[1609/4/18]¹

²Act regarding giving command to bishops to send the names of excommunicated persons to the treasurer and to the director of the chancellery

Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, considering that to the effect every man's affection and disposition in his religion may be clearly and sufficiently known, therefore our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid statute and ordain that every archbishop and bishop within the bounds of his diocese shall once every year give up to the treasurer, comptroller, collector and their deputes, and to the director of our sovereign lord's chancellery, a roll subscribed with his hand, containing the names of all such persons within his diocese who are excommunicated for religion; and ordain the said treasurer and his deputes that they receive no resignations nor grant confirmations nor infeftments to or [in]³ favour of any of the persons whose names shall be contained in the said roll, and that the director of the chancellery and his deputes give out no brieves, receive no retours nor direct any precept upon retours nor upon comprisings in favour of any of the said persons whose names shall be inserted in the said roll at any time thereafter, until the said person or persons produce to the said treasurer, comptroller, director of the chancellery and their deputes a sufficient testimonial subscribed by the said archbishop or bishop testifying their relaxation from the said excommunication and their obedience and satisfaction to the kirk as the said treasurer, director of the chancellery and their deputes will be answerable to his majesty upon the duty of their office. And likewise our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid declare that it shall be lawful to all lords of regalities and to all superiors whatsoever within this kingdom to refuse brieves and precepts of clare constat in favour of any person or persons whose names shall be inserted in the said roll, as also to refuse the entry of tenants upon comprising whose names are inserted in the same roll.