Ratification of the house and family of Ruthven of Ballindean

Our sovereign lord and three estates of parliament, considering that his majesty by his letter and patent granted by his majesty under his highness's great seal, of the date at Berwick, 24 July 1639, has restored and rehabilitated the family of Ruthven of Ballindean and such as shall descend therefrom in time coming bearing the surname of Ruthven to their surname of Ruthven, and has ordained that it shall be permissible to them, their bairns and posterity to enjoy and assume to themselves the said surname of Ruthven and to use the said name in the same manner as if the act of parliament made in the parliament held at Edinburgh in November 1600 regarding the abolishing of the surname of Ruthven had never been made against them, as the said letter and patent at length purport, which letter and patent our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of his three estates of this present parliament, has ratified and approved and, by the tenor hereof, ratifies and approves in all and sundry heads, articles, clauses and conditions of the same. And further, his majesty, with consent foresaid, decrees and ordains the family and name thereof of Ruthven present, their posterity and successors of their name in all time coming, bearing and who shall bear the said surname of Ruthven, to be restored and rehabilitated against the said act of parliament, and statutes and ordains that it shall be permissible to them in all time coming to assume, keep and use the said name and surname in all writs, subscriptions, citations, proclamations at all times and occasions whatsoever, as freely in all respects as if the said act of parliament had never been made; regarding which, and all pain that can follow thereupon, his majesty and estates of parliament have dispensed and, by this ratification, dispense for ever. Moreover our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of his three estates of parliament, by the tenor hereof, rescinds the said act of parliament in so far as the same may be extended against the said name and surname of Ruthven, or may be in any way hurtful or prejudicial thereto or to the dignities, privileges and prerogatives of the said name and surname of Ruthven.

  1. NAS, PA2/22, f.241v-242r.