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Introduction, Appendix G
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— Introduction, Appendix G. I1810the Record Commission

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I. 1. The Scottish Acts published by Henrison, 1566.


The following is a Copy of the Title of this Volume:

THE ACTIS AND CONSTITUTIOUNIS of the Realme of Scotland maid in Parliamentis haldin be the rycht excellent, hie and mychtie Princeis Kingis James the First, Secund, Thrid, Feird, Fyft, and in tyme of Marie now Quene of Scottis, viseit, correctit, and extractit furth of the Registers be the Lordis Depute be speciall commissioun thairto. Anno Do. 1566.



THE KING AND QUEENIS GRACE PRIVILEGE[1]

Grantit for Imprenting of thair Lawis and Actis of Parliamentis.

“HENRIE AND MARIE be the grace of God King and Quene of Scottis to all and sindrie our leigis and subiectis, quhome it effeiris quhais knawlege thir our letters sall cum greiting. WIT ZEE VS to haue geuin, grantit, and be thir our letters geuis and grantis to our weilbelouit Clerk Edward Henrysoun Doctour in the Lawis &c. and his assignayis allarnelie, full powar and licence to Imprent or cause Imprent and sell the Lawis and Actis of Parliament of our Realme, That is to say, the bukis of Law callit Regiam Maiestatem and the remanent auld Lawis and actis of Parliament, consequentlie maid be progres of tyme unto the date of thir presentis, viseit, sychtit and correctit be the Lordis Commissionaris speciallie depute to the said viseting, sychting and correcting thairof, and that for the space of ten zeiris nixt to cum. And dischargeis and reuokis all vther privilege, and licence grantit of befoir to ony vthers for Imprenting of our saidis Lawis and Actis: ¶ Quhairfoir we charge straitlie and commandis zow all and sindrie our liegis and subiectis forisaidis, That nane of zow tak vpone hand to Imprent or cause Imprent the saidis Lawis and actis in this our Realme or outhwith the samin or to sell the same within this our Realme, vnder the pane of escheting of the saidis bukis to our said weilbelouit Clerk, and als vnder the pane of paying to him the sowme of twa hundreth pundis money of our Realme, als oft as this our pruilege and licence beis contrauenit and brokin be zow or ony of zow, during the said space of ten zeiris. Geuin vnder our priuie Seill, At Edinburgh the First day of Junii, the zeir of God ane thousand fyue hūdreth thre scoir sax zeiris, and of our Regnis the First, and twentie foure zeirs.”

​

OVR SOVERANE LADYIS COMMISSIOVN,

For viseing correcting and Imprenting of the Lawis and Actis of Parliamentis.

