| LOCATION | Edinburgh, NR Scotland |
| MANUSCRIPT | Edinburgh, NR Scotland, GD112/71/5 |
| ITEM No. 3 | Ius proprium Scotiae - Practicks (digest of "Auld Lawis"), systematic |
Ius proprium Scotiae - Practicks (digest of "Auld Lawis"), systematic : (preparatory work for 'Balfour's Practicks'), in six books
Author(s):
Incipit:
Explicit:
Ius proprium Scotiae - Practicks (digest of "Auld Lawis"), systematic: (preparatory work for 'Balfour's Practicks'), in six books (in Scots).
Mainly written in one continuous task, but several changes of hands occur, e.g. fol. 16r, fol. 17r, fol. 36r. The present text is also preserved in MS Edinburgh, UL, Laing III.381a. It probably constitutes a slightly re-arranged and translated version of a similar Digest in Latin which is preserved in Edinburgh, NL Scotland, Adv.MS.25.4.11 and in MS London, BL, Additional 48050.
Parallel MSS: an attempt of translating Regiam maiestatem fully into Scots is preserved in MS Edinburgh, UL, Laing III.423, but this translation breaks off after only three pages. A fully translated digest of the "Auld Lawis" in Scots is preserved in MS Edinburgh, UL, Laing III.381a. It appears that the latter MS and the present MS both derive from the same model. Leaves in the model were misbound, and both copies thus transcribed the text in the wrong misbound order.
The work is subdivided into six books, as planned in the list of titles, fol. 3r-4v above, but the arrangement of titles here follows the proposed plan only in part. Many errors occur in the numbering of chapters, and even in the numbering of titles. The numbering of chapters is arbitrary as very often several propositions of law from several sources are gathered under the same chapter number. I have compared Balfour's Practicks in the printed edition of 1754, reprinted in 1962-1963 (Stair Society volumes 21-22). In this edition the titles are not numbered. I thus use the numbering supplied in the introduction to the reprint 1962, in volume one, p. cxviii-cxix.
The text quotes specific copies of Regiam maiestatem. It thus appears that the text was only meant to circulate within a small group of persons who had access to these particular volumes: 'Liber Sconensis', often quoted with page number, e.g. on fol. 6v page number 831 and 835. Fol. 7r again with page number 835, two times. Also 'Liber Carnegie', e.g. fol. 7v: 'ex Lib. Carneg. ... xxvi. m.v.cxxxiiii'. Furthermore 'Liber Carbrait', e.g. fol. 9r and also 9v. Furthermore in fol. 54r infra: 'Liber (Re?)sluig, pag. 156' [{i}= garbled from 'Restalrig'?= volume owned by John Sinclair dean of Restalrig?{/i}]. Also 'Liber Guth.' (e.g. in the title 'Of the Chancellar').
I have compared the present work to Balfour's Practicks. The printed edition 1754 is not subdivided into books, but some MSS preserve traces of such former subdivision. The treatise Regiam maiestatem had only four books, but fol. 1r-3r above show that the compiler referred to a Digest in which 'Regiam' together with its concomitants 'Quoniam attachiamenta' etc., was digested into six books. The printed edition 1754 did not even provide numbers for the titles - but there exist MSS in which the titles of Balfour's Practicks are numbered. Furthermore, in the printed edition the headings of the chapters and their numbering are printed in the margins, whereas the manuscripts have them above the chapters. Also, the reprint 1962 of the edition 1754 lacks a preface, whereas manuscripts of Balfour's Practicks use as a preface an adapted translation of the preface to Regiam maiestatem, as was equally done in the present MS. However, all MSS of the disseminated version of Balfour's Practicks skip the text passage which mentions the Regent Morton as the representative of King James VI. The main difference is that the disseminated version of Balfour's Practicks merges extracts from the "Auld Lawis" (as extant in the present MS) with abstracts of decisions and Acts of Parliament. This merger effected a much longer text.
Details of collation to the printed edition of Balfour's Practicks are reported below. First, a consolidated list of all the titles of the present MS is provided, with references to the pertinent titles in Balfour's Practicks. Thereafter follows a detailed comparison, chapter by chapter, up to title 6 chapter 2. Two lengthy sample titles further on were also collated, namely 4.10 and 4.16, and then the end. It resulted from the detailed collation that the present text only contains extracts from the 'Auld Lawis', whereas the printed edition also contains abstracts of statutes and decisions and has thus many more chapters. The order of the extracts from the "Auld Lawis" is at times transposed, and their headings worded differently, but the selection of chapters and their contents are almost identical.
