Procedure: committee formed, 28 December 1706, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Ellevinth day of June J^aj vij^c and Six years

A1706/6/15

A1706/6/15¹

Decreet

Decreit of Certification John Blair Agent for the Kirk against Mr Alexander Muir, and Mr Alexander Craig Intruders at Frasersburgh

Anent the lybell and Letters of Complaint raised and persued befor the Lords of her Majesties privie Councell att the instance of John Blair Agent for the Kirk, with concourse of Sir James Steuart her Majesties Advocat for her highness Interest in the matter wnderwrytten, Makeing mention That wher by the fyfth act parliament J^aj vi^c and nyntie, Presbyterian Church Government and discipline Is ratified and Confirmed, to be the only Government of Chrysts Church, As also by the Sixth Act parliament J^aj vi^c nyntie three, It is Statute that Ministers not Swearing the oath of alleadgance, And Subscrybeing the Same with the Assurance, Shall be depryved of ther benefices, and punished by banishment or otherwayes as the Lords of our Privie Councell Shall think fitt; And Sicklyke by the Twentie Second Act of the parliament J^aj vi^c nyntie fyve, It is Statude and ordained that no persone Shall intrude himselfe into any Church, or exercise any pairt of the Ministeriall function within any parish, without ane orderly Call from the heretors and Eldershipe, And legall Admission from the presbetrie within whose bounds it lyes, Lykeas by the Second Act of the parliament J^aj vij^c and three, all the saids acts, and other laws and Status for establishing presbyterian Church Government, are ratified and approven, In the haill heads, articles, clauses, and Circumstances therof: Nevertheless it is of verity that in Mr Alexander Muir probationer, And Mr Alexander Craig Sometyme Minister in Zetland, Shakeing of all² reguard to our laws and authority have of late Intruded themselves into the Church and parish of Fraserburgh, and Setts up and preaches therin, And Exercises all the other pairts of the Ministeriall function, as baptiseing, marrieing etc without being qualified according to law, In manifast contempt of the saids laws and acts of parliament So that the presbetrie of the bounds Is disabled from takeing care of the people of that parish by getting a legall Setled Minister ther, And the said Kirk duly and legally planted, By all which it is evident that the said Mr Alexander Muir, and Mr Alexander Craik, are guilty of a manifast intrusion and contempt against the present Setled constitution of the Church, And of a high contempt of our laws and authority, which being proven they and ilk ane of them, ought to be punished with the pains of law, as the Lords of our privie Councill Shall think fitt to the example and terror of others to committ the lyke in tyme comeing, And Anent the charge given to the saids defenders to have compeared befor the Saids Lords of Privie Councill att a certaine day bygone, To answer to the grounds of the Said Complaint, And to have heard and Seen Such order and course taken theranent as appertains, wnder the pain of rebellion and putting them to the horne, with certification etc as in the said lybell and letters of Complaint and executions therof, att more length is contained; The within lybell att the instance of John Blair Agent for the Kirk against Mr Alexander Muir probationer, and Mr Alexander Craig Sometyme Minister in Zetland, Being called, and the persewer Compearing personallie att the Barr, and the defenders being Both Lawfullie Sumoned, oft tymes Called and not Compearing, The Lords of her Majesties Privie Councill Grants Certification against the Saids defenders And ordains letters of denounciation to be direct heirupon to Meacers or messengers to pass to the mercat Cross of […] and other places needfull, And ther in her Majesties name and authority Duly, lawfully and orderly denounce them her Majesties rebells, and putt them to her highness horne Escheat and inbring all ther moveable goods and gear to her Majesties use for ther contempt and disobedience.