[1597/11/56]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates in this present parliament, understanding that the greatest number of the vassals, free tenants and heritable feuars of the temporal lands pertaining to the archbishopric and priory of St Andrews and to the archbishopric of Glasgow are of such mean rent and quality that they are in no way able to make the expenses upon the resignation of their lands in our sovereign lord's hands and entrance thereto by his highness's chancellery, which gives occasion to many of the said feuars to lie out unentered to their said lands; in consideration whereof, that his highness's dearest cousin, Ludovic, duke of Lennox, earl of Darnley, lord Tarbolton, Methven and d'Aubigny being provided to the said priory of St Andrews whereof the rent and patrimony, likewise the rent and patrimony of the said archbishoprics, is heavily exhausted by tacks, pensions and other dispositions, so that little or no commodity thereof remains except the superiority and casualties of the same; therefore our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid give, grant and convey to his highness's said dearest cousin during all the days of his lifetime the right of the superiority of the whole temporal lands, mills, multures, woods, forests and fishings of all and sundry the said archbishopric and priory of St Andrews and archbishopric of Glasgow, together with all wards, reliefs, non-entries and other casualties whatsoever of the whole lands, lordships, mills, multures, woods, fishings and others whatsoever pertaining and belonging to the said benefices and every one of them, together also with the escheats and marriages of the whole vassals, feuars and free tenants thereof, whole profits and commodities of the same which pertained of old to the titulars and possessors of the said benefices lying within their regalities, bounds and jurisdiction and were at their dispositions wherever the same has fallen since the annexation thereof to our crown or shall happen to fall hereafter during the said Ludovic, duke of Lennox's lifetime. With full power to him and his commissioners, one or more, specially constituted or to be constituted by him to that effect during his said lifetime, to receive and enter all and sundry the said vassals, feuars, freeholders, tenants and their heirs or other persons whatsoever succeeding to their right either by resignation or confirmation, and to give and grant to them new infeftments and dispositions of the lands and others above-specified. With power also to him and his foresaids to uplift and intromit with the said escheats and marriages, whole profits and commodities thereof and to apply the same to his own use or to convey thereupon at his pleasure, declaring the said infeftments, new dispositions and entries of the foresaid vassals, feuars, freeholders, tenants, their heirs and successors with the gift and disposition of the said wards, reliefs, non-entries, escheats, marriages and other casualties whatsoever to be given, granted, made and conveyed by his highness's said dearest cousin or his commissioners, one or more, to be appointed by him as said is under his own proper seal and subscription to be as valid, good and sufficient to the receivers thereof for holding, enjoying and possessing of the same lands, mills, multures, woods, fishings with the said wards, reliefs, non-entries, marriage, escheats and other casualties above-written in all time coming, as if the same or any thereof had been given, granted, made and conveyed to them by his highness, with advice of the treasurer of new augmentation, or whatsoever others of his highness's officers or councillors, discharging them of all troubling and molesting of the said Ludovic, duke of Lennox or his foresaids in the premises during his said lifetime and of their offices in that part notwithstanding of the act of annexation of all ecclesiastical lands to the crown made in the parliament held at Edinburgh, 29 July 1587, to the which this present act makes and shall make express derogation in so far as the same may be extended to the superiority of the lands and others above-rehearsed pertaining to the said archbishoprics and priory with the whole casualties above-mentioned during the said Ludovic, duke of Lennox's lifetime; and ordains letters to be directed hereupon if need be in the appropriate form.
[1597/11/57]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates in parliament, understanding that his highness's trusty councillor Sir Robert Melville of Murdocairnie, knight, being treasurer depute to his majesty and having discharged a faithful duty therein, he, at his highness's desire, demitted the office thereof upon promise made to him by his majesty that his highness should see him satisfied of all his overspend; therefore his majesty, with advice of the said estates of this present parliament, promised to see the said Sir Robert satisfied and paid of his said overspend according to the act of parliament made relating thereto, to the effect he may satisfy his creditors, and in the meantime discharges the lords of council and session and all other judges whatsoever of all proceeding against the said Sir Robert at the instance of whatsoever parties or giving of process, decreets or letters against him for payment of his debts until he be first paid of his said overspend. And our sovereign lord and estates foresaid declare that this act shall be extended and interpreted in favour of the said Sir Robert for the debts contracted by him for our sovereign lord's use only, and that his highness and auditors of the exchequer shall take order for the said Sir Robert's debt and his creditors according to an act of council made relating thereto.
[1597/11/58]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, being moved with the sincere and faithful service done to his highness by a reverend father in God, Alexander, bishop of Brechin, and therewithal considering that albeit the whole temporal lands which pertained to the bishoprics, abbacies and other benefices within this realm be now annexed to the crown and united and incorporated with the rest of his highness's property, nevertheless it was not his majesty's intention nor of the estates at the time of the annexation of the said temporal lands that the present titulars and possessors of the benefices to which the said lands did appertain should in any way be prejudiced or damnified in their yearly rents and casualties, but that they and each one of them should in all peace and quietness possess, enjoy and intromit and uptake all and whole their fruits, rents, profits and casualties whatsoever in as free and peaceable manner as they did enjoy the same before the said annexation of the temporal lands; therefore his highness, with advice of the three estates of this present parliament, has given, granted and conveyed to the said reverend father the superiority of all and whole the temporal lands which pertained to the bishopric of Brechin during all the days of his lifetime, with power to the said reverend father during the space foresaid to enter the tenants of the said lands, receive their grassums and other duties in as free and seemable manner as the said reverend father was in use of before the said annexation, which shall be as valid and sufficient to the tenants and others that shall be entered by the said reverend father during the space foresaid as if the same was done by a precept directed out of his highness's chancellery in all respects.
