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Item, our soverane lord, with avise of his derrest regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, ratifyis and apprevis the act underwrittin maid in the parliament haldin at Edinburgh, the xxiiij day of August, the yeir of God ane thousand fyve hundreth and thre scoir yeiris, and of new in this present parliament statutis and ordanis the said act to be as ane perpetuall law to all our soverane lordis liegis in all tymes cuming, off the quhilk the tennour followis: Item, the thre estatis, understanding that the jurisdictioune and authoritie of the bischop of Rome, callit the paip, usit within this realme in tymes bypast, hes not onlie bene contumelious to the eternall God, bot also verray hurtfull and prejudiciall to our soveranis authoritie and commoun weill of this realme; thairfoir hes statute and ordanit that the bischop of Rome, callit the paip, have na jurisdictioun nor authoritie within this realme in ony tyme coming, and that nane of our said soveranis subjectis in ony tymes heirefter sute or desyre tytle or rycht of the said bischop of Rome, or his sait, to ony thing within this realme under the panis of barratrie, that is to say, proscriptioun, baneisment and never to bruik honour, office nor dignitie within this realme; and the contravenaris heirof to be callit befoir the justice or his deputis, or befoir the lordis of the sessioun, and puneist thairfoir conforme to the lawis of this realme, and the furnisaris of thame with fynance of money and purchessaris of thair tytle of rycht, or mantenaris or defendaris of thame, sall incur the samin panis; and that na bischop nor uther prelate of this realme use ony jurisdictioun in tyme cuming be the said bischop of Rome's authoritie, under the pane foirsaid; and, thairfoir, of new decernis and ordanis the contravenaris of the samin in ony tyme heirefter to be puneist according to the panis in the foirsaid act abone rehersit.
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Item, our soverane lord, with avise of his derrest regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, ratifyis and apprevis the act underwrittin maid in the parliament haldin at Edinburgh, the xxiiij day of August, the yeir of God ane thousand fyve hundreth lx yeiris, and of new in this present parliament statutis and ordanis the said act to be as a perpetuall law to all our soverane lordis liegis in all tymes cuming, of the quhilk the tennour followis: The quilk day, forsamekle as thair hes bene divers and sindrie actis of parliament maid in King James the First, Secund, Thrid, Feird and Fyft tymes, kingis of Scotland for the tyme, and als in oure soverane ladeis tyme, not aggreing with Godis haly worde, and be thame divers personis tuik occasioun to mantene idolatrie and superstitioun within the kirk of God and repressing of sic personis as wer professouris of the said worde, quhair throw divers innocentis did suffer; and for eschewing of sic inconvenientis in tyme cuming, the thre estatis of parliament hes annullit and declarit all sic actis maid in tymes bypast not aggreing with Godis word, and now contrare to the Confessioun of Faith, according to the said worde publist in this parliament, to be of nane availl, force nor effect; and decernis the said actis, and everie ane of thame, to have na effect nor strenth in tyme to cum, bot the samin to be abolist and extinct for ever in sa far as ony of the foirsaidis actis ar repugnant and contrare to the Confessioune of Faith and worde of God foirsaid, ratifyit and apprevit be the estatis in this present parliament; and thairfoir decernis and ordanis the contravenaris of the samin act in ony tyme heirefter to be puneist according to the lawis; of the quhilk Confessioun of the Faith the tennour followis.
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Of God, cap. 1
†We confes and acknawlege ane onlie God, to quhome onlie we man cleif, quhome onlie we man serve, quhome onlie we man wirschip, and in quhome onlie we man put our traist, quha is eternall, infinite, unmesurabill, incomprehensibil, omnipotent, invisibill, ane in substance and yit distinct in thre personis, the Father, the Sone and the Haly Gaist, be quhome we confes and beleif all thingis in hevin and eird, asweill visibill as invisibill, to have bene creatit, to be retenit in thair being and to be rewlit and gydit be his inscrutabil providence to sic end as his eternall wisdome, guidnes and justice hes appointit them, to the manifestatioun of his awin glorie.
Of the creatioun of man, cap. 2
We confes and acknawlege this our God to have creatit man, to wit, our first father Adame, to his awin image and similitude, to quhome he gaif wisdome, lordschip, justice, fre will and cleir knawlege of himself sa that in the haill nature of man thair culd be notit na imperfectioun; fra quhilk honour and perfectioun man and woman did baith fall, the woman being dissavit be the serpent, and man obeying the voice of the woman, baith conspyring aganis the soverane majestie of God, quha in expressit wordis had befoir threitnit deid gif thay presumit to eit of the forbodin tre.
Of originall sin, cap. 3
†Be quhilk transgressioun, commounlie callit originall sin, was the image of God utterly defacit in man, and he and his posteritie of nature become enemeis to God, slaifis to Sathan and servandis to sin, in sa mekle that deid everlasting hes had, and sall have, power and dominion over all that have not bene, ar not or sal not be regenerate fra above; quhilk regeneratioun is wrocht be the power of the Halie Gaist wirking in the hartis of the elect of God, ane assurit faith in the promeis of God revelit to us in his worde, be quhilk faith we apprehend Christ Jesus with the gracis and benefitis promisit in him.
Of the revelatioun of the promise, cap. 4
†For this we constantlie beleif that God, efter the feirfull and horribill defectioun of man fra his obedience, did seik Adame againe, call upon him, rebuke his sin, convict him of the same and, in the end, maid unto him ane maist joyfull promise, to wit, that the seid of the woman sould brek downe the serpentis heid, that is, he sould distroy the warkis of the sevill, quhilk promeis, as it was repetit and maid mair cleir fra tyme to tyme, sa was it imbracit with joy and maist constantlie ressavit of all the faithfull, from Adam to Noe, fra Noe to Abraham, fra Abraham to David, and sa furth to the incarnatioun of Christ Jesus; all (we mene the faithfull fatheris under the law) did se the joyfull dayis of Christ Jesus and did rejoyce.
The continuance, incres and preservatioun of the kirk, cap. 5
†We maist constantlie beleif that God preservit, instructit, multiplyit, honourit, decorit and, fra deid, callit to lyfe his kirk in all agis, fra Adam till the cuming of Christ Jesus in the flesche; for Abraham he callit fra his fatheris cuntrie, him he instructit, his seid he multiplyit, the same he mervelously preservit and mair mervelously deliverit fra the bondage and tyrannie of Pharao; to them he gaif his lawis, constitutiounis and ceremoneis, them he possessit in the land of Canaan; to them efter Jugeis and efter Saull he gaif David to be king, to quhome he maid promeis that of the frute of his loynis sould ane sit for ever upon his regall sait; to this same peple, fra tyme to tyme, he send prophetis to reduce them to the rycht way of thair God, fra the quhilk oftin tymes they declynit be idolatrie. And albeit that for their stubburne contempt of justice he was compellit to gif them in the handis of thair enemies, as befoir was threitnit be the mouth of Moyses in sa mekle that the haly cietie was distroyit, the temple brunt with fyre and the haill land left desolate the space of 70 yeiris, yit of mercie did he reduce thame againe to Jerusalem, quhair the cietie and tempill wer reedifyit, and thay, aganis all temptatiounis and assaultis of Sathan, did abyde, till the Messias came according to the promeis.
Of the incarnatioun of Christ Jesus, cap. 6
†Quhan the fulnes of tyme came, God send his sone, his eternall wisdome, the substance of his awin glorie in this warlde, quha tuik the nature of manheid of the substance of a woman, to wit, of a virgine, and that be operatioun of the Halie Gaist. And sa was borne the just seid of David, the angell of the greit counsell of God, the verray Messias promysit, quhome we acknawlege and confes Emanuell, verray God and verray man, twa perfyte naturis unitit and joynit in ane person. Be quhilk our confessioun we condempne the dampnabill and pestilent heresyis of Arrius, Marcion, Eutiches, Nestorius and sic utheris as outher did deny the eternite of his God heid, or the veritie of his humaine nature, or confoundit thame, or yit devydit thame.
Quhy it behuifit the mediator to be verray God and verray man, cap. 7
We acknawlege and confes that this maist wonderous conjunctioun betuix the God heid and the manheid in Christ Jesus, did proceid fra the eternall and immutabill decre of God, fra quhilk all our salvatioun springis and dependis.
Electioun, cap. 8
†For that same eternal God and father, quha of meir grace electit us in Christ Jesus, his sone, befoir the fundatioun of the warld was laid, appointit him to be our heid, our brother, our pastor and greit bischop of our saulis; bot because that the enimitie betuix the justice of God and our sins was sic that na flesche be it self culd, or mycht have, attenit unto God, it behuifit that the sone of God sould discend unto us and tak him self a body of our body, flesche of our flesche, and bane of our banis, and sa become the perfyte mediator betuix God and man, geving power to sa mony as beleif in him to be the sonis of God, as him self dois witnes, 'I pas up to my father, and unto your father, to my God, and unto your God', be quhilk maist haly fraternitie quhatsaever we have tint in Adam is restorit to us againe. And for this cause ar we not affrayit to call God our father, not sa mekle because he hes creatit us (quhilk we have commoun with the reprobat), as for that that he her gevin to us his onlie sone to be our brother and gevin unto us grace to acknawlege and embrace him for our onlie mediator, as befoir is said. It behuifit farther the Messyas and redemer to be verray God and verray man, because he was to underly the punischement dew for our transgressiounis, and to present him self in the presence of his fatheris jugement, as in our person, to suffer for our transgressioun and inobedience, be deith to overcum him that was author of deith. Bot because the onlie Godheid culd not suffer deith, nouther yit culd the onlie manheid overcum the same, he joynit baith togidder in ane person, that the imbecilitie of the ane soulde suffer and be subject to deith (quhilk we had deservit), and the infinite and invincibill power of the uther, to wit, of the Godheid, sould triumphe and purches till us lyfe, libertie and perpetuall victorie and sa we confesse and maist undoutitlie beleif.
Christis deith, passioun, buriall, cap. 9
†That our Lord Jesus offerit him self a voluntarie sacrifice unto his father for us; that he sufferit contradictioun of sinneris; that he was woundit and plaguit for our transgressiounis; that he, being the cleine innocent lamb of God, was dampnit in the presence of ane eirdly juge, that we sould be absolvit befoir the tribunall sait of our God; that he sufferit not onlie the cruell deith of the croce (quhilk was accursit be the sentence of God), bot alswa that he sufferit for a sesoun the wraith of his father, quhilk sinneris had deservit. Bot yit we awow that he remanit the onlie weilbelovit and blissit sone of his father, evin in the middis of his anguische and torment quhilk he sufferit in body and saul, to mak the full satisfactioun for the sinnis of the peple. Efter the quhilk, we confes and awow that thair remanis na uther sacrifice for sin, quhilk gif ony affirme, we na thing dout to awow that thay ar blasphemous against Christis deith and the everlasting purgatioun and satisfactioun purchaist to us be the same.
Resurrectioun, cap. 10
†We undoutitlie beleif that, in sa mekle as it was impossibill that the dolouris of deith sould reteine in bondage the author of lyfe, that our Lord Jesus crucifyit, deid and buryit, quha discendit into hell, did ryse againe for our justificatioun and distroying of him quha was the author of deith, brocht lyfe againe to us that wer subject to deith and to the bondage of the same. We knaw that his resurectioun was confirmit be the testimonie of his verray enemeis be the resurrectioun of the deid, quhais sepulcuris did oppin and thay did ryse and apperit to mony within the cietie of Jerusalem. It was alswa confirmit be the testimonie of his angellis and be the sensis and jugementis of his apostillis and of utheris quha had conversatioun, and did eit and drink with him efter his resurrectioun.
