THE DECISIONS OF THE LORDS OF COUNCIL SESSION In the most Important Cases Debate before them With the ACTS OF SEDERUNT AS ALSO An Alphabetical Compend of the Decisions With an Index of the Acts of Sederunt and the Pursuers and Defenders Names From June 1661. to July 1681. PART FIRST c. OBSERVED BY Sir JAMES DALRYMPLE of Stair Knight and Baronet c. EDINBVRGH Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson Printer to His most Sacred Majesty Anno DOM. 1683. Unto the Right Honourable GEORGE EARLE of ABERDEEN c. Lord High Chancellour of SCOTLAND Sir David Falconer of Nevvtoun Lord President of the Session Sir George Mckenzie of Tarbet Lord Clerk-Register Sir Iames Foulis of Collingtoun Sir Iohn Lockhart of Casslehill Sir David Balfour of Forret Sir Iames Foulis of Reidfoord Sir Alexr Seton of Pitmedden Sir Roger Hogg of Harcarse Sir Andrew Birnie of Saline Sir Patrick Ogilvie of Boyn Sir Iohn Murray of Drumcairn Sir George Nicolson of Kemnay Iohn Wauchop of Edmistoun Sir Thomas Steuart of Blair Sir Patrick Lyon of Carse SENATORS of the COLLEDGE of JUSTICE and Ordinar LORDS of COUNCIL and SESSION WILLIAM Marquess of Queensberry c. Lord high Thesaurer of SCOTLAND IOHN Marquess of Athol c. Lord Privy Seal and Vice-Admiral of SCOTLAND ALEXANDER Earl of Murray c. Conjunct-Secretary of State IAMES Earl of Pearth c. Lord Justice-General Extraordinar LORDS of the SESSION My Lords MY Duty and Affection obliges me to Dedicate these Acts and Decisions to your Lordships because they are your own I have only been your Servant in Observing and Collecting them and am confident they will serve for the Illustration and Vindication of your Justice and Faithfulness in your Service to the King and Kingdom to whom it cannot but be highly acceptable and satisfying to see that in so long a tract of time you have kept so steady and equal a course in the Administration of Justice with 〈…〉 It hath been looked upon as the priviledge of Judgesâ— to bring in Causes to be determined in what order they thought fit which gave occasion of great Reverence to and dependence upon them and of gratifications to their Friends but your Lordships having found so much inconveniency to the Subjects by their tedious expensive and uncertain attendence unavoidable in that way you did therefore willingly and of your proper motion quite that Priviledge and ordered that all men should have dispatch in Justice as their own diligence put them in readiness to demand it without pretence of complaint for being postponed or delayed and you gave the rise for interposing the Authority of Parliament to that Order which could not but avoid the suspition of inequality which did occur while every Judge in his course did choise at discretion what Causes to hear which were readily supposed to be these of his Friends and Relations As your Lordships have been equal in the Order so these Decisions will show that you have been impartial in the matter of Justice and it will appear that you have followed the same uniform Course of Justice otherwise it had been impossible for you to quadrat with your selves if you had followed any other Rule for if personal Interest had great influence it could not fail but the same case would have been diversly determined amongst different Parties The way of Truth and Justice is one and never crosseth or justâ—eth with it self but the way of Error and Partiality is infinite and can never be long consonant and the pretence of varying upon differences in the cases will easily be perceived when these are not the true motives of Variation nor can the greatest caution keep former Cases so in memory as not to fall in flat contradictions in some length of time when Justice is not the Rule It was no wonder that inconsistencies did occur when former Decisions were but little known and were only Transmitted by uncertain Tradition from the memory of Judges or Advocats where a constant Custom was not introduced but in circumstantiat Cases all the points of Fact could not be so preserved but Pleaders would differ about them and controvert whether the difference were so material as to be the just motives of alteration and if they should have recourse to Records they could thence have little remedy seing many eminent Decisions came to be Transacted before any Act or Decreet thereupon were Recorded and though they were yet the Motives upon which the Lords did proceed were seldom decernable in the mass of Disputes The contrarieties that are remarked by the judicious and industrious Lord Dury who did serve and observe about the same length of time that I have done are the more excuseable that before his time the Decisions of Session were not much marked and but in few hands yea it was a long time before the Decisions observed by Dury were become common and were cited by Pleaders or noticed by Judges It is impossible to evite the clamours of Parties coming short of their expectation when they are in heat and fervency carrying on their Cause and when they have heard the Wit and Eloquence of their Advocats endeavouring to make their Case if not evidently just at least probably such but when that fervour is cooled upon second Thoughts re-considering the Motives upon which the Lords proceeded if they see that they Decided not otherwise upon the same Grounds they cannot be so far wanting to their own quiet as not to acquiesce and rest satisfied considering that their first Thoughts were in fervour and at best were but the Conceptions of Parties whose interest hath a secret influence to byass their first Apprehensions they could not but be convinced that the private and particular opinion of Parties interressed should quietly cede to the Judgment of so many learned and experienced Judges having no other concernment in the event of the Cause but that Justice might be inviolable and that no pernicious or dangerous preparative might be laid to the common detriment of all and who by all the obligations whereof men are capable towards God their Prince Countrey and Posterity are engaged to be careful and tender of Justice It is the great interest of Mankind that every man should not be Judge in his own Cause but that there should be indifferent Judges of good report men of courage fearing God and hating covetousness who might hear and determine the Controversies of Parties which necessarly doth imply that either Party should acquiesce in the publick judgment of Authority It is amongst the greatest interests of Mankind that they may securely enjoy their Rights and Possessions being free from fear to be over-reached or oppressed without remedy which can not be attained unless their Rights be lodged in the hands of just and judicious Judges wherein at first they could have little more to rest on but the Reputation that their Judges were such nor could the Judges then have any other Rule then bonum equum according
confusion the last day of the Session February 21. 1663. THE Lords of Council and Session considering how necessary it is for the advancement and honour of His Majesties service that the Judicatories intrusted in him in the principal administration of Justice to His People be attended in all their meetings with due Decencie and Respect from all His good Subjects And that the rude disorderly and barbarous carriage of some Servants attending the Colledge of Justice and others joyning with them upon the last day of the Session is dishonourable to the Authority of the Court unsuitable to the gravity becoming the Persons relating thereto and un-beseeming the civility fit for such a place have therefore thought fit to discharge and hereby discharges all Servants of any Advocats Clerks Writers or other members of the Colledge of Justice and all other Persons whatsoever That none presume upon the last day of the Session to throw or cast any pocks dust sand or stones or to make any disorder or to use any rude or uncivil carriage within the Session House or in the Parliament Closs Certifying all such who being Servants to any Members or relating to the House shall in any degree offend herein they shall suffer three moneths imprisonment and for ever thereafter be debarred the House and service thereof And if they shall happen to escape the time of the committing the offence That their Masters shall be oblidged to enter them in prison in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh within eight days thereafter under the pain of two hundred merks Scots and ceritfying all such Persons who not relating to the House as said is shall offer to offend in manner foresaid They shall be apprehended and committed to waird for the space of three moneths and thereafter banished the Town And that none pretend ignorance ordains these presents to be printed and affixed upon the most patent doors of the Session House and to be insert in the Books of Sederunt therein to remain ad futuram rei memoriam ACT in favours of the keeper of the Minut Book Iune 6. 1663. THE which day the Lords taking to their consideration an overture formerly presented to them be the Advocats in favours of Iohn Scot keeper of the Minut Book shewing that the allowance appointed to him for inrolling of Causes by the Act of Sederunt dated the 28. of February 1662. is very inconsiderable being only two shilling scots for every Process and no ways answerable to his pains and attendance thereupon In respect whereof and for the said Iohn Scot his further incouragement to continue that faithfulnesse and integrity whereof he hath hitherto given proof in discharging the said trust The Lords ordain in time coming the Parties at whose desires any Process shall be inrolled or his Agent to pay to the said Iohn Scot for every Cause that shall be inrolled be him four shilling Scots money allanerly And ordains these presents to be publickly intimate and an Act to be extended thereupon ACT concerning the buying of the Citiedeal September 8. 