[1597/11/59]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and three estates of this present parliament, understanding that Alexander Fraser of Fraserburgh, knight, in the year of God 1592 obtained a new infeftment of his whole lands and baronies of Philorth, Tipperty, Faithlie, Tyrie, Scatterty and diverse other lands mentioned and contained in the said infeftment, with express union contained in the same. In the which also the said Sir Alexander has obtained the town and burgh of Faithlie, now called Fraserburgh, erected in a free burgh of barony, with privileges, liberties, immunities thereto contained in the said infeftment, as also with express liberty to build a tolbooth for administration of justice and a harbour for the ease and commodity of the country and lieges, with privilege for upholding of the same, to found a university, build and make colleges, place masters and teachers, with all privileges and immunities that may pertain to a free university, with the rest of the patronages of all and whole the parsonages and vicarages of the parish kirk of Philorth, Tyrie, Crimond and Rathen, with all the lands, prebendaries and alterages appertaining thereto, as at more length is contained in the said Alexander's infeftment given to him thereupon, as the same of the date 1 July the year of God foresaid at more length purports. Since the which time of the granting of the said infeftment, with the whole privileges and immunities therein contained, the said burgh has not only greatly flourished and increased in buildings, repair and resort of people so that sundry gentlemen of the country are become inhabitants and burgesses of the said burgh, but also the said Alexander, upon his large and exorbitant expenses, to the honour and decoration of the realm and ease of the whole lieges, has built a sure harbour and port to which ships, barks and boats may repair and daily repairs; as also the said Alexander, being of deliberate mind and purpose to erect a university within the said burgh, with all privileges appertaining thereto, according to the tenor of his infeftment, has given† to edify and build up colleges, which not only will tend to the great embellishment of the country, but also to the advancement of the lost and wasted youth in bringing them up in learning and virtue, to the great honour and benefit of our said sovereign lord and nation; which honourable intention and policy made and to be made by the said Sir Alexander upon his exorbitant and large expenses ought and should be furthered and advanced, and the said Sir Alexander not only allowed therein but also helped and supported to do the same. Therefore our said sovereign lord and three estates of this present parliament, for the further advancement of the said burgh and colleges and for the sustentation and maintenance of masters, teachers and officemen within the colleges of the same, has, with express consent and assent of the said Alexander, endowed, given and mortified the foresaid parsonages, vicarages, prebendaries, chaplainries and alterages, whole teinds, small and great, lands, rooms and possessions appertaining thereto, profits, duties, annualrents and emoluments whatsoever and with death at hand conveyed the same to the said college or colleges perpetually in all times coming, never to be separated nor secluded therefrom, but the whole fruits, rents, profits, duties, annualrents and emoluments of the same to be employed to the maintenance and sustentation of the masters, teachers and officemen serving in the said colleges to be given and distributed by the said Alexander Fraser of Fraserburgh, knight, patron and his male heirs, providing that this present mortification be in no way prejudicial nor hurtful to the said Sir Alexander's right in the holding, enjoying and possessing of all and whatsoever teinds, rents and emoluments of the said parsonage and vicarage above-written during the time of his tacks thereof, providing always the said masters of the said college or colleges either serve the cure of the said kirks or then the said masters, with advice of the patron, furnish sufficient men for serving the cure of the said kirks, so that the parishioners be not frustrated of the sacraments, teaching and preaching of the word of God. And our said sovereign lord and three estates foresaid ordain an infeftment to be passed under the great seal in the most large and ample form, if need be, mortifying, endowing and conveying to the said college or colleges, masters and teachers within the same, the said parsonages, vicarages, prebendaries, chaplainries and alterages, whole profits and commodities appertaining thereto. And for the better performing of the premises and for the said Sir Alexander Fraser of Fraserburgh, knight, his better security, our said sovereign lord and three estates ratify, approve and confirm the foresaid infeftment made and granted to the said Sir Alexander, his male heirs and of tailzie, the whole erections, unions, privileges, immunities and liberties contained therein, which his majesty and estates wills to stand as a perpetual and perfect security to the said Sir Alexander, his male heirs and successors according to the tenor of the said infeftment and mortification above-expressed of the date above-mentioned; and that the said infeftment, whole lands, privileges and immunities therein contained may remain with the said Sir Alexander, his heirs and successors therein mentioned in all times coming, never to be quarrelled, impeded nor taken away by act of parliament, statute, ordinance, revocation or other form of law, regarding which his majesty and three estates foresaid dispense and revoke, rescind, make void and annul all and whatsoever dispositions and rights of patronages of the said benefices, kirks or any of them made to whatsoever other person or persons and all and whatsoever other rights, titles and securities which in any way may stay or impede the effect of this act, mortification and erections foresaid. Reserving always action to [...] Hay of Urie for the kirk of Crimond, if any right he has in and to the said kirk and teinds thereof, to be proceeded before the judge ordinary according to the law.
[1597/11/60]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice of his estates in this present parliament, ratifies, allows and approves the act of secret council passed upon 8 June last in favour of Master Andrew Knox, minister at Paisley, William Semple of Dalmoak, William Semple, burgess of Dumbarton, Robert Semple there, George Campbell, son to the late Donald Campbell there, Archibald Buntine, Robert Palmer, Robert Napier, Findlay Ewing, William Wylie, John Symont, John Paterson, Thomas Feir there, John Aitken, Walter Corslat, Patrick MacKillen Pereis, James Fawlisdaill, David Robertson and Thomas Buntine, burgess of Dumbarton, whereby their proceedings against the late Hugh Barclay of Ladyland, according to the commission granted to that effect, was declared to be loyal and good service done to his majesty and his country in all and sundry points, clauses and articles contained therein after the form and tenor thereof in all points.
[1597/11/61]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament ratify, approve and confirm the two acquittances and discharges given by his majesty, with advice of his highness's comptroller and lords of secret council, to the town of Aberdeen upon the payment of £8,000, which was delivered to them of the tocher of his majesty's dearest spouse, the queen's grace, and which they had for annualrent and profit, together with the profit of the same £8,000 of all years and terms bypast, as the same acquittances and discharges in themselves more amply bear, the one thereof being of the date 5 June the year of God 1594 and the other thereof being of the date 31 July thereafter the same year; and decree and ordain that this present act of ratification foresaid shall be as valid and effectual for that effect as if the said two acquittances and discharges were inserted and engrossed every word herein, and ordain an act of parliament to be made and formed hereupon.
