The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2024), date accessed: 29 March 2024
[1584/5/75]1
An act for an uniform order to be observed by the beneficed men, ministers, readers and masters of colleges and schools in obedience of the king's majesty's laws and their ordinaries
Forasmuch as our sovereign lord, with advice of his estates in his late parliament held at Edinburgh on 22 May 1584, has made sundry good and godly constitutions, as well for the preservation of his majesty's authority royal as for the good and policy of the kirk, therefore, and to the effect an uniform order may be observed specially amongst the ministry of God's word, it is statute and ordained by our said sovereign lord, with advice aforesaid, that all beneficed men, ministers, readers, masters of colleges and schools being required by their ordinary bishop or commissioner shall subscribe the promise and obligation underwritten: We, the beneficed men, ministers, readers and masters of colleges and schools underwritten, testify and faithfully promise by these, our subscriptions, our humble and dutiful submission and fidelity to our sovereign lord the king's majesty and to obey with all humility his highness's acts of his said late parliament, and that according to the same we shall show our obedience to our ordinary bishop or commissioner appointed or to be appointed by his majesty to have the exercise of the spiritual jurisdiction in our diocese; and in case of disobedience of the said beneficed men, ministers, readers, masters of colleges and schools in the premises, their benefices, livings and stipends to become vacant by that fact, and qualified and obedient persons to be presented and provided in their rooms as if they were naturally dead. Which being once lawfully and orderly provided, the said persons, refusers to subscribe, shall at no time thereafter have restitution, whatsoever offer of obedience they shall happen to make.
- NAS, PA2/13, ff.11r-v.