[1540/12/76]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, it is statute and ordained that, forasmuch as it has been heavily complained to our sovereign lord that his lieges have been greatly hurt in times bygone by judges, both spiritual and temporal, who have not been only judges but plain solicitors, partial counsellors, assisters and partakers with some of the parties, and have taken great gear and profit, therefore, it is statute and ordained that in time coming that all justices, sheriffs, lords of session, bailies of regalities, provost and bailies of burghs and their deputies, and all other judges, spiritual and temporal, as well within regalities and royalties, shall do true and equal justice to all our sovereign lord's lieges without any partial counsel, rewards or taking of bribes farther than is permitted of the law, under the pain of the loss of their honour, fame and dignity, if they be tainted and convicted of the same; and if any manner of person accuses any judge, temporal or spiritual, as well lords of session as others, and does not prove the same sufficiently, he shall be punished in the same manner and sort as the said judge or person about whom he complains, and shall pay a pain arbitral at the will of the king's grace or his council for the infaming of such persons, providing always if a spiritual man fails, that he be called before his judge ordinary.