[1641/8/417]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament ratify, approve and confirm a contract and appointment made between the late John [Leslie], earl of Rothes, lord Leslie and Bambreich etc., and John [Lyon], earl of Kinghorn, lord Lyon and Glamis etc., on the one part, and his majesty's trusty cousin, James, lord Coupar, and Dame Margaret Haliburton, his spouse, on the other part, of the date 11 [...] days of July 1638, regarding the alienation made by the said earls to the said James, lord Coupar and his said spouse, and the longest liver of the two, in conjunct fee, and the heirs lawfully to be procreated between them, which failing, to the said James, lord Coupar's other heirs whatsoever lawfully to be procreated of his body, which also failing, to the said James, lord Coupar's nearest and lawful male heirs and assignees whatsoever heritably without any redemption, reversion or regress whatsoever, of all and whole the lands of Castleton and Ingliston, with houses, buildings, yards, tofts, crofts, outsets, annexes, connexes, parts, pendicles and all their pertinents, together with the new mill of Eassie, mill lands and pertinents thereof, which are all proper parts and pendicles of the lands and barony of Eassie, lying within the sheriffdom of Forfar, together with the astricted multures of the lands of Nevay of such corns as grow upon the said lands or that shall be brought in, namely: a peck for the boll of the said corns according to use and wont and doing of all other duty and service for maintaining and upholding of the said mill according to use and wont, as for the principal; and also of all and whole the barony of Auchterhouse, with the castles, towers, fortalices, manor places, mills, multures, woods, fishings, tenants, tenancies, service of free tenants, parts, pendicles and pertinents of the same, with all the pendicles thereof following, namely: Halton of Auchterhouse, the lands of Burnhead, the mains of Auchterhouse, the lands of Bonnyton, with all their houses, buildings, tofts, crofts and pertinents, which are proper parts and pendicles of the said lands and barony of Auchterhouse, lying within the said sheriffdom of Forfar, and that in special clause of warrandice of the said lands principally conveyed as said is, as the said contract, containing many other conditions and provisions in favour of the said James, lord Coupar and his said spouse, at length purports, together with the charters, infeftments, sasines that have followed or may follow thereupon; together with the contract and appointment made between James [Erskine], earl of Buchan, deceased, on the one part, and the said late John, earl of Rothes and John, earl of Kinghorn on the other part of the date the [...] day of [...] 163[...] regarding the alienation made by the said late James, earl of Buchan to the said Earls of Rothes and Kinghorn, their heirs and assignees, of the living and earldom of Buchan, lordship of Auchterhouse and barony of Eassie, whereof the said lands of Castleton and Ingliston are special parts and pertinents; together with the charter granted by his majesty under the great seal to the said Earls of Rothes and Kinghorn of the said earldom and with the precept and instrument of sasine following thereupon, and with all contracts, charters, infeftments, sasines, procuratories and instruments of resignation and all other writs, rights, titles, evidents and securities whatsoever made to the said James, lord Coupar, his authors and predecessors of and concerning the said lands, with the pertinents, in the whole heads, articles, clauses, conditions and circumstances whatsoever, mentioned and contained therein after the forms and tenors thereof. And seeing the said James, lord Coupar and his said spouse have right to the said lands and mill and lands foresaid given in warrandice thereof proceeding from the said late John, earl of Rothes and John, earl of Kinghorn, who have right thereto, and to the said whole earldom proceeding from the said late James, earl of Buchan, who had right thereto by a double and twofold progress first by his marriage with the late Mary [Douglas], countess of Buchan, his spouse, who was the only bairn and heiress of the said earldom, procreated between the late James [Douglas], earl of Buchan that last deceased, and the late Dame [Margaret] Ogilvie, his spouse, which the late James, earl of Buchan was procreated between the late Dame Christian Stewart, countess of Buchan and the late Robert [Douglas], earl of Buchan, her spouse, the which the late Dame Christian succeeded thereto as the only daughter and heir of the late John [Stewart], master of Buchan, her father, who was the eldest son and heir of the late John [Stewart], earl of Buchan, his father, likewise the said late James, last earl of Buchan, had also right to the said earldom proceeding from the late John [Erskine], earl of Mar, his father, who had right thereto from the late James [Stewart], last earl of Moray, who had right thereto proceeding from the late James [Stewart], earl of Moray, his father, who had right thereto from the late James [Stewart], earl of Moray, regent, who had right thereto from his majesty's late dearest grandmother of happy memory Mary, queen of Scots; and if by the frequent interchange of the right of the said lands that some of the ancient and original writs and evidents of the said lands, living and earldom are lost and miscarried, our said sovereign lord, with consent of the estates of parliament, for reasonable causes, finds and declares that the right above-mentioned so made to the said James, lord Coupar and his said spouse and their foresaids from the said late John, earl of Rothes and the said John, earl of Kinghorn of the said lands and mill principally conveyed, and of the lands and others foresaid given in warrandice thereof with this present confirmation thereof, is, may and shall be a valid and sufficient right to them and their heirs for possessing and enjoying thereof, notwithstanding of the want and defects of the ancient and original writs or other evidents of the said earldom; concerning which, and with all other objections, imperfections and defects (if any be) which may be proposed or alleged against the validity and sufficiency of the said rights, infeftments and securities of the said earldom (whereof the said lands principal and warrandice above-mentioned are proper part and pertinent), and of this present confirmation thereof, our said sovereign lord, with consent of the estates of parliament, has dispensed and dispenses by this ratification.