[{i}Consolidated list of titles in the present work, with reference to corresponding titles in the printed edition of Balfour's Practicks:{/i}].
Liber primus. De iure personarum.
Divisioun off the lawe, tit. 1 - c. 1-3. [Balfour 1: Of the law, c. 1-12].
De rege, tit. 2 - c. 1 [Balfour 2: Of the King: and first of his coronatioun, c. 1-3].
Off the Kingis officiaris, tit. 3 - c. 1-3. [Balfour title 4: Of the Kingis secreit counsall and houshald, c. 1-5].
Off the schireff and his office, tit. 4 - c. 1-7. [Balfour 5 Of schireffis, c. 1-18].
The lawis of forestis, tit. 5 - c. 1-17 [Balfour 26, c. 1-21].
Off the kirk, tit. 6 - cap. 1-9 [Balfour 6: Of the trew and halie kirk, c. 1-45].
Barone lawis, tit. 7 - c. 1-9 [Balfour 8].
Off overlordis and wassellis, tit. 8 - c. 1-10 [Balfour 20, and 69 Non-entry].
Off homage and feaultie, tit. 9 - c. 1-7 [Balfour 65].
Off waird and keping off aires, tit. 10 - c. 1-9 [Balfour 67].
Releiff off ane air, tit. 11 - c. 1-4 [Balfour 68].
Mariage off airis, tit. 12 - c. 1-7 [Balfour 66].
[{i}The numbering shows that three titles are missing here. One dealt with tutors and curators and is erroneously copied as an appendix to the fifth book, see below{/i}].
Off the husband and wyff, tit. 16 - c. 1-3 [Balfour 13].
Off coniunctfie. De donationibus inter virum et uxorem, tit. 17 - c. 1-2 [Balfour 16].
Off dowarie and terce off wyfis, tit. 18 - c. 1-13 [Balfour 17].
Off landis gewin in name off tocherguid, tit. 19 - c. 1-4 [Balfour 15].
[{i}Error on fol. 23r:{/i}] Liber secundus. [{i}This heading rather belongs further below, because the twelve titles of burgh law which now follow form an appendix to book one, rather than the start of a new book. In Adv.MS.25.4.11 these twelve titles belong indeed to book one.{/i}].
Leges burgorum..
Off magistratis within burght, tit. 1 - c. 1-4 [Balfour 9, beginning].
Off the making off burgesses, tit. 2 - c. 1-4 [Balfour 9.15 ss.].
(.... [{i}wording omitted{/i}]), tit. 3 - c. 1-9.
Off civill actionis and pleyis within the burght, tit. 4 - c. 1-21 [Balfour 9.45 ss.].
Ane burges suld be pledge for ane wther [{i}at first planned as tit. 5, then corrected to form part of tit. 4{/i}] [Balfour 9.65 ss.].
Off criminall causis within burghe, tit. 5 - c. 1-10 [Balfour 9.69].
Off poinding within burght, tit. 6 - c. 1-9 [Balfour 9.70 ss.].
Off officeirieis and alle wtheris within burght, tit. 5 [{i}numbering jumps back{/i}] - c. 1-17 [Balfour elsewhere].
Off landis and alienatione thairoff within burght, tit. 6 - c. 1-13 [Balfour elsewhere].
The statutis and lawis off gylde, tit. 8 [{i}numbering jumps forward{/i}] - c. 1-11 [Balfour 10].
Off customis, tit. 9 - c. 1-4 [Balfour 11].
Off mesouris and wechtis, tit. 11 [{i}numbering jumps forward{/i}] - c. 1-3 [Balfour 12].
Schiplawis, tit. 12 - c. 1-25 [{i}ending fol. 42v{/i}] [Balfour 167].
[{i}The real subject matter of Liber secundus starts here, therefore the numbering of titles restarts = just as in MS Edinburgh, UL, Laing III.381a, on p. 83.{/i}].
Off contractis and obligationis, off covenantis and pactionis, tit. 1 - c. 1-3 [Balfour 32].
De mutuo, idest off borrowing and lenying, tit. 2 - c. 1 [Balfour 49].
Off plegis and cautionaris, tit. 3 - c. 1-6 [Balfour 50].
Off thing laid in wad, tit. 4 - c. 1-7 [Balfour 51].
De commodato, idest off ane lenne, tit. 5 - c. 1-3 [Balfour 49].
Off bying and selling, tit. 6 - c. 1-6 [Balfour 57].
Off fairis and marcattis, tit. 7 - c. 1-2 [Balfour 58].