[1597/11/62]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice of his estates in this present parliament, ratifies, approves and confirms the acquittance made, given and subscribed by his majesty, with advice of the lords of his secret council and comptroller, to the provost, bailies, council, deacons of crafts and community of the burgh of Perth upon the receipt from them of the sum of £12,000 as a part of his majesty's tocher delivered to them, together with the yearly profit of the said sum of £12,000, as the said acquittance of the date at the castle of Stirling, 9 July the year of God 1594 and acted and registered in the books of secret council upon the 16th day of the said month of July at length bears in all and sundry points, clauses and articles contained therein, after the form and tenor thereof and according to his highness's princely promise made to this effect.
[1597/11/63]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Forasmuch as all decreets, sentences and dooms of forfeiture led against William [Douglas], earl of Angus, lord Douglas and Abernethy, George [Gordon], earl of Huntly, lord Gordon and Badenoch and Francis [Hay], earl of Erroll, lord Hay for whatsoever pretended crimes, trespasses and attempts therein expressed are reduced, rescinded, made void and annulled in this present parliament or they restored in its entirety against the same, in respect whereof our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, being of deliberate mind and intention that through the said reduction, annulling or restitution none of his majesty's lieges nor subjects who accompanied his highness, his lieutenants or commissioners, one or more, in the pursuit or invasion of the said three earls, or any of them, their accomplices, partakers and assisters since the dates of the said sentences and dooms of forfeiture or since the times of the alleged committing of the crimes therein mentioned shall be pursued, troubled or damnified for any slaughters, mutilations, bloodshed, plunder, demolishing and destruction of houses, buildings and policies, nor for any other facts, deeds nor enterprises done or committed by any of our said sovereign lord's lieges against the said earls or any of them, their kin, friends, men, tenants, accomplices, partakers or assisters the times of the foresaid pursuits and invasions or by occasion thereof; therefore, and for removing of all strife, debate and actions that might or may follow thereupon, and for establishing of peace, concord and quietness within this realm, our said sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament presently convened have decreed, statute and ordained and by the tenor hereof decree, declare, statute and ordain that all and sundry slaughters, mutilations, bloodsheds, destructions and demolishing of houses, buildings, plantings and policies, plunder, robberies, oppressions, fire-raisings, depredations, pillaging and all other crimes, offences, wrongs, facts, deeds and enterprises done, committed or assisted to by any of our sovereign lord's lieges and subjects against the said Earls of Angus, Huntly and Erroll, or any of them, their kin, friends, men, tenants, servants, dependants, partakers or assisters or yet against any of their houses, lands, rents, policies, goods or gear by occasion of any of the common causes or late troubles moved against them following or depending thereupon directly or indirectly since 1 May the year of God 1592, with all actions and pursuits criminal and civil, decreets and others whatsoever that has followed or may follow upon the same, and all sequels, dependents and consequents thereof, shall be in all times coming and are by the authority of this present parliament extinct, expired, remitted, discharged, abolished, taken away, buried and put in perpetual oblivion simply and for ever; and that no action nor execution shall be moved, intended, used nor follow thereupon in any manner of way against any of his majesty's lieges and subjects, their heirs, executors nor successors in times coming, but discharges the lords of his majesty's council and session, his advocates present and to come, the justice general, his justice and clerks and all other judges, officers and ministers of laws within this realm of all summoning, arresting, pursuing, accusing, troubling or molesting of any of his majesty's lieges or subjects for the premises or concerning the same in any manner of way in times coming and of their offices in that part simply and forever. And likewise decrees, declares, statutes and ordains that all and sundry mails, ferms, profits and duties of lands, mills, fishings, rooms, possessions, teinds, benefices, pensions and other rents which pertained to the said Earls of Angus, Huntly and Erroll, or any of them, their kin, friends, men, tenants, servants, accomplices, dependants, partakers and assisters with the escheats of their moveable goods and gear so far as is already intromitted with and uplifted by any of our sovereign lord's lieges since the day and time above-specified by occasion of the said late troubles or common cause shall remain with the intromitters therewith, and that they, their heirs, executors nor successors shall in no way be challenged, called, pursued, troubled nor molested for that in any time coming, but are and shall be freely remitted, quit and discharged of the same and of all action and pursuit which might or may be moved relating thereto, which shall be extinct, expired and taken away simply and for ever.
[1597/11/64]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The king's majesty, with advice of his estates of parliament, of his natural clemency and for continuance of universal concord and peace amongst his subjects, and for the greater promptitude and readiness to his highness's service in time coming, and specially being of that disposition and mind that the crimes and matters contained in the process of forfeiture now reduced and retreated by decreet of parliament shall never be hereafter remembered, has abolished and by this act abolishes all action and quarrel that our sovereign lord or his successors has or may have and pretend against William, earl of Angus, George, earl of Huntly, Francis, earl of Erroll, Sir Patrick Gordon of Auchindoun, knight, their heirs, successors and posterity for the alleged crimes and offences mentioned in the said process of forfeiture and all others following or depending thereupon, renouncing and discharging his highness's action and interest for him and his successors for now and ever. And further our said sovereign lord, in consideration that at diverse times heretofore they had sundry conventions upon the fields where there was bloodshed and slaughter committed, fire raised, with certain intromissions and depredations of goods and gear upon the difference arising between them or some of them and others of his highness's subjects, and our said sovereign lord, willing that they shall not be troubled for that in time coming for any action and interest that is competent to his majesty, pain, penalty or punishment that may follow thereupon, therefore our said sovereign lord and three estates foresaid have abolished and abolish all action and accusation, pain, penalty and punishment following thereupon competent to his highness against the said persons or any of their accomplices or assisters for any fact or deed committed by them or any of them, their accomplices and assisters foresaid since 1 May 1592.