1663. THE Lord President having produced before the Lords a proposition made by the Town Council of Edinburgh and subscribed by Sir Andrew Ramsay Provost of the said Burgh bearing as follows viz. The Lord Provost having reported to the Committee That the Citiedeal of Leith being of late erected in a Burgh of Regality which without doubt may in time prove prejudicial to this City for many undenyable reasons And that the Honourable Lord the Earl of Lauderdail to whom His Majesty hath granted the Right of the said Citiedeal had done the honour and favour to the Council of Edinburgh as to make them an offer thereof upon reasonable terms And that they are come that length in their Treaty as that it may be had for 6000 lib. Sterling payable in four years which the Magistrats are not at all in capacity to raise or make payment of without the two third parts thereof be raised out of the Chamber of Imposition which the Council thought not fit to do without the consent of the Grand Committee of the said Imposition And therefore desired the advice of the Lord President and all others the Members of the Committee To which report and proposition the said Lord President Sir Iohn Nisbet Mr. Iohn Ellies and Robert Hay made answer That they found His Majestie 's gift so strick as they could not of themselves without consent of the whole Colledge of Justice give consent That any of the said moyeties should be imployed otherwise then to the payment of debts contracted before September 1650. Therefore the Committee thought expedient That the President Sir Iohn Nisbet Mr. Iohn Ellies and Robert Hay might advise concerning that scruple and with all conveniency report that so necessary a bargain might be brought to some conclusion The saids Lords having considered the above-written proposition in one voice do consent and give advice that the two third parts of the pryce of the Citie-deal be raised forth of the Chamber of Imposition The Seall of Court November 26. 1663. MR. Alexander Gibson produced in presence of the Lords their common Seal wherewith Commissions and other Papers which went out of the Countrey use to be Sealled which Seal the Lords ordain to be made use of in time coming And ordained the said Mr. Alexander to make the same forth-coming to the saids Lords when ever it should be required And ordains him to give the use of the said Seal to the remanent Clerks when they have to do therewith ACT against general Letters Iune 8. 1665. THE Lords considering the manyfold inconveniences arising of late from the frequent use of directing General Letters and Charges Summarly and that the same is contrary to the ancient custom whereby they were only raised upon Decreets conform Therefore the Lords do hereby revive and renew that ancient custom And Enact and ordain that in time coming no Charges nor Letters of Horning shall be direct Generally against all and sundrie except allanerly upon Decreets conform purchast and obtained be the Parties raisers of the saids Letters And prohibit and discharge the Writers to the Signet and the Clerks to the Bills to writ present or passe any Bills for General Letters and the keeper of the signet to affix the signet to any such General Letters unless the same be direct upon Decreets conform as said is Likeas the Lords declare any such General Letters that shall be raised in time coming where Decreets conform have not proceeded with all execution following thereupon to be void and null and have no affect But prejudice always of any General Letters or Charges raised or to be raised at the instance of His Majesty's Thesaurer Thesaurer Depute or others impowered for His Majesti's Rents Customs Casualities or other dues belonging to the KING'S Majesty according as they have been in use to do And also excepting any General Letters raised or to be raised at the instance of the Lords of Session for the
the Reasons proposed Neither have I Recorded any Decisions but what was determined while I was present being resolved to take nothing at a second hand These Decisions were Written with many different hands but all of them were then in my Family and some of them understood not the Matter by which and the haste I was forced oftimes to put them to there was much uncorrect but I did expect that I might have been present and have overseen the Press my self I began to cause Transcribe them with a better hand and did consider whether it were not fit to amplifie and embellish the Disputes so as might have been expected from so pregnant and eloquent Pleaders as our time hath afforded who have been nothing short of their Predecessors but I thought that this would look too like a new Frame from my own Fancy or Memory after so long a time and therefore I resolved they should be keept as they were at first Written and if so they prove uniform as it will be a great evidence of your Lordships Justice so it will be a strong proof that they are sincere and authentick having been Written on the several Sederunt dayes for more then twenty years together and therefore I do intâ—eat the favour that what is uncorrect may be excused and supplied from the Matter I had the best opportunity to make these Observations being scarce a day absent in any of these Sessions wherein I have marked them from the first of Iune 1661. until the first of August 1681. And I was not one day absent from the thirteenth of Ianâ—ary 1671. when it pleased His Majesty to appoint me to be constant President of the Session in place of my Lord Craigmiller who had then demitted except the Summer Session 1679. when I attended His Majesty by His own Command during all which time I hope your Lordships will bear me Witness that I never used Arrogance or Insolence or the least reproachful or bitter expression against any of the number and I do with great thankfulness acknowledge that I could not have expected more kindness and respect than I found from your Lordships which made me in gratitude take this Opportunity to testifie the Honour and Value I have for that honourable Society and that I am in great sincerity LEYDEN October 30. November 9. 1683. My Lords Your Lordships most humble Servant IA DALRYMPLE His Majesties Gift and Priviledge to Sir Iames Dalrymple of Stair for Printing his Institutions the Acts of Sederunt and Decisions of the Lords of Session CHARLES by the grace of God King of Great-Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith To all and sundry Our Leidges and Subjects whom it effeirs to whose knowledge these Presents shall come Greeting Forasmuch as Our Trustie and welbeloved Counsellor Sir James Dalrymple of Stair President of Our Session hath Observed and Written the Acts and Decisions of the Lords of Our Session since Our happie Restauration to this time and hath also Written the Institutions of the Law of that Our ancient Kingdom of Scotland And We being well satisfied with his pains and diligence therien and knowing his long experience and knowledge of the Laws and Customs of that Our Kingdom and his constant affection and faithfulness to Vs and being confident of the great benefit may arise to all Our Subjects of that Our ancient Kingdom by publishing of the saids Decisions and Institutions and being willing to give to the said Sir James all encouragement therein Therefore wit ye Vs to have Ratified and Approven Likeas We by thir Our Letters Ratifie and Approve the Contract agreed upon betwixt the said Sir James and Agnes Campbel and Patrick Tailziefer Merchant in Our Burgh of Edinburgh now her Spouse having the Right to and exercing the Office of Our Printer in Our said ancient Kingdom of Scotland for Printing of the saids Books in all the Heads Articles and Clauses therein contained whatsomever Prohibiting all others to Print the saids Books for the space of ninteen years without the special leave of the said Sir James his Heirs and Successors as the said Contract of the date the 26. â—f March 1681. yearâ— at length contained in the said Gift and Ratification under Our Privie Seal more fully bears Given at Our Court at Whitehall Aprile 11. 1681. years and of Our Raignâ— the 33. Year Per Signaturam manu S. D. N. Regis supra scriptam Act of Sederunt Decimo Iunij 1681. THe Lord President did signifie to the Lords that he having these twenty years Observed the remarkable Practiques or Decisions that had past in this Court either upon Debate in presence of the whole Lords or upon Report from the Ordinary in the Outter-house expressing not only the sum of the Debate as it was considered and resumed by the Lords with the Interlocutor But also the Grounds whereupon the Lords proceeded and being of intention to put these Decisions in Print he had acquainted the King therewith and had His Majesties allowance and approbation therein And the saids Lords considering that the Lord President has been at extraordinary pains in Observing and Collecting these Decisions and that the publishing thereof will be of great use and advantage not only to the Colledge of Iustice but to the whole Leidges They approve his Resolution to Print the saids Decisions and did render him hearty Thanks for undertaking this Work tending so much to the publick Good Errata vide after the first Index INDEX Of the Acts of Sederunt ACt for uniformity of Habite amongst the ordinary Lords Iune 5th 1661. Act for continuing Summons and Writing in Latine as formerly 1661. Act anent Wakenings June 11. 