4. Be the fourth article is meined the King of France, the Duke of Guise, and uther Papists thair; and lykewise, within the countrie, the Earles of Huntlie, Crawford, and uthers. The Kirk is hurt in their liberties and priviledges sundrie wayes, as will appear in the Articles, as follow: Tacks of the thrids of Haddingtone and St Androis, sett to the Laird of Seagy: The Abbacie of Abberbrothock is disponit to the Duke, and no provisione for the minister: The Abbacie of Hallyrudehouse to the Abbot’s young sone: Sicklyke, the Abbot of Newbottle found provydit to the 9 and 10 notor;--as, for example, Mr George Gairden being provydit to the parsonage of Fordyce in the 68 yeir of God, and yet standing titular there: The King’s Majestie hes sett in tack the fruits of the saids benefices to Robert Stewart of Todlaw, and command giuen to the Lords of Session to grant Letters upon the said tacks: Mr Alexander Arbuthnott is chairgit, against the Acts of the Kirk, to remaine in the Colledge of Aberdeene, under the paine of hornyng: The Ministers of the Chapters of Halyrudehouse are chairgit be letters of hornyng to subscryve the gift of pensione made to the persone of Pennycuik, his wife and sone, for their lyfetymes; Sicklyke against the said Act anent the Act made one the penult day of October 1576. Concernyng setting of fewes and tacks of benefices and ecclesiasticall livings, or any part thereof, be such as beare functione in the ministrie, The Generall Assembly, as of before, ratifies and approves the said Act, with this declaratione, that under the said Act, all suspenseones, factories, and whatsoever other dispositione of the benefice, or any part thereof, without the consent of the Generall Assemblie, is and shall be comprehendit in tyme cuming, and that the disponers thereupon shall incurre the penaltie contained in the Act of the date of the 12th of July 1578, Sess. 6. It is cravit be the Synod of Lawthiane, that this Assembly take order with Mr John Spotswood for setting of the tack of his benefice, butt consent of the Assemblie. The Kirk ordaynes this particular to be tryit in his awne Presbytrie, and the tryall to be reportit to the next Generall Assembly. _Item_, That this Assembly ratifie the dissolutione of the Presbytrie of Haddingtoune, and unione of the members thereof with uther presbytries, be reasone of many enormities occurrand there--as rare convention of the brether, loathsomeness and contempt of the word in the people, and not executing the Acts of the Assembly: qwhilk head the Kirk approves for the present. Forsuameikle as sundrie of the penitents, pairtly for poverty, sickness, or distance of place, are unable to compeir before the provinciall Assembly--_Quæritur_, If they may compeir before the Elderschip? Answer: It is not thocht good presently.