"FUTE-BAL AND GOLFE…": ONE OF THE FIRST PRINTED MENTIONS OF THE GAME OF GOLF, EXCEPTIONAL COLLECTION OF SCOTTISH ACTS, 1597

(SCOTLAND) (GOLF) SKENE, John. The Lawes and Actes of Parliament, Maid be King James the First, and his Successours Kinges of Scotland… WITH: De Verborum Significatione. WITH: The Lawes and Acts of Parliament… XIX Day of December 1597. WITH: The XXI Parliament… the xxiii day of October, 1612. WITH: The Acts Made in the XXII Parliament. WITH: The XXIII Parliament… the 4. day of August 1621. Edinburgh: Robert Walde-grave; Thomas Finlason, 1597, 1612, 1617, 1621. Together six works bound in one volume. Thick folio (8 by 11 inches), contemporary full limp vellum, manuscript ink title to spine, yapp edges, evidence of ties, renewed endpapers. $6800.

First edition of Skene's Lawes and Actes, with one of the first printed mentions of the game of golf—an outstanding folio collection of early Scottish legislation, in contemporary vellum.

"The early Dutch played golf, they painted golf; but they did not write it. It is uncertain at what date golf was introduced into Scotland, but in 1457 the popularity of the game had already become so great as seriously to interfere with the more important pursuit of archery. In March of that year the Scottish parliament 'decreeted and ordained,… that fute-bal and golfe be utterly cried down and not be used'… and in 1491 a final and evidently angry fulmination was issued on the general subject, with pains and penalties annexed ['in na place of the Realme there be used fute-ball, golfe or other sik unprofitable sports, for the commoun gud of the Realme & defense thereof']" (Britannica, 11th ed., 11-12: 219).

Skene, clerk-register and lord of session, was appointed "one of a commission to examine the laws and acts of parliament, and to consider which of them should be printed… finally entrusted with the preparation of the work [Lawes and Actes]." Upon publication the privy council moved "to enforce the purchase of it by all subjects of sufficient 'substance and habilitie'" (DNB XVIII: 337). With interesting mandates forbidding single combat, witchcraft, "the filthy lust of incest," hunting and hawking, "the ravishing of Weemen," Egyptians living in the kingdom, and a delineation of Protestant beliefs. Also includes De Verboroum Significatione (STC 22622), and Parliamentary acts issued at Edinburgh in the years 1597, 1612 (STC 21896), 1617 (STC 21897) and 1621 (STC 21900). Beautifully adorned with woodcut borders, initials, and head- and tail-pieces throughout, and folding chart of Scottish royal pedigree. STC 21877. Lowndes, 2410. HLC II: 595. Blind-stamped device and initials "G A" on covers.

Interior generally clean. Contemporary vellum with evidence of ties, in excellent condition. A fascinating view of early Scottish parliamentary law and history.