[1578/7/27]¹

A pacification granted to John Maitland of Auchencastle

Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates of parliament, for good considerations moving his highness tending to the quietness of this realm and of his special grace and favour, has given and granted, and by the tenor of this present act, with advice and consent aforesaid, gives and grants to John Maitland of Auchencastle the same grace, benefit and favour as is contained in the pacification made at Perth on 23 February 1572 [1573], between his highness's commissioners on that one part and the late George [Gordon], earl of Huntly and certain others, his colleagues, on that other part, ratified and approved in his highness's parliament held at Edinburgh in the month of April 1573; and that the said pacification and approbation thereof in parliament be as largely extended in favour of the said John Maitland, his heirs and successors, for safety of their lives, lands and goods, as if the said John were specially comprehended and contained therein, notwithstanding the pretended process and doom of forfeiture led and given against him in the month of [...] in the year of 15[...], for certain crimes of treason and lese-majesty committed by him, as at more length is contained in the same; which process and doom of forfeiture, with all that followed thereupon, our said sovereign lord and three estates of parliament rescind, withdraw, repeal, annul, restore and renew the said John Maitland fully against the same and to his honour, fame and dignity likewise and as freely as he was in all respects before the administration of the said process; and decree and declare this present pacification now granted to the said John to be as valid and sufficient in the self in all time hereafter for restoring of him to his full right of his lands and estate of his person as if the said sentence of forfeiture had been reduced by a special summons, all parties having interest being specially called thereto; and declare also the said process of forfeiture to be of no value in all time coming, in so far as the same may be extended in the said John's contrary; and that this act be extended in ample and due form as is appropriate, providing that this act contain no pardon, favour nor grace for the murders of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our said sovereign lord's late father, and [James Stewart, earl of Moray and Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox], his two regents; and in case they be found culpable thereof, that then and in that case the benefit of this present act and restitution, now as then and then as now, to have been and to be of no value, force nor effect.