The family of Burnett of Leys, with collateral - Electric Scotland

240
THE FAMILY OF BURNETT OF LEYS.
whatever past or future time has done or by that right could do or shall have
been able to do : And lest any question should arise in the time within which the
said Sir Thomas Burnet and his aforesaid [heirs male and assigns] shall have
been able as Sheriffs and Justiciars to sit and enquire into criminal causes, and to
determine the same after crimes committed, we, for ourselves and our successors,
with the advice and consent aforesaid by honour of this our present charter, will,
grant and declare that it shall be lawful and legal for them to summon, prosecute,
attach and arrest all offenders whatever, being criminals within the said boundaries
and lands, for all kinds of crimes by them committed, to take cognizance thereof,
to judge and determine them at any time within the space of six months after the
commission of the said crimes, during which period
of time it shall be lawful
alone to the said Sir Thomas Burnet and his [heirs male and assigns] aforesaid,
and to no other person, to investigate, take cognizance of, judge, and determine
concerning the same crimes, Excluding during that period of time our Lieutenant
and all other persons whomsoever from the exercise of any manner of judgment
or jurisdiction in that behalf [and] from attachment, arrest, summons, vouching
or convention of the said persons criminally offending or perpetrating crimes in
any way whatever : Provided only that if by reason of the said period
of six
months having elapsed the said crimes and criminal offenders shall not have been
examined or adjudged by the said Sir Thomas Burnet and his [heirs male and
assigns] aforesaid, in that case it shall be lawful forthwith to our said Lieutenant
and his heirs and assigns for the time being our Lieutenants and their deputies, to
summon, attach, arrest, call to vouch, and cite the same guilty persons, and to
as it shall
adjudge and take cognizance of the same crimes by them perpetrated,
unto them With power also to the said Sir Thomas
appear most expedient :
Burnet and his [heirs male and assigns] aforesaid, notwithstanding the above-
written provisions, at all times after the expiry of the said period of six months, in
the absence of the said Sir William Alexander and his heirs and assigns being
our Lieutenants, or their deputies, of adjudging, taking cognizance of, and
determining all criminal causes, and of punishing all persons criminally offending
within the said boundaries, according to their good pleasure ;
And in like manner,
during their absence from the said region, or within the period of six months or
from thenceforth, at all times whatsoever, of remitting and pardoning the same
crimes and the same persons criminally offending within the said boundaries and
lands, for such reasonable causes and considerations as shall appear unto them to
be expedient : And further, with power to the said Sir Thomas Burnet and his
[heirs male and assigns] aforesaid of sitting, adjudging and taking cognizance of
all crimes and criminal offenders within the said boundaries, And also of
punishing, remitting or condoning the same crimes and persons criminally