[A1575/3/4]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Forasmuch as the iniquity of this present age increases the number of contemptuous offenders against the laws and acts of parliament, and albeit by diverse loveable acts persons offending in sundry sorts of crimes are appointed to be kept in prison, or in the stocks or irons, by the ordinary judges of the realm; yet because there are not common prisons, irons nor stocks in sundry of the head burghs of the shires, regalities and other places of jurisdiction for receiving and punishment of the said offenders, nor gaolers appointed for keeping of the said prisons, stocks and irons, and receiving and putting to liberty of the prisoners and offenders at command and direction of the ordinary judges, according to the effect and meaning of the said acts of parliament, through which the same are likely in diverse places to be frustrated of all execution. For remedy whereof, [James Douglas, earl of Morton], the regent's grace, with advice of the estates presently assembled, ordains and commands all sheriffs, stewarts, bailies, lords of regalities and their bailies, provosts, aldermen and bailies of burghs to repair, mend and make sufficient prisons within the head burghs, or most public and convenient places within the bounds of their jurisdictions, with irons and stocks, and to appoint able and qualified persons gaolers for keeping and attending thereupon, between now and 1 July 1576, under the pain of rebellion and putting of them to the horn. With certification to them if they fail, the said day being past, letters shall be directed simply in one form to present them to the horn, in case they fail in fulfilling of the premises, ten days after the charge being past.