1661. Act for retaining the principal Writs presented to the Register and giving forth only Extracts thereof 1661. Act for Protestation Money July 4th 1661. Act for granting Commissions to Debitors who are sick or out of the Countrey on the Act Debitor and Creditor July 31 1661. Act discharging Lessons the last Moneth of the Session November 28. 1661. Act anent Executors Creditors February 28. 1662. Act anent granting of Bonds by apparent Heirs whereupon Apprizings or Adjudications may follow in prejudice of the Defuncts Creditors 1662. Act anent Advocats and Expectants not paying their dues 1662. Act discharging Confusion the last day of the Session February 21. 1663. Act in favours of the Keeper of the Minute-Book June 6. 1663. Act concerning the buying of the Citiedail September 8. 1663. Act anent the Seal of Court November 26. 1663. Act against general Letters June 8. 1665. Act for Keeping the Barâ—s June 22. 1665. Act anent Proâ—tutors June 30. 1665. Act Ordering no sight of Process in the Summer Session which were seen in the Winter before November 8. 1665. His Majesties Instructions to the Commissars February 20. 1666. Orders to be observed in Confirmations of all Testaments Ibid. Instructions to the Clerk Ibid. Act against Decreets for not Reproduction of Cessiones bonorum November 6. 1666. His Majesties Letter
contribution money payable to them And such other General Letters as are expresly warranted be the Acts of Parliament And ordains an Act to be extracted hereupon and insert in the Books of Sederunt ACT for keeping the Barrs Iune 22. 1665. THE Lords considering what great confusion and disorder is occasioned by the thronging of people of all sorts within the Barrs of the Inner and utter House in the morning before the Lords sit down and at twelve a clocke in the forenoon and the prejudice arising there through by the miscarrying of Processes For remeid whereof the Lords do hereby discharge the Macers in time coming to give access to whatsomever Persons of whatsoever quality within the Barr of the Inner-house after any of the saids Lords have entred the House in the morning or after twelve a clock till the Lords be all risen off the Bench and be removed out of the House And sicklike that they permit no person whatsoever to stay within the Innermost-barr of the Utter-house where the ordinary Lord and Clerks do abide neither before the ordinary Lord come out after that the Clerks and their Servants have begun to call nor during the time that the ordinary Lord is upon the Bench neither after untill the reading of the Minut Book be ended except the persons following viz. The keeper of the Minut Book the King's Solliciter and one Servant appointed by His Majestie 's Advocat And that person appointed for reading the Minut Book during the time of the reading of the Minut Book and no longer And the Macers are hereby authorized to carrie immediately to prison any person that shal be found within any of the saids Barrs during the time foresaidâ— Certifying the saids Macers that if any of them shal be found negligent in performance of their dutie in the premisses They shall forthwith be removed from their Office And ordains an Act to be extended hereupon ACT anent Pro-tutors Iune 10. 1665. FOrasmuch as in the Action of compt and reckoning depending at the instance of Robert and Bessie Swintouns against Iames Notman at length heard before the Lords of Council and Session It being questioned and debated how far a Pro-tutor is lyable by the Law and Practice of this Kingdom whether for ommission as well as for commission and intromission And the saids Lords considering That albeit Pro-tutors be excusable as to their bygon intromissions In regard it was not constant hitherto how far they could be lyable yet finding it expedient that the foresaid question should be determined as to the future and the Leiges no longer left in uncertainty thereanent Therefore the Lords declare that whatsoever person or persons shall in time coming intromet with the means and estate of any Minor and shall act in his affairs as Pro-tutors having no right of Tutory nor Curatorie established in their Persons They shall be lyable aswell for what they might have intrometted with if they had been Tutors and Curators as for what they shall intromet with de facto Sicklike and in the same manner as Tutors and Curators are lyable by the Law and Practice of this Kingdom And the Lords declare that they will observe this as an inviolable practice in time coming And ordain these presents to be published at the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh and an Act to be extended thereupon and insert in the Books of Sederunt ACT ordering no sight of Processes in the Summer Session which were seen in the Winter before November 8. 1665. THE Lords considering That through the shortness of the Summer Session unnecessary giving out and malicious detaining of Processes which have been seen the Winter Session immediately preceeding The Leiges are oftimes frustrate of Justice during that Session after much charges expenses time vexation and trouble And having it always in their thought how Justice may be speedily administrat with the greatest ease and least expenses to the Subjects Do declare that in the future they will not allow Defenders and their Procurators to see Processes in communi forma during the Summer Session where the same has been seen and returned by them the Winter Session immediately preceeding and that they will proceed to do Justice therein without indulging to defenders any such sight during the Summer Sessions in the future where there hath been no material amendments made be the Pursuers of their Summonds nor new pieces produced in the Process to be instructions and grounds thereof and which were not seen the Winter Session immediately preceeding And ordains these presents to be insert in the Books of Sederunt His Majesties Instructions to the Commissars February 20. 1666. THE Lord President having received the Instructions following from Iohn Earl of Rothes His Majesties High Commissioner did communicat the same to the hail Lords and that it was His Graces pleasure and desire that the same might be recorded in the Books of Sederunt The Lords of Council and Session ordained the saids Injunctions to be insert and recorded in the saids Books of Sederunt under Protestation always that the recording of there saids Injunctions should be no ways prejudicial to the priviledge of the Lords of Session or derogat in any sort from their Iurisdiction in civil causes And ordained the said Injuctions after recording thereof to be given up and delivered to the Archbishop of St. Andrews his Grace or to any having his warrand to receive the same And that the Extracts of the saids Injunctions be given to all Persons who shal conceive themselves concerned therein whereof the tenor follows Sic Supra Scribitur CHARLES R. HIS Majesty Authorizes and injoyns these following Instructions contained in five Leaves Attested and Subscribed by two of the late Commissars of Edinburgh for regulating the Proceedings of the Commissars in their respective Courts Oxford January 21. 1666. and of His Reign the seventeenth year By his Majesties Command Sic Subscribitur LAVDERDAIL INstructions and Rules set down and appointed by the Reverend Fathers Arch-bishops and Bishops in this Kingdom to the Commissars Clerks Procurator-fiscals and other Members of Court of the Whole Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction having Commission from the saids Reverend Fathers 1. Ye are by vertue of your Commission to decide and judge in Causes concerning Benefices and Teinds in matters of Scandal Confirmations of Testaments great and small within your bounds all Causes Testamentar and in all other matters wherein the Oath of Party is required if the same does not exceed fourty pounds And in all other Causes wherein the Parties submit themselves to your Jurisdictions 2. Ye are to Judge in Reductions and Declarators of Nullity of Marriage for Impotency or upon any other ground or reason whatsomever All actions of Divorcement for Adultery or upon any other ground All Actions or Questions of Bastardry and adherences when the samine shall have a connexion with the Lawfulness of Marriage or Adultery all which are reserved to the Commissars of Edinburgh and do belong to their Jurisdiction privative But
