[1641/8/381]¹

Ratification to Alexander Maxwell of Dechmont

Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the estates presently convened, ratifies, approves and confirms the charter granted by his majesty in favour of his highness's beloved Alexander Maxwell of Dechmont, one of the ordinary macers before the lords of council and session, and Margaret Borthwick, his spouse, and longest liver of the two, in conjunct fee, and the heirs lawfully procreated or to be procreated between them, which failing, the said Alexander Maxwell's nearest and lawful heirs and assignees whatsoever, of all and sundry the lands of Over Dechmont, with all their pertinents, lying within the sheriffdom of Linlithgow, all and whole the temple lands, with the pertinents, lying in Over Detachment lying run rig between the lands of Wester Bangour on the one part and the lands of Nether Dechmont on the other part, within the said sheriffdom of Linlithgow, which lands, with the pertinents lying as said is, are all erected in a whole and free barony, called the barony of Dechmont; together with the precept and infeftments following thereupon, as the said charter granted to them thereupon under his highness's great seal of the date 21 December 1637 at length bears, in the whole heads, articles, clauses, circumstances and conditions thereof above-written mentioned therein. And our said sovereign lord wills and grants and, for his majesty and his successors, with advice of the said estates, decrees and ordains that this present ratification is and shall be as valid and sufficient, and of as great force, strength and effect to the said Alexander Maxwell, his said spouse and their foresaids for holding and possessing of the said lands and barony of Dechmont, with the pertinents, as if the said charter, infeftment, precepts and rights following thereupon were at length word for word inserted herein; concerning which, and all defects and objections that may be proposed in the contrary, our said sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the said estates, dispenses for ever.