Part 49
Forsuameikle as in the Assemblies halden of before, it hes been very wisely considerit that there hes been nothing more profitable for advancing of the glory of God by the preaching of the gospell, then appoynting of Commissioners for every schyre within this realme, qwhois care and diligence should be pairtly to try the lyfe, doctrine, and manner of conversatione of the ministry within the bounds committit to their visitatione, and pairtly to plant the kirks qwhilks as yet ly destitute of the comfort of the word, be dealing with such as hes the Kirk livings in their hands for ane reasonable moyen to sustain a minister at every kirk within this realme; qwhilk loueable custome this present Assemble being mindfull to prosecute, therefore hes given and grantit, lykeas, be these presents, gives and grants their full power and commissione to thir brethren: Mrs Robert Pont and Robert Durie for Orknay and Zetland; Mr George Gladstanes for Cathness and Sutherland; to Mrs Alex^r. Dowglass and Alex^r. Rawsone for Rosse; to Mrs George Hay and Androw Crombie for Morray; Mr George Gladstanes for Aberdeene; for Angus and Merns, Mrs Robert Wilkie and James Melvill; for Perth and Stratherne, Mrs Thomas Dowglass and John Fairfoull; for Fyfe, Mrs James Nicolsone and Robert Howie; for Lothiane, Mrs Patrick Simsone and Harie Livingstone; for Merss and Teviotdale, James Gibsone and Mr Adam Colt; for Clydsdale, Mrs David Lyndsay and John Spotswood; for Irvine and Aire, Mrs Gavine Hamiltone and Androw Knox; for Annandaill, Mrs John Knox and Patrick Schaw; for Nithsdale and Galloway, Mrs David Barclay, Alex^r. Scrymgeour, and Nathaniell Inglish: with power to them to try the brethren within the bounds particularly above designit, in their lyfe, doctrine, qualificatione, and conversation, and how they have behaved themselves touching the rents of their benefices--qwhether they have sett tacks of the samen, but consent of the Generall Assemblie or not, and so dilapidate the same--to depose such as deserves depositione--to plant ministers in such places that hes not been plantit heretofore; and to that effect to deall with the tacksmen of every paroche kirk for provision of ane minister to their kirks, and to report to the next Generall Assemblie ane answer of the tacksmen in wreit, containing the planting of the kirks qwherof they possess the teinds, and to reporte their diligence to the nixt Assemblie--_promitten de rata_.
The nixt Assemblie appoyntit to be halden at St Androis the last Twesday of July 1602.
[SIXTY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assemblie of the Commissioners from the Presbytries of the Kirk of Scotland, halden at Halyrudehouse the 10 of Dec^r. 1602,[46] in the qwhilk the King’s Majestie being personally present, were conveint the Commissioners following, viz. Commissioners, with his Majestie, the Secretar, Thesaurer, Collector, Comptroller, Sir Patrick Morray: for the Ministry,
_Orknay._
Mr Robert Pont.
_Cathnes._
Mr George Gladstanes.
_Ross Murray._
Mr Alexander Rawsone.
_Aberdeene._
Mrs Peter Blackburne. Archbald Blackburne. David Raite. Richard Rosse. John Strauchan. Mrs John Rosse. James Milne. Abraham Sybbald. Alexander Hay.
_Mearns._
Mrs John Erskine. Alexander Forbes. Mr James Sybbald.
_Brechine._
Mrs Andrew Leitche. John Marshall. Mr Josua Durie.
_Aberbrothoke._
Mrs Patrick Lyndsay. Arthur Foothie. Mr Henry Philipe.
_Dundie._
Mr Robert Howie. Mr Andrew Clayhills.
_Meigle._
Mrs James Andersone. John Barclay. Mr David Browne.
_Peirth._
Mrs James Rosse. Archd. Moncrieff. Wm. Row. Adam Balantyne. Mrs Alex. Hoome. John Edmonstoune. William Glasse. Silvester Ratray.
_St Androis._
Mrs James Melvill. John Carmichaell. Mr Robert Durie.
_Universitie thereof._
Mr James Martine.
