The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Apud Linlithgow, 24 Januarii, &c. Forasmuch as the Queens Majesty, with the advice of the Lords of her Secret Council, directed her Letters, commanding all and sundry Arch-bishops, Bishops, Abbots, &c. and all other Beneficed men, their Factors, Farmers, Takesmen, to appear before her Highness and Lords aforesaid at Edinburgh, or where it should happen them to be for the time, so many as dwells upon this side of the water, before the 24 day of January instant; and them that dwells beyond the water, the 10 of February next coming, that the just value of their Benefices might be known; so that hereafter her Highness may take order for the Sustentation of the Ministry of the Church, and the public business of the Realm. And because the Queens Majesty is presently busied with other affairs, and may not her self attend upon the receipt of the said Rent, therefore her Highness hath given and granted, and by these Presents gives and grants full power and Commission to Master James Mackgill of Rankellor nether, Clerk of the Register, Sir John Ballenden of Archnenell, Knight, Justice Clerk to the Treasurer, Secretary of State, Advocate of the Crown, and Laird of Pittarrow, to call before them within the City of Edinburgh, all and sundry Prelates, and Beneficed men, which are charged by virtue of the said Letters, now presently being in Edinburgh, or shall happen hereafter to repair thereto, their Factors or Farmers, and there enquire of them the Rentals of their Benefices, and receive the same from them to the effect aforesaid. And likewise that the said Commissioners cause warn all Superintendents, Over-seers, Ministers. Elders and Deacons, to give unto them the names of all the Ministers of this Realm, that the just Calculation being made and considered by the said Commissioners of the value of the said Benefices, they may report the same unto the Queens Majesty, that her Highness may take order herein, according to the just Tenor of the first Ordinance made thereupon.

Apud Linlithgow, 24 Ianuarii, &c. FOrasmuch as the Queens Majesty, with the advice of the Lords of her Secret Councell, directed her Letters, commanding all and sundry Arch-bishops, Bishops, Abbots, &c. and all other Beneficed men, their Factors, Farmors, Takesmen, to appear before her Highnesse and Lords aforesaid at Edinburgh, or where it should happen them to be for the time, so many as dwells upon this side of the water, before the 24 day of Ianuary instant; and them that dwells beyond the water, the 10 of February next coming, that the just value of their Benefices might be knowne; so that hereafter her Highnesse may take order for the Sustentation of the Ministry of the Church, and the publike businesse of the Realme. And because the Queens Majesty is presently busied with other affairs, and may not her self attend upon the receipt of the said Rent, therefore her Highnesse hath given and granted, and by these Presents gives and grants full power and Commission to Master Iames Mackgill of Rankellor nether, Clerk of the Register, Sir Iohn Ballenden of Archnenell, Knight, Justice Clerk to the Treasurer, Secretary of State, Advocate of the Crowne, and Laird of Pittarrow, to call before them within the City of Edinburgh, all and sundry Prelates, and Beneficed men, which are charged by vertue of the said Letters, now presently being in Edinburgh, or shall happen hereafter to repair thereto, their Factors or Farmers, and there enquire of them the Rentalls of their Benefices, and receive the same from them to the effect aforesaid. And likewise that the said Commissioners cause warne all Seperintendents, Over-seers, Ministers. Elders and Deacons, to give unto them the names of all the Ministers of this Realme, that the just Calculation being made and considered by the said Commissioners of the value of the said Benefices, they may report the same unto the Queens Majesty, that her Highnesse may take order herein, according to the just Tenour of the first Ordinance made thereupon.