Appendices to volume 3: III

III. Extracts from the Proceedings of the Commission of the General Assembly 1651.

Perth, 4 Ja^rij. 1651. Ante meridiem.

Act Concerning the Securing of the Registers.

The Commission of Assembly being desyred by my Lord Register in his letter, and by the Clerk, to consider what they thought fitt to doe with the Registers of the Kirk, which for securitie were putt in the Castle of Edinburgh, seing that hold was now surrendered to the Enemie: And they having taken it into consideration, doe appoynt the Clerk with all diligence to bring the Registers over to this syde of the water, that they may be once out from the enemies hands: And thereafter that he, with advyse of the Moderator and the Lord Register, take some course for their securitie and preservation in this tyme of danger; committing it to their special care; and that report be made thereof at the next meeting. (Minutes, p. 160.)

(Letter from Sir Archiald Johnston, Lord Clerk Register, Above Referred to.)

Right Reverend,
The parlment commands me to taike their Registars to Stirling Castel, tho I think they would be saifer in Dumbarton Castel, or in the Basse, provyding they be weal garrisoned and victualled. I desyre to know the advyce of the Commission whair to putt the Registers of the Kirk, as may lead most to their preservation and my exoneration: so leaving all vther things to the bearer, I rest, your humble servant,
A. Johnston.

Edinburgh, 30th December [1650.]

To the Right Reverend Mr Robert Douglas, Moderator of the Commission of the General Assemblie, at Perth.

Sanct Androis, 24 Ja^rij. 1651. Post meridiem.

Act for securing the Registers.

The Commission of the Generall Assembly vnderstanding by the Clerk that the Kirk Registers which were in the Castle of Edinburgh, were now brought to this side of Forth, according to a former order; and that it is the earnest desire of the Lord Register by his letter, and of the Moderator and Clerk, to whom the care of securing them was committed at the last Meeting: That now the Commission would themselves prescryve what they thought fitting to be done for their security and preservation in this tyme of danger: Therefore they doe appoynt them to be putt in the Basse, to be preserved there; and the Laird of Wauchton, to whom that strength belongs, being personallie present, most gladlie offered to receave them, promissing his outmost care to secure and preserve them from all danger. (Minutes, p. 212.)

Falkland. 23 Aprile 1651. Post meridiem.

Act For The Kirk Registers.

The Commission of Assembly having heard by the Clerk, that according to their former order, he had putt the Kirk Registers in the Basse; onlie the great volume, which is a double of sundrie of the old Registers, he had not putt there by the advise of the Lord Register, conceaving it was more fitting, sieing it was a double, and made an authentick Register at Glasgow, that it should rather be putt in some other sure place, than to be keeped in the same place with the remanent books and registers. The Commission of the Assembly being verie glad and well satisfied that the Registers were now, in this time of trouble and danger, in the Basse, doe approve well thereof, and of the advice given by the Lord Register, and the course taken by the Clerk, for keeping that great volume, which is an authentick double of the Acts of diverse Assemblies, from the remanent Registers, to be putt in some other sure place: And do appoynt the Clerk to putt the same in Dunottar, to be keeped there safely: And that the Moderator speak or writt to the Earle Marschall, that his Lordship may be pleased to give order for receaving and securing thereof in that place carefullie. (Minutes, p. 317.)