[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.