to you the Subjects of the Kings of Spain and Sweden with whom we have particular Treaties which We shall send to you And wâ—ose Ships and Goods are to pass free they having such Passes as are agreed upon of which We did send Copies to Our Privy Council and so We bid you Farewell Given at Our Court at Whitehall the twenty seven day of December One thousand six hundred sixty and six And of Our Reign the eighteen year By His Majesties Command Subscribed thus LAUDERDAIL VVarrand for General Letters for the Contribution due out of Benefices to the Lords November 17. 1668. THE Lords have Ordained and hereby Ordain Letters and Executorials of Horning to be Direct at the Instance of these Ordinary Lords who have been admitted since Iune 1663. or shall be admitted hereafter against the Arch-bishops Bishops Priors Heretors Liferenters Feuars Farmers Tennents and Tacksmen of the Prelacies within this Kingdom for payment to them of their respective proportions of the Contribution Money payable out of the saids Prelacies and Allocat to their Predecessors in whose place they have succeeded by an Act of Sederunt of the date the 11. day of Iune 1663. and a Roll subjoyned thereto containing the particular division of the Contribution Money amongst the saids Lords and that for all Years and Terms since their admission and Entry and Yearly and Termly in time coming Oaths to be taken for the Price of Fowls Ianuary 15. 1669. THE which day It being represented to the Lords That the Magistrates of Edinburgh desired to know whether they might warrantably exact the Oaths of the Poultrie-men and In-keepers concerning their contravention of the Acts lately made for the price of Fowl drest and undrest The Lords finds that the Magistrates of Edinburgh may and ought to exact the Oaths of the contraveeners of these Acts either the Poultrie-people who sell the Fowls undrest or In-keepersâ— who sell them drest And recommend to the Magistrates to be careful in the speedie and exact execution of these Acts. ACT anent extracts of Registrate writs bearing the Procurators named though not subscribed December 9. 1670. THE Lords of Council and Session do grant warrand to the Lord Register and the Clerks of Session his Deputes to registrate such Bands Contracts and other Writs as shall be given in to them to be registrat and therein to insert the consent of Advocats as Procurators to the Registration as they were in use to do formerlyâ— and accordingly to give out extracts thereof notwithstanding that the Advocats do not subscrib their consent And appoints this warrand to continue untill further order Likeas the Lords declare that any Extracts given out by the Clerks in manner foresaid since the first day of November last are warrantably given and cannot be quarrelled upon that ground that the Advocats consent to the Registration is not subscribed ACT Anent Extracting Acts and Decreets Ianuary 20. 1671. THE Lords enacted and ordained that no Act or Decreet done either in the Inner or Utter-house shall be extracted untill 24 hours elapse after the same is read in the Minut Book ACT against Magistrats of Burghs forletting prisoners for Debt go out of the tolbooth Iune 14. 1671. THE Lords considering That albeit by the Law Magistrats of Burghs are oblidged to retain in sure warde and firmance Persons incarcerat in their Tolbooths for Debt Yet hitherto they have been in use to indulge Prisoners to go abroad upon several occasions And it being expedient that in time coming the foresaid liberty taken by the Magistrates of Burghs should be restrained and the Law duely observed Therefore the saids Lords do declare that hereafter it shal not be lawful to the Magistrates of Burghs upon any occasion whatsomever without warrand from His Majesties Privy Council or the Lords of Session to permit any Person incarcerat in their Tolbooth for Debt to go out of Prison except in the case of the Parties sickness and extream danger of Life The same being always attested upon oath under the hand of a Physician Chirurgion Appothecary or Minister of the Gospel in the place Which Testificat shall be recorded in the Town Court Books And in that case that the Magistrats allow the Partie only liberty to reside in some house within the Town during the continuance of his sickness They being always answerable that the Partie escape not And upon his recovery to return to Prison And the Lords declare that any Magistrats of Burghs who shall contraveen the premisses shall be lyable in payment of the Debtsâ— for which the Rebel was incarcerat And appoints this Act to be intimat to the Agent for the Royal Burrows and to be insert in the Books of Sederunt His MAJESTIES Order to the Commissioners of His Thesaury to free the Lords from the Cess Iuly 19. 1671. CHARLES R. RIght trusty and well beloved Cusing and Counciller right trusty and well beloved Councillers and trusty and well beloved We greet you well Vpon the humble desire of President and Senators of Our Colledge of Iustice Signified unto Vs by Our Secretary We have thought fit to express Our so great tenderness of their Priviledges as to discharge the President and all the ordinary Lords of Session of their proportions of the Currant Supply granted unto Vs by the late Session of Our Parliament although they gave their Bond for the same Therefore Our pleasure is and We do hereby Authorize you to give Command nor to exact any of the said Supply from the proper states of the said President and ordinary Lords of Session but that the same be discharged And if any part thereof be already Collected that it be payed back to them respectively for which this shall be your warrand And so We bid you heartily Farewell Given at Our Court at Windsor Casile the 12 day of Iuly 1671. and of Our Reign the 23 Year Subscribed thus by his Majesties command Lauderdail ACT for keeping the Barrs November 3. 1671. THE Lords of Council and Session considering that there is great disorder and confusion occasionâ—d by the thronging in of the Advocats men and others upon the Clerks and their Servants in the Utter-house before the ordinary Lord go to the Bench. And after twelve a clock at the reading of the Minut Book For remeid whereof they ordain the Minut Book in time coming to be read in the nethermost end of the Loft appointed for the Advocats Servants And prohibit and discharge all Advocats Servants and other persons who are not licenced and allowed to enter or remain within the Innermost Barr of the Utter-house where the Clerks and their Servants stays under the pain of three pounds Scots to be applyed the one half for the use of the Poor and the other to the Macers And to be further censured by imprisonment or otherways as the saids Lords shall think sit And to the end the said Act may be more duely observed The Lord do ordain authorize and require the Macers to exact
ineffectual as to the designed end of the same do therefore statute and ordain That all Decreets of Bonorum and Charges to put at liberty to be raised thereupon shall thereafter contain the hail tenor of the Act of Sederunt above-written And that the Magistrats of Burghs shall not put out the Partie in whose favours the Decreet and Letters are granted untill first they put on the habit and come out of the Tolbooth betwixt 9. and 12. a clock in the Fore-noon with the habit on them as is prescribed by the Act. And ordain the Clerks of the Session the Keepers of and Writers to the Signet and others having interest to be careful that this Act be punctually observed And ordain a Coppy thereof to be delivered to the Baillies of Edinburgh to be Registrate in their Books and keeped for the entry and liberty of Prisoners in their Tolbooth ACT ordaining Advocations or Suspensions of Processes for Conventicles to be only past in presentia or by the three Lords in vacant time Iune 24. 1673. THis day the Lords ordained that no Bill of Advocation be past of any Processes depending before the Sheriffs and other Judges ordinary against Persons guilty of keeping Conventicles unless the same be past in presentia during the sitting of the Session or by three Lords met together in time of Vacancie and that no supension be past of Decreets given upon those Processes except upon Consignation of the sums decerned or in presence of the whole Lords or in time of Vacaâ—cie by three Lords And appoint Intimation hereof to be made to the Clerks of the Bills Letter anent Prizes Iuly 8. 1673. THis day the Lord Chancellor produced in presence of the Lords a Letter directed from the Duke of Lauderdail Lord Secretary by His Majestie 's Command to the Lord Chancellor President and remanent Senators of the Colledge of Justice which Letter being Read in presence of the saids Lords they ordained the same to be Recorded in the Books of Sederunt whereof the tenor follows For the right Honourable The Earle of Rothes Lord Chancellor of Scotland Sir James Daâ—ymple of Stair President of the Colledge of Iustice and the Remanent Senators thereof Whitehall Iune 30. 1673. My Lords Since the Receit of Yours of the 25. January I have been using my best Endeavours to know how to satisfie your Lordships desire therin And now having acquainted the KING tâ—erewith in presence of divers of his Council here I am commanded by His Majesty to let you know that the Treaty of Breda is certainly void by the War and that no Ally can claim any benefite thereby when they carry any provision of Victual or other Counterband Goods to the Ports of Our Enemies or when they have Goods belonging to Enemies on Board As to the other part of the Letter it was deliberatly thought fit in the Council of England That any number of the Dutch Nation being found aboard should not confiscat Ship and goods as it did during the last War and therefore that Article was kept out of the Rules which were given to the Court of Admiralty here in England But if any part of the Ship belong to any Inhabiting within the Dominions of the States-general the whole both Shipe and Goods are to be declared Prize and if the Master have his Residence in Holland you are left to judge in this case according to Law and as you shall think just I have likewise communicated to the KING your answers to the Swedish Envoys memorial And to the Complaints of the King of Polland and the City of Danzick which did give a great dale satisfaction to His Majesty and severalls of His Privy Council there who were presentâ— And Coppies of them were sent unto Sweden I am my Lord your Lordships most humble Servant Sic subscribitur LAUDERDAIL ACT for ordering new hearings in the Vtter-house Iuly 11. 