THE COMMISSION GRANTED BY THE LATE GENERALL ASSEMBLY. Edinburgh, 4 Augusti 1649, ante meridiem, RENOVATION OF THE COMISSION FOR THE The General Assembly, considering how necessary it is for preservation of Religion in this Kingdom, and prosecution of the work of Vniformity in all his Majesties dominions, That the Comissions formerlie granted to that effect be renewed, Therefore they doe renew the power and Comission granted for the publick affaires of the Kirk by the Generall Assemblies held at Saint Andros 1642, and at Edinburgh 1643, 1644, 1645, 1646, 1647, and 1648, vnto the persons following, viz.:-Masters Alexander Rollock, John Murray, Thomas Lundie, John Freebairne, George Murray, Harie Livingston, William Macjore, Hew Henderson, Samuel Austine, Gavine Young, David Laing, William Maxwell, John Maccleland, James Erving, Robert Ferguson, John Scott, Thomas Wyllie, Hew Eccles, John Bell, John Nevoy, William Guthrie, John Hamiltoun, Hew Peebles, Alexander Dunlope, Harie Semple, David Dickson, Patrik Gillespie, James Durhame, Robert Baillie, William Hamiltoun, Francis Aird, James Nasmith, Richard Inglis, William Summervaill, Evan Cameron, Robert Blair, Samuell Rutherfoord, James Wood, John Macgill, elder, Alexander Balfoure, William Row, John Moncreiff, Fredrick Carmichaell, Harie Wilkie, William Oliphant, George Pitillo, John Robeson, James Thomeson, William Rate, David Campbell, Andro Cant, John Menzes, Andro Abercromby, Robert Sheyn, William Forbes, John Paterson, Duncan Forbes, William Chalmers, John Annand, William Falconer, Murdoch Mackenzie, Robert Jameson, Gilbert Marshell, John Dallase, William Smith, Robert Home, Thomas Suinton, James Stra toun, John Douglas, James Gutherie, Thomas Donalson, William Jameson, John Livingstoun, John Scott, Andro Dunkeson, John Dalzell, Arthur Forbes, James Fleeming, James Robieson, Hew Campbell, Robert Douglasse, Mungo Law, George Leslie, John Adamson, James Hamiltoun, John Smith, Hew Mackell, George Hutcheson, Patrik Feeming, John Hay, Ephraim Melvill, John Row, Gilbert Hall, George Bennet, Kenneth Logie, John Crafurd, Ministers: Archbald, Marquesse of Argyle, [John] Earle of Sutherland, Alexander, Earle of Eglingtoun, John, Earle of Cassills, William, Earle of Lothian, Archbald, Lord Angus, the Vicount of Arbuthnet, David, Lord Elcho, [George] Lord Brichen, Robert, Lord Burley, James, Lord Couper, Sir Archibald Johnstoun of Wariestoun, Clerk Register, Sir Daniel Carmichael, Thesaurer Depute, Sir John Hope of Craighall, Mr. George Winrhame of Libbertoun, Mr. Alexander Pearson of Southhal, Alexander Brodie of that Ilk, four of the ordinary Lords of the Session, Arthur Ersken of Scotscraige, Laird of Wauchtoun, Sir David Home of Wedderburn, Laird of Edzell, Laird of Nidrie, Sir William Scott of Harden, Laird of Greenheid, Laird of Freeland, Laird of Cessnock, Sir James Stewart of Kirkfeild, the Laird of Swintoun, younger, Laird of Eight, Sir James Fraser, Sir Thomas Ker, Laird of Fernie, Sir Robert Adair, Sheriff of Teviotdale, younger, Tutor of Pitsligo, Sir John Chiesly, Laird of Englistoun, Laird of Leslie, younger, Laird of Dumbeth, Laird of Wattertoun, Sir John Smith, Mr. Alexander Colvill of Blair, Whytbank, younger, Laird of Grenock, Galloscheills, younger, Buchchantie, Crachlaw, Cloberhill, Dalserfe, Mr. Robert Burnet, younger, Mr. Thomas Murray, James Eleis, David Kennedie, Alexander Jaffray, James Sword, George Porterfield, Mr. Robert Barclay, Hew Kennedy, William Glendoning, Thomas Macbirnie, Robert Lockhart, Mr. James Campbell, John Carsoone, John Boswell, Doctor Alexander Douglas, Mr. Alexander Skeen, William Browne, Elders: Giving vnto them full power and comission to doe all and everie thing for preservatioun of the established Doctrine, Discipline, Worship, and Government in this Kirk, against all who shall endeavour to introduce anything contrary therevnto; and for prosecuting, advancing, perfecting, and bringing the worke of Vniformity in Religion in all his Majesties dominions to a happy conclusion, conforme to the former commissions granted by preceeding Assemblies thereanent. And to that effect appoints them, or any nynteen of them, whereof 13 shall be Ministers, to meet in this city tomorrow, the 7 of this instant, and thereafter vpon the second Wednesday of November, February, and May next, and vpon any other day and in any other place they shall thinke fitt: Giving also vnto them full power to send Commissioners to the Kingdom of England, for prosecuting the Treatie of Vniformity as they shall find conveniencie, and to give instructions and commissions to that effect, conform to former commissions granted thereanent; And likewise, in case delinquents have no constant residence in any one Presbyterie, or if Presbyteries be negligent or overawed, in these cases The Assembly gives to the persons before named power of censuring complyers and persons disaffected to the Covenant, according to the Acts of the Assembly, Declaring always and providing that Ministers shall not be deposed but in one of the quarterlie meetings of this Commission: And further authorizes them, as formerlie, with full power to make Supplicatiouns, Remonstrances, Declarations, and Warnings, to indict Fasts and Thanksgivings, as there shall be cause, to protest against all encroachments vpon the liberties of the Kirk, and to censure all such as interrupt this Commission, or any other Church Judicatorie, for the execution of their censures, or of any other Sentences or Acts issuing from them: And with full power to them to treat and determine in the matters referred vnto them by this Assembly, as fullie and freely as if the same were here fully expressed, and with as ample power as any Commission of any former Generall Assemblies hath had or been in vse of before: Declaring also that all opposers of the authority of this Commission in matters intrusted to them shall be holden as opposers of the authority of the Generall Assemblie: And this Commission in their whole proceedings are comptable to and censurable by the next Generall Assemblie. A. KER, יד Mr. Robert THE ACTS AND PROCEEDINGS of the COMMISSION of the late GENERALL ASSEMBLY holden at Edinburgh in the moneths of Julij and August last 1649. Edinburgh, 7 Augusti 1649. Sederunt:-MINISTERS.-Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator. Mr. Andro Cant: Mr. James Durhame: Mr. William Falconer: Mr. Ephraim Melvill: Mr. John Annand: Mr. John Freebairn: Mr. John Nevoy: Mr. John Murray: Mr. John Livingstoun: Mr. John Dallas: Mr. John Meinzies Mr. Harie Livinstoun: Mr. George Pitillo: Mr. David Campbell: Mr. Robert Jamesone: Mr. Thomas Swintoun: Mr. John Dalzell : Mr. Hew Campbell: Mr. Mungo Law: Mr. David Laing: Mr. Francis Aird: Mr. Thomas Wyllie: Mr. William Rate: Mr. Robert Home: Mr. John McGill: Mr. Kenneth Logie: Mr. David Dicksone: Mr. Patrik Gillaspie Mr. John Hamiltoun: Mr. Alexanner Dunlope: Mr. Evan Cameron: Mr. William Guthrie: Mr. Patrik Fleeming: Mr. John Hay: Mr. John Paterson: Mr. James Guthrie: Mr. John Moncreiff: Mr. George Murray: Mr. Harie Wilkie: Mr. James Thomesone: Mr. Duncan Forbes Mr. William Smith: Mr. John Scott: Mr. Arthour Forbes : Mr. John Robesone: Mr. Robert Row: Mr. Thomas Lundie: Mr. John Maclelland: Mr. James Nasmith: Mr Murdo Mackenzie: Mr. Gaven Young: Mr. Thomas Donaldson: Mr. Hew Eccles: Mr. James Hamiltoun. ELDERS.-Thesaurer depute: Wauchtoun: Wedderburne : Buchantie: David Kennedie. After incalling vpon the name of God by Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator of the late Generall Assembly, the names of the Commissioners being called, and the Commission read, the brethren proceeded to the choysing of a Moderator, and vnanimously elected the said Mr. Robert Douglas Moderator of this Commission in all the Sessions and meetings thereof. The Commission recomends to the brethren appointed by the General Assembly for correcting the Psalmes to hasten their corrections, and so soone as they have done, that the Moderator conveen the Commission, or a quorum of these that are nearest, to consider their travells, and prepare the matter against the quarterly meeting.1 1 The Assembly before its rising, finding its Committee had not been able to bring to a conclusion the revision of the proposed new metrical Psalter, ordained be Professor of The Commission of the Generall Assembly, having considered Advyse to Mr. the reference of the late Assembly to them for advysing Mr. John Menzies to John Menzies, Minister at Aberdene, to accept of the charge Divinity. of a Professor of Divinity in the Vniversity there,1 Doe advyse and require the said Mr. John, personallie present, to accept and embrace the faire calling he hath gottin to the said profession in the Vniversity of Aberdene, in respect of the guid abilities the Lord hath given him for that employment. delyverie-A Livingstoun. The Commission of the Generall Assembly, considering that Warrant for Mr. John Livingstoun, Minister at Ancrum, is appointed by thowsand merks the late Assemblie to compile the history of these latter tymes,2 to Mr. John Doe therefore appoint the Moderator, Mr. Robert Douglas, to give vnto him the sowme of ane thowsand merks, which were put in his hands by my Lord Humbie to be given to any that sould have the charge of collecting that historie, and these presentis shall be to the Moderator a sufficient warrant. The Commission appoints Mr. David Dickson, Mr. Andro Comittee for Cant, Mr. James Gutterie, Mr. Patrik Gillaspie, Mr. James the historie, Durhame, with the Moderator, to confer with Mr. John Livingstoun vpon the best wayes for furnishing to him the materialls for the historie, and to be assisting to him in everie thing that may promove that work. The Commission of Assembly, considering the power they Concerning the have from the late Assembly to give a competent and honest Wrytting the Paraphrase of acknowledgment and reward to the young man that hes been the Psalmes. employed in wrytting of the severall copies of the Paraphrase of the Psalmes, corrected from time to time,3 Doe therefore them after the dissolving of the Assembly 'to goe on in that worke carefully, and to report their travels to the Commission . . . at their meeting at Edinburgh in November,' and authorised the Commission after perusal and reexamination thereof to conclude and establish' it, and to issue it for public use. -Peterkin's Records of the Kirk, p. 553. 1 See No. 242 in List of unprinted Acts of the Assembly.-Records of the Kirk, p. 559. 2 In the List of unprinted Acts of the Assembly is one (No. 207) bearing the title, Act for collecting the history of these latter times.'-Records of the Kirk, p. 558. 3 In the same List, No. 230, is 'Reference and Recommendation to the Commission for satisfying the paines of the writer of the paraphrase of the Psalms.'Records of the Kirk, p. 558. In his account of Assembly 1648 Baillie says, 'The Assembly spent diverse sessions for small purpose upon transportations, |