[1579/10/77]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Concerning the supplication presented to the king's majesty and three estates in this present parliament by James, earl of Morton, lord of Dalkeith, admiral of this realm, and John, earl of Mar, lord Erskine, Annabella [Murray], countess of Mar, his mother, and his kinsmen and friends lately attending on his highness's service within his castle of Stirling, of the which the tenor follows:
The Earl of Morton's supplication
Sovereign lord, to your majesty most humbly means and shows I, your servant, James, earl of Morton, lord of Dalkeith, admiral of your realm, that where I trust it be not unknown that I have at all times past, after my ability and power, served your highness and your predecessors and in your said service have spent a great part of my age, not only in that service which to your other lieges upon their duty is common, but in special attendance and charge in the maintenance and defence of your highness's authority, [in] opposition to them who in your highness's infancy rebelled against the same; for the setting forth whereof, it is well known that I did neither fear the hazard of my life nor spare my substance nor the blood of my friends. I was also, in the most difficult time, forced to take upon me the government and charge of your realm and that by the advice of your nobility and estates in parliament the same, in that your highness's tender age, being in the midst of the troubles destitute of a governor, which charge, for your majesty's welfare and good of your realm, I then accepted and travailed therein, until it pleased your highness to receive the regiment in your own hand; whereof, as I was glad to be unburdened, so esteemed I my service and travail well bestowed, for that all things done in the time that I bore charge were after trial first of the whole nobility assembled in general council and then by the estates of parliament found and declared to have been done for your highness's honour and security, the good of your realm and subjects, through which I had, and have, just occasion by your grace's favour to esteem my service past well considered and recompensed. Since then, I have continued in your grace's service as it pleased your highness to command me, and therein I take God to record that I have behaved myself conveniently in all things wherein my judgement might be profitable to your grace and your realm, understanding also that during the said space my service and good affection has been well liked of by your grace. Nevertheless, some malicious and seditious persons labouring, if it were possible, to alienate from me your grace's favour and to breed sedition and trouble within your realm now in your highness's tender age, and your country being even of late at some repose from the former trouble, have sought many occasions to disturb the present quietness, and amongst other wicked inventions have forged and feigned a slanderous report and infamous rumour against me that I was art and part of the poison rumoured to be lately given to the late John [Stewart], earl of Atholl, lord of Balvenie, your highness's chancellor, whereof it is alleged he departed this life. The chief authors of that rumour are not known to me by any certainty, and yet not only is there a slanderous rumour but seditious rhymes and infamous libels openly published, albeit I doubt not but God, who is the author of all truth, my own conscience and all honourable persons will bear witness that I am innocent of all art and part of any such abominable deeds and facts as whereof I am most unjustly slandered. But yet seeing the said slanderous, seditious and false rumour altogether ceases not in such as malign against the truth, I cannot now, when your majesty has your nobility and estates of parliament convened in so full number, abstain from my complaint, the said slander tending not only to the hurt of my honour and fame if the same may be wounded by such false inventions and manifest lies, but to the great slander of your highness's realm either if your counsellors and nobility being rumoured with so shameful a deed shall not be tried and punished according to their deserving, or if they be innocent to sustain such false reports to be made of them within and without the realm, to the manifest reproach of the whole estate and nation, and to the prejudice of the persons so rumoured. Wherefore I beseech your majesty, with good advice of your estates present, to have respect to my earnest affection to your highness's service, which God willing shall continue to my life's end, and to consider how heavy a burden it is to an honourable person to sustain such a calumny. And also seeing the kin and friends of the said late John, earl of Atholl have compeared at this present parliament, that such order may be taken as pertains touching the trial of the raisers of the aforesaid slanderous rumours and that their said false report may be punished as appropriate, to the effect that all nations may know and understand that neither shall such abominable offences remain unpunished within your realm if they can be tried, nor shall such false reporters have liberty of speech to the hurt of whatsoever honourable persons, being innocent as said is, without suitable punishment. And your gracious answer most humbly I beseech.
The Earl of Mar's bill
Sovereign lord, to your majesty and your estates convened in this present parliament humbly means and shows your faithful servant John, earl of Mar, lord Erskine, Annabella, countess of Mar, my mother, and my kinsmen and friends lately attending on your highness's service within your castle of Stirling, that where it is not unknown to your highness how the late John, earl of Mar, sometime regent, and we have truly served your highness from the hour of your birth to this time, and have bestowed our whole engines, care and travails in your highness's nurture and attendance upon your person in your young age, in hope of the comfort that now as well we as the remainder of your faithful subjects find of your majesty, being of God's grace and favour now come to this estate and age. Nevertheless, as is also well known to your highness and lords, we have been heavily slandered, injured and misreported of to your highness's self as the authors and instruments of the poisoning of the last Earl of Atholl, now resting with God, for which as we worthily deserve most severe punishment if we were guilty, so being innocent, as God knows we are, we sustain a heavy slander while being guiltless; and there is great injury done to your highness's self to put you in suspicion and wrong conceit of them that have ever faithfully served your progenitors and yourself as we and our forebears have done, through which we are constrained now, as of before, at Stirling, to beseech your majesty and lords for God's sake and for a recompense of our long and diligent service done to your highness, to which, God willing, we shall continue to our lives' end, to consider how heavy a burden it is to persons of honour and long continued credit to sustain such a calumny. And also seeing the kin and friends of the said late Earl of Atholl have compeared in this present parliament, that such order may be taken therein as appertains touching the trial of the raisers of the aforesaid slanderous rumours and that their said untrue reports may be punished as appropriate, to the effect that all nations and your highness's own subjects may know and understand that neither such abominable offences remain unpunished within your realm if they may be tried, nor shall such untrue reporters have such liberty of speech to the hurt of whatsoever honourable persons, your own faithful servants, being innocent as said is, without suitable punishment. And your gracious answer most humbly we beseech.