Ascensioun, cap. 11
†We na thing dout bot the self same body quhilk was borne of the Virgine, was crucifyit, deid and buryit, and quhilk did ryse againe, did ascend into the hevinnis for the accomplischement of all thingis, quhairin our namis, and for our confort, he hes ressaifit all power in hevin and eird, quhair he sittis at the rycht hand of the father, inaugurate in his kingdome, advocate and onlie mediator for us; quhilk glorie, honour and prerogative he allaine amangis the brethren sall posses till that all his enemeis be maid his fuitstuill, as that we undoutitlie beleif thay salbe in the finall jugement; to the executioun quhairof, we certanlie beleif that the same our Lord Jesus sall visiblie returne as that he was sene to ascend. And than we firmlie beleif that the tyme of refrescheing and restitutioun of all thingis sall cum in sa mekle that thir that fra the beginning have sufferit violence, injurie and wrang, for rychteousnes saik, sal inherite that blisiit immortalitie promysit fra the beginning, bot contrarywise the stubburne, inobedient, cruell oppressouris, fylthie personis, adulteraris and all sortis of unfaithfull salbe cast in the dungeoun of utter darknes, quhair thair worme sall not die, nouther yit thair fyre salbe extinguischeit. The remembrance of quhilk day, and of the jugement to be executit in the same, is not only to us ane brydill quhairby our carnall lustis ar refraynit, bot alswa sic inestimabill contort that nouther may the threitning of warldly princes, nouther yit the feir of temporall deith and present danger, move us to renunce and forsaik that blissit societie, quhilk we, the memberis, have with our heid and onlie mediator Christ Jesus, quhome we confes and awow to be the Messyas promysit, the onlie heid of his kirk, our just lawgevar, our onlie hie preist, advocat and mediator. In quhilk honouris and offices, gif man or angell presume to intruse thame self, we utterly detest and abhor thame as blasphemous to our soverane and supreme gournour Christ Jesus.
Faith in the Haly Gaist, cap. 12
†This our faith, and assurance of the same, proceidis not fra flesche and blude, that is to say, fra na naturall poweris within us, bot is the inspiratioun of the Haly Gaist, quhome we confes God, equall with the father and with the sone, quha sanctifyis us and bringis us in all veritie be his awin operatioun, without quhome we sould remaine for ever enemeis to God and ignorant of his sone, Christ Jesus, for of nature we ar sa deid, sa blind and sa perverst, that nouther can we feill quhan we ar prickit, se the lycht quhan it schynis, nor assent to the will of God quhan it is revelit unles the spirite of the Lord Jesus quickin that quhilk is deid, remove the darknes fra our myndis and bow our stubburne hartis to the obedience of his blissit will. And sa as we confes that God the father creatit us quhan we war not, as his sone our Lord Jesus redemit us quhan we war enemeis to him, sa alswa do we confes that the Haly Gaist dois sanctifie and regenerat us, without all respect of ony merite proceding fra us, be it befoir or be it efter our regeneratioun. To speik this ane thing yit in mair plaine wordis, as we willinglie spoyle our selfis of all honour and gloir of our awin creatioun and redemptioun, sa do we alswa of our regeneratioun and sanctificatioun; for of our selfis we ar not sufficient to think ane gude thocht, bot he quha hes begun the wark in us is onlie he that continewis us in the same, to the praise and glorie of his undeservit grace.
The cause of gude warkis, cap. 14 †
†Sa that the cause of gude warkis we confes to be not our fre will, bot the spirite of the Lord Jesus, quha, dwelling in our hartis be trew faith, bringis furthe sic gude warkis as God hes preparit for us to walk in. For this we maist bauldlie affirme that blasphemie it is to say that Christ abydis in the hartis of sic as in quhome thair is na spirite of sanctificatioun; and thairfoir we feir not to affirme that murthereris, oppresseris, cruell persecuteris, adultereris, huremungeris, fylthie personis, idolateris, drunkardis, thevis and all wirkeris of iniquitie have nouther trew faith, nouther ony portioun of the spirite of sanctification quhilk proceideth fra the Lord Jesus sa lang as obstinatlie thay continew in thair wickitnes. For how sone that ever the spirite of the Lord Jesus (quhilk Goddis elect children ressaif be trew faith) takis possessioun in the hart of ony man, sa sone dois he regenerate and renew the same man sa that he beginnis to hait that quhilk befoir he luifit, and beginnis to luif that quhilk befoir he hatit. And fra thine cumis that continuall battell, quhilk is betuix the flesche and the spirite in Goddis children, quhill the flesche and naturall man, according to the awin corruptioun, lustis for thingis plesing and delectabill unto the self, and grudgeis in adversitie, is liftit up in prosperitie and at everie moment is prone and reddy to offend the majestie of God. Bot the spirite of God, quhilk gevis witnessing to our spirite that we are the sonis of God, makis us to resist the dewill, to abhorr fylthie plesouris and to graine in Goddis presence for deliverance fra this bondage of corruptioun, and finallie, sa triumphe over sin that it regne not in our mortall bodyis. This battell hes not the carnall men, being destitute of Goddis spirite, bot dois follow and obey sin with gredines and without repentance, evin as the devill and thair corrupt lustis do prick thame. Bot the sonis of God, as befoir was said, dois fecht aganis sin, dois sob and murne, quhan thay persaif thame selfis temptit to iniquitie, and gif thay fall, thay ryse againe with ernist and unfenyeit repentance; and thir thingis thay do not be thair awin power bot be the power of the Lord Jesus, without quhome thay wer habill to do nathing.
Quhat warkis ar reputit gude befoir God, cap. 15
†We confes and acknawlege that God hes gevin to man his haly law, in quhilk not onlie ar forbiddin all sic warkis as displeis and offend his godlie majestie, bot alswa ar commandit all sic as pleis him, and as he hes promysit to rewaird. And thir warkis be of twa sortis: the ane ar done to the honour of God, the uther to the profite of our nichtbouris, and baith have the revelit will of God for thair assurance. To have ane God, to wirschip and honour him, to call upon him in all our troublis, reverence his haly name, to heir his word, to beleif the same, to communicate with his haly sacramentis ar the warkis of the first tabill. To honour father, mother, princes, rewlaris and superiour poweris, to luif thame, to supporte thame, ye, to obey thair chargeis (not repugning to the commandement of God); to saif the lives of innocentis, to repres tyrannie, to defend the oppressit, to keip our bodyis cleine and haly, to live in sobernes and temperance, to deill justlie with all men baith in worde and deid and, fynallie, to repres all appetyte of our nichtbouris hurt ar the gude warkis of the secund tabill, quhilk are maist plesing and acceptabill unto God, as thir warkis that ar commandit be himself. The contrarie quhairof is sin maist odious, quhilk alwayis displesis him and provokis him to anger; as, not to call upon him allaine, quhan we have neid; not to heir his word with reverence; to contempne and dispyse it; to have or wirschip idolis; to manteine and defend idolatrie; lychtlie to esteime the reverend name of God; to prophaine, abuse or contempne the sacramentis of Christ Jesus; to disobey or resist ony that God hes placit in authoritie (quhill thay pas not over the boundis of thair office); to murther or to consent thairto; to beir hatrent or to suffer innocent bluid to be sched gif we may withstand it; and, fynallie, the transgressioun of ony uther commandement in the first or secund tabill, we confes and affirme to be sin, by the quhilk Goddis hait and displesoure is kendlit aganis the proude, unthankful warld. Sa that gude warkis we affirme to be thir onlie that ar done in faith and at Goddis commandement, quha, in his law, hes expressit quhat the thingis be that pleis him. And evill warkis we affirme not onlie thir that expressitlie ar done aganis Goddis commandement, bot thir alswa that in materis of religioun and wirschipping of God, hes na uther assurance bot the inventioun and opinioun of man, quhilk God fra the beginning hes ever rejectit, as be the Propheit Esay, and be our maister, Christ Jesus, we ar taucht in thir wordis, 'In vaine do thay wirschip me, teicheing the doctrinis the preceptis of men'.
The perfectioun of the law and imperfectioun of man, cap. 16
†The law of God we confes and acknawlege maist just, maist equall, maist haly and maist perfyte, commanding thir thingis quhilk, being wrocht in perfectioun, wer habill to gif lyfe and habill to bring man to eternall felicitie. Bot our nature is sa corrupt, sa waik and sa unperfyte that we ar never habill to fulfill the warkis of the law in perfectioun. Yea, gif we say we have na sin evin efter we ar regeneratit, we dissaif our selfis, and the veritie of God is not in us; and thairfoir it behufit us to apprehend Christ Jesus with his justice and satisfactioun, quha is the end and accomplischement of the law to all that beleve, be quhome we ar set at this libertie, that the cursse and malediccioun of God fall not upon us, albeit we fulfill not the same in all pointis, for God the father behalding us in the body of his sone Christ Jesus acceptis our imperfyte obedience as it wer perfyte, and coveris our warkis, quhilk ar defylit with mony spottis with the justice of his sone. We do not mene that we ar so set at libertie that we aw na obedience to the law (for that befoir we have plainly confessit), but this we affirme, that na man in eird (Christ Jesus onlie except) hes gevin, gevis or sall give in work that obedience to the law quhilk the law requyreth. Bot quhan we have done all thingis, we man fall downe and unfenyeitlie confes that we ar improfitabil servundis, and thairfoir, quhasaever bostis thame selfis of the meritis of thair awin warkis, or put thair traist in the warkis of supererogatioun, boist them selfis of that quhilk is nocht and put thair traist in dampnabill idolatrie.
Of the kirk, cap. 17
†As we beleif in ane God, Father, Sone and Haly Gaist, sa do we maist constantly beleif that fra the beginning thair hes bene, and now is, and to the end of the warld salbe, ane kirk; that is to say, ane cumpany and multitude of men chosin of God, quha rychtly wirschip and embrace him be trew faith in Christ Jesus, quha is the onlie heid of the same kirk, quhilk alswa is the body and spous of Christ Jesus, quhilk kirk is catholick, that is, universal, because it contenis the elect of all agis, of all realmis, natiounis and toungis be thay of the Jewis, or be thay of the gentilis, quha have communioun and societie with God the father and with his sone Christ Jesus, throuch the sanctificatioun of his holy spirite; and thairfoir is it callit the communioun, not of prophaine persounis, bot of sainctis, quha as citizenis of the hevinlie Jerusalem, have the fruitioun of the maist inestimabill benefitis, to wit, of ane God, ane Lord Jesus, ane faith and of ane baptisme, out of the quhilk kirk thair is nouther lyfe nor eternall felicitie. And, thairfoir, we utterlie abhor the blasphemie of thame that affirme that men quhilk live according to equitie and justice salbe savit, quhat religioun that ever thay have professit; for as without Christ Jesus thair is nouther lyfe nor salvatioun, sa sall thair nane be participant thairof, bot sic as the father hes gevin unto his sone, Christ Jesus, and thay that in time cum unto him, avow his doctrine and beleif into him (we apprehend the children with the faithful parentis). This kirk is invisibill, knawin onlie to God, quha allaine knawis quhom he hes chosin and comprehendis asweill (as said is) the elect that be departit, commounlie callit the kirk triumphant, and thay that yit live and fecht aganis sin and Sathan as sall live heirefter.
The immortalitie of the saulis, cap. 18
†The elect departit ar in peice and rest fra thair laubouris, not that thay sleip and cum to a certaine oblivion (as sum fantastickes do affirme), bot that thay ar deliverit fra all feir and torment, and all temptatioun, to quhilk we and all Goddis elect ar subject in this lyfe and, thairfoir, do beir the name of the kirk militant. As contrarywise, the reprobate and unfaithfull departit have anguische, torment and paine that can not be expressit, sa that nouther ar the ane nor the uther in sic sleip that thay feill not joy or torment as the parabill of Christ Jesus in the 16 of Luik, his wordis to the theif, and thir wordis of the saulis crying under the alter, 'O Lord, thow that art rychteous and just, how lang sall thow not revenge our bluid upon thir that dwellis in the eird?' dois testifie.
