[A1567/12/6]¹

Concerning the admission of those that shall be presented to benefices, having cure of ministry

Item, it is statute and ordained by our sovereign lord, with advice of [James Stewart, earl of Moray], his dearest regent, and three estates of this present parliament, that the examination and admission of ministers within this realm be only in power of the kirk, now openly and publicly professed within the same, the presentation of lawful patronages always reserved to the just and ancient patrons and the patron presenting a qualified person within six months (after it may come to their knowledge of the decease of him who enjoyed the benefice of before) to the superintendent of their parts where the benefice lies, or others having commission of the kirk to that effect, otherwise the kirk to have power to convey the same to a qualified person for that time, providing that in case the patron presents a person qualified to his understanding, and failing of one, another within the said six months, and the said superintendent or commissary of the kirk refuses to receive and admit the person presented by the patron as said is, it shall be lawful to the patron to appeal to the superintendent and ministers of that province where the benefice lies and desire the person presented to be admitted; which if they refuse, to appeal to the general assembly of this whole realm, by whom, the cause being decided, shall take end as they decree and declare.