5$ ANNALS OF SCOTLAND. 



raging planting were revived -, "and that every 

 freeholder fhould make parks for deer and rabbits> 

 build dove-cots, plant hedges and orchards, and 

 at leaft one acre of wood, where no great forefts 

 grew. " The like regulations were renewed for 

 the prefervation of fifh ponds, orchards, bees, the 

 young fry in rivers, and in general of all game. 



Confervators had, long before this time, been 

 appointed by the government of Scotland, to take 

 care of the intereit of their countrymen abroad ; 

 and, to prevent the extravagance of tranfmarine 

 fuits at law, it was enacted, That the confervator, 

 aflliled by at leaft four honeft, intelligent Scots 

 merchants, fhould determine all differences that 

 happened abroad among his countrymen ; and he 

 himfelf, or his deputy, was to repair every year to 

 Scotland, to give an account of his conduct, 



James was at great pains to mend the breed of 

 horfes, for which purpofe he fent agents abroad, 

 with letters to the reipective princes, fome of which 

 are ilill in being ; but James's principal delight was 

 in military exercifes, and he earneftly laboured to fee 

 all his fubjects become foldiers. The laws were re- 

 newed refpecling the weaponlhawings, arms, and 

 military drefs. The fheriffs were impowered to 

 mufter, four times a year, the inhabitants of their 

 refpe&ive diftrifts ; the aldermen and bailiffs doing 

 the fame within their burghs, as theylhould anfwer 

 to the chamberlain or his deputy. Every gentle- 

 ma'n, worth ten pounds, or more, of yearly revenue, 

 was to be armed with bafnet, fellet, white hat, 

 gorge or piiTane, complete armour for the legs, 

 fword, fpear, and dagger. Inferior ranks of fub- 

 jects were to be armed as the king's commiflary, or 

 the fherifF ihould appoint; but the meaneft inha- 

 bitant was to be provided with a bow and arrow, or 

 a good axe. 



Many excellent laws were made for regulating 

 $he internal trade of the kingdom , for the better 



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