The thirds of Melros, Haddingtoune, and Northberrwick, the third of Kelso and Coldinghame; as to Dumfries, Annandale, and Kirkcudbright, and Wigtoune, the Bishope of Gallaway hes deput certain collectors for satisfactione of the ministers within the samen.
_Item_, Within Kyle, Carrick, and Cunninghame, executiones past, and believes to have payment at the nixt ganging in the countrie. _Item_, Corsraguel is given frie, and the minister of Fairfurd is evill payd that the act be reised, made be the Queen’s Grace and Secret Councill, dischargeing the gifts and tacks of all the thirds, and that nane be given hereafter, without advyse of the Secret Counsell, to the effect the collector may charge, notwithstanding any sic gifts. Remember that ilk collector execute within his bounds, that letters be direct, with consent of the thesaurer, according to the first article.
The Noblemen, Barrones, and uthers undersubscryvand in this present Assembly of the Kirk of God, hes condescended and agreed to the articles following, at Edinburgh, Julii 20, 1567:--
In the first: Forswameikle as there was ane Parliament holden in this realme, before the Queen’s Majestie’s arrivall in the same, be the estates conveened for the tyme, authorized with her Heines own power and commissione; in the whilk Parliament it was concluded, that the religione of Jesus Christ be universallie receaved within this realme, should be universally established and approved within the same, and all Papistrie, with the Papists usurped jurisdictione, all Idolatrie, and especially the blasphemous Masse, be abolished and put away; as the acts made thereupon proports: Quhilk acts, together with the Queen’s Majestie’s power to hold the same Parliament, the Noblemen, Barrons, and uthers undersubscrivand, wills to be extract and putt in full executione as ane publick law, and that the transgressors thereof be punished according to the same throughout the haill realme, without exceptione: Whilk Parliament in all things concerning the Religion, they shall defend and maintaine at their uttermost, in the first Parliament whilk shall be holden at all uther tymes and occasiones convenient: _Item_, That the act allready made towards the thirds of the benefices within this realme, principally for sustaining of the ministrie, may be dewly put to executione, according to the order of the Book of the appointment of ministers’ stipends, allsweel of them that are to be appointed, as for them already placed; and that the ministers be first duely answered and sufficiently sustained of the same, to the relief of their present necessitie, ay and whill ane perfect order may be taken and established toward the full distributione of the patrimonie of the kirk, according to God’s word; and that also the ordinance made be the Queen’s Majestie and her Councill towards the small benefices, now extending to the soume of three hundred merks, be dewly put to executione, alsweell toward the benefices whilks hes vaiked since the date of the said ordinance, as concerning them that shall happen hereafter to vake, and sicklike the act made towards the anuales, abies and altarages of burrowes.