[A1597/3/11]¹

Act anent the passing of presentationis to beneficeis

The kingis majestie, with avise of his nobilitie, counsale and esteatis presentlie convenit, considering how the maist parte of all the presentationis to beneficeis within this realme thir divers yeiris bigane hes bene obtenit privatlie by his hienes knaulege be sindrie personis, suitaris of the samin, quha had nouther deservit sic benefeitis of his majestie, nather wer able to discharge thair functioun, quhairwith his majestie, being grevit, his hienes intentioun being frome the begynning to have had men of leirning, knaulege and quha wer able to discharge thair dewitie presentit to the saidis beneficeis quhen the samin sould vaik; as alsua his majestie, considdering how far he is damnifeit be ressoun that sindrie of the saidis personis presentit to the saidis beneficeis ar becum altogidder unresponsall, quhairby his majestie is defraudit of the thrid of the saidis beneficeis appointit for the intertenying of his hienes house, and of the monkis portionis destinat to his majesties gaird, ane grite noumer of the saidis beneficeit personis being rebellis and at the horne for nonpayment of the dewiteis abonespecifeit to his hienes collectouris; and to the effect that the said abuse of the prevey purchessing of the saidis presentationis may not breid the lyke effect heireftir, his majestie, with advise foirsaid, statutis and ordanis that all presentationis of beneficeis quhatsumevir within this realme sall nawayes be presentit to his majestie tobe subscryvit quhill the samin be first red, hard, allowit of and subscryvit be fyve of the counsaill togidder, with his hienes collector, sitting togidder, uthirwayes the said presentatioun to be null, of nane availl, force nor effect. Dischargeing the keiparis of the registris and seillis of passing of the saidis presentationis heireftir not lauchfullie subscrivit be fyve of the counsaill, togidder with the collector as said is, as they will answer upoun thair dewtifull obedience and tinsall of thair officeis.