The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2024), date accessed: 29 March 2024
[1600/11/41]1
2Ratificatioun of the act anent strang and idill beggeris
Oure soverane lord, with advyse of the estaittis of this present, parliament ratefeis and confermis the act maid be his hienes and estaittis convenit at Perthe, the first day of Aprile last bipast, aganis strang and idill beggaris, quhairof the tennour followis: The kingis majestie and lordis of secrete counsaill, remembering how thair hes bene diverse gude and lovabill actis of parliament and secrete counsaill maid and publischit heirtofoir for punischment of strang and idill beggaris and releif of the pure and impotent, and how that the saidis actis hes ressavit litill or na effect or executioun be ressone of the oversicht and negligence of the persones quha wer nominat justices and commissionaris for putting of the saidis actis to full and dew executioun, and that thair wes nocht ane speciall penaltie appointit and injoynit to thame quha suld be remiss or negligent thairin, sua that the saidis strang and idill beggaris being for the maist pairt theiffis, bairdis and counterfitt lymmeris levand maist insolentlie and ungodlie, without mariage or baptisme of ane great number of thair bairnis, ar sufferrit to vaig and wander throwchout the haill cuntrey and the pure and impotent persones ar neglegit and na cair had nor provisioun maid for thair intertenement and sustentatioun; for remede quhairof and supplie of the saidis actis, and namelie of the act of parliament maid in the yeir of God 1597 quhairby the executioun of the saidis actis of parliament is committit to the particular sessionis of the kirk, it is statute and ordinit be the kingis majestie, with advyse of the estaittis of his secrete counsaill, that the saidis sessionis of the kirk quhair neid is sall be assistit be ane or tua of the presbiteries and that they sall put the saidis actis to full and dew executioun conforme to the tennour thairof in all pointis, everie ane of thame within thair awin boundis under the pane of tuentie pundis to be exactit of thame sua oft as they sall be fund to be remiss or negligent heirin, and that thir presentis sall begin to that effect and have executioun upoun the first day of Junii nixttocum. And to the effect his majestie may be the better assurit of the cair and diligence of the saidis sessionis of the kirk in dew executioun of the saidis actis of parliament, his majestie commandis the haill presbitreis in the haill land to tak diligent tryell of the obedience of the saidis sessionis heiranent and to reporte thair certificat and testimoniall thairupoun to his majesteis ministeris betuix and the first day of August nixttocum, quhairthrow his majestie may thaireftir procede aganis sic as sall be negligent as accordis; and that lettres of publicatioun be direct heirupoun as efferis, quhairthrow the said sessioun of the kirk na uther pretend ignorance, and to command and charge the saidis sessionis of the kirk to put the saidis actis of parliament maid aganis strang and idill beggaris, quhairof the executioun is committit to thame be the said act of parliament maid in the foirsaid yeir of God 1597, to dew and full executioun in all pointis, conforme to the tennour thairof, betuix and the first day of Junii nixttocum under the said pane of tuentie pundis to be exactit of thame sa oft as they sall be fundin to be remiss eftir the said day; certefeing thame that failyeis that the said pane sall be upliftit of thame with all rigour, and siclyk to command and charge the saidis presbitereis to tak tryell of the saidis sessionis heiranent and to report thair testimoniall thairupoun betuix and the first day of August as said is as they will answer to his majestie upoun thair obedience at thair uttermost charge and power.
- NAS, PA2/16, f.22r.
- 'V' written in margin beside heading.