Deposition of ut hos consilio juves, causamque nostram, vel Dei potius, pro authoritate, qua plurimum apud omnes vales, promovere studeas. Nec opus esse arbitramur, vt pluribus hoc abs te flagitemus, qui propensum erga nos animum tuum per literas tuas nobis abunde significaveris. Benedicat Dominus conatibus nostris, vt in omnibus Ecclesiis Reformatis personet ejus nomen, in gloriam Domini nostri Jesu Christi, in quo nos sumus, Tui Studiossimi Fratres, SYNODI NATIONALIS SCOTICANE Delegati, 'Clarissimo viro ac fratri in Christo Dilectissimo, The Commission of the General Assembly, haveing considered the processe against Mr. Robert Balcanquhall,1 reserved vnto them by the late Assembly, together with the sentence of Suspension given by the said Assembly against him for the particulars following, viz.:-1. For the neglect of the exercise of his calling, particularlie in relation to the house of Winton. 2. For his praying for the late vnlawfull Engagement, saying, God blesse all these that have the managing of peace and warr both at home and abroad. 3. For his reflecting vpon the Declaratioun of the Comission of the late Generall Assembly. 4. For his reflecting vpon the Parliament and their Comittees in these words, We want both King and statsmen, and everie man is King day and about. And the Comission, after hearing the said Mr. Robert diverse tymes, personallie present, and a further revewe of the said processe, finding lykewayes these particulars proven, viz. :-1. That he did permitt without any opposition the reading of a paper in his kirk before the blessing, which was some order from the Comittee of the Schyre for the tyme for the advanceing of the late Levie vnder the Earle of Lanerk, the said Earle being then present in the kirk. 2. That, by his owne confession, these seven yeirs he hes vsed one sett forme of words in praying for these who have the managing 1 He was minister of the parish of Tranent, and had been suspended by the General Assembly in 1649 'for being accessory to the Divisive supplies '-Scott's Fasti, vol. i. p. 358. of affaires, and that without alteratioun at home or abroad at of the Visita The Commission of the Generall Assembly, finding a necessitie Continuatioun of a frequent meeting here in this towne in the begining of the tioun of Angus moneth of March, in respect of the meeting of the Parliament, to May. Doe therefore judge it necessarie that the Moderator advyse the Visitours of Angus to continue the nixt meeting of that Visitation, whilk is vpon the second Wednesday of March, to the third Wednesday of Maij, that the members of the Visitatioun who are members of this Comission may be here present in March, and that letters be written to them for that effect with diligence. The Commission of Assembly Doe humbly recomend to the Mr. James honourable Comittee of Estates that they wold be pleased to give order for the apprehending of Mr. James Kennedy, a notorious pryme Malignant, excommunicat for his rebellion and Malignancy. The nixt meeting at 7 hours in the morning. Kennedie. Recomendation to the Magistrats of Edinburgh. Preacher to the Recomendation to the ministers concerning erroneous bookes. Edinburgh, 22 Februarij 1650. Sederunt: MINISTERS.-Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator. Mr. Hew Henderson : Mr. John Scott: Mr. John Nevoy: Mr. David Dickson: Mr. James Durhame: Mr. John Moncreiff: Mr. Robert Home: Mr. Thomas Donaldson: Mr. Mungo Law: Mr. William Major: Mr. Samuell Owstane: Mr. Thomas Wyllie: Mr. William Gutterie: Mr. Patrik Gillaspie Mr. William Row: Mr. Fredrik Carmichael: Mr. James Gutterie: Mr. John Livingstoun: Mr. James Hamiltoun: Mr. George Hutchesone. ELDERS. The Commission of the Generall Assembly recomends to the Ministerie of Edinburgh to speake with the towne of Edinburgh to be thinking vpon a place for a comodious house for the Assembly, and to report against the nixt tyme the Comission sitts. The Commission of Assembly appoynts the Moderator, Mr. Robert Douglas, to preach to the Parliament at the first day of their nixt meeting.1 The Commission of Assembly refers and recomends to the of Edinburgh Presbyterie of Edinburgh to tak speciall search and tryell of any buiks of Sectaries, or vther erroneous books or papers brought home or ventit in this countrey, and to put the Act of the Generall Assembly in executioun, authorizing them with full power for that effect; wherein they are also to seek the concurrence of the Civill Magistrat, if they see necessitie. Letter to the cerning Mr. porting to the Queensferrie. REVEREND BRETHREN,-The Commission haveing appointed Stranrawer con- Mr. Ephraim Melvill to transport from Queensferrie to John Dick trans- Linlithgow, the congregatioun of Queensferrie have chosen Mr. John Dick, on of your number, to be their Minister; and they being now to prosequut his transportatioun before yow by their Commissioners, We cannot but desyre that yow will impartiallie