[1649/5/369]¹

Act in favour of Sir James Hope of Hopetoun

The estates of parliament, taking into their consideration that when in order to the receiving of the valuations of the kingdom they did appoint a committee to cast up the totals of the rent of every shire, it was their opinion that the mines of Waterhead belonging to Sir James Hope, being the only ones of that nature within the kingdom, ought to be cherished, and therefore that they should still enjoy the exemption granted to them by former acts relating thereto; and that least the sheriffdom of Lanark (within which the same lies) should conceive themselves thereby prejudiced, they did therefore ordain the said committee to deduct a very considerable sum from the total of that shire as for the valuations of the said mines, which deduction was accordingly made and in the maintenance of the said shire thereupon proportionally diminished. And also considering that in their act and frame for the valuers' procedure in the new valuations (wherein are set down and specified all other casualties and casual rents within this kingdom which they find should be valued) there is no mention made of mines or minerals, the same being of purpose and certain knowledge omitted for the reasons aforesaid, and therefore willing that the said Sir James be no further troubled nor molested relating thereto in any time hereafter, the said estates of parliament do hereby ratify and approve all former acts of exemption made or conceived in favour of the said Sir James or his said works and workmen, and of new, for the reasons above-specified, liberate in all time coming them and each of them from all quartering, watching, warding, levies of horse and foot, maintenance, excise and other public burdens or impositions whatsoever imposed or to be imposed of whatsoever denomination in any time hereafter, discharging hereby all committees of war, valuations and others of all stenting, valuing or casting of any proportion upon the said Sir James' said works or workmen for the ends and causes aforesaid and also discharging all officers of soldiers of the army and collectors of whatsoever sort of all quartering upon or troubling or molesting of them for that in their persons, goods or gear in any time hereafter; and hereby revive all acts of parliament, council or other judicatories generally or specially granted or conceived in their favour or in favour of minors or prosecutors of such public works at any time of before, which are herein held as expressed, notwithstanding the same be not inserted, with the which the said estates dispense, and declare that this present act shall never be understood to be comprehended to fall under any general revocation or act of rescission made or to be made in any time hereafter unless the same be revoked or rescinded expressly and the parties cited for that effect.