[A1567/12/14]¹

Concerning those that commit incest

Item, forasmuch as the abominable, vile and filthy lust of incest is so abominable in the presence of God, and that the same eternal God, by his express word, has condemned the same, and yet nonetheless the said vice is so used within this realm, and the word of God is in such sort condemned by the users thereof, that God by his just judgements has occasion to plague the realm where the said vice is committed (unless God, of his mercy, being more gracious, and remedy being provided, that the said vice cease in time coming); therefore, our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of [James Stewart, earl of Moray], my lord regent, and three estates of this present parliament, statutes and ordains that whatsoever person or persons, committers of the said abominable crime of incest, that is to say, whatsoever person or persons they be that abuses their body with such persons in degree, as God's word has expressly forbidden, in any time coming, as is contained in the 18th chapter of Leviticus, shall be punished to the death.