Observations on the Acts of Parliament – George Mackenzie – 1686 | First Edition, Witchcraft Law

‘Bloody’ George Mackenzie was a 17th-century Scottish lawyer who is remembered for his harsh treatment of Covenanters, witches, and criminals. As a member of the Scottish Parliament, Mackenzie published a collection of his Observations on the Acts of Parliament, acts established by numerous British royals including Queen Mary, Kings James I-VI, Charles I and Charles II

Notably, the acts and discussions covered a wide variety of topics, as could be expected. It is, however, those that pertained to witches and witchcraft garnered the most attention. During the reign of Queen Mary, the 73rd act covered the practice of witchcraft, as well as consulting witches or foretelling the future, an act punishable by death!

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Observations on the Acts of Parliament, made by King James the First, King James the Second, King James the Third, Queen Mary, King James the Sixth, King Charles the First, and King Charles the Second
• Author(s): George Mackenzie
• Publisher: Edinburgh: Printed by the heir of Andrew Anderson
• Edition: First Edition, 1686
• Format: Folio (single volume)
• Binding: Full leather
• Size:  11.25 in x 7.5 in (28.5 cm x 19 cm)
• Collation: [8], 468, [4] pp
• Contents Include:
  • Acts from reigns of James I–VI, Mary, and Charles I–II
  • Comparative citations from civil and canon law
  • Observations on witchcraft statutes (Act 73, Queen Mary)
  • Notes on desuetude, abrogation, and enlargement of statutes
• Reference(s): ESTC R 32044

Condition:

Good. Full contemporary leather binding with visible rubbing and wear at corners, joints tight and secure. Interior complete, margins clean with expected age toning. Paper stock strong, showing typical seventeenth-century presswork and binding integrity.

Why Collect This?

• Early Scottish legal folio on parliamentary acts
• First edition printed in Edinburgh
• Contains witchcraft-related statutes and commentary
• Noted association with Lord Advocate “Bloody” George Mackenzie

Item Number: # 29501