[1592/4/80]¹

Act annulling the bandis and contractis of personis being in captivitie

²Oure soverane lord and estaitis of this present parliament declaris that, understanding sindrie of his hienes trew and faithfull subjectis during the tyme of the lait trubles within this realme hes bene movit during the tyme that thay wer detenit and kepit in captivitie to renunce thair heretagis, takkis, possessionis, and to dispone and assigne thair richtis of wardis, nonentres, releiffis and maraiges to sindrie personis to thair greit hurt and prejudice, and als remembring of the greit injuries done to sindrie of thame in the yeir of God j^M v^C fourscoir foure yeiris, be warding of thair personis ather within his hienes propre castellis and strenthis upoun the desyre and sute of thair parties or within the propre castellis and housis of sic personis quha, takand occassioun of the trublis than being within this realme, socht be all meanis to caus sic personis committit to ward to renunce thair heretages, landis and possessionis in thair favouris expres aganis all law and guid conscience; for remeid quhairof oure said soverane lord, being of mynd to redres the saidis enormities and to releif his subjectis, thair aris, successouris, executouris and cautionaris of all contractis, obligationis, renunceationis or ratificationis thairof maid be ony of his faithfull leigis in the said yeir of God j^M v^C fourscoir foure yeiris during the tyme of thair remaning in ward, or at ony tyme thaireftir in the said fourscoir foure yeir of God, quhill his hienes parliament haldin upoun tuentie nynt day of Julii j^M v^C fourscoir sevin yeiris at his perfite aige of tuentie ane yeris, in favouris of the personis be quhais moyen thay wer committit to ward, or in favouris of the personis in quhais propre caus thay ar wardit, kepit and detenit be thame, thair servandis and dependaris in thair names; thairfoir, oure said soverane lord, with advise and consent of the saidis estaitis and haill bodie of this present parliament, findis, decernis and declaris all and quhatsumevir contractis, bandis, obligationis, renuceatiounis, ratificatiounis or approbatiounis thairof maid be quhatsumevir persoun or personis within this realme, thair barnis or cautionaris upoun the richt of thair landis, heretages and possessionis to and in favouris of quhatsumevir persoun or personis be quhais moyen thay wer committit to ward, or in quhais propre hous thay wer wardit, kepit and detenit thairin or in ony uther hous pertening to thair servandis or dependaris induring the tyme of thair being in ward or at ony tyme thaireftir in the said yeir of God j^M v^C fourscoir foure yeris, and quhill the said parliament haldin in Julii j^M v^C fourscoir sevin yeiris, to be null and of nane availl, force nor effect, and retreittis, casis and annullis the samyn to the effect that in all tyme cuming the saidis personis yit on lyfe and the aris and successouris of thame that ar deceissit may peceablie bruik thair saidis heretages, landis, annuelrentis and possessionis, siclyk and als frelie as gif the saidis contractis, bandis, renunceationis and ratificationis thairof haid nevir bene maid. And siclyk, his majestie and estatis foirsaidis retreittis, rescindis, casis and annullis all and quhatsumevir renunceatiounis, dispositionis, alienationis, assignationis and translationis maid be quhatsumevir persoun or personis to, and in favouris of, quhatsumevir persoun or personis off landis, takkis, possessionis, giftis of wardis, mariages and releiffis or ony of thame during the tyme that the saidis personis makaris and granteris thairof wer detenit and kepit in ward; and findis, decernis and declaris the samyn renunceationis, dispositionis, alienationis, assignatiounis and translationis to have bene fra the beginning, to be now and in all tymes cuming null and of nane availl, force nor effect; provyding alwayes that na persoun or personis be hard to use the benefite of this act unto the tyme that thay refound sic sowmes of silver to the personis fra quhome the samyn wes ressavit, quhilkis wer trewlie, reallie and with effect payit and deliverit for making of the saidis renunceationis, dispositionis, assignationis and translationis; and that this act be not extendit to the bandis and suirties maid be borderaris or hieland or iles men for thair obedience and payment of his hienes rentis.