The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2024), date accessed: 29 March 2024
[1605/6/48]1
2Act anent the granting of the taxatioun
Forsamekle as the haill estaittis of this present parliament nocht onlie seis bot, to thair infinite conforte, by daylie experience, feillis the monyfauld blessingis redounding to thame frome thair maist gratious soverane, the sinceritie of quhose intentionis, richteousnes and wisdome in his actionis and zeall to religioun and justice haveing procurit to his hienes the indoubtit favour of God and man, hes thairwith also bred to this his native kingdome so perfyte peax and universall prosperitie that nather the experience of the present, nor memorie of ony bipast age, is able to recorde ony preceding exampill quhairby ather the ordinar traffique and repair of people hes bene so frielie and commodiouslie dispersit to sa mony sofar distant nationes (quhilkis heirtofoir being onlie knawin to ws by name, ar now for the reverence and lowe borne be all people to oure most renowned king sa favorable patent to all oure commerce as no people is more universallie acceptable and weilcum to all nationis), or that the bowellis and haill boundis of this kingdome wer evir so happelie purged of violence, enormitie and disordour, and so universallie blessed with peace, justice and Christiane policie as by the exceding cair, provydent directioun and great charges of his maist excellent majestie is now establissit, so that we want na pairt of our wisched erthlie felicitie bot the desyrit presence of his most sacrede majestie, quhilk to oure unspeakable comforte his hienes hes bene pleasit by his wyse, humane and most kind letter direct to the estaittis gratiouslie to promeis maist willinglie to remeid by his assured repair to this cuntrey so sone as the necessar impedimentis thairof can be removed. In consideratioun of quhilk so mony so great benefittis, the saidis estaittis trewlie acknawleging how justlie they ar bundin to gif maist hartie and continuall thankis and praise to God, the authour of the same, and to thair sacred soverane, his blessed instrument thairof, and ferventlie to beseik God long to continew his foirsaidis graces with thame and thair most gratious soverane long and happelie to regne over thame. And thairwith also being most willing according to thair bundin duetie to mak effectuall demonstratioun of thair most gratefull myndis to his excellent majestie and to indevoir thame selfis so to remove all impedimentis and ernestlie to advance all meanis and occasionis of his majesteis resorte to this cuntrey as may beir witnes to the world how thankfullie and dewtefullie they acknawlege and foirsie the infinite commoditie and contentment quhilk indowtlie they sall ressave be the same, albeit they be nocht abill to offer or performe that quhilk in ony degrie approches to the large proportioun of his royall bounty and favour to thame, yit hopeing that his majestie in his wounted gudnes will gratiouslie accept of thair most faithfull affectionis, and in his princelie wisdome consider that they now onlie present thair first fruittis of that satled and peceable estait, quhilk being recentlie establessit by his majesteis favour and providence will, with tyme, incresce thair welth and abilitie and mak it mair neirlie to approche nor at this tyme it can, to the full measure of thair most hartlie affectionis, everie way to gratifie and serve his majestie; thairfoir, in most humble maner, the saidis haill estaittis of this realme ernestlie beseik his maist sacred majestie gratiouslie to accept this thair offer of ane taxatioun, quhilk, with most faithfull hairtis as ane plege and arlis of thair most loyall service, humble obedience and unchangeable affectioun, they offer to his majestie to be imposit, collectit and payit to his hienes be the saidis estaittis in maner and at the four termes following: that is to say, the erlis, lordis and commissionaris of schires for the temporall estaite hes grantit that thair sall be upliftit of everie pund land of auld extent within this realme pertening to erlis, lordis, barounes, frehalderis and fewaris of his majesteis propir landis the sowme of tuentie schillingis money at everie ane of the four termes following, viz: the sowme of tuentie schillingis at the first day of Februar nixtocum in the yeir of God jM vjC and sewin yeiris, the sowme of uther tuentie schillingis at the first day of Februar the yeir of God jM vjC and aucht yeiris, the sowme of uther tuentie schillingis at the first day of Februar jM vjC and nyne yeiris, and the sowme of uther tuentie schillingis at the first day of Februar jM vjC and ten yeiris. The archibischoppis and abbottis for the spirituall estait hes grantit that thair sall be upliftit of all the archibischoprikis, bischoprikis, abbaceis, prioureis and utheris inferiour benefices within this realme, at everie ane of the four termes abonespecefeit, the just taxatioun thairof, and as they have bene accustomat to be taxit unto at all the tymes bigane quhansoevir the temporall landis of this realme wer stentit to tuentie schillingis the pund land of auld extent, and the samin taxatioun to be payit at everie ane of the four severall termes abonespecefeit. And the commissionaris of burrowes for thair estait hes grantit that thair sall be upliftit of all burrowes within this realme at everie ane of the four termes abonewrittin, the just taxatioun thairof and as they have bene accustomit to be taxit unto in all tymes bigane quhansoevir the temporall landis of this realme wer stentit to tuentie schillingis the pund of auld extent, and the same taxatioun to be payit at everie ane of the four severall termes abonementionat. And inregaird that his majestie hes erectit sindrie prelaceis in temporall lordschippis, quhairby the awneris thairof may clame to be taxt with the barounes of the temporall estait, and thairthrow his hienes will be defraudit of a great pairt of the samin taxatioun, thairfoir it is statute and ordinit that all erectionis of prelaceis in temporall lordschippis sall in payment of the said taxatioun pay to the collectouris thairof samekill of the samin taxatioun pro rata as gif they wer nawayes erectit and as they wer subject to do befoir the erectioun of the same. And siclyk it is statute and ordanit that all dissolvit benefices within this realme sall be subject in payment of samekill of the samin taxatioun pro rata as they wald have bene subject to pay sua the samin had nocht bene dissolved. And forder the saidis estaittis annullis and discharges all privileges and immuniteis quhatsumevir quhairby ony persones may think thame selffis frie of payment of this present taxatioun (except alanerlie the privileges grantit to the senatouris and memberis of the college of justice).
- NAS, PA2/16, f.55r-v.
- 'P 19' written in margin beside heading.