REGIAM MAJESTATEM
Regiam Majestatem (ree-jee-<<schwa>>m maj-<<schwa>>-stay-t<<schwa>>m). [Latin “the
(books of the) Royal Majesty”] Scots law. An ancient collection of Scottish laws, so called from
its opening words. • The four-book collection is generally believed to be genuine, although its
origins are widely disputed. It was partly copied from Glanville’s treatise De Legibus et
Consuetudinibus Angliae, as appears from the works’ similarities and the fact that the Glanville
treatise opens with the words Regiam potestatem. It was at one time believed to have been
compiled by David I, but this supposition is unfounded. Still others believed that Edward I was
responsible for the compilation as part of his efforts to take over Scotland and assimilate the laws
of that country and England, but modern scholars reject this view. It was probably compiled by an
unknown cleric shortly before 1320. [Blacks Law 8th]