Which supplications being read and considered by his highness and his said estates, the effect thereof was communicated and declared by his highness's commandment and direction to John [Murray], now earl of Atholl, lord of Balvenie, and Margaret, countess of Atholl, his mother, who compearing personally in presence of his highness and his said estates, the said Countess of Atholl presented likewise a supplication, whereof the tenor follows:
It will please your majesty of your goodness and clemency to hear my cause and do my son and me justice in this that after follows, which is, your highness will call to your remembrance how your majesty's most humble, faithful and true servant, my lord and good husband, was suddenly cut off, to the great hurt of your highness's surety and service and commonwealth of your realm, me and my bairns, by what means I doubt not your majesty remembers to have heard declared before you and your council by the depositions of the doctors and surgeons being convened in Stirling on [...] June 1579, at your highness's command; as I also for my interest, where I offered to your majesty before your council to declare further of my said lord and husband's conscience, and a part of that which he spoke to me, openly or privately, as should best please your highness, whereof as yet I have not been required. And now seeing the time convenient to let your majesty and council understand the same, I have taken the courage to give in this bill, which upon my true faith to God and your highness, and that I never be one of those that Christ suffered for if I shall say otherwise than the self same words my lord and husband spoke to me, saying in these terms: 'Alas, wife, I have gotten wrong done to me'. 'My lord', said I, 'credit not that: God would not suffer so should by seeing you have not deserved such punishment at his hand nor at man's. And if so were, take a good heart and put your confidence in him; he is a mighty God who will relieve you of it and send you your health as he did [James Stewart], earl of Moray, who was rumoured to have gotten the like wrong in France. But I cannot believe any of those living would do that deed to you'. 'Well', said he, 'you will not let me say the truth. But when God calls upon me to his mercy, you and your bairns will find it to be over true'. Said I, 'If such things be, where think you wrong was done to you?'. 'In the castle of Stirling', said he, 'being at my dinner, where immediately thereafter I felt myself evil at ease. And before I came out of the castle I showed [Agnes Graham], lady Tullibardine my disease and that I suspected there was wrong done to me'. 'Which', said he, 'I know she will not deny, for I esteem her to be true and honest. And on the morning after I got the wrong done to me, being at my supper in my lord [Colin Campbell, earl of] Argyll's house, I said in Irish to him, putting my hand to my breast, the wrong I have gotten is in this part'. He said often enough to your majesty's minister John Duncanson and to another minister called Master John Hamill and to George Boswell, surgeon, that he had gotten wrong done to him, bidding God reward the doers as they can testify. But, sir, to say who was the giver of it, I cannot well declare at this present, but hope in the Lord that by his grace and your highness's help the same shall come to light and true trial; beseeching most humbly your majesty in the meantime not to forget the cutting away of your own blood, but to keep the same in memory and to hold hand to the trial of the same and punishment thereof, according to their demerits, committers of the crime, and to then that it may please your majesty, my son, I and our friends suffer no wrong. As also your highness not to be hasty in according to any act of parliament for punishment of those that murmur and lament the case, for that wicked deed will be spoken of to the world's end in special by those that find themselves interested thereby. It will please your highness to leave my son and me here to protest before your highness and your council that nothing done in this parliament that may cause the extinguishing of my lord, my husband's murder, or otherwise proceeded against us in that action be prejudicial to the cause or impediment to my son, me and our friends to follow forth the trial and punishment thereof, but that we may have place to the same as time shall serve. This we most humbly crave of your majesty and that we may have act of parliament hereupon.
And the said supplication presented by the said countess of Atholl being likewise heard and considered, the king's majesty and his three estates find and declare the desires, as well of the said Earl of Morton, the Earl and Countess of Mar, his mother, and his kinsmen and friends aforesaid, and also of the said Countess of Atholl in their said supplications respectively, to be honourable and reasonable, that is to say, the said earls of Morton and Mar, the Countess of Mar, his mother, and his kinsmen and friends in seeking the trial of the raisers of the aforesaid slanderous rumours, and in offering themselves now, as of before, to be tried as they offer themselves always to be ready to underlie the same trial whenever any shall directly accuse them. And the said Countess of Atholl, seeing she cannot declare at this present as she affirms who were the doers of the wrong to her husband in her protestation, that nothing done in this present parliament be prejudicial to the cause or impediment to her son, her and their friends to follow forth the trial and punishment thereof, but that they may have place to the same as time shall serve always, our said sovereign lord, with advice of his said estates, statutes and ordains that none of his highness's subjects presume or take upon hand to slander, backbite, reproach or injure the said earls of Morton, Mar, the said Countess of Mar and his kinsmen and friends above-written as art and part of the alleged poisoning of the said late Earl of Atholl, without it being in direct accusation and pursued by order of justice according to the laws which they have offered and still offer themselves ready to underlie whenever they shall be lawfully accused; certifying all persons that do in the contrary they shall be esteemed and pursued as liars and tellers of lies to engender discord between his highness and his nobility, according to the acts of parliament made thereat and according to the pains contained therein; and that letters be directed for publication hereof in due form as is appropriate.
[1579/10/78]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Concerning the supplication given in to the king's majesty and lords of articles in this present parliament by Robert, lord Boyd, making mention that where he has bought from Gavin Hamilton of Raploch since the pacification made and concluded at Perth, on 23 February 1572 [1573], ratified and approved in parliament, since he then being our sovereign lord's obedient subject, all and sundry the lands and parks underwritten in good faith, which were set in feu of old to the said Gavin by the late Gavin [Hamilton], commendator of Kilwinning, as his infeftment and confirmation thereof purports, of the dates respectively at Kilwinning, on 26 June 1559, 10 October 1566 and 27 September 1563, namely, all and whole the wood called the Innerwood and new park of Kilwinning, lying within the parish and regality of Kilwinning and sheriffdom of Ayr; the meadow called the Swandame Meadow; the meadow called Dean William Wood's Meadow; the meadow called the Rowne Meadow; the meadow called Dalglen Meadow; eight acres of land called the Beirflat; the ward called Meikle Ward, alias Bogward; the meadow called the Prior's Meadow and Parson's Fauld; the meadow called Meikle Meadow, alias Braid Meadow; and nine acres of land called Kilrig, alias Oxenward; the mill called Synacrie Mill, with four acres of land adjacent thereto and astricted multures thereof used and wont, and all and sundry their pertinents, together with the teinds of all and sundry the aforesaid lands, with their pertinents, lying as said is; the nineteen shilling, four penny land of new extent of Whitehirst; three shilling, six penny land of old extent of Over Whitehirst; twenty penny land of Brigend Easter; twenty-four shilling land of old extent of Overhill of Beith, with the teinds of the same; twenty shilling, four penny land of new extent of Bogside, within the parish of Beith and regality aforesaid, with the teinds of the same; two shilling, eight penny land of the said lands of Bogside of old extent; eight shilling, four penny land of the same lands; eleven shilling, eight penny land of the said lands of Bogside of new extent; four shilling, two penny land of the lands aforesaid, lying in the parish of Kilwinning, regality and sheriffdoms aforesaid; and because the said Gavin is to be forfeited in this present parliament for certain crimes of treason and lese-majesty committed by him, which, by reason of the late act of parliament concerning the dispositions made or to be made by any manner of person or persons convicted, or that hereafter shall happen to be convicted of treason, will prejudice the infeftments and rights acquired by the said Lord Boyd of the aforesaid lands and parks, who loyally and truly served our said sovereign lord at sundry places and now lately at Hamilton and abides at his majesty's obedience, notwithstanding that the same lands are cost by the said lord in good faith as said is, unless our sovereign lord and lords of articles provide remedy; beseeching therefore our said sovereign lord and lords of articles, in consideration of the premises, to declare, decree and ordain that the infeftments and rights acquired by the said lord of the aforesaid lands and meadows may stand in effect and to be sufficient and valid in the self, notwithstanding any process of forfeiture led or to be led against the said Gavin, acts, laws or statutes made or to be made in the contrary; and that the said lord may have an act of parliament thereupon according to justice, as at more length is contained in the said supplication. Which being seen and considered by the king's majesty and three estates of this present parliament, they declare, decree and ordain that the aforesaid infeftments and rights acquired by the said Robert, lord Boyd of the aforesaid lands, mills and meadows shall stand in effect and be sufficient and valid in the self, notwithstanding any process of forfeiture led or to be led against the said Gavin Hamilton, sometime of Raploch, acts, laws or statutes made or to be made in the contrary.
