ticular
act; as appeareth by the tennour of the act following.

_For so much as the office of a Bishop, as it is now used and
commonly taken withen this Realme, hath no sure warrand
authoritie, nor good ground in the Scriptures, but is brought in
by the foly and corruption of mans inventions, to the great
overthrow of the Kirk of God, the whole Assembly of the Kirk in
one voice after libertie given to all men to reason in the matter,
none opponing himself in defending the said pretended office,
findeth and declareth the said pretended office, used and termed,
as is above said, unlawfull in the selfe, as having neither
foundament, ground, nor warrand in the word of God, and ordaineth
that all such persons, __ as brook or shall brook hereafter the
said office, shall be charged simply to dimit, quite, and leave
off the same, as an office whereunto they are not called of God:
and suchlike, to desist and cease from all preaching, ministration
of the Sacraments, or using any way the office of pastours, while
they receive_ de novo, _admission from the generall Assembly,
under the pain of excommunication to be used against them, wherein
if they be found disobedient, or contradict this act in any point,
the sentence of excommunication, after due admonition, to be
execute against them._

In the same Assembly holden _Anno_ 1580. Sess. 10. This article was
appointed to be proponed to the King and Councel, that the book of policie
might be established by an act of privie Councel, _while a Parliament be
holden, at which it might be confirmed by a law_.

The extent of the act made at _Dundie_, was interpreted and explained in
the Assembly, holden at _Glasgow_, in _April_, 1581. Sess. 6. as
followeth.

_Anent the Act made in the Assembly holden at_ Dundie _against
Bishops, because some difficultie appeareth to some brethren to
arise out of the word_ (office) _contained in the said act, what
should be meaned thereby, The Assembly consisting for the most
part of such as voted, and were present in the Assembly at_
Dundie, _to take away the said difficultie, resolving upon the
true meaning and understanding of the said act, declare that they
meaned wholly to condemne the whole estate of Bishops, as they are
now in_ Scotland, _and that the same was the determination and
conclusion of the Assembly at this time, b