither appoyntit to that charge, but for laick of provisione and expenses, the assignatione of their charges being made to be payit be the Bischop of St Androis, qwha contemptuouslie disobeys good ordour, and lyes at the horne: It is not the lesse found expedient that the breither to qwhom commissione was given before, shall yet undertake the burden of the commissione, their charges and expenses being assignit to them out of some readie payment, and that to this effect the Commissioners of the North, viz. Mrs John Keith, Gilbert Garden, and Alexander Rawsone, shall travell with the Lords of the Checker, and delait the necessitie of their Visitatione, and crave the samen assignatione to be alterit, and the commissioners’ payment mair commodiouslie payit.
Anent the request of the Commissioner of Edinburgh, desyreing the Assembly to ratifie the calling of Mr William Watsone to the ministrie of Edinburgh: the Generall Kirk ratifies and approves the same in presence of the said Mr William, desyrand to be transportit from the said Kirk, qwhilk the Assemblie refused.
All ministers and pastors are exhortit, in their sermones to delait openly the prejudice done to the haill Kirk be the spulzie of the patrimonie thereof, and publicly to disallow and oppone against the publick abusers thereof.
The Generall Assemblie understanding the appearing ruine and decay of the evangell, within this realme, for fault of provisione of ministers, and intertainment of schooles and colledges, hes thought good and convenient to give their Commissione, and be the tenor heirof to grant full power to Mrs Robert Pont, Robert Bruce, David Lyndsay, John Craige, Andrew Myllne, Thomas Buchanane, Androw Hay, John Porterfield, Peter Blackburne, John Duncansone, David Fargusone, William Strivilling, Gilbert Garden, ministers of the Evangell, or any seven of them, to compeir before his Majestie and Counsell, upon Monday next, or such other day as his Majestie shall appoynt, to call, conferre, and advyse upon the said head, and to craue humbly of his Majestie that the Ministers’ and Readers’ assignationes may be given out at Hallowmess, and that such as are already provydit of their stipends _ad vitam_, and uthers that are content with the assignationes alreadie made to them, be unalterit therein, qwhill they obtayne better provisione, and to that effect to travell earnestly with his Majestie and Counsell, and to report again answer to the next Generall Assembly of the Kirk, firme and stable.
Anent the request of the Presbytrie of Dumblane, in respect of the few number and povertie of their presbytrie, to joyne to their Synodall Assembly the Presbytrie of Linlithgow: the Assemblie present has found it more meit that the Presbytries of Perth and Dunkeld shall be joynit with the Presbytrie of Dumblaine, and in ane Synodall Assembly, to be first holden in Perth, and thereafter in ony place qwhere the Synodall shall think it meitest.
The Generall Assembly hes given their commissione and authoritie to the Presbytrie of Edinburgh, to call before them Papists and apostats who shall happen to resort to court, or to the said towne, and in speciall to summond my Lords Huntlie and Settowne, William Schaw, John Chisholme, and Colonell Stewart.
Sessio 14.
According to the allowable custome observit amongst the antients of humiliatione and fasting of the pastors, The breither and Kirk conveint hes thocht meit, and be ordinance statute, that in tyme comeing, qwhen it shall please God to convene the Generall Kirk of this realme, That the first day of the Assemblie, at the place and towne where they conveine, ane publick fast and humiliatione be of the haill inhabitants thereof, alswell as of the pastors conveint, and the chair of veritie alseweell occupyit before noone in the morning as at afternoone, be the ordinare pastors thereof; the tyme and houres of exhortatione made before the Assemblie, being keipit as of before, to the effect it may please God to give his blessing to the conventione and good ishew of their travells; and because the next Assemblie is concludit to be in Edinburgh, the pastors thereof is ordaynit to give intimatione heirof to the congregatione, the Sunday before the said Assemblie.
