Act, 28 December 1703, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Twentie Second day of Aprill J^aj vii^c and thrie. Ante Meridiem

A1703/4/9

A1703/4/9¹

Act

Act and Interloquitor In Favors of the Presbytrie of Haddingtoune

Anent a Petition given in to the Lords of her Majesties privy Councill be the Presbytrie of Hadingtoune and John Shirriff Chamberland to the Laird of Hopetoune and the remanent elders of the toune and paroch of Haddingtoune Shewing That wher the Church of Haddingtoun being undoubtedly vaccant as to the Charge of one of their Ministers by the decease of Mr Forman and ther being no Legall kirk Session established Wee the presbytry did Conforme to the 5th act parliament i690 Intituled act Ratifieing the Confession of faith and setleing presbyterian Church Government proceed to Setle a kirk Sessione in the most Solemne and ordinary maner according to the Constitution and Custome of this Church after Severall intimationes without the least objection or Complaint The Session being thus Chosen and constitute; The petitioners did appoint Mr James Craig Ministers of Yester to preach upon Sabath day last being the Eighteenth of this instant moneth of Aprile in the forenoon and he haveing accordingly come to the Church and certain of the elders Conforme to ane act of the presbytrie and Session appointing them therto haveing gone to the kirk door to Collect the ordinary offering they were disturbed by Richard Miller dean of Gild of Haddingtoune; Mr James Dods Late baillie their David Forrest also late baillie ther Thomas Reid Shirrif Clerk. Thomas Reidpeth and James Robertson Merchants in Haddingtoune who pretended not only to attend the offering as elders bot in the Conclusion did ly force Seaze upon the offering after the Minister was in the pulpit and caried it away all which is instructed by the Minuts of the Election and Ordination of the elders and the instruments taken against the said Dean of Gild Miller and the other persones abovementioned This being the case the petitioners doe with all humility Lay the Same before the saids Lords For redress; and for preventing the Lyke disorder in time comeing which if not timeously provided for would recurr the nixt Lords day; And the petitioners most humbly beseeched the saids Lords to Consider that in this case the petitioners have out of Charity avoided to aggravat this insult upon the authority and possession of the Church; or even to insist for punishment hopeing That the persones abovementioned would thereby more easily be brought to a Sense of their fault and engadged to a more regular Conduct and Seing that it was a matter of order and which concerned the peace and Setlement of the Church; wherof her Majestie by her reported assurances, had declared her self the protection; and of which the effectuall execution under her Majestie does most Immediatly belong to the most honorable privy Councill And Therfore Humbly Craveing the saids Lords would discharge any farder disturbance by the saids prisoners or any others to be made to the petitioners the elders and Session in Collecting of the offerings or in the exercise of any other part of their office And to ordaine the persones abovementioned to restore to the petitioners the offering Collected the Last Lords day As the said petition bears. The Lords of her Majesties privy Councill haveing heard and Considered the petition presented to them by the presbytrie of Haddingtoune and John Shirriff and others elders of the toune and paroch of Haddingtoune The saids Lords of her Majesties privy Councill appoints the said Richard Miller and others mentioned in the said petition To See and answer against the nixt Councill day And in the Mean time for eviteing Confussion and preserving the peace of the place And without determineing the points and representationes Contained in the said petition untill the Samen be answered; They appoint and ordaine the Eldership named and appointed by the order and direction of the presbytrie of Haddingtoune, To Collect the offerings at the Church door of the said burgh at and for such dyets when any minister appointed by the presbytrie shall preach And the Eldership which Served formerly with Mr Dunbar Minister at the said Church to Collect the offering at the Said Church door at and for such dyets when the said Mr Dunbar shall preach