“MARIE Be the grace of God Quene of Scottis, to all our liegis and subditis, quhais knawlege thir present letters shall cum, greting, WIT ZE VS mouit of greit zeill of Justice to retene the haill subiectis within this our Realme & dominiounis in gude ordoure, and obedience toward vs, and mutuall societie amang thame selfis, according to the gude Lawis, constitutiounis, ordinances and actis maid be vs and our maist Nobill progenitouris of gude memorie, considdering that be the misknawlege and Ignorance of the same Lawis, all misordour, inobedience, tumult, and troubling of the common weil proceidis: And because sindrie Lawis, constitutiounis and ordinances hes been maid be diuers our predecessouris, that certane leirnit, wyse and expert men, quhilks best knawis the Lawis sould be chosin to see and examinat the bukis of the Law, and set thame furth to the knawlege of our subiectis: ¶ Thairfoir we for the weill and instructioun of our saidis liegis in the Lawis of this our Realme, according to our zeill of Justice and intentioun oft tymes had of befoir, with auise of the Lordis of our secreit counsall, [to[2]] mak, constitute, and ordand be thir presentis our rycht traist cousingis and counsalouris George Erle of Huntlie Lord Gordoun and Badzenach our Chancellar, Archibald Erle of Ergyle Lord Campbell and Lorne, James Erle of Murray Lord Abirnethy, James Erle Bothuile Lord Hailis Chreichtoun and Liddisdaill, Johne Erle of Athole, Lord Baluany, William Erle Marchell, Lord Keith, Johne Erle of Mar Lord Erskin, Reuerend fathers in God Johne Bischop of Ros, Commendatour of our Abbay of Lundoris, Alexander Bischop of Gallaway, Commendatour of Inchaffray, Adame Bischop of Orknay, Schir Richard Maitland of Lethingtoun Knycht, keipar of our priuie Seill, Schir James Balfour of Pettindreich Knycht, Clerk of our Register, Schir Johne Bellenden of Auchinnoull Knycht, Clerk of our Justiciare, Maister Williame Baillie Lord Prouand, Maister John Spens of Condie, and Robert Creichtoun of Eliok our Aduocatis, Maister Dauid Chalmer, Chancellar of Ros, and Maister Edward Henryson doctour in the Lawis, our Commissaris in that part: Geuand, grantand and cōmittand to thame, or any sax of thame cōiunctlie (as persounis of quhais science and experience in the Lawis of our Realme, we specialle dois confide, and is assurit of thair industrie and trew diligence in executing and perfyting of our cōmand and chargeis) full powar and autoritie, expresse command, and charge in our name and behalf to visie, sycht and correct the Lawis of this our Realme maid be vs, and our maist Nobill progenitouris, be the auise of the thre Estatis in Parliament haldin be thame, beginnand at the buikis of the Law callit Regiam Maiestatem and Quoniam Attachiamenta. And swa consequentlie following be progres of tyme unto the dait of this our commission. Swa that na vthers bot the saidis Lawis sychtit, mendit and correctit be our saidis traist counsalouris and Commissaris, or ony sax of thame coniuctlie, salbe be our priuilege Imprentit, or haue place, faith or autoritie, to be allegeit and reheirsit afoir ony our Jugeis and Justices quhatsumeuer in Jugement and outwith. And generallie all and sindrie vther thingis to do, exerce and use, that in the premissis or anent the samin salbe necessare, or ony manner of way opportune. Firm, and stabill, haldand and for to hald, all and quhatsumeuer our said counsalouris and Commissaris in that part, or ony sax of thame coniuctlie in the premissis rychteouslie leidis to be done. Attour we promit to cause this our present Commissioun, with all and quhatsumeuer thingis, quhilkis our saidis counsalouris and Commissaris be vertew heirof sall happen to do, performe, accomplische, and determinat, be ratifeit, appreuit, and perpetuallie confirmit, be the avise of our thre Estatis in our nixt Parliament. ¶ In witnes of the quhilk thing, we have causit our greit Seill be put to thir presentis. At Edinburgh the First day of Maij the zeir af God ane thousand fyue hundreth thre scoir sax zeiris, and of our Regne the twentie foure zeir.

THE PREFACE TO THE REDAR.

