[1571/8/12]¹

Discharge to [Patrick Lindsay], lord Lindsay [of the Byres] of the m[...] with by him from John Chisholm²

³Item, our sovereign lord, by advice and consent of [John Erskine, earl of Mar], his said regent, and [...] found and declared that Patrick, lord Lindsay of the Byres has deliv[...] [...] whole money received and intromitted with by him, which was sent from France by John Chisholm to the common affairs of this re[...] [...] therefore discharges the said lord, his heirs and executors of the same for ever [...] present act.

[1571/8/13]⁴

[...]⁵

Item, forasmuch as it is perfectly understood by [John Erskine, earl of Mar], my lord regent's grace, and three estates that [Elizabeth I], the queen's majesty of England, having [Henry Percy], earl of Northumberland and diverse others, her rebels, reset within this realm, in contradiction of the treaties of peace passed between the two realms, by such persons as were then disobedient to our sovereign lord's authority and now open and manifest conspirators against the same, whereof a part are now forfeited and declared traitors; and seeing her grace could have no deliverance of her said rebels nor justice conforming to the said treaties of peace, and our sovereign lord then, after the horrible and shameful slaughter of the late James [Stewart], earl of Moray, late regent to his highness, this his realm and lieges being destitute of tutor or regent could, nor might not, put order to the said disobedient subjects of this realm, resetters and fortifiers of the said English rebels as said is, in the month of May 1570 sent her army under the charge and conduct of Sir William Drury, knight, marischal of Berwick within this realm, to concur and assist the nobility and others, our sovereign lord's true and faithful subjects thereof, in pursuing of the said disobedient subjects of this realm, resetters and fortifiers also of the said English rebels, for conservation and maintaining of the good peace and amity between the two realms; therefore our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates and whole body of this present parliament, has found and declared that the late lord [Matthew Stewart, earl of] Lennox, last regent, my lords [John Erskine], earl of Mar, now regent, [James Douglas, earl of] Morton, [Alexander Cunningham, earl of] Glencairn [...]⁶ and all noblemen and others [...] sovereign lord's true and faithful subjects of this realm, as well to burgh as land, which adjoined and accomp[...] army did good, true and thankful service to our sovereign [...] this his highness's realm, and that the burnings, casting [...] of the castle, palace and town of Hamilton, Kinneil, Law[...] haugh [...]⁷ and other slaughters, mutilations, hurting or wounding [...] sacking, spoliation or destruction of any goods, gear or [...] in the said castles, palace, towns or places or upon any [...] rooms thereabouts by the said army, noblemen and others being in company, pertaining to whatsoever persons; as also pledges laid and entered in England by the nobility of this [...] before the incoming of the said army was [...] in all times coming shall be acknowledged, accounted and esteemed good, lawful and profitable service for the king's majesty, our sovereign lord, and for the common benefit and quieting of this realm and lieges thereof; decreeing and declaring that the noblemen above-written and others whatsoever being in their company for the time, in doing of the premises and other things whatsoever for setting forth of the king's authority and resisting and repressing of his disobedient subjects at the time above-written, or at any times of before or since, and all things that have followed or shall happen to follow or depend thereupon, shall incur no danger nor hurt in their persons, lands or goods nor shall not be called nor accused therefore, criminally nor civilly, by any manner of way in times coming, discharging by this present act.

[1571/8/14]⁸

[...]⁹

Item, forasmuch as it is clearly understood by [John Erskine, earl of Mar], my lord regent's grace, three estates and whole body of this present parliament, that James [Douglas], earl of Morton, lord of Dalkeith etc., chancellor and great admiral of Scotland, accompanied with our sovereign lord's men of war and others, his highness's faithful and true subjects, was ordained and commanded by my lord regent's grace to remain at his own place and town of Dalkeith for keeping and saving of our sovereign lord's true and faithful subjects and country thereabouts from invasion and incursions of certain rebels, conspirators and declared traitors, convened with forces within the castle and burgh of Edinburgh; and that the said conspirators, rebels and declared traitors and others, on 2 June 1571 or thereby, issued forth of the said castle and burgh of Edinburgh and came to the Sheriffhall Muir, near to the said place and town of Dalkeith, for invasion of the said earl, men of war and other [...] for their slaughter and destruction; likewise they had come to the said town [...] aforesaid if they had not been resisted by the said earl and men of war [...] him for the time; and likewise that the said conspirators, rebels and dec[...] [...]panied with a great number of men of war and others to the number of [...] persons or thereby, with displayed banners and carted artillery upon the [...] same month of June issued forth of the said castle and town [...] gate to the said Earl of Morton, Patrick [Lindsay], lord Lindsay of the Byres [...] sovereign lord's true and faithful subjects, which were to depart fr[om the] town of Dalkeith, and between the abbey and Leith most cruelly [...] and pursued them for their slaughters, tending by overthrowing [...] them at that time if it had lain in their power more easily to have [...] treasonably enterprised against our sovereign lord and his authority, to have, bear [...] his crown royal and authority; therefore our sovereign lord, with advice and consent [...] said regent, three estates and whole body of this present parliament, has decreed [...] declared and, by this act, decree and declare that the said Earl of Morton and Lord Lindsay did good, true and most thankful service to the king's majesty for the common benefit of this realm at the times and places respectively aforesaid, and all other times since the [...] day of [...] last, as well in resisting as pursuing of the said conspirators, rebels and declared traitors aforesaid, or any being in their company for the time, and that all slaughters, mutilations, hurting, wounding, taking of prisoners, horses, goods, money or others whatsoever committed, done and taken by the said earl, lord, men of war and others whatsoever, their partakers, at the times respectively aforesaid, and all that followed or shall follow thereupon was good and lawful in all things and done by our sovereign lord's authority and in defence of his majesty, his crown royal and true subjects; and that, therefore, the said Earl of Morton and Lord Lindsay, the men of war aforesaid, nor no others, our sovereign lord's lieges being with them in company, shall in any way be called nor accused therefore, criminally nor civilly, by any manner of way in time coming.

[1571/8/15]¹⁰

¹¹Item, concerning the article proposed to [John Erskine, earl of Mar], my lord regent's grace, the three estates and whole body of this present parliament by John Cunningham of Drumquhassle, Matthew Douglas of Mains, Captains Thomas Crawford of Jordanhill, David Home and Andrew Sempill, for themselves and the remainder our sovereign lord's lieges, takers of the castle of Dumbarton on 2 April 1571 at command of the late [Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox], my lord regent's grace, grandfather to our sovereign lord, the matter being received and deliberately advised upon, it is found and declared by my said lord regent's grace and three estates aforesaid that the purpose and enterprise invented and taken in hand for winning and recovering of the said house and castle out of the hands of John [Fleming], sometime lord Fleming, declared traitor against our sovereign lord and his authority, and the said lord's servants, assisters and partakers, as also the act of execution of the winning and recovery of the said castle, the slaughter, mutilation or hurting of any persons, and the [...] and destruction of any goods and gear being within the said [...], was, is and in all time coming shall be acknowledged and tho[...] good and profitable service for the king's majesty, our sovereign [...], the common benefit and commodity of his realm and subjects [...]; and declaring that the persons above-written and the remainder of our [...] lieges assisting with them in the winning and recovery of [...] for the causes above-written, or any other thing following [...] thereupon, shall incur no hurt or danger in their persons, [...] goods, nor shall not be called nor accused for the same, criminally [...] civilly, by any manner of way in time coming; discharging [...] this present act all judges and ministers of laws whatsoever [...] this realm, present and to come, of all calling, accusing or in any way proceeding against the persons above-written and others, our sovereign lord's lieges, assisting them in the cause, action and fact above-written, their heirs and executors for that deed or thing depending thereupon, and of their offices in that part for ever.