[1579/10/23]¹

Dischargeing of mercattis and labouring on Sondayis or playing and drinking in tyme of sermone, cap. 3

²Item, forsamekle as it is statute and ordanit be a gude and godlie act maid in the dayis of King James the Fourt, oure soverane lordis grandschir of worthie memorie, that thair be na mercattis nor fairis haldin upoun halydayis nor yit within kirkis or kirkyairdis upoun halydayis or uther dayis undir the pane of escheating of the guidis, quhilk act oure soverane lord and his thrie estaitis ratifeis and apprevis, and ordanis the same to have effect and executioun in tyme cummyng; and seing that the Sabboth dayis ar now commounlie violat and brokin, alsweill within burgh as to landwart, to the greit dishonour of God, be halding and keiping of the saidis mercattis and fairis on Sondayis, using of handy laubor and working thairon as on the remanent dayis of the oulk, be gamyng and playing, passing to tavernis and ailhouses, and wilfull remaning fra the paroche kirk in tyme of sermone or prayers on the Sonday, thairfoir his majestie and his thrie estatis in this present parliament statutis and ordanis that thair be na mercattis nor fairis haldin upoun the Sonday, nor yit within kirkis or kirkyairdis that day or ony uther day undir the pane of eschaeting of the guidis to the use of the puyr witin the parochyne, and siclike that na handy lauboring or wirking be used on the Sondany, nor na gamyng and playing, passing to tavernis and ailhousis, and selling of meitt or drink, and wilfull remanyng fra thair paroche kirk in tyme of sermone or prayers on the Sonday be used undir the panes following: that is to say, of every persone for the handy lauboring and wirking commounlie used be the puyrest sort, x s., and for gamyng, playing, passing to tavernis and ailhousis, selling of meit and drink and wilfull remaning fra the paroche kirk in tyme of sermone or prayers on the Sonday, of every persone xx s., to be applyit to the help and releif of the puyr of the parochyne; and incais of the refuis or inhabilitie of ony persone offending in the premissis to pay the saidis panes respective, presentlie and indilaitlie upoun thair apprehensioun or convictioun efter lauchfull triall, he or she salbe put and haldin in the stokkis or sic uther ingyne devysit for publict punisment be the space of xxiiij houris; and for executioun heirof, the kingis majesties commissioun of justiciarie salbe grantit to sum persone in every parrochyne best affectit and maist able to performe the same at the requeist of the minister.