1673. THE which day the Lords ordain any Lord who is to hear a Cause debated in the Utter-house before the Lord ordinary come forth shall go to the Bench and call the said Cause at 8 a clock in the morning And ordain the Advocats Clerks and Macers to be present and attend at the said hour and if no Procurators be present for that Partie that seeketh calling yet the said Lord shall proceed in making Act or Decreet and the said Cause is not to be heard any more thereafter And if none be appearing for the other Partie at the said hour or when the Cause shall be called then that Parties Procurators are not thereafter to be heard by the said Lord except the said Party or his Procurators give in two Dollers to the poor's Box. And ordain this Act to be recorded in the Books of Sederunt and intimate to the Advocats in the Utter-house Letter from His Majesty against Appeals Iune 17. 1674. THis day the Lord Thesaurer Deput produced in presence of the saids Lords a Letter direct from His Majesty to the Lord Chancellor Lord President and Remanent Senators of the Colledge of Iustice. Whereof the tenor follows CHARLES R. RIght trusty aud well-beloved Cusingâ— and Councilers Right trusty and well-beloved Councilâ—rs aud trusty and well-beloved We greet you well We received your Letter of the 28 February Last with an accompt of these Appeals given into you by the Lord Almond and Earl of Aboyne but could not then return any answer the Session being up And now upon full consideration of that whole affair We find it indispensably necessary for Our Service and the mentainence of Our Authority and for the quiet and security of Our Subjects in their Fortuns and Estates That the honour aud Authority of Our Colledge of Iustice be inviolably preserved and that there be an intire confidence in and defâ—rence to all the Decreets and Sentences thereof And after the Laudable Example of Our Royall Progenitors We do assure you that We will constantly mentain Our Authority exercised in that Court against all Incroachments Indignities and Reproaches that may be attempted against the same or against any of the Lords of Session whom We shall always cause to be held in special Honour as these who represent Our Person and â—ear Our Authority And as We cannot but declare Our dis-satisfaction with and abhorance of these Appeals So it is Our express pleasure that special care be taken to prevent the like practices for the future and for that effect that you cause solemn Intimation to be made to all Advocats Clerks Writeres and others who are members of or have dependence upon the Colledge of Iustice and others whom it may concern That none of them presume to advise consult propose plead speak or suggest any thing that doth import the charging of any of the Decreets and Sentences of the Lords of Session with In-justice whether in the Terms of Appealls Protestations Supplications Informations or any other manner of way either publickly in the exercise of their Function or privately in their ordinary conversation
the Houses The Lords found there was yet place to Resile and therefore assoilzied Margaret Stevenson and her Son contra Ker and others Eodem die MArgaret Stevenson pursues Margaret Ker as vitious Intromissatrix with the Goods of her Husband for payment of a Debt wherein he was Cautioner She alleadged absolvitor because her Iutromission was purged in so far as she had Confirmed herself Executrix Creditrix It was answered by the Pursuer non relevat unless before intenting of the Cause The Defender answered it was sufficient being within year and day after the Defunct's Death Which the Lords found Relevant Lord Balnagoun contra M. Thomas Mckenzie Eodem die BAlnagoun as Donator to the Escheat of his Father pursues Mr Thomas Mckenzie for the price of some Lands sold to him by his Father and for the annualrents since It was answered for the Defender that there was no Annualrent due by the Minute and albeit it was the price of Land yet Balnagoun had never made Mr. Thomas a Right to this day but had forced him to be at a huge Expenses and Plea and so was in mora that the price was not payed and albeitâ—he did possess the Lands it was by redeeming Wodsets thereupon contained in the Minute The Lords found Mr. Thomas lyable either for the Annualrent or for the superplus of the Rents of the Land more then payed the Annualrent In this Process it was found that the Probation of a Tenor before an Inferiour Iudge was null Margaret Edgar contra Iohn Murray Ianuary 29. 1663. MArgaret Edgar having Charged Iohn Murray as Cautioner for the umquhil Viscount of Stormont he Suspends and offers him to prove by her Oath that she transacted with him to accept a Decreet against the principal to free him The Charger answered that she being a Wife clade with a Husband could not swear in his prejudice The Suspender Replyed that before her Marriage he had raised a Pursuit and Cited her to hear and see it found and declared he was free of Cautionry in respect of the said Transaction and so the matter being Litigious her marrying during the Dependence cannot exclude him from his Oath but must work against her Husband who is only jure mariti a Legal Assigney The Lords found this Reply Relevant Scot contra Mr. John Dickson Eodem die SCot as Assigney by her Father to a Bond Charges Mr. Iohn Dickson to make payment he Suspends on this Reason that the Assignation being while the Charger was Wife to Scot her Husband the Sum belonged to the Husband jure mariti and therefore craves Compensation of the like Sums payed to or for the Husband The Charger answered that though the Date of the Assignation was before her Husbands Death yet her Father keeped the same in his Custody and it was not Intimate till after the Husbands Death and so the Right not being Established in the Wifes Person by Intimation could not accresce to the Husband unless the Suspender would instruct that it was Intimate before The Lords found that seing the Assignation was now in the Wifes hands they would not put the Suspender to prove the Delivery thereof during the Marriage but that it was presumed to have been delivered according to the Date and that thereby it became the Husbands jure mariti though no Intimation was in his time Archibald Stuart contra Bogle and Matthie Ianuary 30. 1663. BOgle and Matthie being Conveened before Archibald Stuart as Baillie of the Regality of Glasgow for a wrong committed upon two other Persons in the Kirk upon the Sabbath thrusting in upon them in Seat and beating them they were therefore amerciat in 200. Pounds half to the Party and half to the Fiskall It was alleadged the Fine was exorbitant and that Inferiour Courts could not amerciat above ten Pounds as it had been found by several Decisions It was answered that this Court being a Regality and the Fact so atrocius the Fine was very Competent The Lords Sustained the Decreet Town of Linlithgow contra Inhabitants of Borrowstounness Eodem die THe Town of Linlithgow having apprehended an Inhabitant of Borrowstounness in their Town being an un-free man and exercising the Trade of Merchandise they put him in Prison he granted Bond to forbear in all time coming Likeas they fined him in a 100. merks he Suspended and raised Reduction on this Reason that the Bond was extorted when so far as he was summarly taken and put in Prison and could not get out till he promised to give the Bond and immediatly after he was out subscribed the same The Charger alleadged there was no unjust force or fear because by the Acts of Parliament in favours of Free Borrows all unfree men are discharged to exercise the Trade of Merchandise whereupon they had obtained Decreet against the same Suspender to desist and cease therefrom Secondly They and all other free Borrows had immemorially possessed this priviledge to apprehend persons found within their Town and forced them to find Caution as Law will upon Debt due to any in the Town and particularly to put them in Prison till they give such Bonds in Surety as this The Suspender answered to the first there was no such Warrand by the Act of Parliament but only to Charge with general Letters un-free men to find Caution and for the Priviledge of Borrows to arrest un-free persons within their Towns it is only in case of Debts and other Merchandises due to Burgesses but cannot be extended to this Case where there is a special Order set down by Act of Parliament The Lords found that the Burghs Royal summarly upon Staple Ware of un-free men and might judge thereanent but not summarly Incarcerate their Persons but only to Charge them and found their Custom and Priviledge not to extend to this Case and therefore found the Reason of Reduction Relevant The Lady Carnagy contra The Lord Cranburn Eodem die LAdy Anna Hamiltoun and the Lord Carnagie her Husband as having obtained a Gift of Recognition from the King of the Barony of Innerweek and being thereupon Infeft pursues the Lord Cranburn to whom the samine was Disponed by the Earl of Dirletoun Grand-Father to both for declaring the Recognition and the Donatrix Right in so far as Iames Maxwel late Earl of Dirletoun holding the saids Lands of His Majesties Ward and relief had without His Majesties consent Alienat and Disponed the same to Iames Cicile his Oye then second Son to the Lord Cranburn procreat betwixt him and the Earl of Dirletouns second Daughter It was alleadged for the Defender absolvitor because where there was no Infeftment there could be no Alienation nor Recognition and there could be no Infeftment without the same were granted to the Disponer or his Procurator to the accepter to his Procurator but here there was no accepter nor Procurator because Cranburn being then a Child and in England had granted no Mandat to take this Seasine and therefore had raised Reduction thereof
