[1641/8/263]¹

Legislation

Act anente docking and presenting of signatoures

Our soverane lord, with advyse and consent of the estates of parliament, considering that by the tuentieth act of his majesties darrest father, King James the Sixt, his tenth parliament, for avoyding the prejudice did then aryse by the subscryveing of sindrie signatoures and lettires at the importunat sute and desyre of sindrie persones, his heighnes not being informed or tymlie warned to the effect and contentes therof, therefore his majestie, with the advyce of the estates conveened in parliament, did statute and ordeane that no signatoure nor lettir whatsoevir shall be presented to his majestie in tymecomeing bot by his ordinary officeres wnto whom the samene properlie belongeth or who have power of docking or presenting by ther patentes, as the act at more lenth beireth. And his majestie, with advyce and consent foirsaid, also considering how prejudiciall it is to his majesties honour and the peace and good of his majesties subjectes that signatoures of one and the same thing without his majesties certane knowledge shall pass his majesties handis in favoures of severall persones or that lettires of contrairy tenuoures shall be signed by his majestie and directed to officeres and judges within this kingdome, the onlie occasione therof is that otheres then the saidis officeres or ther deputes or otheres foirsaid to whom the samyne may belonge takes wpoun them to present signatoures and lettires to his majestie for ther freendes and acquantance, either not knoweing the former signatour or lettires of contrairie straine, or of set knouledge to reverse what heath bene done before, without giveing of trewe reassones or informatione to move his majestie to signe these signatoures or wrest contrairie letteres. For remeed wherof, his majestie, with advyse and consent foirsaid, ratifies and appoyntes the foirsaid act in all the poyntes therof, and declaires that it shall not be leisome or permitted to any persone or persones whatsoevir to present any signatour, wret, lettir or warrant to be signed by his majestie except by the saidis ordinarie officeres wnto whose office the samene properlie belonges, and by otheres foirsaidis haveing power and warrand as said is. And that his majestie may the bettir know what passeth his heighnes hand, and wpoun what groundis and reassones he signes the samene, it is expedient that any of the saidis officeres that shall present any signatour, write, lettir or warrand to be signed by his majestie shall cause register the docket of the same in a register, and send the just and authenticke double therof subscryved with thair hand to his majesties secreetarie, who shall be obleidged to give his majestie notice and tymous warneing of any prior deed different or contrair to the posteriour, that his majestie may either refuiss the same or specifie his majesties certane knowledge for passing and signeing thereof.