[1702/6/15]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
William, by the grace of God, king of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and defender of the faith, to all his honest men to whom our present letters shall have come, greetings. In as much as we, calling to our royal mind the continual loyalty and affection for our person and kingdom of our most loyal and well-beloved kinsman and councillor John, lord Carmichael, our principal secretary of state for our ancient kingdom of Scotland, and because he has fulfilled with honour and loyalty the various notable appointments and positions we have entrusted to him; and we, because of our assured knowledge of this, have decided to confer upon this same John, lord Carmichael some mark of our royal favour so that he and his family may have a lasting addition to their honour; know therefore that we have made, constituted and created, and by these our letters patent do make, constitute and create this same John, lord Carmichael earl of Hyndford, viscount of Inglisberry and Nemphlar, and Lord Carmichael of Carmichael within the foresaid kingdom, by giving, granting and conferring upon the forementioned John, lord Carmichael and his male heirs and of entail who succeed him in his lands and position according to his rights and the land infeftments, the title, honour, dignity and rank of earl, viscount and free lord of parliament with each and every prerogative, pre-eminence, privilege, precedence and immunity whatsoever pertaining thereto. By this patent we ennoble and invest the foresaid John, lord Carmichael and his foresaid heirs for all future time. This foresaid John, lord Carmichael and his foresaid heirs are to hold and have the foresaid title, honour, dignity and rank of earl, viscount and free lord of parliament with each and every prerogative, precedence, pre-eminence, privilege and immunity above-written from us and our royal successors in all parliaments, general councils, meetings of the estates and any other meetings, public or private, in our said kingdom as fully and freely in every respect and condition as any other earl, viscount and free lord of parliament of similar title, honour and dignity has formerly enjoyed or at any time in the past, present or future will be able to use and enjoy. Moreover, we order the lyon king of arms and the brethren of his court to give and prescribe for the foresaid John, lord Carmichael, now earl of Hyndford, such additions to his former coat of arms as shall seem appropriate to him and them on this occasion. We ordain and declare that these our letters patent furnished with our great seal shall be as valid, effective and sufficient for him and his foresaid heirs to possess the foresaid title, honour, dignity and rank with all the privileges pertaining thereto as if he and his foresaid heirs had been invested and inaugurated with all the rites and solemnities used on such occasions; and we have granted, and by this patent do grant a dispensation therefrom in perpetuity. In witness whereof, we have ordered that our great seal be appended to this patent. At our palace of Kensington, 25 June in the year of our Lord 1701, and in the thirteenth year of our reign. Signed by the hand manual of our supreme lord the king.
Written to the great seal and registered 25 September 1701. Signed thus: Charles Kerr.
Sealed at Edinburgh, 25 September 1701. Subscribed thus: Andrew Home.