[1585/12/40]¹

Declaration of [John Hamilton], lord Hamilton to be curator to [James Hamilton], earl of Arran, his brother

²Our sovereign lord, by advice of this present parliament, statutes and ordains that the nearest agnates and kinsmen of natural fools, idiots and furies shall be served, received and preferred according to the disposition of the common law to their tutory and curator; and seeing his highness's dearest cousin James, earl of Arran is declared an idiot and not in control of his mind, and has been destitute of a lawful curator by the late exile and banishment of John, lord Hamilton, Claud [Hamilton], commendator of Paisley, and others, his nearest kinsmen and friends, our said sovereign lord, by the advice aforesaid, declares the said John, lord Hamilton able and capable as nearest agnate and kinsmen to the said James, earl of Arran, to use and exercise the office of curatory to him for the rule and administration of his lands, lordships, affairs and living; and ordains his highness's brieves to be directed to that effect, to serve the said John to the said office of curator, notwithstanding the dative given by his highness to the late chancellor, the which is declared by this present act to be retreated, rescinded, abrogated and annulled and shall be of no strength, force nor effect in any time hereafter.