| LOCATION | Edinburgh, NL Scotland |
| MANUSCRIPT | Edinburgh, NL Scotland, Adv.MS.24.2.3 |
| ITEM No. 1 | Decisiones curiae supremae Scotiae - Practicks (digest of decisions), alphabetical |
Decisiones curiae supremae Scotiae - Practicks (digest of decisions), alphabetical
Author(s):
Incipit:
Decisiones curiae supremae Scotiae - Practicks (digest of decisions), alphabetical , drawn from Alexander Colville, Thomas Hamilton, Thomas Hope, Alexander Gibson, Robert Spottiswoode, and other collectors .
Arranged under alphabetised keyword titles, with much blank space in between, probably for additions to be filled in. Much Latin, but most of the text is written in Scots.
The work in its entirety might be characterised as a very much enlarged version of Sir Thomas Hope of Craighall's "Major practicks". It is also comparable in character to the alphabetised repertories based on Balfour's Practicks which are preserved in MSS Edinburgh, NL Scotland, MS.2942 and Adv.MS.24.6.3(3), and to alphabetised repertories based on Robert Spottiswoode's Practicks. Furthermore, I suspect that this is the 'Repertory' on which Henry Home Lord Kames based the arrangement and large parts of the contents of his 'Folio Dictionary of Decisions'.
Sources quoted: I have made spot checks in volume 3. It starts with propositions of law on notaries public, drawn from Acts of Parliament. Thereafter follow many other keyword titles, filled with extracts from the "Auld Lawis", abstracts of Acts of Parliament, Acts of Sederunt, and 'Practicae observationes patris' (= abstracts of decisions, for instance pag. 36). Further propositions of law are extracted 'ex Balfoure' (e.g. pag. 478), 'Haddint.' (e.g. pag. 70, decisions 1609-1623 = Haddington), 'ex Craigio' (e.g. pag. 479), 'Hop' (e.g. pag. 98), 'Durhie' (e.g. pag. 580) and from other sources. At times also sources of Jus Commune are directly quoted.
Many abstracts of decisions, usually starting with the date and parties' names, and ending with the names of the two advocates and the court clerk's office = as usually done in Durie's Practicks. Interspersed are Acts of Sederunt (e.g. fol. 2r, of 1612) and Acts of Parliament, also of the preceding centuries. Decisions of the 15th and 16th centuries are often quoted with their number in (Balfour's) Registrum Scotiae - at times even without date and parties' names (e.g. pag. 54). The compiler of the repertory thus assumed that the Registrum was still extant and can be looked up.
Years covered: the title 'Session' (Vol. 3 pag. 428-437) mentions acts 1421-1661. The year 1661 is also observed as an end date of lists of statutes in p. 30 and 573 and 577. This makes it probable that the text was not compiled before 1661, but also not long after this date. It appears that the author was still active as an advocate in the years 1650 ss. The majority of reported decisions originated in the years 1610-1634.
Volume 1 fol. 1r-291r (letters A-C).
[{i}Title page for vol. 1:{/i}] Sir Alexander Gibson his practiques and observationes of the decisiones of the Lords of Sessione, from the year of God 1621 to 1642, with Sir Thomas Hope his observationes and pratiques, with ane compend of the Acts of Parliament, all which are redacted to the ordinary heads and titles of the Scottish law and digested and disposed in ane alphabeticall methode and ordour, and contained in three tomes, whereof this is the first. This tome contanes the titles beginning with the letters A. B. C. [{i}Beneath: a thistle, drawn in ink{/i}].
[{i}First pages' headline:{/i}] Anuelrent of anwell
Author(s):
No. of pages: Vols. 1 and 2 and 3
Incipit:
Anent takeing 10 [{i}abbreviation{/i}] for the hundereth [{i}same abbreviation{/i}], or 5 bolls of victwall: Ja. 6 Par. 11 cap. 52, anno 1587.
Anent takeing more then 10 for the 100 to be usurie, the punishment thairof and the reward of the revealders thairof: Ja. 6 Par. 14 cap. 222, anno 1595.
... 1641 ... 1649.
(Fol. 1r:) 6 Juli 1630. Nisbit contra the Earlle of Cassils.
[{i}Sample analysis of one keyword title in the first volume:{/i}].
(Fol. 4r-6r) Off acts of adjornall [{i}= Extracts from Balfour's Practicks{/i}].
