Forsuameikle as this lang tyme bygane the ministers hes been universallie defraudit and postponit of their stipends, and now at last it hath pleasit God to move the hearts of the superiour power and Estates of this realme to grant the thrids of the haill benefices within this realme to the ministers of Christ’s religione be plaine and publick proclamation, as at mair lenth is conteinit in the said Parliament, holden at Edinburgh in the moneth of December 1567; In respect quhereof the Kirk presently convenit finds it maist needfull and expedient, that all Superintendants, Ministers, Exhorters, and Readers, shall have their owne particular assignations appointit to them, to receave the same frae the hand of the laborers, taxmen, or uthers addebtit in payment of the saids thirds: And therefore the Kirk in ane voyce, be this act, gives their full power and commissione to every Superintendant and Commissioner of Kirks within their owne bounds, as they shall find the same expedient, under the Superintendant’s subscriptione and ministers foresaids, with all clauses needfull and expedient thereto, quhilks sallbe alse sufficient as if the same were specifiet be the Generall Assembly of the Kirk. And as concerning the Superintendants and Commissioners of Kirks, their provisione and assignatione to be made be the Generall Assembly of the Kirk. And to the effect this act may take full perfectione, the Assembly present requyres maist humbly, my Lord Regent’s Grace and Secrett Councill, to interpone their authoritie thereto, that the assignations forsaids, generall and particular, as they shall be presentit to his Grace, may be specifit in forme of provisione ad vitam, under the Privy Seal, with ordinance thereupone, that Letters may be direct at every man’s instance, under all the four formes, as is grantit to the possessors of the twa part; and alse to the same end, that his Grace and his Counsell forsaid wald decerne the thrids of the benefices forsaids within this realme, to be separate and devydit reallie and with effect, from the twa part, so that the Kirk may intromitt with the thrid part, as the possessors does with the twa part, the superplus always to be comptable to the commone effaires, conforme to the act of Parliament. Sess. 5^a. July 9, 1569. My Lord Regent’s Letter to the Assembly.