and salted them themselves to be proven by their Oaths and would not sustain the Probation of the Custom seing the principal Decreet was not produced unless that at least the Testimonies proving that Custom were repeated and produced out of the old Process that it might appear whether there were any ground of Objection against the manner of Probation Lady Colvil contra Lord Colvil December 14. 1664. THe Lady Colvil pursues the Lord Colvil to relieve her of the whole Debt hererable and moveable of the Defunct his Predecessor because the Defunct in his Testament had named her his Lady Executrix and universal Legatrix with a special Clause that she should be free of all his Debt whatsomever The Defender alleadged Absolvitor because no Deed done by a Defunct in lecto or in Testament can prejudge his Heir The Pursuer replyed that this Testament was made in the Defuncts leige poustie The Defender answered that on Death-bed and by Testament equiparantur Which the Lords found Relevant and assoilzied Laird of Phillorth contra Forbes of Aslocon December 16. 1664. PHillorth as Donatar to the Escheat of Forbes of Aslocon and having obtained general Declarator insists in his special Declarator It was alleadged Absolvitor because the Horning whereupon the Gift was granted is null in so far as being beyond Dee it is upon six dayes contrair to to the Act of Parliament 1600. Declaring all Hornings beyond Dee on less then fifteen dayes null conform to a Decision in Dury albeit on a Bond bearing a Clause of Registration on six dayes onlyâ— February 14. 1625. Steuart contra Bruce It was answered for the Pursuer that the Acts of Parliament hinder not the agreements of Parties but is expresly anent Hornings on Lawborrows or the like but these are on the parties own consent by the Clause of Registration and if these should not be valide all the Hornings and other Executorials thereon beyond Dee since 1600. would be null and such Bonds would have no effect seing upon the Clause of Registration Horning could not be otherwise direct on six dayes and so they should not have any summar execution The Defender answered that the Act is general of all Hornings and bears a general Reason because it is impossible for Parties at such distance to come to Edinburgh to Suspend in four dayes and privat pactions cannot derogat from general Laws where the express reason is for publick utility contrair to which no man can make himself Rebel more then he can give power to Incarcerat himself where Law gives no warrant but prohibits The Lords Repelled the Defense and sustained the Horning Innes contra Forbes of Touchon Eodem die INnes having Charged Forbes of Touchon on an Act of Adjournal for an Assythment for wounding him and reparation of his Blood He Suspended and alleadge the Act was null wanting Citation Compearance or probation It was answered that being the Act of the Justice General who is Supream in criminalibus it cannot be recognosced by the Lords The Lords having considered the case amongst themselves thought that in what was truly Criminal as to corporal pains or amerciaments in way of punishment they would not medle with the Justice Sentences but Assythment being civil for the Damnage and Interest of the Party pursuable before the Lords they might recognosce thereon and therefore in respect that the Probation of the Fact was by a Process before the Baillies they ordained that Process to be produced before answer and the Suspender to condescend if there was any exorbitancy in the Sum decerned for the Assythment Mr. Thomas Paterson contra Watson December 17. 1664. MR. Thomas Paterson Charges Watson to remove from his Gleib who alleadged the Designation is null because it is not subscribed by the Ministers Designers but is only the assertion of a Nottar 2ly By the Act of Parliament 1663. anent Gleibs there is an exception of Royal Burrows to which Ministers Gleibs are not due ita est Dysert is a Royal Burgh The Charger answered to the first that the having a warrand from the Bishop and Presbytrie his instrument of Designation is as sufficient as a Seasine to give Right to Land And to the second the Royal Burrows excepted must only be understood of such who have not a Landwart Congregation but are chiefly constitute of an Incorporation for Trade but this Burgh is notourly known to be but a Burgh of Barony holden of the Lord Sinclar albeit it has the priviledge of Vote in Parliament and is a Parsonage The Lords Sustained the Designation but before Extract ordained the Testificat of the Ministers Designers under their hands to be produced Sarah Blomart contra Earl of Roxburgh SArah Blomart pursuing the Earl of Roxburgh he alleadged she could have no Processes being of the Vnited Provinces who are declared enemies to His Majesty It was answered that there was no Denunciation of War by His Majesty as King of Scotland nor any Proclamation in Scotland to that purpose It was replyed that there was a Warrant by the King and Council to cease upon all the Dutch Vessels in Scotland The Lords found that this was but an Imbargo and no Denunciation of War in Scotland and therefore found Process Mr. Iames Reid Minister of North-Leith contra William Melvil December 20. 1664. MR. James Reid Charges William Melvil for the Teind of hard Fish bought by the said William in the Lewes and imported by him at Leith He Suspends on this Reason that he bought the said Fish from Merchants in the Mercat and did neither take the same himself nor bought them immediatly when they were green from the Taker and so can be lyable for no Teind The Charger answered that he is decennalis triennalis Possessor of getting twenty shilling of the Last of all Fish imported at New-haven and for instructing thereof produces a Decreet in Anno 1634. and another in Anno 1662. and if need beis offers him yet to prove Possession The Defender answered that these Decreets are expresly against the Fishers or Takers of Fish but not against Merchants buying and importing the same and as for the Custome non Relevat unless it were an universal Custome established by Sentences for if some few Merchants should have to save themselves trouble given an uncertain acknowledgement according to their own discertion and no fixed Duty nor by no compulsive way it imports not The Lords Suspended the Letters except only for such Fish as should be taken by the Boats and Fishers of New-haven Agnes Young and her Husband contra Buchanans Eodem die AGnes Young pursues Buchanans her Children for her third of her Husbands Moveables and for her Liferent use of the other two thirds conform to her Contract of Marriage whereby she is provided to his Liferent of all Goods and Geir conquest during the Marriage moveable and immoveable The Defenders answered that the Pursuer cannot both have the third and the Liferent of the whole because it must be presumed
Maybol for the time to the Lord Ochiltrie which came by progress in the Person of Ballimore having then in his Person Barganies Tack so that Ballimores taking that Right acknowledges the Parsons Right and passes from his former Tack unless in his Right he had expresly reserved his former Tack so that neither Ballimore nor these Assigneys can now make use of Barganies Tack it being a certain Ground that the taking of a posterior Tack having a greater Tack Duty or a shorter Term evacuats a prior Tack in that same Person It was answered that the alleadgance is no wayes Relevant Ballimore not having immediatly taken a second Tack but only finding another Tack by progress in the Person of the Lord Binnie to remove that impediment and shun his trouble he purchased Right thereto but never brooked thereby The Lords found that the taking Right to another Tack did not infer a passing from the former Tack unless it were proven that the posterior Tack had a greater Duty or shorter durance and that Ballimore had paid the said greater Duty to Bonar or bruiked expresly by the later Tack June 29. 