LXXIV: Act of Parliament entitled 'Annexation of the Temporalities of Benefices to the Crown' (1587)

LXXIV. Act of Parliament, entituled 'Annexation of the Temporalities of Benefices to the Crown,' whereby there were annexed to the Crown all lands and others then belonging to any ecclesiastical or beneficed person, with certain exceptions therein enumerated. Holyrood, 29 July 1587.

Oure Souerane Lord and his thrie estaites of parliament, perfitely vnderstanding the greitest pairt of his proper rent to haif bene gevin and disponit of auld to abbayis, monasteries and vtheris personis of clergy, quhairby the crown has bene sa greitly hurte that thairefter his maist noble progeuitouris had not sufficient meanis to beir furth the honour of thair estait as thai had befoir, quhilk hes bred sindrie inconvenientis within this realme; and seing the causis of the dissolutioun of the patrimonie of the crown to the kirk efter the trewth knawin ar fund nathir necessar nor proffitable, and that be mony occasionis throu a lang proces of tyme the derth has sa gritlie increscit, not onlie in this realme bot in all cuntries, that the princes chairges ar not able to be vphaldin be that part of the patrimonie quhilk now restis in his handis. And his Hienes, for the grite luif and favour quhilk he beiris to his subiectis, being nawayes myndit to greve thame with importable taxationis, specialie for his royall [supporte], it is fund maist meit and expedient that he sall haue recourse to his awin patrimonie disponit of befoir (the cause of the dispositioun now ceissing), as ane help maist honourable in respecte of him selff and leist grevous to his people and subiectis; And thairfoir our said Souerane Lord and his saidis thrie estatis of parliament, be the force of this present act, haif vnit, annext, and incorporat, and vnitis and annexis and incorporatis to the crown of this realme to remane thairwith as annext, and as it wer propirtie thairof in all tyme cuming, and with our said Souerane Lord and his successouris for evir, all and sindrie landis, lordschippis, baronies, castellis, touris, fortalices, mansionis, maner places, milnis, multuris, woddis, schawes, parkis, fischeingis, townis, willages, burrowis in regalitie and baronie, annuelrentis, tenementis, reuersionis, custumes greit and small, fewfermes, tennentis, tennendries and seruice of frie tennentis, and all and sindrie vtheris commodities proffittis and emolumentis quhatsumeuir, alsweill to burgh as to land (except as heirefter sall be exceptit in this present act) quhilkis at the day and dait of thir presentis, viz., the tuentie-nyne day of Julii, the yeir of God j^m. v^c. fourescoir sevin yeiris, pertenis to quhatsumeuir archibischope, bischop, abbot, priour, prioresse, quhatsumeuir vther prelate, vther ecclesiasticall or beneficit persoun of quhatsumeuir estait, degrie, hie or law; and at the day and dait of thir presentis pertenis to quhatsumevir abbay, convent, closter, quhatsumeuir ordour of freris or nvnis, monkis or channonis, howsoeuir thai be nameit, and to quhatsumeuir college kirk foundit for chantorie and singing, or to quhatsumeuir prebendarie or chaiplanrie quhaireuir they ly or be situate within this realme and dominioun thairof. And siclike all and sindrie commoun landis bruikit be chaptouris of cathedrall kirkis and chantorie colleges as commoun, and quhairof the saidis chaptouris haif bene in possessioun befoir in commountie, to be in all tymes heireftir takin, haldin, and reput as it wer the propertie and patrimonie of the Crown; To remane thairwith in all tyme cuming, efter the forme, tenour, and ordour of the act of annexatioun maid in the tyme of oure Souerane Lordis maist noble predicessour King James the Secund, and according to all clausis, conditionis, and circumstances thairof, quhilk in all points is haldin for expressit in this present act; And als it is statute and ordanit that the executioun of this act in levying of the proffittis sall begin and tak effect at the terme of Mertimes nixtocum, that our said Souerane Lord may ressaue the rentis and deweties of the said terme, and sua furth to continew in tyme cuming. And becaus it is not ressounable that efter the said annexatioun of the saidis temporall landis to the crown the saidis prelattis and ecclesiastical personis be burdenit with ony taxationis for and in respect of the saidis annext landis, his Majestie and the estaitis of this present parliament hes remittit the ordour to be takin for thair releif in that behalf to certane personis to quhome the ordour of the generall taxatioun of all landis within this realme is committit, quhilk ordour to be takin sal be obseruit in all tyme cuming, and the heretable possessouris of the saidis landis and vtheris addettit in taxationis sall pay their tax according thairto; And