[1641/8/418]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament, understanding that the burgh of Selkirk is the special and only burgh royal within the bounds of his majesty's lordship of Ettrick Forest and sheriffdom of Selkirk, and that there are great quantities of cattle, sheep and of wool, and of other bestial and goods to be sold in their markets and fairs, and that one of their days appointed for holding of one of their fairs being in the midst of winter upon 8 December, near Yule and the shortest day, is altogether unprofitable in respect of the shortness of the day, foulness of the weather that is usual at that time, deepness of the soil and greatness of the waters of Tweed, Ettrick, Yarrow and others running near the said burgh, which hinders both the bestial and goods then to be transported to and from the said burgh and the lieges to come and go thereto without great hazard of the destruction of the same goods and bestial and the owners and buyers, their lives, so that the inhabitants not only of the said burgh, but also of the whole sheriffdom and bounds thereabouts and others having business in the fairs thereof, greatly desire and have earnestly supplicated his majesty and his highness's commissioner and estates of parliament that there be a fair and market held and kept in the said burgh of Selkirk upon 4 July, called St Martin of Bullion's day, being in the midst of summer when the bestial, cattle, sheep, wool and other merchandise of that kind, which are most plentiful and abound in these parts, are at the best and may most commodiously be transported to and from the said burgh and when the people may most safely and conveniently repair thereto to sell and buy and without danger of the said many great waters lying thereabouts, which his majesty and whole estates of parliament have thought most reasonable and fit, therefore his majesty and estates of parliament have given and granted and by this act grant to the bailies, council, burgesses, inhabitants and community of the said burgh of Selkirk and to their successors a new market and fair to be held and kept by them in the said burgh of Selkirk upon the said 4 July, called St Martin of Bullion's day, and to continue for eight days thereafter as is usual yearly and perpetually in all time coming, and therewith give and grant to them and their successors all tolls, customs, privileges, immunities and liberties pertaining to a free fair of a free burgh royal, to be possessed, held, enjoyed and used by the said bailies, council and community of the said burgh and their successors, in the same way and as freely as they possess any other market or fair within the said burgh, and as any other burgh royal within this kingdom possesses, holds and uses the like fair and market and liberties thereof therein for ever. And our said sovereign lord and estates of parliament ordain an infeftment or gift, if need be, to be passed upon the said fair and market yearly to be held as said is, and liberties thereof, tolls, customs, privileges and immunities thereof, to and in favour of the said bailies, council and community of the said burgh of Selkirk and their successors either per se or be contained in any infeftment, gift or signature to be passed in their favour, and in the meantime, ordain this present act to be a sufficient and lawful warrant to the said bailies, council, burgesses and community of the said burgh and their successors for possessing and holding of the said market and fair the time foresaid yearly, and for taking up of the said customs, tolls and duties thereof and for using all other liberties and privileges pertaining thereto in manner foresaid until the said infeftment, gift or signature be completed by his highness or his successors to them thereupon under his highness's great seal in due form, notwithstanding that the same be not contained in any such gift or infeftment granted to them thereupon; concerning which, his majesty and estates of parliament dispense by this act and declare and ordain that this present market and fair, liberty and privilege thereof hereby granted shall be without prejudice to the said bailies, council and community of the said burgh and their successors regarding their holding and possessing of all former fairs and markets granted to them and their predecessors at any time bygone and whereof they are in possession.