“IT is maist certane, that na thing is swa eirnistlie to be socht and straitlie keipit, as the knawlege of the Lawis and thair authoritie. Because the Laws rychtlie disponis, and ordouris to the best baith godlie and manlie effairis, and banisis thairout all iniquitie. Thay ar the gift of God, the statute and decreit of wyse men, the amending and rychting of forthoct and suddane faultis, the common promeis, band and obligatioun of the Realme and of ilk Member thairof to uther, efter the quhilk it appertenis all the saidis members to leid thair lyfe gif thay will not onlie leif, bot als manerlie, weill and godlie leif. And lyke as ilk man aucht and sould seik the understanding of the Lawis that they may cast thame with all thair intent to obserue, and keip the samin: Rychtswa it is the office of the Souerane powar and of the Magistratis and Officiaris constitute under the samin, to cause publis and mak patent the Lawis, to the effect foirsaid, as we see the Israelitis, Athenienis, the Romanis, and uthers pepill and Impyris lauchfullie reulit, and thairby lang lestand, and continewand in prosperitie, had thair Statutis and Ordinancis ingraifit, or writtin in Tabillis, and fixit in the maist publique and patent placis, or inrollit, bukit, and solempnitlie red to all the pepill. And als all weil maid constitutioun contenis in the self ane prouisioun, that it be proclamit and publist. Misknawlege is ane maner and kynde of excusatioun to mony men of thair fault, albeit the Law sayis, thair is, nor sould be na excusatioun to the man pretendand Ignorance of the Law. Quhairfoir? Because the Law is understand to be notifeit, and publist to all Man, and thay sould seik to the knawlege thairof. Thairfoir our Souerane Lady seing the Lawis and Actis of hir maist Nobill progentouris to be for the maist part unknawin bot to the Jugeis, and men of Law, and zit the samin to be throuch Ignorance of the copistis confusit and full of errouris, hes maist commendablie and conuenientlie to hir Royall estate and Maiestie, and maist graciouslie for the weil of her subiectis, geuin commissioun to certane Nobill and leirnit Lordis, hir traist counsalouris, to sycht, considder, correct, and cause publis in prent the haill body of the Lawis of this hir Realme. In the undertaking of the quhilk charge and work the saidis Lordis ​thocht it maist expedient for the present to begin at the mending and furthsetting of the actis of Parliamentis haldin be kingis James the First, Secund, Thrid, Feird, Fyft, and be hir Maiesties powar hauand and hir self, and thairefter in all gudlie diligence to reik and extend thair cure to the emendatioun and publicatioun of the precedent and mair ancient Lawis, the quhilkis as they ar mair difficill to be decernit on, swa thay requyre langar tyme to thair dew correctioun. And albeit nane of all the Lordis Commissaris can be praisit aneuch, and proportionallie to thair worthynes for the trauell and diligence taken be thame in this present editioun and outset, zit in speciall with all mennis favouris, two of the saidis Lordis ar to be remembrit and commendit: Thay are to say, ane Reuerend Father in God, Johne Bischop of Ros Lord of our Soueranis Secreit counsall and of hir College of Justice, for his Suggestioun to our Souerane of this notabill purpose, eirnistfull performing of the said Commission and cure in conuening of my Lordis Commissaris his colligis, and liberalitie in the furthsetting of this Imprenting: And Schir James Balfour of Pettindreich, Knycht Clerk of the Register &c. For his sinceir afald and glaid concurrance to perfyte this wark, and exhibitioun of the originallis out of the Register and making of thame patent at all tymes on na wayis regardand his awin particulare outher proffeit or gloir bot onlie the commoun weill of the Realme. It restis to exhort all our Soueraine Ladyis liegis to diligentlie mark and consider thair awin dewtie and office expressit in this Law buke, and to expresse and manifest the samin be leding of thair lyfe conforme thairto in word and deid, Serchand heirout doctrine of treuth and obedience to the princeis, their Magistraitis and Officiaris of Justice: Off honest lyfe, of abstinence fra iniuring and hurting ane a uther: Off geuing to ilk persoun his awin: Off lauchfull conquesing, keiping, and annalying, of landis, gudis, and geir: And als to thank our Souerane of hir directioun and Commissioun, and the Lordis for the trauell takin be thame thairin: Fynallie to accept and embrace this haill laubour with sic beneuolence and gentill hart, that occasion be geuin efterwart, that the rest of the auld Lawis of Scotland be brocht to lycht, and put in the liegis handis to be commonlie red and understand with greit frute and plesure to the honour of God trew obedience to our Soueranis, and to the weill particular of ilk persoun, and commoun of the haill Realme.

¶ EDVARD HENRISON.”

CERTIFICATES OF AUTHENTICITY.

In the first One hundred and ten Folios of this Volume of the Black Acts, are contained the Acts of King James I. II. III. and IV. At the End of Folio cx, b. is the following Certificate:

“Thir ar the trew copyis of the Actis of Parliamentis made be our Souerane Lordis, Kingis James the First, Secund, Thrid, and Feird, with auise of the thre Estatis of the Realme: Reviseit & correctit be the Lordis Commissaris depute thairto: And extractit furth of the bukis of Parliament be me Schir James Balfour of Pettindreich Knycht, Clerk of our Souerene Lord and Ladyis Regestrie counsall and Rollis under my signe and subscriptioun manuall.

Jacobus Balfour.”
[A Fac-simile.]

At the End of the Third Parliament of King Jac. V. (fo. cxvij, b. of the Volume) is the following Note:

“Emendata et Descripta ut est supradictum.

Jacobus Balfour.”
[A Fac-simile.]

In fo. cxlij, b. at the Conclusion of the Acts of King James V. is an Act, intituled, “The Kingis Grace ordinance for imprentin of his Actis of Parliament.” (chap. cviij,[3]) The Copy of this Act is here given with the Note and Certificate which are added to it.

“The Kingis grace ordinance for imprentin of his Actis of Parliament. Ca. cviij.

“Heir[4] our Souerane Lord hes ordanit that the Actis of Parliament made be his hienes be publist out throw all his Realme. And, that all Schireffis, Stewartis, Baillies, Prouestis, and Baillies of Burrowis and uthers his liegis may haue the copyis thairof and pretend na Ignorance throw misknawing of the samin, Hes ordanit his Clerk of registre, to mak an autentyk extract and copy of all the saidis actis sa far as concernis the common weill under his subscriptioun manuall to be Imprentit, be quhat Prenter it sall pleis the said Clerk of Registre to cheis. And it sall not be lesum to ony uther Prenter to imprent the samin within this Realme or without the samin, or bring hame to be sauld, for the space of vj. zeiris nixt to cum under the pane of confiscatioun of the samin. Prowyding alwayis that the said Prenter to be chosin be the said Clerk of Registre, as said is, have our said Souerane Lordis speciall Licence thairto.”

