ITEM It is fundin and declarit be the thre Estatis & haill body of this present Parliament, that the dimissioun and ouer geuing of the Crowne, and Regiment of this Realme maid be the Quenis grace, our Souerane Lordis derrest Mother be vertew of hir letters of commissioun and procuratioun subscriuit with hir hand, and vnder hir preuie Seill, of the dait the .xxiiij. day of Julij last bypast, was, and is, and salbe in all tymes cuming haldin, repute, and estemit lauchfull, and perfyte, according to the samin commissioun producit, auysit, and admittit be the saidis thre Estatis. And als that the Coronatioun, and inauguratioun of our said Soverane Lord, Sone to his said derrest mother, and natiue Prince of this Realme, maid and solemnizat conforme to the said commissioun, At Striviling, the xxix. day of the said Moneth of Julij be the Erlis, Lordis, Prelatis, Commissaris of Burrowis, Barronis, and vtheris faithfull and trew subiectis, assemblit and conuenit for that effect, was dewlie, rychtlie, and ordourlie done, and execute, and als lauchfull and vailzeabill in the self in all respectis, and his Maiestie als rychteouslie inuestit, and possessit in this kingdome as his said mother, his guidschir, grandschir, or ony vther his maist nobill progenitouris natiue Princes of this Realme wer, and hes bene of before, or as gif hir grace (the tyme of the said coronatioun) had bene departit out of this mortall lyfe, or had comperit personallie in presence of the haill thre Estatis of this Realme, assemblit in Parliament and maid the said dimissioú, notwithstanding ony maner of tytill, actioun, or enteres, or ony vther thing that presentlie may or can heirefter be obiectit in the contrare. And als ratifyis, appreuis, and confirmis the said dimissioun, coronatioun, and inauguratioun of our said Souerane Lord, and all thingis done, or that heirefter sall happin to be done in his hienes name and authoritie. Of the quhilkis letters of dimissioun, and constitutioun of procuratioun the tennouris followis.

MARIE Be the grace of God Quene of Scottis, To all and sindrie our Jugeis, and Ministeris of Law, liegis, and subiectis {folio ii. verso} quhome it effeiris, to quhais knawlege thir our letters sall cú greting, Forsamekle as be lang irksum, and tedious travell takin be us in the gouernament of this our Realme, and liegis thairof, we ar sa vexit and weryit that our body, spirite, and sencis ar altogidder becum unhabill langer to trauell in that rowme. And thairfore we haue dimittit, and renuncit the office of gouernement of this our Realme, & liegis thairof in fauouris of our onlie maist deir Sone, natiue Prince of this our Realme. And because of his tender zouth, and inhabilitie to vse the said gouernement in his awin persoun, during his minoritie, we haue constitute our derrest brother James Erle of Murray, Lord Abirnethie. &c. Regent to our said Sone, Realme and liegis foirsaidis. And in respect that our said derrest brother is actuallie furth of our Realme, and can not instantlie be present to accept the said office of Regentrie vpon him, and vse and exerce the samin, during our saidis derrest sonis minoritie: We quhill his returning within our Realme, or in cais of his deceis haue maid, constitute, namit, appointit, and ordanit, and be thir our letteris makis, constitutis, namis, appointis, and ordanis our traist cousingis and counsalouris, James Duke of Chattellerault, Erle of Arrane, Lord Hammiltoun, Matho Erle of Leuinar, Lord Dernley. &c. Archibald Erle of Argyle, Lord Campbell and Lorne. &c. Johne Erle of Athole, James Erle of Mortoun, Alexander Erle of Glencarne, and Johne Erle of Mar, Regentis to our said derrest sone Realme and liegis. And in cais our said brother James, Erle of Murray, cum within our Realme, and refusis to accept the