De locato et conducto, idest off thingis gewin and ressavit to hyre, tit. 8 - c. 1-4 [Balfour 55].
Off frie giftis and donationis, tit. 9 - c. 1 [Balfour 52].
Off obligationis, tit. 10 - c. 1-2 [Balfour 32 again].
Off chartaris, tit. 11 - c. 1-2 [{i}ending fol. 49v line 2{/i}] [Balfour 47].
(Liber tertius) [{i}starting fol. 49v line 3{/i}].
Off testamentis and lattir willis, tit. 1 - c. 1-4 [Balfour 60].
Off executouris, tit. 2 - c. 1 [Balfour 61].
Off him that deceissis intestat, tit. 3 - c. 1-2 [Balfour 60a].
Off airis and successouris, tit. 4 - c. 1-16 [Balfour 62].
Off alienatioun off landis and heretage, tit. 5 - c. 1-8 [Balfour 36 plus 63].
Off bastardie, tit. 6 - c. 1-6 [{i}ending fol. 57r line 9{/i}] [Balfour 64].
(Liber quartus). De preparatoriis iudiciorum, sive de iudiciis [{i}starting fol. 57r line 10{/i}].
Off arbitrie, tit. 1 - c. 1-8 [Balfour 102].
Off courtis, tit. 2 - c. 1-17 [Balfour 72].
Off perseware, tit. 3 - c. 1-4 [Balfour 77].
Off the defendare, tit. 4 - c. 1-2 [Balfour 78].
Off procuratouris, tit. 5 - c. 1-7 [Balfour 79].
Off the iudge, tit. 6 - c. 1-13 [Balfour 73].
Off assysses, tit. 7 - c. 1-2 [Balfour 75].
Off attachementis, tit. 7 [{i}numbering jumps back{/i}] - c. 1-6 [Balfour 80].
Off sumonding, tit. 8 - c. 1-13 [Balfour 81].
Off assoilzeis, tit. 9 [{i}wrongly numbered 8{/i}] - c. 1-12 [Balfour -].
Off the lybell and cleme, tit. 10 - c. 1-7 [Balfour 82].
(.... [{i}wording omitted{/i}]), tit. 11 - c. 1-2 [Balfour 85 Of replegiatioun].
Advocatioun of actiounis, tit. 12 - c. 1-2 [Balfour 86].
Off warrand, tit. 13 - c. 1-11 [Balfour 83].
Off minoris and privilegis grantit to thame, tit. 14 - c. 1-6 [Balfour 84].
{i}Obviously, the titles 15-21 are missing here: about exceptions, proof, sentence, and execution by poinding. The model MS was probably misbound, so that the seven titles were erroneously copied as an appendix to the fifth book, see below{/i}.
Quhowe ane may be restorit in integrum aganis his awin deid, tit. 15 [{i}should be numbered 22{/i}] - c. 1 [{i}ending fol. 75r{/i}] [Balfour 45].
Liber quintus. De actionibus civilibus [{i}starting fol. 75v{/i}].
Diverss kindis off civile actionis, tit. 1 - c. 1 [Balfour 103].
Breiff off mortancestrie, tit. 2 - c. 1-7 [Balfour 104a].
Diverss kyndis off dissasine, tit. 3 - c. 1-8 [Balfour 109].
Off purpresture, tit. 4 - c. 1-4 [Balfour 105].
Schawing off halding, tit. 5 - c. 1-12 [Balfour 111].
[{i}It was planned to add a chapter 13. Its heading and reference is given, and empty space is left for the text to be supplied:{/i} The maner of the proces off schawing off halding, pag. 772{i}{/i}= just as in MS Edinburgh UL Laing III.381a, on p. 282. The page number 772 may refer to pagination in the Liber Galbraith or Liber Sconensis, etc.].
[{i}This has a parallel after Balfour 111.8 Of schawing of haldingis = printed edition p. 482. There Balfour announces that another (= ninth and last) chapter shall be added:{/i} The maner of the process of schawing of haldingis, cap. ult.{i}The text of that chapter lacks, however. The printer misunderstood the announcement and printed it in a format as if it were to indicate the source of chapter 8.{/i}].
Perambulatioun, tit. 6 - c. 1-7 [Balfour 104b].
The breif off lyne (or limitatioun), tit. 7 - c. 1-5 [Balfour 104c].
The breif of divisioun, tit. 8 - c. 1-3 [Balfour 104e].
The challange and actioun for dett, tit. 9 - c. 1 [Balfour 119].
