[1600/11/27]¹

²Regarding dissolution of the coal pits of the property and lands where demolished strengths and castles were built of old

Our sovereign lord, understanding that the ground and bounds where diverse castles, strengths and forts pertaining to his majesty's most noble progenitors were of old situated is now altogether waste, unsightly and unprofitable to his majesty, the said castles and forts being so demolished that there remains no kind of building therein either for strength or dwelling to his majesty, as likewise that his highness's coal pits within the bounds of his annexed property being unable to be wrought without advancement of great expense are so neglected that his majesty neither receives furniture of coals to his highness's house thereby nor any other profit or commodity of the same; for remedy whereof our said sovereign lord, with advice and consent of his estates of parliament, statutes and ordains that it shall be permissible to his highness to set all and sundry the said lands and bounds with the pertinents whereupon any of the said old, demolished and uninhabitable castles and forts were situated, together with the meadows and lochs belonging thereto and coal pits being within the bounds of his annexed property, in feu ferm heritably, so that it be not in diminution of his highness's rental, grassum or other duties, but in augmentation thereof, and to that effect, with consent foresaid, makes present dissolution thereof. And that the lands, meadows, lochs, coal pits and others set by his majesty by virtue of this act in manner foresaid shall stand perpetually and after his decease, the annexations made of before to return again to the own nature so that his successors, after his decease, shall have no further power to transfer nor set in feu any of the said lands, bounds, lochs, meadows, coal pits and others foresaid than they had before the making of this present dissolution. And his highness and estates of parliament declare that the foresaid dissolution shall in no way hurt nor prejudice Alexander [Livingston], lord Livingston, his right which he has to the coal of Bonnington, beside Linlithgow, and to his right which he has to the castle of Blackness, with the greens and pertinents belonging thereto.