Series 1 > Statutes of the Scottish Church, 1225-1559

CAPTIONS
[apf.
IV. Letter of caption for a particular person when he is
not denounced to the bishop.
Robert, by the grace of God King of Scots, to the sheriff,
etc., greeting. We enjoin on you to compel [so-and-so], who
for forty days and more has remained under sentence of ex-
communication, thus contemning the keys of the church, by
the apprehension and incarceration of his person, to give
satisfaction to God and the church, wherever within your
jurisdiction ye shall be able to find him, and that with such
expedition that we shall not hereafter hear just complaint on
this score from the venerable father, William, by the grace of
God Bishop of St. Andrews. The presents not to be valid a
year after date. In testimony whereof, etc.
V. Caption for renegade monks.
Robert, by the grace of God King of Scots, to justiciars,
sheriffs, provosts, and their coroners, to whom the present
letters shall come, greeting. Since it is honourable and
salutary for the royal power to cherish and defend holy religion,
with God’s favour, to its advancement, and benevolently to
govern it, and where it has been omitted to supply by the
power of the secular arm what is known to be suitable to the
governance of the holy order, we command and straitly
enjoin on you, that since certain professed brethren of the
Friars Preachers residing within our kingdom have by instiga¬
tion of the devil apostatised1 from the state of their profession
and insolently defied the salutary restraints of their superiors,
ye cause to be apprehended such as the vicar or prior shall
think it well to name to you wherever in your jurisdiction
they may be found, and deliver them to the said vicar or
prior. Taking such vigorous action that we may hear from
the said vicar no just complaint on this head. In testimony
whereof, etc.
1 Religiosi apostantes. Not apostates in our sense, nor heretics, but monks,
who without authority throw off the cowl and return to secular life.’