[1598/12/4]¹

Act anent pledgis

Forsamekle as in tyme bygane the onlie meane for quyeting of the bordouris wes the entrie of pledgis and the keiping of thame in suirtie, that incace ony enormitie or wrang wer committit be ony of the gang or surname for the quhilk thay wer enterit pledges, than justice suld be execute aganis the saidis pledgis with all rigour; and becaus heirtofoir ane grit number of the nobilitie and barrounis being burdenit for keiping in suirtie sum of the saidis pledgis hes maid thair excuse of the danger and inconvenient that micht occur to thame incace of the escaip of ony of the saidis pledgis delyverit to thame in keiping, quhilk being easie to be preventit be the mair imprisonment of thame, oure soverane lord and estaittis presentlie convenit findis that nane of his nobilitie and barounis being burdenit to ressave ony of the saidis pledgis sall refuis to accept thame upoun excuise of ony inconvenient quhatsumever that may ensew, bot sall ressave thame and keip and detene thame ay and quhill the saidis pledgis be suittit to be redelyverit be thame, and salbe answerable for thame that thay sall nawyis escape, ilk pledge under the pane of tua thowsand pundis.