enerall Assembly, from the year of God 1560. to the year
1590. which agreeth with the foresaids other foure books and registers, in
so far as is extant in them, and further recordeth, what is wanting by
them, passing by what is mutilate in them, and which with the two Volumes
produced by _Master Thomas Sandilands_ from the year 1590. to this
present, maketh up a perfect register.

I. For the first two Volumes subscribed by _Ionn Gray_, albeit it be not
necessar in such antiquietie to proove that he was Clerk, seeing he
designes himself so by his subscription, yet the same is manifest by an
act mentioned in the third book, in the time of _Master James Richie_, who
succeeded him in the said office, and his hand-writ was acknowledged by
sundry old men in the ministery.

II. The uniformitie of his subscriptions through both Volumes, evident by
ocular inspection above the ordinarie custome of most famous Notars,
delivers the same from all suspicion _in facto tam antiquo_.

III. There be many coppies, specially of general acts, yet extant, which
do not debord from the saids registers, but are altogether agreeable
thereto.

IV. It is constant by the universal custome of this Kingdome, that all
registers are transmitted from one keeper to his successour; and so
comming by progresse and succession from the first incumbent to the last
possessour, are never doubted to be the registers of that judicatorie,
whereof the last haver was Clerk; and therefore it is evident, that these
books comming successfulie from _John Gray_, _Master James Richie_, and
_Master Thomas Nicolson_, who were all Clerks to the Assembly, into the
hands of _Master Robert Winrame_, who was constitute Clerk depute by the
said _Master Robert Nicolson_ (as his deputation here present to show,
will testifie) are the undoubted registers of the Assembly: like as
_Alexander Blair_ succeeded the said _Master Robert_ in his place of
Clerkship to the assignations and modifications of Ministers stipends; and
during _Master Robert_ his life-time, was his actual servant, and so had
the said books by progresse from him, which the said _Alexander_'s readie
presently to testifie.

V. The two registers of _Master James Richie_, albeit not under his own
hand, yet are frequently margined with his own hand-writ, and the same
marginal additions subscribed by him, which hand-writ is seen and
cognosced by famous men, who knoweth the same, and it is evident, being
compared with