Montgomerie_ by the Presbyterie of _Glasgow_,
suppose to the temporalitie of the Bishoprick only, be undone and annulled
with all possible diligence, to the effect slander might be removed from
the Kirk. In Sess. 15. Mr. _Robert Pont_ shewed the Kings presentation to
the Bishoprick of _Cathnes_, & desidered the judgement of the Assembly.
The Assembly in their letter to the Kings Majestie, declared that they
judged the said _Mr. Robert_ to be a Bishop already according to the
Doctrine of St. _Paul_: But as to that corrupt estate or office, of these
who have been termed Bishops heretofore, they found it not agreable to the
word of God, and that it hath been damned in diverse Assemblies before.

In the instructions given to such as were appointed to wait upon the
Parliament, it was ordained in the same Assembly Sess. 17. That they be
careful that nothing be admitted prejudicial to the liberties of this
Kirk, as it was concluded according to the word of God in the general
Assemblies, preceeding the year 1584. but precisely to seek the same to be
ratified in the Assembly holden in _March_ 1589. where the articles were
made for subscribing the confession of Faith with the generall band, it
was ordained as followeth.

_For so much as the neighbour Kirk in_ England, _is understood to
bee heavily troubled, for maintaining of the true Discipline and
government: whose grieves ought to move us. Therefore the
Presbytery of_ Edinburgh _was ordained to comfort the said Kirk in
the said matter._

In the Assembly holden 1590. when the confession of Faith was subscribed
universally _de novo_, a ratification of the liberties of the Kirk, in her
jurisdiction, discipline, Presbyteries, Synods, and generall Assemblies,
and an abrogation of all things contrarie thereunto; was ordained to be
sought both of the Councel and Parliament. In the next Session it was
ordained that the book of Discipline, specially the controverted heads,
should be subscribed by all Ministers that bear, or hereafter was to bear
office in this Kirk, and that they be charged by the Presbyteries, under
the pain of excommunication: Seeing the word of God cannot bee keeped in
sincerity, unlesse the holy Discipline be preserved. The Presbyteries were
ordained to get a coppie under the Clerks hand; there were sundrie coppies
subscribed by the Ministers in the Presbyteries yet extant, as
_Hadingtoun_, _Dumfermling_, &c. produced before the Assembly.