[1633/6/141]¹

Act in favour of [Alexander Cunningham], laird of Corsehill

Our sovereign lord, remembering the good, true and thankful service made and done to his majesty and his highness's most noble progenitors by Alexander Cunningham of Corsehill and his predecessors, and understanding that his majesty's late dear great-grandfather, King James V of worthy memory, by his charter and infeftment made and granted by his majesty as then prince and stewart of Scotland, under his highness's great seal, of the date at Stirling, 5 August 1541, conveyed and set in feu ferm to the late Andrew Cunningham, son to the late William [Cunningham], earl of Glencairn, and to Margaret Cunningham, his spouse, the longest liver of the two, their heirs and assignees, all and sundry the lands and others underwritten, namely: the lands of Cuttiswray, the lands of Clerkland and Hillhouse, with the mill thereof, the lands of Little Robertland, the lands of the two Corsehills, the lands of Blacklaw, the lands of Hairshaw and the lands of Doura and Pottertoun, with all their pertinents, lying in the lordship of Stewarton, bailiary of Cunninghame and sheriffdom of Ayr. Likewise our said sovereign lord, as being then prince and stewart of Scotland, by his highness's charter and infeftment under his highness's great seal, of the date 11 December 1622, gave, granted, conveyed and set in feu ferm to the said Alexander Cunningham of Corsehill, his heirs and assignees, all and sundry of the lands and others above-written with their pertinents. And also our said sovereign lord, for the said Alexander Cunningham of Corsehill and his foresaids, their better security, of the said lands, by a new charter and infeftment made and granted by his majesty as then prince and stewart of Scotland, under his highness's great seal, after his majesty's majority and perfect age, of the date 2 April 1624, of new gave, granted, conveyed and set in feu ferm to the said Alexander Cunningham of Corsehill, his heirs and assignees, the lands and others above-written, with their pertinents, to be held of the prince and stewart of Scotland and his highness's successors in feu ferm and heritage for ever, as the said three charters (the last whereof contains a clause of novodamus) at more length bears. And his majesty, being willing to settle the said Alexander Cunningham and his foresaids in a full and perfect security of the lands and others foresaid according to his infeftments of the same, therefore, his majesty, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, has ratified, allowed, approved and confirmed and, by the tenor hereof, with consent foresaid, ratifies, allows, approves and confirms the foresaid three charters and infeftments respectively above-written made and granted to the said Alexander Cunningham of Corsehill and to the said late Andrew Cunningham, his grandfather, of the lands and others above-mentioned, with the precepts and instruments of sasine following thereupon, and with all other charters, infeftments, precepts, instruments of sasine, services, retours, bonds, obligations and other rights, titles and securities whatsoever made and granted to the said Alexander Cunningham of Corsehill or to any of his predecessors, of and concerning the lands and others above-written, with their pertinents, or any part thereof, of whatsoever date or dates, tenor or contents the same be of, in all and sundry heads, articles, clauses and circumstances of the same whatsoever, willing and declaring this present general ratification to be as valid, effectual and sufficient to the said Alexander Cunningham of Corsehill and his foresaids for his and their security of the lands and others above-mentioned as if the foresaid charters, infeftments, precepts, instruments of sasine, services, retours and other writs special and general foresaid, and every one of them, were at length herein inserted and ratified in special; concerning which, his majesty, for him and his successors, with consent foresaid, has dispensed and by this act dispenses for ever.