_Cowper._
Mrs Thomas Dowglass. Robt. Buchanan. Mr Wm. Cranstoune.
_Kirkaldie._
Mrs Wm. Scott. John Michelsone. Mr David Spence.
_Dumfermling._
Mrs John Fairfoull. John Cawden. Mr Edmond Mylls.
_Edinburgh._
Mrs James Balfour. Walter Balcanquall. Mr Wm. Aire.
_Linlithgow._
Mrs Thomas Peebles. Robt. Cornwall. Mr George Inglish.
_Dalkeith._
Mrs George Ramsay. Archd. Simsone. Mr Adam Scot.
_Haddington and Dumbar._
Mr Edward Hepburne. Mr Richard Ogill.
_Peebles._
John Keer.
_Merss._
Mrs John Clappertoune. Tobias Ramsay. Wm. Methwen. Alex^r. Gates. John Abernethie. Mrs Wm. Clark. John Knox. James Dais. John Smith.
_Glasgow._
Mr Andrew Boyde. Mr Wm. Livingstone.
_Universitie thereof._
Mr Pat. Scharp.
_Paisley._
Mr John Hay.
_Dunbartone._
Mr Wm. Symsone.
_Hamiltone._
Mr John Howisone. Mr Pat. Walkinschaw.
_Lanarick._
Mr Wm. Birnie. Mr Robt. Ballantyne.
_Aire._
Mrs George Dumbar. Nathaniel Inglish. Mr John Welsche.
_Irwing._
Mr Hew Fullertoune.
_Dumfries._
Mrs Robt. Hunter. John Browne. Mr Richard Broune.
_Kirkcudbright._
Mr Wm. Hamiltone.
_Wigtowne._
Mr Robert Wallace. Mr Matthew Reid.
_Edinburgh._
Mr John Robertsone. Mr George Heriot.
_Dundie._
Mr Wm. Fargusone.
_St Androis._
Mr Wm. Russell.
_Leith._
Mr Jerome Lyndsay. Mr David Orrock.
_Bruntiland._
Patrick Greiff.
_Commissioners for the Generall Assemblie._
Mrs Alex. Dowglass. George Monro. James Nicolsone. Pat. Simsone. Wm. Cowper. Alex. Lyndsay. John Spotswood. John Caldcleuch. Mrs Robt. Wilkie. David Lyndsay. John Hall. James Law. Gavin Hamilton. George Scrymgeour. David Barclay.
_Acta Sessione prima._
Exhortatione being made be Mr John Hall, Moderator of the last Assemblie, the Assemblie, after the accustomed manner, proceedit to the election of the Moderator of this present Assemblie; and, after nominatione of the brethren following, viz. Mrs Patrick Galloway, Patrick Scharpe, James Balfoure, and John Carmichaell, out of the qwhilk number the Moderator should be chosen,--be plurality of votes the said Mr Patrick Galloway was chosen Moderator _hac vice_.
The houres of convention to be nyne houres in the morning for the privie conferrence, and eleven houres for conveening of the Assemblie, and to sit qwhill 4 houres afternoon.
The Assessors appoynted to conveen with the Moderator in the privie conferrence for treating of such things as are to be concludit in the Assemblie, are Mrs John Hall, Robert Pont, George Gladstones, David Lyndsay, Alex^r. Rawsone, Peter Blackburne, John Strauchane, David Rate, Alex^r. Forbes, James Nicolsone, Robert Howie, James Melvill, Robert Wilkie, John Carmichaell, Alex^r. Lyndsay, William Glass, Patrick Scharpe, James Balfoure, Walter Balcanquall, James Law, John Spotswood, John Clappertoune, John Knox, David Barclay, W^m. Hamiltone, Nathaniell Inglish, John Hay, Andrew Lambe.
Sess. 2^a.