[1579/10/79]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Concerning the supplication given in by John Gilbert, goldsmith, burgess of Edinburgh, making mention that where in the parliament held at Stirling Castle on 25 July 1578 there was an act made remitting the cause pursued at his instance before the lords of council against Robert Gray, burgess of the said burgh, his wife and bairns, to the lords appointed for revising of the laws, and by the said act the said lords of session discharged of all proceeding in the said matter, as the said act at more length purports. Since the making of the which act, the said John finding himself accused of process and justice, submitted himself to the lords of secret council of new in Stirling and then received their deliverance, ordaining him to submit himself to the said lords, visitors of the laws, at their convening in St Andrews, as the said deliverance thereof in likewise bears; and according thereto, the said John submitted himself of new to the said lords and visitors of the laws at their last convention in St Andrews, who having considered the whole estate of the cause and how the said matter was remitted to them to take trial therein, and they, understanding that the matter was proceeded to probation and a petition made therein before the lords of session long before the making of the said act of parliament, found and declared that they could not deal with the said matter and that the said lords of session should proceed and administer justice therein where they left, in respect that litiscontestation was made therein before them of before as said is, as the act and ordinance of the said visitors of the laws of the date at St Andrews, 23 April 1579 in like manner at more length purports. Which whole acts and ordinances above-written, being seen and considered first by the lords of articles and thereafter by the king's majesty and three estates, our said sovereign lord, with advice of his three estates of this present parliament, has remitted and remits the aforesaid matter pursued by the said John Gilbert against the said Robert Gray and his colleagues again to the said lords of session, where the same took first beginning, and ordains them to proceed and do justice thereinto where it left before them to the final end and decision thereof as they will answer to the king's majesty upon the execution of their offices, notwithstanding the said act and ordinance made at Stirling upon the said 25 July 1578 aforesaid; and ordains letters to be directed hereupon, if need be, in the appropriate form.
[1579/10/80]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Forasmuch as our sovereign lord and his three estates in his last parliament, considering that the universities of this realm appointed for education of the youth, which should be the seed and upholders of the commonwealth and kirk of God, being well founded as well in rents as provision of masters, teachers and bursars, were, notwithstanding, misused by particular persons to their own advantage, without respect to the diligent upbringing of the youth in virtue and good letters, little regarding the commonwealth of this realm and posterity to come, and that the form of teaching was, for the most part, unprofitable, whereby the youth lose their time and parents are frustrated of their expectation; therefore his highness, with advice of his said estates, gave, granted and committed full power and commission to certain noble, reverend, worshipful and discreet persons expressed in the act of parliament made thereupon to visit and consider the foundations and erections of the universities and colleges within this realm to reform such things as sounded to superstition, idolatry and papistry, to displace unqualified and unsuitable persons to discharge their offices in the said universities, to plant such qualified and worthy persons therein as they should find good and sufficient for education of the youth; which persons so appointed, failing to convene at the first diet, nothing was performed until of late, that the matter being remembered by direction from the general assembly of the ministry, especially thinking the University of St Andrews suitable to be reformed, his highness, with advice of the lords of his secret council, ordained and commanded the masters of the said university to be at Edinburgh at a certain day with the foundations of their colleges, to be seen and considered by any six, five or four of such noble, reverend and circumspect persons as his majesty, with advice of his said council, had chosen, committing to them full power to visit and consider the said foundations, to remove all superstitions and papistry, to displace unqualified persons and plant worthy and qualified in their rooms, to redress the form of studies and teaching by more or fewer professors, to join or divide the faculties, to annex every faculty to such college as shall be found most proper and generally to establish such order in that university as shall most tend to the glory of God, profit of this commonwealth and good upbringing of the youth in sciences needful for continuing of the true religion to all posterity, as the act of secret council thereupon at more length purports; and they convening at Edinburgh, and having seen and considered the foundations and erections of the said University of St Andrews, have found the present estate in all the colleges thereof so far altered from the first institution, the most part of the very foundations so far disagreeing with the true religion and so far different from that perfection of teaching which this learned age craves, and they being needful of directions, which the old foundations appoint, being in many things omitted and neglected, have therefore, with common consent, devised and drawn a more profitable and perfect order to be observed in the said university in time coming, as the same subscribed with the hands of the said commissioners at more length bears; which his highness, with advice of his three estates, ordains to be here inserted, and of the same the tenor follows:
To the right excellent, right high and mighty prince James VI, by the grace of God, king of Scots, our sovereign lord, your majesty's daily orators and most honourable subjects, your highness's commissioners for reformation of the University of St Andrews underwritten specially constituted, having at command and direction of your majesty seen and considered the foundations and erections of the said university and been credibly informed of the present condition thereof, with the order of exercise observed therein these sundry years past, and finding the estate of all the colleges at this present time so far altered from the first institution, the most part of the very foundations so far disagreeing with the true religion and so far different from that perfection of teaching which this learned age craves, and they being needful of directions, which the old foundations appoint, being in many things omitted and neglected, we have, therefore, with common consent, devised and drawn the form and order following as more profitable to be observed in the said university in time coming, to the glory of God, honour of your majesty, profit of this commonwealth and good upbringing of the youth in sciences, needful for continuing of the true religion to all posterity. First, we ordain the New College for the study of theology only, in the which five masters daily teaching shall in four years complete the whole course of the New and Old Testament and the common places in this order, namely: the first lecture in the first six months shall teach the precepts of the Hebrew grammar and practice thereof in David, Solomon and Job; in the other six months, the precepts of Caldaic, Syriac and use of the same in Daniel, Ezra, the Paraphrases and Syriac New Testament; the second lecture in the second year and a half shall interpret out of the Hebrew and sensibly open up the law of Moses and the history of the Old Testament, conferring with the Paraphrases, Septuagints and other learned versions where need be; the third lecture in the last year and a half shall, with the like diligence, expone the Prophets, great and small; the fourth lecture shall teach the New Testament out of the Greek tongue during the whole course, conferring with the Syriac; the fifth lecture shall read the common places during the whole course so that the students of theology, hearing daily three lessons the space of four years, shall with mean diligence become perfect theologians; to this end there shall be daily repetitions, once in the week public disputations, every month declamations, three solemn examinations in the course: the first in the end of the first year in the tongues, and so far as they have heard of the Common Places and New Testament; the second examination after the second year and a half in the law, history and so much as shall be read of the Common Places and New Testament; and the third examination in the end of the course in all the tongues, the whole Bible and Common Places; these three solemn examinations shall begin on 10 September, wherein every learned man shall be free to dispute. And because there is great rarity at this present of men learned in the knowledge of the tongues and other things needful for such professors, we have therefore elected certain of the most qualified persons known to us as the said five masters for teaching of the course of theology in the order before written in the said New College, to begin how soon possibly they may be transported there; of the which, three to enter this present year, and ordain the persons now occupying the place