[A1578/3/13]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
[A1578/3/14]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
[...] the voluntary demission of James [Douglas], earl of Morton, lord of Dalkeith, [...] our sovereign lord, his realm and lieges, of the power and authority of the regiment of this realm to be used and exercised by his majesty's self in time coming; his highness, with advice of his nobility and estates, has exonerated, indemnified and discharged him of his office and administration of the regiment of this realm since his acceptance thereof, and of all sums of money, coined and uncoined, all mails, ferms, profits, rents, revenues, duties, both of proper patrimony and casualty of this realm and dominions, and of his majesty's coin and profit thereof, the thirds of benefices and all other goods, gear and things whatsoever, as well unnamed as named, pertaining or that in any way might have pertained to his highness since the said earl's intromission with the said office of regiment intromitted with by him, his ministers, factors or servants in his name during the said space, except always his majesty's jewels and plenishing of his highness's houses and clothing, artillery and ammunition pertaining to his highness or [Mary], his dearest mother, intromitted with and recovered by the said earl, which his majesty declared should not be comprehended in the said discharge, but the said earl to stand answerable to his highness for the same as he should be required, as in his majesty's exoneration and discharge at more length is contained. And now, the said earl being ready and willing at his highness's command and requisition to deliver to his majesty or others having his highness's power the said castle of Edinburgh, with all jewels, plenishing of his highness's houses and clothing, artillery and ammunition pertaining to his majesty or his dearest mother, intromitted with by him according to an inventory made between the said earl on the one part and William [Ruthven], lord Ruthven, treasurer of Scotland, and Patrick [Lindsay], lord Lindsay of the Byres, his highness's commissioners specially constituted to this effect, on the other part, subscribed with their hands and ordained [to be] interchangeable to be delivered, the one to the said earl to be kept by him for his security, and the other to [James MacGill of Nether Rankeilour], his majesty's clerk register, to be kept in his highness's register to his advantage. Therefore his majesty, with advice of the said nobility and estates, has exonerated, indemnified and discharged the said earl, his heirs, executors, successors and assignees of the said castle of Edinburgh and of all and sundry the said jewels, plenishing of his majesty's houses and clothing, artillery and ammunition, as well pertaining to his highness as his said dearest mother, intromitted with and recovered by the said earl, to be contained in the said inventory as said is and really and with effect delivered to his highness or others having his power to receive the same as said is; and the said delivery being made, now as then and then as now, has granted and declared the effect of the said exception contained in the said exoneration and discharge fulfilled, satisfied and performed by the said earl of so much as is contained in the said inventory. And further, his highness, with advice of his nobility and council, by this present ordinance, binds and obliges himself and his successors to free, relieve and keep unhurt the said Earl of Morton, his heirs, executors and successors of all and whatsoever contained in the said exoneration and discharge at the hands of whatsoever person or persons having or that shall pretend right, claim or interest thereto, promising in the faith and word of a prince, by advice of the said nobility and estates, never to revoke the said discharge and obligation nor to come in the contrary thereof in any time hereafter. Which exoneration, discharge and promise, together with the commission granted and given to the said commissioners, jointly and separately, for receiving of the said castle, jewels, plenishing, artillery and ammunition, the king's majesty, with advice of the said nobility and estates now convened, ordains to be duly ratified and approved in his highness's next parliament, to be held between the date hereof and 20 July 1578, as also to be ratified of new in his majesty's first parliament at his lawful and perfect age. And ordains and commands [John Stewart, earl of Atholl], chancellor, or his depute keepers of the great seal, to append his highness's great seal to the said exoneration, discharge, promise and commission now subscribed with his majesty's hand, notwithstanding that the same has not passed his highness's signet and privy seal, for which this present act and ordinance, subscribed by [James MacGill of Nether Rankeilour], clerk of his council, shall be to the said lord chancellor and his deputes full and sufficient warrant.†