[1617/5/52]¹

Ratification in favour of [Ludovic Stewart], duke of Lennox

Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, perfectly understanding that his highness's dearest cousin Ludovic, duke of Lennox etc., being lawfully provided to the abbacy and priory of St Andrews, whole kirks and teinds of the same, made, sealed and subscribed a procuratory, with advice of the convent of the said priory for the time, for demitting of the same priory of St Andrews with the monastery place and precinct thereof, together with the whole kirks and teinds, both parsonage and vicarage belonging thereto, to the effect his majesty might dispose thereupon at his gracious pleasure; according to the which procuratory, demission was made thereof in his majesty's hands, as an instrument taken thereupon of the date the [...] day of [...], the year of God 16[...] at more length purports. Likewise, by a special act of parliament made in the month of [...], the year of God 16[...], his majesty and estates of parliament not only dissolved the whole temporal lands of the said priory of St Andrews from his highness's crown, but also dissolved the monastery place and precinct of St Andrews, with the whole kirks and teinds of the same priory, from the benefice thereof, and suppressed and extinguished the name and memory of the said benefice to the effect the same might be given by his majesty to the said lord duke of Lennox, his male heirs and successors mentioned therein, to be held of his majesty in manner contained in the said act; likewise, according thereto, his majesty, by his highness's infeftment under the great seal of the date 11 April, the year of God 1611, gave, granted and conveyed to his highness's said dearest cousin Ludovic, duke of Lennox and his male heirs mentioned therein, the whole lands and kirks, both temporality and spirituality, pertaining and belonging to the said abbacy and priory of St Andrews, whereupon he was seised therein, as the sasine granted to him of the same of the date 16 April, the year of God 1613, at more length bears. And because that since the passing of the said infeftment the procuratory of demission of the said benefice is lost, therefore the said lord duke has of new, with consent of the convent of the said priory, demitted the monastery place and precinct of St Andrews, together with the whole kirks and teinds, both parsonage and vicarage, pertaining and belonging thereto in his majesty's hands, to the effect his highness may of new dispose thereupon at his gracious pleasure, as the procuratory of demission of the date the [...] day of [...], the year of God 16[...], and instrument of demission following thereupon of date 19 June, the year of God 1617, at more length bears. Therefore his majesty and estates of this present parliament have ratified and approved and by this act ratify and approve the foresaid first procuratory of demission with the instrument following thereupon, together with the said former act of dissolution made according thereto with the foresaid great infeftment granted by his majesty in favour of the said Ludovic, duke of Lennox and his male heirs specified therein, of the foresaid lordship of St Andrews, both spirituality and temporality thereof, according to the said act of dissolution, with the instrument of sasine following thereupon, which are of the dates respectively above-rehearsed, in all and sundry the heads, points, clauses, articles, privileges, prerogatives, circumstances and liberties whatsoever specified and contained therein, and in every one of the same after the forms and tenors thereof in all points; ordaining this general ratification to be as effectual and sufficient to his highness's said dearest cousin, his male heirs and assignees specified in the said infeftment as if the foresaid former procuratory and instrument of demission, act of dissolution, great infeftment and instrument of sasine above-specified following thereupon were word by word inserted herein and ratified hereby in particular. In addition, his majesty and estates, for further security and confirmation of the said erection to his highness's said dearest cousin Ludovic, duke of Lennox, his male heirs and successors specified in the foresaid infeftment granted to him thereupon, and to all others having right from him of any of the kirks of the said benefice and without prejudice or derogation thereto, have of new dissolved and by this present act dissolve all and whole the foresaid monastery place and precinct of St Andrews, together with the whole kirks and teinds, both parsonage and vicarage, pertaining and belonging thereto, from the benefice of the same; and have suppressed and extinguished and by this act suppress and extinguish the name and memory of the said benefice in all time coming, to the effect his majesty may of new erect and convey the same to his highness's said dearest cousin Ludovic, duke of Lennox and such male heirs as he pleases design in the same form and manner as the same was conveyed of before, to be held and for payment of the duties contained in the said former infeftment of the date above-mentioned.