Page:The Laws and Acts of Parliament of Scotland.djvu/655

 King CHARLES" the 1 1. National Aflembly, to be by him offered to their confideratibn. The Eftates of Parliament do humbly re- cognofce and acknowledge His Majefties Royal power and prerogative aforefaid, with the piety , juftice and prudence of his Majefties refolution herein ; Likeas His Majefty , with their advice and confent , dodi here- by Eftablifh , Ratifie andConfirm this confutation of a National Aflembly , as the lawful conftitution of the National Synods and Aflemblies of this Church , His Majefty, or his Commiflioner (without whole prefence, no National Synod can be kept) being alwayes prefent: And Declares, That no Ad, Canon, Older or Ordinance mail be owned as an Aft ol the National Synod of the Church of Scotland , fo as to be of any effeft, iorce or validity in Law, to be obferved and keeped by the Arch-bifhops and Biihops, the inferior Clergy , and all other perfons within this Realm,( as far as lawfully, being Members of this National Church, it may concern them) but that which fhall be confidered , confulted and agreed upon by the Prefidentand major part of the Members above-fpecifled. It is alwayes hereby provided, that nothing be enacted or put in exe- cution,by Authority of a National Synod within this Kingdom, which ihall be contrary to his Majeflies Royal prerogative or the Lawes of die Kingdom; And that no Aft, Mater or Caufe be debated , confulted and concluded upon, but what lhall be allowed , approven and confirmed by His Majefty or his Commiflioner ; prefent at the faid National Synod, V I. ACT anent ruinous honfes in Royal Burghs. OUR SOVERAIGN LORD being informed, that upoa the high Streets offeveral of His Md- jefties Burghs-Royal, and in the vennels and other paflages within the fame, there be many houfes iri the publick view of all people referring thereto, very ruinous and not inhabited thefe divers years by-gone, nor likely to be repaired by any, to the great opprobry of the faids Burghs, and common fcandal of the King - dome, as being altogether defeftive of that policy and good order which is , an i ever hath been , fo earneftly intended in the many wholfom and laudable Laws already made, by his Majefty a nd his Royal Progenitors of mod worthy memory. And finding the Burroughs very defirous to have thefe many dangers and incon- veniencies prevented and remeeded, which the Inhabitants of thefe Burghs, and the reft ol the Lieges fre- quenting the fame, do continually fear from fuch ruinous buildings ; Doth therefore, with advice of His Eftates of Parliament, Ordain the Proveft and Bailies of the Burgh where fuch ruinous houfes are , to caufe warn and charge all perfons, that have or pretends right to the property of fuch Lands and buildings, or any Annual-rents forth thereof, to caufe build and repair, in a decent way, within year and day, fuch Houfes and Buldings as have been waft and not inhabited three years before the date of this prefent Aft, or fhall be waft and not inhabited thereafter by the forefaid fpace of three years, orelfetofell the fame toothers, tobe builded within the fame fpace of year and day: And to charge all known perfons, perfonally or at their dwelling places, andbyopenProcliamationattheparoch-kirkorMercat-crofsofthe Burgh; and all others by open Proclamation at the faid Mercat-crofs and Paroch-kirk. And in cafe of their abfence out of this Realm, at the Crofeol Edinburgh , andPeerandihoarofLetf/6, upon threefcore dayes ; with certification to them if theyfaifzie, the faid Proveft and Bailies ihall caufe the faids Lands and Tenements to be valued by certain perfons, to be chofen and fvvorn by them for that effect, and fell the fame to any perfon that will buy them, j and pay the price of the fame to thefe owners, if they be known ; and if they be not known, to confign the prices thereof in the hands of the Proveft, one of the Bailies , or Dean of Gild of the faid Burgh , to be forth- coming to thefe who have intereft thereto : And if no man will buy them, it fhall be lawfull to the faid Pro- veft and Bailies, after apprifing thereof, as faid is , and payment or confignation of the prices of" the fame , to caft down the faid ruinous houfes and caufe build the fame of new. And His Majefty , with advice forefaid , Declares, That it fhall not be lawful in time coming, to any maner of perfon to purfue them nor their fuc- ceflbrs therefore , nor pretend any right or intereft thereto , but that the faid right fhall be a perfeft fecurity i to the builders thereof and their fucceflbrs. VII. ACT dijehargmg the Importation of Strong Waters, &c. OUR SOVERAIGN LORD and Eftates of Parliament understanding , that there are divers Stong -waters , Mum-bear and other Beer for drinking, brought into this Kingdom from forraign I places , which might be more conveniently made within the Kingdom , to the benefit of the Natives thereof. I Therefore, His Majefty ,with confent of the faids Eftates, Dilcharges all in-bringing of Aqua vita or Strong- i waters, Mum-beer and other Beer lor drinking (except Black-beer, called Spruce-beer) within this Kingdom 1 I under the pain of efcheat thereof. L * ACT