said office of Regentrie vpon his singulare persoú, We mak, constitute, name, appoint, and ordeine our traist counsingis, and counsallouris foirsaidis, and our said brother, Regentis of our said deir Sone, Realme and liegis. Gevand, grantand, and committand to thame or ony fyue of thame, coniunctlie, full powar for our said Sone, and in his name to ressaue resignatiounis of landis, mak dispositiounis of wairdis, nonentressis, releuis, mariageis, benefices, eshetis, officis, and vtheris casualiteis, & priuilegeis quhatsumeuer cócerning the said office, Signatouris thairupon to mak, subscriue, and cause be past throuch the Seillis. And to vse, and exerce the said office of Regentrie in all thingis, priuilegeis, & commoditeis, siclyke as frelie, and with als greit libertie, as ony Regent, or Gouernour to vs, or our predecessouris vsit the samin in ony tymes bygane. Promittand to hald firme, and stabill, in the word and faith of ane Prince, to quhatsumeuer thingis our saidis traist cousingis dois in the premissis. Chargeing heirfore zow all and sindrie our Jugeis, and Ministeris of Law, liegis, & subiectis foirsaidis, to answer, and obey to our saidis traist cousingis, Regentis foirsaidis, in all and sindrie thingis concerning the said office of Regentrie, during our said derrest Sonis minoritie, and ay and quhil he be of the age of seuintene zeiris compleit. As ze and ilk ane of zow will declair zow luifing subiectis {folio iii. recto} to our said maist deir Sone, zour natiue Prince, and under all paine, charge, and offence that ze and ilk ane of zow may commit, and inrin aganis his Maiestie in that pairt. Subscriuit with our hand, & geuin under our preuie Seill, at Lochleuin the .xxiiij. day of Julij, and of our Regne the twenty fyue zeir.

MARIE Be the grace of God Quene of Scottis, To all and sindrie our Jugeis, and Ministeris of Law, liegis, and subiectis quhome it effeiris, to quhais knawlege thir our letteris sall cum, greting, Forsamekle, as sen our arriuall, and returning within our Realme, we willing the commoun commoditie, welth, profeit, and quyetnes thairof, liegis, and subiectis of the samin, haue employit our body, spirite, haill sencis, and forcis to gouerne the same, in sic sort that our royall, and honorabill estate mycht stand, and continew with vs, and our posteritie, and our luifing, and kynde liegis mycht enioy the quietnes of trew subiectis. In trauelling quhairin, not onlie is our body, spirite, and sencis sa vexit, brokin, and vnquyetit that langer we ar not of habilitie be ony meane to indure sa greit and intollerabill panis, and trauellis quhairwith we ar altogidder veryit, bot als greit commotiounis and troublis, be sindrie occasiounis in the meintyme hes ensewit thairin to our greit greif. And seing it hes bene the plesour of the eternall God, of his kyndlie lufe, mercie, and gudnes to grant vnto vs, of our awin persoun, ane Sone, quha in cais be the hand of God we be veseit, will, and of rycht, and of equitie man, and aucht to succeid to vs and to the gouernement of our Realme. And knawing that all creaturis ar subiect to that immutabill decreit of the eternall, anis to rander and gif vp this lyfe temporall, (The hour and tyme quhairof is maist vncertane) and in cais be deceis we be takin fra this lyfe, during the tyme of his minoritie, it may be dowtit greitlie that resistance, and troubill may be maid to our said Sone, now natiue Prince of this our Realme, in his tender zeiris (being swa destitute of vs) to succeid to that rowme and kingdome quhilk maist iustlie of all Lawis appertenis to him. Quhilk inconuenient be Godis help, and gude prouidence, we mene to preuent, in sic maner, that it sall not ly in the power of ony vnnaturall subiectis to resist Godis ordinance in that behalf. And vnderstanding that