The said day, being callit, Mr George Gladstones, minister at St Androis, qwha was direct be the last Assemblie to have remainit for ane quarter or ane half year with the Marques of Huntlie, to the effect, be his travells and labours, the said Noble Lord and his family might be informit in the word of truth presently profest within this realme, and the enemies thereof debarrit from his company,--to give an accompt of his diligence done in his said Commission, the said Mr George compeirand, declared that at the tyme of his journeying northward for visitatione of the Presbytries of Cathnes and Sutherland, he addressed himself to the Marques of Huntly, and remained with him the space of three dayes, dureing the qwhilk tyme he conferred with him anent the controvertit heads of religione, and desyred of his Lordship that he wold schaw him qwherin he doubted, that to the effect be his conferrence he might be resolvit of such heads thereof as yet he was not fully satisfyit, qwhilk his Lordship promised to doe at his back-coming; and lykewayes, having demandit why his Lordship’s kirks were not plantit, and why he resortit not to the preaching at the ordinare tymes in paroche kirks? To the first he answerit, that the non-planting of his kirks proceeds upon the not giving licence to the parsones of the saids kirks to renew his tacks, conforme to the promise made to his Lordship be the Commissioners of the Assemblie, at the tyme his Lordship grantit to ane augmentatione of the rent of the said kirks. As to the second, he could not well resort to the paroche kirk, partly in respect of the meine rank of such as were within the paroche, and pairtly in respect his Lordship’s predecessors were in use to have ane chappell in their awne house, qwhilk he was myndit to prosecute now, seeing he was presently prepairing his house of Strathbogie. The said Mr George being demandit, why he made no longer residence with his Lordship, conforme to his Commission, answerit, he could not, because the Marques of Huntlie was upon his voyage southward, at his Majestie’s directione, for reconciliatione of the feud betwixt him and the Earle of Murray, qwhilk feud was the cause why his Lordship could not communicat.
Being callit lykewayes, Mrs Alexander Lyndsay and William Cowper, Commissioners appoyntit be the last Assemblie to await upon the Earle of Erroll for the effect forsaid, compearand, Mr Alexander Lyndsay declareit, that he had awaytit upon the said Noble Lord dureing his remaining in the Carss of Gowrie, and that he fand him ane diligent hearer of the word; and having requirit of him, if he doubtit of anything, his Lordship answerit, that, at the tyme of his reconciliatione, he did the samen unfainedly, and had casten all scruples away. As concerning the planting of his kirks, that he had provyded the samen of his awne benevolence, and that he wold communicat at such tyme as the samen should be administrat at any of his awn kirks, whereat his residence should be for the tyme.
Being callit, Mrs John Spotswood and James Law, Commissioners appoyntit to await upon the Earle of Angus, Mr John Spottswood excused himselfe, because he was direct be his Majestie to awaite upon the Duke of Lennox in his ambassadrie to France, in respect qwhereof, Mr James Law being appoyntit Commissioner conjunctly with the said Mr John, could doe nothing him alone; but because it was reportit be the haill brethren of these parts qwher the said Earle does haunt, that he did neither resort to the hearing of the word, nor participatione of the sacraments, but, be the contrair, intertaint profest enemies to the religione in his company, such as Mr Charles Broune; therefore, to advyse in the conferrence for remead thereof.
Being callit, Mr John Carmichaell, Commissioner appoyntit to awayt upon my Lord Hoome, declareit, that he execute no part of his Commission, be reason of the saids Lord’s absence furth of the countrie. The lyke excuse was usit be Mrs David Lyndsay and John Hall, qwho were appoyntit for my Lord Herres, in caice he repairit to Edinburgh, declarit to remaine a schort space in the said towne.
Anent the Commissioners appoyntit be the last Assemblie to await upon the constant platt, my Lord Collector being present, declareit that the stay of that wark proceidit upon the default of the presbytries, qwho, for the maist part, had neither returnit ane answer of his Majestie’s letters, direct be his Commissioners, of the constant platt without the qwhilk they could not proceed, and therefore the Assembly ordaynes such as had not reportit their answers, to produce them the morne.
Anent the Commissioners appoyntit for visitatione of presbytries, the Assemblie ordaynes them to give in their diligence in write the morne, that the samen may be tryit and considerit be the Assemblie, and because there hes been slackness, or no executione of such Commissioners in tyme bygane, be reason of carelessness of such as were appoyntit to accept the same; Therefore it is ordaynit, that in tyme comeing, such as shall be appoyntit Commissioners on them, and promise be their oathes in the face of the Assemblie to doe their faithfull and honest diligence in the executione thereof, and to report the same to the next Assemblie, in wreit, under the paines contained in the acts of the Generall Assemblie, being callit be the Commissioners of the Generall Assemblie to give accompt of their proceedings sen the last Assemblie, they were ordaynit to give in their diligence in write the morne.