[1641/8/419]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the estates of parliament, has ratified, approved and confirmed and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies, approves and confirms, a charter and infeftment of the date at Edinburgh, 12 July 1634, granted in favour of his majesty's beloved Sir James Balfour of Kinnaird, knight baronet, his highness's lyon king at arms, of all and whole the lands and barony of Kinnaird, with the pertinents, together with the precept and instrument of sasine following thereupon, in all and sundry heads, clauses, articles, points, circumstances and conditions thereof whatsoever admitted. Likewise our said sovereign lord, with advice and consent foresaid, admits the generality hereof to be as good, valid and sufficient as if every head, article, clause and condition specified and contained in the said charter, precept and instrument of sasine following thereupon were at length and expressly inserted and set down herein; concerning which, our said sovereign lord, with advice and consent foresaid of the said estates of parliament, has dispensed and by this ratification dispenses for ever.
[1641/8/420]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the estates of this present parliament, ratifies and approves the charters made and granted by his majesty under his highness's great seal to and in favour of Thomas MacKenzie of Pluscarden, therein designed brother-german to George [MacKenzie], earl of Seaforth, lord MacKenzie of Kintail, and Jean Grant, his spouse, the longest liver of the two, in conjunct fee, and to their male heirs and of tailzie specified therein, of all and whole the mills of Elgin, called the mills of Mostowie and King's Mill, with the mill lands, astricted multures and other duties and privileges thereof used and wont, and to the said Thomas MacKenzie and to his male heirs and of tailzie mentioned therein of all and sundry the lands, teinds and others after-specified, namely: the mains of Pluscarden, the lands of Whitetree, Barnhill, Overton, Drinkinghill, Crossley, Auchtertyre, Foresterseat, Netherbyre and Easterhill, with all and sundry the teind sheaves of the lands particularly above-written included, which were never wont to be separate from the stock, with castles, towers, fortalices, manor places, parts, pendicles, annexes, connexes, orchards, parks, meadows, wards, woods, mills, fishings, tenants, tenancies and service of free tenants of the lands and others above-written; and also of all and sundry the teind sheaves of the lands after-mentioned, namely: of the lands of Westerton, Inchallon, Incharnock, Croy, Westerhills, Redavie, Balleloun, Aplewaird and of the mill lands of the mill of Pluscarden, with all their annexes, connexes, parts, pendicles and pertinents whatsoever, lying in the Glen of Pluscarden and within the sheriffdom of Elgin and Forres, containing a new gift, made and granted by his majesty after his highness's lawful age of 25 years complete, and after all his majesty's revocations general and special, and after his highness's parliament held at Edinburgh upon 28 June 1633, and after dissolution contained therein, of all and whole his majesty's property and proper lands for setting thereof in feu ferm to and in favour of the said Thomas MacKenzie and his said spouse and their foresaids in manner above-divided, of the lands, mills, teinds and others above-specified, all thereby united in a barony called the barony of Pluscarden, to be held of his majesty and his successors for payment of the feu and blench duties expressed therein, of the date at Edinburgh, 25 July 1636, with the precept of sasine and instrument of sasine following upon the said charter in all points, articles and clauses contained therein after the forms and tenors thereof. And declares this present ratification of the said charter, precept and sasine to be as valid, effectual and sufficient in all respects as if the same were at length and word by word engrossed and inserted, herein dispensing with the not inserting thereof. Likewise his majesty, with consent foresaid, finds, declares, statutes and ordains that the same charter, precept and instrument of sasine with the other writs, rights and securities made to the said Thomas MacKenzie and his said spouse and their authors and predecessors are, and shall be, sufficient and valid rights and securities to them and to their heirs of tailzie and assignees foresaid for possessing and enjoying of the lands, teinds, mills and others above-specified perpetually in all time coming for payment of the duties particularly mentioned in the said charter.
[1641/8/421]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament ratify and approve the charter under his majesty's great seal granted to the late John [Erskine], earl of Mar, his male heirs and assignees, of the date at Theobalds, 14 July 1634, by the which his majesty has ratified and approved the charters and infeftments of erection granted by his majesty's late father of blessed memory to and in favour of the said late John, earl of Mar, his male heirs and assignees, erecting the abbacies and priories of Dryburgh, Cambuskenneth and Inchmahome to the said John, earl of Mar and his foresaids in a temporal lordship, to be called the lordship of Cardross, with all rights and dispositions made by the said earl in favour of his bairns and children or in favour of any of his majesty's subjects of whatsoever kirks and teinds pertaining to the said new erected lordship in the whole heads and articles thereof. And will and declare that this present ratification shall be as effectual as if the same were herein inserted word for word, and will and declare that the benefit of the said charter is and shall be extended to and in favour of David [Erskine], lord Cardross, grandson to the said earl and successor to him in the right of the said lordship of Cardross, wherein the said David stands infeft as son and heir to the late Harry Erskine, lord Cardross, his father.
