[1584/5/39]¹

Pacification to Sir John Maitland of Thirlestane, knight

Our sovereign lord, for diverse and good considerations moving his highness tending to the quietness of his realm and universal obedience thereof, has given and granted and, by the tenor hereof, gives and grants to Sir John Maitland of Thirlestane, knight, his highness's secretary, the like favour, grace, privilege and benefit of pacification concluded at Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573] and ratified and approved in parliament held at Edinburgh in April 1573, and wills the same be as amply extended²in his favour in all respects, conditions, clauses, circumstances and privileges thereof as if the said Sir John had been expressly comprehended therein; and also we will and grant that the same pacification be most amply interpreted and extended to him in all clauses thereof that may tend to his security, notwithstanding of any restriction or limitation comprehended therein, and specially that the same be sufficient to rescind, retract, abrogate and annul, likewise his majesty by this act retreats, abrogates and annuls the process and doom of forfeiture led and pronounced against the said Sir John for whatsoever crimes of whatsoever weight, committed, done or assisted by him in any sort, and to restore and reintegrate the said Sir John against the same, likewise and as freely in all respects as if the said process of forfeiture had never been led and doom of forfeiture had never been given nor pronounced against him; and wills and grants that this act be as sufficient and viable in all respects as if every clause of the said pacification had been herein contained and expressly comprehended, which his majesty holds herein for expressed, fully rehabilitating, reintegrating and restoring the said Sir John to his same honour, heritage, offices, rooms, tacks and possessions whatsoever, the priory and benefice of Coldingham only excepted, remitting and for his highness and his successors freely forgiving all crimes, transgressions and offences of whatsoever weight, lese-majesty and others committed, perpetrated, done or assisted to by him from June 1567 to November 1574, providing always that this act be not extended to the murders of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], the king's father, and [James Stewart, earl of Moray and Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox], his two regents.