Anent the questione movit, If a man, convict of adulterie three-score years sensyne, satisfying the order of the Kirk be repentance, and presentit new to serve in the ministrie of the Evangell, sould be admitted thereto or not? The Assembly answers negative, and thinks he ought not to be admittit.
The next Assemblie was appoyntit to be in Edinburgh the 17th day of Junii next to come, 1589.[25]
[FIFTY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, conveint att Edinburgh, upon the fourth day of August 1590, where there was assemblit the Commissioners and Brethrene underwritten--
_The King’s Commissioners_:--
My Lord Chancellour--My Lord Blantyre.
_Ergyll._
Mr Neill Campbell.
_Zetland, absent._ _Orknay, absent._ _Caithnes, absent._ _Sutherland, absent._
_Ross._
Mr James Robertsone.
_Morray._
Mr Johne Innes. Mr Alexander Rawsone. Mr James Keith.
_Bawmff, absent._
_Aberdeene._
Mr Peter Blackburne. Mr Gilbert Gairden.
_Angus and Meirnes._
Mr George Gladstaines. Mr James Douglas. Mr Patrick Lindsay. Mr James Melvill. Mr Andrew Leitche. Mr Robert Ramsay. John Dwrie. Mr John Rigge. John Fullartoune. William Chrystisone. James Andersone. Mr James Nicolsone. Mr George Hay. Mr John Hepburne. Mr Thomas Kay.
_Dunkeld._
Mr William Edmestoune. Mr William Glasse. George Grahame.
_Striveling._
Johne Earle of Mar. The Laird of Airth. The Laird of Kerss. The Laird of Touch. Gargunnock.
_Ministers._
Mrs Henrie Livingstoune. William Coupar. Richard Wicht. James Smyth.
_Dumblane._
My Lord Drummond. The Laird of Keir. The Laird of Glenneglische.
_Ministers._
Mrs William Stirling. Mrs Andrew Young. John Davidsone. Alexander Chisholm.
_Perth._
Mrs Archibald Moncrieff. William Rynde. Henrie Gwthrie.
_Fyffe._
Mrs Andrew Melvill. James Martine. Patrick Melvill. William Cranstoune. William Marche. Andrew Duncane. Thomas Buchanane. James Melvill. Nicoll Dalgleische. David Fargusone. John Fairfowll. James Steuart. Edward Mylls. The Earle of Mortoune. Lord Lyndsay.
_Lairds._
Ballverie. Colluchie. Pitmillie. Cambo. Balfour. Lundie, Elder. Raith, Elder and Younger. Kynneir. Abbotshall. Hallhill. Weymes, Younger. Cleisch. The Abbot of Culross. The Maister of Sinclare. The Goodman of Stravichly. Kynnaldie. James Elphinstoune. John Logane.
_Lowthiane._
_Lairds._
Merchestoune. Collingtowne. Corstorphine. Braid. Dalmahoy. Carberry. James Richesoune of Smettoune. Thomas Hamiltone of Priestfield. James Hamiltone of Rochbank.
_Ministers._
Mrs Robert Bruce. James Balfour. Robert Pont. John Davidsone. John Craige. John Brand. John Hall. Patrick Simpsone.
_Haddingtowne._
Mrs James Carmichaell. Thomas M‘Gie. Mr Thomas Greige.
The Lairds of
Clarkingtowne. Elphinstowne. Eastchester, Junior.
_Lynlithgow._
Mr Robert Cornwall. Mr John Spottiswood. George Dundass of that Ilk. Nicoll Cornwall of Ballinhard.
_Dumbarre._
William Sandersone. Mrs James Young. James Douglass, appearand of Spott. Archibald Douglass.
_Dalkeith._
My Lord Newbottle. The Laird of Ormistoune. Robert Porteous. Mrs Adam Johnstoune. Mrs John Bennett. James Bennett. John Herries.
_Merss._
_Teviotdale._
_Tweddale._
Mr Thomas Storie. Mr John Hoome. Robert Hyslope. Mr Patrick Gaits. Duncane Walcar. John Smyth. Alexander Lawder. Mr Adam Dowglass. Mr William Auchmoutie.
