[1581/10/55]¹

Annexation of lands to the crown

Forasmuch as it is understood and well advisedly considered by the king's majesty and three estates of this realm, being assembled in this present parliament, that the patrimony of his crown and revenues thereof being augmented is the great good and profit both to the king's grace and his lieges, and therefore it is thought expedient that our sovereign lord, following the good example of his predecessors, should annex to the crown, for the honourable support of his estate royal in all adventures and causes, both in war and in peace, such lands and lordships as are now presently in his hands that are not annexed of before, and the said lands, being annexed, to remain perpetually with the crown, may neither be given away in fee nor freehold to any persons, whatever estate or degree they be of, without advice, decreet and deliverance of the whole parliament, and for great reasonable causes concerning the welfare of the realm, first to be advised and digestly considered by the whole estates; and albeit it shall happen our sovereign lord that now is, or any his successor kings of Scotland, to annul and convey the said lordships, lands, castles, towers, donations and advocations of kirks and hospitals, with their continents, to the crown as said is annexed, that the alienation and disposition shall be of no value, but it shall be lawful to the king for the time to receive these lands to his own use, whenever it pleases his grace, without any process of law, and the takers shall refund and pay all profits that they have taken up of these lands again to the king for all the time that they have had them, with such other restrictions as are contained in the acts of parliament made by his highness's most noble predecessors, kings of Scotland, in the annexation to the crown. And therefore his highness, with advice and consent of his three estates of this present parliament, has annexed to his crown to remain therewith in manner aforesaid these lands after following: they are to say, the lands and lordship of Douglas, with the castle, tower and fortalice thereof, advocations and donations of kirks and benefices and their pertinents; the lands and lordship of Crawford Lindsay, alias Crawford Douglas; the lands and lordships of Bonkle, Preston and Tantallon, with towers, fortalices, lands, rents, advocations and donations of kirks; the lands of Dunsyre; the lands and lordship of Jedburgh Forest; the lands and lordship of Bothwell, with the tower, fortalice and their pertinents; the lands of Selkirk; the lands of Cockburnspath.