Letters of captioun aganis cursit personis, tit. 10 - c. 1 [Balfour 160].
The breiff off ydyottrie, tit. 11 - c. 1 [Balfour 104d].
Advocatioun and patronaige off kirkis, tit. 12 - c. 1-6 [Balfour 120 (114a)].
Off skaithe and damnage done be cattell or to cattell, tit. 13 - c. 1-5 [Balfour 115].
Off milnis and multuris, tit. 14 - c. 1-9 [Balfour 116].
[{i}It is obvious that the next seven titles rather belong to book 4 = just as in MS Edinburgh UL Laing III.381a, on p. 200.{/i}].
Exceptionis, tit. 15 - c. 1-5{i}{/i}[Balfour 88].
Probatioun, tit. 16 - c. 1-2 [Balfour 89].
Probatioun be aithe, tit. 17 - c. 1{i}{/i}[Balfour 90].
Probatioun be writ, tit. 18 - c. 1-2 [Balfour 91].
Probatioun be witnessis, tit. 19 [{i}wrongly numbered 16{/i}] - c. 1-7 [Balfour 94].
Of sentence and dome be ane iudge, tit. 20 - c. 1-5{i}{/i}[Balfour 97].
Off poinding, tit. 21 - c. 7{i}{/i}[Balfour 98].
Recognitioun of landis in the superioris handis, tit. 5 [{i}numbering jumps back{/i}] - c. 1-9 [Balfour 112].
Disclamatioun and forme thairoff, tit. 6 - c. 1 [Balfour 113].
{i}The numbering of the next title suggests that it belongs to book 1. The ancestor MS was probably misbound, or consisted of loose sheets, so that this title was erroneously copied here as an appendix to the fifth book{/i}= just as in MS Edinburgh UL Laing III.381a, on p. 218.
Tutouris and curatouris, tit. 15 - c. 1-5 [Balfour 18-19].
Liber sextus [{i}starting fol. 98v{/i}].
Diverss kindes off criminall actiones, tit. 1 - c. 1 [Balfour 121].
De accusationibus, tit. 2 - c. 1-7 [Balfour ?].
Iniurie, tit. 3 - c. 1-3 [Balfour 133].
The breking off the kingis pece or protectioun, tit. 4 - c. 1 [Balfour 134].
Off thift, tit. 5 - c. 1-22 [Balfour 132].
Dyvers and sindrie crymes, tit. 6 - c. 1-11 [Balfour ?].
Off lesemaiestie or tressoun, tit. 7 - c. 1-5 [Balfour 122].
Crime off birning, tit. 8 - c. 1-4 [Balfour 123].
Off roborie and reif, tit. 9 - c. 1 [= Balfour 125].
[{i}It was planned to add a second chapter. Its heading and reference are given, but no empty space is left for the text to be supplied{/i}= just as in MS Laing III.381a pag. 242].
Off the perseware taxand his harmes unresonabillie, c. 2. Vide Quoniam attach., c. 53; Assyss. Reg. Da., c. 9 [Balfour 124 also lacks this second chapter].
Revissing of wemen, tit. 10 - c. 1-3 [Balfour 124].
Off hamesuchin, tit. [{i}by error not numbered{/i}= just as in MS Laing III.381a, pag. 243] - c. 1 [Balfour 142].
Off murthir and menslauchter, tit. 11 - c. 1-11 [Balfour 126].
Off hurdes and thesaures, tit. 13 - c. 1 [Balfour 129].
The cryme off falset, tit. 14 - c. 1-3 [Balfour 130].
Communia iudicialium criminalium, tit. 15 - c.1-19 [Balfour 155].
Off escheittis, tit. 16 - c. 1-8 [Balfour 157].
[{i}It was planned to add a ninth chapter - after the one corresponding to Balfour 157.10. The heading and reference for the additional chapter are given, and empty space is left for the text to be supplied at some later time:{/i} Escheit off his guidis quha slayis him selfe, c.9. Vide tract. coron. = just as in MS Laing III.381a, pag. 261] [Balfour 157.14 quotes a decision of 1506 to the same legal effect, but only refers to 'tract. coron.' at other places].
Off horning, tit. 17 - c. 1-3 [Balfour 158].
The iustice air, tit. 18 - c. 1-22 [Balfour 161].
The Chalmerlane air, tit. 19 - c. 1-29 [{i}quotes Liber Scon. et Liber Balf. fol. 82 et Liber Purv., all also quoted in Balfour's Practicks, and particularly frequently quotes a treatise 'Iter Camerarii' which is also referred to in Balfours Practicks 163.25-26 = printed edition p. 589{/i}]{i}{/i}[Balfour 163].
