[Ratification in favour of John, earl of Stair, of the earldom of Stair, and lordship and barony of Dalrymple]

Ratification† of a chartor under the great seal† of the date at Saint James's, the twenty seventh day of February last, granted by her majesty, with consent foresaid† proceeding on the resignations of John, earl of Stair and William Campbell, respective, in favours of the said earle, his heirs male and of tailyie therin mentioned, and other heirs and assigneys whatsoever, heretably and irredeemably, of the title and dignity of earl of Stair, viscount of Dalrymple, Lord Newlistoun, Glenluce and Stranrawer, and of the lands and barony of Stair and the rest of the lands, lordships, baronies, patronages, mills,† fishings, heretable offices, fees and others particularly and generally therin mentioned, under the reservations, provisions and conditions expressed therin, whereby all the rights of the office of bailliary of the lordship and regality of Glenluce, and of the lands and baronies pertaining to the abbacy therof granted to the said earle and to his predecessors and authors, are confirmed, the toun of Glenluce is appointed the head burgh of the regality therof in place of the burgh of Barnhill, the haill lands and others therein specified are united in one earldom, lordship and barony called the earldom of Stair, lordship and barony of Dalrymple, the manour place of Stair is appointed to be the principall messuage therof, and one sasine, by earth and stone therat, or any part of the said lands, is declaired sufficient for the haill, to be holden of her majesty for payment of the severall duties specified in the said chartor, by which the heirs, notwithstanding of minority, are allowed to be entered and infeft in some of the said lands holden in taxt ward together. Extract.†

  1. NAS. PA6/35, 'March 21 1707', p.11. It is doubtful whether this was the source used by APS for the following ratification, but as yet it has provided the best available source. Back
  2. APS starts with 'At Edinburgh, the twenty first day of March, one thousand, seven hundred and seven years. Our soveraign lady, with advice and consent of the estates of parliament, ratifies, approves and perpetualy confirmes ane chartor ... '. Back
  3. 'of this kingdom' inserted in APS. Back
  4. 'of the lords and others commissioners of her thesaury and exchequer' inserted in APS. Back
  5. 'milnes' in APS. Back
  6. APS concludes with 'with the precept of sasine contained in the said chartor and instrument of sasine to follow therupon, in the haill heads, articles and clauses therof. And her majesty, with consent forsaid, wills and grants and, for her and her royall successors, statutes and ordaines that the samen chartor, precept and sasine shall be good, valid and sufficient writts, conforme to the tenor therof, to the said John, earle of Stairs and his forsaids for possessing and enjoying in the terms therof without stop or impediment soe far as concernes the interest of her majesty the lands, lordships, baronies and others abovewritten respective, and declaires that the same shall never be quarrelled or revocked by her majesty or her successors, and that this present ratification shall be to all intents as sufficient as if every word of the forsaid chartour, precept and sasine were insert herein, with the not inserting wherof and with all other defects and imperfections that may or can be objected against the validity therof and of this present ratification of the same, her majesty, with consent forsaid, for her and her saids successors, has dispensed and hereby dispenses for ever'. Back