ELLEVENTH PARLIAMENT. XXIX. of Julij. 1587. a 7 * of Councell and Seflion , maid anent proceeding in caufes of moleftation : And ordainis the fame to take full effect and execution in time cumming; as a maift necelTar and profitable Law to all his Hienefle fub- jecles, and the faid haill Acte to be infert in the buikes of Parliament: Of the quhilk Act, the tenour ibliowes. AT Edinburgh the day of The zeir of God , 15-80. zeires, For-fameikle as the multi- tude of Acliones, before the Lordes of Seflion impefchis greatlie the ordinar courfe of Juftice, inweightie caufes of heritage, and utheris maters of great importance, quhilkis ar maid proper to be decided be the faidis Lordes of Seflion , and the greateftlett and im pediment proceedis from the grcare number of Actiones ofmoleftatioun and troublance in the pofleflion of proper ties and communities, quhilkis were accuftomed of auld to be decided be the SchirefTes of everie Schire, Baillies of Regalities, and uthers ordinar Judges, quhair the landes lyes , and be the determination of ane AfTife of the beft and worthieft of the Cuntrie : And the faidis Lordes be dailie experience, understanding perfitelie, quhat flop and hinder thefaidis maters pofleflbur, ar to the expedition of uthers weightie caufes, how fumptcous fik proces ar to the parties, be bringing of the witneiTes foorth of the farre partes of this Reaime: for Vereficing of the fummoundes, or exception admitted be ather partie , in the faid mater : And zit the trueth of die cafe is nocht thereby fuffi- ciently tryed , partlie be the abufe of the witnefles; Andpartely, becaufe it is nochtpoflible to the faidis Lordes of Seflion , to trie the veritie fa Weill , be examination of the witnefles before them , as the Schireffe and his deputes , may try the fame, be ane iiiqucft of the bell and worthieft upon the ground. For the quhilkis caufes, the faidis Lords of Sefilon hes thoucht meeie and expedient, ftatutis and or- dainis , that all maters of moleftation and troublance in properties and communities , confifting in the pofleflbur, to be intended herefter , or alreadie intended, quhamn na Litis-conteftation is maid, fall be remitted to the Schireffe of the Schire , Baillies of Regalities , and utheris inferior ordinar Judges, quhair the landes upon the quhilks queftiOn fall be mooved lye :•■ ;-. And to that effect, quhenfoevet onie partie fall meane them to the faids Lords , upon troublance or moleftation , committed upon pro- perties or commounties; The Lords be their deliverance , fall direct letters, ordaining the faidis inferiour Judges ordinar, to take cognition therein upon fummoundes or precepts, to be direct upon fifteene dayes warning: And the Courtes following, to bee continued fra audit daics, to audit daies, at the langeft; or fhorter, as the caufe fall require, at the difcretion o the Judge. Quhilk cognition fall be taken be this ordour. Firft that the parties defenfes fall be lauchfiillie difcuficd in the place quhair the faidis inferiour ordinar Judges ufe to fitt: Or that fall be appointed unto them be the faidis Lordes of Councell. And gif the defenfes be all repelled; That the faidis Judges , after the production of the parties richtes confifting in writt, fall put the haill uther poynts of the fummonds or exception, quhilk fall be ad- mitted, iwameikle thereof, as be the ordour obferved before , micht or fu'd have bene provin be witneiTes, to the knawlcdge of ane condigne inqueft: To be elected and chofen ofPerfoncslcaftfafpect, and that beft knawis the veritie to ane iufficient number. "1 he maift part quhairof fall be Landed-men , haveing at the leaft four pleuches of Lande : Or three hundreth markes of zeirlie rent unredeemable, and utheris fubftantious and famous honeft Zeamen •. Quhilkis Perfones fall be taken and chofen in the Parochin, quhair the faidis Landes debaitable lyes , gif ane fufficient number may be found there : And failzeing there- of, that the neareft Parochiners nixt adjacent , admittand alwaies all objections competent againlt their per- fones , as accordis of the Law. QUHILKIS perfones of inqueft , after they be lauchfullie fworne and admitted , fall have power to Vifit thegrounde, gif they thinke it expedient , and take all uther trval , as they fall thinke gude , upon their aithe and confeience , and fall returne their anfwere to the Judge, upan the trueth and veritie of the claime, or exception admitted , And that in face of judgement : That the faid Judge ordinar , may thereafter give his fentence definitive , upon the faidis debates, and gif the faidis perfones of inqueft commit errour in their faidis determination ; They fall be called , accufed, and puniihed therefore, poena teinerejiirantmrhfiipef ajfifan, in their perfones and guddes , according to the auncient Lawes of this Reaime , and coniuetude ob- ferved within the famin. AND Gif it happenis mutual perfute , convention or reconvention on ather fide, to be intended, bairh the parties doand their dew diligence , be intending and perfewing of their actionem birjeinde, before litls- conteftation maid be ather of them. And all their reafones and allegationes intheLawe* being produced , before the mater be put to the knawledge of ane inqueft -. The Judge fall proceede in them bd.ixhparipajfu : And fall remit the heades and Artickles of the claime precepts, fummoundes or exception, quhilk confiftis itifaffo, and was accuftomed to be verified be witnefles, to the determination of ane affife. Quhilk fall take cognition in baith die caufes , quhere they cannot be denied. And the equal halie of the faid Ailifes , fall be taken of the perfones fummound for ather of the faidis parties, and gir the number of the halfe of the AfTife , may not bee had of the number fummound be ather of the parties : In that cafe the Judge fall take fa monie, as wantis of utheris fufficient affifoures, albeit they be nocht fummonded be nather of the parties: the famin perfones being alwaies landed-men, or being fubftantious, famous and honeft zeamen , as faid is; And the od-man fall be chofen be cavill. And quhair it fall happin the Schireffe of the Schire, Baillie of Re- galitie, or uther inferiour Judge ordinar, to be fufpect and unable to Judge the faidis caufes , fordeadlie ieedc , and uther reafons , quhilkis may decline the Judge, Or the place ofjudgement to be incompetent, that therewith the partie cannot have fure acceffe for his perfute and detenfe. Qq 2, IN