Border lawis concerning weirfair, tit. [{i}not numbered{/i}] - c. 1-2 [Balfour 164-165].
[{i}In the final version of Balfour's Practicks, there follow five more chapters: Taxation, Sea laws, Order of chancery, Commissaries, Chronicles.{/i}].
[{i}Detailed comparison chapter by chapter:{/i}]
Author(s):
No. of pages: Fol. 5r-129r
Rubric: Lawis off Regiam maiestatem, proffitable for the comoun weill off this realme, selectit and gadderit in ane competent methode, and faithfullie translatit in Inglische.
[{i}Preface, fol. 5r, taken over from the treatise Regiam maiestatem, adapted, and translated into Scots. Towards the end, whereas the preface of Regiam maiestatem refers to King David, the adapted preface here refers to the Regent Morton as representative of King James VI. This allows us to date the work. James Earl of Morton was regent from 1572 onward. He was ousted for some months in 1578 and definitely in 1581, and was beheaded 1581/6/2 because of his part in the killing of King James' VI father, Lord Darnley:{/i}] The preface. It becummis the Kingis maiestie not onlie to be decorit with armis aganis rebellis invadand or makand insurrectioun contrair his maiestie or his realme, bot also to be armit with godlie lawis for reuling off his subiectis and peciable keping off his leigis and people ... As concerning the lawis off this realme, it is werray difficile in thir our dayis to comprehend and put thame all in writ, pairtlie throw the ignorance off the wretaris thairof, and pairtlie throw the confusit multitude off the lawis thame selff. Nevirtheles thair is sum statutis and ordinanceis commounlie usit and observit in iudgment and zit oft tymis abusit throw ignorance. The quhilk, as appeiris to me without arrogancie or obsurdite, may be collectit and put in vreit. And thairfoir, for the helpe off the reidaris memorie, at command and charge off ane maist excellent revearrit prince and oure soverane King James the sixt, with adwyse off the richt mychtie Lord James Erle of Mortoun, Lord of Dalkeithe, regent for the tyme to his hienes, his realme and leigis, I have collectit, gadderit togidder and put in wreit all and sundrie the godlie and profitablie lawis and constitutionis maid, usit and practisit in tyme off the regne off our soverane Lord and off his predicessouris, Kingis off Scotland, in ane commod uis and guid forme off method and in vulgar and popular language, using sumtymes willinglie sic termis and wordis as is commounlie usit in judgment - to the effect the same may be thairby mair familiar and the bettar knawin to all oure soverane Lordis liegis and pepill off his realme.
[{i}Main text, First Book:{/i}] De iure personarum. Liber primus. Off the law, tit. 1 [{i}c. 1-3 = compare Balfour 1: Of the law, c. 1-12{/i}]
Incipit:
Be quhome and to quhat end lawis ar maid, cap. 2. In the name off the haly and indivisable trinitie, the father, the sone and the (ha)lay gaist. Amen. Robert be the grace off god King off Scottis in the 13. zeir off his reigne on the sounday efter the feist off Sanctandrew the apostle, at Scone in his plane parliament thair haldin ... within his haill realme. Stat. 22. Rob. Br., in principio [{i}= Balfour 1.2{/i}].
[{i}Chapter 3 of Balfour is lacking, because it is extracted from a judicial precedent: Alexander Hepburne of Quhitsum v. George Haliburtoun, 1469/3/17 = i. t. c. 5.{/i}].
Off publicatioun and observatioun off the lawis, cap. 3. Robert be the grace off god King off Scottis to his iustice, schereffis, provoistis and thair bailzeis ... nane of thame may pretend ony ignorance thairoff in ony tymis cumming. Stat. 2e Rob. Br., cap. 28. [{i}= Balfour 1.4, with reference to Stat. Roberti Bruce, cap. 29{/i}].
[{i}The chapters 1.5 - 1.12 of Balfour are lacking, because they are extracted from Acts of Parliament and decisions.{/i}].
De rege, tit. 2 [{i}only one chapter = compare Balfour title 2: Of the King: and first of his coronatioun, c. 1-3.{/i}].
[{i}The chapters 2.1 - 2.2 of Balfour are lacking, because they are extracted from Acts of Parliament.{/i}].
c. 1. The forme off the Kingis aithe, cap. 1. I sal be leill and trew to god and halie kirk and to the thre estaitis ... Sua help me god, and be his halydoume. Forma juram., cap. 1, pag. 379 [{i}= Balfour 2.3{/i}].
