[1617/5/68]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, considering the good, true and thankful service done to his majesty by his trusty and well-beloved councillor Sir Andrew Hamilton of Redhouse, knight, one of the senators of his highness's college of justice in the public affairs of the realm, and willing to encourage him to continue therein; and also having advisedly considered the tenors of the charters and infeftments underwritten and whole progress of the old titles, rights and securities whereupon the same proceeded, have therefore ratified, approved and confirmed and by the tenor hereof for his majesty and his successors, with advice of the said estates of this present parliament, ratify, approve and for ever confirm the charters and infeftments following, namely: a charter of alienation made and granted by the late James Fawsyde, then apparent heir of that Ilk, heritable proprietor of the lands underwritten, and Master Robert Fawsyde of that Ilk, life-renter of the same, with advice and consent of certain persons therein mentioned, to the late Master John Laing of Spittell, keeper of his majesty's signet, and Rebecca Denniston, his spouse, in liferent, and to the said Sir Andrew Hamilton of Redhouse, knight, and the late Dame Jean Laing, his spouse, in conjunct fee and their heirs and assignees therein mentioned, of all and whole one of their two husband lands lying in the town and territory of Ballencrieff called Wester Bissetleys, of the date 23 and 26 November 1609, together with his majesty's confirmation made under the great seal of the date 28 April 1610, ratifying and confirming the foresaid charter of alienation; and another charter of confirmation and infeftment granted by his majesty under the great seal of the date 19 November 1612, ratifying and approving an instrument of sasine granted by the said late Master John Laing of Spittell, of all and sundry the lands of Redspittell, alias Wester Redspittell, and lands of Easter Spittell, and lands of Coittis with manor places, towers, fortalices, houses, buildings, yards, orchards, dovecots, mill, mill-lands, meadows, outsets, tofts, crofts, parts, pendicles, annexes, connexes and all their pertinents, and diverse other charters, infeftments and securities of the said lands and others foresaid conceived in favour of the said Sir Andrew Hamilton, his said spouse and heirs between them, which failing, the nearest lawful heirs of the said Sir Andrew and his assignees whatsoever; and also containing a new gift and disposition whereby his majesty has of new given, granted, conveyed and confirmed to the said Sir Andrew Hamilton and the late Dame Jean Laing, his spouse, in conjunct fee and to their heirs and assignees therein mentioned heritably all and sundry the said lands of Easter Spittell with the pertinents foresaid; and also another charter and infeftment granted by his majesty under the great seal to the said Sir Andrew Hamilton, his male heirs and assignees whatsoever, of all and whole the half of the lands and mains of Ballencrieff sometime pertaining to John Borthwick, portioner of Ballencrieff, with the corn mills built thereupon, multures and sequels of the same, with mansions, yards, dovecots, meadows, parts, pendicles and whole pertinents thereof, of the date 29 June 1616, bearing the same lands to be held of his majesty in free blench, together with the act of dissolution made in favour of the said John Borthwick relating thereto in the parliament held at [...], upon the [...] day of [...] 1592; and also the decreet of the lords of council given in favour of the said Sir Andrew Hamilton against his majesty's comptroller, treasurer and advocate upon the [...] day of March last 1617, whereby the letters raised at the instance of his majesty's comptroller, treasurer and advocate for payment of a certain feu duty acclaimed out of the said half lands of the mains of Ballencrieff are simply suspended in all and sundry points, passes, heads, clauses, provisions and conditions therein contained, with all that has followed thereupon; and declare and ordain this present ratification to be as good, valid, effectual and sufficient to the said Sir Andrew, his heirs and assignees therein mentioned as if the foresaid charters and decreets word for word had been expressed and set down herein, and that notwithstanding whatsoever law, statute, act or ordinance made or to be made in the contrary.