na thing eirdlie is mair ioyous, and happy to vs, nor to se our said derrest Sone, in our awin lyfetime peciablie placit in that rowme, and honorabill estate quhairto he iustlie aucht & man succeid to. We of the motherlie affectioú we beir toward our said onlie Sone, haue renuncit, & dimittit, and be thir our letteris, frelie, of our awin mo true will renuncis, and dimittis the gouernement, gyding & gouerning of this our Realme of Scotland, liegis, and subiectis thairof, & all intromissioun & dispositioun of ony casualiteis, propertie, benefices, offices, & all thingis apperttening, or heirtofoir is knawin, or heirefter sall happin to appertene thairto, in fauouris of our said derrest Sone. To {folio iii. verso} that effect, that he may be plantit, placit, and possessit thairin, vse and exerce all thingis belangand thairto, as natiue King, and Prince of the samin, and siclyke as we or ony our predecessouris, Kings of Scottis, hes done in ony tymes bypast. Attoure, that this our dimissioun may tak the mair solempne effect, & that nane pretend ignorance thairof, we haue geuin, grantit, and committit, and be thir our letters geuis grantis, and committis our commissioun full, frie, and plane power, generall, and speciall command, to our traist cousingis, Patrik Lord Lindesay of the Byris, and Williame Lord Ruthuen, and to ilk ane of thame coniunctly and seuerally, to compeir before sa mony of the Nobilitie, Clergie, Burgessis, and vther pepill of our Realme, as sall happin to be assemblitt to that effect in our Burgh of Striuiling, or ony vther place, or placis quhair it salbe thocht maist conuenient, at ony day or dayis, and thair publictlie in thair presence, for vs, in our name, and vpon our behalf dimit, and renunce the gouernement, gyding, and reuling of this our Realme, liegis, and subiectis thairof, all intromissioun with the propertie, casualitie, or vtheris thingis appertening to vs thairby, and all rycht, and tytle that we had, hes, or may haue be ony maner of way thairto, in fauouris of our said Sone, to that effect, that he may be inaugurat, placit, and rowmit thairin, and the Crowne royall deliuerit to him, and be obeyit in all thingis concerning the samin, as we, or our predecessouris hes bene in tymes bypast. And in lykewise be thir presentis geuis, grantis, and committis our full frie, and plane power, to our rycht traist cousingis, James Erle of Mortoun, Lord of Dalkeith. Johne Erle of Athole. &c. Johne Erle of Mar. &c. Alexander Erle of Glencarne, Williame Erle of Menteith, Johne Maister of Grahame, Alexander Lord Hume, Adam Bischop of Orknay, and Prouestis of Dundie, Montrois, or ony of thame, to ressaue the said renúciatioun, and dimissioun in fauouris of our said Sone, and thairefter the ressauing thairof, to plant, place, and inaugurat him in the Kingdome, and with all ceremonies requysit to put the Crowne royall vpon his heid, in signe and takin of the establesing of him thairin, and in his name to mak, and gif to the saidis Nobilitie, Clergy, Burgessis, and vtheris our liegis, his Princely & Kingly aith detfully, and lauchfully as effeiris. And to ressaue thair aithis, for dew & lauchfull homage to be maid be thame to him, in all tymes cuming, as becumis subiectis to thair natiue King and Prince. And generally all & sindrie other thingis to do, exerce, and vse that for sure performance & accomplishment heirof may, or can be done, firme and stable haldand, and for to hald all and quhatsumeuer thingis in our name, in the premissis leidis to be done, in the word and faithfull promis of ane Prince. And ordanis thir our letters (gif neid beis) to be publist at all places neidfull. Subscriuit with our hand, & geuin vnder our preuie Seil, At Lochleuin the .xxiiij. day of Julii. And of our Regne the .xxv. zeir. 1567.

