Anent the forme of repentance of the fornicators, the Kirk and Commissioners present hes votit and concludit, that ane of the dayes of their appearance to make repentance for their offence on ane Sonday at ten houres before noon, in tyme of preaching, in presence of the congregatione, and that double fornicators receive double punischment for their offence.
The Generall Assembly, conveinit att Edinburgh, in the Counsell House, the first of October[16] 1577, qwhair war present the Bischopes of Glasgow and Dumblaine, Superintendants, Commissioners of Countries, Kirkes, and Universities, Ministers, and uthers: Mr Alexander Arbuthnet, Principal of the Colledge of Aberdeen, Moderator.
Because the said Mr Alexander, Moderator, was absent from the last Assemblie, in that respect not foirseen of the things done therein, at his desyre, the Kirk appoyntit the Laird of Dun, Mrs James Lawsone, Robert Pont, David Lyndsay, Andrew Hay, John Craig, Andrew Melvill, to conveine the morne with him at sevine houres in the morneing, and advyse upon sic matters as sall be thocht good to be handlit in this Assemblie. The principall argument to be intreatit in this Assemblie is this, The Policie of the Kirk. The brethren deput to the conceiving and forming of the heids thereof, being callit to give ane account of their diligence, presentit the same as they had made partitione thereof at their Assemblie at Streviling.
The heids pennit be Mrs James Lawsone and John Row were read, and nothing again said, except ane of the said Mr Johnes articles referrit to further disputatione; all men being requirit, that had gude reasone or argument to propone in the contrarie, to alleadge the same; or, if he wald not publicklie reasone upon the said heid, to resort to the saids Commissioners, where travell sould be taken to satisfie them, leivand to them to make argument as they think guide against the same.
The Laird of Dunn thocht the heid gine to him obscure. The Kirk desyrit him to conferr with the remanent Commissioners the morne at seven houres, that he may be resolvit of the meining thereof. The remnant heids beand prolixt, were thocht good to be contracted in short propositiones to be presentit to publick reiding.