[{i}Balfour inserts title 3: Of the Kingis perfyte age, and revocatioun, c. 1-5. These extracts originate from Acts of Parliament.{/i}].
Off the Kingis officiaris, tit. 3 [{i}only one chapter = compare Balfour title 4: Of the Kingis secreit counsall and houshald, c. 1-5.{/i}].
[{i}Balfour 4.1 is lacking = Act of Parliament.{/i}].
Off the Chancellar, et forma cancellariae approbata, cap. primum. The chancellar sall at all tymis assist the King, in geving him counsale mair secretly thane the rest off the nobilitie ... at the Kingis command. Vide Carneg. et Guth. [{i}= Balfour 4.5 - but with a shorter heading.{/i}].
[{i}Fol. 6r, line 31, title:{/i}] De iure personarum.
{i} Obviously, this is the running title of a new page which began here in the model manuscript. The scrivener copied it along with the other text although it makes no sense here, in the middle of a page in the copy. The scrivener did so on purpose. He wanted to reproduce the model manuscript as faithfully as possible, and even the layout of its individual pages. This becomes clear because the same phenomenon occurs on fol. 6v, line 23:{/i}'Liber primus', {i}and again fol. 7r, line 18:{/i}'De iure personarum' -{i}and many more times throughout the volume.{/i}.
{i}Possible purpose: the text, as contained in the model MS, was probably supposed to be submitted to a panel of experts, for last amendments and approbation. The several members of the panel should therefore get copies which reproduced the model MS (and even its layout) as closely as possible.
The scrivener's reproduction of the layout of pages in the model MS shows that pages in the model manuscript, if fully written, could hold roughly the same amount of text as one page in the present copy, but it can also be seen that many pages in the model manuscript were not fully written - maybe in order to leave space for possible addenda.{/i}.
The present manuscript's 'misplaced' running titles of pages do not correspond to page headings in MS Edinburgh,UL, Laing III.381a. It is therefore improbable that the present MS was copied from there, and we should rather assume that both MSS were independently copied from the same original MS.
Off the chancellar fee. It is statute and ordanit that the Kingis chancellar sal haif the fee and dewetie off the great sceill ... to the Clerk for wretting, vi. schillings, viii. denarii. Leg. Mal. Mack., c. 4 [{i}= Balfour 4.2, but without heading, and referring to Leg. Mal. Mack., c. 7{/i}].
Off the constable and mareschell. Cap. secundum. The Kingis constabular ... quantitie of the trespas. Leg. Mal. Mack., cap. 4 [{i}= Balfour 4.3{/i}].
Off the maister off howsald and wtheris, cap. 3. It is statute and ordanit that the maister ... beand off the Kingis counsall. Leg. Mal. Mack., cap. 4 [{i}Balfour 4.4{/i}].
Off the schireff and his office, tit. 4 [{i}c. 1-6 = compare Balfour 5 Of schireffis, c. 1-18{/i}].
Cap. 1. It is statut and ordanit that in evrye scheriffdome ... be not stoppit or dallayet. Pag. 837, ex libro Sconensi [{i}= Balfour 5.1{/i}].
[{i}Balfour 5.2 - 5.4 are lacking, because they are extracted from Acts of Parliament.{/i}].
Item all schereffis sall compeir zeirlie in the chekker ... at the Kingis will and plesoure [{i}= Balfour 5.5, referring to pag. 835 ex libro Sconensi{/i}].
Item evrie schereff or deput ... gevin to that effet [{i}= Balfour 5.6, referring again to pag. 835 ex libro Sconensi{/i}].
Item all schereffis suld be examinat ... within thair schereffdome. Pag. 835 ex libro Sconensi [{i}= Balfour 5.7{/i}].
Item na schereff nor thair servand or offeciar ... off the samine schereffdome. Quoniam attach., cap. 57; Assyss. Reg. Da., c. 13 [{i}= Balfour 5.8{/i}].
[{i}Balfour 5.9 is lacking. Balfour 5.10-11 are transposed below Balfour 5.12.{/i}].
Off the schereffis fee, cap. 2. It is statute and ordanet that the schereff sall have ... amerciamentis colpindach, or 30 denarii. Mal. Mack., c. 4. Item the schereffis fee ... compt and rekning. Pag. 835 ex libro Sconensi [{i}= Balfour 5.12{/i}].