ITEM Anent the artickle proponit, & geuin in be the Kirk to my Lord Regent, aud thre Estatis of this present Parliament, anent the iurisdictioun iustlie appertening to the trew Kirk, and immaculat spous of Jesus Christ: to be declarit and expressit as the artickle at mair length is consavit. ¶ The Kingis grace, with auise of my Lord Regent, and thre Estatis of this present Parliament, hes declarit, and grantit iurisdictioun to the said Kirk: quhilk consistis and standis in preicheing of the trew word of Jesus Christ, correctioú of maneris, and administratioun of haly Sacramentis. And declairis that thair is na vther face of Kirk, nor vther face of Religioun, than is presentlie be the fauour of God establischeit within this Realme. And that thair be na vther iurisdictioun ecclesiasticall acknawlegeit within this Realme, vther than that quhilk is, and salbe within the same Kirk, or that quhilk flowis thairfra cócerning the premissis. And forther, our Souerane Lord, with auise of my Lord Regent, and thre Estatis foirsaidis, hes geuin, and geuis power and commissioun to Schir James Balfour of Pettingdreich Knycht, Priour of Pettinweme, Mark Commédatour of Newbottill, Johne Priour of Coldinghame, Lord preuie Seill, Maister James Mackgill, of Rankelour nether, Clerk of Register, Williame Maitland zounger of Lethingtoun, Secretar to our Souerane Lord, Schir Johne Bellenden, of Auchinoull Knycht, Justice Clerk, Johne Erskin of Dune, Maister Johne Spottiswod, Superintendent of Lowthiane, Johne Knox, Maister Johne Craig, and Maister Dauid Lindesay Ministeris of the word of God. To seirche furth mair speciallie, & to considder quhat vther speciall pointis, {folio xiii. recto} or clausis, sould appertene to the iurisdictioun, priuilege, and authoritie of the said Kirk. And to declair thair myndis thairanentis, to my Lord Regent, and thre Estatis of this Realme, at the nixt Parliamét. Swa, that thay may tak ordour thairintill, and authoreis the samin be act of Parliament, as salbe fund aggreabill to the word of God.

ITEM Anent the act maid in Parliament, haldin at Edinburgh, the .xv. day of December, the zeir of God ane thousand fyue hundreth, thre scoir foure zeiris. Quhairin it was declairit be act, and authorisit be our Souerane Lordis derrest Mother, in the foirsaid Parliament, declairand, and findand hir grace, and hir predecessouris, and posteritie, Princes of this Realme, to haue bene, and to be at lauchfull and perfyte age, of .xxj. zeiris compleit. Nottheles the said act being prentit, the Prentar thairof hes negligentlie left furth the forme of act of Parliament. ¶ Thairfoir our Souerane Lord, with aduyse of my Lord Regent, and thre Estatis of this present Parliament, hes fundin the fault in the Prentar of the said act, and thairfoir ordanis the samin to be of new prentit, conforme to the principall act in the Register, of the said Parliament, haldin the day, and zeir abone written. Of the quhilk the tennour followis.

¶ Anent the artickle proponit to the Quenis Maiestie, and thre Estatis of Parliament, makand mentioun of ane act of Parliament, maid be King James the Secund, of gude memorie, of the dait, the .xx. day of Marche, the zeir of God ane thousand foure hundreth threttie seuin zeiris. And of ane vther act maid be King James the feird, in his reuocatioun, makand mentioun of .xxj. zeiris of age, of the dait, the .xv. day of Februar, the zeir of God ane thousand foure hundreth, threttie {folio xv. recto} nyne zeiris. Lyke as the saidis actis respectiue, at mair lenth proportis. ¶ Desyring thairfoir our Souerane Lady, and thre Estatis of this present Parliament, to declair the saidis actis and vtheris actis following, anent the lauchfull and perfyte age of the Prince, gif it be at .xxj. zeiris compleit. Quha hes declairit, and declairis, that the Quenis Maiesteis predecessouris, Kingis of this Realme, war be the saidis actis, of lauchfull and perfyte age, at .xxi. zeiris compleit, lyke as hir hienes being of .xxj. zeiris of age compleit, is of perfyte and lauchfull age. Swa that hir hienes, hir predecessouris, and successouris efter the said age, of .xxj. zeiris compleit, mycht haue done, and may do all thingis, that thairefter ane Prince of lauchfull, and perfyte age, mycht haue done, or may do of the Law.