forder it is declairit, decernit, statute, and ordanit be our said Souerane Lord and his saidis thrie estaitis of parliament that in caise ony of the saidis prelattis or personis ecclesiasticall, quhais temporall landis ar properlie comprehendit in the said annexatioun, salbe heireftir callit and persewit at the instance of quhatsumeuir personis for warrandice of ony of the saidis kirk landis sett in few or tak be thame or thair predecessouris to diuerse personis be occasioun of dowble infeftmentis or assedationis, or for quhatsumeuir vthir cause, thay and thair successouris sall nawyse be obleist to warrand the samin bot for thair awin deid, to wit, quhan the warrandice proceidis and takis occasioun vpoun double infeftmentis or assedationis of ane land bayth proceiding from ane persoun disponer thairof yit onlyff, in quhilk cais allanerlie thai sall be oblist as said is. It is alsua concluidit, statute, and ordanit, be our said Souerane Lord and his thrie estaitis of parliament, that the said annexatioun sal have full strenth, force and effect in all lordschippis, baroneis, tennendries, and vtheris temporall landis, quhilk pertenit to ony prelacie or vther benefice possessit befoir be quhatsumeuir prelate or ecclesiasticall persoun aganis quhome proces of foirfaltour or barratrie hes bene led at ony tyme sen our said Souerane Lordis coronatioun, albeit thai haif bene in ony parliament befoir or salbe now at this present parliament or heireftir fullelie restoirit aganis the saidis sentences and processis, and the restitutioun sal haue na effect againis the said annexatioun: bot the said annexatioun sal haue effect aganis thame notwithstanding the said restitution. It sal be alwys lauchfull to our said Souerane Lord in his a win tyme to sett in fewferme quhatsumeuir the saidis kirklandis quhilkis wer not sett in fewferme befoir gif ony be. And sicklyk gif ony infeftmentis of fewferme of the saidis landis now annext, quhilkis wer set in fewferme befoir, sal happin to be retreitit and reduceit for the ressonis and caussis heireftir expressit, quhairin his Hienes and his successouris sall only be hard to querrell and clame, it sall be lauchfull to his Hienes in his awin tyme, as said is, to sett the samin in fewferme notwithstanding the said annexatioun, and to the effect foirsaid the said prouisioun sall serue for a sufficient dissolutioun in that behalf, and his Hienes and his thre estaitis foirsaidis dissoluis the samin in that pairt; And sicklike it salbe lauchfull to our said Souerane Lord to use the superioritie and fewfermes of the landis of Cullois, the milne of Craquhy, milnelandis and suckin of the samyn, the landis of Corstoun, quhilkis pertenit to the abbacie of Abirbrothok, lyand within the sherefdome of Forfar and regality of Abirbrothok, as sall seme gude to his Hienes, and that the conversioun of the victuall in money or diminutioun of the rentall salbe na cause of reductioun of the infeftment, the said annexatioun or ony clause or conditioun thairin contenit notwithstanding. Further, oure said Souerane Lord and his saidis thrie estaittis of parliament hes declairit, and be the tennour heirof declairis, decernis, and ordanis, that the landis, lordschippis and baroneis vnderwritten, erectit be his Hienes in temporall lordschippis and baronies befoir the dait of this present act, quhilk is the tuentie nyne day of Julij the yeir of God j^m v^c fourscouir sevin yeiris, ar not nor sall not be comprehendit in the said annexatioun, excluiding the samin alluterlie thairfra. To remane with the personis to quhome thai wer first disponit, efter the forme and tennour of thair infeftmentis maid to thame thairof, thay ar to say, the landis and lordschip of Torphechin, the erldome of Gowrie, the lordschip and leving of Deir, now callit the lordschip of Altrie, the landis and baronies of Newbotle, with the vtheris landis annext thereto, the baronies of Brochtoun and Kerse, the burgh of the Cannogait, and ane pairt of the toun of Leyth, the baronie of Alhammer, also callit Quhytkirk, quhilkis of befoir pertenit to the abbacie of Halyruidhous, the landis and lordschip of Mussilburgh, quhilkis of befoir pertenit to the Abbay of Dumfermling. Quhilkis landis and lordschippis ar disponit to diuerse personis as thair particulare infeftmentis beiris; And als exceptit the haill remanent landis of the abbay of Dumfermling declairit as yit to abyd with the said abbay in the same estait quhairin thai than wer, and ar not comprehendit in the annexatioun foirsaid, bot to remane with the said abbay quhill forder ordour be takin. As alsua exceptit furth of the said annexatioun of kirklandis to the Crown, the infeftment of the [toun (fn. 1) ] temporalitie of Paislay, and the priory of Pluscardin and temporalitie thairof. It is alwayis prouidit, and our