[1641/8/422]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament ratify and approve the charter made, given and granted by our sovereign lord, with consent of his highness's treasurers principal and depute and other lords of his highness's exchequer of Scotland, his majesty's commissioners, to his highness's beloved Sir Thomas Stewart, fiar of Grandtully, knight, eldest lawful son to Sir William Stewart of Grandtully, knight, his father, his male heirs and assignees contained therein heritably, of all and whole the barony of Strathbraan, containing and comprehending all and sundry the towns and lands of Innercochill, Cablea, Ballinreigh, Tomnagrew, Tomnagairn, Borelick, Tombane, Drumour, Salachill, Pitleoch, Tulloch, Cartarune, Bullichchlachaine, Ballinloan, with the mill, mill lands thereof, Smiddie Croft, Ballinlick, Meikle Logie, Middle Logie, Easter Logie, Lagganallachie, Ballintume, Kennacoil, alias Woodend, Tomgarrow, Turrisewake, Little Trochry, Meikle Trochry, tower and fortalice of Trochry, Glenshee, Glenfender and Meikle Findowie, with all and sundry mills, mill lands, multures, sequels, woods, fishings, greens, forests, grassums, houses, buildings, yards, orchards, offices, privileges, dignities, annexes, connexes, outsets, tenants, tenancies, service of free tenants, parts, pendicles and pertinents whatsoever of all and sundry the said lands and barony, lying within the sheriffdom of Perth, reserving to the said Sir William Stewart his freehold or liferent of the same, during all the days of his lifetime, proceeding upon the resignation of the said Sir William Stewart and Sir Thomas Stewart, his son, with the new gift and disposition contained therein, and union of the said lands and others above-written in a whole and free barony called the barony of Strathbraan, to be held of our said sovereign lord and his highness's successors in feu ferm, fee heritage and free barony for payment of the yearly feu duty and fulfilling of the other conditions contained in the said charter, as the same under his majesty's great seal of the date 31 July 1638 at more length bears, with the procuratory and instrument of resignation whereon the said charter proceeded, precept of sasine and instrument of sasine following thereupon, of whatsoever dates, tenors or contents the same be of, in all and sundry the heads, points, clauses, articles, circumstances and conditions contained therein, and after the forms and tenors thereof in all points. And our said sovereign lord and estates of parliament will and grant and, for his highness and his successors, decree and ordain that this present ratification of the said charter, procuratory and instrument of resignation whereon the same proceeded, precept and instrument of sasine following thereupon is and shall be of as great force, strength and effect and as valid and sufficient to the said Sir Thomas Stewart and his foresaids for possessing of the said lands, barony and others above-written, as if the said charter and rights above-written hereby ratified were all at length word for word contained herein and inserted, notwithstanding the same be not so done; concerning which, and with all other defects and imperfections that may be proposed or alleged against the said charter and rights and validities of the same, or this present ratification of the same, our said sovereign lord and estates of parliament have dispensed and by this ratification dispense for ever. And further, our said sovereign lord and estates of parliament will, grant, decree and ordain that the said charter and other rights foresaid and this present ratification thereof is and shall be good, valid and sufficient rights in themselves to the said Sir Thomas Stewart, his male heirs and assignees foresaid for possessing of the foresaid lands, barony and others foresaid, with the pertinents, heritably and perpetually in all time coming, without any objection or exception to be made, proposed or alleged in the contrary, concerning which also our said sovereign lord and estates of parliament have dispensed and by this ratification dispense for ever.
