Anent the propositione of certaine brethren of the Assemblie, declareand that the Regent’s Grace hes presentit Mr Patrick Adamsone to the Bishopric of St Androis; and that be ordinance of the Assembly, Bischops sould be tryit before them, or they be admittit to the chaptor, Requyrand baith the counsell and advyse of the Kirk herein: The said Mr Patrick answerit, that my Lord Regent’s Grace had discharged him to proceed farther in this matter, in respect the said act and ordinance of the Kirk is not accordit on; and therefore he wald not medle further and make instance therein; qwhilk answer the Kirk thocht sould be gine to my Lord Regent’s Grace be the chapter.
Mr Patrick Adamsone, John Row, and David Lyndsay, desyrit provisione to be made for the visitors of countries, according to the division and order takin in the Assembly, &c.
His Grace answerit concerning the visitors, that he would be advysit with the rowes and the Collector, &c.
Alexander Hay, clarke to the Secret Councill, presented to the Assembly certaine questiones, qwhairof he craveit decesioune for the better expeditioune of the platt; declaring it to be my Lord Regent’s Grace will, at the least so many as may now have resolutione.
It is thocht meit that the haill readers within this realme sall be examinit and try it _de novo_ in their Synodall Assemblies; and if, after examinatione, they be fund to want the qualities prescryvit in the Booke of Discipline, to be deposit, and removit from their offices: And sicklyke, that no reader within this realme minister the holy sacrament of the Lord, except such as hes the word of exhortatione.
It is thocht meit that in every parochine there be persones to make sepulchres, quha sall notifie the names of the persones deceased to the readers, that they may present the same to the commissioner to be reportit to the Generall Assemblie.
Forswameikle as the Kirk and Commissioners present, advysidly considering the greit prejudice and hurt done to the Kirk of God be benificed persones within the ministrie, that setts taks and feus of their benefices and ecclesiasticall livings, lands, rents, tynds, and fruits of the samen, defraudand not only their successors of that qwhilk justly sould pertayne to them, and quhairupone they ought to be sustainit; but also bringand upon the Kirk be their inordinat and corrupt dealing, infinite sclanders and inconvenients: Therefore, with uniformitie of votes and mynds, they have resolvit and concludit, that no beneficit persone within the ministrie, Bischops, or uthers, sall sett fewes or tacks of their benefices, or ecclesiasticall livings, lands, rents, teinds, and fruits of the samine, or any part thereof, to whatsumever persone or persones, without the advyce and consent of the Generall Assemblie of the Kirk; and sicklyke, that no minister subscryve nor give their consent to the said fewes or tacks, in any wayes, qwhill he sie the consent of the Assemblie.