take notice of the great necessitie of that part, and of the great number of soules that are in the parochine of Queensferrie. We shall be far from encroaching vpon your liberties, or assuming to our selfis anie authority or power to judge in the bussines, But we trust that in this particular yow will walk vpon these grounds that the Generall Assembly have in their overtures holden furth to be sufficient causes of 1 On 7th March 'efter devyne service' the Parliament was formally opened. See Acts Parl. Scot., vol. vi. pt. ii. p. 555. granting or denying transportatioun, and that yow will cary yourselves so in the whole bussines that the congregatioun of Queensferrie have no just cause, either because of needles delay, or of wrong judgement, to appeale from your Presbyterie. So comending yow and your labours to the blessing of God, and continew, Your loving brethren, THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE GENERALL ASSEMBLY.' Songes. The Commission, vnderstanding that Mr. Robert Lowrie hes Scripturall taken some paines in putting the Scripturall songs in meter, They therefore desire him to present his labours therein to the Comission at their nixt meeting. dine. The Commission of the Generall Assembly continowes the Laird Pluscarmatter concerning Thomas M'Kenzie of Pluscardine vnto the 8 of Maij next, and appoints him to be personallie present that day at Edinburgh, with certificatioun, if he appear not, his absence shall be taken for contempt, and he proceeded againes accordinglie; And the extract hereof given to George Stewart, who delivered his letter to the Clerk, shall serve for sufficient advertisment. Middletoun. The Commission appoynts sumonds to be sent to Generall Generall Major Major Midletoun for his appearing before the Comission at their nixt meeting, and that letters be written to the Presbyterie for spedy executioun thereof. cerning Earle The Commission of the General Assembly refers the Earle Reference conof Hartfell to the Provincial Assembly of Drumfreis, giving Hartfell. vnto them full power of tryall and censure, and to doe everie thing which they might doe themselves thereanent; and in their procedour with him they shall yet take any further tryell they can concerning his cariage. Younger of The Commission of the Generall Assembly, haveing con- Reference-Sir sidered the petition of Sir John Greirson of Lagg, knight, Doe John Greirsone referr him to the Presbyterie of Lochmaben to try the evidence Lagg. of his repentance, and thereafter to receive him to publick satisfaction for his accession to the late vnlawfull Engagement, according to his degree of guiltinesse, and the order prescribed, The nixt meeting at 5 houres in the afternoon. Recomendation-Mr. Patrik Waterstoun Moresone to Perth. : Eodem die, post meridiem. Sederunt:-MINISTERS.-Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator. Mr. James Hamiltoun: Mr. John Livingstoun: Mr. Andro Duncanson : Mr. Gavein Young Mr. Ephraim Melvill: Mr. James Robieson: Mr. James Nasmith Mr. George Hutcheson: Mr. Samuell Owsten: Mr. William Major: Mr. Mungo Law: Mr. Hew M‘Kaile: Mr. George Leslie: Mr. Alexander Dunlope: Mr. James Wood: Mr. Alexander Rollock : Mr. Robert Row: Mr. Francis Aird: Mr. David Dicksone: Mr. John Douglas: Mr. David Layng. ELDERS.-Earle Cassills: Scotiscraig Whytbank Mr. Alexander Colvill: Mr. Robert Burnet: David Kennedy. The Commission of the Generall Assembly, considering that Mr. James Morieson and Mr. Patrik Waterstoun1 are kept from and Mr. James their charges by the insolencies of the rebells in Orknay, They doe therefore recomend them to their brethren of the Presbyteries within the Sheriffdome of Perth, that they may be pleased to imploy them for the exercise of their talents God hes given them in the Ministerie, as they find occasioun, and for provyding some meane of subsistence to them in the mean tyme, vntill it shall please God to make way for their returne to their owne Congregatiouns, for discharging their functions there with freedome and saftie. Letter to ‘Right reverenD AND LOVEING BRETHREN,—We did recomend to your severall Presbyteries formerlie to take speciall care to prosequut the provision of their kirks, according to the Act of Parliament, and to seik the annexatiouns and erections necessarie before the Comission for planting of kirks. But now vnderstanding that not many are come from your parts in this late session of that Judicatorie, Therefore we lay it vpon yow to take such care as yow find so necessarie a work requyre, that everie Presbyterie sie these things prosequut at the nixt meeting of the Comission for planting of Kirks in Junij; and especiallie that these Kirks that are in Strespey and Strabogie be cared for, and their provisions setled; and that the severall Presbyteries be ready to make accompt of their diligence herein to the nixt 1 Morieson was minister of Evie and Rendal, Waterstoun of Stronsay and Eday. |