Off schereffis courtis, cap. 3. It is statute and ordanit that at the begining ... amerciament. Lib. 4, c. 19; Assyss. Da., c. 19. Stat. Wilhe., c. 4; Quoniam attach., c. 78; De judicib., c. 60. And that thay ... off ane wnlaw. Assis. Reg. Da., c. 8 [{i}= Balfour 5.10, and the last reference is to Assis. Reg. Da. II., c. 8, ex libro Puro{/i}(!)].
Off wnlaw in schereff court, cap. 4. The amerciament ... officiar. Mal. Mack. [{i}= Balfour 5.11, referring to Mal. Mack. c. 4{/i}].
Off the schereff clerk, cap. 5. All schereffis aucht and suld have ane clerk deput ... sindrie thingis. Pag. 835 ex libro Sconensi [{i}= Balfour 5.13{/i}].
The landis and rentis off the schereffdomes off this realme - ex libro Carneg. Clacmanane ..., Kynross ..., Fyeff ..., Perthe ... [{i}each with a detailed indication of rents to pay - probably to the King{/i}] [{i}= this chapter lacks in Balfour{/i}].
The lawis of forestis, tit. 5 [{i}= c. 1-17 = compare Balfour 26, c. 1-21{/i}].
Off entering off beistis within the forest in the tyme off pannage, cap. 1. It is defendit and forbiddin that na personis ... lauchfull wittnes. Leg. Forest., c. 1 [{i}Balfour 26.1{/i}].
Nota, notatio that it is not lesum to ony manis cattell to ly all nycht within the Kingis forest. Item the hirdis remanand all nicht in the forest with thair cattell usit to have ane fyre to warme thame selffes, with ane horne for feir off volfeis, with ane dog for helpe to keip thair cattell [{i}This summary lacks in Balfour{/i}].
Off cattell enterand within forest, cap. 2. Gif ony persoun quha usis to duell ... aucht ky. Leg. Forest., c. 2 [{i}Balfour 26.2{/i}].
[{i}There follow texts 1.5.3-17.{/i}].
Off the kirk, tit. 6 [{i}c. 1-9 = compare Balfour 6: Of the trew and halie kirk, c. 1-45{/i}].
Off the aithe off kirkmen, cap. 1. I sall be leill and trew to zow, my leige Lord and soverane, James King off Scotland ... be the halye ewangell. Form. juram., c. 2 [{i}= Balfour 6.7{/i}].
Off ecclesiasticall jurisdictioun, cap. 2. Gif ony contraversie or pley happins ... within the samine. Lib. 3, cap. 22; De judicib., c. 94, c. 102 [{i}= Balfour 6.24 - without reference to c. 102{/i}].
(Fol. 9r) [{i}Leges forestarum, a text variant between different MSS is noted:{/i}] Hunting within the forest, cap. 13. Give ony man huntis within the Kingis forest without licence, he sall pay ten lib. ... togidder with the beist: leg. forest. [{i}Then an addition, in same hand - obviously a variant reading:{/i}] Lib. Carbrait. And quhat sa evir followis his hundis and dogis rumand at ony beist within the Kingis forest, he suld remove and lay assyde his bowe and his arrowis, give he ony have. Leg. forest. Lib. Carbrait.
[{i}Fol. 16-17 together, connected to fol. 1-2, form the two outermost bifolia of a quire. These leaves were probably only added after the main text fol. 3-15 had been written. Fol. 16r-v is written in darker ink, by another hand. Fol. 17r-v is written by a third hand. With fol. 18r the next quire begins and the handwriting of the main scribe re-appears.{/i}].
[{i}Fol. 36r, wrong page heading:{/i}] Liber secundus.
The page really contains the end of title 1.14 and start of title 1.15, according to the draft plan fol. 3r-4v. Either the present MS was misbound, and then page-numbered in wrong order, or the ancestor manuscript consisted of lose layers of paper whose arrangement could easily be disturbed, and they were thus copied in wrong order.
[{i}Fol. 54r infra, another text variant between MSS is noted:{/i}] Item all chartaris and evidentis to land and fie and heritage aucht to be deliverit to the air. Ex libro (Re)sluig, pag. 156 [{i}not listed in the preface to the edition of Balfour].
(Fol. 49v) Start of Book 3. First title wrongly numbered '21'.
(Fol. 56v) Start of Book 4, with a title on arbitrage, whereas the preceding plan had relegated this title to the end of that book.
(Fol. 58r, Start of Book 4 title 2) Off diverss courtis and amerciamentis thairoff.
[{i}Fol. 70r, title 4.10:{/i}] Off the lybell and cleme [{i}Sample collation to the printed edition, title 82{/i} Anent a libel and clame{i}, pag. 313{/i}].