of masters in the said college to remove from there without delay. Item, when it shall happen any of the five masters or professors to be deficient or that the number shall not be full, that the election of qualified persons therefore shall from this time forth pertain to the Archbishop of St Andrews, the conservator of the privileges of the said university, the rector, deans of faculty and remaining masters of theology, or the most part of them that shall be present in St Andrews the day appointed for the election; for which purpose, the rector, or in case of his absence or negligence the dean of faculty, within six days after the vacancy of the room by decease or otherwise, shall affix an edict upon one month's warning that all learned men may convene out of all parts of the realm, of whom the worthiest after due examination to be preferred; and to the same persons, electors, shall belong the charge of deposition and deprivation of such as shall be thought unworthy either in doctrine or life or not doing their duty faithfully and diligently in that profession to which they happen to be elected. Item, we ordain eight bursars in theology to be received, taught and have their board upon the rents of the said New College, the stipends and board of the masters hereafter specially declared being first allowed. Item, because it is clearly understood that there has been and is great corruption and abuse in receiving of the bursars in every faculty rather upon favour and solicitation than for virtue or in support of poverty, therefore that in receiving of bursars in time coming, either in theology or any other faculty, there be a public edict fixed by the first master of the college, or in case of his absence or negligence, by the next master, upon 20 days' warning of before 1 October yearly, and by diligent examination of the rector, deans of faculty and the masters of the college where the bursary happens to become vacant, the poorest to be preferred, all other things being equal, if he shall be found as well learned and qualified, without prejudice always of the lawful patrons who, notwithstanding, shall be held to present qualified persons, and that none shall possess a bursary in any faculty but for the space of four years; and that every bursar in theology founded or to be founded in whatsoever college in the said University of St Andrews shall be bound to resort to the lessons and exercise of the said New College now appointed for theology and complete their course as said is. Item, that learning may further increase and qualified persons only be provided to ecclesiastical offices and charges within this realm, we ordain that after the space of four years immediately following the date hereof, none shall be admitted to the ministry of the word of God and sacraments or any benefice having cure of souls except such as have completed their course in theology, or, by rigorous examination by the faculty, shall be found worthy and qualified to receive all their degrees in the said faculty. Item, that the youth may attain a perfect knowledge of humanity and true philosophy, we ordain that in either of the other two colleges, namely, St Leonard's and St Salvator's, there shall be, besides the principal, four ordinary professors or regents, every one continuing in his own profession; the first regent in the first year of the course shall teach the precepts of the Greek tongue and use thereof in the best and most easy authors, with exercise in composition, the first six months in Latin, the rest in Greek; the second regent shall teach the precepts of invention, disposition and elocution in the second year, the shortest, easiest and most accurate with practise thereof in the best authors of both the tongues; the third regent shall teach the most profitable and needful parts of the logic of Aristotle, with the ethics and politics all in Greek and the offices of Cicero in Latin; the fourth regent shall teach in Greek so much of the physics as is needful within the sphere. Item, that the books most needful and profitable shall be appointed for every class by the rector, deans of faculty and their assessors. Item, that every author be read in that tongue in which they write. Item, that the two classes of humanity shall spend at the least one hour daily in composition. Item, that in the last six months of the second year they shall begin to declaim once in the month in Greek and Latin alternatively, besides their daily compositions, which declamation shall continue the two last years. Item, that emulation may be stirred up amongst the said scholars, that they be divided into a body of ten and he preferred to greatest honour who best declaims or composes his theme once in the month to be given for that end. Item, that in every one of the said four classes there shall be every Sunday one lesson in Greek: the first in the evangel of Saint Luke, the second in the acts of the Apostles, the third in the epistles to the Romans, the fourth in the epistle to the Hebrews. Item, because the youth lose much time yearly by long vacation, we ordain that the vacation shall endure only in the month of September, and before 1 October everyone shall return, at the which day the examination of the scholars of humanity and philosophy shall begin, amongst whom the worthy to be promoted and the negligent to be held back. Item, that about 20 August they that have ended their course, after rigorous examination being found qualified, shall be made masters. And when it shall happen the principal or any of the four ordinary professors and regents in either of the said two colleges appointed for humanity and philosophy to be deficient, or that the number appointed shall not be full, the election of qualified persons thereto shall pertain to the said bishop, conservator, rector, deans of faculties and remaining masters of all the three colleges, or the most part of them that shall be present at the day appointed for the election; for which purpose, edicts shall be set up in manner and within the like space as is prescribed in the election of the masters in the college of theology. And the bursars in the arts to be received and admitted by rigour of examination yearly in time coming after this act on 1 October, that the principal of St Salvator's College shall be professor in medicine and the principal of St Leonard's in the philosophy of Plato, which shall read ordinarily four times in the week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, at the hours to be appointed by the electors and masters of the university; that the lawyer and mathematician of before in the New College shall now be in St Salvator's College and have their stipends and board upon the fruits thereof, and be elected and admitted as the masters of the colleges; that the lawyer now appointed to remain and be in St Salvator's College shall read within the same four lessons of the law weekly, namely, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, to which lessons in the law shall be ordinary auditors all the advocates and scribes in the consistory and such others as are desirous to proceed in the faculty of the law, and that none be admitted before the lords or other judges to ordinary procuration unless they shall give first specimen doctrine in the University of St Andrews and report a testimonial of the said university witnessing their qualification and how far they have proceeded in the study of the law and thereupon affirming that they diligently kept the lessons so long as they remained in the university; that the mathematician now in St Salvator's College shall read within the same four lessons weekly in the mathematical sciences in such days and hours as shall be appointed to the said lawyer and mathematician by the rector and masters of the university, who also shall appoint the ordinary auditors for the mathematician. That the electors and masters of all the colleges in the university, the provost of the city, with such two of the bailies thereof as they shall think suitable to take with them, or so many of this number as are present in the city for the time, shall convene with the principals of the three colleges every year on 1 October, and by common consent and agreement condescend and prescribe the prices of boards and manner and number of courses of such as live in college for the year then to come; that the prices and order may be uniform in all the three colleges, through which the differences of prices or diversity of entertainment prejudice none of them. That the wonted obedience, reverence and authority that in ancient time was given to the chancellor, rector, deans of faculties and conservator and of late years has somewhat decayed, be restored, and that every one of the chief officers, whether it be in judgement given upon them that are under their jurisdiction or in visiting the colleges, be maintained and in no way stopped by any alleged privilege in the contrary. And that in place of the pain of cursing used of before upon offenders and the disobedient, they be now determined by decreet of the rector and chief members of the university, after the cognition of the cause, to be debarred, secluded and removed out of the university and to lose and forfeit the privileges and benefits thereof, to the execution of which decreet the provost and bailies of the city of St Andrews shall concur and assist if the necessity so require and that they be thereto by the university required; or otherwise there shall likewise be letters passed, by deliverance of the lords of council and session, upon the said decreet and disobedience thereof, as had accustomed to be given of before upon cursed persons