Legislation

In the first, it is statute that the freedoms, privileges and immunities of the Holy Kirk and other spiritual persons be observed and kept in honour and worship in the time of [James V], our sovereign lord, and [John Stewart, duke of Albany], my lord governor that now is, as it has been in times bygone.

  1. Source is printed The Actis and Constitutionis of the realme of Scotland maid in parliaments haldin be the rycht excellent, hie and mychtie princeis kingis James the First, Secund, Third, Feird, Fyft, and in tyme of Marie now Quene of Scottis, viseit, correctit, and extractit furth of the registers be the lordis deputs be speciall commissioun thairto, anno Domini 1566, held as NLS, Black Acts, 1566-94, H.33.c.21, f.112r. Back
  2. Source is printed The Actis and Constitutionis of the realme of Scotland maid in parliaments haldin be the rycht excellent, hie and mychtie princeis kingis James the First, Secund, Third, Feird, Fyft, and in tyme of Marie now Quene of Scottis, viseit, correctit, and extractit furth of the registers be the lordis deputs be speciall commissioun thairto, anno Domini 1566, held as NLS, Black Acts, 1566-94, H.33.c.21, ff.112r-v. Back
  3. A bribe given by a thief to secure him from prosecution or punishment; the taking of such a bribe. Back

Item, because the crimes of theft and violent robbery are so commonly used amongst the king's lieges, and for staunching of the same, it is statute and ordained in this present parliament that where any of the king's lieges express a grievance or complain upon a thief that has reived or stolen his gear or his men's, and is in service or submission of any man and shows the same to the man that he is in service with, and would summon him to the law for the same, this man that this thief or reiver is in service with, or finds him with him or under his submission, shall be held and obliged to produce and bring him to the law before the justice, sheriffs or any others that have knowledge to do justice upon such persons, committers of such crimes, at days and places affixed to them to underlie the same, or else shall deliver the said thief or reiver to the complainer, to be brought to the law and execute justice upon as said is; and if his master or sustainer of this thief or reiver refuses to do the same, he shall be held art and partaker of his evil deeds and shall be accused thereof as the principal thief or reiver, and also shall restore and satisfy to the complainer the goods reived or stolen from him; and if this complainer, after he has arrested this thief or delivered him as said is, would make agreement with the said thief and take thift-bute† and put him from the law, in that case he shall underlie the law and be accused thereof as principal thief or reiver; and if he arrests and accuses him of the said theft or robbery and is found innocent thereof, the said complainer shall be held and obliged to give to the said man that he slanders innocently £10 to make amends for the said slander.

  1. Source is printed The Actis and Constitutionis of the realme of Scotland maid in parliaments haldin be the rycht excellent, hie and mychtie princeis kingis James the First, Secund, Third, Feird, Fyft, and in tyme of Marie now Quene of Scottis, viseit, correctit, and extractit furth of the registers be the lordis deputs be speciall commissioun thairto, anno Domini 1566, held as NLS, Black Acts, 1566-94, H.33.c.21, f.112r. Back
  2. Source is printed The Actis and Constitutionis of the realme of Scotland maid in parliaments haldin be the rycht excellent, hie and mychtie princeis kingis James the First, Secund, Third, Feird, Fyft, and in tyme of Marie now Quene of Scottis, viseit, correctit, and extractit furth of the registers be the lordis deputs be speciall commissioun thairto, anno Domini 1566, held as NLS, Black Acts, 1566-94, H.33.c.21, ff.112r-v. Back
  3. A bribe given by a thief to secure him from prosecution or punishment; the taking of such a bribe. Back