The actis and constitutiounis of the realme of Scotland maid in Parliamentis haldin be the rycht excellent, hie [and] mychtie princeis Kingis James the First, Secund, Thrid, Feird, Fyft, and in tyme of Marie now Quene of Scottis
By: viseit, correctit, and extractit furth of the registers be the Lordis depute be speciall commissioun thairto. Anno Do. 1566
Publisher: Be Robert Lekpreuik
Published: 1566
Place of publication: Imprentit at Edinburgh
Language: eng; lat
Number of pages: 14
Subjects: Session laws; Early works to 1800; Statutes; Law
Other titles: Black Acts
Work titles: Laws, etc. (Session laws : 1424-1564)
Notes: Title above a woodcut of the royal arms, with "Maria Regina" in banner.

Line 3 of title ends 'First'.

Edited by Edward Henryson; preface signed 'Eduard Henrison'.

Sections signed at end by compilers: Jacobus Makgill [xylographic] and Jacobus Balfour [xylographic].

Imprint from colophon.

Collation: [Maltese cross]⁴ (-[Maltese cross]4) a-c⁴ (-c4) A⁴ (-A1) B-2E⁴ 2F⁴(+/- 2F1) 2G⁴(+/- 2G2) 2H-2L (-2L1) 2N⁴ 2O⁴(+/- 2O1.[2]) 2P-2Q⁴ 2R⁴ (+'2R3') [chi]1 2S-2Y⁴ 2Z² (+/- 2Z1.[2]) [$3 (-2E3, -2N3) signed]

In predominantly black letter type; some Roman type.

Initials, some historiated; head and tail pieces.

Table of acts listed by sovereign, leaves [4]-[14]

This issue differs from the one printed 12 October 1566 (STC 21875) in that several leaves have been excised. These cancelled leaves (113, 118, 133, 135 and 145) contained acts favoring the Catholic Church, enacted by the Parliament during the reigns of King James V and Queen Mary.

"Folio 133, which contained six acts, has been entirely withdrawn, and no leaf inserted in its place; and the other leaves reprinted in a such a way that ... the gaps left by the removal of the cancelled acts are not apparent. ... Fol. 181 has been reprinted, the colophon being withdrawn from it and a new act introduced. ... Fol. clxxxii has been added ... [with] a new colophon." --Dickson & Edmond. Annals of Scottish printing.

Statutes of the Scottish Parliament from this period are sometimes referred to as the 'Black Acts' because they were printed in black letter type.

STC (2nd ed.) 21876a

Dickson & Edmund, Scottish printing 52

In English and Latin.

Ex libris Sir John Skene -- George Douglas, Earl of Morton (his sale, May 1829, no. 154)

At head of title in an early hand: 'Morton'. With marginal annotations and extensive notes by Sir John Skene, who used this copy, and at least one other, to prepare the 2nd edition, published in 1597 (STC 21877). Five leaves of Skene's ms. preceding text with title 'The act of pacification'. Ninety leaves of ms. at end of volume, with title 'Ane repertoire of the Actis of parliament conforme to the editioun yairof m. anno 1566. Drawen and put in order be M[agester] Io. Skene.'

With this are bound: STC 21881, STC 21883, STC 21884, STC 21885, and STC 21887. Title page of STC 21887 has Skene's signature 'Joannes Skene' written twice.

Bound, probably in Scotland, in contemporary calf, covers decorated in blind with decorative panelled rolls (cherubs with renaissance ornaments and "heads-in-medallions with cherubs") and small Tudor rose stamps. Stamped with initials M.  I S.