[1579/10/19]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Concerning the supplication given in by Margaret Cunningham, widow of the late James Cochrane of Barbachlaw and now spouse to James Muirhead of Lauchope, making mention that where marriage was completed between the said James Muirhead and her, she having no knowledge of any crime or offence done by him against our sovereign lord's authority or laws in any way, and now being summoned amongst certain others for certain crimes laid to their charge pertained in the summons of treason directed thereupon, such is the rigour of the law that the said Margaret will be excluded from the small rent and living pertaining to her through her said late first husband if the forfeiture proceeds against the said James, her last spouse, to her utter ruin, unless our sovereign lord's piety and mercy be extended towards her; and seeing she is innocent of all the crimes laid to the said James, her spouse, she has assured hope and confidence in his majesty's clemency and favour to be shown to her, as has been already extended to others being in the like misery and calamity, since she has no other thing to live on but that small rent pertaining to her said late first husband; therefore beseeching our said sovereign lord and lords of articles to have consideration hereof and of this her miserable state, and to take such good order as she may peaceably enjoy and have the use of all lands and possessions pertaining to her properly by decease of her said late spouse, with the goods and plenishing being therein, during her lifetime, to her necessary use and sustentation, and that she be not prejudiced nor hurt in the possession and using thereof through the forfeiture to be led against her said spouse, and to cause an act to be made thereupon as is appropriate, with provision and condition that the said James, her spouse, shall in no way be helped by her said living, and that she shall in no way reset, supply, assist nor communicate with any declared or that hereafter shall happen to be declared traitors, as culpable and guilty of the murders perpetrated in the persons of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our sovereign lord's late father, and [Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox and James Stewart, earl of Moray], his two regents, as at more length is contained in the said supplication. Which being seen and considered by the king's majesty, with advice of the three estates of this present parliament, decrees and declares that the said Margaret Cunningham shall peaceably enjoy and have the use of all lands, rents and possessions pertaining to her properly by the decease of the said late James Cochrane, her spouse, with the goods and plenishing being therein during her lifetime to her necessary use and sustentation, and that she be not prejudiced nor hurt in the enjoyment and use thereof through the forfeiture led against the said James Muirhead, sometime of Lauchope, providing that the said Margaret behave herself as a loyal and obedient subject to our sovereign lord and that she in no way reset, supply, assist or communicate with any declared or that hereafter shall happen to be declared traitors, as culpable of the murders perpetrated against the persons of our sovereign lord's dearest grandfather and uncle, his highness's regents for the time.