The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

And because the certainty thereof was not known, not yet what sums of Money would sustain the Ministry, and Ministers of Gods Word within this Realm, neither yet how much was necessary to support the Queens ⟨p. 321⟩Majesty above her own Rents, for the common affairs of the Country, Therefore it is Ordained, Concluded, and Determined by the Queens Majesty, and the Lords of the Council aforesaid, and others of the Nobility present, That if the fourth part of the whole Benefices within this Realm, may be sufficient to sustain the Ministers throughout this whole Realm, and support the Queens Majesty to maintain and set forwards the common affairs of the Country failing thereof, the third part of the said Profits, and more, if it be found sufficient for the effect aforesaid, to be taken up yearly in time coming, that a general order may be taken therewith, and so much thereof to be employed to the Queens Majesties use, for entertaining and setting forward of the common affairs of the Country; and so much thereof to the Ministers, and sustentation of the Ministry, as may reasonably sustain the same, at the sight and discretion of the Queens Majesty, and Council aforesaid, and the excrescens and superplus to be assigned to the old Possessors. And to the effect that the Rents and yearly Profits of the whole Benefices within this Realm may be clearly known to the Queens Majesty and Council aforesaid, It is Statuted and Ordained, That the whole Rentals of the Benefices of this Realm be produced before her Majesty and Lords aforesaid, at the time under-written: that is to say, The Rentals of the Benefices on this side of the Water, before the 24 of January next coming: And those beyond the water, the 10 of February next thereafter; and ordains Letters to be directed to the Sheriffs in that part, to pass charge, and require all and sundry Archbishops, Bishops, Commendators, Abbots, Priors, on this side of the Water, personally to be apprehended, and failing thereof, at their dwelling places, or at the Parish Churches where they should remain, Cathedral Churches or Abbeys:

And because the certaintie thereof was not knowne, not yet what summes of Money would sustaine the Ministery, and Ministers of Gods Word within this Realme, neither yet how much was necessary to support the Queenes ⟨p. 321⟩Majesty above her own Rents, for the common affairs of the Countrey, Therefore it is Ordained, Concluded, and Determined by the Queens Majesty, and the Lords of the Councell aforesaid, and others of the Nobility present, That if the fourth part of the whole Benefices within this Realm, may be sufficient to sustain the Ministers thorowout this whole Realme, and support the Queens Majesty to maintain and set forwards the common affairs of the Countrey failing thereof, the third part of the said Profits, and more, if it be found sufficient for the effect aforeaid, to be taken up yeerly in time coming, that a generall order may be taken therewith, and so much thereof to be employed to the Queens Majesties use, for entertaining and setting forward of the common affairs of the Countrey; and so much thereof to the Ministers, and sustentation of the Ministry, as may reasonably sustain the same, at the sight and discretion of the Queens Majesty, and Councell aforesaid, and the excrescens and superplus to be assigned to the old Possessors. And to the effect that the Rents and yeerly Profits of the whole Benefices within this Realme may be cleerly known to the Queens Majesty and Councell aforesaid, It is Statuted and Ordained, That the whole Rentals of the Benefices of this Realm be produced before her Majesty and Lords aforesaid, at the time under-written: that is to say, The Rentalls of the Benefices on this side of the Water, before the 24 of Ianuary next coming: And those beyond the water, the 10 of February next thereafter; and ordains Letters to be directed to the Sheriffs in that part, to passe charge, and require all and sundry Archbishops, Bishops, Commendators, Abbots, Priors, on this side of the Water, personally to be apprehended, and failing thereof, at their dwelling places, or at the Parish Churches where they should remain, Cathedrall Churches or Abbeyes: