[1592/4/86]¹

Legislation: private act

Ratification of the commissariat of Edinburgh

²Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, considering that the jurisdiction ecclesiastical belonging to the officials of old is, and was, devolved in the commissaries chosen and nominated by [Mary], our sovereign lord's dearest mother, to that effect, and that the matrimonial causes and bastardries, with the rest of the weightiest and greatest matters of the said jurisdiction, were committed to the commissaries of Edinburgh according to the special institution and erection of the said commissariat made by our said sovereign lord's mother made in the month of [...], the year of God 1560, by virtue whereof the said commissaries of Edinburgh and their predecessors, with the rest of the inferior commissaries within this realm, have been in use and possession of their said jurisdiction in spiritual cause and have faithfully and diligently discharged their duties in the administration of justice to the lieges; therefore his highness and estates of this present parliament ratify and approve the said institution of the said commissaries, erection and institution thereof, with the injunctions given to them, their gifts and provisions to the said offices after the form and tenor thereof, with all other liberties, privileges and immunities belonging to their said jurisdiction, decreeing and declaring the said jurisdiction to be as ample, of the same force and authority with the jurisdiction of the said officials to whom they succeeded and to have been from the beginning thereof, and to be in all time coming, a lawful and ordinary seat of judgement, and to possess all the privileges thereof.