[1585/12/60]¹

An act in favour of the servants of [John Erskine], earl of Mar and [Thomas Lyon of Baldukie], master of Glamis

Our sovereign lord, understanding that by his highness's acts, made by the advice of the three estates in this present parliament, they have abolished their remembrance past of whatsoever offences done by his highness's nobility and especially by John, earl of Mar and master of Glamis, their kin, friends and servants heretofore, and to restore and repossess them in their lands, livings, rooms and possessions, from the which they have been debarred and dispossessed by occasion of civil troubles within this realm since our said sovereign lord's coronation, and seeing there has been great number of the said Earl of Mar's dependants and friends who last after their exile and banishment were challenged and pursued most rigorously for joining and assisting with them in their common enterprises, whereof some being put to the trial of an assize, some imprisoned and others ejected out of their kindly rooms and possessions for their service, were induced of very necessity to renounce and give over their lands, rooms and possessions to such as were their greatest enemies and procured them to be pursued of their lives, to the effect they might obtain their livings; and because many have been induced upon the apparent peril of their lives to convey their rooms and possessions and to renounce their heritable rights and titles to such as now possesses them, and that upon titles onerous and sums of money although there was no sum disbursed nor paid for that, but gentlemen constrained up confess the same to strength their security, therefore, our said sovereign lord, with advice of the three estates of this present parliament, statutes and ordains that all and whatsoever persons that have been challenged and pursued for the service of the said earl and master of Glamis to be reinstated, restored and reintegrated and, by the tenor hereof, reinstates, restores and reintegrates them and each one of them in the same right and title they had to their livings before the said earl and lords departing out of this realm, notwithstanding of whatsoever transactions and appointments they were forced to make to their great hurt for necessity of the time, providing always that they shall be held to disburse and redeliver before they obtain the possession [of]² such sums of money as they have received, or as may be proven numerated by the donators of them living or any others, obtainers of the same; and also providing that this present act and ordinance in no way be prejudicial to William Keith, servant to the king's majesty, nor to Matthew Stewart of Minto, knight, concerning their rights of the lands and heritages pertaining to William Cunningham, son to the laird of Drumquhassle.