Concerning black fish, cutting of green wood and slaughter of smolts

Item, it is statute and ordained by our sovereign lord, by advice of [James Stewart, earl of Moray], my lord regent, and three estates of this present parliament, that the acts of parliament made by our sovereign lord's predecessors of before concerning the slaughter of black fish, smolts and cutting of green wood be put into execution in all points, and that the pains be executed upon them with all extremity and with this addition: that all judges ordinary, as well in regality as royalty, and such others as shall please our sovereign lord and my lord regent to give power and commission to that effect, to take up dittay of the persons, contraveners of the said acts, and hold two courts each year, that is to say, a court at Easter and another at Martinmas [11 November], for punishment to be made in manner aforesaid (providing always that this present act be in no way extended to the slaying of the red fish in the water of Tweed); and who is convicted of the said crime shall pay the pains contained in the said act, and also shall find caution to pay £100 as often as he contravenes the said acts, to be applied to our sovereign lord's use.

  1. The Actis of King James the Sext, printed by R. Lekprevick (Edinburgh, 1568), f.21v. Bound with earlier parliamentary material at NLS, Black Acts, 1566-94, H.33.c.21, Scots Acts of Parliament, H.33.c.23 or Scots Acts, H.33.c.25. Back