(c. 1) Ane being accused or indyted in ane justice air and takeing him to his remissioune for thifte, reife, spuilzie or any other sick cryme of trespase, he or his sovertie, if any was found be him befor the justice air, may afterward be called therfor civilie befor the judge. 5 Julii 1532 cap. 674 [{i}Balfour, printed edition, pag. 497, c. 1{/i}].
(c. 2) If any man indyted and accuseit in the justice air for any cryme or trespass grants and confesses the same, he is halden and obleidged to ansser civilie to the partie, as if he had tain him to his remissione therfoir. Ult. Julii 1533, c. 930 [{i}Balfour c. 2{/i}].
(c. 3) If any man comitts slaughter or mutilatione or any other cryme and satisfies the partie ... 9 Junii 1546, c. 1091 [{i}Balfour c. 3{/i}].
(c. 4) He that reiffes, takes or spuilzies ane other mans cornes ... in the said matter. 20 October 1488 Drumond contra Drumond, 1. t. c. 56 [{i}Balfour c. 4{/i}].
(c. 5) Any man being accused in the justice air for reiffe, thifte, spuilzie or wrongous intromissione with goods and geir belonging to any uther ... taken in manner forsaid. 12 Julii 1501 Crightoune against Gray; 22 March 1532, 1. t. c. 110 [{i}Balfour c. 5{/i}].
[{i}Last chapter:{/i}] Anent the complaint maid to our Soverane Lord and three Estates of this Parliament, par. etc. Ja. 6 fo. 10, act 9, 20 Octob. 1579 [{i}Balfour c. 13, with different wording to the heading{/i}].
[{i}Sample analyses of sources quoted in further keyword titles in the first volume:{/i}].
(Fol. 6v) Off accusation [{i}only extracts from{/i}"Auld Lawis"].
(Fol. 6v-7r) Off the accuser [{i}quotes{/i}"Auld Lawis"{i}, several statutes, one decision:{/i}] Comprysing being to be deduced upon a matter of great consequence ... [{i}end:{/i}] L. Saltoune c. the Laird of Clunie.
(Fol. 8r) Adultrie, fornicatione, incist, bigamie [{i}quotes statutes{/i}].
(Fol. 9r-10v) Annona, habitus etc. [{i}quotes many statutes, in chronological order, until 1644{/i}].
(Fol. 11r) De actionibus [{i}a Scottish 'Arbor actionum', drawn in ink{/i}].
(Fol. 11v-12r) De actionibus civilibus [{i}quotes the "Auld Lawis", decisions 1612-1624, statutes, Corpus iuris civilis{/i}].
(Fol. 13r-v) Acts anent actiones [{i}quotes many statutes{/i}].
(Fol. 13v-19v) [{i}describes different kinds of actions under the Jus Commune, with their Latin names, quotes the Corpus iuris civilis, Sir Thomas Hope of Craighall's 'Pract. obs. patr.', and many decisions up to 1639{/i}].
(Fol. 23r-25r) Off assyse [{i}quotes many statutes, few decisions, and "Auld Lawis"{/i}].
(Fol. 28r-29 and 32r-34v) Adjudicationes [{i}abstracts of decisions up to 1638, and texts without reference (= from Hope?), excerpts from Craig: 'Cr. l. 3 d. 2'{/i}].
Volume 2 (letters D-M). Volume not seen.
Vol. 3 flyleaf 1 verso a - fol. 1 rb Index to volume 3. Quotes the keyword titles in abridged wording, but leaves many titles out. Also refers back to related titles in the first and second volume.
[{i}First keyword titles:{/i}] Nottar. Non-entrie. Nundinae. Oath of calumnie. Oathes. ... [{i}last keyword titles:{/i}] Walkning of suspension 724. Ship lawes 728 [{i}with 13 subtitles{/i}].
[{i}There follows an appendix with supplements:{/i}] Improbation 757 - vide vol. 2:431. Order of Chancellary 764 - vide vol. 1:291[{i}with 5 subtitles{/i}]. Form of letters of protection, actornaries. Lawes made be certain kings of Scotland 789. Recognition 796. Union 798. Lord Balcarres contra Lord Moriston 811. Severall matters of fact in Queen Maries tyme 812.
Vol. 3 pag. 1-628 (letters N - W): list of keyword titles in the third volume's first portion. As a matter of principle, I have to a large extent listed their abridged wording and spelling as given in the Index above. Yet, as the sequence in the volume is not strictly alphabetised, and as many keyword titles are completed in the four supplements further on in the volume (see below, pag. 642-671, 693-699, 757-762, 796-811 ), I have inserted pertinent entries into my list, always adapting the spelling to the one found in the volume:{/i}].