[1597/11/65]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates in parliament ratify and approve and for his majesty and his successors perpetually confirm the charter or infeftment under the great seal made and granted by his highness to the right excellent Princess Anne, queen of Scotland, his highness's dearest spouse, and to the heirs lawfully procreated or to be procreated between his majesty and his said dearest spouse, which failing (as God forbid), to his highness's heirs and successors to the crown of this realm whatsoever, of all and whole the monastery and abbacy of Dunfermline lying on both the sides of the water of Forth underwritten, with the erection, creation and incorporation mentioned in the same of the said abbacy and pertinents thereof after-specified in a whole free and temporal lordship in all and sundry points, passes, articles, clauses, immunities, exemptions and privileges therein contained, and wills and declares that the same infeftment and erection foresaid specified in the same infeftment is now and in all time coming shall be as valid and sufficient and of as great efficacy, force, strength and effect to his highness's dearest spouse foresaid, their heirs and successors above-mentioned as if the said infeftment had been given and granted and the abbacy foresaid had been erected in a temporal lordship by his majesty with all advice and consents requisite thereto before the making of the act of annexation of the temporal lands of all prelacies to the patrimony of his highness's crown, which was in the month of [...] the year of God 1687, or that the said abbacy had been specially excepted from the same act notwithstanding thereof or any other act, law, statute or ordinance canon, civil or municipal made or to be made in the contrary; concerning which, his highness, with advice of his said estates, for them and their successors, has dispensed and by this ratification dispenses. And for many great and weighty causes, declares the foresaid act of annexation, nor nothing following or that may follow thereupon, shall be hurtful, prejudicial or in any way derogative to the said infeftment or to any point or article therein contained or to any writ or security whereupon the same proceeded or that has followed or shall follow or proceeded therefrom in any time bygone or to come.
[1597/11/66]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, having seen and considered the letters of pension made, given and granted by his majesty under the privy seal, after his perfect age of 25 years complete, to his trusty cousin Andrew, lord Dingwall, during all the days of his lifetime, of all and whole a yearly pension of £1,000 money of this realm, to have been and to be yearly uplifted out of the readiest of the mails, ferms, profits and duties of his majesty's property; and, for sure payment thereof, assigning and conveying to the said Andrew, lord Dingwall yearly during the said space the whole silver duties, mails, ferms, kanes, customs and duties of the lands and lordship of Dingwall comprehending the towns, lands, mills, fishings and others thereof specified at more length in the charter of feu ferm given and granted by our said sovereign lord under the great seal to his said trusty cousin and his heirs upon the said lordship of Dingwall, as the said letter of pension made and granted thereupon of the date at Holyroodhouse, 8 January the year of God 1591 [1592] at more length purports. And our said sovereign lord, with the estates foresaid, having now sufficiently tried and considered in this parliament the causes specified in the said letters of pension for the which the same was made and granted, and namely the said Andrew, lord Dingwall's good, true, honourable and faithful services therein mentioned done, as well as within this realm as in foreign nations without the same, in our said sovereign lord's most honourable and weighty affairs, specially in his most honourable marriage with the queen's majesty, his dearest spouse, within the realm of Denmark, has now found and declared and by this ratification finds, decrees and declares the same, with the other causes specified in the said letters of pension, to have been and to be of truth and that the same, with the said Lord Dingwall's continuance in the same true, thankful and honourable services and other good causes and pleasures done by him to our said sovereign lord, as well as within this realm as in foreign nations, to have been and to be seen cause tending to the advancement of his majesty's honour and to the profit of this realm. Therefore, and for sundry other good causes and considerations, our sovereign lord and estates above-mentioned, by the tenor hereof, ratify, confirm and approve the said letters of pension in all points, clauses and contents thereof, and find, decree and declare the same to have been lawfully made and granted and to have been always from the beginning and to be in all times coming during the said space good, valid, sufficient and effectual right and title to the said Andrew, lord Dingwall for holding, enjoying, possessing, uplifting and conveying to his own commodity of all and whole the said yearly pension above-designed and of all and sundry the said mails, ferms, kanes, customs and duties of the said lands and lordship of Dingwall, with the fishings, pertinents and others thereof mentioned in the said infeftment of feu ferm assigned in sure payment of the said yearly pension yearly and termly, as well as of all years bygone so far as are not already collected by our sovereign lord's comptroller and applied to his majesty's own proper use, as of all years and terms to come during the said Andrew, lord Dingwall's lifetime only; and that notwithstanding of whatsoever acts of annexation, other acts of parliament or secret council, laws, statutes, decisions and proclamations made or to be made in the contrary, with which his majesty and estates foresaid dispenses for ever by this present act.