The qwhilks things being considerit be the Assemblie, it was thought most expedient that certaine qualified persones be chosen out of the ministry, for planting of such parts of the countrie as are destitute of the word of God, and specially, that qualified men be chosen out to be appoyntit ministers to the particular families of the said noblemen, and lykewayes that the cautioners of these that are suspect of religion, and were be his Majestie ordayned to pass off the countrey be straitit, conforme to their bond, and specially for Patrick Butler, Patrick Mortimer, and wthers, and themselves be lykewise charged for breaking of the said bond.
Sessio 3.
Anent the summonds raisit at the instance of the provinciall of Lothiane and Tweddall, against Dame Helenor Hay, Countess of Lithgow, makand mention, That in the proces of excommunicatione led and deducit against her, be the presbytrie of Lynlithgow, she had made appellatione from the said presbytrie unto this present Assemblie, and therefore ordayning her to be summoned to compeir before this Assemblie, the third day thereof, to prosecute her appellatione, with certificatione, and schoe failziet, the Assemblie wald allow of the proces led and deduced against her be the said presbytrie, as at mair lenth is contained in the saids summonds, of the date, at Edinburgh, the 3d of Nov. 1602:--the samen being callit, the Assemblie continowes the same in the selfe same force and effect to the morne.
The brethren appoyntit for visitatione of the presbytries in the last Assemblie qwho were ordaynit this day to produce their diligence in wreit, being callit, compeirit Mrs David Lyndsay and John Spottswood, Commissioners for Clydsdaill, Mr Andrew Knox, for Aire; Mrs James Nicolsone and Robert Harvie, for Fyfe; Mr Robert Durie, for Orknay; and Mr George Gladstanes, for Cathness; and producit their diligence in wreit. The rest of the Commissioners either were not present or had done no diligence: Qwhilks diligences producit, the Assemblie ordaynit to be visited be the brethren, Mrs John Hall, Walter Balcanquall, Patrick Walkingshaw, Archibald Moncreiff, and James Andersone, and thereafter to report what they have found in it to the haill Assemblie.
The said day, the Commissioners qwho were appoyntit in the last Assemblie, for planting of burrow townes, vaikand and waitand upon his Majestie, qwho were ordaynit this day to produce their diligence and proceedings in wreit, to the effect they might be tryit be the brethren, and either allowit or disallowit, conforme as they deserved,--being callit, they compeirit; and in name of the rest, Mr James Nicolsone, minister at Meigle, producit their proceedings in wreit, qwhilk being openly read in presence of the haill Assemblie, and the brethren being demandit be the Moderator, if they had anything to say against the same, or against them in any other head therefore; after the particular votes of every ane of the Commissioners was speirit, the Assemblie allowit of the saids proceedings, and thanked God for the same.