said Souerane Lord with aduise of his saidis thrie estaittis in parliament declairis that, notwithstanding the said annexatioun is appoyntit to tak effect in maner foirsaid, at the feist of Mertimes nixtocum, neuirtheles Johnne Lord Hammyltoun, commendatair of the abbacie of Abirbrothok, sall bruik the fructis, proffittis, and dewties of the said abbay during his lyftyme, in the samin maner as he did befoir, except the proffittis of the landis of Craquhy and milne thairof, the landis of Tullois and Corstoun, fewfermes and dewties of the same, for the quhilkis he salbe recompanceit according to the generall ordour to be takin with the remanent ecclesiasticall personis quhais rent is pairit be the said annexatioun, according to the act and ordinance maid thairvpone. In lykmaner our Souerane Lord, with auise of his saids thrie estaittes, ratifies and apprevis the gift and dispositioun maid be his Hienes to John Bothuell, sone lauchull to Adame, Bischope of Orknay, of the abbacie of Halyruidhouse, and haill fructis thairof, with the haill fredomes, jurisdictionis, liberties, rentis, proventis, and emolumentis of the samin, with the haill reservationis, claussis, conditionis, and circumstances of the same, efter the tennour thairof, as the same of the dait the tent day of December, the yeir of Godj^m v^c lxxxii yeiris, beiris, declaring the same to be sufficient and valiable to him for brouking and josing of the said benefice and haill fructis thairof induring his lyftyme, notwithstanding quhatsumeuer actis, constitutionis, or lawes, civill or mvnicipall, maid in the contrair, dispensand therewith and effect thairof; and that this present ratificatioun be als sufficient as gif the said gift and dispositoun had bene exceptit in speceale in the saidis actis or ony of thame; And this alwayes to be without dirogatioun of the act of annexatioun of the temporalities of benefices to the crown, or of quhatsumeuir richtis and titles maid be thame or ather of thame in favouris of quhatsumeuer personis, quhilk by this his Hienes menis nawayes to preiudge. Bot the samyn to stand ratifiet and apprevit in thair full strenth and force as gif thai wer specealie mentionat heirin. It is alwayes vnderstand, lyk as our said Souerane Lord and his thrie estaittis declairis, that vnder the said annexatioun, or ony claus heirin specifiet, the teyndscheves and vtheris teyndis of quhatsumeuer landis within this realme pertening to ony persounage or vicarage ar not nor sall not be comprehendit, except quhair the teynd and stok is sett togidder as is heirefter declairit, bot that the samin sall remane with the present possessouris having richt thairto, and quha sal have richt to the samyn heirefter, notwithstanding the said annexatioun, or ony generall claussis thairin specifijt, quhilkis sall nawayes be extendit to the saidis teyndis mair nor gif the said annexatioun had neuer bene maid. Reservand alwayes and exceptant to all archibischoppis, bischoppis, abbottis, priouris, prioresse, commendatairis, and vtheris possessoris of greit benefices of the estait of prelattis, and quhilkis befoir had or hes voit in parliament, thair principall castles, fortalices, houssis, and mansionis, with the biggingis and yairdis thairof, as thai ly and ar situat within the precinctis and clausuris of thair places, quhilkis sall remane with thame and thair successouris heirefter for thair residence and habitatioun, notwithstanding the said annexatioun quhilk sall nawayes include the samin; bot the samyn castles, houssis, mansionis and vtheris, immediatlie befoir rehersit, sall abyd in the same estait quhairin they wer befoir the said annexatioun, but preiudice or hurte to be meanit or intendit to the saidis prelattis, or ony vtheris personis that may have or iustlie pretend richt thairto; provyding alwayes they keip and mantene the samin in the estate quhairin they presentlie ar. Exceptand alsua furth of the said annexatioun all and quhatsumeuer mansionis of personages and vicarages annext to parroche kirkis, with four aikeris of the gleib maist ewest to the kirk, and commodious for the minister serving the cuir thairof, for his better residence, that quhilkis sall not be nor ar not comprehendit in the said annexatioun, bot sall remane with the minister, persone or vicare, or vther quha salbe prouidit thairto for serving of the cuir, according to the actis of parliament maid thairanent of befoir. Exceptand, in lykmaner, all and sindrie landis, proffittis, tenementis, annuelrentis, teyndscheves, and vtheris emolumentis and proffittis quhatsumeuir, gevin, grantit and disponit for intertenement of maisteris and studentis in colleges erectit for exercise of lerning, and for grammer scuillis, and for sustentatioun of ministeris makand thair residence in burrowis quhair thair is na vther