[1592/4/30]¹

For punishment of slaughter within kirks or kirkyards

²Item, forasmuch as cruelty and bloodshed is come to such a height within this land that the house of the Lord and his sanctuary is not free but filthily polluted and defiled therewith in such sort that commonly all revenges of quarrels and deadly feuds are now executed in kirks and kirkyards at the time appointed to the service of God and teaching of his holy word therein, whereby diverse persons, for fear of their lives, dare not resort to the preaching of the Gospel. For remedy whereof, the king's majesty and estates of this present parliament statute, ordain and declare that whatsoever person or persons commit slaughter within any kirk or kirkyard the time of prayers, preaching or administration of the sacraments, that person or persons, committer of the said slaughter, being either denounced rebels or declared fugitive for the same, the king's majesty shall have full power, not only to convey upon their simple escheat of moveables, but also upon the liferent of all and whatsoever their lands, heritages, livings, tacks, steadings, rooms or possessions etc.; and also declare that whatsoever person or persons shall happen to reset any of the said persons who be denounced rebels or fugitive for the said slaughters committed within the said kirks or kirkyards, declarator being first passed upon their said reset, the resetters of them shall incur the same pain and deprivation of their liferents.