The Lawes and Actes of Parliament, Maid be King James the First, and His Successours Kinges of Scotland: Visied, collected and extracted furth of the Register. (5 works in 1 volume.)

Edinburgh: Imprented be Robert Walde-grave prenter to the Kinges Majestie, 15. Martii, Anno Dom. 1597, 1597 Book. Fine. Hardcover. First edition. With a later owner's name in ink on blank verso of title, "Robert Dalryample, 1733." 5 works in 1 volume. Quarto. 10¼x7 inches. Folios [3], 1-162, 1-178, [20], [1], 40. [4] + 17 pages + leaves [24], [2], 34, folding genealogical table (some repair to verso), [78]. Numerous historiated initials as well as decorative chapter head and tail pieces. Coats of Arms to titles, a few neat contemporary ink annotations throughout. Repair to portion of fore-edge of D1 and D2. Two-inch circular repair to blank portion of primary title. A few pages misnumbered, but collated complete. Newer binding of half polished calf, brown cloth sides, crimson morocco spine label. A fine copy. The legislative record of the Scots parliament, included in which is the first Scots law dictionary ("De verborum significatione") of ancient Scottish legal terms, complied by Sir John Skene. This important work is bound with Laws and Acts of Parliament (Edinburgh, 1611); The XXI Parliament (1612); The XXII Parliament (1617); and The XXIII Parliament (1621). Includes early futile attempts at prohibiting golf and football. As the popularity of golf threatened to eclipse the more useful practice of archery, the parliament decreed that the "fute-bal and golfe be utterly cryed downe, and not to be used" (Section 65; folio 41, 1457 Parliament). Also, section 32 (folio 83, third Parliament of 1491) states, "Fute-ball and golfe forbidden" and goes on to state, "It is ordained that in na place of the Realme there be used fute-ball, golfe, or other sik unprofitable sportes, for the common gud of the Realme & defense thereof.".. (Inventory #: 8120)