stipend appointit to thame. And sicklike, exceptand and reservand all landis, teyndis, proffittis, annuelrentis, and commodities quhatsumeuer, grantit befoir the dait heirof be our Souerane Lord, or quhatsumeuer his Hienes predecessouris, or be quhatsumeuer vtheris personis to ony hospitale or masondieu within this realme, and that in favouris of the puir and neidy, provyding that the same be not disponit nor applyit to ony vther vse. And finalie, exceptand and excluidand furth of the said annexatioun all landis, baronies, tenementis, annuelrentis and vtheris commodities quhatsumeuer, quhilkis pertenit of befoir to quhatsumeuer benefice, greit or small, being of laic patronages; to the quhilkis the said annexatioun sall not be extendit nor comprehend the same; to the effect that nane of the saidis laic patronis be hurt or damnefiet thereby: And notwithstanding the said generall annexatioun of all landis, lordschippis, baronies, tenementis, annuelrentis, and vtheris commodities abone specifiet (except befoir exceptit) to the crown of this realme, to remane thairwith as it wer proper patrimonie thairof in all tyme cuming, it is be this present act specealie prouidit that quhair the saidis landis and vtheris abone specifiet, or ony pairt or portioun thairof, greit or small, ar sett in fewferme, tak and assedatioun, or ar disponit in frie tennendrie in blenche, cane, or for seriuece of waird and releif, or vtherwayes as may stand and aggrie with the lawes of this realme, the saidis heretable frie tennentis, fewaris, takkismen, and vtheris richtuus titularis thairof sall brouk and inioy thair landis, lordschippis, baronies, tenementis, annualrentis, and thair vther rychtis and titles quhatsumeuer, efter the forme and tennour of the samin in all pointis, And our said Souerane Lord and his Hienes successouris salbe heirefter immediat superiors to thame, lyk as thai sall becum be vertew of this present act immediat tennentis and vassallis to his Hienes and thair successouris in thair saidis lordschippis, landis and tenementis, for payment of the dewtie and seruice contenit in thair infeftmentis, tackis, and assedationis and vtheris rychtis, and titles thairof, in the samyn sort and maner as thai mycht haif bene oblist to the saidis ecclesiasticall persones, and na vtherwayes, and that be the samyn infeftmentis, tackis, rychtis and titles quhilkis the saidis possessouris hes of the samyn, thay sall bruik, jois, and possess thair saidis landis, and it sall not be necessare to thame to alter thair saidis infeftmentis and richtis, nor to tak the samyn of new of our Souerane Lord, notwithstanding the translatioun of the superioritie in his Hienes. And becaus thair ar diuers pensionis grantit to mony personis furth of the saidis annext landis, alsweill be the saidis prelattis and vtheris ecclesiasticall personis as be our Souerane Lord, the benefice vacant in his Hienes handes, ather throw deceise or be proces of foirfaltour or barratrie led aganis the possessour of the benefice, our Souerane Lord and his saidis thrie estaittis of parliament decernis and declairis that the saidis pensioneris sall nawayes be hurt nor preiugeit in thair saidis pensionis (they being lauchfullie prouidit thairto) be the said annexatioun, sua that the saidis pensioneris have bene authorizit be decreittis of the lordis of counsall or vther juges ordiner, or have bene in lauchfull possessioun of thair pensionis at ony time preceding. It is alwayes declairit and decernit be our said Souerane Lord and his saidis thrie estaittis in parliament, that in all and sindrie landis, lordschippis, tenementis, annualrentis, vtheris profittis and commodities quhatsumeuer, properlie comprehendit in the said annexatioun, oure said Souerane Lord and his successouris sal have the onlie and full richt of the superioritie of the tennendries, siclyk and in the samin maner as the saidis ecclesiasticall personis had the samin of befoir, and that the airis of the present heretable possessouris in all tyme cuming sall enter be breves of our Souerane Lordis chappell allanerlie, quhilkis breves sal be direct to the scheref of the schyre quhair there wes na regalitie befoir, and quhair thair wes ony regalitie quhilk has now ane heretable baillie or stewart, the samin salbe direct to the said baillie or stewart and thair deputis, eftir the seruice of the quhilk breif, the samin being retourit to our Souerane Lordis chancellarie, quhidder the saidis landis ly in ryaltie or regalitie, the pairtie sal haue preceptis to be seasit, haldin of our said Souerane Lord, according to his retour, be the samyn conditionis as our said Souerane Lordis vtheris tennentis haue bene seasit be preceptis direct furth of the chancellarie of befoir; in the quhilk precept commandement salbe gevin to the scheref, stewart or baillie