[1587/7/95]¹

Ratification to [James Ruthven], earl of Gowrie

²Our sovereign lord and his three estates of this present parliament have ratified, approved and confirmed and, by the tenor hereof, with advice aforesaid, for him and his successors, ratify, approve and perpetually confirm the heritable infeftment and charter granted to the late William [Ruthven], earl of Gowrie, lord Ruthven and Dirleton, his heirs and successors therein specified, of the title, earldom and whole living of Gowrie, lands, lordships, baronies, annexes and connexes thereof specially mentioned and contained in the said infeftment thereof, with all honours, liberties, freedoms and privileges of the same granted in the parliament held at Edinburgh on [...] November 1581. And further, our said sovereign lord, now after his perfect age of 21 years complete and general revocation made in parliament, has of new erected and, by this act, erects the lands, lordships and baronies aforesaid, with all annexes, connexes and dependancies thereof, in the said Earl of Gowrie, with the same honours, liberties and privileges that are contained in the said infeftments, and for him and his successors wills and grants that the same shall remain with James, now earl of Gowrie, lord Ruthven and Dirleton, his heirs and assignees, after the form and tenor of the said former infeftment, and of his own retour and sasine thereof given to him as son and heir to the said late William, earl of Gowrie. And likewise our said sovereign lord, with advice of his said three estates, declares that the aforesaid lands, lordships, baronies, annexes, connexes of the said earldom are not, nor shall not, be comprehended in the general annexation of kirklands to the crown, but are and shall be in all time coming excluded therefrom, to remain with the said James, earl of Gowrie, his heirs and successors forever, and ordains the same to be extended in the best form with all clauses needful.