[1609/4/19]¹

²Act against Jesuits, seminary priests and resetters of them

Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, considering the impunity of Jesuits, seminary priests and other papists, adversaries to the true religion professed within this realm, and their resetters in times bygone have been the cause as well of their increase as of their insolence in all the parts of this realm, and that the same has proceeded partly upon the negligent execution of the acts of parliament made against the said papists, Jesuits and seminary priests and their resetters, and partly upon some obscurity of words in the said acts; therefore our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid, most willing to have the said acts put to due execution in all points and papistry and superstition utterly suppressed according to the intention of the same, have ratified, approved and confirmed and, by the tenor of this present act, ratify, approve and confirm all and whatsoever acts of parliament either made in his highness's minority and less age, or else since his acceptance of the government in his own person, against Jesuits, seminary priests, papists, sayers and hearers of mass and resetters of the said persons or any of them, and decree and ordain the same to have full strength, force and effect and to be put to due execution in all time coming, with these explanations after following: that the said acts made against sayers and hearers of mass shall be put to due execution and be extended to all hearers and sayers of mass without any exception or restriction, as likewise that all acts made of before against the resetters of the said persons have their full force, strength and effect, and to be put to due execution against the said resetters after lawful intimation and denunciation be made of the said persons, which denunciation and intimation his highness and the estates foresaid declare to be sufficient to cause the said resetters of the said papists, Jesuits, seminary priests and others contained in the said acts incur the pains therein contained if the same be made at the head burgh of the shire where the said persons remain and at the market cross of Edinburgh, without any further intimation to be relating thereto; after the which denunciation and intimation to be made as said is, our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid declare that whosoever thereafter shall wittingly and willingly reset any of the said persons, either privately or publicly, that the said resetters shall incur the pains contained in the said acts, they being lawfully convicted thereof, and that the act made in his highness's first parliament, bearing that none that profess not the true religion presently professed within this realm may be judge, procurator or member of court, be extended to all and whatsoever offices without any exception or restriction in all time coming. And for the better execution of the said acts, our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid command and ordain all archbishops, bishops and presbyters to call before them the said papists, Jesuits, seminary priests and their resetters, every one within their own bounds, and to take trial and cognition if they have contravened the said acts or any part thereof, and according as they find after due trial and probation, that they report the same to his highness's advocate and secret council, to the effect they may be called and convened before them and punished according to the said acts in all points.