ITEM Anent the artickle proponit be the Erlis, Lordis, and vther Nobill men, quha tuik armis at Carbarrie hill, vpon the .xv. day of Junij last bypast. And anent thair conueningis of befoir, and of the cause of the apprehensioun of the Quene, Mother to our Souerane Lord. And quhidder the saidis Nobill mé, and vtheris quhilkis tuik armis of befoir hir said apprehensioun, and quhilkis ioynit with thame, and assistit thame at that tyme, or ony wayis sensyne, hes done the dewtie of Nobill men, gude, and trew subiectis of this Realme, and na wayis offendit, nor transgressit the Lawis in that effect, or ony thing depending thairupon, outher preceding, or following the samin. ¶ Our Souerane Lord, with auise of my Lord Regent, and thre Estatis, and haill body of this present Parliament, hes fundin, declairit, and concludit, and be this present act findis, declairis, and concludis, that the cause and occasioun of the conueutiounis, and messageis of the saidis Erlis, Lordis, Nobill men, Barronis, and vtheris faithfull and trew subiectis, and consequentlie, thair taking of armis, and cuming to the feildis with oppin and displayit banneris, and the cause and occasioun of the taking of the said Quenis person, vpon the said .xv. day of Junij last bypast, and halding, and detening of the samin within the housis and Fortalice of Lochleuin, continuallie, sensyne presentlie, and in all tyme cuming. And generallie all vther thingis inuentit, spokin, writtin, or done be thame, or ony of thame to that effect, sen the tent day of Februar last bypast, vpon the quhilk day, vmquhile Henry King, than the said Quenis lauchfull husband, and our Souerane Lord the Kingis derrest Father, was tressonablie, schamefullie, and horriblie murthourit, vnto the day and dait, of this present act, and in all tymes to cum, tuicheing the said Quene, and detening of hir person. That the cause and {folio xv. verso} all thingis dependand thairon, or that ony wayis may pertene thairto, the intromissioun, or disponing vpon hir propirtie, casualiteis, or quhatsumeuer thing pertening, or that ony wayis mycht pertene to hir, Wes in the said Quenis awin default, in sa far as be diuers hir preuie letteris writtin halelie with hir awin hand, and send be hir to James, sumtyme Erle of Bothwell, cheif executour of the said horribill murthour, asweill befoir the committing thairof, as thairefter. And be hir ungodlie, and dishonourabill proceding to ane pretédit mariage with him, suddandlie, and vnprouisitlie thairefter, it is maist certaine, that scho was preuie, airt, and pairt, of the actuall deuise, and deid of the foirnamit murthour, of the King hir lauchful husband, and Father to our Souerane Lord, committit be the said James, sumtyme Erle of Bothwell, his complices, and pertakeris. And thairfoir iustlie deseruis quhatsumever hes bene done to hir in ony tyme bygane, or that salbe vsit towardis hir, for the said cause in tyme cuming, quhilk salbe vsit be aduise of the Nobilitie, in respect, that our said Souerane Lordis Mother, with the said James, sumtyme Erle of Bothwell, zeid about be indirect and colourit menis, to colour, and hald bak the knawlege of the treuth of the committaris of the said cryme. Zit all men in thair hartis war fullelie perswadit, of the authouris and deuysaris of that mischeuous, and vnworthie fact, awaiting quhill God sould moue the hartis of sum to enter in the querrell, for reuengeing of the samin. And in the menetyme, ane greit pairt of the Nobilitie, vpon iust feir to be handlit, and demanit in semblabill maner, as the King had bene of befoir. Persauing alswa the Quene sa thrall; and swa blindlie affectionat to the priuate appetyte of that tyrane, and that baith he, and scho had conspyrit togidder sic horribill crueltie, being thairwith all garnissit with ane cumpanie of vngodlie, and vitious personis, reddy to accomplische all thair vnlauchfull commandementis, of quhome he had ane sufficient number, continuallie awaiting vpon him, for the samin effect, all Nobill and vertuous men abhorring thair tyrannie, and cumpanie, bot cheiflie suspecting, that thay, quha had sa tressonablie put downe, and distroyit the Father, sould mak the innocent Prince, his onlie Sone, and the principall, and almaist onlie confort, send be God to this afflictit natioun, to taist of the samin coup (as the mony inuentit purposis to pas quhair he was, and alswa quhair the Nobill men war in) be thair oppin confusioun gaif sufficient warning and declaratioun, quhairthrow the saids Erlis, Lordis, Barronis, and vtheris faithfull, and trew subiectis taking armis, or vtherwyse quhatsumeuer ioyning, and