In no sense can his" consistorial "system of church government be regarded as Presbyterian.
His plan was partly Presbyterian and partly consistorial.
Matrimonial matters and those relating to wills and succession (called in Scotland " consistorial " causes) were in 1563 taken from the old bishops' courts and given to " commissaries " appointed by the crown with an appeal to the court of session, which by act 1609, c. 6, was declared the king's great consistory.
The bishops had consistorial courts; the patriarchs, chanceries and consistories (ib.).
The court of first instance is the " consistorial court " of the bishop. This consists of a small body of ecclesiastics.