[1662/5/123]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of his estates of parliament, ratifies and approves and, for his highness and his successors, perpetually confirms, the lease or tack made and granted by his majesty, under his highness's privy seal, of the date 23 April last past, to his majesty's right trusty and well-beloved cousin and councillor James, earl of Newburgh, making mention that by a late signature dated the [...] day of [...], his majesty (for the good service and loyalty of the said earl of Newburgh) had set and in tack and assedation let to the said earl all the custom of the borders between England and Scotland, within which bounds the customs of all goods imported or exported at Portpatrick in Galloway, from the river of Stinchar inclusive, to the river of Nith inclusive, are not expressed, notwithstanding it was his majesty's intention to include the same in the said gift. Therefore, his majesty, with advice and consent of his right trusty cousin and councillor John [Lindsay], earl of Crawford Lindsay, lord Struthers and Parbroath, his majesty's great treasurer, controller and collector general and treasurer of his majesty's new augmentations within the kingdom of Scotland, and also of his highness's well-beloved councillor William [Bellenden], lord Bellenden, his highness's depute in all the foresaid offices, and of the remaining lords and others of his majesty's exchequer of the said kingdom, set in tack and assedation for the yearly duty therein specified to the said James, earl of Newburgh, for the whole space, years and terms of five full and complete years, and from five years to five years until the issue and expiring of twenty years, and for the space of one year thereafter, all and whole the customs of all goods and merchandise, which have been in use to pay custom, imported or exported by whatsoever person or persons within these bounds foresaid, at whatsoever port, haven or harbour, creek or rock, with the liberty of cocket and searchery, with power to seize upon all goods prohibited to be transported, and upon all goods and commodities exported or imported within the bounds, or at any of the places aforesaid, which are customable and have not paid their due customs, the said goods so seized upon being always escheat, the one half to belong to his majesty's exchequer and the other half to the said James, earl of Newburgh and his assignees; the said James, earl of Newburgh's entry to the said tack is thereby declared to have been and begun immediately from 31 December 1660, and that he has right to the whole bygone customs since that time and in time coming during the space above-written, in the whole heads, articles and clauses thereof, declaring hereby this present general ratification to be as valid, effectual and sufficient as if the foresaid tack were word by word inserted herein; with the which and with all other defects and imperfections whatsoever that may be in any way objected against the foresaid tack, or this present ratification thereof, our said sovereign lord, with advice and consent foresaid, has dispensed and hereby dispenses for ever. Likewise his majesty, with consent above-written, does hereby declare and ordain that the said James, earl of Newburgh and his foresaids shall peaceably bruik, enjoy and possess the foresaid customs within the bounds above-specified, conforming to the tenor of the foresaid tack, during the whole years and space above-mentioned, without any let or interruption whatsoever.