[1587/7/65]¹

Act in favour of the treasurer concerning expediting of ratifications

²Forasmuch as by a clause or member of the act made in this present parliament, entitled 'For the help and augmentation of the king's majesty's rents in his treasury and casualties', it is statute and ordained that no ratification be passed in the same parliament upon simple articles of private parties but the matter desired to be ratified to be first componed and passed the seals upon composition made and paid to the treasurer before any such matter be confirmed in parliament, and the same in no way to be passed or granted unless they be presented by the said treasurer or his deputes to that effect. And by reason, diverse ratifications and confirmations are suited of [Thomas Lyon of Baldukie], his highness's treasurer, on the behalf of sundry burghs, colleges, hospitals and other parties which possibly cannot get their compositions made and infeftments passed the seals before the conclusion of this parliament; considering also that the rentals of the lands, kirks, annualrents and other commodities conveyed by his highness in his minority or by [Mary], the late queen, his highness's dearest mother, to the said burghs, colleges and hospitals are not known nor cannot be had in so short a space, therefore it is statute and ordained that none of the said ratifications, in case they happen to be passed presently, shall be effectual to the purchasers thereof, nor yet shall be registered in the books of parliament, unless our signatories of the infeftments, tacks and rights desired to be ratified and confirmed be passed, componed and expedited before 31 August 1587, and the rentals of the things conveyed to the said burghs, colleges and hospitals truly given in, with a declaration how the same has been used and conveyed since the granting thereof, under the pain of £100 to be paid by that burgh, college or hospital that seeks ratification and not the infeftment and produces the rental and account the said day; and decrees and declares that all infeftments, tacks and other rights that shall be passed and confirmed by composition made with our sovereign lord's treasurer or his depute before the said day shall be as effectual to the purchasers thereof in all times hereafter as if the same were confirmed by special and several acts in this present parliament, or, if need be, ordains several acts to be extended and inserted containing ratification and confirmation of so many of the said infeftments, tacks and other rights as shall be presented to the clerk register before the said 31 August, bearing the date of this present act, which shall be as sufficient in all respects as if the said ratifications and confirmations were presently pronounced.