Bishops of the ISLES.
ABout the year 1606, Andrew Knox, Rectour of Pasley, was preferred to the See.
How long he sate, I know not.
His Successour was John Knox, Rectour of—How long he governed the See, I cannot learn.
Anno 162 — John Leslie was Bishop of the Isles, and after translated to the Bishoprick of Rapbo, in the Province of Armagh in Ireland.
To him succeeded Anno 162 — Neil Campbell, Rectour of—who was thrust out by the Covenanters 1638.
Since the Restauration of Bishops, Robert Wallace, Rectour of Barnwell in the Sheriff∣dom of Air, was made Bishop of this See. He governed it seven years, and died An. 1669. and the See hath been void ever since.
EVery Bishop hath under him an Official or Commissary, who is Judge of the Spiritual Court within his Diocese. Unto this Court are referred matters of Testaments, Bastar∣dy, Divorce, Tithes, Perjury, &c. and many Civil cases. It sits in the Months of Novem∣ber, December, January, February, June, and July.
- Commissaries of Scotland.
- Sir David Falconer of Glenfarqbuar,
- Henry Fowlis,
- James Aikenbeid,
- John Wishart,
- John Lindsay, Official of Saint Andrews.
- Sir William Fleeming, Official of Glasgow.
- John Stewart, Commissary of Dunkeld.
- John Scougall, Commissary of Aberdene.
- Alexander Mackenzie, Official of Murray.
- George Paterson, Commissary of Ross.
- James Straughan, Commissary of Brichen.
- James Innes, Official of Cathnes.
- —Monro, Commissary of—
- William Scrougie, Commissary of Argile.
- The Officials of
- Dumblane.
- Galloway.
- Orkney.
- The Isles.
HAving given an account of the Succession of the Bishops in their several Sees, let us take a short view of the several Courts, subordinate to them, wherein is exercised Ecclesiastical Discipline.
Page 11The First and Lowest (which is in every Parish) is called the Session. It consists of the chief and most grave men of the Parish, who are termed Elders and Deacons. In this small Court (whereof the Minister is President) all Fornicatours, Adulterers, Blasphe∣mers, Swearers, Prophaners of the Lord's-day, &c. are convented, and put to make publick Confessions of their Sins, and Professions of their Repentance, according to the degree or hainousness of them. For Fornication, they make publick Confession in the Church three several Lord's-days; in the last of which they receive Absolution. For an Adultery, they make their Profession of Repentance, for half a year, every Lord's-day; and for six Lord's-days they stand in sackcloath at the Church-door half an hour before Morning-prayers: and then in the end receive Absolution. And for other Faults, they doe penance according to their several degrees. The Deacon's Office is, to collect the Money for the use of the Poor, to delate Delinquents, &c. And that of the Elder is, to be carefull of the Fabrick of the Church, to assist in the censuring scandalous persons, and to wait on the Minister at the Celebration of the Lord's Supper, &c. This Court sitteth once a week.
The number of the Parishes in Scotland is uncertain: I conjecture them to be about a Thousand.
The Next Court is called the Presbyterie, consisting of twelve or twenty Ministers, more or less. That sits once in two or three weeks. The Moderatour or President there∣of is chosen by the Bishop. In this Court are discussed Appeals from Sessions, and other difficult cases. Here are convented all those who refuse to submit to Church-Discipline, and all such as apostatize to Popery or Quakerism; who, if they remain obstinate, are prosecuted with the Censures of the Church. Here also all such as enter into Holy Or∣ders are examined, and an account taken of their Learning, and other Qualifications, in a course of many several Trialls; as making Homilies, Sermons, and Common-places; which hold two or three months: and then they are returned to the Bishop well qualified, who upon that proceeds to ordain them.
- Presbyteries of SCOTLAND.
- The Presbyteries of
- Dunce,
- Chirnside,
- Kelso,
- Ersilton,
- Jedburgh,
- Melross
- Dumbar,
- Haddington,
- Dalkeith,
- Edinburgh,
- Peeblis,
- Linlithgow,
- Perth,
- Dunkeld,
- Auchterardor,
- Striveling,
- Dumblane,
- Dumfreis,
- Penpont,
- Lochmabane,
- Middlebie,
- Wigton,
- Kirkubright,
- Stranraver,
- Aire,
- Irwing,
- Pasley
- Dumbarton,
- Glasgow,
- Hamilton,
- Lanerick,
- Biggar,
- Dunnune,
- Kinloch,
- Inneraray,
- Kilmoir,
- Skye,
- Saint Andrews,
- Kirkaldy,
- Cowper,
- Dumfermling,
- Meegle,
- Dundee,
- Arbroath,
- Forfair,
- Brichen,
- Mernis,
- Aberdene,
- Kincairden,
- Alford,
- Gareoch,
- Deir,
- Turreff,
- Fordyce,
- Ellon,
- Strathbogy,
- Abernethie,
- Elgin,
- Forress,
- Aberlower,
- Chanrie,
- Tayne,
- Dingwell,
- Dornoch,
- Week,
- Thirso,
- Kirkwall,
- Scalloway,
- Colmkill.
A Third Court (whereof the Bishop is President) is the Provincial Assembly, or Synod. In this Court are discussed all Appeals from Presbyteries, and all other difficult cases. From hence are issued Warrants for visiting of Churches. Here also the Lives of Scanda∣lous Ministers are tried, who, if found guilty of crimes laid to their charge, are either deposed, suspended, or excommunicated.
The Sentence of Excommunication cannot be pronounced against an obstinate person Page 12 but after a long Process of near a years continuance, and many Citations, and much pains to bring the Scandalous person (against whom onely it is denounced) to a due sense of his Sins, and a willingness to submit to the Censures of the Church: and then it must be rati∣fied and approved by the Bishop. The Provincial Synod meets twice in the year, in April, and October.
The Highest Ecclesiastical Court is the General Assembly; which, as its Constitution and Authority was settled in King James's Minority, was made up of two Ministers Com∣missioners from every Presbytery, and one Lay-Elder, a Commissioner from every Roy∣al Burrough, one from every University, and one from the King. These had the Su∣preme Authority about all Church-matters; and how much trouble they bred King James,* the former History has fully discovered. A shadow of this still remains: for the Supreme Ecclesiastical Court is declared to be a National Synod made up of Bishops and Deans, and two Members from every Presbytery, one of whom is of the Bishops nomi∣nation, and a Commissioner from every University. But nothing is to be proposed but by the King or His Commissioner: nor can any thing that they doe be of any force, till it be ratified by the King. But as the calling of this Synod is wholly in the Crown, so there is little need of it, since the King's Supremacy is so large, that He needs not their concurrence, to adde their Authority to any thing that He shall think fit to doe about Church-affairs.
The Bishops of Scotland take their places thus: Saint Andrews, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Galloway; the rest according to the Seniority of their Consecrations.