to quhome the samin salbe directit to tak securitie for the dewtie awand to our said Souerane Lord, as the cause sall require be the retour, as the custume has bene in the kingis tennendries in tyme bypast. And becaus our said Souerane Lord and his successouris ar decernit and declairit be the tennour heirof to have the full richt of the superioritie of the saidis tennendries of kirklandis; it is thairfoir statute, decernit, and ordanit that his Hienes and his successouris salhaif sufficient richt actioun and entres for compelling of all and sindrie the saidis tennentis now presentlie being, and thair airis and successouris that salbe for the tyme, to pay the dewties and do the seruices contenit in thair infeftmentis in all tyme cuming; and incaise the clausis and conditionis of the saidis infeftmentis be contravenit, his Hienes and his successouris salhaif actioun to retreit and reduce the saidis infeftmentis according to the clausis, conditionis, and restrictionis specifiet thairin for ony fault, offense or contraventioun that salbe done or committit in tyme cuming allanerlie; and his Hienes and his successouris sall not have actioun, title, power, or richt to call ony of the saidis infeftmentis or takkis and assedationis of ony of the saidis kirklandis, quhilkis ar maid be thame quha had power to mak the samin, or ony richt or title depending thairvpone in questioun, nor yit to persew the reductioun annulling or expiring thairof, nor yit sall his Hienes nor his successouris have ony maner of actioun, richt, or title to retreit, reduce, and annull quhatsumeuer infeftmentis of the saidis kirklandis dewlie and lauchfullie confermit be him or his predicessouris, ather for diminutioun of the rentale sua that the said diminutioun be not of the auld penny maill de liquido ad liquidum. And his Majestie and his successouris sall nawayes be hard to querrell the saidis infeftmentis of fewferme for conversioun of the victuall in siluer dewtie, or for ony vther ressone or caus of nullitie, invaliditie, lesioun or hurte, or be ressoun of quhatsumeuer law, cannon, mvnicipall statute or constitutioun, except in caissis foirsaidis for non payment of the saidis dewties and dew seruices in tyme cuming, according to the restrictionis contenit in the saidis infeftmentis: And als exceptand quhair our said Souerane Lord and his successouris may haue querrell or impreve the saidis infeftmentis gif ony of thame be fals and fenyeit, in the quhilkis caisis allanerlie his Hienes and his successouris salhaif place to persew, and be the tennour of this present act ar and salbe expreslie and continewallie excludit fra all vther actioun, caus and persute, except the caisis foirsaidis. And mairouer, our said Souerane Lord and his thrie estaittis of parliament for the grittair assurance to the saidis fewaris and frie tennentis declairis that it sall not be lesum to him nor his successouris, and that his Hienes nawayes menis nor intendis directlie nor indirectlie to harme or preiudge the saidis fewaris and frie tennentis, thair airis and successouris in thair rowmes and possessionis pertening to thame for ony caus, except for the speciall caus abone exceptit, bot that thai sall brouk thair saidis landis, fewis, and tennendries alsfrelie in all respectis for payment of the dewtie and seruice specifiet in thair infeftmentis as ony his lordis, baronis, fewaris, and frie tennentis quhilkis wes his immediat vassallis of auld hes broukit and josit thair saidis landis and heretage, or presentlie broukis and joysis the samyn, bot ony difference heirefter. And becaus the teyndscheves and vtheris small teyndis of all landis within this realme ar expreslie exceptit furth of the said annexatioun, and the samyn nawayes extendit thairto, and thairby it is considerit that questioun may fall out anent the payment of the fewfermes of the kirklandis to our Souerane Lord, quhair in ane infeftment the landis and teyndis is sett togidder for and dewtie and but diuisioun or distinctioun, how mekle salbe payit for the said land and how mekle for the teynd, quhilk may seme hurtfull to sic as hes the landis sett to thame with the teyndis includit, and to the ecclesiasticall personis to quhome the teyndis ar reseruit, for avoyding of the quhilk questioun, oure said Souerane Lord and his saidis thrie estaittis of parliament decernis and declairis statuitis and ordainis that the comprehending of the saidis teyndis and including the samin with the landis sall nawayes brek our said Souerane Lordis superioritie foirsaid, bot his Hieness sall remane superiour to the haill tennendrie, stok, and teynd, efter, the forme of the infeftmentis, and that the richt of the said infeftment sall stand indiuisable safar as concernis the halding and tennendries; bot the said ecclesiasticall persone salhaif actioun