[1598/6/10]¹

Regarding the selling of the acts of parliament

Our sovereign lord and estates presently convened, considering with what great charges and expenses the whole acts of parliament made by his highness and noble progenitors of worthy memory have been imprinted by Master John Skene [of Curriehill], clerk register, and that nothing is more necessary for the whole lieges of this realm than the knowledge of the said laws and acts of parliament that by the ignorance of the same they present not an excuse for their offence, therefore his highness and estates have remitted order to be taken by the lords of session how that the said acts already imprinted may be bought by such subjects within this realm as are of that substance and ability to buy the same, and declares that whatever in the said matter shall be concluded by the said lords shall have the strength, force and effect of an act of this present convention. It is thus subscribed, James Rex.