[1597/11/67]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the estates of this present parliament, having consideration of the great and earnest travails and labours of his well-beloved clerk and orator Master David Cunningham, bishop of Aberdeen, not only in the faithful discharge of his office in the function of a pastor in God's kirk, but also in the honourable services done to his highness in the public affairs of this realm, and in special in the last quieting of the troubles within the north parts of this realm and of the great charges made and sustained by him therein, and by his repairing and awaiting upon the parliament and conventions at all times whensoever he is required; and therewithal considering that the present rent of the said bishopric is very mean and sober to maintain his estate and the great charges to which he is ordinarily subject, by reason thereof the patrimony of the said bishopric being wholly dilapidated and exhausted by †his predecessors' deeds, except a very little part and portion thereof which has partly accrued to him by the death of pensioners, and partly has been acquired by him for large sums of money paid by him to certain other pensioners for the demission and resignation of their said pensions in his favour, so that the whole rent and commodity of the said benefice presently held and possessed by him extends only to the sum of £753 money, 1 chalder, 9 bolls, 3 firlots of barley, 8 bolls, half a boll, 2 pecks of meal, 1 chalder, 5 bolls of oats, with certain small customs of the said bishopric, the consideration of the smallness of the which rent moved his highness to provide the said reverend father with a new security of that part of the said bishopric which was then possessed by him, not exceeding the sum of £400, the rest being possessed by pensioners at that time, and that notwithstanding of the act of annexation according to his highness's gift made to him thereupon of the date 13 December 1590; as also to grant a special act of parliament in his favour not only ratifying the said gift, but also declaring him to have good right and title to whatsoever manner of way during his lifetime, and to the superiority and entry of the free tenants, grassums, entres silver and all other casualties of the said bishopric as freely as the same pertained to him before the making of the said act of annexation, as at more length is contained in the said act of parliament of the date at Edinburgh, the [...] day of [...] the year of God 1593. Therefore his highness, remembering his good, true and thankful service in the premises and for acknowledging the same in a part and for his better maintenance and to encourage him to continue in his former affection to do his majesty's service in time coming, with advice and consent of this present parliament, ratifies and approves whatsoever title and provision made by his highness to him of the bishopric of Aberdeen, fruits, rents, emoluments, casualties, honours, privileges and immunities whatsoever which has appertained or may appertain thereto; as likewise, with consent foresaid, ratifies and approves the said gift made to him in the month of December 1590 and act of parliament foresaid following thereupon and whole articles, clauses and conditions therein contained with whatsoever other rights or securities made by his highness to the said David, bishop of Aberdeen of the said bishopric or any part of the same, declaring the same to be as sufficient as if the same were inserted herein word for word. And for his better security, his highness, with advice foresaid, of new gives, grants and conveys to the said David, bishop of Aberdeen during all the days of his lifetime all and whole the feu mails, victuals and customs above-specified of the temporal lands of the said bishopric specially mentioned in his said gift made to him thereupon in the said month of December 1590, together with the feu mails, customs and other duties of the said bishopric conveyed in pension of before to the late Sir Patrick Gordon of Auchindoun, the late Master Walter Gordon and John Auchinleck and acquired since then by the said David, bishop of Aberdeen and whereof he is presently in possession, with whatsoever other tacks and pensions given out of the said bishopric which may fall or shall happen to become vacant in any time coming during his lifetime by the death of the present possessors, expiring of their tacks and pensions, reductions or nullities of the same or for whatsoever other cause and occasion, together with the superiority and entry of the free tenants, entres silver, grassums and other casualties whatsoever belonging to the said bishopric, with all right, title, interest and claim of right which his highness may pretend thereto, and to the said feu mails, victuals, customs, tacks and pensions and right of the superiority above-specified by virtue of the said act of annexation, which his highness, for himself and his successors, with advice foresaid, transfers, assigns and conveys to the said reverend father during all the days of his lifetime in recompense and satisfaction of the temporality of the said bishopric, decreeing and declaring him to have as good right and title thereto as he or any of his predecessors had to the same before the said act of annexation. In addition, his highness, understanding that there is a special assumption of the third of the said bishopric of Aberdeen which is in no way diminished by the said reverend father, and that the ministers' assignations are specially paid and uplifted out of the same, and that yet nevertheless the said reverend father is daily troubled and charged by the collector general and his officers and by certain pensioners for payment of the surplus of the said thirds and of the said pensions given and conveyed to them by his highness out of the same thirds, albeit he can in no way be justly charged therewith in respect of the particular assumption of the third of the said bishopric, and that he has in no way intromitted with any part of the said old assumption except a small part and portion of the feu mails, victuals and customs assigned and conveyed to him in part payment of the said sum of £753, 3 chalders, 13 bolls of victual and customs above-specified, which is the only free rent of the said bishopric presently held and possessed by him, and therefore of all equity and reason ought and should be made free to him of the payment of all thirds and surplus thereof; therefore his highness, with advice foresaid, decrees and ordains the said reverend father to have been continually since the date of his provision and to be in all time coming during his lifetime free of the payment of the thirds of the said bishopric or surplus thereof and of whatsoever gifts and pensions given and conveyed out of the same of all years and terms bygone and to come during the space foresaid, and exonerates and discharges him simply thereof for now and ever, ordaining the said collector general and his deputes and whatsoever pensioners of the thirds of the said bishopric or any part thereof and all others pretending any right thereto by virtue of whatsoever gifts or pensions conveyed out of the said third or surplus thereof to desist and cease from all charging, troubling or molesting of the said David, bishop of Aberdeen for payment of the said third or any part thereof or of whatsoever pensions allegedly conveyed out of the same for whatsoever years and terms bygone and to come during the space foresaid, and declaring the letters executed or to be executed at their instance against him for the cause foresaid to be void in the self and to have no execution against him; without prejudice always of the said collector's retours against the tenants and possessors of the old assumption of the said third and so much thereof which is not assigned and conveyed to the said David, bishop of Aberdeen in part payment of the said sum of £753 and 3 chalders, 13 bolls of victual and customs foresaid presently held and possessed by him for the free patrimony of the said bishopric as said is, which shall be always allowed to him and shall be deducted to the said tenants and possessors of the said old assumption in the first end of their victuals which they are astricted to pay by virtue of the said assignation.