Of the notis by the quilk the trew kirk is decernit fra the fals and quha salbe juge of the doctrine, cap. 19
†Because that Sathan fra the beginning hes laubourit to deck his pestilent synagog with the tytle of the kirk of God, and has inflamit the hartis of cruell murtheraris to persecute, troubill and molest the trew kirk and membris thairof, as Cain did Abell, Ismaell Isaak, Esau Jacob, and the haill preistheid of the Jewis, Christ Jesus him self and his apostillis efter him, it is ane thing maist requysite that the trew kirk be decernit fra the fylthie synagogis, be cleir and perfyte notis, leist we, being dissavit, ressaif and embrace to our awin condempnatioun the ane for the uther. The notis, signis and assurit takinis quhairby the immaculate spous of Christ Jesus is knawin fra the horribill harlat, the kirk malignant, we affirme ar nouther antiquitie, tytle usurpit, lineall discente, place appointit nor multitude of men approving ane errour, for Cain in age and tytle was preferrit to Abel and Seth, Jerusalem had prerogative abone all places of the eird, quhair alswa wer the preistis liniallie discendit fra Aaron, and greiter number followit the scribis, Phariseis and preistis than unfenyeitlie belevit and approvit Christ Jesus and his doctrine. And yit, as we suppose na man of sound jugement will grant that ony of the foirnamit wer the kirk of God. The notis, thairfoir, of the trew kirk of God, we beleif, confes and avow to be: first, the trew preicheing of the worde of God, into the quhilk God hes revelit him self unto us, as the wrychtingis of the prophetis and apostillis dois declair; secundly, the rycht administratioun of the sacramentis of Christ Jesus, quhilk man be annexit unto the worde and promeis of God, to seill and confirme the same in our hartis; last, ecclesiasticall discipline uprichtlie ministerit, as Goddis worde prescribis, quhairby vice is repressit and vertew nurischit. Quhairsaever that thir former notis ar sene and of ony tyme continew (be the number never sa few, about twa or thre) thair, without all dout, is the trew kirk of Christ, quha, according to his promeis, is in the middis of thame; not that universall, of quhilk we have befoir spokin, bot particular, sic as was in Corinthus, Galatia, Ephesus and uther placis, in quhilk the ministerie was plantit be Paull and wer of him self namit the kirkis of God. And sic kirkis, we the inhabitantis of the realme of Scotland, professouris of Christ Jesus, professis our selfis to have in our cieteis, townis and placis reformit; for the doctrine taucht in our kirkis is contenit in the writtin worde of God, to wit, in the buikis of the Auld and New Testamentis; in thay buikis we mene quhilk of the ancient have bene reputit canonicall; in the quhilk we affirme that all thingis necessarie to be belevit for the salvatioun of mankynde is sufficientlie expressit, the interpretatioun quhairof we confesse nouther appertenis to private nor publict persoun, nouther yit to ony kirk for ony preeminence or prerogative, personallie or locallie, quhilk ane hes abone ane uther, bot appertenis to the spirite of God, by the quhilk alswa the scripture was writtin. Quhan contraversie than happinnis, for the rycht understanding of ony place or sentence of scripture, or for the reformatioun of ony abuse within the kirk of God, we aucht not sa mekle to luik quhat men befoir us have said or done, as unto that quhilk the Haly Gaist uniformly speikis within the body of the scripturis, and unto that quhilk Christ Jesus him self did and commandit to be done, for this is ane thing universallie grantit, that the spirite of God, quhilk is the spirite of unitie, is in nathing contrarious unto him self. Gif than the interpretatioun, determinatioun or sentence of ony doctoure, kirk or counsall repugne to the plaine worde of God writtin in ony uther place of the scripture, it is a thing maist certaine that thair is not the trew understanding and mening of the Haly Gaist, althocht that counsallis, realmes and natiounis have approved and ressavit the same; for we dar not ressave nor admit ony interpretatioun quhilk repugnis to ony principall point of our faith, or to ony uther plaine text of scripture, or yit unto the reule of cheritie.
The authoritie of the scripturus, cap. 20
†As we beleve and confes the scripturis of God sufficient to instruct and mak the man of God perfyte, so do we affirme and awow the authoritie of the same to be of God, and nouther to depend on men nor angellis. We affirme, thairfoir, that sic as allege the scripture to have na uther authoritie bot that quhilk it hes ressavit from the kirk, to be blasphemous aganis God and injurous to the trew kirk, quhilk alwayis heiris and obeyis the voice of hir awin spous and pastour, bot takis not upon hir to be maistres over the samin.
Of generall counsellis, of thair power, authoritie and cause of thair convention, cap. 21
†As we do not raschely dampne that quhilk godlie men, assemblit togidder in generall counsell, lauchfullie gadderit, have proponit unto us, sa without just examinatioun dar we not ressave quhatsaever is obtrudit unto men under the name of generall counsellis. For plaine it is, as thay wer men, sa have sum of thame manifestlie errit, and that in materis of greit wecht and importance. Sa far than as the counsell previs the determinatioun and commandement that it gevis be the plaine worde of God, sa far do we reverence and embrace the same. Bot gif men under the name of a counsell pretend to forge unto us new articlis of our faith, or to mak constitutionis repugning to the worde of God, than utterlie we man refuse the same as the doctrine of devillis, quhilk drawis our saulis fra the voice of our onlie God to follow the doctrinis and constitutiounis of men. The cause, than, quhy that generall counsellis convenit, was nouther to mak ony perpetuall law quhilk God befoir had not maid, nouther yit to forge new articklis of our beleif, nor to gif the word of God authoritie, mekle les to mak that to be his word, or yit the trew interpretatioun of the same, quhilk was not befoir his haly will expressit in his worde; bot the cause of counsellis (we mene of sic as merite the name of counsellis) was partlie for confutation of heresies and for geving publict confessioun of thair faith to the posteritie following, quhilk baith thay did be the authoritie of Goddis writtin worde and not be ony opinioun or prerogative that thay culd not erre, be ressoun of thair generall assemblie. And this we juge to have bene the cheif cause of generall counsellis. The uther was for gude policie and ordour to be constitute and observit in the kirk, in quhilk (as in the hous of God) it becumis all thingis to be done decentlie and into ordour. Not that we think that ane policie and ane ordour in ceremonies can be appointit for all agis, tymes and placis, for as ceremonies sic as men have devysit ar bot temporall, so may and aucht thay to be changeit quhan thay rather foster superstitioun than that thay edifie the kirk using the same.
Of the sacramentis, cap. 22
†As the fatheris under the law, besydis the veritie of the sacrificis, had twa cheif sacramentis, to wit, circumcisioun and the Pasover, the dispyseris and contempneris quhairof war not reputit for Goddis peple, sa do we acknawlege and confes that we, now in the tyme of the evangill, have twa cheif sacramentis onlie institutit be the Lord Jesus and commandit to be usit of all thay that will be reputit membris of his body, to wit, baptisme and the supper or table of the Lord Jesus, callit the communion of his body and his blude. And thir sacramentis, asweill of the Auld as of the New Testament, now institutit of God not onlie to mak ane visibill difference betuix his peple and thay that war without his leigue, bot alswa to exerce the faith of his children and, be participatioun of the same sacramentis, to seill in thair hartis the assurance of his promise and of that maist blissit coniunctioun, unioun and societie, quhilk the elect have with their heid Christ Jesus. And thus we utterlie dampne the vanitie of thay that affirme sacramentis to be nathing ellis bot nakit and bair signis. Na, we assuritlie beleif that be baptisme we ar ingraftit in Christ Jesus, to be maid partakeris of his justice, be quhilk our sinnis ar coverit and remittit, and alswa that in the supper rychtlie usit, Christ Jesus is sa joynit with us that he becumis verray nurischement and fude of our saulis. Not that we imagine any transubstantiatioun of breid in Christis naturall body and of wyne in his naturall blude, as the papistis have perniciously taucht and dampnablie belevit, bot this unioun and conjunctioun, quhilk we have with the body and blude of Christ Jesus in the rycht use of the sacramentis, is wrocht be operatioun of the Haly Gaist, quha, by trew faith, caryis us above all thingis that ar visibill, carnall and eirdly, and makis us to feid upon the body and blude of Christ Jesus, quhilk was anis brokin and sched for us, quhilk now is in the hevin and appeiris in the presence of his father for us. And yit, notwithstanding the far distance of place quhilk is betuix his bodie now glorifyit in the hevin and us now mortall in this eird, yit we man assuritlie beleif that the breid quhilk we brek is the communion of Christis body, and the coup quhilk we blis is the communion of his blude, sa that we confes and undoutitlie beleif that the faithfull in the rycht use of the Lordis tabill do sa eit the body and drinke the blude of the Lord Jesus that he remanis in thame and thay in him. Ye, thay ar sa maid flesche of his flesche and bane of his banis, that as the eternall Godheid hes gevin to the flesche of Christ Jesus (quhilk of the awin conditioun and nature was mortall and corruptibill) lyfe and immortalitie, sa dois Christ Jesus, his flesche and blude eitin and drunkin be us gif unto us the same prerogativis, quhilk albeit we confes ar nouther gevin unto us at that tyme onlie, nouther yit be the proper power and vertew of the sacramentis onlie, yit we affirme that the faithfull in the rycht use of the Lordis table hes conjunctioun with Christ Jesus as the naturall man can not apprehend. Ye, and farther, we affirme that albeit the faithfull, oppressit be negligence and manlie infirmitie dois not profite sa mekle as thay wald in the verray instant actioun of the supper, yit sall it efter bring frute furth as lively seid sawin in gude ground. For the Haly Spirite, quhilk can never be devydit fra the rycht institutioun of the Lord Jesus, will not frustrate the faithfull of the frute of that mystical actioun, bot all this, we say, cumis of trew faith, quhilk apprehendis Christ Jesus, quha onlie makis his sacramentis effectuall unto us. And, thairfoir, quhasaever sclanderis us as that we affirmit or belevit sacramentis to be nakit and bair signis, do injurie unto us and speikis aganis the manifest treuth. Bot this liberallie and franklie we confes, that we mak ane distinctioun betuix Christ Jesus in his eternall substance and betuix the elementis in the sacramentall signis sa that we will nouther wirschip the signis in place of that quhilk is signifyit be thame; nouther yit do we dispyse and interpreit thame as unprofitabill and vaine, bot do use thame with all reverence, examining our selfis diligentlie befoir that sa we do, becaus we ar assurit be the mouth of the apostill that sic as eit of that breid and drink of that coup unworthely ar giltie of the body and of the blude of Christ Jesus.
Of the rycht administratioun of the sacramentis, cap. 23
That sacramentis be rychtlie ministrat, we juge twa thingis requysite: the ane that thay be ministrat be lauchfull minsteris, quhome we affirme to be onlie thai that ar appointit to the preiching of the worde, into quhais mouthis God hes put sum sermon of exhortatioun, thay being men lauchfully chosin thairto be sum kirk; the uther, that thay be ministrat in sic elementis and in sic sorte as God hes appointit, ellis we affirme that thay ceis to be rycht sacramentis of Christ Jesus. And thairfoir it is that we flee the societe with the papisticall kirk in participatioun of their sacramentis: first, because thair ministeris ar na ministeris of Christ Jesus, ye (quhilk is mair horrible) thay suffer wemen, quhome the Haly Gaist will not suffer to teiche in the congregatioun, to baptise; and, secundlie, because thay have sa adulterat baith the ane sacrament and the uther with their awin inventiounis, that na pairt of Christis actioun abydis in the originall puritie, for oyle, salt, spattill and sic lyke in baptisme ar bot mennis inventiounis; adoratioun, veneratioun, beiring throuch streitis and townis, and keiping of breid in boxis or buistis ar prophanatioun of Christis sacramentis and na use of the same. For Christ Jesus said, 'Tak, eit etc. Do ye this in remembrance of me', be quhilk wordis and charge he sanctifyit breid and wyne to be the sacrament of his halie body and blude to the end that the ane salbe eitin and that all sould drink of the uther, and not that they sould be keipit to be wirschippit and honourit as God, as the papistis have done heirtofoir, quha alswa have committit sacrilege, steilling fra the peple the ane pairt of the sacrament, to wit, the blissit coupe. Mairover, that the sacramentis be rychtlie usit, it is requyrit that the end and cause quhy the sacramentis war institute be understand and observit, asweill of the minister as of the ressaveris. For gif the opinioun be changit in the ressaver, the rycht use ceissis, quhilk is maist evident be the rejectioun of the sacrifices; as alswa gif the teicher plainly teiche fals doctrine, quhilk war odious and abhominabill befoir God (albeit thay war his awin ordinance), because that wickit men use thame to ane uther end than God hes ordenit. The same affirme we of the sacramentis in the papisticall kirk, in quhilk we affirme the haill actioun of the Lord Jesus to be adulteratit, asweill in the externall forme as in the end and opinioun. Quhat Christ Jesus did and commandit to be done is evident be the evangelistis and be Sainct Paull. Quhat the preist dois at his alter, we neid not to reheirs. The end and cause of Christis institutioune, and quhy the self same sould be usit, is expressit in thir wordis: 'Do ye this in remembrance of me. Als oft as ye sall eit of this breid and drink of this coup, ye sall schaw furth', that is, extol, preiche, magnifie and praise, 'the Lordis deith till he cum'. Bot to quhat end, and in quhat opinioune, the preistis say thair mes; lat the wordis of the same, thair awin doctouris and wrychtingis, witnes, to wit, that thay, as mediatoris betuix Christ and his kirk, do offer unto God the father a sacrifice propiciatorie for the sinnis of the quick and the deid. Quhilk doctrine, as blasphemous to Christ Jesus and making derogatioun to the sufficiencie of his onlie sacrifice, anis offerit for purgatioun of all thay that salbe sanctifyit, we utterlie abhor, detest and renunce.