“Thomas Dauidson than chosin Prenter, first Imprentit thir the viij. day of Februar the zeir of God ane thousand fyue hundreth xli. zeiris.

“Thir ar the trew copyis of the actis of Parliament maid be our Souerane Lord King James the Fyft. Extractit furth of the bukis of Parliament at command of the Act maid thairupone[5] be Maister James Foulis of Colintowne, Clerk of our Souerane Lordis Registre counsall and Rollis, under his signe and subscriptioun manuall.

Jacobus Foulis.”

​

In fo. clxix, at the End of the Acts of Queen Mary made in 1555, is the following Certificate, which appears to apply to all the Acts of that Queen, from the beginning of her Reign to that Time.

“Thir ar the trew copyis of the Actis of Parliamentis of our Souerane Lady Quene Marie haldin be ane Nobill and Mychtie Prince James Duke of Chastelheraut Lord Hammiltoun and Governour of the Realme. And be ane mychtie Princes Marie Quene Dowrear, mother to our Souerane Lady and Regent of the Realme, viseit sychtit and correctit be the Lordis Commissionaris depute thairto; and extractit furth of the bukis of Parliament be me Schir James Balfour of Pettindreich Knycht, Clerk of our Souerane Ladyis Register Counsall and Rollis under my Signe and subscriptioun manuall.

Jacobus Balfour.”
[A Fac-simile.]

In fo. clxxx, b. at the End of the Statute made by Queen Mary in her Parliament 1563, containing Twenty-five Chapters or Acts, is the following Certificate:

“Thir xxv actis nixt precedant war in the zeir of God ane thousand fyue hundreth lxv zeiris extractit furth of the buikis of Parliament at command of our Souerane Lady be Maister James Makgill of Rankelour-nether Clerk of our said Souerane Ladyis Registre counsall and Rollis under his Signe and Subscriptioun manuall.

Jacobus Mackgill.”

At the End of the Acts of the First Parliament of King James VI. (fo. xxiv. of that Collection) is the following Certificate:

“Extractum de libro Actorum Parliamenti per me Magistrum Jacobum Makgill de Rankelour-nether Clericum Rotulorum Registri ac Consilii, S.D.N. Regis, sub meis signo et subscriptione manualibus.

Jacobus Makgill.”
[A Fac-simile.]

The like Certificate exactly is also at the End of the Second Session of Jac. VI. and the like (with the Variation of “libris” for “libro”) at the End of the Third and Fourth Sessions respectively. See fo. vi, b. xiij, b. and xvj. of the Collections of the Acts of those Parliaments.



2. PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION:

From the Records of the Parliament, holden at Edinburgh 5th June 1592.

“For vistting and caussing of the Lawes and Actis of Parliament to be prented.”

“OUR SOUERANE LORD with aduise of his Estaitis Ordanis and commandis his traist Cousing ande counsallour Johnne lorde of thirlestane his hienes chancellair be him selff assistit with Mr. Johnne Lindsay persoun of Menmure, Alexander hay of eister kennet clerk of register, maister Johnne Skene aduocat, Mr. George zoung archdeacone of Sanctandrois, Mr. Thomas hammiltown appierand of preistfeld, Maister Williame Scott directour of the chancellarie, and Maister Johnne hay sone and depute to the said Clerk of Register, to visite the lawes and actis maid in this present parliament, and all vthiris municipall lawes and Actis of Parliament bygane, quhairof thair is Registaris or autentik monumentis extant; And to considder quhat lawis or Actis necesserlie wald be knawin to the Subiectis, qlkis suld be kepit ande obeyit be thame ande to mak thame Inexcusable of Ignorance To caus the samen lawys and actis be copyt and autentik copies Subscryvit to be deliuerit to his hienes prentar, Togidder or seuerallie, as the said Lord Chancellair and personis Joneyd to assist him sall think expedient als oft and in sic nowmer as yai sall think gude. That the same may cum probablie to the knawlege of all the Subiectis sa sone as is possible, And gevis and grantis full power to the said Chancellare and vtheris appointit to ye effect foirsaide be thir presentis And that the copie and directioun subscryvit be the said lorde Chancellar and Clerk of Register with ony vthir tua of ye personis abonewritten appointit to assist him salbe a sufficient warrant to ye said Prentar to the effect abone specifiet.”