_Clydsdaill._
_Ranfrow._
_Lennox._
Andrew Hay. Thomas Jack. Mrs David Weymes. John Hamyltoune. Robert Darrochie. Mrs Robert Lyndsay. John Lawrance. Walter Stewart. Andrew Spittall.
_Kyle._
_Carricke._
_Chunninghame_.
Mrs John Porterfield. John M‘Korne. Peter Prymrose. Mrs John Inglis. John Cunninghame. Alexander Weittowne.
_Galloway._
Alexander Stewart of Garlies. James Lydderdale of the Yle. Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar. John Neilsoune of Craculhie. Mrs James Hamyltone. David Blyth. Niniane Macklennochane. James Adamsone.
_Neithsdaill._
Mrs James Brysone. Hew Fullartoune. Robert Lord Sanchar. The Laird of Drumlanrie. The Laird of Closetoune. James Crichtoune of Carbethe.
_Townes_:--
_Strivelling._
Arthur Bruce. David Foster.
_Leith._
William Monteith. John Kylle.
_Wigtowne._
Sir Alexander Stewart. John Ahaney. Mr James Adamsone.
_Edinburghe._
William Little. Edward Galbreith.[26]
_Acta Edinburgi_, 4 _Augusti_ 1590--Sessio 1^{ma}.
Exhortatione made be Mr James Melvill, Moderator of the last Assemblie, the Kirk proceedit to the electione of a new Moderator; and appoynting on the leitts, Mrs Peter Blackburne, Patrick Gallaway, John Davidsone, David Fargusone, Mr Nicoll Dalgleische, the said Mr Patrick, be pluralitie of vots, was chosen Moderator _hac vice_: Qwha desyrit certaine of the learnit and grave brethren to be given Assessors to him, be whose advyce he may propone such things as were meitest to be treitit at this tyme, viz. Mrs Robert Bruce, Andrew Melvill, David Lindsay, Robert Pont, David Fargwsone, Peter Blackburne, Neill Campbell, William Rynde, John Duncansone, James Melvill, elder and younger, James Carmichell, John Davidsone, Nicoll Dalgleische, James Hamiltone, Andrew Hay, Robert Rollock, Peter Primross, James Nicolsone, William Glass, qwho were appoyntit to conveine with him at ten houres the morne, and two afternoone in the Gallarie, and on wther dayes, qwhen there is no sermone, at awcht houres, and twa afternoone.
Acta Sessio 2^a. Eodem die.
Commissioners of all countries were inquyrit qwhat they had done concerning the executione of the last act made against Papists, Jesuites, Seminarie Priests, excommunicats and their entertayners, marcats and others profanationes of the Sabbath day, non-residents, and the rest of the heids committit to the Presbytries and Commissioners.
Sessio 3^a. 5 Augusti.
Mr John Innes was accusit for admitting Robert Dumbar to the ministry without the advyce of the Presbytrie of Forres; qwha answerit, there was no presbytrie thair the tyme of his tryall, but it was erectit before his admissione, and he did it be the advyce of the Presbytrie of Elgine, qwherein he confest he did raschlie. The Kirk ordayns the said Robert to be tryit _de novo_, and to be heard be the brether of Edinburgh, and presbytrie thereof, so many as shall be present, with so many as are here of the Presbytrie of Forress, and thereafter as the brether beis satisfyit, the Assembly informit farther to be proceeded againes the said Mr Johne.
Sessio 4^a. Eodem die.
It being bruitit, that the Earl of Montrose intertained Fintrie, excommunicat, The Assembly ordaynit the Presbytrie qwhair it sauld happen him to remaine, to charge him before them, to try the bruit, and to admonische, conforme to the act of the Kirk; and in caise of disobedience, to proceid according to the mynde thereof.
Sessio 5^a. 6 Augusti.