Dec. 27.] 7. Ordained that no minister receive the parishioners of another parish to be married, without a testimonial of proclamation in their own parish, and no impediment, under pain of deprivation, &c.

8. Enacted that the superintendent may not suspend a minister, exhorter, or reader, without the assistance of the nearest discreet ministers, and that only to the next Assembly, at which he is to be restored or farther censured, as he deserveth.

9. That in the decision of questions, the superintendent was tied to the advice of the nearest reformed kirk in decerning the excommunication of stubborn offenders, in case there be not a reformed kirk where the offender dwelleth.-Messrs Knox and Craig, ministers of Edinburgh, appointed to set down form of exercise at public fast, which they did.

Dec. 28.] 10. The Assembly gave commission to Mr John Row to visit kirks, schools, colleges, to remove or suspend ministers, exhorters, readers, in Kyle, Carrick, and Cunninghame, as they shall be found offensive or unable, to eradicate idolatry, &c.

11. Mr Knox appointed to visit, preach, and plant kirks in the south, where there was not a superintendent, and to remain so long as occasion might suffer.

12. It is not lawful for sic as once put their hand to the plough to leave that heavenly vocation, and return to the profane world, for indigencie or povertie: lawfully they may leave ane unthankful people, and seek where Jesus Christ his holy evangell may bring forth greater fruit, but lawfully they may never change their vocation. 13. The kirk ought to purge herself of sic notorious malefactors as murderers and convict adulterers, and the order of procedure pointed out.

14. The civil magistrate ought to decern against such as oppress children. Touching the slander, the persons ought to be secluded from participation in the sacraments till they have satisfied the kirk as they shall be commanded.

1566, June 25.] XI. The eleventh General Assem

blie held in Edinburgh.-John Erskine of Dun, mode

rator.

1. In the trial of superintendents, the superintendent of Fife confesses inability to discharge the office, and desired the Assemblie to denude him of it.

2. A committee appointed to set apart at set times to receive in said questions, and to report the decisions to the Assemblie.

3. A petition from Robert, commendator of Holyroodhouse, patron of the kirks of Tranent and St Cuthbert, for leave to remove the ministers of those parishes, and to admit thereto learned men of his ain palace of Holyroodhouse, refused.

June 26.] 4. The Assemblie, in respect of the perils and dangers wherewith the kirk is assaulted, ordered a general fast throughout the whole kingdom.

5. Upon a petition of Paul Methven, it was ordanit that he present himself personally before the Assemblie; and having entered, he prostrate himself before the whole brethren with weeping and howlling: A committee appointed to take order in the premises, and whatever they do thereanent, to signifie the same to the superintendent of Lothian, and the session of the kirk of Lothian, and ordain Paul Methven to obey the same. The ordinance to be insert among the acts of Assemblie, for ane remembrance to posterity.

6. Reported by the committee on questions, That a woman whose husband had left her, and gone to other countries, and desiring to marry, ought to ascertain whether her first husband was dead or not, and to report a sufficient testimonial of his death.

7. That a person seeking donation or confirmation of benefices at the pope's kirk ought not to be admitted to the ministrie.

8. The commissioners appointed for the purpose reported that Paul Methven, upon two preaching days betwixt the Sundays, sall come to the kirk doore when the second bell rings, clad in sackcloth, bareheadit and barefootit, and there remain quhyll he be brought in to the sermon, and placed in the public spectacle above the people in

time of every sermon during the said twa days; and in the next Sunday thereafter, shall compear in like manner, and in the end of the sermon, shall declare signs of his inward repentance to the people, humbly requiring that kirk's forgiveness; quhilk done, he sall be clad in his auin apparell, and receivit in the society of the kirk, as an livelie member thereof. The same order to be observed in Dundee and Jedburgh, always secluding him from any function of the ministry in the church and the communion till the next General Assemblie.

1566, Dec. 25.] XII. The twelfth General Assemblie. John Erskine of Dun continued moderator.

1. A number of discussions and proceedings with respect to the teinds, and the supply of provision to ministers. Dec. 27.] 2. John Knox sought testimonialls and permission to go to England to visit his children.

