t^fVCTH PARLIAMENT. XXII. of CMaij. 1584. % 39 133. That ^Minifters fall not be Judges, nor exerce ony uther or dinar office that may abftratl them fra their office. THE KingisMajeftie, and his three Eftaites aflemblecKn this prefent Parliament , earneftly defirous, that all his loving and gucle fubjectes , fall be faithfullie inftrucled in the do&rine of their falvation , and that the Minifters of Gods word and Sacraments, may the better, and mair diligently attend upon their awin charges and vocation: Therefoir ftatutis , andordainis, that all the faidis Minifters , fall faithfullie await there-upon, tc the comfort , and edification of the flockes committed unto them : And that none of them p r efently being in that function , or thac fail be admitted theirto , in time cumming, fall in ony vvaies accept, ufe, or adminiftrat ony place of judicature, inquhat-fum-evercivill, or criminal caufes , nochtto be of the Colledge of Juftice, Commiffioners, Advocates, CourtClerk.es, or Notaris in ony matters (the making of Teftamentes onely excepted) under the paine of deprivation fra their benefices, livinges, and function : And gif they failzie heirin , being called, tryed, and adjudged culpable , be their ordinars , or be the Kings Majefties Commiffioners in Ecciefiafticai caufes : They fall then tine their faidis benefices and livinges, and uthers qualified perfones , fall be prefented , and provided thereto , as gif they wer na- turallie dead. 134. x^AnentflanderersoftheKing, his Progenitours , Eftait and Realme. FORSAMEIKLE, asitisunderftand, toourSoveraineLord, and his three Eftaites aflembled in this prefent Parliament, quhatgreatharme, and inconvenient lies fallen in this Realme, chiefly fen the beginning of the civile troubles, occurred in the time of his Hienes minoritie, throw the wicked and licencious publick and private fpeaches , and untrew calumnies of divers his fubjefres , to the difdaine , con- tempt and reproch of his Majefty , his Councell , and proceedings , and to the difhonour and prejudice of his Hienes, his Parents, Progenitours , andEftaite: Steiring up his Hienes fubje&es theirby to mifliking, fedition, unquietnes, and to caft of their dew obedience to his Majeftie , to their evident perrell , tinfell, and deftru&ion , his Hienes continuing alvvaies in love and clemcncie , toward all his gude fubje&es, and maift willing to feek the fafetie and prefervanon of them all, quhilkis will ully, needles, and upon plaine malice , after his Hienes mercy and pardon , of times afoir granted , lies procured themfelvcs , be their treafonable deeds to be cut ofT, as corrupt members of this commoun weill : Therefore it is ftatute and ordained be our Soveraine Lord , and his three Eftaites, in this prefent Parliament, thatnane of his fubje&es ( of quhat-fum-ever funftion , degree , or qualitie in time cumming ) fall prefume or take upon hand privatly, orpublickly, in Sermones, Declamationes , or familiar conferences , to utter ony falfe , flanderous , or untrew fpeaches , to the difdaine , reproche , and contempt of his Majefty , his Councell, and proceedings , or to the difhonour , hurt, or prejudice of his Hienes, his Parents, and Progenitoures , or to meddle in the affaires of his Hienes , and his Eftaite prefent , by-gane , and in time cumming , under the paines conteined in the Acles of Parliament , againft makers and tellers of leefinges: Certifieing them that fall be tryed contraveners theiroi, or that liearis fik flanderous fpea- ches , and reportes not the fame with diligence , the faid paine fail be execute againft them , with all rigour , in exemple of utheris. Attoure , becaufe it is underftand to his Hienes , and to his three Eftaites , that the buikes of the Chronicle , and T>e jure regni apid Scotos , made be umquhile , Maifter GEORGE BUCHANANE, and imprented fenfine , conteinis findrie offenfive matters , worthie to be deleete : IT IS THEIR FORE ftatu r e and ordained , that the havers of the faidis twa volumes in their handes , inbring , and deliver the fame to my Lord Secretare , or his deputes , within fourtie dayes . after the publication hereof , to the effect , that the faidis volumes may bee perufed , and purged of the offen- sive, and extraordinane matters fpecified theirin , not meete to remaine asRecordesoftruethtothepofte- ritie, under the paine of twa hundreth pundes , of everie perfon tailzieing heirin. And quhair ony ar not refponfal to pay the faid fumme , to be punifhed in their perfones , at OUR SOVERAINE L O R D I S will. And to the effect , that this Ordinance may cum to the knawledge of all OUR SO- VERAINE LORDIS Lieges , ordainis publication to be maid theirof , at the mercat croce of the head Burrowes of the Schires , and utheris places needefull , That nane pretend ignorance theirof: And the penaltie conteined theirin , to be executed with all rigour againft the havers of the faidis buikes , the faid fpace of fourty dayes being by-paft, after the publication, and proclamation of the faid Act in every Schire, as faid is. 1 35 1 . Againft reduction of fore-faltours for nullitie ofproces, and that nane travel, nor give counfel to that effiecJ, without fpecial warrand of the Kingis Majeftie , and Eftaites in Parliament. THE Kingis Majeftie remembring of the mony rebellious and treafonable deedes, perpetrated againft his Majeftie, and his maift Noble Progenitoures , with the greater audacitie and contempt, For that they have found the fore-faltours led againft fum perfones , authors of the like treafones of befoir , reduced , and taken away in the minorities of his Hienes , and of the Queene his deareft Mother , M m z upon