To quhome sacramentis apperteine, cap. 24
We confes and acknawlege that baptisme appertenis asweill to the infantis of the faithfull as unto thame that be of age and discretioun. And sa we dampne the error of the Anabaptistis, quha denyis baptisme to appertene to children befoir that thay have faith and understanding. Bot the supper of the lord we confes to appertene to sic onlie as be of the houshald of faith and can try and examin thameselfis, asweill in thair faith as in thair dewithie towardis thair nichtbouris. Sic as eit and drink at that haly table without faith, or being at discentioune and divisioun with thair brethren do eit unworthely, and thairfoir it is that in our kirk our ministeris tak publict and particulare examinatioun of the knawlege and conversatioun of sic as ar to be admittit to the table of the Lord Jesus.
Of the civile magistrat, cap. 25
We confes and acknawlege empyris, kingdomis, dominiounis and cieteis to be distinctit and ordenit be God; the poweris and authoritie in the same, be it of emperouris in thair empyris, of kingis in thair realmis, dukis and princes in thair dominiounis and of utheris magistratis in fre cieteis, to be Goddis haly ordinance, ordenit for manifestatioun of his awin glorie and for the singular profite and commoditie of mankynde, sa that quhasaever gangis about to tak away or to confound the haill state of civile policeis, now lang establischit, we affirme the same men not onlie to be enemeis to mankynde, bot alswa wickitlie to fecht aganis Goddis expressit will. We forther confes and acknawlege thay sic personis as ar placit in authoritie ar to be luifit, honourit, feirit and haldin in maist reverend estimatioun because that thay ar the lieutennentis of God, in quhais sessiounis God him self dois sit and juge; ye, evin the jugeis and princes thame selfis to quhome be God is gevin the sworde, to the praise and defence of gude men and to revenge and punische all oppin malefactouris. Mairover, to kingis, princes, rewleris and magistratis, we affirme that cheiflie and maist principallie the conservatioun and purgatioun of the religioun appertenis sa that not onlie thay ar appointit for civile policie, bot alswa for mantenance of the trew religioun and for suppressing of idolatrie and superstitioun quhatsaever, as in David, Josaphat, Ezechias, Josias and utheris, heichly commendit for thair zeill in that caise, may be espyit; and thairfoir we confes and awow that sic as resist the supreme power, doing that thing quhilk appertenis to his charge, do resist Goddis ordinance and, thairfoir, can not be giltles. And farther, we affirme thay quhasaever denyis unto thame thair ayde, counsell and confort quhylis the princes and rewleris vigilantlie travell in executioun of thair office, that the same men deny thair help, supporte and counsell to God quha, be the presence of his lieutennent, dois craif it of thame.
The giftis frelie gevin to the kirk, cap. 26
Albeit that the worde of God trewlie preicheit and the sacramentis rychtlie ministerit and discipline executit according to the worde of God be the certaine and infallibill signis of the trew kirk, we mene not that everie particulare person joynit with sic cumpany be ane elect member of Christ Jesus; for we acknawlege and confes that dornell, cockell and caffe may be sawin, grow and in greit aboundance ly in the middis of the quheit, that is, the reprobat may be joynit in the societie of the elect and may externallie use with thame the benefitis of the word and sacramentis bot sic being bot temporall professouris in mouth, bot not in hart, do fall back and continew not to the end and, thairfoir, have thay na frute of Christis deith, resurrectioun nor ascensioun. Bot sic as with hart unfenyeitly beleif and with mouth bauldlie confes the Lord Jesus, as befoir we have said, sall maist assuritlie ressaif thir giftis: first in this lyfe, remissioun of sinnis, and that by onlie faith in Christis blude in sa mekle that albeit sin remane and continuallie abyde in thir our mortall bodyis, yit it is not imputit unto us, but is remittit and coverit with Christis justice; secundlie, in the generall jugement, thair salbe gevin to everie man and woman resurrectioun of the flesche; for the sey sall gif hir deid, the eird thay that thairin be inclosit; ye, the eternal, our God, sall streiche out his hand on the dust and the deid sall aryse uncorruptible and that in the subtance of the self same flesche that everie man now beiris to ressaif according to thair warkis glorie or punischement. For sic as now delyte in vanitie, crueltie, fylthines, superstitioun or idolatrie salbe adjugeit to the fyre unstancheabill, in quhilk thay salbe tormentit for ever, asweill in thair awin bodyis as in their saulis, quhilk now thay gif to serve the devill in all abhominatioun. Bot sic as continew in well doing to the end, bauldlie professing the Lord Jesus, we constantlie beleif that thay sall ressaif glorie, honour and immortalitie, to regne for ever in lyfe everlasting with Christ Jesus, to quhais glorifyit body all his elect salbe maid lyke quhan he sall appeir againe in jugement, and sall rander up the kingdome to God his father, quha than salbe, and ever sall remaine all in all thingis God, blissit for ever, to quhome, with the Sone and with the Haly Gaist be all honour and glorie, now and ever. So be it.
Aryse, O Lord, and lat thy enemies be confoundit. Lat thame flee fra thy presence, thay hait thy godly name. Give thy servandis strenth to speik thy worde in bauldnes, and lat all natiounis cleif to thy trew knawlege. Amen.
Thir actis and articklis ar red in the face of parliament and ratifyit be the thre estatis at Edinburgh, the sevintene day of August, the yeir of God jM vC and thre scoir yeiris.
[A1567/12/4]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, our soverane lord, with avise of his derrest regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, ratifyis and apprevis the act underwrittin maid in the parliament haldin at Edinburgh, the xxiiij day of August, the yeir of God ane thousand fyve hundreth thre scoir yeiris, and of new in this present parliament statutis and ordanis the said act to be as one perpetuall law to all our soverane lordis liegis in all tymes to cum, of the quhilk, the tennour followis: The quhilk day, forsamekle as almychtie God, be his maist trew and blissit word, hes declarit the reverence and honour quhilk sould be gevin unto him, and be his sone Jesus Christ hes declarit the trew use of the sacramentis, willing the samin to be usit according to his will and word, be the quhilk it is notour and perfytelie knawin that the sacramentis of baptisme and of the body and blude of Jesus Christ hes bene in all tymes bypast corruptit be the papisticall kirk and be thair usurpit ministeris, and presentlie, notwithstanding the reformatioun alreddy maid according to Goddis word, yit not the les, thair is sum of the said papis kirk that stubburnlie perseveris in thair wickit idolatrie, sayand messe and baptisand conforme to the papis kirk, prophanand thairthrow the sacramentis foirsaidis in quyet and secreit placis, thairthrow nouther regardand God nor his holie word; thairfoir it is statute and ordanit in this present parliament that na maner of person or personis, in ony tyme cuming, administrat ony of the sacramentis foirsaidis, secreitlie or in ony uther maner of way, bot thay that ar admittit and havand power to that effect; and that na maner of person nor personis say messe, nor yit heir messe, nor be present thairat, under the paine of confiscatioun of all thair gudis, movabill and unmovabill, and punischeing of thair bodyis at the discretioun of the magistrat within quhais jurisdictioun sic personis happinnis to be apprehendit for the first fault, banischeing of the realme for the secund fault, and justifying to the deith for the thrid fault; and ordanis all schireffis, stewartis, bailleis and thair deputis, provestis and bailleis of burrowis and utheris jugeis quhatsumever within this realme to tak diligent sute and inquisitioun within thair boundis quhair ony sic usurpit ministerie is usit, messe saying or thay that beis present at the doing thairof, ratifyand and apprevand the samin, and tak and apprehend thame to the effect thay the panis abone writtin may be execute upon thame; and thairfoir of new decernis and ordanis the contravenaris of the samin in ony tyme heirefter to be puneist according to the panis of the foirsaid act abone reheirsit.
[A1567/12/5]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, forsamekle as the ministeris of the blissit evangell of Jesus Christ, quhome God of his mercie hes now rasit up amangis us, or heirefter sall rais, aggreing with thame that now levis in doctrine and administratioun of the sacramentis, and the pepill of this realme that professis Christ as he now is offerit in his evangell, and do communicat with the haly sacramentis (as in the reformit kirkis of this realme ar publictlie administrat) according to the Confessioun of the Faith, our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, hes declarit and declaris the foirsaid kirk to be the onlie trew and haly kirk of Jesus Christ within this realme; and decernis and declaris that all and sindrie quha outher gainsayis the word of the evangell, ressavit and apprevit as the heidis of the Confessioun of Faith professit in parliament of befoir in the yeir of God 1560 yeiris, as alswa specifyit in the actis of this parliament, mair particularlie dois expres, and now ratifyit and apprevit in this present parliament, or that refusis the participatioune of the haly sacramentis as thay ar now ministrat, to be na memberis of the said kirk within this realme now presently professit, swa lang as thay keip thame selfis sa deuydit fra the societie of Christis body.
[A1567/12/6]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, it is statute and ordanit be our soverane lord, with avise of his derrest regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, that the examination and admissioun of ministeris within this realme be onlie in power of the kirk, now oppinlie and publictlie professit within the samin, the presentatioun of lawit patronageis alwayis reservit to the just and ancient patronis and the patroun presentand ane qualifyit persoun within sex monethis (efter it may cum to thair knawlege of the deceis of him quha bruikit the benefice of befoir) to the superintendent of thay partis quhair the benefice lyis, or utheris havand comissioun of the kirk to that effect, utherwayis the kirk to have power to dispone the samin to ane qualifyit persoun for that tyme, provyding that in cais the patroun present ane person qualifyit to his understanding, and failyeing of ane, ane uther within the said sex monethis, and the said superintendent or commissar of the kirk refusis to ressaif and admit the person presentit by the patroun as said is, it salbe lesum to the patroun to appeill to the superintendent and ministeris of that province quhair the benefice lyis and desyre the person presentit to be admittit; quhilk gif thay refuse, to appeill to the generall assemblie of this haill realme, be quhome, the cause beand decydit, sall tak end as thay decerne and declair.
[A1567/12/7]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, because that the incres of vertew and suppressing of idolatrie cravis that the prince and the peple be of ane perfyte religioun, quhilk of Goddis mercie is now presentlie professit within this realme, thairfoir it is statute and ordanit be our soverane lord, my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament that all kingis and princes or magistratis quhatsumever halding thair place, quhilkis heirefter in ony tyme sall happin to regne and beir reule over this realme, at the tyme of thair coronatioun and ressavit of thair princely authoritie, mak thair faithfull promise be aith in presence of the eternall God that, induring the haill cours of their lyfe, thay sall serve the samin eternall God to the uttermaist of thair power according as he hes requyrit in his maist haly word, revelit and contenit in the New and Auld Testamentis; and according to the samin word, sall mantene the trew religioun of Jesus Christ, the preicheing of his haly word and dew and rycht ministratioun of the sacramentis now ressaifit and preichit within this realme; and sall abolische and gainstand all fals religioun contrare to the samin; and sall reule the pepill committit to thair charge according to the will and command of God, revelit in his foirsaid word and according to the lovabill lawis and constitutiounis ressaifit in this realme, nawyse repugnant to the said word of the eternall God; and sall procure to the uttermaist of thair power to the kirk of God and haill Cristiane pepil trew and perfyte peice in all tyme cuming, the rychtis and rentis, with all just privilegeis of the crowne of Scotland to preserve and keip inviolatit, nouther sal thay transfer nor alienat the samin; they sal forbid and repres in all estatis and degreis reif, oppressioun and all kynde of wrang; in all jugementis thay sall command and procure that justice and equitie be keipit to all creatures, without exceptioun, as the Lord and father of all mercyis be mercifull to thame; and out of thair landis and empyre thay salbe cairfull to ruite out all heretykis and enemeis to the trew worschip of God that salbe convict be the trew kirk of God of the foirsaidis crymis; and that thay sall faithfullie affirme the thingis abone written be thair solempnit aith.
