[1641/8/398]¹

Ratification in favour of the burgh of St Andrews

Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the estates of this present parliament, ratifies and approves the charter of confirmation made and granted by his majesty's late dearest father, King James VI of worthy memory, with consent of deceased John [Spottiswood], late pretended bishop of St Andrews, to the provost, bailies, council and community of the burgh and city of St Andrews and their successors, of the date at Whitehall, 28 February 1620, whereby his majesty, with consent foresaid, ratified and approved the charter made and granted in favour of the burgesses and citizens of the said city of St Andrews by Malcolm [IV], called the Maiden King of Scots, who lived in the year of God 1153; as also the donation and infeftment given in favour of the said city of St Andrews and inhabitants thereof by the late Robert, bishop of St Andrews for the time, with consent of David [I], king of Scots, called St David, erecting the said city in a burgh with diverse privileges contained therein. Item, the two distinct charters given and granted in favour of the said city and inhabitants thereof by David II, surnamed the Bruce, concerning the privileges therein expressed given by him to them, which David lived in the year of God 1330. Item, the charter given in favour of the said city, magistrates, citizens, community and inhabitants thereof by the late Mary, queen of Scots, of all lands, tenements, mansions, yards, annualrents and other duties whatsoever pertaining of old to the said city. Item, these charters and infeftments granted in favour of the said city by the late two Rogers, bishops of St Andrews, and the late David [...] concerning the said town and city of St Andrews and erection thereof in a free burgh with free port, haven and harbour, with all privileges, liberties and immunities contained therein; and also whereby his majesty's said late dearest father ratified and approved all other infeftments, donations, ratifications, acts and decreets of parliament, secret council, session, convention of burghs and all other acts and statutes whatsoever made by him and his predecessors, kings and queens of Scotland, or by whatsoever bishops or archbishops in favour of the provost, bailies, council and community, dean of guild, treasurer, citizens, burgesses and inhabitants of the said burgh and city of St Andrews, with all privileges and liberties belonging thereto, but specially the charter and infeftment granted by the late George [Gledstanes], archbishop of St Andrews in favour of the said provost, bailies, council and community of the said burgh or city and inhabitants thereof, dated 18 August 1614, with the mutual contract passed between the said late archbishop and the magistrates, council and community of the said city for the time on the one and other parts, whereto the said charter is relative, dated 17 December 1611, ratified and approved in the parliament held at Edinburgh, 1612; and in like manner whereby his majesty's said late dearest father of new made, constituted, erected and incorporated the foresaid burgh, town and city of St Andrews, port, haven and harbour thereof, with all lands, tenements, ruids, yards, orchards, mills, astricted multures, other multures, commons, pasturages, links, fishings, as well in the sea as in fresh waters adjacent to the said burgh and city of St Andrews, and within the liberty, freedom and territory thereof, with all privileges, liberties, prerogatives and immunities pertaining thereto, as well generally as specially above-rehearsed, contained in the old infeftments, charters, rights and securities, generally and specially foresaid, in a whole and free burgh royal, free port, haven and harbour in all time coming with all honours, privileges and dignities pertaining to a free burgh royal, in the same way and as freely in all respects as any other city or free burgh royal within this kingdom is erected, ordaining a sasine to be taken by the provost or one of the bailies of the said burgh for themselves and in name and on behalf of the rest of the magistrates, council and community of the said burgh of the whole premises beside or within the tolbooth of the said burgh, to be a good and valid sasine for them and their successors in all ages coming, without any iteration or renovation thereof according to use and wont of all other burghs royal; together with the precept of sasine following upon the said charter, of the date of the said charter, with the instrument of sasine given according thereto, of the date 24 May 1620 under the signs and subscriptions of Thomas Blake and David Skinner, notaries public, in the whole heads, articles, clauses, circumstances and conditions contained therein, ordaining this present general ratification of the foresaid charter, precept and sasine following thereupon to be as good, valid, effectual and sufficient to the said provost, bailies, council, burgesses, citizens, community and inhabitants within the said burgh present and to come in the same way as if the same charter, precept and sasine were at length word by word engrossed herein; concerning which, and regarding all other defects and imperfections following thereupon, his majesty has dispensed and for him and his foresaids, with consent foresaid, by this ratification, dispenses for ever.