[1594/4/80]¹

Act in favour of Robert Abercrombie

Our sovereign lord, having consideration of the good, true and long service done to his majesty since his coronation by his beloved servant Robert Abercrombie, his master saddler, as well as in furnishing of stuff and fashion both before the death of his highness's trusty cousin William [Ruthven], earl of Gowrie, exceeding the sum of £5,000, as also since then at the command of Sir Robert Melville [of Murdocairnie], treasurer depute, above the sum of 10,000 merks, as the account bears. In the which doing not only the said Robert bestowed his whole substance, but also has contracted great debts for which he has paid yearly profit, whereof his highness, willing to recompense the said Robert in part, in the parliament made in the year of God 1587, gave, granted and conveyed to the said Robert and to the late Master John, Isaac, Robert, Richard and Jeremy Abercrombie, his sons, and to each one of them respectively for their own parts, the 12 monks' portions underwritten out of the abbacy of Coupar [Angus], whereof the said John had 4, the said Isaac had 2, and every one of the other three sons 2 portions conveyed to them by our sovereign lord, namely: to the said Robert Abercrombie, younger, the portions of the late dean Thomas Hamilton, prior dean William Baxter, subprior dean John Donaldson and dean James Masterton; to the said Richard Abercrombie, the portions of dean Peter Trent, dean John Lawson, dean Alexander and dean Adam Anderson; and to the said Jeremy Abercrombie, the portions of the late dean Andrew MacAchane, dean Robert Drysdale, dean Thomas Dron and dean Andrew Moncur, as at more length is contained in the gift made thereupon; whereupon also the said persons have obtained decreet of the lords of session for answering and obeying of them of the fruits, rents, duties and profits pertaining to the said monks during their lifetimes. Therefore our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the estates of this present parliament, ratifies and approves the foresaid gift and disposition made and given by his highness to the said Robert Abercrombie, Richard and Jeremy Abercrombie in all points, articles and clauses thereof, and wills and declares that the same shall stand for a perpetual security to the said persons and to the said Robert as factor and administrator to them during their lifetimes, and the longest liver of them, so that in case any of them die, his part and portion shall accrue to his brother equally to be divided amongst them, so long as any of them shall be alive; renouncing all action that his majesty has or may have for impinging of any part of the said gift or validity thereof, and discharges his highness's treasurer and advocate of all pursuing, troubling or molesting of the said persons in the peaceable possession, holding and uplifting of the said monks' portions by the said persons during their lifetimes.