III.

ROBERT ARBUTHNOT OF THAT ILK AND MARIONE SCRYMGOUR, ASSOCIAT TO THE FRATERNETIE OF ST. JHONE OF JERUSALEM, CONTEININGE ABSOLUTIONE FRE ALL THER SINIS. Deuotis in Christo sibi dilectis, nos frater Willelmus Knollis miles preceptor sancte domus beati Johannis in Jerusalem, Salutem et augmentationem [ ] celestium gratiarum, ex ingentibus vestrarum deuocionum affectibus quos ad nostram ordinem antedictum piis intencionibus geritis, et caritatis operibus, [ ] vt quod nos temporaliter retribuere non valemus in terris, saltem oracionum suffragiis compensemus in celis. Hinc est, quod vos in filium et filiam suscipiendo spirituales, vos Robertum Arbuthnot et Mariotam Scrymgeour in fratrem et sororem tocius ordinis. antedicti aggregamus, vigore cuius fraternitatis eritis absoluti per confessorem ydoneum de omnibus vestris [ ] contritis et oblitis per tres

dies solempnes anni, viz. die Cene Domini, die apostolorum Petri et Pauli et die assumpcionis beate Marie Virginis, et in articulo mortis, tocies quocies eritis constituti, cum multis aliis priuilegiis quae causa brevitatis in presenti scripto imponere non possumus. In cuius rei testimonium sigillum officii nostri presentibus est affixum.

FORMA ABSOLUCIONIS IN VITA ET IN MORTIS ARTICULO, MISERICORditer.

Dominus noster Jhesus Christus qui dedit potestatem ligandi atque soluendi, ipse te absoluat, et ego te absoluo, auctoritate apostolorum Petri et Pauli et tocius matris ecclesie, atque virtute istius priuilegii papalis in quantum claues ecclesie se extendunt in hac parte. Et sitis absoluti ante tribunali Domini nostri Jhesu Christi, et habeatis vitam eternam in secula seculorum.

IV.

BISCHOP OF CATHNES, THAN BEING COMPTROLLAR OR THESAURER, ACQUITANCE OF ANE HUNDRETH MERKIS, FOR COMPOSITIONE, BE JAMES ARBUTHNOT, IN PART OF PAYMENT OF HIS NEW INFEFTMENT. 17TH MAY, 1512.

We, Andro, bischope of Caithnes, Comendatar of Kelso and Fern, and thesourar to our Souerane Lord, grants ws to have ressauit be the

handis of Master James Wischart of Pettarowe, the sovme of ane hundreth merkis vsuale money off Scotland, in the name and behalfe of James Arbuthnot of that Ilk, in part of payment of ane composicione for ane new infeftment, maid be our Souerane Lord to the said James, of the Barony of Arbuthnot. Off the quhilk sovme of ane hundreth merkis, in our saide Souerane Lordis name, we hald ws wele content and pait, and the saidis James Arbuthnot, his airis, executoris, and assignais thairof dischargis and quitclamis for euir. In vitnes hereof, we have subscriuit this our acquittance with our hand, at Linlytgow, the xxii day of Maii, the yere of God jm. ve and twelff yeris.

ANDREAS, Episcopus Cathanensis Thesaurarius.

V.

JAMES ARBUTHNOT OF THAT ILK, HIS LYCENCE TO PAS IN PILGRIMAGE TO SANCT JOHNE IN AMYANCE. 23D NOVEMBER, 1520.

James, be the grace of God king of Scottis, To all and sindry, our justice chawmerlenis, sheriffis, prowestis, baillies of burrowis, and all otheris, our officiaris and ministeris of oure law, spirituall and temporall, liegis and subdittis quhame it efferis, quhais knawledge thir owr letres sall cum, greting, Wit ye, that forsamekle as our louit, James Arbuthnot of that Ilk, is, of our beneuolence and licence speciall, quhilkis we gif to him, to pass in his pilgrimage to Sanct Johnne of Amiens, in the realme of Fraunce, and othir places beyond sey, in his pilgrimage and erandis he has thair ado, We haue thairfor takin wnder our fermm pece, speciall protectioune, manteinance, suple, defence, and sauf guard, the said James Arbuthnot of that Ilk, and all and sindry his landis, rentis, possessionis, castellis, fortalicis, strenthis, howsis, tenementis, bigingis, takkis, malingis, stedingis, stoyr placis, grangis, woddis, bowis, fischingis, cornis, cattel, baillies, officiaris, proper tenentis, familiar seruandis, factoris, procuratoris, and intromettoris; and all and sindry thair gudis, movable and vnmovable, quhatsumeuir. Attowr, we haue respit, and be thir our letres, speceally resputtis, all and sindry actionis, causis, pleyis and querrellis, movit or to be mowit, tuiching and concerning the said James Arbuthnot of that Ilk, his bailleis,

