Eodem die, post meridiem. Sederunt:-MINISTERS.-Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator. Mr. John Smith Mr. James Gutterie: Mr. Patrik Gillaspie: Mr. Mungo Law: Mr. Patrik Colvill: Mr. David Strachan: Mr. William Row: Mr. James Hamiltoun: Mr. Thomas Donaldson: Mr. Patrik Sharpe: Mr. George Leslie Mr. Samuell Rutherfurd: Mr. James Fleeming: Mr. Alexander Turnbull: Mr. Alexander Livistoun : Mr. George Bennet: Mr. John Home: Mr. John Livistoun. ELDERS.-Lord Cassills: Lord Advocat: Lord Craighall: Sir James Hacket: Laird Creich: Lochtour: Whytbank : Mr. Alexander Colvill: Mr. Alexander Pearson: Mr. Robert Burnet : William Browne. of Obstell. The Commission appoints a letter to be written to the Synod Robert Munro of to try the particular sclanders that are vented vpon Robert Monroe of Obstale, and to report their diligence. The Commission of Assembly refers Collonell Hew Mon- Col. Heugh gomry to the Presbyterie of Air, that he may bring from them Montgomerie. a testimony of his cariage in relation to the late Engagement. The Commission appoints Mr. John Row and Mr. Thomas Donaldson to preach to the Parliament, and Mr. John Home and Mr. John Heart to preach in the Tron Kirk the nixt Sabboth. The nixt meeting the morne at ten houres. Edinburgh, 24 Januarij 1649, ante meridiem. The brethren present continues the meeting till the morne afternoon. Edinburgh, 25 Januarij 1649, post meridiem. The Commission of Assembly appoints Messrs. Samuell Rutherfurd, John Livistoun, James Gutterie, Mr. Patrik Gillaspie, and Mr. Alexander Peirson to draw a drawght of a Petition to the Parliament for dischargeing Patronages of Kirks, and that the Clerk be with them and furnish them some grounds out of the Books of Discipline and Acts of Assembly. Mr. William Kinninmont to Lawers Regiment. James Kinin mont. Recomending Petitions to the The Commission appoints Messrs. James Hamiltoun and John Smith to revise the table containing the degrees of incest, and to report. This day the Overtures to be given in to the Parliament being read, the Comission appointed them to be given in to the Comittee of Overtures to be presented to the Parliament, and that Messrs. John Row, John Livistoun, James Gutterie, Patrik Gillaspie, Fredrick Carmichaell, and Mr. Alexander Peirson manage the bussines at the Comittee and Parliament, and attend their answer. The nixt meeting the morne at 10 houres. Edinburgh, 26 Januarij 1649, ante meridiem. Sederunt:-MINISTERS.-Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator. Mr. James Gutterie: Mr. David Strachan: Mr. Thomas Donaldson: Mr. John Knox: Mr. Samuell Austaine: Mr. Charles Archbald: Mr. Alexander Dunloppe: Mr. John Livistoun : Mr. John Row: Mr. Samuell Rutherfurd: Mr. Walter Gregge: Mr. John Sinclare: Mr. William Row: Mr. Alexander Turnbull: Mr. Robert Ellot: Mr. Thomas Wassie: Mr. James Hamiltoun: Mr. Andro Wood: Mr. Hew Kennedy. ELDERS. -Creich: Quhytbank: Lochtour: Mr. Alexander Peirson : Mr. Robert Burnet: William Browne. Concerning the petition of the Laird of Lawers, desiring Mr. William Kinninmunt to be Minister to his Regiment, the Comission of Assembly, knowing the sufficiency of the said Mr. William for that imployment, and remembring also that they had formerly recomendit him to Presbyteries, Doe therefore appoint him to attend the said Regiment for performing Ministeriall dueties to them. Concerning the petition of James Kininmunt, the Comission of Assembly refuses the desires thereof, finding that he is debarred from the Covenant by the Act of the fourth of December concerning the Explanation of the Act of the sext of October. The Comission appoints Messrs. James Hamiltoun, Thomas Wassie, Samuell Austaine, to assist the petitions of St. Androis and Dumfreis to be presented to the Parliament, and that Mr. James Gutterie and Mr. John Row assist Mr. David Strachans petition to the Parliament for reparatioun of losses. The nixt meeting the morne at tua houres. Edinburgh, 27 Januarij 1649, post meridiem. Sederunt:-MINISTERS.-Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator. Mr. John Livistoun Mr. John Home: Mr. John Row: Mr. Patrik Gillaspie : Mr. Walter Gregge: Mr. James Hamiltoun: Mr. Thomas Vassie: Mr. Alexander Dunlope: Mr. James Gutterie: Mr. Samuell Austaine : Mr. Robert Ellot: Mr. Charles Archbald. ELDERS.-Lord Cassills: Nidrie: Creich: Lochtoure: Whytbanke: Mr. Alexander Peirson : Mr. Robert Burnet: William Browne. The Comission continues the consideration of James Rosse James Rosse. of Banneill his process, vntill Mr. Alexander Turnbull be present. Presbyteries. The Comission appoints a letter to be drawen that Presby- Letter to teries may vse all diligence for tryall of the condition of every kirk within their bounds, conforme to the Recomendatioun of the Generall Assembly, and to send in the report thereof. The Commission appoints an Overture to be given in to the Punishment of destroyers and Parliament for punishing of conceillers and destroyers of con- concealers of ceptions, And for debarring Papists from any power of nomina- conceptions. tion of persons to places of trust. The nixt meeting vpon the penult of Januarij at 10 houres. Edinburgh, 30 Januarij 1649, ante meridiem. Sederunt:-MINISTERS.—Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator. Mr. Johne Livistoun Mr. John Smith: Mr. Alexander Dunlope: Mr. Samuell Austaine: Mr. John Duncan: Mr. John Row: Mr. David Strachan : Mr. Kenneth Logie: Mr. Thomas Donaldson: Mr. George Bennet: Mr. Samuell Rutherfurd: Mr. James Gutterie: Mr. James Hamiltoun : Mr. Thomas Vassie: Mr. John Knox: Mr. Andro Wood: Mr. Charles Archbald Mr. Robert Ellot: Mr. Alexander Turnbull: Mr. Patrik Gillaspie Mr. John Adamson: Mr. William Row. ELDERS.-Craighall : Creich Lochtoure: Whytbank: Mr. Alexander Peirson: Mr. Alexander Colvill: Mr. Robert Burnet: William Browne. The Comission thinkes fitt that my Lord Advocat and Mr. Alexander Colvill, Justice-Depute, be consulted concerning the punishment of on Thomas Purves for interrupting of Divine service. Presbyteries 'RIGHT REVEREND,-Whereas we have been informed that Letter to diverse Presbyteries had been negligent in the trialls, and too concerning the sudden in the admitting to the renueing of the Covenant, admitting of persons that are disaffected, and to whom the favour granted Covenant. persons to the Letter to in the Explanatioun of the Act of Comission doth not belong, and that many applications are still made to Presbyteries by Malignants, and men that have been deeply involved in that late Engagement, to be readmitted to the Covenant, Therefore we have thought it necessarie to warne yow that yow be very circumspect and take good heed whom yee admitt to the Covenant, that so the Cause suffer no prejudice by our joyning with the enemies thereof. And for this cause we desire that the trialls of such, according to the rule and direction we have formerly given, may be by your selves and not by your Sessions, and that yow cause register your whole proceedings in every on of your books, and where any questionable caices come before yow concerning the admitting of persons to the Covenant, yee shall refer them hither, and appoint the persons who importune yow for that favour to make their addresses vnto And we cannot conceale from yow that if any person or persons be admitted to renue the Covenant who are not allowed by our Act and Explanation, by the great trust comitted vnto ws wee will be necessitated to proceed against such, and to take notice of the Presbyteries proceedings, in applying the Act appointed by ws to regulat the admitting of persons to the renueing of the Covenant. Yow are lykewise hereby desired to hasten in the report of your diligence, with the last1 of the persons debarred from the Covenant within the severall parochies within your bounds. And so comitting yow to the Lords speciall direction, Wee remaine, WS. Edinburgh the 30 Januarij 1649. Your loving brethren, THE COMISSIONERS OF THE GENERALL ASSEMBLY.' REVEREND BRETHREN,-Albeit we have long expected from yow an account of your diligence concerning the provisions and other particulars relating vnto severall kirks within your bounds, according to the Act of the Generall Assembly in the yeir 1647, yet we have hitherto received no satisfaction from yow therein. And conceiving your negligence in this to have been very prejudiciall to the setling of your severall kirks, and that a perfite account of these things would contribute very 1 Sic in Ms., probably for list. 183 much for furthering the same, Therefore we doe now desire, as yow would not wish the blame to lay longer vpon yow, to take paines for setting downe the names of all the paroches within your bounds, with declaration which of them have Ministers, which not, what is the largenes of the bounds, comodious or incomodious situation of each paroch kirk, what is the number of Comunicants, what kirks are vnder Patrons, what not,1 what is the nature and quantitie of the present provision, or possible ground of further provision for competent mantenance, where the same is not sufficiently provided already, as also what paroches are vnited or disvnited or bettered already, and in what measure by the said Comission. And that this may not be neglected nor slighted, we trust that yow will imediatly after the sight hereof name on of your number to take paines herein, and that yow will be carefull to give him your best concurrence and assistance for clearing of all those particulars. Wee will expect a perfect account of all these things against the nixt quarterly meeting in Februarij, or as soone thereafter as possible can be. Wee thinke we shall need to say no more in that bussines tending so much for your owne advantage, and to the good and setling of all the kirks within this Kingdom, but commends yow to the grace of God, and continues, Edinburgh 30 Januarij 1649. Your affectionat brethren, THE COMISSIONERS OF THE GENERALL ASSEMBLY." 'Wee pray yow be carefull that none of the particulars in the Act of Assembly, and sett doune in our letter, be omitted concerning any of your kirks. It is very lickly that these who shall first report their diligence in these particulars shall be first taken in consideratioun by the Comission of plantation of kirks.' 'RIGHT REVEREND,-Yee shall receive copies of the Letter to Presbyteries. new Paraphrase of the Psalms at a merk the peece, which yow 1 By Act of Parliament 1642. The Acts of 1567 and 1592 had been recognised as only reserving the patronage of 'his Majestie and other laic patrons,' and the churches where, before the Reformation, the appointment belonged to bishops, chapters, monasteries, etc., had been recognised as falling to be filled up by the Presbyteries on the suit and calling of the congregations. |