within the said university upon the requisition of the same. That the points properly belonging to the office of the chancellor, rector, deans of faculties and conservator of the university be sought out of the ancient statutes, foundations and privileges by the persons presently occupying the same offices, and that everyone present his own to your majesty between now and 1 March 1580, to the effect that the same, being found good and allowable, may also be registered and remain with these present statutes. That the founded persons in every college, as well teachers as students, be first well qualified according to the order now appointed, and next that they be diligent in discharging of their offices to the intent that neither ignorance nor idleness in place of science and virtue labouring be maintained or permitted, but that every one according to the order presently appointed be exercised. That the wives, bairns and servants of the principals and other masters in the university be put apart in the city out of the colleges, so that women, to an evil and slanderous example, have not residence amongst the young men students, nor yet that the same women have any administration and handling of the common goods of the college, to the great prejudice thereof, and of such as freely would give themselves to the study of letters; be it always hereby understood that the bairns and servants of the said principals and masters that shall be actual students lawfully and orderly entered in the college are not hereby secluded. That every college be visited thrice in the year by the rector and deans of faculties, with their assessors, according to the statutes of the university. And for keeping of good order and uniformity, that every man's complaint be heard and the fault whatsoever corrected; and where either the rector or dean of faculty is principal or master in any college, in that case the remaining electors and visitors to visit that college. That the principals of the colleges between now and 1 May 1580 certify your majesty what persons are entered to them of new by presentation of your highness or other patrons as bursars to any prebendaries or likewise rents and when every one was entered, and that they also give warning to your highness or other patrons when the rooms become vacant, either by decease, deprivation or ending of the course and due time and their interest in respect of the terms of payment to be reckoned either at Martinmas [11 November] or Whitsunday [May/June]. That when the bursar presented shall not be found qualified, the principal or master shall by his own letter, directed with another (not the party repulsed), certify your majesty or other patron of the cause of non-admission or deprivation, to the effect that another sufficiently qualified may be presented to the room of new; the like certification to be at the yearly examination of the bursars in case they be not found worthy to proceed forward in their degrees. That in all admission and promotion the examiners and assessors be sworn that they shall admit nor promote none but such as shall be, by the rigour of examination and sufficient literature, found worthy to be promoted. That all public lectures have a register of all the ordinary auditors coming to the lesson, as well of their own college as without, and that the said auditors subscribe the discipline and be subject to the exercise and disputation and the day of their entry to be registered. And seeing the persons presently to be displaced (beside the provost of the New College who has already the charge of the ministry of the city and parish of St Andrews, which is a burden great enough for any one man to discharge) are either regents or bursars in philosophy, therefore that the regents displaced be preferred to the places of bursars in theology in the said New College, if they will accept the same, and the bursars of philosophy therein which have been lawfully received to be still nourished and maintained until the end of their course, upon the stipends of two of the masters of the said New College which shall not enter until the rents of the same college conveniently may sustain them; and the said bursars to resort to their lessons in any of the other two colleges where they think suitable until the end of their course, to be continued in such form as they began. The principal masters of the colleges shall have no intromission with the common goods and rents thereof but a steward chosen and having commission of the whole masters of every college, of which steward they shall receive daily account; and that there be in every college one common chest, with a sundry lock and key for every master thereof, for preservation of the rents of the college until the same be rightly distributed with common consent. And touching the rents and distribution thereof, we ordain the rents of the kirks annexed of old to the fees of several masters in St Salvator's College to remain and be accounted in time coming amongst the ordinary rents of the same college; and that either of the two principal masters, professors of theology in the said New College, shall have for their fee and their own and their servants' board £100 money and three chalders of victual, namely, 12 bolls of wheat, one chalder of barley and one chalder, four bolls of oats; every one of the other three masters and professors of theology in the same college, £100 and one chalder of victual, namely, four bolls of wheat, six bolls of barley and six bolls of oats; every one of the eight bursars of theology within the same New College shall have for his board £22 6s 8d money, two bolls of wheat, five bolls of barley, two bolls of oats and the rest of the rents to be bestowed for the fees of the common servants, reparation of the place and reserved for public uses upon account; in the colleges of humanity and philosophy, the principal master and the lawyer and the mathematician, every one for his own fee and his own and his servants' board, £100 money and one chalder of oats; every one of the other four ordinary professors or regents written before for his fee and his board, 100 merks; and for the board of every bursar in philosophy, 50 merks, reserving the rest of the rents for the fees of the common servants, reparation of the place and other public uses upon account, providing that all persons thus ordained to live on the college rents and that have ordinary charges within the colleges apply that which is appointed for their board and eat together within the college in such sort as they can best agree amongst themselves. That it be in no way lawful to the masters of any of the said colleges to set the kirks, lands, fruits and rents annexed thereto in feu or tacks, to the diminution of the rental, or by the changing of victual in prices of silver, under the pain of deprivation from their places; and in case any shall happen maliciously to do otherwise, that it be worthy cause of deprivation to the setter and that the set, feu or disposition whatsoever shall be no longer valuable to the purchaser thereof, nor the setters, possessors, their places and rooms in the college. And for execution of this present reformation, we humbly and earnestly require your majesty to grant commission to such honourable, worthy and zealous persons as your highness and your estates shall think expedient that will and may attend thereto, specially to command them to call before them all such as have had the charge of the said colleges and intromitted with the rents thereof in time past, and to hear and see their accounts subscribed, discharges to them, receive their rentals, libraries, furnishings and plenishing, upon perfect inventory, and deliver the same upon the like inventory to the masters now to be placed according to this reformation in the said colleges, with formal and good rentals to be made of the rents of every one of the said colleges for the better collection and account thereof in time coming, inhibiting the persons now displaced of all further dealing and intromission with the said rents and all feuars, farmers, tenants, tacksmen, parishioners and others whatsoever of all answering, obeying and payment making of the same to the said displaced persons of the term of Martinmas 1579 of the crop of this instant year of God 1579, certifying those that do in the contrary they shall be compelled to pay the same over again. And that it may please your majesty to cause visit and consider the said university of new at the end of four years following 1 October 1579, that it may be known what fruit and effect follows by this reformation, and always from thenceforth at the end of every four years, and that it may please your highness according to your godly zeal, always to the advancement of God's glory and good letters, to grant to the said university and to the master and members actually resident therein and to the steward and procurator of every college the like privilege for calling and expedition of their actions and cause before the lords of council and session as is granted to the prelates and members of the college of justice, and so to provide for sustenance of the ministry at the kirks annexed to the said colleges by the surplus of the thirds and other ecclesiastical rents, as neither the rents of the colleges be diminished nor the founded persons withdrawn from their ordinary studies and teaching to serve as ministers at particular kirks. In witness whereof, we have subscribed this act with our hands. At Edinburgh, 8 November 1579. It is thus subscribed, [Robert Stewart, earl of] Lennox, R[obert Pitcairn, commendator of] Dunfermline, G[eorge] Buchanan, James Haliburton, P[eter] Young.
