The Generall Assemblie understanding the appearing ruine and decay of the evangell, within this realme, for fault of provisione of ministers, and intertainment of schooles and colledges, hes thought good and convenient to give their Commissione, and be the tenor heirof to grant full power to Mrs Robert Pont, Robert Bruce, David Lyndsay, John Craige, Andrew Myllne, Thomas Buchanane, Androw Hay, John Porterfield, Peter Blackburne, John Duncansone, David Fargusone, William Strivilling, Gilbert Garden, ministers of the Evangell, or any seven of them, to compeir before his Majestie and Counsell, upon Monday next, or such other day as his Majestie shall appoynt, to call, conferre, and advyse upon the said head, and to craue humbly of his Majestie that the Ministers’ and Readers’ assignationes may be given out at Hallowmess, and that such as are already provydit of their stipends _ad vitam_, and uthers that are content with the assignationes alreadie made to them, be unalterit therein, qwhill they obtayne better provisione, and to that effect to travell earnestly with his Majestie and Counsell, and to report again answer to the next Generall Assembly of the Kirk, firme and stable. Anent the request of the Presbytrie of Dumblane, in respect of the few number and povertie of their presbytrie, to joyne to their Synodall Assembly the Presbytrie of Linlithgow: the Assemblie present has found it more meit that the Presbytries of Perth and Dunkeld shall be joynit with the Presbytrie of Dumblaine, and in ane Synodall Assembly, to be first holden in Perth, and thereafter in ony place qwhere the Synodall shall think it meitest. The Generall Assembly hes given their commissione and authoritie to the Presbytrie of Edinburgh, to call before them Papists and apostats who shall happen to resort to court, or to the said towne, and in speciall to summond my Lords Huntlie and Settowne, William Schaw, John Chisholme, and Colonell Stewart. Sessio 14. According to the allowable custome observit amongst the antients of humiliatione and fasting of the pastors, The breither and Kirk conveint hes thocht meit, and be ordinance statute, that in tyme comeing, qwhen it shall please God to convene the Generall Kirk of this realme, That the first day of the Assemblie, at the place and towne where they conveine, ane publick fast and humiliatione be of the haill inhabitants thereof, alswell as of the pastors conveint, and the chair of veritie alseweell occupyit before noone in the morning as at afternoone, be the ordinare pastors thereof; the tyme and houres of exhortatione made before the Assemblie, being keipit as of before, to the effect it may please God to give his blessing to the conventione and good ishew of their travells; and because the next Assemblie is concludit to be in Edinburgh, the pastors thereof is ordaynit to give intimatione heirof to the congregatione, the Sunday before the said Assemblie.