The qwhilk day, the brethren conveint in this present Assemblie, having considerit nothing is more necessare for the advancement of God’s glory, and his trew religione within the same, than that the chieff rowmes and places within the countrey, such as are noblemen’s houses and families, be plantit with learnit and discreit pastors, able not only to instruct and confirme the saids noblemen, their wives, children, and families, in the trew fear of God and sincere religion presently profest within this realme, but also qwho may be their provident care and diligence, procure that the families of such noblemen be not corruptit with the company of profest Papists, Jesuites, and wthers Seminary Priests, qwho goes about daily to smore and put out the sparks of trew religione and knawledge of God kindled in the saids noblemen’s hearts; and because presently such men cannot be found to undertake the charge of the said noblemen’s families, as said is, Therefore, the Assemblie hes thought good, that for a tyme, brethren meitest for the purpose sould be borrowit from their awne places, to remaine for the space of ane quarter of ane year, continwally with the saids noblemen, be qwhais labours in the meantyme, qwhill ane constant and permanent provisione may be found out for planting of these roumes, the saids noblemen and their families may be confirmit in the truth, and the enemies thereof debarrit from their companies, and thereafter to returne to their awne charges: And in the meantyme, that the presbytries take order that their places be furnischit dureing their absence, and therefore they have elect and nominat the brethren following, to await upon the saids noblemen dureing the space foresaid, viz. Mrs William Scott, minister at Kennaqwhy, to remaine with the Marquess of Huntlie; for the Earle of Erroll, Mr Alexander Lyndsay; for the Earle of Angus, Mr James Law; for the Laird Hoome, Mr James Carmichaell; for the Laird Maxwell, so long as he remaynes in the Castle of Edinburgh, Mr Henry Blyth; for the Lord Heres, Mr Robert Wallace; for the Lord Semple, the Presbytery of Irvine, during his residence within the same; and in caice he remaine within the Presbytrie of Paisley, the said Presbytrie to awayte upon him: and lykewyse for the Earle of Sutherland, the Presbytrie of Edinburgh, because he makes residence within the same: And in caice any of the noblemen make their residence any tyme in Edinburgh, or within the Presbytrie thereof, the Assemblie ordaynes the Presbytrie of Edinburgh to direct two brethren of their number, with the like power as the brethren above specifeit, to awayte upon every ane of the saids noblemen that shall be found resident within their Presbytries; qwhilks brethren forsaid, and every ane of them, shall receive the articles in wreit frae this Assemblie, wherein they shall travell with the saids noblemen; qwhilk articles the Assemblie ordaynes to be pennit be Mrs James Melvill, James Nicolsone, Patrick Galloway, William Scott, and Alex^r Lyndsay, to be given in the morne to the Assemblie, that the brether may consider the same, the tenor qwherof follows:
Instructiones for the Brethren appoyntit be the General Assemblie to attend upon the Noblemen above specifeit.
1. First, ye shall adress yourselves with all convenient diligence and necessar furniture to enter in the companie and families, and there to remaine still with them for the space of three moneths continuall, dureing the qwhilk tyme your principall care shall be publick doctrine, by reading and interpretatione of the Scriptures ordinarly at their tables, and by conferrence at all meit occasions, to instruct them in the haill grounds of trew religione and godliness, speciallie in the heads controvertit, and confirme them therein.
2. Take paines to catechise the families ordinarly every day, ance or twyce at the leist, or so oft as may serve to bring them to some reasonable measure of knowledge and feilling of religione, before the expyring of the tyme prescryvit for your remaining there, and let this action begin and end with prayer.
3. Preass to have their houses purgit of all persons living inordinatly, qwhais ill example might be a sclander to their professione, specially such as are of suspect religione, and found any wayes bussie in traffiqueing against the truth and quietness of the estate of the countrey, and be carefull to hold all such persones forth of their houses and company.
4. Travell to have the kirks plantit with sufficient provision of stipends and well qualified persones, and procure that be authoritie and assistance, the discipline of the kirk may have execution within their bounds.
5. Persuade them to make honest provisione of stipends for the intertainment of resident pastors at their houses and chiefe dwelling-places, and to make choice of learnit, grave, and wyse pastors, to be plantit thereat.
6. Wrge the performance of the articles agriet upon and subscrivit at the tyme of their reconciliatione, and registrat in the books of the Assemblie, qwherout of ye shall extract them.
7. Informe the King’s Majestie from tyme to tyme how they have profited, and what company resortes to them, and qwhat dispositione their company is of.
Qwhilks articles being read in audience of the Assemblie, the brethren approvit the same, and ordaynit them to be insert, with the commission given to the ministers appoyntit to remaine with the saids Lords, in the books of the Assemblie.
The brethren appoyntit to visite the diligence of the visitors appoyntit in the last Assemblie, finds fault that in all their diligences producit, except of Caithnes and of Fyfe, the visitors hes not exactly tryit the lyfe, doctrine, and conversations of every minister at his awne kirk and be his awne flock, but nakedly and slenderly by a generall view of the Synodall Assemblie, qwhilk the Assemblie finds fault with, and ordayns it to be mendit in tyme coming.