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Item, the kingis grace, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, statutis and ordanis that na maner of person nor personis be ressaifit in ony tyme heirefter to beir publict office removabill of jugement within this realme, bot sic as professis the puritie of religioun and doctrine now presentlie establischeit; and that nane be permittit to procure nor admittit notar, or creat ane member of court in ony tyme cuming, without he in lyke wise profes the evangell and religioune foirsaid, provyding alwayis that this act be on na wyse extendit to ony maner of person or personis havand thair offices heritablie or in lyferent, bot that thay may use the samin conforme to thair infeftmentis and dispositiounis grantit to thame thairof.
[A1567/12/9]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, because the ministeris hes bene lang defraudit of thair stipendis, swa that thay ar becumin in greit povertie and necessitie, and notwithstanding hes continewit in thair vocatioun without payment of thair stipendis be ane greit space, quhairthrow thay ar, and salbe, constranit to leif thair vocatioun without remeid be provydit; thairfoir, our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, hes statute and ordanit that the haill thriddis of the haill benefices of this realme sall now instantlie, and in all tymes to cum, first be payit to the ministeris of the evangell of Jesus Christ and thair successouris; and ordanis the lordis of the sessioun to grant and gif letteris chargeing all and sindrie intromettouris, or that beis addettit in payment of the samin, to answer and obey to the saidis ministeris and thair collectouris to be nominat be the saidis ministeris, with avise of my lord regent, in forme as effeiris, notwithstanding ony discharge gevin be our soverane lordis mother to quhatsumever person or personis of the saidis thriddis, or any pairt thairof, ay and quhill the kirk cum to the full possessioun of thair propir patrimonie, quhilk is the teindis; provyding alwayis that the collectouris of the saidis ministeris mak yeirlie compt in the chakker of thair intromissioun, swa that the ministeris may be first answerit of thair stipendis appertening to everie ane of thame, and the rest and superplus to be applyit to our soverane lordis use.
[A1567/12/10]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, forsamekle as by all lawis and constitutiounis it is provydit that the youth be brocht up and instructit in the feir of God and gude maneris, and gif it be utherwyse, it is tinsell baith of thair bodyis and saulis gif Goddis worde be not rutit in thame; quhairfoir, our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, hes statute and ordanit that all sculis, to burgh and land, and all universiteis and colleges be reformit, and that nane be permittit nor admittit to have charge and cure thairof in tyme cuming, nor to instruct the youth privatlie or oppinliem, bot sic as salbe tryit be the superintendentis or visitouris of the kirk.
[A1567/12/11]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, anent the artickle proponit and gevin in be the kirk to my lord regent and the thre estatis of this present parliament anent the jurisdictioun justlie appertening to the trew kirk and immaculat spous of Jesus Christ, to be declarit and expressit, as the artickle at mair lenth is consavit, the kingis grace, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, hes declarit and grantit jurisdiction to the said kirk, quhilk consistis and standis in preicheing of the trew word of Jesus Christ, correctioune of maneris and administratioun of haly sacramentis, and declaris that thair is na uther face of kirk nor uther face of religioun than is presentlie, be the favour of God, establischeit within this realme; and that thair be na uther jurisdiction ecclesiasticall acknawlegeit within this realme uther than that quhilk is, and salbe, within the same kirk, or that quhilk flowis thairfra concerning the premissis. And forther, our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis foirsaidis, hes gevin and gevis power and commissioun to Schir James Balfour of Pettindreich, knycht, priour of Pettinweme, Mark, commendatour of Newbottill, Johne, priour of Coldinghame, lord previe seill, Maister James Mackgill of Rankelour Nether, clerk of register, Williame Maitland, younger, of Lethingtoun, secretar to our soverane lord, Schir Johne Bellenden of Auchinoull, knycht, justice clerk, Johne Erskine of Dune, Maister Johne Spottiswod, superintendent of Lowithhiane, Johne Knox, Maister Johne Craig and Maister David Lindesay, ministeris of the worde of God, to seirche furth mair speciallie and to considder quhat uther speciall pointis or clausis sould appertene to the jurisdictioun, privilege and authoritie of the said kirk, and to declair thair myndis thairanentis to my lord regent and thre estatis of this realme at the nixt parliament, swa that thay may tak ordour thairintill and authoreis the samin be act of parliament, as salbe fund aggreabill to the word of God.
[A1567/12/12]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, forsamekle as the youth is not onlie sene to preserve the commoun weill, bot alswa of thame man ryse sic as efter this man serve in the kirk of God within this realme and to the commoun weill of the samin; and because the poverte of mony is in sic sort that thay may not hauld thair children at letteris, quhairby the maist pairt of the youth of this realme wantis the giftis and gracis of leirning requisite to that charge; and, for remeid heirof, our soverane lord, with avise and consent of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, hes statute and ordanit that all patrounis havand provestreis or prebendareis of collegis, alterageis or cheplanereis at thair giftis and dispositioun may, in all tymes cuming, at thair plesour present the samin to ane bursar quhome thay pleis to name, to studie vertew and letteris within ane college of ony of the universiteis of this realme, thair to remaine for sic space as the patroune foirsaid plesis to hauld him at vertew and leirning within the foirsaid college, and as salbe aggreit upon be the patrounis of the saidis provestreis or prebendareis, with the principall and ministeris of the college of the universitie; and efter the patroun remuife that bursar furth of the said college, to present ane uther, and swa furth, fra ane to ane uther, to the effect foirsaid, at the patrounis plesour, notwithstanding ony fundatioun or confirmatioun past be quhatsumever authoritie in ony tymes bygaine, anent the quhilk our soverane lord, my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament dispensis, swa that the saidis patrounis may dispone thair provestreis and prebendareis to sic bursaris as thay sall think expedient, als oft as neid beis, quhilk salbe na hurt nor prejudice to thair patronage, notwithstanding thair fundatiounis and confirmatiounis quhatsumever, or ony provisioun contenit thairintill. And thairfoir, our soverane lord, my lord regent and thre estatis foirsaidis hartly requeistis all patrounis of collegeis, prebendareis and provestreis to graunt and dispone thair provestreis and prebendareis to the bursaris foirsaidis in maner above specifyit, swa that letteris may be authorisit and the youth sufficientlie brocht up in vertew and leirning, to the glorie of God and confort of the commoun weill of this realme.
[A1567/12/13]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, it is statute and ordanit be our soverane lord, with avise and consent of his derrest regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, that gif ony person or personis within this realme, to burgh or to land, sall commit the fylthie vice of fornicatioun and beis convict thairof, that the committeris thairof sall be puneist in maner following: that is to say, for the first fault, asweil the man as the woman, sall pay the sowme of fourtie pundis, or than baith he and scho salbe imprisonit for the space of aucht dayis, thair fude to be breid and small drink, and thairefter presentit to the mercat place of the towne or parochin bairheid, and thair stand fesnit, that thay may not remove for the space of twa houris as fra ten houris to twelf houris at none; for the secund fault, being convict, thay sall pay the sowme of ane hundreth merkis, or than the foirnamit dayis of thair imprisonment salbe doublit, thair fude to be breid and watter allanerlie, and in the end to be presentit to the said mercat place and baith the heidis of the man and the woman to be schavin; and for the thrid fault, being convict thairof, sall pay ane hundreth pundis, or ellis thair abone imprisonment to be triplit, thair fude to be breid and watter allanerly, and in the end to be taine to the deipest and foulest pule or watter of the towne or parochin, thair to be thryse dowkit, and thairefter baneist the said towne or parochin for ever; and fra thyne furth, quhow oft that ever thay be convict of the foirsaid vice of fornicatioun, that sa oft the said thrid penaltie be execute upon thame, and that the provest and bailleis of ilk burgh, the justice generall and his deputis, or sic utheris personis as it sall pleis our said soverane lord to gif commissioun unto, be jugeis to the persounis suspect and delatit of fornicatioune, and, being convict, that thay sall list and uptak the abone writtin pecuniall panis of the personis responsall and rather willing to pay the samin nor to be demanit in thair personis; and that the saidis corporall panis of imprisoning, banissing and utheris abone specifyit be execute upon all sic personis as outher refusis to pay the pecunial panis or that ar not responsall to pay the samin; and that the samin pecuniall panis quhilkis sall happin to be ressavit be surely keipit in ane clois box and be convertit ad pios usus in thay partis quhair the cryme is committit, as it sall pleis our said soverane and his derrest regent to command; and the ressaiferis of the said panis to be reddy to gif accompt thairof quhan ever thay salbe requyrit thairto.
[A1567/12/14]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, forsamekle as the abhominabill, vile and fylthie lust of incest is swa abhominabill in the presence of God, and that the samin eternall God, be his expres word, hes condampnit the samin, and yit nottheles the said vice is swa usit within this realme, and the word of God is in sic sort contempnit be the usaris thairof, that God be his just jugementis hes occasioun to plague the realme quhair the said vice is committit (without God, of his mercy, be mair gratious, and remeid be provydit that the said vice ceis in tyme cuming); thairfoir, our soverane lord, with avise and consent of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, statutis and ordanis that quhatsumever persoun or personis, committeris of the said abhominabill cryme of incest, that is to say, quhatsumever person or personis thay be that abusis thair body with sic personis in degre, as Goddis word hes expreslie forbiddin, in ony tyme cuming, as is contenit in the xviij cheptour of Leviticus, salbe puneist to the deith.
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Item, our soverane lord, with avise and consent of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, hes statute and ordanit that the haly band of mariage maid be all estatis and sortis of man and woman to be als lauchfull and als fre as the law of God hes permittit the samin to be done, without exceptioun of person or personis; and hes declairit and declairis that secundis in degreis of consanguinitie and affinitie, and all degreis outwith the samin contenit in the word of the eternall God and that ar not repugnant to the said word, mycht and may lauchfullie marie at all tymes sen the viij day of Marche, the yeir of God ane thousand, fyve hundreth, fyftie aucht yeiris, notwithstanding ony law, statute or constitutionis maid in the contrare; and ratifyis and apprevis all the saidis mariageis done sen the said day and the bairnis gottin, or tobe gottin, in sic mariage to be als lauchfull, als weill toward thair successioun to landis, heritageis or ony uther liberteis, as ony bairnis gottin in mariage, and to be repute and estemit in all tyme to cum lauchfullie gottin in lauchfull mariage, notwithstanding ony lawis, statutis, constitutiounis or actis maid, or to be maid, in the contrare.
[A1567/12/16]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, forsamekle as thair hes bene divers actis and statutis maid of befoir that na maner of person nor personis sould schuit with culveringis, crosbow or handbow ony tyme at da, ra, hart, hynde, hair, cuning, dow, herron or foule of revar under speciall panis contenit in the saidis actis and statutis, and notwithstanding the samin and that na executioun hes followit of befoir upon the personis contravenaris of the saidis actis, thay ar sa lychtlie estemit that the saidis beistis and foulis ar at all tymes slaine downe and distroyit be sic personis that nouther hes regaird to the commoun weill nor policie of the cuntrie; thairfoir, it is statute and ordanit be our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis of this realme, that quhatsumever person or personis of quhat estate, degre or conditioun that ever thay be of, that gif thay, in ony tymes cuming, schuit with culvering, crosbow or handbow at da, ra, hart, hynde, hair, cuning, dow, herron or foule of the revar within this realme, sall foirfault and tyne thair haill movabill gudis, that ane half thairof to our soverane lordis use and the uther half to be applyit to the juge and apprehendar of him that committis the cryme, to be devydit equallie betuix thame; and to that effect, ordanis all schireffis, stewards, bailleis of regalitie and all uther ordinar jugeis, with sic utheris as sall pleis our soverane lord and his regent gif power and commissioun to, call the contravenaris of this present act at particulare diettis, and gif thay be convict of the cryme, to escheit all thair movabill gudis, to be applyit in maner foirsaid; and gif the committar of the cryme be ane vagabond not havand gudis, that the juge quhome befoir he is convict keip and hauld him in prisoun for the space of fourtie dayis, and that for the first fault; and the nixt fault to cut of his rycht hand.
