Anent the defence gine in the Assemblie halden in December 1567, be Mr John Craige, ane of the ministers of Edinburgh, touching the proclaiming of the Queene and Earle Bothwell, the said defence being publickly read, the haill poynts therein conteint be the haill Assembly maturely considerit; It was funde be the haill brethren that he had done the dewtie of ane faithfull minister, and had committed nothing sclanderous to sic as hes righteous judgement, in respect of the defence forsaid, quhilk was fund both godlie and sufficient for declaration of his innocencie thereanent, quhilk the haill Assembly declarit and testified, and ordained the same to be notified to all and syndrie. Sess. 3^a. July 7, 1569. Anent the punischment of adulteries, murther and uthers criminall and capitall crymes quhilk deserves death, &c. Whether the supreame Magistrate aught first to declare his minde of his satisfactione and admissione, or if the Kirk shall receave them to repentance before the declaratioune of the Magistrats will? Anent persones guilty of capitall crymes fund the Superintendants, Ministers, Elders or Deacons of reformit Kirks, to compeir to this Assembly or any uther hereafter, and the saids persons fund not compeirand, the Kirk ordaines the saids Superintendants or Ministers to proceed to excommunication against them, and to notifie to the Supreame Magistrate so many as for the offences are alreadie excommunicate, that further punischment may be execute. Certaine of the Articles presented to my Lord Regent. That order may be tane for the sustentation of the poor, and that ane portion of the teynds be appointit for that effect. And in like manner, that the labourers of the ground may have intromissione to lead their owne teynds upon reasonable compositioune. _Item_, That sic as hes pluralitie of benefices may be compellit to dimitt all save one. _Item_, That remedie may be provided for chaiping and changing of benefices, and selling of the same, dimminisching of the rentall, of setting of lang taks in defraud of the Kirk, and that all taks sett sen the assumption of the thrids may be disannullit, with express inhibitioune agains the same in tyme to come. _Item_, That the jurisdiction of the Kirk may be separate from that quhilk is ciuill. Anent this article, my Lord Regent’s Grace ordaines the persones nominat in the act of Parliament to conveine the tyme of the nixt chekker, and defyne and limitat the said jurisdictione according to the word of God and the said act. Extract. ex libro actorum secreti concilii. ALEX. HAY. The tenor of the Act made for Assignatioune of Stipends.