assisting in the said actioun, and in the saidis conuentiounis, displaying baneris, and cuming to the feildis, taking and retening of the Quenis person, asweill in tymes bypast, as heirefter, and all vtheris that hes thairefter, or sall {folio xvi. recto} in ony tyme cuming adioyne to thame, and all thingis done be thame, or ony of thame, tuicheing that cause, and all vther thingis depending thairon, or that ony wayis may appertene thairto, the intromissioun, or disponing vpon hir propirtie, or casualiteis, or quhatsumeuer vther thingis pertening, or ony wayis mycht appertene to hir, was in default of hir self, and the said James, sumtyme Erle of Bothwell, and be the horribill, and cruell murther of our said Souerane Lordis vmquhile derrest Father, conspyrit, deuysit, committit, conseilit, and colourit be thame, and not condignelie puneist according to the Lawis. And that the saidis Erlis, Lordis, Barronis, and vtheris trew, and faithfull subiectis, conuening at ony conuentioun bygaine, and now presentlie, efter the said murthour, for furthering of the tryell thairof, and als thay, and all vtheris that war on the feildis, tuik armis, apprehendit, held, keipit, or detenit, or presentlie haldis, keipis, or detenis hir person, or sall thairefter, or that hes ionit, or assistit, or sall in ony tyme heirefter ioyne to thame in that querrell, tuicheing the premissis, ar, war, and salbe innocent, fre, and acquyte of the samin, and of all actioun, and cause criminall, and ciuill, that may be intentit, or persewit aganis thame, or ony of thame thairfoir, in ony tyme cuming. And that ane pairt of the thre Estatis foirsaidis, Prelatis, Bishopis, greit Barronis, and Burgessis, gaif thair Seillis thairupon, to be vsit as salbe thocht maist expedient be thame, for the honour of the Realme, and securitie of the nobill men, and vtheris hauand enteres in the said cause. And decernis, this declaratioun to be na wayis preiudiciall to the Issue of our Souerane Lordis Mother, lauchfullie cumin of hir body, to succeid to the Crowne of this Realme, nor thair airis.

Anent the supplicatioun geuin in be Williame Dowglas of Lochleuin, beirand that the Erlis of Mortoun, Atholl, Mar, Glencarne, the Lordis Ruthuen, Holme, Lindesay, Sempill, and diueris vtheris honorabill Barronis, and gentilmen of this Realme, vpon the .xvj. day of Junij, last bypast, be thair letteris subscriuit with thair handis, gaif command to the said Williame Dowglas, vpon his dew obedience, and as he tenderis the commoun weill of this Realme, his natiue cuntrie, to ressaue our Souerane Lordis Mother in keping, within his fortalice, & place of Lochleuin, as being ane rowme maist conuenient thairto, and keip hir surelie thairintill, ay & quhill farther tryall be taine, anent the cruell murthour, and tressonabill slauchter of vmquhile Henry King, spous to the Quene, than our Souerane, and the said Williame sufficientlie exonerit, {folio xvi. verso} and dischargeit of hir said keping, as the letteris, and charge direct be the saidis Erlis, Lordis, and nobill men, schawin in presence of my Lord Regent, and thre Estatis of this Realme beiris. And thairfoir desyring our Souerane Lord, my Lord Regent, and thre Estatis of this presét Parliamét, to gif declaratour to the said Williame Dowglas of Lochleuin, that he hes done his detfull diligence, in ressauing, and keping of our said Souerane Lordis derrest Mother. And thairthrow that he, and his airis may be fre of all actioun, and cryme that may be imputit to thame thairthrow, and of ony vther thing done to hir, sen hir cuming to the said place, and fortalice, in respect of hir awin declaratioun schawin, and producit in presence of my said Lord Regent, and haill Estatis of this present Parliament, lyke as the said supplicatioun, wrytingis, and chargeis direct thairanent schawin, and producit as said is beiris. ¶ Our Souerane Lord, with auise of the said Lord Regent, and thre Estatis, and haill body of this present Parliament, declairis the saidis letteris, & chargeis, direct to the said Williame Dowglas of Lochleuin in maner abone written, to be dewlie, & ressonablie direct, and procedit vpon ane iust, trew, and sinceir ground, and thairfoir be censement of this present Parliament, authorisis, and declairis the samin to haue bene dewlie, weill, ordourlie, and iustly direct vpon gude causis, and consideratiounis, lyke as alswa our Souerane Lord, with auise of my Lord Regent, and thre Estatis of Parliament foirsaid, authorisis, and declaris the wrytingis, & declaratioun maid be our said Souerane Lordis derrest mother, vpon the .xxviij. day of Julij last bypast, declairand