[1641/8/423]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament have ratified and approved and, by this legislation, ratify and approve the charter granted by his majesty, with consent of his highness's treasurer, treasurer depute and other lords of his majesty's exchequer, under his highness's great seal, of the date 21 January 1632, to his majesty's beloved Sir John Wauchope of Niddrie-Marischal, knight, therein designed John Wauchope, his male heirs and assignees whatsoever, of all and whole the lands and barony of Niddrie-Marischal, as well the two part as third part thereof, with manor places, houses, buildings, yards, orchards, mills, multures, coals, coal pits, annexes, connexes, parts, pendicles and all their pertinents, with the advocation, donation and right of patronage of the kirk or chapel of Niddrie-Marischal, and also of all and whole the lands of Pilmuir, with the pertinents, all lying within the sheriffdom of Edinburgh; and also containing a ratification of two infeftments, one thereof made by the late Sir James Sandilands of Slamannan, knight, to Master James Sandilands, commissary of Aberdeen, his heirs and assignees of the said lands and barony of Niddrie-Marischal, with their foresaid and right of patronage above-specified, and the other thereof made by the said Master James Sandilands, with consent of Katherine Paterson, his spouse, and Master Thomas Sandilands, his eldest son, to the said Sir John Wauchope, his male heirs and assignees of the lands, barony and others above-specified; and also containing a new gift granted by his majesty, with consent foresaid, to the said Sir John Wauchope and his foresaids, of the same lands, barony and others respectively above-specified. And likewise ratify and approve another charter made by his majesty, with consent foresaid, under his highness's great seal, of the date 3 July 1637, to the said Sir John Wauchope, his male heirs and assignees whatsoever, of all and whole the town and lands of Ravelrig, with houses, buildings, yards, orchards, tofts, crofts, onsets, outsets with commonty, common pasturage, muirs, mosses, meadows and all their parts, pendicles and pertinents of the said town and lands of Ravelrig, with the privilege, within the whole commonty of Balerno, with the pertinents, as well for pasturage as for extracting and transporting of peat, fuel, fail and divot and turf, according to old use and wont only, lying within the barony of Balerno and sheriffdom of Edinburgh, as both the said charters of the dates respectively foresaid in themselves more fully purport, together with the precepts and instruments of sasine following upon the said charters, together with all and sundry other infeftments, charters, sasines, confirmations and other evidents, rights and securities made to the said Sir John Wauchope, his predecessors and authors, of and concerning the lands, barony, right of patronage and others respectively above-specified, of whatsoever dates, tenors or contents the same be of, in all and sundry heads, clauses, articles and conditions contained therein, and after the forms and tenors thereof in all points. And his majesty and estates of this present parliament will and grant that this present ratification shall be as good, valid and sufficient as if the said charters, infeftments and others specially and generally above-mentioned were herein specially engrossed and inserted, concerning which our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid have dispensed and dispense by this ratification.
[1641/8/424]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament have ratified and approved and, by this legislation, ratify and approve the letters of gift granted by his highness's dearest late father, of eternal memory, with consent of his highness's treasurer, treasurer depute and lords commissioners for the time, under his highness's great seal, to his majesty's beloved Sir William Seton of Grange, eldest lawful son to the late Sir William Seton of Kylesmure, knight, during all the days of his lifetime, whereby the said William is made, constituted and ordained his majesty's first and chief postmaster of all his highness's postmasters and of all postmasters, journey masters and keepers of journey houses†, as well ordained as to be ordained within this kingdom of Scotland; and have given the said office to the said William with all fees, liberties, casualties and duties pertaining or that shall be due and pertain thereto during all the days of his lifetime; and have given, assigned and conveyed to the said William during his said lifetime a fee of £500 yearly to be uplifted at Whitsunday [May/June] and Martinmas [11 November] by equal portions out of the readiest of his highness's rents and casualties of this kingdom of Scotland, and to be received from his highness's treasurer, comptroller and collectors of his majesty's new augmentations and their deputes, as in the said letters of gift granted by his highness's said late dearest father of eternal memory, of the date at Theobalds, 2 April 1623, at length bears, in all and sundry heads, clauses, articles and conditions contained therein, after the form and tenor thereof, providing always that the said patent of the said William Seton of the general postmastership of this kingdom nor the ratification hereof in this present parliament shall be in any way prejudicial to the freedom, liberties and privileges of the burghs of Burntisland and Kinghorn regarding their journey masters and journey horses for serving of the lieges, and that the same patent is in no way to be extended against them nor their said journey masters within the same burghs, neither now nor at any time hereafter (and that by the special assent and consent of the said William Seton) according to a decreet of absolvitor of the lords of secret council granted in favour of the said burghs, against the late Sir William Seton of Kylesmure, knight, father to the said William, of the date at Edinburgh, 19 December 1620; declaring likewise by this ratification that the foresaid decreet shall stand in the full vigour and force thereof in all time coming.