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Item, anent the act maid in parliament haldin at Edinburgh the xv day of December, the yeir of God ane thousand fyve hundreth thre scoir foure yeiris, quhairin it was declairit be act and authorisit be our soverane lordis derrest mother in the foirsaid parliament, declairand and findand hir grace and hir predecessouris and posteritie, princes of this realme, to have bene and to be at lauchfull and perfyte age of xxj yeiris compleit. Nochttheles, the said act being prentit, the prentar thairof has negligentlie left furth the forme of act of parliament; thairfoir, our soverane lord, with advyse of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament hes fundin the fault in the prentar of the said act, and thairfoir ordanis the samin to be of new prentit conforme to the principall act in the register of the said parliament haldin the day and yeir abone writtin, of the quhilk the tennour followis: Anent the artickle proponit to the quenis majestie and thre estatis of parliament, makand mentioun of ane act of parliament maid be King James II of gude memorie, of the dait the xx day of Marche, the yeir of God ane thousand foure hundreth threttie sevin yeiris, and of ane uther act maid be King James IV in his revocatioun, makand mentioun of xxj yeiris of age, of the dait the xv day of Februar, the yeir of God ane thousand four hundreth eightie nyne yeiris, lyke as the saidis actis respective at mair lenth proportis; desyring, thairfoir, our soverane lady and thre estatis of this present parliament to declair the saidis actis and utheris actis following anent the lauchfull and perfyte age of the prince, gif it be at xxj yeiris compleit; quha hes declairit and declairis that the quenis majesteis predecessouris, kingis of this realme, war be the saidis actis of lauchfull and perfyte age at xxj yeiris compleit, lyke as hir hienes, being of xxj yeiris of age compleit is of perfyte and lauchfull age, swa that hir hienes, hir predecessouris and successouris efter the said age of xxj yeiris compleit mycht have done, and may do, all thingis that thairefter ane prince of lauchfull and perfyte age mycht have done, or may do, of the law.
[A1567/12/18]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, anent the artickle proponit be the erlis, lordis and uther nobill men quha tuik armis at Carbarrie Hill upon the xv day of Junii last bypast, and anent thair conveningis of befoir and of the cause of the apprehensioun of the quene, mother to our soverane lord, and quhidder the saidis nobill men and utheris quhilkis tuik armis of befoir hir said apprehensioun and quhilkis joynit with thame and assistit thame at that tyme, or ony wayis sensyne, has done the dewithie of nobill men, gude and trew subjectis of this realme, and na wayis offendit nor transgressit the lawis in that effect, or ony thing depending thairupon, outher preceding or following the samin; our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis and haill body of this present parliament, hes fundin, declairit and concludit and, be this present act, findis, declairis and concludis that the cause and occasioun of the conventiounis and messageis of the saidis erlis, lordis, nobill men, barronis and utheris faithfull and trew subjectis, and consequentlie thair taking of armis and cuming to the feildis with oppin and displayit banneris, and the cause and occasioun of the taking of the said quenis person upon the said xv day of Junii lest bypast, and halding and detening of the samin within the housis and fortalice of Lochlevin continuallie, sensyne, presentlie and in all tyme cuming, and generallie all uther thingis inventit, spokin, writtin, or done be thame, or ony of thame to that effect sen the tent day of Februar last bypast, upon the quhilk day umquhile Henry, king, than the said quenis lauchfull husband and our soverane lord the kingis derrest father, was tressonablie, schamefullie ane horriblie murthourit, unto the day and dait of this present act and in all tymes to cum, tuicheing the said quene and detening of hir person, that the cause and all thingis dependand thairon, or that ony wayis may pertene thairto, the intromissioun or disponing upon hir propirtie, casualiteis or quhatsumever thing pertening, or that ony wayis mycht pertene to hir, wes in the said quenis awin default, in sa far as be divers hir previe letteris, writtin halelie with hir awin hand and send be hir to James, sumtyme erle of Bothwell, cheif executour of the said horribill murthour, asweill befoir the committing thairof as thairefter, and be hir ungodlie and dishonourabill proceding to ane pretendit mariage with him, suddandlie and unprovisitlie thairefter, it is maist certaine that scho was previe, airt and pairt of the actuall devise and deid of the foirnamit murthour of the king, hir lauchfull husband and father to our soverane lord, committit be the said James, sumtyme erle of Bothwell, his complices and pertakeris and, thairfoir, justlie deservis quhatsumever hes bene done to hir in ony tyme bygaine, or that salbe usit towardis hir for the said cause in tyme cuming, quhilk salbe usit be advise of the nobilitie, in respect that our said soverane lordis mother, with the said James, sumtyme erle of Bothwell, yeid about be indirect and colourit menis to colour and hald bak the knawlege of the treuth of the committaris of the said cryme, yit all men in thair hartis war fullelie perswadit of the authouris and devysaris of that mischevous and unworthie fact, awaiting quhill God sould move the hartis of sum to enter in the querrell for revengeing of the samin; and, in the menetyme, ane greit pairt of the nobilitie, upon just feir to be handlit and demanit in semblabill maner as the king had bene of befoir, persaving alswa the quene sa thrall and swa blindlie affectionat to the private appetyte of that tyrane, and that baith he and scho had conspyrit togidder sic horribill crueltie, being thairwith all garnissit with ane cumpanie of ungodlie and vitious personis, reddy to accomplische all thair unlauchfull commandementis, of quhome he had ane sufficient number continuallie awaiting upon him for the samin effect, all nobill and vertuous men abhorring thair tyrannie and cumpanie, bot cheiflie suspecting that thay, quha had sa tressonablie put downe and distroyit the father, sould mak the innocent prince, his onlie sone, and the principall and almaist onlie confort send be God to this afllictit natioun, to taist of the samin coup (as the mony inventit purposis to pas quhair he was, and alswa quhair the nobill men war in), be thair oppin confusioun, gaif sufficient warning and declaratioun, quhairthrow the saidis erlis, lordis, barronis and utheris faithfull and trew subjectis taking armis, or utherwyse quhatsumever joyning and assisting in the said actioun, and in the saidis conventiounis, displaying baneris and cuming to the feildis, taking and retening of the quenis person, asweill in tymes bypast as heirefter, and all utheris that hes thairefter, or sall in ony tyme cuming, adjoyne to thame, and all thingis done be thame, or ony of thame, tuicheing that cause, and all uther thingis depending thairon, or that ony wayis may appertene thairto, the intromissioun or disponing upon hir propirtie or casualiteis, or quhatsumever uther thingis pertening, or ony wayis mycht appertene to hir, was in default of hir self and the said James, sumtyme erle of Bothwell, and be the horribill and cruell murther of our said soverane lordis umquhile derrest father, conspyrit, devysit, committit, conseilit and colourit be thame and not condignelie puneist according to the lawis; and that the saidis erlis, lordis, barronis and utheris trew and faithfull subjectis convening at ony conventioun bygane and now presentlie efter the said murthour, for furthering of the tryell thairof; and als thay, and all utheris that war on the feildis, tuik armis, apprehendit, held, keipit or detenit, or presentlie haldis, keipis or detenis hir person, or sall thairefter, or that hes jonit or assistit or sall in ony tyme heirefter joyne to thame in that querrell tuicheing the premissis, ar, war and salbe innocent, fre and acquyte of the samin, and of all actioun and cause, criminall and civill, that may be intentit or persewit aganis thame, or ony of thame thairfoir in ony tyme cuming; and that ane pairt of the thre estatis foirsaidis, prelatis, bischopis, greit barronis and burgessis gaif thair seillis thairupon to be usit as salbe thocht maist expedient be thame for the honour of the realme and securitie of the nobill men and utheris havand entres in the said cause; and decernis this declaratioun to be na wayis prejudiciall to the issue of our soverane lordis mother, lauchfullie cumin of hir body, to succeid to the crowne of this realme, nor thair airis.
[A1567/12/19]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Anent the supplicatioun gevin in be Williame Dowglas of Lochlevin, beirand that the Erlis of Mortoun, Atholl, Mar, Glencarne, the Lordis Ruthven, Holme, Lindesay, Sempill and diveris utheris honourabill barronis and gentilmen of this realme upon the xvj day of Junii last bypast, be thair letteris subscrivit with thair handis, gaif command to the said Williame Dowglas, upon his dew obedience and as he tenderis the commoun weill of this realme, his native cuntrie, to ressaif our soverane lordis mother in keping within his fortalice and place of Lochlevin, as being ane rowme maist convenient thairto, and keip hir surelie thairintill ay and quhill farther tryall be taine anent the cruell murthour and tressonabill slauchter of umquhile Henry, king, spous to the quene, than our soverane, and the said Williame sufficientlie exonerit and dischargeit of hir said keping, as the letteris and charge direct be the saidis erlis, lordis and nobill men, schawin in presence of my lord regent and thre estatis of this realme beiris; and thairfoir desyring our soverane lord, my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament to gif declaratour to the said Williame Dowglas of Lochlevin that he hes done his detfull diligence in ressaving and keiping of our said soverane lordis derrest mother, and thairthrow that he and his aris may be fre of all actioun and cryme that may be imputit to thame thairthrow, and of ony uther thing done to hir sen hir cuming to the said place and fortalice in respect of hir awin declaratioun schawin and producit in presence of my said lord regent and haill estatis of this present parliament, lyke as the said supplicatioun, wrychtingis and chargeis direct thair anent schawin and producit as said is beiris. Our soverane lord, with avise of the said lord regent and thre estatis and haill body of this present parliament, declairis the saidis letteris and chargeis direct to the said Williame Dowglas of Lochlevin in maner abone writtin, to be dewlie and ressonablie direct and procedit upon ane just, trew and sinceir ground and, thairfoir, be censement of this present parliament, authorisis and declairis the samin to have bene dewlie, weill ordourlie and justly direct upon gude causis and consideratiounis. Lyke as alswa our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis of parliament foirsaid, authorisis and declaris the wrychtingis and declaratioun maid be our said soverane lordis derrest mother upon the xxviij day of Julii last bypast, declairand that scho on na wyse was treitit nor compellit be the said Williame Dowglas of Lochlevin, nor na utheris of his causing, to do ony thing contrare hir plesour sen hir cuming to the said place of Lochlevin, and thairfoir ordanis the saidis letteris, chargeis and utheris wrychttingis abone writtin to be insert and registrat in the buikis of parliament, to remaine thairintill perpetuallie for declaratioun of the said Williame Dowglas trew and just obedience in the said mater; and declairis he hes done his detfull dewithie in obtempering, obeying and fulfilling of the command and charge abone writtin, and decernis him, his airis, successouris and posteritie to be harmles and skaithles thairanent for now and ever; and dischargeis all actioune and cause, criminall and civile, that may be intentit or persewit aganis thame or him for the samin, for now and ever, by this present act.
[A1567/12/20]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, forsamekle as the ordouring of the cunyiehous and forgeing of money within this realme is ane mater of greit importance to the haill liegis thairof, as may appeir be diveris actis maid in our soverane lordis predecessouris parliamentis of befoir, and seing the greit necessitie now requyrit for having of gude and sufficient cunyie within the realme, seing the gude silver, as testonis and uther auld silver, utterlie meltit and distroyit, swa that the unce of silver is at dowbill price that it wount to be at within thir lait dayis, quhairthrow the realme is utterlie impoverit be evill cunyie; thairfoir, it is declarit in this present parliament that our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent, may cause prent and cunyie gold and silver of sic fynes as utheris cuntreis dois, to pas within this realme to the liegis of the samin; and that na prent nor cunyie of ony layit money be maid or cunyieit in ony tyme cuming, but avise of the thre estatis of parliament. And siclyke our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis foirsaidis, ordanis that na maner of gold nor silver alreddy cunyieit within this realme be meltit nor brokin downe in the cunyiehous, or utherwise in ony tyme heirefter, under the paine of confiscatioun of the half of the gudis of the awner and melter for the first fault, and gif the melter be not responsall, to puneis his person at the discretioun of the justice; and the secund fault, confiscatioun of thair haill gudis.
