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Act in favour of the vassals of ward lands held of the king and prince

Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament, taking to consideration the bounty and benevolence of his majesty's most noble progenitors King James II and King James IV in giving their vassals liberty to set their ward lands in feu, and herewith also remembering that, by the 16th act of his majesty's first parliament in the year 1633, his majesty and the prince, his highness, their vassals of ward lands are altogether secluded from that benefit of his majesty's bounty and benevolence foresaid, which prejudice is by the 37th act of that session of this present parliament held in June 1640 recommended to be considered at the next meeting thereafter of the said parliament, and during that interim the force and execution of that act foresaid of 1633 is suspended and suppressed. And now his majesty, being graciously pleased of his royal favour and bounty that the vassals of ward lands held of his sacred majesty and of the prince, his highness, may enjoy their former liberty with the benefit of his majesty and his most noble progenitors, their bounty and benevolence foresaid unprejudiced or impaired by the foresaid act of 1633, therefore our said sovereign lord and estates of parliament rescind and annul the foresaid 16th act of his majesty's first parliament in the year 1633, entitled 'Regarding vassals holding ward', and declares the same act to be null, of no value, force, strength nor effect in all time coming, in so far as the same act is or may be extended to the lands held ward of the king or prince as said is, and declare the vassals of the ward lands foresaid and others of his majesty's lieges or subjects to be in that same estate and condition and have the same liberty concerning ward lands which they had before the making of the said act, and as if the same had never been made, which our sovereign lord and estates of parliament declare to be extinct and of no value, force nor effect in all time hereafter.