Therefore, our said sovereign lord, with advice of his three estates, ratifies, approves and confirms the said reformation of the said University of St Andrews, made at his highness's command as said is, and for putting of the same in full execution, his majesty, with advice of his said estates, gives and grants full power, commission and authority to his dearest and only great uncle Robert, earl of Lennox, lord Darnley, commendator of the priory of St Andrews, Andrew [Leslie], earl of Rothes, lord Leslie, sheriff of Fife, Patrick [Adamson], archbishop of St Andrews, Patrick [Lindsay], lord Lindsay of the Byres, Robert [Pitcairn], commendator of Dunfermline, his highness's secretary and archdean of St Andrews, John Erskine of Dun, Master John Winram, prior of Portmoak, Master James Haliburton, provost of Dundee, or any three of them jointly, commanding all the present ministers and members of the said university to answer and obey the said commissioners in execution of the said reformation, according to the effect and meaning thereof, and if need be to make open doors and locks, for the which the doers shall incur no danger in their persons, lands or goods nor shall not be called nor accused for the same criminally nor civilly by any manner of way in time coming, the old foundations and erections of the said colleges and whole university, or anything contained therein, notwithstanding, whereat his majesty, with advice of his said estates, dispenses, and that the lords of council and session direct letters to the effect respectively above-written in the appropriate form.
[1579/10/81]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, of his special grace, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, and upon weighty and good considerations tending to the establishing of peace and quietness and universal obedience of his highness and his authority within this realm, has given and granted and, by the tenor hereof, gives and grants to John Fleming, son lawful to the late John, sometime lord Fleming, that he shall have, possess and enjoy the like benefit, favour, grace, privilege and conditions as are contained in the pacification made and accorded upon at the burgh of Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573], ratified and approved since in the parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of April 1573; and wills and grants that the same pacification be as largely and favourably extended and interpreted in favour of the said John for the surety of his life and possessing of the living, honour and goods which sometime pertained to the said late John, sometime lord Fleming, his father, as if the said John had been specially nominated and comprehended therein, or as if the whole articles, clauses and conditions of the same were herein expressly specified, restoring, rehabilitating and making the said John lawful to enter by brieve to the lands and heritage sometime pertaining to his said late father, as if he had died at our sovereign lord's faith and peace; providing always that the heritable disposition of the lands of Edmonstone to James [Douglas], earl of Morton, lord Dalkeith etc., nor the sum consigned by him for redemption of the lands and barony of Kilbucho and assigned to him by reason of escheat, and also that the town and lands of Cambusdrenny and Westwood, lying within the sheriffdom of Perth, possessed by Adam [Erskine], commendator of Cambuskenneth, be not comprehended under this present pacification and restitution, but he to enjoy the same until he be satisfied of his action which he had against the said late lord for spoiling of the teinds of the parish of Lenzie of the crops and years of 1568 and 1569; providing also that by this act our said sovereign lord be not prejudiced of the said John Fleming's ward and marriage, nor of the whole profits and commodities thereof, nor that the same be extended to the murders of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our sovereign lord's late dearest father, and [James Stewart, earl of Moray and Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox], his two regents; and further ordains this pacification and privileges specified therein to be as largely and amply extended to the said John Fleming and in his favour as any pacification is granted to whatsoever person or persons, our sovereign lord's lieges, in any time of before.
[1579/10/82]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, of his special grace, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, and upon weighty and good considerations tending to the establishing of peace and quietness and universal obedience of his highness and his authority within this realm, has given and granted and, by the tenor hereof, gives and grants to a noble and mighty lord, Andrew, earl of Rothes, lord Leslie, that he shall have, possess and enjoy the like favour, grace, benefit and privilege which are contained in the pacification made and accorded upon at the burgh of Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573], ratified and approved since in parliament; and decrees and ordains the said pacification to be as favourably and largely extended in his favour for the security of him, his life, lands, heritages, actions, causes, possessions, goods and gear whatsoever as if he were specially and expressly nominated therein, or as if the whole articles, clauses and conditions of the same were herein specially contained and expressed. And for the better security, our said sovereign lord, with advice of his said three estates, has ratified and approved and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies and approves the aforesaid pacification given and granted in manner above-written to the said earl, providing always that the same extend not to the murders of the late [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our said sovereign lord's dearest father, and James [Stewart], earl of Moray and Matthew [Stewart], earl of Lennox, regents to our sovereign lord for the time, but by this act specially and expressly excepts the same.
[1579/10/83]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates of parliament, for good considerations moving his highness tending to the quietness of this realm, and of his special grace and favour, has given and granted and, by the tenor of this present act, with advice and consent aforesaid, gives and grants to Peter Martin, burgess of Edinburgh, the like grace, benefit and favour as is contained in the pacification made at Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573], between his highness's commissioners on the one part, and the late George [Gordon], earl of Huntly, and certain others, his colleagues, on the other part, ratified and approved in his highness's parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of April 1573; and that the said pacification and approbation thereof in parliament be as largely extended to the said Peter and in his favour for the security of him, his life, lands, heritages, actions, causes, possessions, goods and gear whatsoever, as if he were specially and expressly nominated therein, or as if the whole articles, clauses and conditions of the same were herein contained and expressed. And for the better security, our said sovereign lord, with advice of his said three estates, has ratified and approved and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies and approves the said pacification given and granted to the said Peter and that the same be as largely and amply extended to him as the same is or shall be extended to the said George, earl of Huntly, his colleagues or any others named in the said first pacification and as if he were specially nominated in the same, providing that in case the said Peter be culpable of the slaughters and murders of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our said sovereign lord's late dearest father, and [James Stewart, earl of Moray and Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox], his said two regents, that he be answerable thereof as appropriate, notwithstanding the said pacification.
