[A1567/12/39]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, in the parliament held at Edinburgh on 12 November 1526, the which day, concerning the article of slaughters, murders and burnings, it is statute and ordained that the acts made thereupon of before and the old laws be kept, with this addition: that who comes and burns folks in their houses and all burnings of houses and corns and wilful fire-raising be treason and crimes of lese-majesty, because such deeds are exorbitant and more against the commonwealth than many other crimes; and that particular justice courts or general justice ayres be set thereto as shall please the king's grace, his council and the justice for the time, with their consent, providing that it shall be lawful to any man to pursue and follow common thieves and rebels, to take them, and if they enter in houses, that it shall be lawful to invade, break or destroy the said houses by fire or otherwise, to the intent and effect of taking or slaying of the said thieves or rebels, for the which there shall follow upon the doers no pain, accusation, crime nor offence, but to be free thereof at all times.