legal-history scotland
When were the Black Acts passed in Scotland?
<p>In 'The Scottish Legal System' <a href="http://www.rps.ac.uk/static/historicalintro6.html">1</a>, the authors say that</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The first printing press was introduced into Scotland in 1507, but it was not until 1541 with the printing of the Black Acts that it was applied to legislation. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>However, <a href="http://www.rps.ac.uk/static/historicalintro6.html">the Records of the Parliaments of Scotland state</a> that the Black Acts were not passed until May 1584. </p>

<p>Which source is correct?</p>

<p><a href="http://www.rps.ac.uk/static/historicalintro6.html">1</a> White, Willock &amp; MacQueen; fifth edition (2013); para 2.15. </p>

<p>From what I can tell, both are correct. The RPS refers to two different things as Black Acts: laws printed with a printing press using a heavy typeface (hence, "black") in <a href="http://www.rps.ac.uk/static/statutes_index.html" rel="nofollow">1541</a>, and laws that established Parliament as supreme over the church (called "black" because they were bad for the church) in <a href="http://www.rps.ac.uk/static/historicalintro6.html" rel="nofollow">1584</a>.</p>
