Articles proponit to my Lord Regent’s Grace.
1. That stipends be grantit to Superintendants in all tyme comeing, in all countries destitute thereof, Qwhether it be where there is no Bischops, or where there is Bischops, and may not discharge their cure, as the Bischops of St Androis and Glasgow.
2. That in all Burrowstounes, where the ministers thereof are displacit and serves at uther kirks, that their ministers who servit them before be restorit againe to wait on their cures, and they be not oblidged to any uther kirk, or else that uthers be plantit in the saids touns.
3. That his Grace will giue commissione to certaine gentlemen in euery countrie, that incest, adultrie, witchcraft, and uther sic odious cryms qwhairwith the haill countrey is replenischit, may be punischit.
4. In euery kirk destitute of ministers, sic persons as are present and readie to be plantit, be placit, and stipends grantit unto them qwhais names shall be gine up be the Bischops, Superintendants, and Commissioners.
5. In respect that the ecclesiasticall functione is only distinct offices, of teaching, the Doctor that interprets the Scriptures, and the Minister, to preach and apply the same; his Grace will take ordor that Doctors may be placeit in Universities, and stipends granted unto them, wherby not only they who are presently placeit may have occasion to be diligent in their cure, but also wher learnit men may have occasion to seek places in Colledges within this realme.
6. That his Grace will take ane generall order with the puire, and speciallie in the Abbayes, sic as Aberbrothoc and uthers, conforme to the act made at Leith; and in speciall to discharge teind sybows, leeks, kaill, onzions, be ane act of Secret Councill, whill ane Parliament be conveint, where they may be simpliciter discharged.
7. That his Grace will grant commissione to certane persons in every diocie to sit in causes of divorcement where the parties are poore.
8. That his Grace wald provide qualified persones to vaikand Bishopricks.
9. That his Grace wald cause the buiks of the Assignatione of the Kirk to be delyvered to the Clerk of the Generall Assembly.
Forsuameikle as it is understand to the Generall Assembly of the Kirk, that there is diverse persones who, dureing their wyfe’s tyme committs adulterie with other men’s wyfes, and thereafter, after their wyfe’s decease, marryes them wham they of before have polluted in adulterie; Therefore it is statute and ordainit be this present Assembly, that Bishops, Superintendants, and others Commissioners of provinces, charge all sic persones, so joynit in that sclanderous and unlaufull band, to separate themselves and abstaine from others, unto the tyme it be decydit be the Judge Ordinar, if the said marriage be lawfull or not, under the payne of excommunicatione to be execute against disobeyars.