[A1567/12/21]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, anent the petitioun proponit be the senatouris of the college of justice, beirand that thair is divers personis that hes persewit actiounis befoir thame for reductioun of infeftmentis quhilkis ar confirmit be our soverane lordis predecessouris, quhilkis ar grantit and confirmit in parliament; and, aganis the samin, it is allegeit that the saidis senatouris ar nawyse jugis competent to the reductioun of ony sic infeftment, thairfoir the saidis senatouris hes referrit the declaratioun quhidder thay be jugis competent to ony sic reductioun or not to our soverane and thre estatis of parliament; and, thairfoir, desyring the censement and declaratioun of this present parliament quhat thay sall do thairanent. Our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, declairis the saidis senatouris of the college of justice to be jugis competent to the reductioun of all sic infeftmentis as said is, notwithstanding quhatsumever confirmatioun or grant of parliament past thairupon.
[A1567/12/22]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, forsamekle as be the use of culveringis, daggis, pistolettis and sic uther ingynes of fyre wark ar not onlie of the lovabill constitutiounis of this realme in slaying of wylde beistis and foulis forbiddin, bot als diveris our soverane lordis liegis ar schamefullie and cruellie murthourit, slaine and hurt, quhilkis utherwyse war abill to mak defence sufficientlie for thame selfis at all tymes of persute, as hes bene laitlie sene within this burgh of Edinburgh; and for eschewing and remeid thairof in tyme cuming, it is statute and ordanit be our soverane lord, with avise and consent of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, that na maner of person nor personis of quhatsumever estate, degre or conditioun thay be of schuit with culveringis, daggis, pistolettis or ony uther gunnis or ingynis of fyre wark in ony pairt of this realme, nouther to burgh nor to land (except sic as for pastyme will schuit within thair inner clois and yaird adjacent thairto, and marinaris and sic as hantis the seyis, being actuallie upon the samin, for defence of thair bodyis and gudis), under the paine of cutting of thair rycht hand; and siclyke that na maner of person nor personis of quhatsumever estate, conditioun or degre thay be of beir, weir or use ony culveringis, daggis, pistolettis or ony uther sic ingyne of fyre wark upon thair personis or in thair cumpany with thame, privatlie or oppinlie, outwith housis without licence of our soverane lord and my lord regent had and obtenit thairupon, under the paine foirsaid; provyding alwayis that the capitanis and men of weir serving our soverane lord and his regent foirsaid actuallie in his hienes wagis, nor yit the liegis of this realme, asweill in regalitie as royaltie, at wappinschawing, nor the provest, bailleis and inhabitantis of the burgh of Edinburgh, or utheris burrowis of this realme, chargeit be our soverane lordis authoritie to assembleis, wappinschawingis and conventionis for furthsetting of his hienes service and effairis in the tyme thairof, nor yit nane of our soverane lordis liegis in thair cuming, remaning, or departing to and fra ony hoistis, weiris, armyis, raidis, wappinschawingis, or assembleis, being speciallie and expreslie commandit and chargeit to that effect be his hienes letteris and authoritie, wardanis meitand, at dayis of trew and siclyke thay that ar followand theifis in defence of steilling of leill mennis gudis, and in rescours thairof, sall not be apprehendit under this present act.
[A1567/12/23]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, forsamekle for the abolissing of the greit quantitie of fals cunyie, quhairwith the commoun weill of this realme is greitlie troublit, to the hevy dampnage and skaith of the haill liegis thairof, thairfoir it is devysit, statute and ordanit be our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, that certaine men of jugement, having understanding of cunyie, be chosin and electit within everie burgh of this realme, quha, being sworne thairto, all sowmis of money salbe deliverit in thair presence and quhair ever thay apprehend or find ony fals money, to clip the samin, and the deliverar to tyne the said fals money and the cliptar to have ane penny of ilk pund for his labouris of the ressavar of the money quhilk salbe ressavit; and to that effect, ordanis the provest and bailleis and all utheris officiaris of burrowis to mak sufficient clip housis in sic placis of their burgh as salbe sufficient for the premissis, and the personis quhairto thay commit that charge that thay be abill to answer for thair office in that behalf.
[A1567/12/24]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, forsamekle as thair is divers and sindrie articklis presentit and gevin in be divers liegis and subjectis of this realme to our soverane lord, my lord regent, lordis of articklis and estatis of this realme, and speciallie ane artickle of James, lord of Sanct Johnis anent the confirmatioun of his privilegeis; ane artickle concerning the act of adulterie; ane artickle of the leirnit men of this realme desyring letteris to flureis; ane artickle tuicheing ejectioun and spulyeis; ane artickle anent reductioun of decreitis for the causis contenit in the first libell; ane artickle concerning warrandis in redemptioun of landis; ane artickle for punischement of thame that wilfullie passis to the horne and lyis thairat; ane artickle for thame that passis to the horne for liquidat sowmes; ane artickle for thame that passis to the horne and enteris in the girth; ane artickle for thame that puttis thair sonnis or freindis in thair landis or makis assignatiounis of thair gudis in defraude of the executioun of decreitis; ane artickle for superiouris that gevis private sesings efter the deceis of thair wassallis in defraude of the air of the said wassallis; ane artickle anent derth of victuall and bestiallis; ane artickle for ganging of fische furth of the realme; ane artickle for chesing of commissaris in everie schire to keip ordour amangis craftis men; ane artickle for slauchter; ane artickle for assythment of partie; ane artickle for thevis taine reifand; ane artickle for slauchter of veilis and lambis and for passing furth of the cuntrie, and inbringing of wyne, irne, tar, lint, and lit, nd als concerning the merchandis that raisis the price of geir that it was first sauld for efter the hame bringing; ane artickle for confirmatioun of the giftis of annuallis and chaplanereis to burrowis; ane artickle of the burgh of Cowper anent the downe taking of thair customes, as in the articklis gevin in thairupon at mair lenth is contenit. Our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, hes gevin and gevis power and commissioun to the lordis of the articklis underwrittin: that is to say, Alexander, bischop of Galloway, Adam, bischop of Orknay, Robert, commendatour of Dunfermling, Mark, commendatour of Newbottill, Johne, comendatour of Balmerinoch and Schir James Balfour, prioux of Pettinweme, for the spirituall estate; George, erle of Huntlie, Archebald, erle of Argyle, Johne, erle of Atholl, Johne, erle of Mar, Alexander, erle of Glencarne and Patrik, lord Lindesay of the Byris, for the barronis; Schir Symon Preisoune of that Ilk, knicht, provest of Edinburgh, Maister James Halyburgton, tutour of Petcur, provest of Dundie, Williame, lord Ruthven, provest of Perth, Johne Erskin of Dune, provest of Montrois, Thomas Menzeis of Potsoddellis, provest of Abirdene, and Patrik Lermonth of Dersie, knicht, provest of Sanctandrois, for the commissaris of burrowis, or ony four of everie ane of the estatis abone writtin, with our soverane lordis officiaris underwrittin: that is to say, the chancellar, the thesaurer, the comptrollar, the lord previe seill, the clerk of register, the justice clerk and the advocat, with sic utheris senatouris of the college of justice as thay pleis name to concur with thame; quhilkis personis sall vesie and considder the saidis articklis and tak ordour quhat thay think best to be done thairintil for the commoun weill of this realme and liegis thairof, and as thay think best to be done, to declair the samin to our soverane lord, my lord regent and thre estatis of this realme in the nixt parliament, to the effect that they may mak sic lawis and constitutiounis thairupon, as accordis with equitie and justice and ressoun.
[A1567/12/25]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, it is fund, declairit, statute and ordanit be our soverane lord, my lord regentis grace and thre estatis of this present parliament that all giftis and provisiounis of benefices elective, pensiounis or utheris quhatsumever, gevin and disponit under previe seill and greit seill be the quenis grace, our soverane lordis mother, in hir regne sen the parliament haldin in the yeir of God 1560 yeiris unto the coronatioun of our said soverane lord, war, ar and in all tyme cuming salbe to the possessouris, be vertew thairof, lauchful, ful and perfyte tytillis and rychtis, and als vailyeabill in all respectis, quhair ever thay be producit, as gif the saidis provisiounis and giftis had past upon supplicatiounis direct to the court of Rome and bullis past thairupon in maist ampil forme, provyding that this present act be not prejudiciall to the act of secreit counsell grantit in favouris of the ministeris anent the geving to thame of all benefices within yeirlie rent of thre hundreth markis sen the dait of the said act, nor yit be prejudiciall to lawit patronageis.
[A1567/12/26]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, anent the artickle proponit be the barronis, frehalderis and inhabitantis of the schirefdome of Selkirk, Roxburgh, Lanerk, Peblis, Drumfeis, Edinburgh and utheris inhabitantis of the remanent schyris of this realme, beirand that it is not unknawin of the continuall thift, reif and oppressioun committit and done within the boundis of the saidis schirefdomes be thevis, tratouris and utheris ungodlie personis, havand nouther feir of God nor man, and speciallie in thir troublis be ressettaris, fortifiaris and mantenaris of the saidis evill gevin persounis amangis the inhabitantis and indwellaris of the saidis schirefdomes respective, within divers partis of the samin, quhilk is the cheif cause and fortificatioun of the said thift; and siclyke that the thevis and brokin men, inhabitantis of the saidis schirefdomes and utheris boundis of the merchis of this realme foirnentis the partis of Ingland, not onlie committis daylie thiftis, reiffis, heirschippis, murtheris and fyre raisingis upon the peciabill subjectis of the cuntrie, bot als takis sindrie of thame, detenis thame in captivitie as prisonaris, ransounis thame, or lattis thame to borrowis for thair entrie againe, and in lyke maner, divers subjectis of the inland takis and sittis under thair assurance, payand thame blak maill and permittand thame to reif, herrie and oppres thair nychtbouris with thair knawlege and in thair fycht, without resistance or contradictioun. For eschewing and stopping of the quhilkis inconvenientis forsaidis, it is statute and ordanit be our soverane lord, his derrest regent, and thre estatis of this present parliament, that quhatsumever person or personis ressettis, fortifyis, mantenis or gevis meit, harberie or assistance to ony thevis in thair thifteous steilling and deidis, outher in thair cuming thairto or passing thairfra at ony tyme cuming, or intercommounis or trystis with thame to that effect ony maner of way without licence of the keipar of the cuntrie quhair the theif remanis had thairto, to the effect it may be knawin for quhat purpois thay intercommound with the saidis thevis within xlviij houris efter, or befoir the committing of the said cryme, that the ressettar, fortifyar, mantenar, assistar, meit gevar and intercommonar with sic personis salbe callit thairfoir at particular dietris criminallie as airt and pairt of thair thifteous deidis, or uther wayis civilie at the instance of the partie offendit upon xv dayis warning allanerlie, without dyet or tabill; and als that the schireffis of all schyris, stewartis, bailleis of regalitie and thair deputis, and all uther jugeis ordinar at everie heid court, put the saidis materis to the inquisitioune of ane assyse of the cuntrie at the desire and complaint of the partie, and as beis fundin, to report the samin to the justice, justice clerk, and thair deputis, within xv dayis nixt efter the mater be tryit, swa that this present act and statute may be put to executioun upon thame as the saidis schireffis, stewartis, bailleis of regalitie and jugeis ordinar foirsaidis will answer to our soverane lord and his derrest regent upon the executioun of thair office. And alswa for eschewing of the said greit, continuall and odious crymes and offences, and pacifying of the liegis in all partis opprest within this realme, and for the commoun weill thairof, it is statute and ordanit that na theif tak ony Scottisman at ony tyme heirefter under the paine of tresoun and lesemajestie, and that nane of our soverane lordis trew and faithfull liegis quhilkis have bene takin be the saidis thevis and brokin men salbe haldin to enter to thame, notwithstanding ony band gevin for thair entrie, dischargeing thame and thair souerteis simpliciter in that behalf; and gif ony of the saidis thevis callis or chargeis the principall men takin be thame or thair sovertie for thair entres for payment of the panis contenit in the bandis, or ony pairt thairof, be ransoun or band not payit to the saidis thevis, outher bygaine or in tyme cuming, thay sall (be the doing of the same) incur and underly the panis of tresoun and lesemajestie foirsaid; and als that our said soverane lordis faithfull and obedient subjectis, quhilkis heirefter sall happin to tak and apprehend ony of the saidis thevis in thair passing to commit thift, or in the actuall doing thairof, or in thair returning thairfra, on na wyse lat thame to libertie and fredome, bot present thame befoir the justice and his deputis in the tolbuith of Edinburgh within xv dayis efter thair apprehensioun, gif thair takeris (havand power) justifie thame not to deith thame selfis; and als that nane tak assurance or sit under assurance of the said thevis, or pay thame blak maill, or gif thame meit, drink, resset, mantenance or supplie in thair thifteous deidis in tyme cuming, under the pane of deid and confiscatioun of all thair gudis movabill; and in lyke maner, quhan ony thevis repairis in steling or reving within the incuntrie, that all our soverane lordis liegis dwelland in the boundis quhair thay resort ryse, cry, rais the fray and follow thame, asweill in thair cuming as outpassing on hors and sute for ridding, and recovering of the gudis stollin and reft, and apprehending of thair personis to be brocht to justice, and concur with the awneris of the gudis and utheris followeris to that effect, under the paine to be haldin partakeris of the said thift; and quhasaever beis suspectit or delaitit to do in the contrare, that the justice clerk grant letteris at the instance of ony partie for calling of thame to underly the law thairfoir at ane particulare dyet complenand upon the premissis, or ony point thairof, or accuse thame for the samin at generall justice airis, executand the panis contenit in this present act aganis the contravenaris thairof but favour or delay; and gif it sall happin ony oppin notorious theif to resort or cum to ony maner of personis hous, it salbe lefull to the awner of the said hous to tak and apprehend that theif without reproche or dishonouris, and bring him to the justice to be puneist conforme to the lawis.
