Page:The Laws and Acts of Parliament of Scotland.djvu/736

l6i The Third SeJJion oftheficond 'Parliament of AND furder, His Majefty Recommends to the Commiflioners aforefaid , that what by rhe fhortnefie of time is not yet determined, as to the Commiflary- courts , Sheriff-courts , Town- courts , and all other Cowrts and Judicatories of the Kingdom , may be done with all conveniency , conform to his Majefties Commidion granted to them ; and that they return their Judgements thereof to His Majefty, that He may give fuch order therein , as He fliall think fit. X V 1 1. r_s£ C T againft keepers of Conventicles, and with-drawers fromPublickJVorjhif Edinburgh-, 4. of September, 16 j%. FO'cafmuch as the Aft paftby His Majefty and Eftares of Parliament , upon the 15. of Auguft $ | 1670. againft Conventicles, and the other Aft pad in the fame Parliament upon thexo. day of the* faid moneth of Auguft , 16 70. againft reparation and with-dtawing from the publick Meetings of Divine Worfhip, were appointed to endure only forthefpaceofthree years, unlefs His Majefty mould think fit to continue them longer. And his Majefty considering ■, that thefe Afts have not hitherto received that obe- dience which was due unto them , and that the execution thereof hath not been fo duely profecute , as by the tennor of the lame is prefcribed , and that therefore , the continuance thereof will be neceflary for fomelonger time ; Doth , with advice and confent of his Eftates of Parliament , Statute and Ordain , that the two Afts of Parliament above-mentioned, againft Conventicles and vvith-drawing from publick Meetings of Divine Wor- fhip , are and fhall endure and continue Afts of Parliament and publick Laws of the Kingdom , for the fpace of three years -, aft&r the expiring of thefe three years above-mentioned, and longer as his Majefty fhall be pleafed to appoint. Likeas, His Majefty confidering , that by the faid Aft againft Conventicles, it is Statute, that noouttedMinifter, notlicenfed by His Majefties Council, nor other perfon not authorized nor tollerat by the Bifliop of the Diocefs , prefume to preach , expound Scripture, or pray in any Meeting, except in their "own houfes , and to thefe of their own Family ; And fince there may befome queftions.and doubts * concerning the meaning and extent of that word Pray, His Majefty doth , with advice forefaid, Declare ; Thatitisnottobeunderftood, as if thereby Prayer in Families Were difcharged , by the perfons of the Fa- mily, and fuch as fhall be prefent , not exceeding the number of four perfons, befides thefe of the Familyt It is alwayes Declared , that this Aft doth not give allowance to any outted Minifter to pray in any Families,!! except in the Parodies where they be allowed to preach. And furder , His Majefty with advice forefaid , 1 doth hereby alfo Authorize the Magiftrats of the Royal-burroughs, to call before them all fuch of their .1 Burgefies, as fhall be guilty of keeping Conventicles, and to proceed againft them by fining and other; t wayes.asisat length expreft in the faid Aft; and that they make account and report ofthelflnes to the r Commifiioners of His Majefties Thefaury , and of their diligence to His Majefties Council. And His L Majefty confidering the flow progrefs hath been made , in putting thefe Afts in execution for the time by- . ' gone, Doth therefore , with advice forefaid , Statute and Command , that all Sheriffs, Stewarts, Lords of Regalities and their Deputes , and Magiftrats of Burroughs within their refpective Jurifdictions Ji fhall from henceforth be careful in putting thefe Acts to due execution, againft keepers of Conventicle: and with-drawers from publick Worihip , conform to the power and truft committed to them thereh And that they return an account of their proceedings to His Majefties Council yearly , on the fir Thurfday of July , under the pain of five hundred Merks, to be payed by each Sheriff, Stewart, Bailii and Magiftrats of Burgh, for each years failzie , in not giving an account of their diligence as faid is. x vni. lA C T fir eftablijhing CorreBion-houJes for Idle Beggars and Vagabonds. "Edinburgh, 4. of September, 16 j%. T He Kings Majefty , confidering the many good Laws and Statutes made by himfelf and his Royal Prt deceftors , for fupprefling of Vagabonds , Beggars and Idle perfons , who are a great burden and reproac to the Kingdom , and for the moft part, live without all Law or Rule , Sacred or Civil ; And that a numerous- brood of fuch perfons are dayly increafmg , who if they were fet to work , and bred to Trades & callings , thcl I people might riot only be disburdened of them, but they might, in a fhort time & upon far lefs expenfe* become J, [ j ufeful and profitable for the whole Kingdom. And withall confidering , that the effect of all thefe good Laws hath been fruftrate, becaufe there hath been no place provided wherein fuch poor people might be fet to work, nor perfons appointed to have the charge and overfight of them: For remeid whereof , his Majefty, witfc '*"' advice and confent of His Eftates of Parliament, Statutes, and Ordains , that -the Magiftrats of the Burgh; B' 1 following, betwixt and the term of Whitfunday next, 1673. provide Correftion-houfes for receiving arte ; a "lin their Burghs , and fuch as lhali be fen .} entertaining of the Beggars, Vagabonds and Idle perfons within their Burgns, to then Ion si