3. A supplication from the General Assemblie to the nobility of the reformed church against renewing of jurisdiction to the Archbishop of St Andrews, in whose favour a signature had been passed, restoring his ancient jurisdictions of the bishoprick of St Andrews, with the execution of judgment, donation of benefices, &c.

4. Proceedings relative to the translation of the Zurich Confession of Faith, which was ordered to be printed.

5. A declaration that parties who are separated for adulterie shall not join themselves in marriage, and the Assemblie ordain superintendents of ministers, that none join any partie separated for adulterie in marriage, under pain of removing from the ministrie.

Dec. 28.] 6. Bishops, abbots, priors, and other persons beneficed, being of the kirk, who receive teinds and await not upon the feeding of the flock committed to their cure, ordained to be summoned, and to compear at the next General Assemblie.

7. A request by the superintendent of Angus to be exonerate of his calling, in respect of weakness and debility of body; but he was permitted to appoint some of the best qualified within his bounds to visit when he found himself unable.

8. It was ordained that supplication be made to the Lords of Secret Council, concerning the commission and jurisdiction supposed to be granted to the Bishop of St. Andrews (John Hamilton), to the effect their honors may stay the same, in respect that the causes, for the most part, judged by his authority pertained to the true kirk.

9. The Confession, commonly called the latter Confession of Helvetia, was approved by this Assembly, but with the exception against some holidays; and they ordained the translation made by Mr Robert Pont to be printed, together with the epistles sent by the Assembly approving the same, providing a note be put on the mar gin of the said confession where mention is made of some holidays.

10. It was resolved unanimously that tithes appertain properly to the kirk, and should be applied to the sustentation of the ministers, and the poor, and the maintenance of schools; and every one admonished to claim their rights therefrom, and to require all possessors of tithes to pay the same only to the kirk for these purposes, and to inhibit all others to intromit therewith, under the pain of censures. 11. Determined that communicants of the kirk, being witnesses of popish baptisms, be censured.

1567, June 25. XIII. The thirteenth General Assemblie held at Edinburgh, within the Nether Tolbooth. -George Buchanan, principal of St Leonard's College, moderator.

1. Letters ordered to be sent to the nobility upon various matters for the establishment of the church; and questions answered upon points of discipline.

2. It was ordained that some ministers should be sent to some earles, lords, barons, to require their presence at the next Assemblie, to settle and establish some course for the continuance of religion, and utter removing of all superstition, idolatrie, and monuments thereof. An Assembly ordered to be held 20th July.

1567, July 21.] XIV. The fourteenth General AssemVarious proceedings held relative to the stipends

blie.

of ministers, and articles regarding the establishmen signed by the noblemen, barons, and others. At th Assemblie the noblemen, barons, and others convene agreed and condescended that the act already ma concerning the thirds of the benefices, specially f sustentation of the ministrie, may be duely put to ex cution, according to the book of appointment of min sters' stipends, as well for them that are to be placed for those sufficiently sustained with the same, to the reli of their present necessitie till a perfect order may be take and established concerning the full distribution of the p trimonie of the kirk, according to God's word. Iten How soon a lawful parliament may be had, or that th occasion may otherwayes well serve, they shall labour an press to the uttermost, that the true kirk within this realm professing the true religion, shall be put in full liberty the patrimonie of the kirk. They condescended that a kings, princes, and magistrates, which shall happen t reigne hereafter, and to bear rule within this realme, shal at their first entrie, before they be crowned and inaugu rated, make their faithful promise to the true kirk; tha they shall maintaine and defend, and by all lawful mean set forward, the true religion, presently professed and esta blished within this realme, even as they are obliged an astricted by the law of God; as they crave obedience their subjects, so the bond and contract shall be mutua in all time coming between the prince and God, and be tween the prince and the faithful people, according t the word of God. Item, They condescended to com veen themselves together, with their power and forces, t root out and subvert all monuments of idolatrie, and spe cially the masse, without exception of place or person and to set up and establish the true religion throughou the whole realme.

1567, Dec. 25.] XV. Fifteenth General Assembly -John Row, moderator.

Dec. 26.] 1. Commissioners appointed to confer with Commissioners of Parliament or Council concerning the affairs and jurisdiction of the kirk.