and richt to the tent penny of liquidat mailles contentit in the said infeftment, and the vtheris nyne pairtis thairof sall pertene to our Souerane Lord; and this to be not only of the penny maill bot of all vther dewties that sould be payit for teynd and stok, to witt that nyne pairtis thair of sall pertene to oure Souerane Lord and the tent pairt be just estimatioun sall appertene to the said ecclesiasticall persone. And that all the juges and ministeris of his lawes within this realme judge and decyd according to this statute, and na vtherwayes how oft as that questioun salbe movit vpone the cais foirsaid. And forsamekle as thair is diuers burrowis in regalitie and baronie within this realme quhilkis wer befoir haldin immediatlie of the saidis prelattis, and haif bene in vse to exerce the trade and trafficque of merchandice, to mak burgessis and to elect prouestis, baillies, and vtheris officeris meit and necessar for the governament of thair communities, oure said Souerane Lord and his thrie estaittes in parliament, nawayes willing that thai salbe hurte thairin, declairis, decernis, and ordanis that thai sall remane in the samin fredome and libertie quhilk thai had befoir the said annexatioun, to be haldin alwayes of our said Souerane Lord in the samin maner and conditioun be the quhilk thai held thair saidis liberties of the saidis ecclesiasticall personis befoir, and nawyse hurte in thair richtis and priuilegis, And that the ane sort and the vther be not confoundit be this present act, bot remane alwayes distinct as thay wer in tyme bypast, notwithstanding the said annexatioun, it is alwayes prouidit, statute, and ordanit, that the prouest, baillies, counsall, and vtheris officeris within the saidis burrowis in regalitie and baronie, quhair thair wer prouest and baillies of befoir, salbe yeirlie electit, chosin, deposit and alterit according to the forme and tennour of the actis of parliament maid in the dayes of our Souerane Lordis maist noble predicessouris, and ratifiet in diuers parliamentis sen his Hienes coronatioun. Further, the saidis burrowis in regalitie and baronie, and all landis, tenementis, and annualrentis within the libertie of the samin, quhilkis wer haldin of the saidis ecclesiasticall personis befoir, sall fra this present be haldin of our said Souerane Lord and his successouris in cheif, and the airis salbe enterit thairto be our said Souerane Lordis breves, to be direct to the saidis prouest and baillies of the saidis burrowis, and the seruice salbe retourit to his Hienes chancellarie, vpone the quhilk retour the directair sall delyuer ane precept in competent and dew forme, with prouisioun of securitie to be takin for the mailles and dewties of the saidis landis and annuelrentis as thai salbe retourit, becaus the said is burrowis ar not his frie burrowis regall, and wer not relevit of thair nonentres at the handes of the saidis prelattis, thair superiouris in tymes bypast, And quhair the prelat ressauit resignatioun or gave interes, that the Kingis Maiestie sall gif it now be ordour of his chancelarie, and quhair the power wes in the handes of the baillies of the burrowis within regalities, that thai brouk and enjoy thair richt and priuilege as befoir. And becaus the saidis landis, lordschippis, and baronies, quhilkis befoir pertenit to the saidis archiebischoppis, bischoppis, abbotis, and vtheris prelattis, thair is diuers our Souerane Lordis lieges constitute heretable baillies and stewartis of the said is lordschippis and regalities, quhilkis heretable baillies and stewartis our said Souerane Lord intendis not to hurt be the said annexatioun, thairfoir our said Souerane Lord and his said is thrie estaitis of parliament declairis, decernis, statuitis, and ordanis that the saidis heretable baillies and stewartis, and thair airis and successouris, sall now and heirefter abyd and remane in thair richt and title quhilk thai haue of the said is offices, except in the change of thair superiour in oure Souerane Lord and his successouris, quhilkis in all tyme heirefter salbe thair immediat superiouris, lyk as the saidis heretable baillies and stewartis salbe thair immediat tennentis and vassallis of thair saidis offices efter the forme and tennour of thair infeftmentis, and for doing of the seruice specifiet in the samyn. Further, the saidis heretable baillies and stewartis sall, notwithstanding the said annexatioun, haue the samin libertie, power and jurisdictioun quhilk thai had befoir in actionis and materis ciuile, and be the said annexatioun thair sall na forder power, iurisdictioun, or auctoritie appertene to our said Souerane Lordis shereffis, nor accresce vnto thame, bot thair said power and jurisdictioun sall remane in the samin estait limitat as the samin is at this present, according to the ancient