[1592/4/20]¹

The disinheriting of the posterity of persons forfeited in this present parliament

²Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament, having considered the treasonable, cruel and unnatural fact lately committed by the persons following in company for the time with Francis [Stewart], sometime earl of Bothwell etc., namely: Francis, earl of Bothwell, Archibald Wauchope, younger, of Niddrie, Master John Colville of Strathurdie, John Hamilton, younger, of Samuelston, James Douglas of Spott, Robert Home, younger, of the Heugh, Hercules Stewart of Whitelaw, Master Thomas Cranston, younger, of Murieston, James Stewart of Tynneis and Dame Margaret Douglas, spouse to the said Francis, and diverse others, their accomplices, in their treasonable coming to his majesty's palace of Holyroodhouse under silence of night upon the [...] day of December last; invading, besieging and pursuing of his majesty's most noble person by fire and sword, breaking up his chamber doors with sledge-hammers and cruelly slaying his highness's servants coming to his majesty's rescue, a treason and cruelty not heard nor seen, committed by subjects so highly obliged to their native king and prince premeditated, consulted and agreed upon to be put in execution long before, having also devised means in their judgement to preserve their lands and goods after the committing of their treason foresaid, which heinous and treasonable fact as it passes all others in cruelty and evil example so it is thought fit and expedient that a suitable law and punishment be set down for extinguishing of the memory of the treasonable persons foresaid and their posterity, to be a document to all ages to come and attempt the like. It is therefore statute and ordained by our sovereign lord and his said estates of parliament that the said Francis, sometime earl of Bothwell, Dame Margaret Douglas, sometime countess of Bothwell, James Douglas of Spott, Archibald Wauchope, younger, of Niddrie, Master John Colville of Strathurdie, William Stewart, sometime constable of Dumbarton, John Hamilton, younger, of Samuelston, William Learmonth of the Hill, Robert Home, younger, of the Heugh, Hercules Stewart of Whitelaw, George Auchencraw of East Reston, Patrick Auchencraw there, Master Thomas Cranston, younger, of Murieston, John Cranston, his brother-german, John Ormiston in Smailholm, Robert Ormiston, his son, James Stewart of Tynneis, Patrick Crummy of Caribdin and David Orme of Mugdrum, their bairns, their heirs and whole posterity shall never possess land, benefice, honour, office nor dignity within this realm in any time coming. And also his majesty and estates foresaid discern, decree and declare that all manner of infeftments, alienations, dispositions, resignations, contracts, bonds or obligations for making of infeftments of their lands and heritages or any part thereof or annualrents out of the same, together with all presented assignations and dispositions of their tacks, steadings, rooms, possessions, goods or gear to any manner of person or persons which took not effect by actual and real possession before the committing of the foresaid crime, shall be null and of no value, force nor effect in time coming as they had never been made.