Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him.—Rev. 1.7

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LAWS AND ACTS:
That is,
Excerpts from the
Laws, Acts, Constitutions, &
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ONCE FAVOURED WITH THE LIGHT OF THE
GOSPEL OF
JESUS CHRIST,

King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven,
and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes
and commandments... But they and our fathers dealt proudly,
and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to
thy commandments
.—Nehemiah 9.13,16.

Nation:Scotland
Reign:James VI
Parliament:The First Parliament of King James the Sixth (1567-12-15 — 1567-12-29)
Session:Only Session of the First Parliament of James VI

10. Anent the thridis of benefices, granted in the Moneth of December, the zeir of God 1561. zeires, for susteining of the Ministers and uther affaires of the Prince.

(10)

10. Anent the thirds of benefices, granted in the Month of December, the year of God 1561 years, for sustaining of the Ministers and other affairs of the Prince.

ITEM, Because the Ministers hes bene lang defrauded of their stipendis, swa that they ar becummin in great povertie & necessity. And notwithstanding hes continued in their vocation, without payment of their stipendis, be an great space. Quhairthrow they ar and sall be constrained to leive their vocation without remeid be provided. THEREFORE our Soveraine Lord, with advise of my Lord Regent, and the three Estaites of this present Parliament, hes statute and ordained, that the haill thrids of the haill Benefices of this Realme, sall now instantlie, and in all times to cum, first bee payed to the Ministers of the Evangel of Jesus Christ, and their successours. And ordaines the Lords of the Session to grant, and give letteris, chargeing all and sundrie intromettours, or that beis adebted in payment of the samin, to answere and to obey the saidis Ministers and their Collectours, to be nominate be the saidis Ministers, with advise of my Lord Regent, in forme as effeiris, Notwithstanding anie discharge given be our Soveraine Lordis Mother, to quhatsumever person or persons, of the said thride, or ony pairt thereof, ay and quhill the Kirk come to the full possessioun of their proper Patrimonie, quhilk is the teindes. PROVIDING alwayes, that the Collectors of the saidis Ministers, make zeirlie compt in the Checker of their intromission. Swa, that the Ministers may be first answered of their stipendis, apperteyning to everie ane of them. And the rest and superplus to be applied to our Soveraigne Lords use. {363}

ITEM, Because the Ministers have been long defrauded of their stipends, so that they are becoming in great poverty & necessity; And notwithstanding have continued in their vocation, without payment of their stipends, by a great space. Where-through they are and shall be constrained to leave their vocation without remedy be provided; THEREFORE our Sovereign Lord, with advice of my Lord Regent, and the three Estates of this present Parliament, has statute and ordained, that the whole thirds of the whole Benefices of this Realm, shall now instantly, and in all times to come, first be paid to the Ministers of the Evangel of Jesus Christ, and their successours. And ordains the Lords of the Session to grant, and give letters, charging all and sundry intrometters, or that are adebted [indebted] in payment of the same, to answer and to obey the said Ministers and their Collectors, to be nominate by the said Ministers, with advice of my Lord Regent, in form as effeiris [accords], Notwithstanding any discharge given by our Sovereign Lord’s Mother, to whatsomever person or persons, of the said third, or any part thereof, aye and while [ever and until] the Kirk come to the full possession of their proper Patrimony, which is the teinds [tithes]. PROVIDING always, that the Collectors of the said Ministers, make yearly account in the Checker of their intromission. So, that the Ministers may be first answered of their stipends, appertaining to every one of them; And the rest and superplus to be applied to our Sovereign Lord’s use. {363}