[1649/5/321]¹

Act in favour of Mr Thomas Ireland, minister at Wemyss

The estates of parliament, having heard and considered an act given in to them by the general assembly bearing that the said general assembly, having considered the present hard condition of Mr Thomas Ireland, minister at Wemyss, after so many sufferings and finding no other way for the supply of his present extreme necessity than out of the vacant stipends within the presbytery, conceiving it to be a most pious and charitable use, therefore they do appoint that the said Mr Thomas gets the just and equal half of the bygone and vacant stipends of Logierait since the deposition of Mr Francis Omay, the other half being reserved for the training up of Irish boys at schools according to the destination of parliament; and for this effect appoint the said Mr Thomas to collect and uplift the said whole vacant stipends and to make account and payment of the equal half thereof to Mr James Hamilton, minister at Edinburgh, for the use of the Irish boys as he will answer to the next general assembly, and do earnestly recommend to the honourable estates of parliament to ratify and approve the premises on behalf of the said Mr Thomas and interpose their authority thereto. Which act the said estates of parliament do hereby ratify and approve in all the heads, articles and clauses thereof, and, if need be, ordain letters of horning and others needful to be directed hereupon on a simple charge of six days, with certification etc.; and declare the discharges to be given by the said Mr Thomas Ireland to whatsoever persons liable in payment of the said vacant stipends or any part thereof to be a sufficient exoneration thereof at all hands.