[A1596/5/1]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
[A1596/5/2]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The which day the king's majesty, with advice of his nobility, council and estates presently convened, has decreed, declared and ordained and by this act decrees, declares and ordains that all and whatsoever persons, forgers, falsifiers, smelters, counterfeiters and concealers of false and debased money, outputters and exchangers of the same amongst his highness's lieges, shall be called, taken, apprehended, pursued and punished according to the laws of this realm at all such times as his majesty shall think fit and expedient, and that no remissions given for one kind of money falsely coined shall be extended to remit or pardon any persons guilty of other kinds of money likewise falsely coined and yet not contained in the same remissions, but that they may be pursued and punished thereof according to the said laws, or for any crime or offence committed by them touching the said coin, over and above that which is specified in the same remissions, notwithstanding thereof, or any general clause therein contained, as if the same had never been granted.
[A1596/5/3]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The king's majesty, his nobility, council and estates presently convened, considering the proud rebellion, defection and disobedience of the inhabitants of the isles and highlands of this realm, subject for the most part these many years bygone to all kind of insolence, barbarity and cruelty, not only in committing of vile and beastly murders, slaughters, robberies, theft, open harrying, oppressions and depredations upon his majesty's peaceable and good subjects, inhabitants of the countries next adjacent, but every one of them most unnaturally putting violent hands on others, besides innumerable other treasonable, monstrous and odious crimes committed by some of the chief persons, inhabitants of the said isles, for which the sentence of forfeiture is led against them, who notwithstanding remains peaceably in the country without fear of God or of his majesty, in no way acknowledging their offence nor yet his highness as their sovereign lord and king; neither paying their mails, duties, exactions and customs to his majesty, his comptroller and ordinary officers, the same mails, duties and customs being a great part of his highness's property, rent and patrimony of his crown whereupon his princely style of living and estate should be sustained; and therefore his majesty is resolved to repair in proper person to the said isles and highlands with all convenient expedition for abandoning and reducing of the said rebellious, unnatural and disobedient persons to the acknowledging of his highness and his laws, and compelling of them to make payment of his majesty's proper rents and duties in time coming. For which purpose, necessary it is that his highness be well and substantially accompanied with a force of his faithful, loving and good subjects; and therefore his majesty, with advice of his nobility, council and estates foresaid, ordains letters to be directed charging all and sundry earls, lords, barons, feuars and freeholders between 60 and 16 years, valued in yearly rent to the sum of 300 merks either in heritage or annualrent within the bounds of the whole sheriffdoms, stewartries and bailiaries within this realm, together with the inhabitants of burghs within the said bounds, as well as regality as royalty, by open proclamation at the market crosses of the same burghs, that they and each one of them well equipped with arms in fear of war, with ships, crayers, boats and all other vessels and provision requisite and necessary for transporting of them to the said isles and from isle to isle within all the bounds of the same isles and highland parts during all the time that they shall be occupied in that service, address themselves to meet his majesty at the burgh of Dumbarton upon 1 August next to come, provided to embark and pass forward therefrom to the said isles and highlands and to attend and accompany his highness for the space of 40 days after their coming to the effect foresaid, under the pain of loss of life, lands and goods.