Act, 12 March 1705, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the third day of Apryll J^aj vij^c and fyve years

A1705/4/6

A1705/4/6¹

Decreet

Decreet The Agent to the Kirk against Mr James Gray and Mr² Thomas Hall

Anent the lybell or Letters of Complaint raised and persued befor the Lords of her Majesties privie Councill at the instance of John Blair Agent to the Kirk with concourse of Sir James Steuart her Majesties Advocat for her highness interest in the matter wnderwrytten, Mentioning that wher by the fyfth act of the parliament Jajvjc nyntie, Presbiterian Church Government and discipline are ratified and confirmed to be the government of Chrysts Church; And Sicklyke by the twentie Second Act of the parliament Jajvjc nyntie fyve, It is Statute and ordained that no persone Shall intrude himselfe into any Church, or shall exercise any pairt of the Ministeriall function within any³ parish without ane orderly Call from the heretors and eldership, and legall admission from the Presbetrie within whose bounds it lyes; Lykeas by the Second Act of the parliament Jajvijc and three, all the saids acts, and other laws and Statuts for establishing presbiterian Church Government, are ratified and approven in the haill heads, articles and clauses therof; Nevertheless it is of verity that Mr James Gray late Incumbent at Muirkirk in Kyll, and Mr Thomas Hall late Incumbent at St Madois, Shakeing of all regaird to our authoritie and laws have of late intruded themselves into the Kirk of Logie Bride within the United parishes of Auchtergaven and Logie Bride, and sett up for preachers therin, and exercise all the other pairts of the Ministeriall function as baptizeing marrieing etc In manifast contempt of the forsaids Laws and acts of parliament, Notwithstanding that the said United parish and united kirks therof Is duly and legally planted, as also have intruded into the Kirk of Caputh without any orderly Call from the heretors and eldershipe therof, or legall admission from the presbetrie of the bounds: By all which it is evident that the saids Mr James Gray and Mr Thomas Hall are guilty of manifast intrusions and attempts against the present setled constitution of the Church, And of a high contempt of our Laws and authority, which being proven they ought to be punished with the pains of law, and effectuallie discharged to intrude into or molest the saids parishes, and otherwayes punished as the Lords of privie Councill Should think fitt to the example and terror of others to committ the lyke in tyme comeing: And Anent the charge given to the saids Mr James Gray and Mr Thomas Hall defenders to have Compeared befor the saids Lords of privie Councill at a certaine day bygone To have answered to the forsaid Complaint, And to have heard and Seen such order and course taken theranent as the saids Lords of privie Councill Should think fitt, wnder the paine of rebellion and putting of them to the horne, As in the said lybell or Letters of Complaint and executions therof at more length is Contained; Which Lybell being upon the day and date of thir presents Called in presence of the saids Lords, and the said perseuer Compearing personallie att the barr with Sir James Steuart her Majesties Advocat, And the defenders being oft tymes called and not compeiring (though personallie cited for that effect,) The Lords of her Majesties privie Councill Grants certification against the saids defenders, And Ordains Letters of denounciation to be direct to meacers and messengers at armes To pass to the mercat cross of […] and other places needfull, and therat in her Majesties name and authoritie duly, lawfullie and orderly denounce them her Majesties rebells, and putt them to her highness horne, Escheat and inbring all ther moveable goods and geir to her Majesties use for ther contempt and disobedience; Superceeding extract till nixt councill day being the Twentie Sixt of Apryll nixt.