ITEM, It is statute, and ordained by our Sovereign Lord, with advice of his dearest Regent, and three Estates of this present Parliament, that the examination and admission of Ministers, within this Realm, be only in the power of the Kirk, now openly, and publickly professed within the same. The presentation of lay Patronages always reserved to the Just and ancient Patrons. And that the Patron present a qualified person, within six Months (after it may come to his knowledge, of the decease of him, who bruiked [enjoyed] the Benefice of before) to the Superintendent of those parts where the Benefice lies, or others having commission of the Kirk to that effect; otherwise the Kirk to have power to dispone [dispose] the same to a qualified person for that time.

PROVIDING that in case the Patron present a person qualified to his understanding, and failing of one, another within the said six Months, and the said Superintendent or Commissioner of the Kirk, refuses to receive and admit the person presented by the Patron, as said is: It shall be lesum [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 decern and declare.{361}