3. ACT OF PARLIAMENT:

From the Records of the Parliament, holden at Edinburgh 11th August 1607.

“Act in fauouris of the Clerk of Register; Anent the prenting of the Book callit Regiam maiestatem.”

“FORSAMEKILL as be diuerse actis of parliament It wes Statute and Ordanit that all oure Souerane Lordis liegis of this his hienes Realme of Scotland Live and be governit vnder the lawes and Statutis of this Realme alanerlie, ​and be na vther lawes, And seing the auld lawes of this realme befoir ye dayes of King James the first wer almaist perisheit and not extant, And sua Money of thame as wer extant wer writtin in paperis and wer altogidder vncorrect; Thairfoir the estaittis of Parliament at diuerse tymes committit thair full power to sindrie persones to advyse treat and comoun anent the Reductioun of the saidis lawes Callit Regiam maiestatem and all vtheris actis statutis and bookis to be put in ane volume, and to be authorizit as the saidis Actis at mair lenth proportis And seing Sir Johne Skene of Curryhill knyt Clerk of Register conforme to the saidis Actis and Ordinances at Command of oure said Souerane lord and estaittis of parliament hes be his great travellis painis and expenss visitit correckit mendit and reduceit in ane volum the saidis auld lawes of this Realm befoir the dayes of King James the first The qlk volum contenand Regiam Maiestatem and vtheris Lawes the said Clerk of Register hes presentit befoir the haill estaittis of this present parliament whilk they haue Considerit And hes Allowit thairof As memorable and worthie Actis to be prentit, wherewith and be the Actis of parliament maid sensyne, the haill legis of this Realme sall be Judgeit reulit and governit; Thairfoir the haill estaitis of this present parliament statutis and ordinis the foirsaid volum and book contenand the saidis auld lawes of this Realme now writtin correckit and put in forme be the said Clerk of Register to be prentit authentiklie for the weill of the haill Judges persones and Subiectis of this Realme And becaus yair will be great expensse warit in prenting thereof by and attour the great paine travellis and expensse maid thairvpoun alreadie be the said Clerk of Register, for defraying of the whilks expenss the saidis Estaittis of this present parliament hes allowit and grantit to the said Clerk of Register the Sowme of vsuale money of this Realme to be payit be the Sherreffis baillies Stewartis barones and vtheris Judges of this Realme alsweill of Royaltie as regalitie and be the prelattis erlis lordis and burrowes of this realme And to the effect that the foirsaid Sowme may be contribute amongis the foirsaidis personnes and the mair thankfullie payit to the said Clerk of Register for the greater Expeditioun of the prenting of the foirsaidis auld Lawes and Statutis Hes gevin and grantit full Power and Commissioun To Alexander Erle of Dunfermeling Chancellar of this Realm, Mark erle of Louthiane, Patrik erle of Kinghorne, James lord of Balmerinoch, secretar and president of the College of Justice, Mr. Alexander dowglas Bischop of Murray, Mr. Alexander forbes bischop of cathnes, Mr. Williame Melvill commendatar of Toungland, Johne lord halyrudhous, Sr James Scrymgeour of dudop, Sr Johne cokburne of ormestoun, and the lard of dunypace, george hereott goldsmyth burges of Edinburgh, george bruce burges of Culross, and Johne lockhart burges of air, or to ony fyve of thame To sett doun ane stent roll amongis the foirsaidis Persones wha suld pay the foirsaid Sowme To the said Clerk of Register in maner foirsaid And to divyd the samin Sowmes amongis thame As they sall think expedient And whateuir the saidis Persones or ony fyve of thame does in the Premisses The saidis estaittis now as than and than as now declars To be als Lauchfull and sufficient as gif the samein had bene concludit statute and ordanit in this present parliament And that lettres be direct vpone ane simple charge of sex dayes be delyuerance of the lordis of sessioun for payment of the foirsaidis sowmes And the foirsaidis Persones sall sett doun the samin be thair stent And that na Suspensioun be grantit in favoris of whatsumeuir persone or persones except be the Lordis chancellar president collectour and aduocatt or ony twa of thame.”


  1. ↑ In some Copies the Privilege is in the Queen’s Name alone; and for effecting this Alteration the Leaf has been reprinted. The Record of the Writ, in the Register of the Privy Seal, runs in the joint Names of “Henrie & Marie.’
  2. ↑ Query, do.
  3. ↑ Under this Ordinance the first printed Publication of the Scottish Acts of Parliament was made in 1541.
  4. ↑ An Error of the Press for Item.
  5. ↑ i. e. the preceding Act.
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