[1605/6/127]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, calling to remembrance the faithful and loyal service done to his highness continually since his infancy by his trusty cousin Thomas, viscount of Fenton, lord Dirleton etc., and captain of his highness's guards, and specially that notable service done by him at Perth in resisting of the monstrous, ungodly and horrible treason conspired there against his highness's royal person by the late John [Ruthven], sometime earl of Gowrie, and his brother, deserving justly perpetual memory and commendation to all ages, with good recompense and remuneration; and his highness and estates in some measure being willing to gratify his said trusty cousin for the present by disposition to him, his male heirs and assignees heritable of the whole temporal lands and rents which pertained of before to the priory of Restenneth, being a cell of the abbacy of Jedburgh, now pertaining to his majesty by virtue of the act of annexation of the kirk lands within this realm to the crown, with the right of the patronage of the kirks of the said priory, namely: the kirks of Restenneth, Donynald and Aberlemno erected in a free barony as follows; therefore his majesty and estates of this present parliament, after sufficient trial taken in this parliament and of before of the said notable service done by the said Viscount of Fenton in the preservation of his highness's most royal person, being evident, most reasonable and profitable causes for the well of his whole realm and subjects thereof, has dissolved and, by this act, dissolve all and sundry the temporal lands, annuals and rents pertaining of before to the said priory of Restenneth from the said act of annexation and patrimony of the crown; and also has dissolved and, by this act, dissolve all and sundry the said parish kirks of the said cell and priory of Restenneth, parsonages and vicarages thereof, with all and sundry teinds, fruits, revenues, emoluments and duties of the same from the first foundations thereof, whereupon the same proceeded, and from the said abbacy of Jedburgh, to the which the said cell and priory of Restenneth was united of old as a part of the patrimony thereof, and from all other acts of annexation whatsoever made of the same priory, rents and kirks thereof in time bygone, and have suppressed and, by this act, suppress, bury and extinguish the name and memory of the said priory forever, to the effect his majesty may grant and convey heritably to his said trusty cousin Thomas, viscount of Fenton, his male heirs and assignees, all and sundry the temporal lands and rents pertaining to the said priory with the place, cloister, yards, orchards and whole bounds within the precinct of the same, and all their pertinents, together with the advocation, donation and right of patronage of the parish kirks foresaid, parsonages and vicarages thereof, erected in a free barony as said is, held of his highness and his successors in free blench for yearly payment of £20 in name of blench ferm only, and free of payment of all monks' portions, first year's fruits, fifth penny, third and all other duties to which his majesty, his predecessors or successors had, has or in any way may have or pretend right in any time coming, by virtue of whatsoever law, statute, acts of parliament, council or convention whatsoever made or to be made in the contrary, which his highness and estates foresaid for the causes above-specified renounce and discharge forever by this act; and that the said charter be extended in the best form with all clauses necessary; and this present act to be a sufficient warrant for making and perfecting thereof.