lawes and consuetude of this realme. And further, the said heretable Stewart or baillie of the said regalitie sal haif the samyn power quhilk he had befoir to replege from the sheref or his deputtis in all causis and actionis, criminall or civill, quhair replegiatioun wes grantit of befoir, and gif the said sheref and his deputis refuisis to admit the said replegiatioun, he and his deputtis salbe punissit thairfoir, and his proces led in the contrair salbe of nane availl. And in causis criminall the said baillie or stewart of the regalitie salbe juge competent in all maner of crymes quhairin the lord or baillie of the regality was accustumat to be iudge in tymes bipast. And albeit our Souerane Lordis iustice generall, lieutennent, or iustice in that pairt be speciall commissioun, summound the effendour, induellair of the regalitie, to compeir befoir thame to vnderly the law for the cryme for the quhilk he salbe dilaitit, the said baillie or stewart of the regalitie salhaif power to replege fra oure said Souerane Lordis justice foirsaid to his awin courte, in cais he have preventit be apprehending of the offendouris persone or be his summonds first direct and execute aganis the offendour befoir our said Souerane Lordis justice, apprehendit the persone suspect or dilaitit for the offense and cryme, or execute summoundis vpone him to vnderly the law thairfoir, Bot our said Souerane Lordis justice-generall, lieutenant, or commissioner, salbe juge competent in cais of preventioun vpone his pairt be the apprehensioun of the trespassour or first executioun of the summondis aganis him, and in that cais the said baillie and stewart of regalitie sall have na power to replege, bot gif he pleis he salbe adioynit to the kingis iustice and juge with him, and incais of conviction the said baillie and stewart heretabill assistand to the judgement sal haue sic pairt of the escheit as he may clame be vertew of his office and infeftment gevin to him thairupone. And it is alsua decernit, statute, and ordanit that na baillie nor stewart heretable of any regalitie sall heirefter be hard to replege fra our said Souerane Lordis iustice air haldin be his iustice generall, bot he salbe adionit gif he pleis to the Kingis iustice, and sal haue samekill of the vnlaw and penalty of the personis dilaitit, as he aucht to haue be the richt of his infeftment. In lykmaner it is statute, that in all ostis and armes the inhabitantis of the landis within the saidis baillieries and stewartries salbe vnder the commandement of the saidis baillies and stewartis heretable, in sic maner as thai wer wount to assemble with the saidis prelattis and baillies in time bigane, as als sall gif mustaris at the wappinschawingis befoir thame, according to the act of parliament, vnder the pane contenit thairin, to be vpliftit to the saidis baillies and stewartis vse. And mairattour it is speciallie prouidit, that notwithstanding of the annexatioun of the temporalities of benefices to the Crown, yit the conventuall brether of the abbay of Dumfermling sall nawayes be preiugit nor hurt anent the levingis, portionis, pensionis, yairdis, and dewties of the said abbay, bot that thai and euerie ane of thame may peaceablie brouk joyse and vplift thair portionis, pensionis, levingis, yairdis, and dewties of the same abbay during thair lyftymes, conforme to the giftis, speceall assignationis thairof, and to our Souerane Lordis ratificatioun and confirmatioun thairvpone in all pointis. The quhilk day our Souerane Lord sittand in jugement in plane parliament, be his declaratioun maid in presence of his thrie estaittis, faulssit to himselff liberty and priuilege to except and reserue furth of the actis of the annexatioun of the temporalities of benefices to the crown of the satisfactioun of the temporalities annext, of his Hienes reuocatioun generall, and of the ratificatioun of the restitutioun, pacificatioun, and abolitioun, all sic personis causis and materis, and with sic prouisionis, limitationis, and restrictionis as to his Majestie sall seme expedient, quhilkis his Hienes ordanis and commandis his clerk of register to insert and incorporat within the bodies of the saidis actis, the same exceptionis and resuerationis being delyuerit to him, subscriuit be his Hienes and his chancellair, befoir the fytene day of August nixtocum. And further, our Souerane Lord, according to the libertie and priuilege faulssit to himselff sittand in jugement in plane parliament, hes exceptit furth of the said general annexatioun, the temporalities of the abbayes of Coldinghame and Kelso, and cell of Lesmahago, declairand thame as yit to remane with the saidis abbayes and cell in the same estait quhairin they than wer, and that thai wer not comprehendit in the annexatioun foirsaid, bot to remane with thame quhill farder