Item another register being the fifth book, and greatest volume, beginning at the Assembly holden in _Anno_ 1560, and ending in the year 1590. Having carefully viewed, perused and considered the first registers, and every one of them, and being deeply and maturely advised, as in a matter of greatest weight and consequence, do attest before God, and upon our conscience declare to the world and this present Assembly, that the saids foure registers above expressed, and every one of them, are famous, authentick and good registers: which ought to be so reputed and have publick faith in judgement and out with ad validem it the records in all things, and that the said fifth & greatest book, beginning at the Assembly 1560. and ending 1590. being by the hand writs of the Clerk, cognosced, and tryed, and agreeable to the other four registers, in what is extant in them, ought be free of all prejudice and suspicion, and received with them. And in testimonie of our solemne affirmation, we have made these presents with our hands. Subscribitur, Master Andrew Ramsay. Master John Adamson. Master John Row. Master Rohre Murray. Master Alexander Gibson. Master James Boner. Master Alexander Peerson. Master Alexander Wedderburn. _Reasons prooving the five Books and Registers produced before the Assembly to be authentick_. The books now exhibited unto us underscribers, which we have revised and perused by commission from the generall Assembly, are true registers of the Kirk: to wit, Five Volumes, whereof the first two contain the acts of the Assembly, from the year of God 1560. to the year 1572. all subscribed by _John Gray_ Clerk. The third from the year of God 1574. to the year 1579. The fourth from the year of God 1586. to the year 1589. At which time _Master James Richie_ was Clerk, who hath frequently written upon the margine of the saids two last books, and subscribed the said margine with his hand-writing. And the fifth book being the greatest Volume, containing the acts of the generall Assembly, from the year of God 1560. to the year 1590. which agreeth with the foresaids other foure books and registers, in so far as is extant in them, and further recordeth, what is wanting by them, passing by what is mutilate in them, and which with the two Volumes produced by _Master Thomas Sandilands_ from the year 1590. to this present, maketh up a perfect register. I. For the first two Volumes subscribed by _Ionn Gray_, albeit it be not necessar in such antiquietie to proove that he was Clerk, seeing he designes himself so by his subscription, yet the same is manifest by an act mentioned in the third book, in the time of _Master James Richie_, who succeeded him in the said office, and his hand-writ was acknowledged by sundry old men in the ministery. II. The uniformitie of his subscriptions through both Volumes, evident by ocular inspection above the ordinarie custome of most famous Notars, delivers the same from all suspicion _in facto tam antiquo_.