Ratification to [Charles Seton], earl of Dunfermline

The estates of parliament, presently convened by virtue of the last act of the last parliament held by his majesty and three estates in 1641, ratify and approve a charter under his majesty's great seal, of the date at his majesty's court at Whitehall, 24 April 1637, granted by his majesty, for himself and as lord of the lordship and regality of Dunfermline, whereby his majesty, with consent of his majesty's treasurers principal and depute and the rest of the lords of his majesty's exchequer of the kingdom of Scotland, gave, granted and conveyed to his highness's trusty cousin and councillor, Charles, earl of Dunfermline and his male heirs and of tailzie specified therein heritably all and whole the tenancy of the Grange of Dunfermline, comprehending the lands of eight, five and seven parts of the East Barns, alias Grange, the lands of Ottorphies Fauld, with the teind sheaves thereof, including the half lands of Limekilns and teind sheaves thereof included and half of the houses, tenements, yards and sea ware of Limekilns, the wester and easter salt-pans of Limekilns, with the granary stores and houses pertaining thereto, with port and anchorages of the same, the lands of Lathalmond, the fourth part lands of North Fod, the corn mill of Coallyaraw, the two corn mills lying under the abbey wall of Dunfermline called the Heuche mills, all and sundry the unfeued coals and coalworks within the lordship of Dunfermline wherever the same lie or may be found within any lands of the said lordship and regality, as well within as without the River Forth, all and whole the lands of Gusland and cuningar land, called Burntisland, with a yearly annualrent of 20 merks out of the said burgh of Burntisland and community thereof, all and whole the heritable office of bailiary and justiciary of the lordship and regality of Dunfermline (except what belongs to the bailiary of Musselburgh), together with the heritable office of constabulary of the palace of Dunfermline and of all houses, yards, greens and others within the precinct thereof, and all lochs within the said lordship belonging to his majesty or his predecessors, with all fees, casualties, liberties, commodities, privileges and jurisdiction belonging to the said offices respectively and specially without prejudice of the generality aforesaid, 10 chalders of black oats to be paid yearly out of the lands of Luscar, Westercraig, Luskure, Beath, Nether Beath under the Hill of Beath, Turnebull, Blacklaws, North Fod, Beath and Stevenston, all lying within the parish of Dunfermline, together with all and sundry customs, capons, poultry, cock and hen, of all and whole the aforesaid lordship of Dunfermline, as well upon the south as north sides of the River Forth payable by the vassals and others within the said lordship and regality, all and whole the lands of Pinkie and Carse, with the manor place and fortalice of Pinkie, the lands of Millhills, with the mills, multures and sequels thereof, the heritable office of mayorship within the whole bounds of the said lordship and regality, with the profits and duties belonging thereto; and by the which charter his majesty, with consent aforesaid, has ratified and approved a renunciation and approbation made and granted by Ludovic [Stewart], duke of Lennox, heritable admiral of this kingdom, dated at Whitehall, 24 December 1612, registered in the books of council and session upon 14 January 1613, whereby the said duke of Lennox, acknowledging that the lordship of Dunfermline was founded of old with all free privileges and jurisdictions belonging to a free regality and with the privileges, casualties and accidents belonging to the admiralty within the whole bounds and regality thereof, and therefore the said duke of Lennox, as great admiral of the said kingdom, ratified, approved and confirmed the right, title and possession due to the late Queen Anna of worthy memory as lady of Dunfermline and to her heritable bailies of the lordship and regality thereof of the undoubted admiralty within the bounds of the whole lordship of Dunfermline of all ships, sea wrecks, accidents and casualties either by land, sea or water or otherwise belonging to the right of admiralty within any part, limits or bounds of the said lordship and regality of Dunfermline wherever the same lies in any part of this kingdom, and whereby the said late Ludovic, duke of Lennox acknowledged the said shipwrecks, sea wrecks, accidents and other casualties belonging to the right and jurisdiction of admiralty in no way to belong nor pertain to the said duke of Lennox nor his successors nor their admiral deputes, but to belong properly to the said late Queen Anna of worthy memory and to her highness's heirs and successors to the said lordship and regality and to their heritable bailies of the same as proper parts and pertinents of their office and jurisdiction of bailiary and justiciary thereof, and that the said Ludovic, duke of Lennox had no privilege nor jurisdiction over any persons dwelling within the said regality, and renounced the said shipwrecks and sea wrecks, accidents and all jurisdiction of the same which the said Ludovic, duke of Lennox, his heirs and successors might claim or pretend to as admiral of this kingdom within the aforesaid regality and that in favour of the said late Queen Anna, her heirs and successors aforesaid and their heritable bailies and justiciaries of the same. Likewise by the aforesaid charter his majesty, with consent aforesaid, has newly given, granted and conveyed to the said Charles, earl of Dunfermline and his aforesaids the aforesaid office of heritable bailiary of the admiralty of all lands, seas, waters and others belonging to the said lordship and regality of Dunfermline or bounding, limiting or lying contiguous with the lands thereof wherever the same lie within this kingdom upon both sides of the River Forth, together with all privileges, liberties, immunities, accidents and casualties belonging thereto and which may belong to the aforesaid privilege and jurisdiction of admiralty (within the bounds aforesaid) except before excepted, as the aforesaid charter granted by his majesty to the said earl of Dunfermline, containing various other lands, privileges and liberties, with a gift and union of the said whole lands, teinds, offices and others specified therein in a free tenancy, of the date aforesaid, at more length purports. Which charter aforesaid, together with the instrument of sasine following thereupon, together also with the aforesaid ratification and renunciation granted by the said late Ludovic, duke of Lennox anent the right of admiralty aforesaid, together with the indentures made between the said late Queen Anna and the late Alexander [Seton], earl of Dunfermline, father to the said Charles, now earl of Dunfermline anent the said earl's right to the said 10 chalders of black oats and whole custom, capons, poultry, cock and hen belonging to the said lordship of Dunfermline, together likewise with all other rights and securities granted to the said Charles, earl of Dunfermline or to his said late father, their predecessors and authors of and concerning the said lands, teinds, offices, privileges, jurisdictions, liberties and others aforesaid specified in the aforesaid charter, or any part of the same, of whatsoever dates, tenors or contents the same be of, the said estates ratify and perpetually confirm, and which general ratification and confirmation aforesaid the said estates of parliament hereby declare to be as valid and sufficient to the said earl of Dunfermline and his aforesaids in all respects as if every writ, right and security made to him and his aforesaids anent the premises were particularly mentioned herein, anent which generality the said estates have dispensed and hereby dispense for ever. Likewise the said estates ordain this present confirmation and ratification to be as valid and effectual to the said Charles, earl of Dunfermline, his heirs and successors specified therein as if the same charter, with the precept and instrument of sasine following thereupon, together with the aforesaid ratification and renunciation granted by the said late Ludovic, duke of Lennox, the said indentures anent the said 10 chalders of black oats, custom, capons and poultry aforesaid and all other writs made to the said Charles, earl of Dunfermline and his aforesaids of the lands, teinds, offices and others above-written or any part thereof were all herein word for word inserted; with the which, and the not inserting of the same herein, the said estates of parliament have dispensed and hereby dispense for ever.

  1. NAS. PA2/23, f.149v-150v. Back