1592, C. 125; fol. edit. C. 29 (Jac. VI)

Concerning the Office of Lyoun King-of-Armes and his brether Herauldis

Oure Souerane Lord and Estaitis of this present parliament, Considdering the greit abuse that hes bene amongis the leigis of this realme in thair bearing of armes, vsurpand to thame seiffis sic armes as belangis nocht vnto thame, sua that it can nocht be distinguischit be thair armes quha ar gentlemen of blude be thair antecessouris, Nor zit may it be decernit quhat gentlemen ar discendit of noble stok and linage, ifor remeid quhairof his hienes, with aduise of the saidis estaitis, hes geum and grantit, and be this present act gevis and grantis full power and commissioun, to lyoun king-of-armes and his brether herauldis, To visite the haill armes of noblemen, baronis, and gentlemen borne and vsit within this realme, and to distinguische and discerne thame with congruent differences, and thairefter to matriculat tham in thair buikis and Registeris, And to put inhibitioun to all the commoun sort of people nocht worthie be the law of armes to beir ony signes armoriallis, That nane of thame presume to tak vpoun hand to beare or vse ony armes, in tyme cuming, vpoun ony thair insicht or houshald geir, vnder the pane of the escheating of the guidis and geir, sa oft as thay salbe fund contravenand this present act, quhaireuir the same armes salbe found grawin and paintit, to our souerane lordis vse; And lykwayis vnder the pane of ane hundreth pundis to the vse of the said lyoun and his brether herauldis. And fauzeing of payment thairof, That thay be incarcerat in the narrest prissone, Thairin to remane, vpoun thair awin chargis, during the plesour of the said Lyoun.

Item, Because charges of treason hes not bene execute and used, with sik solemnity and Officiares of Armes, as the weichtiness thereof requires: It is statute and ordained that Our Soveraine Lordis Thesaurer, and utheris directers of sik letters, deliver therri in time cumming, to be execut be the ordinar Herauldes and Pur-sevantes, bearand coattes of armes, or Masers, to be used be thame, as of before; and gif ony execution, under the paine of treason sail be execut utherwaies, declaris the execution to be null, and of nane availe.

Item, In consideration of the great abuse of Messengers and of Officiares of Armes within this Realme, quhilkis for the maist part ar not qualified for using of the said office, being admitted be extraordinar and importune suites, be quhais abuse the Liegis of this Realme ar heavily troubled and oppressed : Therefore it is statute and ordained, that the said King of Armes, be advise of the Lordis of Councell and Session, deprive and discharge all sik Officiares and Messengres of Armes, as he sall finde unworthy of the office, And take sicker soverty of the remanent, for observation of their Injunctiones in time cumming: With power to the said King of Armes, with advise of the saids Lords, to enjoyne further necessar injunctiones to the saids messengers, for keeping of gude ordour in their offices: discharging him in the meantime to admit ony maa officiares hereafter, quhil the haul messengers, presently bearing armes, be reduced be death or deprivation, to the number conteined in the Acte of Parliament, maid anent the confused number of officiares of armes.

Item, Because the jurisdiction of the Lyon King-of-Armes is not able to execute dew punishment upon all persones that sail happen to offend in the office of Armes: Therefore our Soveraine Lord, with advise of his three Estaites in Parliament, ordainis and commandis all civil Magistrats, as they sall be required be the King of Armes, or ony utheris in his name, to concur with him, to see the acts maid in his favours of his office put to dew execution in their jurisdictions:
As alswa to concur with him, to the punishment and incarceration of all sik persons as sall usurp the bearing of his Majestie's Armes after dew deprivation, under the pain of rebellion, and putting of the disobeyers to his Hienesse home; with certification to them, and they fauzie, being required, letters sall be direct simpliciter to put them to the horne.