[A1567/12/27]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, forsamekle as albeit thair was divers actis and ordinances maid of befoir inhibiting the carying of ony hors furth of this realme, yit thir twa yeiris last bypast divers personis, partlie under pretence of privilegeis and licences, and partlie without ony leif, hes transportit hors furth of this cuntrie to Burdeaux and utheris partis beyond sey, and maid ane commoun traid and mercat thairof, to the greit skaith of the commoun weill and raising of derth of hors, gif remeid be not provydit; thairfoir, it is statute and ordanit be the kingis grace, with avise of his derrest regent and thre estatis of parliament, that nane of the liegis of this realme tak upon hand, privatlie or oppinlie, to cary or transport furth of the samin be sey ony maner of hors in tyme cuming, and in lykewyse that na skipparis and maisteris of schippis, indwellaris of this realme or strangeris, ressaif within thair schippis ony hors to be transportit to uther cuntreis, under the paine of confiscatioun of the horsis, schippis and remanent gudis movabill of the transportaris and punissing of thair personis at the kingis majesteis will and his said regentis.
[A1567/12/28]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, forsamekle as the lordis of counsell and sessioun hes bene in use in tymes bygaine to ryse the last day of Julii and not to sit downe for administratioun of justice quhill the xij day of November thairefter, and to have vacance at Yule, Fastingis Evin, Pasche and Witsonday; and treuth it is that the moneth of Julii is the moneth of all the yeir maist dangerous and men abillest to contract seiknes thairintill, speciallie thay being in burrowis, townis not weill airit, and als that is the tyme of skantest victuallis and greitest derth within the realme, and als is the tyme that gentilmen and utheris hev maist ado concerning thair awin effairis; thairfoir it is statute and ordanit be our soverane lord, with avise and consent of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, that the lordis of counsell and sessioun in all tymes cuming sall ryse upon the x day of Julii and have vacance unto the xx day of October exclusive, upon the quhilk xx day of October thay sall sit downe and sit daylie, except upon the Sonday, quhill the xx day of December inclusive, and than ryse and have vacance, quhill the vij day of Januar exclusive, upon the quhilk vij day of Januar thay sall sit downe and sit daylie, except the Sonday, but ony vacance at Fastingis evin quhil Palmesonday evin inclusive, and than to ryse and have vacance quhill the nixt Monunday efter law Sonday exclusive, upon the quhilk Monunday thay sall sit downe and sit daylie, except on the Sonday, without ony vacance at Witsonday, quhill the said x day of Julii; and swa the saidis lordis of counsell and sessioun to proceid and minister justice to all our soverane lordis liegis daylie in tyme cuming, in maner befoir specifyit.
[A1567/12/29]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, our soverane lord, with avise and consent of his derrest regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, hes statute and ordanit that, in all tymes cuming, na gift of escheit pas with this clause following (or quhen it sall happin the offendar to be denuncit rebell, and put to the horne), bot that the horning be execute befoir the gift of escheit be disponit, utherwyse the gift of escheit to be of nane effect.
[A1567/12/30]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, our soverane lord, with avise and consent of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, hes ratifyit and ratifyis all civile privilegeis grantit and gevin be our soverane lordis predecessouris to the spirituall estate of this realme in all pointis, efter the forme and tennour thairof.
[A1567/12/31]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, our soverane lord, with avise and consent of his derrest regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, hes ratifyit and apprevit all privilegeis and liberteis grantit and gevin to the nobilitie and barronis of this realme, and actis of parliament maid in thair favouris; and ordanis the same to be put to executioun in all pointis, efter the forme and tennour thairof.
[A1567/12/32]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, hes ratifyit and apprevit and, be thir presentis, ratifyis and apprevis all actis and constitutiounis of parliament maid be quhatsumever our soverane lordis predecessouris of befoir in favouris of the burrowis and burgessis of this realme and inhabitantis of the samin, with all privilegeis, fredomis, immuniteis and liberteis grantit and gevin to thame, and everie ane of thame, in onytymes bypast; and decernis and declairis the samin to have full strenth, force and effect in all tymes heirefter, swa that the samin may be put to full and dew executioun in all pointis, and to stand as ane perpetuall law to thame and thair successouris.
[A1567/12/33]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, forsamekle as the greit hurt done of befoir within burgh be geving of sesings privatlie without ane baillie and ane commoun clerk of burgh, quhairthrow our soverane lordis liegis may be defraudit greitlie, thairfoir it is statute and ordanit be our soverane lord, with avise and consent of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, that na sesing be gevin within burgh of ony maner of land or tenement within the samin in ony tyme cuming, bot be ane of the bailleis of the burgh and the commoun clerk thairof; and gif ony sesing beis utherwayis gevin heirefter, to be null and of nane availl, force nor effect.
[A1567/12/34]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, forsamekle as thair hes bene of befoir divers large and sumpteous expensis maid be our soverane lordis predecessouris and himself in keiping, fortifying and reparatioun of the castell of Dunbar and forth of Inchekeith, quhilkis ar baith unprofitabill to the realme and not abill to defend the enemeis thairof, in cais the samin war assaultit, and now, seing that the said castell and forth ar baith becumin sa ruinous that the samin sall allutterlie decay, except thair be sic expensis maid thairupon as is unhabill to be performit without greit inconveniencis; and alswa, havand consideratioun of ane act of parliament maid in umquhile our soverane lordis grandschiris tyme King James the Feird, of maist worthie memorie, ordinand the said castell of Dunbar to be demolischit and cassin downe, as in the act maid thairupon at mair lenth is contenit, quhilk act as yit is not abrogat; thairfoir our soverane lord, with avise and consent of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, hes ordanit and ordanis that the castell of Dunbar and forth of Inchekeith be demolischit and cassin downe utterlie to the ground and distroyit in sic wyse that na foundment thairof be occasioun to big thairupon in tyme cuming.
[A1567/12/35]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, anent the artikle proponit be the commissaris of Edinburgh, beirand that thair is divers and sindrie beneficiall actiounis depending befoir thame upon the rycht and propirtie of the benefices, quhairin the ane partie hes thair provisioun of the gift of the quene and the uther of the ordinar, partlie be dimissioun in his handis, partlie be collatioun as vacand, and sum gevin be the ordinar, with the quenis confirmatioun thairupon, and that sen the reformatioun of the religioun; and, thairfoir, desyring the determinatioun to be gevin to thame quhilk of the giftis sall have place in tyme bygaine sen the said reformatioun, as alswa in tyme cuming. Our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, hes decernit and declairit, and decernis and declairis, that the saidis commissaris sall at all tymes proceid and minister justice in the saidis causis be vertew of all giftis and dispositiounis grantit and gevin be our soverane lordis derrest mother sen the moneth of August, the yeir of God ane thousand fyve hundreth thre scoir yeiris, and na utherwise, and siclyke conforme to the giftis to be grantit be our soverane lord or his regent heirefter; and ordanis all giftis and dispositiounis gevin be hir sen the said tyme to have place and to proceid according thairto, but prejudice to the benefices of the lawit patronageis, quhilkis ar not comprehendit in this act.
[A1567/12/36]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, it is statute and ordanit be our soverane lord, my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, for the commoun weill of this realme, that thair be na dekin of craft of maltmen, outher to burgh or land, or ony uther pairt within this realme; and gif ony wrychting, gift or privilege be gevin ony tyme befoir, our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis foirsaidis, decernis and declairis the samin, to have bene fra the beginning and to be in all tyme cuming null and of nane avail, force nor effect, swa that it salbe newer lesum to ony of the maltmen of this realme to have dekinnis, not to be repute na craft.
[A1567/12/37]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, it is statute and ordanit be our soverane lord, be advise of my lord regent and thre estatis of this present parliament, that the actis of parliament maid be our soverane lordis predecessouris of befoir anent the slauchter of blak fische, smoltis and cutting of grene wod be put to executioun in all pointis; and that the panis be execute upon thame with all extremitie and with this additioun: that all jugeis ordinar, asweill in regalitie as royaltie, and sic utheris as sall pleis our soverane lord and my lord regent to gif power and commissioun to that effect, to tak up dittay of the personis, contravenaris of the saidis actis, and hauld twa courtis ilk yeir, that is to say, ane court at Pasche, and ane uther at Martinmes, for punischement to be maid in maner foirsaid (provyding alwayis that this present act be na wyse extendit to the slaying of the reid fische in the watter of Tweid); and quha beis convict of the said cryme sall pay the panis contenit in the said act, and als sall find cautioun to pay ane hundreth pundis als oft as he contravenis the saidis actis, to be applyit to our soverane lordis use.
[A1567/12/38]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, the xxix day of December, the yeir of God 1567 yeiris, quhilk was the last day of this parliament, the samin being contineuit to the xj day of Julii nixt to cum, our soverane lord, with avise of my lord regent and thre estatis of parliament, hes ordanit and ordanis all and sindrie the foirsaidis actis of parliament to be autenticklie imprentit; as alswa ordanis the act of parliament maid in our soveranis lordis umquhile derrest gudschiris parliament, haldin at Edinburgh the xij day of November, the yeir of God 1526 yeris, maid anent birning of housis and utheris specifyit thairin, to be alswa imprentit, swa that nane of our soverane lordis liegis may pretend ignorance of the samin.
[A1567/12/39]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, in the parliament haldin at Edinburgh the twelf day of November the yeir of God 1526 yeiris, the quhilk day, anent the artickle of slauchteris, murtheris, birningis, it is statute and ordanit that the actis maid thairupon of befoir and the auld lawis be keipit, with this additioun: that quha cummis and birnis folkis in thair housis and all birnyngis of housis and cornis and wilfull fyre raising be tresoun and cryme of lesemajestie, because sic deidis ar exhorbitant and mair aganis the commoun weill than mony uther crymes; and that particulare justice courtis or generall justice airis be set thairto as sall pleis the kingis grace, his counsell and the justice for the tyme, with thair consent, provyding that it salbe lesum to ony man to persew and follow commoun thevis and rebellis, to tak thame, and gif thay enter in housis, that it salbe lefull to invaid, brek or distroy the saidis housis be fyre or utherwyse, to the intent and effect of taking or slaying of the saidis thevis or rebellis, for the quhilk thair sall follow upon the doaris na paine, accusatioun, cryme, nor offence bot to be fre thairof at all tymes.