[1661/1/66]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The king's majesty, taking to his consideration the many great and singular services done to the crown of Scotland and his majesty's royal ancestors of blessed memory by those of the name of Graham that represented the family of Montrose, and that the late James, marquis of Montrose, following the worthy example of his predecessors, did cheerfully engage and valorously hazard his life and fortune for the service of his majesty's royal father, wherein he gave singular evidences of his loyalty and self denial, by accepting his royal commands in the times of greatest danger, and by such a vigorous prosecution thereof, when the most part of the people were unhappily engaged in arms on the contrary, as endeared him to his majesty for a person worthy of the greatest trust, and accordingly having received his majesty's commission to be captain general and lieutenant governor of this kingdom, and in discharge thereof having undergone the greatest hardships, and overcome the greatest difficulties, he did freely from time to time hazard his life and fortune and, when his majesty's service required it, did most willingly abandon his family, fortune and relations and leave all to the mercy of his enemies, for the which his faithful service to his majesty he was forfeited and deprived of his natural life. And his majesty, conceiving himself bound in honour and conscience to have regard to the sufferings of the said marquis, does therefore, with advice and consent of his estates of parliament, rescind, retreat and annul all and whatsoever sentences of forfeiture given against the said marquis and his adherents in the year 1645, with all acts, interlocutors, sentences or decreets of parliament or committee of estates, or any other judicatory in any way relating thereto, and declares the same to have been from the beginning, and to be now and in all time coming, null and of no avail, force nor effect, and that James, now marquis of Montrose, eldest son to the said deceased marquis, and all others his heirs and executors, may enjoy, hold and possess all and whatsoever honours, dignities, lands, lordships, hereditaments, possessions, goods, gear and others whatsoever pertaining and belonging, or which may be known to have pertained and belonged to the said deceased marquis or any others his predecessors, and that the said James, now marquis of Montrose, or any others the heirs or executors of the said marquis or of his said father or their predecessors, may be served and retoured heirs of line, male or tailzie respectively and may be infeft as heirs respectively foresaid, and that they may be confirmed executors to them likewise as if the said forfeitures had never been, and this present act to be valid, any act or statute to the contrary notwithstanding.
The lord commissioner continues the parliament until tomorrow at 9 o'clock in the morning, and all summons as above.