Section Preamble reciting an Act of the Scottish Parliament, 1685.

Whereas by the M1Entail Act 1685—all His Majesty’s subjects are empowered to taillie their lands and estates in Scotland with such provisions and conditions as they shall think fit, and with such irritant and resolute clauses as to them shall seem proper; and which taillies, when completed and published in the manner directed by the said Act, are declared to be real and effectual against purchasers, creditors, and others whatsoever: And whereas many taillies of lands and estates in Scotland, made as well before as after passing the said Act, do contain clauses limiting the heirs of entail from granting tickets or leases of a longer endurance than their own lives, for a small number of years only, whereby the cultivation of land in that part of this kingdom is greatly obstructed, and much mischief arises to the publick; and which must daily increase, so long as the law allowing such entails subsists, if some remedy be not provided: Wherefore, to prevent a mischief and inconveniency so hurtful to the publick.