LXVI. Letters by the Regent Morton discharing the community of the City
of Glasgow from passing upon assizes or inquests in any actions,
crimes, and causes, before any judges, except in actions and
crimes done in the City or three miles outwith the same.
Dalkeith, 1 April 1576.
Rex. We, and oure richt traist cousing James erll of Mortoun lord of
Dalkeith, Regent to ws, oure realme and liegis, vnderstanding that diuers
of the inhabitantis of the citie of Glasgow ar sindre tymes chargit and
trublit to compeir and pas vpoun assissis and inqueistis large space of the
said cietie, in diuers actiouns and caussis, to thair large expenssis and
hinder of thair lefull besines, be the tennour heirof with auise of oure
said cousing and regent, and for vtheris ressonabill caussis and consideratiouns moving ws, exemis and dischargis the baillies, inhabitantis, and
haill communite of the said citie fra ony compeirance or passing vpoun
assissis or inqueistis in quhatsumeuir actionis, crymes, and caussis, befoir
our justice, schereffis, stewartis, or vtheris judges within our realme in
tyme cuming, except in actionis and crymes done and committit within
or thre myles outwith the said citie; and will and grantis that thay nor
nane of thame sall be callit or accusit thairfore criminalie nor ciuilie be
ony maner of way in tyme cuming, nor sall incur na scaith, pane, cryme, or
danger thairthrow in thair persones, priuilegis, landis, guidis, or geir,
nochtwithstanding ony actis, statutis, letteres, proclamationis, or charges,
speciall or generall, maid or to be maid in the contrair, or ony panis contenit thairin, anent the quhilkis we dispens, discharging all and sundrie
our jugis, ministeris of our lawes, vtheris our officiaris, leigis, and subditis
off all calling, accusing, vnlawing or onywais proceding aganis the saidis
baillies, inhabitantis, and communite of the said citie or ony of thame for
the said caus, poinding, trubling, or onywyse intrometting with thame or
ony of thame thairfore and of thair offices in that pairt. Gevin vnder our
signet and subscriuit be our said cousing and regent at Dalkeith, the first
day of Aprile, and of oure reignne the nynt year, 1576.
(L.S.) James, Regent.