that scho on na wyse was treitit, nor cópellit be the said Williame Dowglas of Lochleuin, nor na vtheris of his causing, to do ony thing contrare hir plesour, sen hir cuming to the said place of Lochleuin. And thairfoir ordanis the saidis letteris, chargeis, and vtheris wryttingis abone writtin, to be insert and registrat in the buikis of Parliament, to remaine thairintill perpetuallie, for declaratioun of the said Williame Dowglas trew, and iust obedience in the said mater. And declairis, he hes done his detfull dewtie in obtempering, obeying, and fulfilling of the command, and charge abone writtin, and decernis him, his airis, successouris, and posteritie to be harmles and skaithles thairanent, for now and euer. And dischargeis all actioú and cause criminall, and ciuile, that may be intentit, or persewit aganis thame, or him for the samin, for now and euer be this present act.

ITEM Forsamekle as thair is diuers and sindrie articklis presentit and geuin in be diuers liegis, and subiectis of this Realme, to our Souerane Lord, my Lord Regent, Lordis of articklis, and Estatis of this Realme. And speciallie ane artickle of James Lord of sanct Johnis, anent the confirmatioun of his priuilegeis. Ane artickle concerning the act of adulterie. Ane artickle of the leirnit men of this Realme, desyring letteris to flureis. Ane artickle tuicheing eiectioun, and spulzeis. Ane artickle anent reductioun of decreitis, for the causis contenit in the first libell. Ane artickle concerning warrādis in redemptioun of landis. Ane artickle for punischement of thame, that wilfullie passis to the horne, & lyis thairat. Ane artickle for thame that passis to the horne for liquidat sowmes. Ane artickle for thame that passis to the horne, & enteris in the girth. Ane artickle for thame that putts thair sonnis or freindis in thair landis, or makis assignatiounis of thair gudis in defraude of the executioun of decreitis. Ane artickle for superiouris that geuis priuate sesingis, efter the deceis of thair wassallis, in defraude of the air of the said wassallis. Ane artickle anent derth of victuall, & bestiallis. Ane artickle for ganging of fische furth of the Realme. Ane artickle for chesing of Cómissaris in euerie schire, to keip ordour amangis craftis men. Ane artickle for slauchter. Ane artickle for assythment of partie. Ane artickle for theuis taine reifand. Ane artickle for slauchter of veilis, and lambis, and for passing furth of the cuntrie, and inbringing of wyne, irne, tar, lint, and lit. And als concerning the merchandis, that raisis the price of geir that it was first sauld for efter the hame bringing. Ane artickle for confirmatioú of the giftis of annuallis, and Chaplanereis to Burrowis. Ane artickle of the Burgh of Cowper, anent the downe taking of thair customes, as in the articklis geuin in thairupon at mair lenth is contenit. ¶ Our Souerane Lord, with auise of my Lord Regent, & thre Estatis of this present Parliament, hes geuin, and geuis power, and cómissioun to the Lordis of the articklis vnderwrittin, that is to say, Alexander Bischop of Galloway. Adam Bischop of Orknay. Robert Cómendatour of Dunfermling. Mark Cómendatour of Newbottill. Johne Cómendatour of Balmerinoch. And Schir James Balfour Priour of Pettinweme, for the spiritual estate. George Erle of Huntlie. Archebald Erle of Argyle. Johne Erle of Atholl. {folio xviii. verso} Johne Erle of Mar. Alexander Erle of Glencarne. And Patrik Lord Lindesay of the Byris for the Barronis. Schir Symon Prestoú of that ilk Knicht, Prouest of Edinburgh. Maister James Halyburtoú tutour of Petcur, Prouest of Dundie. Williame Lord Ruthuen, Prouest of Perth. Johne Erskin of Dune, Prouest of Montrois. Thomas Menzeis of Potfoddellis, Prouest of Abirdene. And Patrik Lermonth of Dersie Knicht, Prouest of Sanctandrois, for the cómissaris of Burrowis. Or ony four of euerie ane of the Estatis abone writtin, with our Souerane Lordis officiaris vnderwrittin, that is to say, the Chancellar, the Thesaurer, the Cóptrollar, the Lord preuie seill, the Clerk of Register, the Justice Clerk, & the Aduocat, with sic vtheris Senatouris of the College of Justice, as thay pleis name, to concur with thame. Quhilkis personis sall vesie, & considder the saidis articklis, and tak ordour quhat thay think best to be done thairintil, for the cómoun weil of this Realme, & liegis thairof. And as thay think best to be done, to declair the samin to our Souerane Lord, my Lord Regent, & thre Estatis of this Realme in the nixt Parliament, to the effect that thay may mak sic Lawis, and constitutiounis thairupon, as accordis with equitie, and Justice, and ressoun.

