[1578/7/28]¹

The pacification of Alexander Hepburn of Whitsome

Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates of parliament, for good considerations moving his highness tending to the quietness of his realm and of the 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 Alexander Hepburn of Whitsome, knight, 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, John [Hamilton, lord Hamilton], commendator of Arbroath, Claud [Hamilton], commendator of Paisley and certain others, and ratified and approved in his highness's parliament held at Edinburgh on [30] April 1573; and that the said pacification and approbation thereof in parliament be as largely extended in favour of the said Alexander, his heirs and successors for safety of their lands, lives and goods as if the said Alexander were specially apprehended and contained therein, notwithstanding the pretended process and doom of forfeiture administered and given against the said Alexander in the month of [December] 1567, 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 Sir Alexander fully against the same to his honour, fame and dignity likewise and as freely as he was in all respects before the administering of the said process; and decree and declare this present pacification now granted to the said Alexander 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 of no value in all time coming, in so far as the same may be extended in the said Alexander's contrary; and that this act be extended in ample and due form as appropriate, providing that in case the said Alexander be found culpable of the slaughters of [Henry Stewart, lord Darnley], our late sovereign lord's father, and [James Stewart, earl of Moray and Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox], his two regents, that then and in that case the benefit of this present act and restitution, then as now and now as then, to have been and to be of no value, force nor effect.