[1597/11/68]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament ratify, approve and for his highness and his successors †perpetually confirm the infeftment made, given and granted by our said sovereign lord, after his highness's perfect age, to the provost, bailies, council and community of the burgh of Nairn of the said burgh lands, houses and tenements of the same within the whole customary bounds and borders thereof, with all annualrents and duties whatsoever pertaining thereto, together with all and sundry liberties, privileges, commodities, easements and righteous pertinents pertaining or in any manner of way is known to pertain to the said burgh within all the bounds contained in the foresaid infeftment, and that in all the points, heads, articles, conditions, immunities and circumstances specified in the same infeftment, which is of the date at Leith, 16 October 1589 and our said sovereign lord's reign the 23rd year; inhibiting and discharging expressly by this ratification all the lieges of this realm which are not burgesses and freemen of the said burgh that none of them take upon hand or presume to use or exercise the liberties and privileges pertaining to the said burgh and burgesses thereof within the bounds and limits set down and mentioned in the foresaid infeftment, or any part thereof, under all highest pain and charge that they may incur for doing in the contrary, and ordains letters of publication to be directed hereupon if need be. And wills, decrees and declares that this present ratification of the foresaid infeftment shall be of as great strength, force and effect to the said provost, bailies, community and council of the foresaid burgh of Nairn and their successors as if the same infeftment had been made, given and granted in parliament, and as if the whole tenor thereof were specially inserted in this present act. Commanding also our clerk register and his deputes to extract, draw forth and deliver this present act to the said provost, bailies, council and community and their successors which shall be as valid as if the same infeftment was at length engrossed.
[1597/11/69]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, understanding that the burgh of Jedburgh nearest adjacent to the border of England was by his highness's most noble predecessors for worldly considerations erected in a free burgh regal, endowed with the common lands and all privileges belonging and appertaining to a free burgh regal as being a most necessary refuge to his highness's subjects upon the border both in time of peace and war, for resisting of the incursions and invasions of the enemies and for policy and good order to be maintained therein, as in the infeftments made thereupon of old, but specially in the last infeftment granted by Mary, queen of Scotland in the year of God 1556, at more length is contained. According to the which, the provost, bailies, council and community of the said burgh have been in continual and peaceable possession of the same burgh as a free burgh regal, with all privileges, community and common lands pertaining thereto as freely as any other burgh regal within this realm has been at any time heretofore. And his highness, being of the like good intention towards the welfare and maintenance of the said burgh as any of his predecessors were of old, his majesty, with advice of the estates and body of this present parliament, has ratified, approved and confirmed and presently ratifies, approves and confirms the said infeftment of creation and erection of the said burgh with all privileges, immunities, freedoms, communities and common lands belonging thereto with whatsoever infeftment made thereof of before, and wills the same rest and remain with the inhabitants of the said burgh present and to come and their posterity as valid and sufficient titles whereby they may possess their said burgh. And of new his highness, with advice foresaid, erects, creates and incorporates the same burgh with the foresaid liberties and privileges in a free burgh regal and to be as freely held and enjoyed by the inhabitants thereof in time coming as any others of his principal burghs have been held heretofore, and ordains publication to be made hereupon in due form as appropriate.
[1597/11/70]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the estates of this present parliament, ratifies [and]† approves the new foundation of his majesty's college of old Aberdeen to be revised by his highness's commissioners appointed to that effect, namely: Master John Lindsay of Balcarres, his majesty's secretary, Master James Elphinstone of Barnton,† one of the senators of his highness's college of justice, and Master David Cunningham, bishop of Aberdeen, in all and sundry points, privileges, liberties, immunities, clauses and circumstances thereof whatsoever after the form and tenor of the same, and ordains his majesty's clerk register to receive the said foundation and to extend an act of parliament thereupon in the larger form, with extension of all clauses needful.
[1597/11/71]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord, with advice of the three estates of this present parliament, ratifies, approves and confirms the letter of pension and assignation therein contained made and granted by John Stewart, son to Francis [Stewart], sometime earl of Bothwell and commendator of the abbey of Coldingham, stewardship and convent thereof for the time, with consent of our said sovereign lord, judge arbitrator specified therein, to Sir Alexander Home of Manderston, knight, during his lifetime, of a yearly pension of 25 chalders of victual to be uplifted out of the readiest of certain of the teind sheaves of the lands assigned in the said pension, as the same of the date the [...] day of January the year of God 1590 [1591] more fully purports in all and sundry heads, points, clauses, articles and conditions contained in the said letter, after the form and tenor thereof; and wills, grants, decrees and declares the same letter of gift to be good, valid and sufficient to the said Sir Alexander for holding and enjoying of the said pension during his lifetime according to the tenor thereof, notwithstanding the forfeiture of the said sometime earl's declarator given upon the inability of the said sometime commendator, his son or any other sentence, decreet, law, statute or constitution whatsoever which may appear to be in any way prejudicial to the said pension; concerning which, his highness, with consent foresaid, dispenses forever by this ratification.
[1597/11/72]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, understanding that the city of the old town of Aberdeen has been of old erected by his majesty's predecessors and founded in the time of Bishop William Elphinstone, great chancellor of this realm for the time, in an ancient town and city for the habitation and remaining of the bishop's seat, college and jurisdiction of officiality and commissary therein, and that by alteration of the residence of the canons forth thereof the said city since the alteration of the religion has these diverse years bygone had no other means nor support but by the jurisdiction of the commissariat and college held within the same; likewise the commissaries of the said commissariat, their clerks and members of court and the principal, subprincipal, regents and remaining members of the said college have ever been in use and custom to remain within the said city of the old town of Aberdeen and to sit and hold the consistory and college therein in all times bygone since the first erection thereof as privileges, immunities and upholds of the said city, and whereof it has been in possession and therewith upheld now and in all times bygone. For preservation of the which ancient city, privileges and immunities thereof, our said sovereign lord, with advice of the three estates of this present parliament, ratifies, approves and confirms all and whatsoever liberties, privileges, freedoms and immunities granted of old by his majesty's progenitors to the said city of old Aberdeen and inhabitants thereof, and in special annexes in and to the same city of old Aberdeen, for the better maintenance thereof, the foresaid liberties and seats of the consistory and college foresaid to be held within the same in all times coming, after the form and tenor of the erection and foundation thereof and according to the old use and custom had therein of the same. Likewise his majesty, with advice foresaid, statutes and ordains by this present act that the seats of the said commissariat and college foresaid shall sit, hold and remain within the said city of old Aberdeen in all times coming likewise and as freely in all things as the members of the said consistory and college have been in use and custom in all times bygone without any removing or transportation of the same therefrom to the new town of Aberdeen or any other town or place within the diocese of Aberdeen. And to this effect, ordains the lords of council and session to grant and direct letters of horning hereupon at the desire and instance of the provost and bailies of the said city of old Aberdeen charging the commissary of Aberdeen present and to come, their clerks and members of court and the principal, subprincipal, regents, masters and members of the said college of Aberdeen present and to come to sit, hold and continue the said consistorial place and college foresaid within the said city of old Aberdeen and in no way to remove the same consistory or college therefrom to any other town or place within the said bounds under the pain of rebellion and putting of them to the horn; and if they fail, to denounce the disobeyers his majesty's rebels and put them thereto etc.
