[1593/4/26]¹

²For puneisment of the contempnaris of the decreittis and judicatoriis of the kirk

Forsamekle as the kingis majestie, with avise of his estaitis in parliament, hes confermit and establischit the jurisdictioun and judicatouris of the kirk in the generall and sinodoll assemblies, presbiteries and particular sessionis of everie kirk and paroche, willing and ordaning thair sentences and decreittis in materis pertening to thair judicatoure be put in executioun and tak full effect; and it is of veritie that a nowmer of obstinat and stubburne people in dyvers paroches of this land hath contempnit and dalie contempnis the sentencis and decreittis of the saidis assemblies and judicatouris of the kirk, namelie in landwart paroches quhair thair is little or na concurrence of magistratis to punische obstinat and disobedient personis; and the said kirk having na uther punischement in thair handes bot spirituall, the quhilk the said obstinat people (being altogidder fleschlie and beastlie) feillis not nor settis nocht by; thairfoir oure soverane lord, with advise of his saidis estaitis, for remeidie heirof, hes statute and ordanit that incace ony of his subjectis within this realme refuis to obey the ordinances and decreittis of the saidis assemblies and judicatories of the kirk in ony tyme to cum, the saidis assemblies and judicatories sall direct thair beddell to the persoun or personis dissobedient, chargeing and commanding thame in the name of God and the king to obey thair decreit and ordinance; the quhilk charge gif the said persoun or personis contempne and remane obstinat, the minister of the paroche quhair the said persoun or personis remanis still thre severall Sondayis frome pulpit, charge and command the said persone or personis in the name of God and the king to obey the same ordinance and decreit. And incace notwithstanding all the saidis charges the said persone or personis remanis still obstinat and rebellious, than sall the said assemblie or judicatour quhilk hes maid the said ordinance and decreit meane the mater be thair supplicatioun to the lordis of sessioun, contening the substance of the process, the sentence and decreit pronuncit aganis the said persoun or personis with a complaint of thair contempt and dissobedience, quhairupoun the pairty complenit on being first citat and hard to propone thair lauchtfull defenses incace thai compeir, and gif thay compeir not propter contumaciam, the saidis lordis of sessioun or secreit counsaill sall gif out lettrez to put the said persone or personis to the horne within ten dayes nixt efter the charge incais of disobedience and continewing in thair former contempt and rebellioun.