[1579/10/84]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates of parliament, for good considerations moving his highness tending to the quietness of this realm, and of his special grace and favour, has given and granted and, by the tenor of this present act, with advice and consent aforesaid, gives and grants to John Richardson, saddler, burgess of Edinburgh, the like grace, benefit and favour as is contained in the pacification made at Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573] between his highness's commissioners on that one part, and the late George [Gordon], earl of Huntly, and certain his colleagues on that other part, ratified and approved in his highness's parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of April 1573; and has ordained the said pacification to be as largely and favourably extended in his favour for the security of him, his life, lands, heritages, possessions, goods and gear whatsoever as if he were specially and expressly nominated therein, or as if the whole articles, clauses and conditions of the same were herein contained and expressed. And for the better security, our said sovereign lord, with advice of his said three estates, has ratified and approved and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies and approves this present pacification now given and granted to the said John and that the same be as largely and amply extended to him as the same is or shall be extended to the said George, earl of Huntly, his colleagues or any others named in the said first pacification and as if he were specially nominated in the same, providing that the same extend not to the murders of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our said sovereign lord's late dearest father, and [James Stewart, earl of Moray and Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox], his two regents, but he to be answerable thereof as appropriate, notwithstanding this pacification.
[1579/10/85]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, for good considerations moving his highness tending to the quietness of this realm, and of his special grace and favour, has given and granted and, by this present act, gives and grants to Alexander Crichton of Drylaw the like grace, benefit and favour as is contained in the pacification made at Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573] between his highness's commissioners on that one part, and the late George [Gordon], earl of Huntly, and certain others, his colleagues, on that other part, ratified and approved in his highness's parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of April 1573; and has ordained the said pacification to be as largely and favourably extended in his favour for the security of him, his life, lands, heritages, possessions, goods and gear whatsoever as if he were specially and expressly nominated therein, or as if the whole articles, clauses and conditions of the same were herein contained and expressed. And for the better security, our said sovereign lord, with advice of his said three estates, has ratified and approved and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies and approves this present pacification now given and granted to the said Alexander and declares the same to be as largely and amply extended to him as the same is or shall be extended to the said George, earl of Huntly, his colleagues or any others named in the said first pacification and as if he were specially nominated in the same, providing that this act be not extended nor interpreted for his relief of the odious murder and slaughter of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our said sovereign lord's late father, and two regents, [James Stewart], earl of Moray and [Matthew Stewart, earl of] Lennox, but he to be answerable thereof according to the law.
[1579/10/86]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, of his special grace, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, and upon weighty and good considerations tending to the establishing of peace and quietness and universal obedience of his highness's authority within this realm, has given and granted and, by the tenor hereof, gives and grants to William Henryson in Edinburgh, constable depute, that he shall have, possess and enjoy the like benefit, favour, privilege and conditions as are contained in the pacification made and accorded upon at the burgh of Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573], ratified and approved since in the parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of April 1573; and that the said pacification be as largely and favourably extended and interpreted in favour of the said William, for the security of his life and enjoying of his living, honours, offices, heritages, goods and possessions as if he had been specially nominated and comprehended therein, or as if the whole articles, clauses and conditions of the same were herein expressly specified. And therefore our said sovereign lord, with advice aforesaid, has ratified and approved and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies and approves the aforesaid pacification given and granted in manner above-written to the said William in all points, providing always that the same extend not to the murders of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our sovereign lord's late dearest father, and [James Stewart, earl of Moray and Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox], his two regents, but by this act specially and expressly excepts the same.
[1579/10/87]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, and upon weighty and good considerations tending to the establishing of peace and quietness and universal obedience of his highness's authority within this realm, has given and granted and, by the tenor hereof, gives and grants to Margaret Whitelaw, Isobel Whitelaw and Marion Whitelaw, lawful daughters and apparent heirs to the late Patrick Whitelaw of that Ilk, the like favour, grace and benefit of the pacification made and concluded at the burgh of Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573] and ratified and approved in his highness's parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of April 1573; and wills the same pacification be as largely and favourably extended in the favour of the said Margaret, Isobel and Marion for the surety of them and their lives, lands, honours, possessions and goods pertaining to them or to which they may, and ought, to succeed as heirs to their said late father, as if he and they had been specially nominated and comprehended in the said pacification, or as if the whole articles and conditions thereof were herein expressly mentioned. And for the better security, our said sovereign lord, with advice aforesaid, has ratified and approved and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies and approves the aforesaid pacification given and granted to the said Margaret, Isobel and Marion in manner above-written in all points, after the form and tenor thereof, and declares the same to have full effect and force in time coming, providing always that the same pacification in no way prejudices our sovereign lord and his highness's donator of the said three daughters' ward and marriage, or of any of them, in the whole profits and commodities or of any part thereof, nor yet that the same extend toward the murders of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our sovereign lord's late dearest father, and [James Stewart, earl of Moray and Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox], his two regents.
[1579/10/88]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, of his special grace, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, and upon weighty good considerations tending to the establishing of peace and quietness and universal obedience of his highness's authority within this realm, has given and granted and, by the tenor hereof, gives and grants to Henry Echline of Pittadro that he shall have, possess and enjoy the like grace, favour, privileges and conditions as are contained in the pacification made and accorded upon at the burgh of Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573], ratified and approved since in the parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of April 1573; and decrees and ordains the said pacification to be as largely and favourably extended in favour of the said Henry as if he had been specially nominated and comprehended therein, or as if the whole articles, clauses and conditions thereof were in this act expressly contained and mentioned, which our sovereign lord, with advice and consent aforesaid, has ratified and approved and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies and approves the aforesaid pacification given and granted in manner above-written to the said Henry in all points, providing always that the same extend not to the murders of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our sovereign lord's late dearest father, and [James Stewart, earl of Moray and Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox], his two regents, but by this act specially and expressly excepts the same.
[1579/10/89]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, and upon weighty and good considerations tending to the establishing of peace and quietness and universal obedience of his highness's authority within this realm, has given and granted and, by the tenor hereof, gives and grants to Patrick Hepburn of Kirklandhill that he shall have, possess and enjoy the like benefit, favour, privilege and conditions as are contained in the pacification made and accorded upon at the burgh of Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573], ratified and approved since in the parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of April 1573; and that the said pacification be as largely and favourably extended in the said Patrick's favour as if he had been specially named and comprehended therein for enjoying of his lands, livings, honours, rooms, possessions, heritages, goods and gear, as if he had been specially nominated and comprehended therein, or as if the whole articles, clauses and conditions of the same were herein expressly specified; and therefore our said sovereign lord, with advice aforesaid, has ratified and approved and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies and approves the aforesaid pacification given and granted to the said Patrick in manner above-written in all points, after the form and tenor thereof, and declares the same to have full strength, force and effect in all time coming, providing always that the same extend not to the murders of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our said sovereign lord's late father, and [James Stewart, earl of Moray and Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox], his two regents, but by this act specially and expressly excepts the same.