[1597/11/73]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament ratify, approve and confirm this act underwritten made at Dundee, 13 May 1597, of the which act the tenor follows: At Dundee, 13 May 1597. The king's majesty, †with advice of his nobility, council and estates presently convened, considering how that by the great scarcity of small pennies presently current within this realm not only is the exchange of gold and silver and of all other sorts of wares and merchandise which commonly have been maintained amongst his highness's subjects greatly impeded and hindered, but the poor common people whose indigence and misery has been relieved by the support and comfort which ofttimes they receive by the liberality of such as were moved to pity their estate hurt and prejudiced, and the said exchange likely with time altogether to decay to the great hurt of the commonwealth if timeous remedy be not provided. And therefore his majesty, being moved of pity and commiseration towards the poor without respect to any profit and commodity to rebound to his highness (as indeed his majesty neither seeks nor gets no kind of commodity by the coin following), has, with advice of his nobility, council and estates, thought fit, concluded and resolved that there shall be 100 stone weight of copper unmixed with any other kind of metal wrought and forged in a mill, and by the said mill made ready to the printing after the accustomed form of his majesty's mint-house with imprints and stamps, through which the same be not counterfeit, for making of the said exchange and relief of the indigence and misery of the poor in penny and two penny pieces, each two penny piece weighing three denier and each penny piece weighing one denier, twelve grains, whereof 64 pieces of the said two penny pieces to be in the mark weight, with two of the said two penny pieces of remedy of weight, as well heavy as light on the mark weight thereof, and 128 pieces of the said penny pieces to be in the mark weight with four of the said penny pieces of remedy of weight, as well heavy as light, on the mark weight of the same, having on the one side the king's face, bare headed, with this circumscription: 'Jacobus 6 D. G. R. Scotorum', and on the other side, three thistles distinct, with this circumscription: 'Oppidum Edinburgi', and the said species to have course amongst his highness's lieges for two pennies and one penny each piece. Be it always understood that none of his majesty's subjects shall be astricted to receive the said kind of copper money in payment of debts or other goods, wares or merchandise above the value of 12 pennies each pound and so forth proportionally of all sums great and small; and ordains letters to be directed charging officers of arms to pass and make publication hereof by open proclamation at the market crosses of the head burghs of this realm and other places needful, through which none pretend ignorance of the same; and to command and charge all his highness's lieges to receive the said copper pieces in payment of all goods, debts, wares and merchandise in manner foresaid, and in no way to refuse the same under whatsoever colours or pretences under the pain of treason. And that the master coiner, warden, counter warden and sinker [proceed]† to the working, forging and printing of the said copper coin in manner foresaid as they will answer to his majesty thereupon etc.
[1597/11/74]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and three estates of this present parliament, understanding that the patrimony of the priory of St Andrews for the most part is so dilapidated and exhausted by the giving and granting of pensions out of the same for many years and diverse liferents to endure, so that little of the said patrimony remains with his highness's dearest cousin Ludovic [Stewart], duke of Lennox, commendator of the said priory; and seeing greater profit and commodity will rebound to the said Lord Duke of Lennox, commendator foresaid, by setting of the said pensions or any part thereof to such person or persons as he shall think expedient for payment to him and his successors of a reasonable yearly duty of victual and money, therefore our sovereign lord and estates foresaid, having consideration of the welfare and utility of his highness's dearest cousin and his successors of the said priory, give and grant to the said Ludovic, duke of Lennox, commendator foresaid, full power, licence and liberty to set in tack and assedation the teind sheaves of the said priory to such person or persons as he shall think expedient for so many years as may stand of the law and custom of this realm and for payment of a reasonable duty of victual and money yearly thereof to him and his successors likewise and as freely as his predecessors, commendators of the said priory, might have done at any time bygone, notwithstanding the act of parliament made at Linlithgow 1585 or whatsoever acts of parliament made in the contrary to the which this present act makes derogation.
[1597/11/75]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament, understanding that the houses, buildings, girnels, orchards, yards, dovecots, tennis court, cloister and whole office situated within the bounds and precinct of the priory and abbey place of St Andrews and the walls thereof called the abbey walls are for the most part already decayed and daily decays and becomes ruinous in such sort that the same, by process of time, will all utterly decay, to the great hurt of the policy of this realm and to the prejudice of the inhabitants thereof; likewise the whole greens and waste ground lying within the said walls and precincts are now altogether unprofitable. For remedy whereof, and for the policy of this realm, our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid give and grant full power and liberty to his highness's dearest cousin Ludovic [Stewart], duke of Lennox, commendator of the said priory, to set in feu ferm for payment of such feu mails as he thinks expedient whatsoever particular part or parts of the place within the said precinct of the said abbey, lodging, girnels, office, houses, orchards, yards, dovecot, tennis court, cloister and greens and whole waste bounds lying within the said walls and precinct, and to make infeftments and securities thereupon. The which infeftments, rights and securities already made by the said Ludovic, duke of Lennox, commendator foresaid, or his predecessors, priors of St Andrews, or to be made by him, are and shall be in all time coming sufficient security and effectual heritable rights to the feuars and possessors thereof, their heirs, successors and assignees of our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid, have ratified and presently ratifies all the foresaid rights and infeftments (as well as made as to be made) by our said dearest cousin or his predecessors of any part or parts of the foresaid houses, buildings, girnels, orchards, yards, dovecots, tennis court, cloister and whole office, houses and greens and waste bounds as said is.