officiaris, proper tenentis, familiar seruandis, factouris, procuratouris, and intromettouris, to cess and rest fra the day of the dait of thir presentis to the day of his returning agane, and fourty dais thairefter folovand; and that he and thai salbe in the meyn tym fre and exempt, quhame, be the tenor of thir presentis, we frelie exeeme fra all compering to our justice airis, chawmerlane airis, sheriff courtis, and utheris, and fra all pleyis, for quhatsumeuer causis or actionis bigane, vnto his returning agane in Scotland, and xl dais thairefter, Quharefore, we charge straitlie and command yow all and sindry, our justice, chawmerlenis, sheriffis, and prowestis, baillies of burrowis, and all other oure officiaris and ministeris of our realm, spirituall and temporall, liegis and subdittis quhatsumeuer, [that] nane of yow tak uponn hand to wex, inquiet, perturb, or ony way, cannonlie or ciuilie, molest the said James, his baillies, officiaris, proper tenentis, familiar seruandis, factouris, procuratoris, or intromettouris, attour thir oure letres of licence, protectioune, respitt, and exemptioune, wnder all the hiest pane, charge, and offence that ye and ilk ane of yow may commit and incur agane our maieste in that part, dischargeing yow and ilkane of yow of your office in that part be thir presentis. Gevin onder our pryue seill, at Edinburgh, the xxiii day of Nouember, the yer of [God] jm. ve. and twenty yeris, and of our regine the aucht yer.

A. LYGAIT.

JA. CANCELLARIUS.

ALR. ERL OF HUNTLE.

ERL OF ARGYL.

G. BYSCHOP of Aberdeen.

VI.

DISPENSATION BY JAMES V. FOR SERVING ROBERT ARBUTHNOT OF THAT ILK AIR TO HIS FATHER, JAMES, NOCHTWITHSTANDING OF HIS MINORITE. 12TH FEBRUARY, 1527.

James, be the graice of God king of Scottis, To our Shireff of Kincardyn and his deputtis, greting, Wit ye ws, of our speciall fauor and kingly power to have dispensit, and be thir our letres speciallie dispenssis, with our louit, Robert Arbuthnot of that Ilk, sone and air of vmquhile James Arbuth

not of that Ilk, vpon his minorite and less aige, quhairin he is now constitute, to the effect that he may now in his less aige be enterit, be breuis of inquest of our chapell, to all and haile his landis and barony of Arbuthnot, wyth the pertinentis, lyand within our sheriffdome of Kincardyne, syklyke, and als lauchfullie be vertew of this our dispensacioun, as and he wer at his lauchfull aige of xxi yeris complete, resseruand to ws and to thame that hes the warde of ws, all and haile the profittis and dewiteis pertenyng to ws, during all and haile the tyme and space of the said ward, It is our will heirfor, and we charge yow, that incontinent thir our letres sene, ye mak the breif or breuis of inquest of our chapell rasit, or to be raisit be the said Robert, to be lauchfullie proclamit and dewlie servit for his entre to his saidis landis and barony; siclyke, and als full be vertew of this our dispensatioune anent that poynt of his aige, as and he wer of xxi yeiris complete, nochtwythstanding that he is yit of less aige. Anent the quhilk we haue dispensit wyth thim, as said is; and dispenssis inlykwyss anent that poynt of his age with you and the inquest that passis vpone the serving of the said breif be thir our letres, sa that ye nor thai sall nocht be accusit nor incur ony skaith thairthrow in tyme cumyng. Gevin onder our signet, and subscriuit with our hand at Abirdene, the tuelft day of Februare, and of our regnne the xv yeir.

VII.

JAMES R.

LETTER, JAMES DUKE OF CHATELHERAULT, TO THE LAIRD

OF ARBUTHNOT.

GUBERNATOR.

Traist Freynde, eftir hartlie commendatioune, we ar suirlie aduertist that thair is ane army of Inglande makand reddy, quhilk intendis schortlie to invaid this realme, and cum in the inwart partis thairof, to byrne, hery, and distroy the Quenis leiges; and for resisting of thaim, and stopping of thair crowell intentioune, we purpoiss to pas fordwart ourself, quhairfore it is thocht expedient that letres be direct generalie throw all this realme, to conuene all barones, landitmen, and substantious yemen men, to be in Edinburgh, the xiii day of Apprile nixt to cum. Prayand yow heirfore effec

tuslie, that ye with your freinds and substantious commonis keip the said day, with xl days wictualis, conforme to the proclamationis, as ye lufe the weill and libertie of this realme, and will schaw your gud seruice and reddynes in that behaf, and Almychty God haif you in his keiping. At Edinburght, the xiii day of Merche, 1549.

Your gvd Frende,

JAMES. G.

To our traist freynd the Laird of Arbuthnot.

VIII.

JAMES, EARL OF MURRAY, TO THE LAIRD OF ARBUTHNOT.

Traist Freind, eftir oure maist hertlie commendationes, now, as is nocht vnknawin to yow, approches the tyme of the Parliament, quhairin diuers materis ar to be intreatit to the glory of God, the promoting of the king oure lordis authoritie and seruice, and the publict quietness and commoditie of this his realme. At quhilk Parliament it is convenient that all nobill men and gentilmen quha hes declairit thame obedient to his hienes and his authoritie, be present, that be thair presence and avyse materis may the bettir and mair substantiouslie proceed. Quhairfoir we pray you effectuislie, as ane of this nowmer, that ye prepare and address your self, accumpanyit with your honest freindis and servandis, in your maist substantious maner, to be in Edinburght, the xiii day of August nixtocum, providit to remane quhill the end of the said Parliament, to the effect aboue specifeit, as ye will declair your gude will and effectioun to our souerane, his authorite, and seruice, and do ws maist thankfull and speciall plesour. Sa we comit yow to God. to God. At Edinburgh, the xiii day of Julii, 1568. Your gude Freind,

To our truist freind the Lard of Arbuthnot.

JAMES, Regent.