The Generall Assembly of the Kirk, conveened in Edinburgh, in the Nether Tobooth thereof, the 25th of December 1567: In the whilk were present Earles, Lords, Barrones, Superintendants, Ministers, and Commissioners of Townes and Kirks. The invocatione of God’s name was made be Mr John Craige, ane of the ministers of Edinburgh.
For eschewing of confusione in reasoning in this present Assemblie, was chosen Mr John Row, minister of St Johnstone, to be moderator.
The haill Kirk assembled thought it meet that certain brethren be appointed to concurr at all tymes with six persones of Parliament, or Secret Councill, as my Lord Regent’s Grace hes nominat for sic affaires as pertaines to the Kirk and jurisdiction thereof, and also to discusse of questiones that may occurr in the meanetyme, whais names followes:--Mrs John Knox, John Craige, ministers of Edinburgh; the Superintendants of Angus and Louthiane, David Borthwick, Thomas M‘Calzeane, Mr David Lindesay, minister of Leith, George Hay of Ruthven, and John Row.
Ordaines that Superintendants and Commissioners appointed shall plant ministers vaikand in sic rowmes where the parishioners will gladly sustaine them on their owne expenses, whill other order be had; and that they remove nane out of their rowme, being found qualified, without the advyce and consent both of the ministrie, and kirk-worthie of the place.
Anent the accusatione laid to my Lord Argyll’s charge, touching the separation betwixt him and his wife; declared that he was not the occasione thereof. As to other offences whatsoever, wherthrough he hes been anywayes sclanderous to the Kirk, he was content to subject himself to the discipline of the Kirk at all tymes maist willinglie; and, therefore, the Kirk ordained the Superintendant of Argyle to take tryall of the saids sclanders committed be the said Earle, and thereafter to cause sic satisfaction be made, as God’s Law appoints, and to report the order thereof to the next Generall Assemblie of the Kirk, together with his own diligence in executione of his office of Superintendancie.
Anent the marriage of the Queen with the Earle Bothwell, be Adam, called Bishop of Orkney; the haill Kirk finds that he transgressed the act of the Kirk in marrying the divorced adulterer; and, therefore, deprives him of all functione of the ministrie, conforme to the tenor of the act made thereupon, ay and whill the Kirk be satisfied of the sclander committit be him.