[1571/8/2]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†It is found, declared and decreed by our sovereign lord, with advice of the [three estates and whole] body of this present parliament, that the nomination, constitution, [election and ordination] of the noble and mighty lord John, earl of Mar, lord Erskine etc., [as regent to our sovereign lord,] this his realm and lieges thereof, during the time of his [majesty's minority and less] age, specified and expressed in [Mary], the queen, his highness's [mother's letters, under her] subscription and privy seal, of the date 24 [July] 1567, together also with the c[onsent and approbation of] the earls, lords, prelates, commissioners of burghs, barons [and other faithful subjects] convened and assembled to that effect; and the acceptance [of the said office of] regency by the said John, earl of Mar, on 6 [September 1571] was, is and in all time coming shall be held, reputed [and esteemed lawful], sufficient and perfect; and all and whatsoever things which [he has done by] virtue of his said office of regency since his acceptance thereof, [or which] he shall do hereafter in our said sovereign lord's name and authority during [the time] of his highness's minority, specified in the said commission, to be as duly, l[aw]fully, sufficiently and righteously done, and to have as great value, strength, force and effect in all respects and conditions as anything done by whatsoever regents, governors or protectors of this realm in the minorities and less ages of any other native princes of the same; and ratifies, approves and confirms the same nomination, election, constitution and acceptance for now and in time coming.
[1571/8/3]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of [John Erskine, earl of Mar], his said regent, three estates and whole body of this present parliament, has ratified and, by this present act, ratifies and approves all and whatsoever acts and statutes made of before by our sovereign lord or his predecessors concerning the freedom and liberty of the true kirk of God now publicly professed within this realm.
[1571/8/4]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Item, [John Erskine, earl of Mar], my lord regent's grace, the three estates and whole body of this present parliament have ratified and approved and, by this present act of parliament, ratify and approve acts of parliament, process, dooms and decreets of forfeiture and others whatsoever made, led and pronounced in the last parliament begun and held at Edinburgh in May 1571.
[1571/8/5]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Item, it is decreed and declared by our sovereign lord, with advice of [John Erskine, earl of Mar], my lord regent's grace, and three estates, that all alienations, resignations, demissions and other dispositions whatsoever, made or to be made by any person or persons convicted, or that hereafter shall happen in any way to be convicted or forfeited for art and part of the treasonable murd[ers and slaughters of] our sovereign lord's late dearest father or regents [of whatsoever lands,] heritages, offices, benefices, rooms or professions, [since the times respec]tively of the committing thereof, are and shall be null [in themselves and of] no value, strength, force nor effect in all times [coming, with all that] followed or shall happen to follow thereupon.
[1571/8/6]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Item, it is statute, ordained and declared in p[lain] par[liament by our sovereign lord,] with advice and consent of [John Erskine, earl of Mar], his said regent, three estates [and whole body of this present parliament, that all persons,] our sovereign lord's true and faithful subjects, which have served [and serve his] highness in maintenance of his authority, having lands, heritage, annu[alrents, life rents], pensions or possessions whatsoever held of any person[s called and] forfeited in this present parliament for whatsoever crimes [of treason] and lese-majesty shall use and enjoy their tenantries what[soever,] notwithstanding the forfeiting of their superiors thereof, and hold the same off their next immediate superiors, providing always that in [case any of] the said vassals or others that shall happen to claim any benefit [by virtue] of this act at any time hereafter make defection from our [sovereign] lord's authority and obedience or come in the contrary thereof, that [they] nor none of them shall have nor enjoy the privilege and benefit [of this] present act, and the same shall in no way be extended to them.
[1571/8/7]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Item, forasmuch as there are diverse lieges and subjects of this realm [which] have sundry lands, rooms and possessions obtained by them or their predecessors in feu and heritage of the priors or prioress mothers and convents of sundry friars and nuns' places within this realm, held off them and their successors, and now, since the reformation of religion, the said superiors are for the most of deceased and no others placed nor to be placed in their rooms, so that within short space they shall all decay, through which the heirs of the said feuars and other heritable tenants of the said places shall get no entry to their lands and heritage held off friars' and nuns' places; for remedy thereof, it is statute and ordained in this present parliament that all persons, feuars or heritable tenants of such friars' and nuns' places and their heirs, after the decease, decay or deficiency of their said superiors, hold and shall hold their feus and tenantries of the same of our sovereign lord and his successors in all times coming, likewise and as freely as they held the same of the places aforesaid, priors, prioress or others being therein for the time; and the feu mails, services and duties specified and contained in their infeftment to pertain to our sovereign lord and his successors to be intromitted, taken up and conveyed at their pleasure, and that the heirs of the said feuars and heritable tenants aforesaid shall enter to their feus and tenantries by brieves of our sovereign lord's chap[el, likewise and as free]ly and in the same manner as the feuars and heritable ten[ants of our sovereign lord's] property in all times coming.
[1571/8/8]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Item, our sovereign lord, by advice and consent of [John Erskine, earl of Mar], his said regent, and th[ree estates aforesaid,] ratifies, approves and confirms all and sundry old acts [and statutes] made of before concerning the freedom and privileges of burghs.
[1571/8/9]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, our said sovereign lord, with advice and consent of [John Erskine, earl of Mar], his regent, three estates and whole body of this present parliament, has statute, ordained, decreed and declared that all and sundry alienations, resignations and other dispositions whatsoever made and given in any way by any persons, burgesses or inhabitants within the burgh of Edinburgh, or any other burghs of this realm, which have made defection from our sovereign lord's authority and assisted and taken part with the conspirators and declared traitors to any person or persons since the committing of the said crimes, by them or any of them, of whatsoever their lands, heritages, offices, tacks, steadings, rooms or possessions whatsoever, are and shall be in all times coming null in themselves and of no value, strength, force nor effect.
[1571/8/10]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, it is statute and ordained by our sovereign lord, [John Erskine, earl of Mar], his regent aforesaid, the three estates and whole body of this present parliament, that no ships pass out of this realm to the realm of France or any other parts without our sovereign lord's cocket; and that no cocket nor privy writing be purchased or taken off [Mary], our sovereign lord's mother, her pretended lieutenants or any others in her name in any time coming, under the pain of escheating of all such ships and whole goods being therein; and the persons, owners of the said ships, or purchasers and takers of the said cockets or other writings aforesaid as said is, to be punished in their persons and goods with all rigour.
[1571/8/11]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Forasmuch as albeit the truth and constancy of heralds, macers, pursuivants and other officers bearing arms ought to be unsuspected or violated, and notwithstanding that all our sovereign lord's lieges bearing that charge and office have publicly professed his highness obedience and diverse of them created by his majesty's [authority since his highness's] coronation, to whom they have sworn and promised their [allegiance, yet as] it is certainly understood by [John Erskine, earl of Mar], my lord regent's grace, [the three estates] and whole body of this present parliament, Peter Thomson, [Islay herald], Adam MacCulloch, Marchmont herald, John Forman, [Rothesay herald], Alexander Forrester, Carrick pursuivant, Alexander MacCulloch, [Ormond pursuivant], William Melville, Thomas Crichton, William Purves, macer, [Thomas Barry, William] Bury, pretended Ettrick pursuivants or messengers, [Thomas Young], [...]† messenger, with diverse other heralds, macers, pursuiv[ants and] messengers of arms, neglecting their faith, oaths made, [the honour] of their office and allegiance owed to our sovereign lord, have wilfully [and] rebelliously cast off their indebted obedience and, treasonably, [not] only accompanied the declared traitors, rebels and conspirators [against] our sovereign lord's authority, now being within the castle and burgh of Edinburgh, but also in proper persons displayed their coats of arms, bore their maces and otherwise fortified, assisted and took plain part with them in their late treasonable, pretended and arrogant proceedings, to the deprivation of our sovereign lord from his royal crown and authority. And my lord regent's grace and three estates aforesaid, considering the plain and manifest defection of the heralds, macers, pursuivants and messengers above-written from their sworn faith and indebted obedience, being persons which above all other subjects by duty of their offices ought to have been irrevocable, true and constant, and considering likewise that the persons aforesaid being admonished and required by letters of our sovereign lord's late dearest grandfather and regent to withdraw themselves out of the said burgh of Edinburgh and to come and attend upon their offices, not only abstracted themselves, disparaging and contemning the said admonition and charge, but revealed the person of the messenger named Steven Storie, and by their default caused him be apprehended by the said declared traitors, rebels and conspirators, and be put in vile prison and straight thraldom. Therefore, our sovereign lord, with advice of his said regent, three estates and whole body of this present parliament, has declared and, by this present act, declares that the persons above-written and all other heralds, macers, pursuivants and messengers of arms which are culpable of the crimes above-specified have ipso facto lost their offices of arms, decreeing their said offices presently by virtue of this act to be vacant, and they, and every one of them, to be esteemed as infamous persons hereafter and to be used and demeaned according to the law; discharging the treasurer and comptroller present and to come of all payment making to the said heralds, macers, pursuivants, messengers and all other ordinary officers, either within burgh or castle of Edinburgh presently, of their accustomed fees and duties resting from any years or times past or in times coming; decreeing [also all executions] to be made by the said officers of arms in times coming null in [themself, invalid and] of no effect in all times to come.