ITEM Forsamekle as the Lordis of counsell, and sessioun hes bene in vse in tymes bygaine, to ryse the last day of Julij, and not to sit downe for administratioun of Justice, quhill the xij. day of Nouember thairefter, and to have vacance at Zule, Fastingis euin, Pasche, & Witsonday. And trueth it is, that the moneth of Julij, is the moneth of all the zeir, maist dangerous, and men abillest to contract seiknes thairintill, speciallie thay being in Burrowis townis not weill airit. And als that is the tyme of skantest victuallis, and greitest derth within the Realme. And als is the tyme that geutil men, and vtheris hes maist ado concerning thair awin effairis. ¶ Thairfoire it is statute, and ordanit be our Souerane Lord, with auise and consent of my Lord Regent, and thre Estatis of this present Parliament, that the Lordis of counsell and sessioun in all tymes cuming, sall ryse vpon the .x. day of Julij, and haue vacance vnto the .xx. day of October exclusiue. Upon the quhilk .xx. day of October, thay sall sit downe, and sit daylie, except vpon the Sonday, quhill the .xx. day of December inclusiue. And than ryse, and haue vacance, quhill the .vij. day of Januar exclusiue. Upon the quhilk .vij. day of Januar, thay sall sit downe, & sit daylie, except the Sonday, but ony vacance at Fastingis euin, quhil Palmesonday euin inclusiue. And than to ryse, and haue vacance, quhill the nixt monunday efter law Sonday exclusiue. Upon the quhilk monunday thay sall sit downe, and sit daylie except on the Sóday, without ony vacance at Witsonday, quhill the said .x. day of Julij. And swa the saidis Lordis of counsel and sessioun to proceid and minister Justice to all our Souerane Lordis liegis daylie, in tyme cuming in maner befoir specifyit.

ITEM Forsamekle as thair hes bene of befoir diuers, large, and sumpteous expensis, maid be our Souerane Lordis predecessouris, & him self, in keiping, fortifying, & reparatioun of the Castell of Dunbar, and Forth of Inchekeith, quhilkis ar baith unprofitabill to the Realme, and not abill to defend [fra] the enemeis thairof, in cais the samin war assaultit. And now seing that the said Castell, and Forth, ar baith becumin sa ruinous, that the samin sall allutterlie decay, except thair be sic expensis maid thairupon, as is vnhabill to be performit without greit inconueniencis. And alswa hauand consideratioun of an act of Parliament maid in vmquhile our Souerane Lordis grandschiris tyme, King James the feird, of maist worthie memorie, ordinand the said Castell of Dunbar to be demolischit and cassin downe, as in the act maid thairupon at mair length is contenit, quhilk act as zit is not abrogat. ¶ Thairfoir our Souerane Lord, with auise and consent of my Lord Regent, and thre Estatis of this present Parliament, hes ordanit, and ordanis that the Castell of Dunbar, and Forth of Inchekeith be demolischit, and cassin downe vtterlie to the ground, and distroyit in sic wyse, that na foundment thairof be occasioun to big thairupon in tyme cuming.