[1587/7/115]¹

Ratification of the office of chancellery to Sir John Maitland of Thirlestane, knight

²Forasmuch as by an act of our sovereign lord's parliament held at Edinburgh on 22 May 1584, concerning the ratification of the constitution of certain officers of the estate, especially of James [Stewart], earl of Arran,³ lord Aven and Hamilton, to use and exercise the office of chancellery enduring his lifetime, according to his gift made to him thereupon, it is statute and declared that none of the said officers shall be removable from their offices in time coming except for just and worthy causes tried by his highness and his estates in parliament; and that in the parliament held at Linlithgow in the month of November 1585, it is declared that the said James, earl of Arran of before had departed and was in his highness's danger for his majesty's jewels undelivered, and therefore his majesty, with advice of his three estates, found and declared the said office of chancellery to be vacant and that the same might be served thereafter by such a person and in such manner as his highness should appoint. And now his majesty, through long and daily experience having notable proof and knowledge of the singular qualities and dexterity being in Sir John Maitland of Thirlestane, knight, his highness's secretary, tending greatly to the relief, welfare and quietness of his realm and lieges whereby his highness understands him most apt, worthy and able to use, exercise, possess and discharge the said office of chancellery, therefore our said sovereign lord, with advice of the three estates and whole body of this present parliament, has nominated, chosen and elected the said Sir John Maitland of Thirlestane, knight, his highness's secretary, to be chancellor of this realm, and to use and exercise the office thereof as well in parliaments, privy council and otherwise during his lifetime, giving, granting and conveying to the said Sir John the said office of chancellery, to be possessed and enjoyed by him for all the space of his lifetime as freely and with all honours, dignities, privileges, power and authority, fees, duties and casualties whatsoever as any person within this realm possessed the said office of before; and the said Sir John Maitland, being personally present, at command and obedience of his majesty, accepted the said office of chancellery in and upon him and made faith loyally and truly to administer and institute therein as he shall answer to the eternal God and his highness thereupon; and to the effect the said Sir John Maitland may be the more encouraged diligently to pass forward in the said office, as experience has declared him to have done in times past, and that he may the more surely possess the same for his lifetime, his majesty, with consent of the said three estates of this present parliament, retreats, abrogates, rescinds and annuls the aforesaid act of parliament made on 22 May 1584 in so far as the same extends or may be extended in favour of the said Earl of Arran for possessing and using of the said office of chancellery enduring his lifetime and ratification of the gift granted to him thereupon of before, and decrees and declares the said office of chancellery to be as freely and surely possessed and used by the said Sir John Maitland for the space of his lifetime likewise and in the same manner as if the aforesaid act of parliament and gift of the said chancellery had never been made and granted to the said Earl of Arran and in his favour.