[1597/11/76]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament ratify and approve the gift and disposition made and granted by his highness under the great seal of the date 13 September the year of God 1588, bearing that his highness, with advice and consent of the lords of secret council, nobility and estates then convened for the time, considering the offer and overture made by the said Eustatius Rough to his majesty regarding the augmentation of his majesty's revenue of 100,000 merks yearly by the making of better salt and of greater quantity in this land than has been before; as likewise by the sparing of the fire and fuel to be spared thereupon, his highness, in consideration thereof, by his majesty's said gift under the great seal of the date foresaid, concluded the same work and overture to pass and that none of his lieges should counterfeit nor follow the same under special pains mentioned therein. And also our said sovereign lord, with advice foresaid, ratifies and approves the foresaid gift of the date foresaid in the whole points, articles and clauses thereof after the form and tenor thereof in all points, and ordains letters of publication and other letters to be directed thereupon according to the law.
[1597/11/77]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, having seen and considered the infeftment granted by his highness to Master William Melville, commendator of Tongland, of the temporal lands of the abbacy of Kilwinning, and having considered the causes specified therein for which the same was granted, ratify, approve and confirm the same infeftment with all causes, privileges and conditions contained therein after the form and tenor thereof, with the advocation and donation of the kirks of the whole abbacy of Kilwinning, as at more length is contained in the said infeftment given under the great seal of the date 17 May 1592. And likewise, in respect of the said Master William's office of an ordinary senator in the college of justice and for other similar causes expressed in his rights, ratifies and approves any other dispositions, pensions or provisions made to the said Master William out of the temporal lands, thirds or spiritualties of the abbacies of Kilwinning and Tongland, or out of the bishopric of Galloway, and declares that none of the acts made in this present parliament nor in any parliament before shall prejudice nor hurt the said infeftment or any other dispositions, pensions or provisions made to the said Master William Melville of the temporal lands, thirds or spirituality of the abbacies of Kilwinning and Tongland, or out of the bishopric of Galloway, but that the said rights are excepted out of such general acts as are made generally in the contrary. And further our said sovereign lord and estates foresaid, having consideration of the causes set down in the said Master William's infeftment and for other causes and considerations moving them, give, grant and of new convey the temporal lands of the abbacy of Kilwinning specially set down in the said infeftment, with the advocation and donation of the benefices of the whole abbacy of Kilwinning, to the said Master William Melville after the form and tenor thereof in all points, and decrees and declares the same and the foresaid other rights to be valid and effectual in all time coming, notwithstanding whatsoever act of parliament at any time before made in the contrary; and discharges our said sovereign lord's collector, advocate and lords of the exchequer present and to come of all proceeding against the said Master William in contrary the premises and which may prejudice and make derogation in any manner of way to the said infeftment out of the said particular lands of Kilwinning, with the advocation and donation of the kirks thereof or other rights above-mentioned.
[1597/11/78]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament ratify and approve the gifts of pension first granted by his highness's dearest father and mother to Sir James Melville of Halhill, knight, out of the customs of the burgh of Edinburgh, the one of £100, and the other of 500 merks, of the date the [...] day of [...] years, ratified and approved of new again by his majesty after his perfect age of 25 years, with augmentation of £300 money for his fee to be paid in like manner out of the said customs, as his last gift and ratification thereof bears, of the date 22 December 1591, with all clauses contained therein and decreets following thereupon; and excepts and reserves the said pensions with the foresaid augmentation out of the act of February or any other acts of parliament that in any way may concern the king's property or may appear prejudicially to the foresaid gifts and dispositions.
[1597/11/79]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament ratify and approve the gift of pension granted by his highness out of the feu mails and annualrents of the temporal lands of the abbacy of Crossraguel, and also eight chalders of oats yearly to be collected out of the third of the old assumption of the oats of the bishopric of St Andrews at the customary terms of payment of the same, of the date 10 September 1588, with all clauses contained therein; and excepts and reserves the said pensions out of the act of February or any other acts of parliament that in any way may concern the king's property or thirds of benefices or may appear prejudicial to the foresaid gift of pension of the date above-written, and specially excepts the same pension from the act of parliament made in this present parliament regarding the ratification of the act of February.
[1597/11/80]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and his three estates of parliament, understanding that the whole temporality of North Berwick, with the mansion, manor place, houses, buildings and yards thereof and their pertinents, with the parish kirk of North Berwick, advocation, donation and right of patronage thereof, were all erected in a free barony wherein the late Alexander Home of North Berwick, for himself, his heirs and successors specified therein, were heritably infeft by our sovereign lord's charter under his highness's great seal, which lands and temporality are excepted out of the general annexation of the kirklands to the crown, whereby the said monastery is already effectually suppressed and the remaining kirks of the patrimony thereof in effect dissolved therefrom, namely: the kirks of Largo, Kilconquhar and Maybole lying in the sheriffdoms of Fife, Stirling and Ayr respectively, which kirks and patronages thereof are already resigned in our sovereign lord's hands by the late Dame Margaret Home, prioress of the said monastery, for erection thereof in several rectories, to be served by special ministers and rectors as other benefices of cure accordingly as his highness should think most expedient to provide and convey the same; which demission and resignation of the said patronages his highness received and admitted, so that now there remains no proper rent nor patrimony in the said abbacy of North Berwick, neither temporality nor spirituality to which any successor may be provided in time coming. Therefore our said sovereign lord, with advice of the said three estates, ratifies and approves the said demission and resignations made of the kirks foresaid and every one of them, and has dissolved and dissolves the same perpetually hereafter from the said abbacy that they be no part of the patrimony thereof, suppressing the said abbacy and monastery forever, and that there be no successor provided thereto in time coming.