[1579/10/90]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, and upon weighty and good considerations tending to the establishing of peace and quietness and universal obedience of his highness's authority within this realm, has given and granted and, by the tenor hereof, gives and grants to Henry Hepburn of Fortoun that he shall have, possess and enjoy the like benefit, favour, privilege and conditions as are contained in the pacification made and accorded on at the burgh of Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573], ratified and approved since in the parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of April 1573; and that the said pacification be as largely and favourably extended in the said Henry's favour as if he had been specially nominated and comprehended therein for enjoying of his lands, livings, honours, rooms, possessions, heritages, goods and gear, as if he had been specially nominated and comprehended therein, or as if the whole articles, clauses and conditions of the same were herein expressly specified; and therefore our said sovereign lord, with advice aforesaid, has ratified and approved and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies and approves the aforesaid pacification given and granted to the said Henry in manner above-written in all points, after the form and tenor thereof, and declares the same to have full strength, force and effect in all time coming, providing always that the same extend not to the murders of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our said sovereign lord's late dearest father, and [James Stewart, earl of Moray and Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox], his two regents, but by this act specially and expressly excepts the same.
[1579/10/91]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, of his special grace, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, and upon weighty and good considerations tending to the establishing of peace and quietness and universal obedience of his highness's authority within this realm, has given and granted and, by the tenor hereof, gives and grants to a noble and mighty lord, Hugh, lord Somerville, his brother, father, brother's men, tenants, servants and proper dependants upon him, that he and they shall have, possess and enjoy the like favour, benefit and privilege which is contained in the pacification made and accorded upon at the burgh of Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573], ratified and approved since in parliament; and decrees and ordains the said pacification to be as favourably and largely extended in favour of the said lord and his aforesaids for the security of them, their lives, lands, actions, causes, possessions, goods and gear whatsoever, or as if they were specially and expressly nominated therein, or as if the whole articles, clauses and conditions of the same were herein specially contained and expressed. And for the better security, our said sovereign lord, with advice of his said three estates, has ratified and approved and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies and approves the aforesaid pacification given and granted in manner above-written to the said noble lord and his aforesaids, providing always that the same extend not to the murders of the late [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our said sovereign lord's dearest [father], and James [Stewart], earl of Moray, and Matthew [Stewart], earl of Lennox, regents to our said sovereign lord for the time, but by this act specially and expressly excepts the same.
[1579/10/92]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, of his special grace, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, and upon weighty and good considerations tending to the establishing of peace and quietness and universal obedience of his highness's authority within this realm, has given and granted and, by the tenor hereof, gives and grants to Robert Melville of Murdocairnie that he shall have, possess and enjoy the like grace, favour, privileges and conditions as are contained in the pacification made and accorded upon at the burgh of Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573], ratified and approved since in the parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of April 1573; and decrees and ordains the said pacification to be as largely and favourably extended in favour of the said Robert as if he had been specially nominated and comprehended therein, or as if the whole articles, clauses and conditions thereof were in this act expressly contained and mentioned, which our sovereign lord, with advice and consent aforesaid, has ratified and approved and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies and approves the aforesaid pacification given and granted in manner above-written to the said Robert in all points, providing always that the same pacification in no way be extended nor relieve the said Robert of the odious murders and slaughter of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our said sovereign lord's late dearest father, and two regents, [James Stewart, earl of] Moray and [Matthew Stewart, earl of] Lennox, if he be culpable thereof, and by this act specially and expressly excepts the same.
[1579/10/93]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, of his special grace, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, and upon weighty and good considerations tending to the establishing of peace and quietness and universal obedience of his highness's authority within this realm, has given and granted and, by the tenor hereof, gives and grants to David Melville, brother lawful to John Melville of Raith, that he shall have, possess and enjoy the like grace, favour, privileges and conditions as are contained in the pacification made and accorded upon at the burgh of Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573], ratified and approved since in the parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of April, 1573; and decrees and ordains the said pacification to be as largely and favourably extended in favour of the said David as if he had been specially nominated and comprehended therein, or as if the whole articles, clauses and conditions thereof were in this act expressly contained and mentioned, which our said sovereign lord, with advice and consent aforesaid, has ratified and approved and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies and approves the aforesaid pacification given and granted in manner above-written to the said David in all points, providing always that this act be not extended, nor interpreted, to all and whole the lands of Prinlaws, lying within the sheriffdom of Fife, pertaining heritably to John Reid of Aikenhead, so that the said benefit of pacification nor any points, passes, clauses nor articles contained therein be not prejudicial to the said John, but that he may possess and enjoy the same perpetually in time coming as his heritage, notwithstanding whatsoever right or title granted and given of before of those same lands to the said David Melville; and also providing that the same pacification in no way be extended nor relieve the said David of the odious murders and slaughter of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our said sovereign lord's late dearest father, and two regents, [James Stewart, earl of] Moray and [Matthew Stewart, earl of] Lennox, if he be culpable thereof, but by this act specially and expressly excepts the same.
[1579/10/94]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, for diverse considerations moving them tending to the quietness of this realm, have given and granted and, by the tenor of this present act, give and grant to James Spence, son lawful to late David Spence of Wormiston, the like grace and benefit of the pacification made at Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573], and ratified and approved in his highness's parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of April 1573, without exception; and will the same pacification, without exception, to be as amply extended in the said James's favour in all respects, conditions, clauses and circumstances thereof as the said late David had been expressly comprehended and contained therein. And also his highness, with advice of the estates of the said parliament, wills and grants that the said pacification, without exception, be amply interpreted and ended to the said James in all clauses thereof as said is, and specially that this present act of parliament according to the said pacification be sufficient to rescind and withdraw, likewise our said sovereign lord and estates aforesaid withdraw and rescind the process of forfeiture led against the said late David for certain crimes of treason and lese-majesty committed by him, and to restore and make new as his highness, with advice aforesaid, restores and makes new the said James against the same, likewise and as freely in all respects as if the said process had never been led and doom of forfeiture had never been given after the form and tenor of the said pacification, which, and every clause thereof, is herein held expressly; and ordains this present act to be extended in competent and due form as is appropriate, restoring fully the memory, honour and fame of the said late David in the person of his said lawful son, likewise our sovereign lord and three estates of this present parliament restore and rehabilitate the said James's son aforesaid thereto; and find and declare the said James able to enter and succeed as heir to the said late David, his father, by brieves of our sovereign lord's chapel or otherwise, to the which the said late David had right and possession thereof, notwithstanding the said process of forfeiture or anything following thereupon.†