[1641/8/425]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, calling to mind that his majesty's late great-grandfather, King James IV of blessed memory, in his fourth parliament and 61st chapter thereof, for maintaining of justice within the country of Caithness to all his majesty's lieges within the same, and in respect of the far distance between Caithness and Inverness, which were all under one sheriffdom at that time, called the sheriffdom of Inverness, and for the better ease to his majesty's lieges within the country of Caithness in all time coming, with advice of his majesty's estates of parliament, disjoined the country of Caithness from the sheriffdom of Inverness, and statute and ordained that there should be a sheriff made who should be called the sheriff of Caithness and to have full jurisdiction of sheriffship of all the diocese of Caithness, and that he should sit and have a place for administration of his office within the town of Wick, as the said act of parliament at more length purports. Likewise the late King James VI of blessed memory, his majesty's dearest father, by his letters of patent under the great seal of Scotland of the date 25 September 1589, erected the burgh of Wick in a burgh royal with the like privilege and liberties as any other royal burgh within this kingdom has, as the said letters patent of the date foresaid likewise bear, in regard whereof the said burgh of Wick is the head burgh of the sheriffdom of Caithness, and having a sufficient tolbooth and market cross within the same, and being situated in the middle place of the said sheriffdom of Caithness and is most commodious for his majesty's lieges within the said sheriffdom for holding of sheriff courts within the same burgh of Wick, and that all proclamations, denunciations, inhibitions and comprisings be used only at the market cross thereof in all time coming, as place most convenient for that effect, according to a testificate subscribed by the most part of the noblemen and barons within the said sheriffdom of Caithness, directed to our sovereign lord and estates of parliament for verification of the conveniency of the said burgh of Wick to be the head burgh of the said sheriffdom of Caithness and for holding of the sheriff courts thereof, and for using of all letters and proclamations at the market cross of Wick in all time coming, as the same testificate of the date 10 October 1641, produced in parliament in presence of his majesty and estates, likewise purports. In consideration of the whole premises, and for the better ease of our sovereign lord's lieges within the said sheriffdom of Caithness, and that the said burgh of Wick may increase and flourish in the liberties thereof in time coming, therefore our said sovereign lord, with advice of the estates of this present parliament, ratifies and approves the said act of parliament made by the late King James IV, with advice of his estates, regarding the erecting of the said sheriffdom of Caithness and ordaining the town of Wick to be the place where the sheriff of Caithness and his deputes and clerks shall hold their courts in all time coming, and also ratifies and approves the letters patent granted by the late King James VI in favour of the provost, bailies, council and burgesses of the town of Wick, erecting the same in a free burgh royal, with all privileges and liberties belonging to any other royal burgh, as the said act of parliament and letters patent of the dates foresaid bear, in the whole heads, articles, clauses and circumstances contained therein, after the form and tenor thereof in all points. Likewise his majesty, with advice foresaid, ordains the said burgh of Wick to be the head burgh of Caithness, and ordains the sheriff of Caithness and his deputes and clerks to sit and hold their whole courts in all causes, both civil and criminal, within the tolbooth of Wick and direct precepts to his majesty's lieges to compear there for all causes in all time coming, and also ordains all proclamations, denunciations, inhibitions, comprisings and other letters and citations to be used at the market cross of Wick in all time coming as place most convenient for that effect. Likewise his majesty, with advice of the said estates of parliament, declares that all services, decreets and others that shall not be done and pronounced by the said sheriff of Caithness and his deputes within the said burgh and tolbooth of Wick and all denunciations, proclamations, inhibitions, comprisings and other letters and citations whatsoever that shall not be used at the market cross of Wick in all time coming, shall be null and of no value, force nor effect, with all that may follow thereupon without any decreet or declarator to be given upon the same but only by way of exception, and also ordained the sheriff clerk of Caithness present and to come to have his actual dwelling in the burgh of Wick in time coming, otherwise to lose his office. And our said sovereign lord, with advice foresaid, discharges the provost, bailies and burgesses of the burgh of Wick of the sum of 10 merks yearly since the date of these letters patent of the erection thereof in a royal burgh as said is, appointed to have been paid by them for the duties of the said burgh, and discharges his majesty's treasurer and deputes from asking the same hereafter; concerning which, this ratification shall be to them a sufficient warrant and exoneration.