order be takin. And hes declairit that it salbe lauchfull to his Hienes to vse the superioritie and fewfermes of the landis of Lethame lyand within the scherefdome of Fyffe, being a pairt of the patrimonie of the bischoprik of Sanctandrois, all and sindrie the landis and vtheris afterspecifieit, quhilkis are ane pairt of the patrimonie of Lynclouden, thay ar to say, the fyve merk land of Litle Dryburght, the fyve merk land of Drumjarg, the fyve merk land of Ernephilane, the fyve merk land of Ernecrago, the fyve merk land of Blaronie, the fyve merk land of Mekle Dryburght, the fyve merk land of Chapmantoun, the fyve merk land of Blakerne, the fyve merk land of Erneminye, the fyve merk land of Culnotrie, the corne milne of Corsmichell, the fyve merk land of Garrantoun, the tua merk land and ane half of Blak Park, all lyand within the baronie of Corsmichaell and stewartrie of Kirkcudbricht; the fyftene schilling land of Staikfurde, the forty shilling land of Newtoun, the merk land of Cluny and Skellingholme, the sext merk land of Tarrauchtie, the sex merk land of Drumganis, the fyve merk land of Troqueir, the merk land of Stocholme, the fyve merk land of Noneland, the fyve merk land of Cruifstanis, the sext merk land of Holme, the twenty shilling land of Maricholme, the four merk land of Noneholme, all lyand within the baronie of Drumsleit and stewartrie foirsaid; togidder with all castellis, touris, fortalices, maner places, houssis, biggingis, orcheardis, yairdis, milnes, woddis, fischeingis, pairtis, pendicles, annexis, connexis, outsettis, tennentis, tennendries, and fermes of fewfermes, canes, custumes, seruices, casualities, and vtheris commodities quhatsumeuer; and gif it salhappin our said Souerane Lord to dispone ony of the landis, milnes, and fischeingis of the said prouestrie quilkis ar comprehendit in the said annexatioun, or quhilkis ar now exceptit and reseruit as said is, and salbe heirefter dimittit in his Hienes handes be the provest and prebendaries thairof, that gif his Hienes convertit the fermes or victuall in siluer the same salbe na diminutioun of the rentale or caus of reductioun of the saidis infeftmentis to be maid thairof; and als hes declairit and declairis that it salbe lauchfull to his Hienes to vse the superioritie and fewfermes of the landis of Lurg and Kyncardin, (fn. 2) and the preceptorie of Sanct Anthonis in Leyth and chaiplanrie of St James at the New Heavin, lands, teyndis, and annuellis of the same, as sall seme gude to his Hienes, and als declairis that notwithstanding the said annexatioun appointit to tak effect in maner foirsaid at the feast of Mertimes nixtocum, that Mr Robert Dowglas, provest of Lynclouden, and Dowglas, sone to the laird of Drumlangrig, his successour, sall brouk the fruittis, proffittis, and dewties of the said prouestrie during thair lyftymes, in the same maner as thai did of befoir, as alsua ratifies and appreves the prouisioun maid to Dowglas, sone to the laird of Drumlangrig, of the prouestrie of Lynclouden, and that the act of satisfactioun sallbe extendit in his favour, declairing the same prouision to be sufficient for brouking and josing of the said prouestrie and haill proffittis thairof, notwithstanding quhatsumeuer actis, constitutionis, or lawes, ciuill or municipall, maid in the contrair, dispensand thairwith and effect thairof, And siclik exceptis furth of the said annexatioun the landis and

A., Cleircus Registri.

vtheris vnderwrittin, quhilkis ar ane pairt of the patrimonie of Northberwick, thay ar to say, all and haill the place quhair the abbey kirk and closter of Northberwick stude befoir, quhilk is now ruinous, and wes na parroche kirk, and als all and sindrie the landis of the heuch of Northberwicklaw, the Law Medo, the milnes of Kynkeyth, with the croftis thairof, the vther four croffcis of land sumtyme occupiet be Robert Home of Heuch, with their pertinentis, lyand on the southside of the burgh of Northberwick, all and haill the west pairt of the toun of Northberwick callit the Nungait, lyand vpone the west syd of the burne callit the Clairtie Burne, with all and sindrie landis, tenementis, houssis, biggingis, outsettis, taillis, barnis, yairdis, and vtheris pertinentis thairof, all and haill the tua husband land in Bonestoun, with thair pertinentis, all lyand within the schireffdome of Edinburgh and constabularie of Hadingtoune, all and haill the landis of Monchryfe, the landis of Alderny, the landis of the Grange, with their pertinentis, all lyand within the schirefdome of Fyff, with houssis, biggingis, fortalices, mansionis, yardis, orcheardis, fermes of feuferme, tennentis, tennendries, pairtis, pendiclis, and pertinentis of all and sindrie the foirsaidis landis, quhilkis his Majestie declairis ar not nor sall not be comprehendit in the said annexatioun.