The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2024), date accessed: 29 March 2024
[1609/4/15]1
2Act regarding the choosing of pedagogues to children passing out of Scotland to schools
Forasmuch as our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, considering that one of the great causes which has procured the growth and increase of papists within this kingdom has proceeded from the small care and regard that has been had of the education and upbringing of the youth, who being sent out of the realm to places of contrary profession and not being first well grounded in religion and accompanied with pedagogues scarce well affected to religion, they do often return back so possessed with superstition and heretical errors as they may be justly suspected for dangerous subjects in the estate; for preventing of which growth and increase of defection from the true faith by the occasion foresaid, our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid ordain that all such noblemen and others who hereafter shall direct any pedagogues with their sons out of the country shall be held by virtue of this present act to have a sufficient testimonial of the bishop of the diocese where the said pedagogue for the most part lately made his residence, testifying and approving the said pedagogue to be godly and of good religion, learned and instructed in the same. And if any nobleman or other shall happen to send any pedagogue with their sons out of the country without testimonial and approbation of the bishop in manner above-written, in that case our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid declare, statute and ordain that every such nobleman and others according to their several degrees and ranks shall incur the pains particularly underwritten, namely: every earl, £5,000; every lord, 5,000 merks; and every baron, 3,000 merks, which sums shall be intromitted with and uplifted of them by his majesty's treasurer and his depute to his highness's use, providing in case it shall happen the bishop of that diocese to refuse to grant testimonial to the pedagogue upon the premises, the said bishop thereafter being lawfully summoned to compear before the lords of his highness's secret council to answer to that complaint and show not a reasonable cause of that his refusal, then and in that case it shall be lawful to the lords of secret council to3 the foresaid pedagogue to the effect above-written.
- NAS, PA2/17, f.38v.
- '3' written in margin beside heading.
- APS interpolation 'give their testimonial to', taken from the contemporary printed collection of acts, Sir John Skene, The Lawes and Acts of Parliament made be the most excellent and mightie king and monarch, James ... since his majesties XV parliament the XIX day of December 1597 (Edinburgh, 1611), p.30.