Act, 6 October 1697, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Threttein day of Jwlly J^aj vi^c nyntie seven yeirs

D1697/7/11

D1697/7/11¹

Act

Act Synod of Aberdeen Anent Bursers

Anent the petitione given in to the Lords of his majesties privy Counsell be The Synod of Aberdeen Shewing That wher it hath bein the antient practise of this church that everie presbetrie Should mentaine a burser of divinitie which was alsoe more distinctly regwlat by ane act of the assembly J^aj vi^c Fourtie ane yeirs And ane other act of the Assembly J^aj vi^c and Fourtie five anent bursars and expectants wherby it is provyded that everie presbetrie consisting of twelve ministers Shall mentaine a bursae and wher the number is fewer that they be Joined with these that exceed in another presbetrie And that everie bursae have yeirly payed him for his mentainance Ane Hundereth punds Scotts to be proportionallie Stented upon the kirks of these presbetries according to the number of Communicants in each paroch And that the same be collected be the moderator of everie presbetrie and payed the one half at the winter Synod and the other half at the Summar Synod to the foirsaid bursar As the saids acts bears which appointment of bursars and ther provisiones was likewayes observed in all tymes als well Episcopall as presbiteriane And the bursar presented by the presbetrie hath had Letters directed by delyverance of the Lords of Sessione against deficients And even in the Late episcopall tymes wher presbiterian ministers were indulged they were obleidged to pay ther proportiones for mentaineing of the saids bursars without respect to ther non conformitie And Seing that these grownds doe hold Still in order to all the preaching ministers within ther bownds And that the many vaccancies within the Same doe more pressingly requyre that the foirsaid orders be observed And that it cannot be contraverted but that the presentatione of these bursars belongs to them And the presbetries within ther bownds as by Law now established Lykeas by the twentie third act of the parliament J^aj vi^c and nyntie thrie It is expresslie Staitute That ther Lordships of his majesties privie Counsell Should give all dwe assistance for makeing the sentances and censures of the church effectwall as accords Speciallie when the non conformeing ministers within ther bownds withdraw ther Subjectione from them and doe alsoe proceed to contribwte and pay in ther proportiones dwe to bursars orderly presented to yowng men of ther own dissenting perswasione and practise on purpose to perpetwat a Schisme in this church And therfore humblie craveing ther Lordships to whom the cognitione and ordering of this affaire doeth wndoubtedlie belong to ordaine all ministers actwallie preaching and possessing kirks and Stipends within ther bownds to pay in ther respective proportiones of the saids bursars mentainance Conforme to the divisione therof formerly in wse And that to these bursars and non others who are or Shall be presented by the presbetries of ther bownds Legallie and orderly established And that at two termes in the yeir mertimes and whitsonday be eqwall portiones And that Letters be direct at the instance of the said bursars nominat or to be nominat as said is By deliverance of ther Lordships or of the Lords of Sessione against deficients as formerlie was in use As the said petitione bears The saids Lords of his majesties privie Cownsell haveing considered the above petitioner They heirby ordaine all ministers actually preaching and possessing kirks and Stipends within the bounds of the said synod of Aberdeen to pay in ther respective proportiones of the saids bursars mentainance conforme to the divisione therof formerly in wse And that to these bursars and non others who are or shall be presented by the presbetries of the bownds of the said synod Legallie and orderly established And that at two termes in the yeir Mertimes and whitsonday be eqwall portiones And ordaines Letters of horneing to be direct heiron wnder the Signet of privie Counsell by delyverance of the Saids Lords at the instance of the saids bursars nominat or to be nominat upon the presbetries act and nominatione And against such particular deficients And for such Soumes Dwe by them as Shall be from tyme to tyme attested by the presbetries certificat on fiftein dayes and others neidefull in forme as effeirs