1669. CAptain having taken at Sea obtained him to be declared Pryze upon this ground that he carried Clapboard which is expresly mentioned as Counterband in the Commission of the Admiral of Scotland given to the Caper and was the same Stile with the Commission Recorded in the Books of Admirality given in the time of War in the year 1628. The Strangers raised Reduction of the Admirals Decreet on this Reason that Clapboard being a general Name comprehending many kinds of Boards that Clapboard could be only understood Counterband which had not a promiscuous use in Peace and War but was instrumentum bellicum carried by the Kings Allies to his Enemies to be Sold to them for assisting of the War which this Loading could not be because it consisted all of Knappel cutted all at three Foot and an half length the proper use whereof is for Barrelis and is no wayes instrumentum bellicum The Lords having given Commission to some of their number to visite the Knappel and to Examine Sea-wrights whereupon they did Examine a number whether this Timber in question was useful for War or Shipping and most Deponed that it was not and some Deponed that it might be made use of to be Pins or Tubs but that it was not ordinarly made use of for Shipping but common Oak which was far cheaper The Lords did also before answer ordain either Party to adduce such Testificats and Evidences as they could from the Admiralties of Neighbouring Nations what was the Custom of Nations whether upon such Timber as this the Ships of Neuters or Allies were made Prize The strangers produced several Testificats one from the Custom-House of Amsterdame bearing that such Timber was not accounted Counterband in Holland and one from the Spanish Admiralty at Ostend bearing that they knew not that by their Custom and the Custom of other Admiralties such Timber was Counterband one from a Deputy who served in the French Admiralty at Dunkirk declaring that in that Admiralty such Timber was not accounted Counterband one from the Kings Auctorney and another Lawer who served in the Court of Admiralty of England bearing that during the War none had been declared Prize upon that account The Privateer produced no Testificats but alleadged that there ought no respect to be had to the Testificats produced it being easie to impetrat such and there should a Commission been direct by the Lords to the several Chief Admiralties of the Neighbouring Nations to express what was their Custom in this Point Notwithstanding the Lords found the Ship Prize as carrying this Clapboard being contained in the Admirals Commission a great part of the most able of the Lords being of the contrary Judgement Earl of Argile contra His Vassals Iune 30. 1669. THe Earl of Argile being Donator to the Forefaulture of the late Marquess of Argile his Father Pursues an Improbation of the Vassals Rights and craved Certification The Vassals alleadged no Certification against their Rights because any Right the Earl had was qualified by the Kings Gift that he should only have Lands paying 15000. pounds and that the rest should be conveyed to the Creditors and the Creditors thereupon claiming the Property of the Vassals as falling within the Forefaulture His Majesty Wrot a Letter Declaring that it was not His meaning by the Gift that the Creditors should have any more Lands conveyed to them then the remainder of the Property belonging to the late Marquess over and above this Earls part and that the Superiority should entirely belong to the Earl and his Successors by which His Majesties Mind and Pleasure is evident that the Earl should only have the Superiority and not the Property of the Vassals 2dly The Vassals offered to produce what Rights they had flowing from the House of Argile but there could be no Certification as to what they had not in respect of the Troubles especially no Certification for want of Confirmation of the Vassals Rights by the King because several of the Vassals continued Loyal to His Majesty during all the Troubles and some of them losed their lives in His Service opposing the said late Marquess himself So that it can never be thought to be His Majesties purpose or pleasure so to restore this Earl the Marquess Heir appearand as thereby to Forefault the Vassals who adhered to His Majesty and who durst not in time of these Troubles have fought Confirmations His Majesties Exchequer being then in the manadgement of these who were in opposition to Him It was answered for the Pursuer to the first that neither by the Pursuers Gift from His Majesty nor by the foresaid Letter there is nothing granted to the Vassals in opposition to the Earls Right but in opposition to the Creditors that they should have no hand in the Vassals Estates Likeas His Majesty by His last Ratification and Charter under the Great Seal produced hath most distinctly and clearly exprest His meaning and pleasure that by the foresaid Gift or Letter His Majesty did only Exclude the Creditors from the Estates of the Vassals but thereby Declares that not only the Superiority and Casualities thereof should belong to the Earl but the Property of all these who had not sufficient Rights from the House of Argile and Confirmations from the King and that the Earl might Intent all Actions competent of Law for that effect It was answered for the Vassals that if their true condition and adherence to His Majesty had been understood His Majesty would not so have Declared and that post jus quaesitum to them by the Kings Gift and Letter no posterior Declaration impetrat from His Majesty should prejudge them at the least they humbly craved that the Lords according to their former Interlocutor would Represent the Case to His Majesty that His Pleasure might be known and that His Majesty might interpose with my Lord
Heir to the Defunct as his Goodsirs Brothers Oye and having obtained Certification contra non producta there being nothing produced but the Retour Service Brive and Executions but no Warrand of the Service either bearing the Testimony of Witnesses adduced to prove the propinquity of Blood or bearing that the Inquest of proper knowledge knew the same The Pursuer now insists in his Reason of Reduction that the Service is without Warrant and without Probation by Writ or Witnesses It was answered non relevat as it is lybelled bearing only that it is without probation by Writ or Witnesses whereas it might proceed upon the proper knowledge of the Inquest or any two of them The Pursuer answered that neither were there any Probation by Writ or Witnesses nor by the Minuts of Processe bearing that the Persons of Inquest of their proper knowledge did Serve The Lords considering that the Minuts of these Process upon Service for Serving general Heirs which may be before any Judicature use not to be exactly keeped would not instantly Reduce for want of the Warrants but ordained the Persons of Inquest to be produced to condescend whether they proceeded upon proper knowledge and what was the Reason of their knowledge Mc. Gregor contra Menzies Eodem die THere being a question arising betwixt Mc. Gregor and Menzies upon a Decreet Arbitral The Lords found the Decreet Arbitral null proceeding upon a Submission of this Tenor submitting to the Arbiters ay and while they meet at any Day and Place they found convenient with power of Prorogation without any particular Day for giving their Sentence blank or filled up because the Decreet Arbitral was not within a year of the Date of the Submission nor any Prorogation during that time Dam Elizabeth Dowglass and Sir Robert Sinclar of Longformacus contra Laird of Wedderburn Eodem die THe Lady Longformacus as Heir to her Goodsire William Dowglas of Eveling who was Donatar to the Escheat and Liferent of Iohn Stewart of Coldinghame pursues the Laird of Wedderburn for the Teinds of his Lands which Teinds pertained to the Abbots of Coldinghame The Defender alleadged absolvitor because he has Tack to run flowing from the Earl of Hoom who was Infeft in the Lordship of Coldinghameâ— and before that was Commendator thereof by His Majesty 2ly Iohn Stewart had ratified all Rights flowing from the Earl of Hoom and consequently this Tack after which the Donatar of his Escheat could not challenge the same for the Ratification is equivalent as if the Tack were granted by the Ratifier The Pursuer answered that the Defense upon the Tack and the Earl of Hooms Right ought to be Repelled because the Earl of Hoomes Right is Reduced by the Parliament 1621. on this consideration that the Earl of Bothwel being Commendator of Coldinghame had demitted the same in his Majesties hands whereupon the said Iohn Stewart his Son was provided by the King Commendator of Coldinghame and thereafter the Earl of Bothwel being Forefault the said Iohn and his other Children were Dishabilitate and declared incapable to bruik and joy his Land and Heritage or to succeed to any Person within this Realm by Sentence of Parliament whereupon the King provided the Earl of Hoom to be Commendator of Coldinghame and thereafter on the Earls own Resignation Infeft him therein in an erected Lordship and thereafter in the Parliament 1621. The King and Estates upon express consideration that Iohn Stewart was an Infant no wayes accessory to his Fathers Crimes did therefore annul his Dishabilitation and Rehabilitate him and declared that he should have Right to the Abbacy of Coldinghame in the same manner as he had before his Dishabilitation and Resciâ—ded all Rights and Infeftments of the said Abbacy granted by His Majesty to any Person of the said Abbacy since the said Dishabilitationâ— in so far as the samine might be prejudicial to Iohn Stewart's Provision that he had before After all which Iohn Stewart upon his own Resignation was Infeft in the Property of Coldinghame so that the Earl of Hoom's Right being Reduced in Parliament and falling in consequence with Iohn Stewarts Dâ—shabilitation