[1594/4/82]¹

Act in favour of Thomas Foulis

Our sovereign lord, understanding that by the refining out of mines of gold, silver, copper, lead and other minerals within this realm not only his majesty's particular profit may be augmented, but also the benefit and commodity of the realm advanced, with advice of his majesty and his treasurer depute, and with advice of Master John Lindsay, parson of Menmuir, one of the senators of the college of justice and master of the metals within this realm and dominions thereof, gave and conveyed to his beloved servant Thomas Foulis, goldsmith, burgess of Edinburgh, and his heirs, assignees and servants full power and commission, liberty and licence to search, seek, break the ground, work, extract, intromit with and receive, carry, fine, refine and transport to any part of this realm or outwith the same, use and convey at their pleasure all and whatsoever metals and minerals, as well of gold, silver, lead, tin and others lying within whatsoever the lands, bounds and ground of the forty pound land called the Friar Muir pertaining of old to the abbacy of Newbattle and others, his feuars and tacksmen thereof, lying within the barony of Crawford Lindsay and sheriffdom of Lanark, and specially the mines upon Glengonnar sometime possessed by George Douglas of Parkhead, and the mines upon Annan Water, which metals and minerals pertains to our sovereign lord by the laws of this realm and privilege of his crown, to try and refine the same for all the days, space, years and terms of 21 years next and immediately following the day and date of this act. By virtue of the which gift, the said Thomas has employed the utmost of his power in the finding out of the said mines and minerals, and trying of the value and fines thereof, and has brought strangers within the country to labour and travail therein; likewise he is also of purpose upon his charges to bring others out of all parts who has understanding of the said matter and to employ his whole substance thereto, and that it were not reason that he be frustrated of his expectation of the said gift or any part thereof or privilege contained therein impaired or brought into question by any person, therefore our sovereign lord, with the advice of the estates of this present parliament, has ratified and approved and ratifies and approves the foresaid gift and disposition made by his highness, with advice foresaid, to the said Thomas Foulis and his heirs and others contained in the same in all the heads, points, clauses, conditions, and privileges thereof contained thereto, and that the said gift shall be a sufficient title and right to him and his foresaids to search, seek and break the ground, work, extract, intromit with, receive, carry, fine and refine or transport out of the realm at all pleasure all and whatsoever metals and minerals above-specified lying within whatsoever part of the lands above-written, discharging all and whatsoever other rights and titles made by his highness in any manner of way in prejudice or impairing the said gift made to the said Thomas and his foresaids or any point, article, head or condition thereof and all others that shall happen to be made hereafter, declaring the same to be null and of no value by way of exception only without raising of any action thereupon.