[1609/4/68]¹

Act in favouris of the Lord Saltoun, ratifeing his richtis of patronage and takkis of teyndis of the kirkis of Keith and Rothimey

Oure soverane lord, the estaittis and haill bodie of this present parliament, perfytlie undirstanding that his hienes richt trest cousing and counsallour Johne, lord Abirnethie of Saltoun, umquhile George, lord² Abernethie of Saltoun, his father, umquhile Alexander, lord Abernethie of Saltoun, his gudschir, and thair predecessouris, haith bene kyndlie takismen and possessoris past all memorie of man, off all and sindrie the teynd schevis and utheris teyndis, baith personage and vicarage, of the paroche kirk of Keith, and of the teyndscheves of the personage of Rothemey, and that all and haill the landis lyand within the said parochin of Rothemey, and ane great pairt of the landis lyand within the said parochin of Keith, pertenis heretablie to the said Johne, lord Abernethie of Saltoun; and heirwith alsua advysedlie considering that the said Johne, lord Abernethie of Saltoun hes not onlie laitlie debursit great sowmes of money for renewing of his takkis to the titularis of the saidis kirkis for the tyme, bot alsua hes upoun his great expenses and travellis conquest the heretable richt of the patronage, advocatioun and donatioun of the saidis kirkis of Keith and Rothemey, quhilkis kirkis wer dissolwit be oure said soverane lord (their being na titular the tyme of the samyn dissolutioun), bot the samyn than vakand in his hienes handis, and the haill richt of the patronage, advocatioun and donatioun of the saidis kirkis of Keith and Rothemey heretablie disponit be oure said soverane lord, and ratifeit in his hienes parliament, and thaireftir conquesit and acquirit be the said Johne, lord Abernethie of Saltoun for great sowmes of money as said is. And oure said soverane lord and estaittis foirsaidis, not being willing that the said Johne, lord Abernethie of Saltoun be frustrat of the great sowmes of money debursit be him for renewing of his saidis takkis and conquesing of the heretable richt of patronage, advocatioun and donatioun of the foirnameit kirkis, bot that the samyn takkis and heretable richt of patronage stand, remane and abyd with the said Johne, lord Abernethie of Saltoun, his airis and successouris in all tymes cumyng, sufficient, valide and lauchfull richtis for bruiking of the foirnameit teyndschewes and utheris teyndis abonewrittin and heretable richt of patronage of the foirnameit kirkis of Keith and Rothemey, conforme to the tennouris thairof in all pointis; thairfoir oure said soverane lord, with advyse of his hienes estaittis and haill body of this present parliament, findis, decernis and declairis the foirsaidis takis of the saidis parochkirkis, teyndscheves and utheris teyndis thairin contenit, with the heretable richt of the patronage, advocatioun and donatioun of the samyn kirkis acquirit and conquest be the said Johne, lord Abernethie of Saltoun, as said is, to have bene fra the beginning, to be now and in all tyme cuming perfyte, sufficient, lauchfull and valide richtis to the said Johne, lord Abernethie of Saltoun, his airis and successouris, for bruiking of the saidis teyndscheves and utheris teyndis, alsweill personage as vicarage, during the lyfetymes and spaces contenit in the samyn takkis and for bruiking of the heretable richt of the saidis patronages in all tymes cuming, and that notwithstanding ony act or actis of parliament maid at ony tyme preceiding the dait heirof quhilkis in ony wayes may be hurtfull or prejiudiciall to this present act or mak dirogatioun thairto in ony sorte, to the quhilkis former actis, in safar as the same in onywayes may be extendit to the foirsaidis kirkis of Keith and Rothemey, takkis or heretable richt of patronage thairof, this present act makis and sall mak full dirogatioun and is and sall be of als great strenth, force and effect to the said Johne, lord Abernethie of Saltoun, his airis and successouris as gif the foirsaidis kirkis, richt of patronage and takkis thairof wer specialie and expreslie exceptit and reservit furth of the saidis actis and everie ane of them quhilkis in onywayes may be hurtfull and prejudiciall to this present act.