whereupon it was founded the Defenders Tack following thereuponâ— falls also in Consequence as was already found by the Lords in Anno 1628. betwixt the said William Dowglas of Evelen and the Laird of Wedderburn conform to an Interlocutor Extracted and produced which is sufficient inter easdem partes and cannot be questioned super eisdem deductis now albeit at that time Wedderburn past from his compearance and so the Decreet against him was in absence yet the Interlocutor was ordained to be Extracted against him by the Lords which is sufficient and as for the Ratification of the Tacks granted by the Earl of Hoom the samine was after Iohn Stewart had Resigned his Comendatorship and before he was Infeft in Property The Defender answered First That the said Reduction of the Earl of Hoom's Right was without calling of the Defender or of the Earl of Hoom himselfâ— 2ly It mentions no particular Right or any Person but in general all Right and so is but a privat Right impetrat from the Parliament without hearing of Parties and therefore falls under the Act of Parliament salvo jure And as to the former Interlocutor of the Lords The reason why the Lords sustained the said Rescissory Act was because they found themselves not competent to Judge as to Sentences of Parliament or to annul the same upon the not calling of the Parties in respect that the Act salvo 1621. relates to Ratifications but not to such Sentences as this but by Act salvo 1633. It is expresly declared that that Act and all former Acts salvo should not only extend to Ratifications but to all other privat Acts impetrat without hearing of Parties and prejudicial to other Parties Rights and therefore now the Lords ought to proceed upon the Parties Right without consideration of that Act Rescissory 2ly The Act of Parliament Prohibits and annuls all Restitution of Forefaulture by way of Grace in so far as may be prejudicial to these who bona fide acquired Rights from the King medio tempore and so the Rehabilitation of Iohn Stewart cannot prejudge the Earl of Hoom or the Defender who had Right from the Earl It was answered for the Pursuer that there was no difference in the two Acts salvo jure albeit the last was more express then the first containing the same in effect 2ly Iohn Stewart being Dishabilitat by the Parliament without Citation or Crime might justly be Rahabilitate eodem modo without Citation and that not by way of Grace but in Justice as not accessory to the Crimesâ— and albeit Forefaultures may not be taken away by way of Reduction by the Act of Parliament 1584. cap. 135. yet that cannot be extended to the Dishabilitation of their Children so that the Parliament doing nothing prejudicial to any Parties Right but restoring Iohn Stewart to his just Right eo
Argile not to insist against the Vassals who had been Loyal It was answered for the Earl that he had given no just grounds to his Vassals to expect that though they were in his power that he would destroy them and annul their Rights and seing His Majesty had fully and absolutely entrusted them to him they ought to have rested upon His Kindness and Generosity and not to have made all this Clamour where they have no Legal Defense it being no strange nor new thing for the King to give Gifts of Forefaulture without any Reservation of Vassals who had no Confirmation from the King yea many times without any Reservation of the Forefault Persons Debt and His Majesty has lately so done to the Marquess of Huntly to whom he gave the Estate of Huntly without Reservation either to Vassals or Creditors and that upon the Forfaulture of the Marquess of Argile who had Right to and was in Possession of the Estate of Huntly for vast sums of Mony and the Earl of Argile has the Gift of the remainder of his Fathers Estate with the burden of more Debt then the proper Debt of the House of Argile would have been over and above the Debts undertaken for the House of Huntly 2dly Whatever the Vassals might plead in Point of Favour yet they do not pretend to a Defense in Law And the Lords being Judges of the Law ought not to stop the Course thereof upon the Insinuations of any Party otherwayes they may deny the Course of Law to any of the Leidges when they please upon the account that they think the Law hard or rigorous or the Kings grants made conform thereto and whatsoever the Lords might do in the dubious Interpretation of a Treaty of Peace to know the Kings meaning yet in claris â—on est locus conjecturis nothing can be clearer then the Kings meaning under His Great Seal and all the Defenders can pretend is Favour which is no Point of Right nor legal Defense The Lords granted Certification eâ—nâ—ra non producta conditionally that what the Vassals should produce betwixt and the tenth of November should be received and left it to the Vassals in the mean time if they thought fit to make Address to the King that he might interpose with the Earl in their Favours or to Debate any thing they thought fit when the Earl insisted for Reduction of their Rights for want of Confirmations or for Mails and Duties Agnew contra Tennents of Dronlaw Eodem die AGnem having Appryzed the Lands of Dronlaw from Mr. Robert Hay Advocat as Cautioner for the Earl of Buchan to the behove of the Earl of Kinghorn pursues the Tennents for Removing who alleadged Absolviture because the Tennents were Tennents by payment of Mail and Duty to the Liferenter Mr. Robert Hayes Mother and she is not warned nor called The Pursuer answered that the Liferenter dyed before the Term and that he was content that the Tennents should be Decerned to Remove but at the next Term of Whitsonday Yet the Lords Sustained the Defense seing the Liferenter was living the time of the Warning Farquhar contra Magistrâ—tes of Elgin Iuly 2. 1669. FArquhar having caused a Messenger Charge the Magistrates of Elgin to take my Lord Lovat and the Baillies being together upon the Street about eight or nine a Clock in the Morning the Messenger with several other Persons present Charged them to go into an House near by which they designed to them and to take Lovat being then in Bed and the Messenger offered to go with them and enter first yet the Bailies did not obey but said they would go at their conveniency when they had conveened their Neighbours to assist there is an Execution and Instrument upon the back of the Caption to the effect foresaid produced whereupon Farquhar pursues the Magistrates for Payment of the Debt contained in the Caption The Defenders alleadged Absolviture First Because they were no further obliged but to conveen the Neighbours of the Town and send them with the Messenger to assist which they offered to do 2dly Albeit themselves were obliged to take the Rebel if he were showen to them within their Jurisdiction yet they were not obliged to search every House of the Town for him or to enter within closle Doors 3dly The Lord Lovat being known to be a fierce young Man who ordinarly had a Minzie attending him they were not obliged to adventure upon him without calling the assistance of their Neighbours which they did within an hour or two thereafter and he was gone The Lords Repelled all these Defenses in respect of the Execution and instrument produced and found the Magistrats being Charged obliged to take the Rebel and without delay to search any House within the Town that was particularly shown to them unless they had been Repulsed by Force or the Doors by Violence keeped closse against them by the Master of the House and ordained the Pursuers to adduce the Witnesses in the Instrument and others to prove the particulars foresaid to have been so done as is therein exprest Bow contra Campbel Eodem die BOw Stabler in Edinburgh as Assigney to a Sum of Money due by Glenurchy and also as Donotar to the Escheat of his Cedent being called in a double Poinding and competing the Donator alleadged he ought to be preferred to the Arrefter because the Debt in question falling in his Cedents Escheat he had taken the Gift of the Escheat bearing expresly all Goods the Rebel had or should acquire and this Debt being acquired after the Gift did accresce to him the Rebel not being yet Relaxed It was answered that though the stile of the Gift bear all Goods to be acquired yet that is always interpret such as happen to be acquired within year and day after the Horning It was answered for the Donatar that he oppones the Tenor of his Gift and if any limitation could be thereof it could only be of Sums to be acquired within a year after the Gift and not within a year after the Horning because sometimes Gifts are not taken within a year of the Horning The Lords found the Gift to extend to the Sum in question being acquired by the Rebel within a year after the Gift and that the general Clause of Goods to be acquired did extend no further then to Goods acquired within a year after the Gift Laird of Grubbet contra More Eodem die THe Barony of Lintoun belonging to Sir Iohn Ker of Litledean the Lands of Morbatle and Otterburn are parts thereof there is a piece of Land called Greenlaw lying in the borders of Morbatle and Otterburn and there is an Heretable Right of the Lands of Otterburn granted by Sir Iohn Ker to one Young and by that Young a subaltern Right to another Young bearing the Lands of Greenlaw per expressum both these Young's joyntly Dispone to Grubbet the Lands of Otterburn with the Pertinents comprehending the Lands of Raschbogs in the