[1597/11/51]¹

Prisoun houses suld be begged within all burroues

Oure soverane lord and estaittis of this present parliament, understanding that throw want of sufficient and sure prisones, jailles and ward houses sindrie rebellis and transgressouris of the lawis, als weill criminall as civill, eschaipis unpunischit and justice contempnit. For remeid quhairof, oure soverane lord and estaitis hes statut and ordanit that within the space of thre yeiris in all brughis within this realme thair be sufficient and sure jailles and ward houses begged, uphaldin and mantenit be the proveist, bailleis, counsall and communities of the saidis burrowis upoun thair awin commoun gude or uthairwyis upoun the chairgeis of the brught. And that for sure ponesing,² warding and detening and als keping of all sic personis, transgressouris of his hienes lawis, upoun thair awin expenses, alsueill criminall as civill, and³ salbe presentit unto thame be the schireff of the schyre to stewartis and bailleis of regaliteis within the quhilk the saidis brughes ar situat and speciallie quhair thair judicatorie sittis; and alsua all uthairis personis presentit athair to waird be vertew of thair awin authoritie within brugheis or uthairwyis upoun lettiris of captioun direct to thame.