4.10.1 [{i}Balfour 82.1, different heading, but wording and reference are identical{/i}].
[{i}Balfour 82.2 refers to decisions, therefore not in the present MS{/i}].
4.10.2 [{i}Balfour 82.3, different heading. The end diverges - Balfour has '18' whereas the present MS has '8'].
[{i}Balfour 82.4 refers to decisions, therefore not in the present MS{/i}].
4.10.3 [{i}Balfour 82.6, identical{/i}].
4.10.4 [{i}Balfour 82.7, identical{/i}].
[{i}Balfour 82.8-12 refer to decisions, therefore not in the present MS{/i}].
4.10.5 [{i}Balfour 82.13, identical{/i}].
4.10.6 [{i}Balfour 82.5, identical, but Balfour ends with 'c.102', whereas the present MS has 'c. 1027'].
[{i}Balfour 82.14-15 refer to decisions, therefore not in the present MS{/i}].
4.10.7 [{i}Balfour 82.16, identical{/i}].
[{i}Balfour 82.17-19 refer to decisions, therefore not in the present MS{/i}].
[{i}Balfour 82.20 refers to Acts of Parliament, therefore not in the present MS{/i}].
[{i}Fol. 92v, title 4.16{/i}] Probatioun be witnesses [{i}Sample collation to the printed edition of Balfour's Practicks, title 94, pag. 373{/i}].
4.16.1 [{i}Balfour 94.15{/i}].
4.16.2 (= 15 days to be given for the production of witnesses, reference to De except. c. 4) [{i}no match in the pertinent title of the printed edition{/i}].
4.16.3 [{i}Balfour 94.3{/i}].
4.16.4 [{i}Balfour 94.30{/i}].
4.16.5 [{i}Balfour 94.1{/i}].
4.16.6 [{i}very long, with many references. In the printed edition's titles 94.34a-35, the contents are re-arranged as listed below, and references to judicial precedent are added, but the wording of the present MS is taken over verbatim{/i}].
Quha may nocht be witnes ... [{i}from here onward Balfour 94.34a{/i}].
Thir personis underwrittin.
Thir personis may be repellit fra passing upon assise ... master or lord.
Thir personis may be repellit fra passing ... partner.
He may not pass ... within fourtene zeiris of aige.
He may not pass ... prison.
He that is puir, perjure, mansworne, theif.
He that is convict of perjurie.
Ane woman.
Nevertheles ... mother or nurice witness for age.
He may be repellit ... solus testis ... sibi contradicens ... pandrous, juglar, drunkard, player.
Item all domestique persounis.
He quha has bene juge.
He that is convict or infamis ... [{i}Balfour 94.35{/i}].
4.16.7 Gif the witnes be not sworn ... [{i}Balfour 94.37{/i}].
[{i}The printed edition's items 2, 4-14, 16-29, 31-34, 36 have no match in the present MS because they contain judicial precedents, whereas the present MS only constitutes a digest of the Auld Lawis.{/i}].
[{i}Last title, fol. 109r:{/i}] Liber 6, tit. 8 Crime off birning [c. 1-4].
[{i}Last chapter in that last title:{/i}] Ane mirrie questioun anent the birning off the mill, cap. 4. Queritur: give it happnes that onye man is passand in the Kinges geite or commoun passaire, dryvand befoir him twa scheip, festnit and knit togidder. Be chance ane horss, haifand ane sair bak, lyand in the said geit or passaige. And the ane off the scheipe passis be ane syd off the hors and ane wther scheipe be the wther syde, sa that the band quhairthrowe thai ar bund tuiche or kittill his sair bak. And thairby amovet, dois arryss, and careis the said scheipe with him heir and their untill at the last he cum and entir in ane myln, haveand ane fyre without ane keipare, and skatteris the fyre. Quhairby the myll, horss, and scheipe is brunt. Queritur quha sall pay the samine. Respondetur: the awnair off the horss sall pay for the scheipe, becaus his hors suld nocht have lyine in the Kingis streit or commone passaige. And the millare sall pay for the mill and the horss and for all wther damnage and skayt, becaus he left ane fyre in his mill but ane keipar. And it is to wit that the Kinges streit or geet suld contein in breid fourtene fute, and suld nocht be diminisit in the said breid be ony persone. Assyss Regis David, 81. Ex libro Sconensi [{i}= Balfour 123.8 - without the last phrase 'And it is to wit ...'{/i}]
Explicit: