[1597/11/9]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and his highness's estates in parliament, having special consideration and regard of the great privileges and immunities granted by his highness's predecessors of most worthy memory to the holy kirk within this realm and to the special persons exercising the offices, titles and dignities of prelacies within the same, which persons have ever represented one of the estates of this realm in all conventions of the said estates, and that the said privileges and freedoms have been from time to come† renewed and confirmed in the same integrity and condition wherein they were at any time of before, so that his majesty, now acknowledging the same to be fallen and become under his majesty's favourable protection, therefore his majesty, of his great zeal and singular affection which he always has to the advancement of the true religion presently professed within this realm, with advice and consent of the said estates, statutes, decrees and declares that the kirk within this realm wherein the same religion is professed is the true and holy kirk, and that such pastors and ministers within the same as at any time his majesty shall please to provide to the office, place, title and dignity of a bishop, abbot or other prelate shall at all time hereafter have vote in parliament likewise and as freely as any other ecclesiastical prelate had at any time bygone. And also declares that all and whatsoever bishoprics presently vacant in his highness's hands which as yet are unconveyed to any person, or which shall happen at any time hereafter to become vacant, shall be only conveyed by his majesty to actual preachers and ministers in the kirk or to such other persons as shall be found apt and qualified to use and exercise the office and function of a minister or preacher, and who in their provisions to the said bishoprics shall accept in and upon them to be actual pastors and ministers, and according thereto shall practice and exercise the same thereafter. Item, as concerning the office of the said persons to be provided to the said bishoprics in their spiritual policy and government in the kirk, the estates of parliament have remitted and remit the same to the king's majesty to be advised, consulted and agreed upon by his highness with the general assembly of the ministers at such times as his majesty shall think expedient to treat with them thereon; without prejudice always in the meantime of the jurisdiction and discipline of the kirk established by acts of parliament made in any time preceding and promised by the said acts to all general and provincial assemblies and other whatsoever presbyteries and sessions of the kirk.