[1592/4/178]¹

Ratification to Sir Alexander Home of Snuke, knight

²Our sovereign lord and his estates of parliament have seen and considered the pension granted by John Stewart, son lawful to Francis [Stewart], sometime earl of Bothwell, commendator of Kelso, by advice and consent of our said sovereign lord, of his said father, of the administrator and steward of the said abbey and of certain others, to Sir Alexander Home of Snuke, knight, sometime commendator of the priory of Coldingham, for all the days of his lifetime, of 25 chalders of victual, which is assigned to be paid to him of certain particular parts of the patrimony of the said abbey, and to the late Alexander Home of Manderston and the said Sir Alexander, and the longest liver of the two successively during their lifetimes, of a yearly pension of all and sundry the teind sheaves of all and whole their lands, special and general, contained in their said gift lying within the barony of Coldingham, which pensions were granted and given to the said late Alexander and the said Sir Alexander in satisfaction of the said Sir Alexander's right and title which he had to the said abbacy and benefice of Coldingham and compensation for the causes specified in the decreet arbitral given relating thereto, and submitted to the decision of our said sovereign lord, who, by his highness's decreet arbitral, adjudged the right and title of the said benefice to the said Francis, sometime earl of Bothwell, he making sufficient security to the said Sir Alexander of the said yearly pension of 25 chalders of victual, by the which it may be clearly understood that the said pensions are a burden that necessarily may lie upon the said benefice as justly and lawfully granted for the causes foresaid; and therefore, our said sovereign lord and his estates in parliament have ratified and approved the said letters of pension in all points, clauses and articles thereof, and the said ratification in this general form to be as sufficient as if the said letter were at length inserted in this ratification. And further our said sovereign lord, with advice of his said estates, for his highness and his successors, declares and decrees that the foresaid title of the said pensions granted to the said Sir Alexander as said is shall be a full right to him for possessing of the said pensions during all the days of his lifetime, notwithstanding whatsoever process of forfeiture led or to be led against the said Francis, sometime earl of Bothwell, or whatsoever sentence or judgement to be given against the inability of his heirs and posterity, and specially against the said John Stewart, commendator foresaid, that they shall possess no lands, heritages, rooms, benefices nor possessions within this realm, and notwithstanding whatsoever other reason that may be opposed in the contrary. And also our said sovereign lord and estates in parliament declare, by this ratification, that the said pension shall be reserved, likewise they reserve the same in the provision of whatsoever person that shall be hereafter provided thereto; and this present reservation to be as sufficient as if the same were contained in the said provisions.