Ratification in favour of [Alexander Leslie], earl of Leven and [Alexander Leslie], lord Balgonie

The estates of parliament, presently convened in the second session of this first triennial parliament by virtue of the last act of the parliament held by his majesty and three estates in 1641, for the many notable good services done to his majesty and to the estates of this kingdom by his highness's right trusty cousin and councillor, Alexander, earl of Leven and Alexander, lord Balgonie, his son, as well within this kingdom of Scotland as within the kingdom of England and by the said earl of Leven within the kingdom of Ireland in the public and most important affairs of this time, have ratified, approved and confirmed and by this act ratify, approve and confirm the charter granted by his majesty under the great seal, dated 18 November 1641, to and in favour of Alexander, earl of Leven in liferent and of the said Alexander, lord Balgonie, his son, and his heirs of tailzie specified therein in fee of the lordship and barony of Balgonie comprehending the lands of East Nisbet and others particularly and generally therein specified, lying within the sheriffdom of Berwick, the lands and barony of Balgonie comprehending the lands and others mentioned therein, lying within the sheriffdom of Fife, the lands of Treytounemure, the lands of Craigencalt, the lands of Easter Baglillie, with the mill called Inchdattie mill, lying within the said sheriffdom of Fife, and sundry other lands, mills, woods, fishings, coals, coalworks and others expressed in the said charter, which are all by the same charter newly united in a lordship and barony called the lordship and barony of Balgonie, to be held of his majesty and his successors in free lordship, free barony and free blench for ever for yearly payment of a white plume or white feather at the castle of Balgonie in name of blench ferm, if it be asked only, notwithstanding that the same was held of old by service of ward and relief and by the which charter his majesty promised in the first word to ratify the same in his highness's next parliament, and ordered the said charter to be a sufficient warrant to the estates of parliament for ratifying thereof and issuing an act thereupon, together with the precept of sasine following upon the said charter and instrument of sasine following upon the same precept, in all and sundry points, articles and clauses contained therein after the form and tenor thereof, and statute and ordained that this present confirmation of the same is and shall be as valid, effectual and sufficient as if the said charter, precept and instrument of sasine were at length inserted herein, dispensing by this act with the not inserting thereof in this act of ratification. Likewise the estates of this present parliament will, grant, statute and ordain that the lands, lordship, barony and others above-written in all time coming be held of his majesty and his successors by the said earl of Leven, his said son and his aforesaids in free blench for payment of the blench duty above-specified in name of blench ferm, if it be asked only, and find, declare, statute and ordain that the said charter, with the precept and instrument of sasine following thereupon and the other rights and securities made to the said earl of Leven, his said son and his aforesaids and their authors and predecessors, are and shall be sufficient and valid rights and securities for possessing and enjoying the lands, lordship, barony and others above-written, according to the tenors thereof in all points, in all time coming to be held of his majesty and his successors in free blench in manner mentioned therein.

  1. NAS. PA2/23, f.251v-252r. Back