Notares, witnes. Of non-entrie. Of mariage. Of seasings. Nundinae. Oath of calumnie. Oathes. Poynding and appryseing, tit. 35. Procuratories and instruments of resignatione. Pensioune. Probatioune. Publict peace. Escapes. Publict justices of peace. Pestilence. Prescription. Possessione, prescriptione and interruptione. Possessione [{i}again{/i}]. De possessorio et petitorio iudicio. De processu in causis civilibus. Procurators and advocatts. Poynding of the ground. Parliament. Patronadge of kirks. Judge, Parliament and Acts therof, and lawes. Escapes [{i}again{/i}]. Off the law and its divisione. Off probatione. Probatione be word and promise. Probatione be wryte. Probatione be aith of partie. Proveing of the tennor of evidents. In probatione scripturae deperditae. Praejudicia [{i}notes in Latin, not quoting any source{/i}]. Praesumptio [{i}notes in Latin, not quoting any source{/i}]. Procurator and actourneys. Purprestura. Probatione be oath. Probatione be wreatt. Probatione be wittnesses. Probatione be confessione. Probatione be oath [{i}again{/i}]. Probatione be wittnesses [{i}again{/i}]. Incident dilligence. Summonds of incident dilligence.
[{i}List of keword titles in the third volume's second portion:{/i}] (De) patrimonio regis. Pignus. Perambulation meithes and marches. Reductiones. Restitutio in integrum. Repledging. Off promeis, probatione, pursute. Registratione. Spulzie. Recognitione. Renunciatione. Removeing pag. 276-339 and 348-349. Flitting and actions of removeing pag. 280-288. Rentalls pag. 340-346. Redemption pag. 350. Reversione, redemptione. Registratione [{i}again{/i}]. Shirreff. Superior. Signatour. Slaughter. Escapes [{i}third time{/i}]. Summonds [{i}again{/i}]. Judge and Sessione, Lords and members therof pag. 428-437. Escapes [{i}fourth time{/i}]. Summonds [{i}third time{/i}]. Sentance and decreits. Suspensiones. Sentance and reductione therof. Saisings and infeftments, pag. 31, pag. 448-485 [{i}extracts from Balfour and Craig, and decisions up to 1642/2/11: pag. 477{/i}]. Off the sentance definitive and interlocutor pag. 486. Off the executione of the sentence pag. 492. Epitome seu breviarium libri secundi domini Craigii De feudis pag. 494-508. Quibus modis feudum acquiratur pag. 494. De feudi constitutione pag. 496. De investitura pag. 499. Spulzie and wrongous intromission pag. 510. Sorceries pag. 527. Suspensione pag. 528 [{i}again{/i}]. Servitudes pag. 530. Tenor: vide proveing. Testaments and jurisdiction of bishops (pag. 546-551 'Ex Hop, libro parvo') The bishops of old hade double jurisdictione, one sprituall over the kirk of diocess, another civill over the whole inhabitants of the dioceis ... furiosus, mutus, surdus et improbus non possunt facere testamentum. Reperitur c. L. 10 e(t?) L. 8 C. qui test. fac. [C.6.22.10 et 8].
[{i}List of keyword titles in the third volume's third portion:{/i}] and assedation. Thift and thieves. Treason and lesmajestie.Tailzies. Transferring. Teithes, personage and viccarage. Warrandice, pag. 606. Universall successores, pag. 610. Waird and reliefe, mariage, divorcement, terce, adhaerance, and conjunctfie, pag. 613. Vassalls and tennents, pag. 620-628. [{i}There still follow four supplements, see pag. 642-671, 693-699, 757-762, 796-811 .{/i}].
[{i}Samples from first entries in vol. 3:{/i}].
Notares, witnes [{i}quotes abstracts of Acts of Parliament 1469-1616{/i}].
That no nottars in tyme forthcomeing be made be the Emperor, or bot be the King onlie. King J. 4, parl. 5, cap. 30, anno 1469.
Annent the correctione and examinatione of nottars be ther ordinar bishopes. King J. 4, parl. 6, cap. 64, anno 1503.
.
Annent the inbringing of protocalles efter the nottares deceas: vide in acto King J. 6, parl. 22, cap. 22, anno 1617 [{i}wrong date, the Parliament of 1617 was the twenty-fifth{/i}].
(Pag. 2 ss.) Of non-entrie.
23 March 1622. The lands of Hovelstoune, Prestoun, Brockhous and some other lands being united be the B. of St. Andrews chartour ... Actor Belschis, alter Oliphant, Gibson clerk