[1641/8/285]¹

Ratification to [James Home], earl of Home of his infeftment of the barony of Duns

Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament have ratified and approved and, by this legislation, ratify and approve a contract and appointment of the date at Edinburgh, Holyroodhouse and Canongate, 15, 1 and 24 days of [...] and March, 1636 and 1638, made between James, earl of Home, lord Douglas on the one part, and Dame Margaret Home, lady Doune and Anna Home, lady Maitland, with consent of their spouses and certain persons contained in the contract, on the other part, by virtue whereof and for the causes therein contained the said Ladies Doune and Maitland have sold and conveyed to the said James, earl of Home, his heirs and assignees, all and whole the lands, living and estate of Home, comprehending the lands, baronies, mills, woods, fishings, offices, kirks, teinds and others at length specified and contained in the said contract, as the same in itself at more length purports, together with the infeftments following thereupon made by the foresaid persons, by resignation in the hands of his majesty's commissioners in favour of the said James, earl of Home; and decree and ordain the right of all and whole the said lands, living and estate of Home, comprehending the said lands, baronies, mills, woods, fishings, offices, kirks, teinds and others specified in the said contract, to appertain and belong to the said James, earl of Home and his heirs specified therein, by virtue of the rights, resignations and dispositions made by the forenamed persons to him, and that for onerous causes undergone and fulfilled by the said James, earl of Home for obedience of our sovereign lord's decreet arbitral, whereby his majesty did decree and ordain the said James, earl of Home to pay to the forenamed persons great sums of money, and declare the said right and disposition made by the forenamed persons to the said earl was, is and shall be in all time coming a good and undoubted right to the said earl, whereby he may hold and possess the said living, estate and others conveyed to him as his proper heritage. And further our said sovereign lord, with advice foresaid, ratifies and approves to the said James, earl of Home the dignity and title of the Earl of Home, with all precedence due thereto, the said James, earl of Home being nearest male heir, served and retoured to the late James [Home], earl of Home that last deceased and to the late Alexander [Home], earl of Home, his father, first Earl of Home.