Hamilton manuscripts

Letters Patent of 3rd James I., 1605, to James Hamilton, Esa. vii
excepted) : To have and to hold to the said person or persons, their heirs and assigns, in fee simple or
fee tail, to be held of the said James Hamilton, and his heirs and assigns, by such so many the like
and as many services, customs, and rights as to the said James Hamilton, and his heirs and assigns,
shall seem fit or pleasing : And to the said person or persons, and every or either of them, We do give,
and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, we do grant license, authority, and power that
such person or persons the premises or any parcel thereof from the said James Hamilton, his heirs or
assigns, he and they may have power to receive and hold to them and their heirs, of any hereditary
estate, in fee simple, or fee tail, or otherwise : And also, to hold to them, and their heirs and assigns,
all manner of estates of free tenants, for term of life or lives, or otherwise, as to the said James Hamil-
ton, his heirs and assigns, shall seem expedient, the statute of Quia Emptorcs Terrarutn, or any other
statute, acts, ordinance, use, law, or custom, or any other cause, matter, or thing, to the contrary
thereof had, provided, used, or published, in any wise notwithstanding : Being unwilling that any or
either of such persons, or any of their heirs or assigns, or the aforesaid James Hamilton, or his heirs,
by reason of the premises by us, our heirs or successors, or by our justices, escheators, sheriffs, bailiffs,
or other officers, or ministers of us, our heirs or successors whomsoever, therefor in any manner
may be or might on any account be molested, aggrieved, vexed, or impeached.
And, further, of our more abundant and special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, with
the assent, and for the consideration aforesaid, for us, our heirs and successors, We give and grant to
the aforesaid James Hamilton, his heirs and assigns, that he, the aforesaid James Hamilton, his heirs
and assigns, may have and hold, and have power to have and hold, two several views of frank pledge,
or courts leet, and all things which to views of frank pledge and courts leet appertain, to be held be-
fore the seneschall, or seneschalls, according to the form of the statute in that case made and pro-
vided, and within the precinct of the territory or country of the Great Ards aforesaid : And, also, two
other views of frank pledge, or courts leet, and all things to views of frank pledge and courts leet
appertaining, to be held before the seneschall, or seneschalls, by the aforesaid James, his heirs or
assigns, or any of them to be nominated, according to the form of the statute in that case made and
provided, in or within the precincts or limits of the said territory or country of the Upper Clandeboy ;
and that the aforesaid James Hamilton, his heirs and assigns, being English or Scotch, or of the
blood of the English or Scotch, may further have, hold, and enjoy for ever, and every of them may
have, hold, and enjoy for ever, within the several territories of the Upper Clandeboy, and the Great
Ards, several courts to be held before their seneschall, or seneschalls, to enquire of all and singular
such matters and things, which in courts baron, within our said kingdom of Ireland, or within our
kingdom of England, ought, or are accustomed to be enquired of, and to hold pleas on every Thurs-
day, from three weeks to three weeks, of all manner of things, debts, covenants, trespasses, accounts,
detinues, and contracts, which in debt or damages do not exceed the sum of forty shillings sterling,
done, or arising, in every the hundreds, baronies, manors, places, towns, villages, or boroughs, or in,
or within the hundreds, baronies, manors, places, towns, townlands, or boroughs, in, or within the
aforesaid territories, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, by these presents before granted, or in,
or within any part or parcel thereof, or within such limits or bounds as the aforesaid James
Hamilton, his heirs or assigns, within the premises by their deeds have assigned and declared, and all
profits, amerciaments, issues, forfeitures, perquisites, and commodities, to those courts coming, grow-
ing, or arising, without any account to us, our heirs or successors, to be rendered or made ; and also
all, and all manner of things which to a hundred appertain, in any part of the premises, and also courts
and profits of the hundred aforesaid, and all things which to a court hundred appertain, or ought to
appertain, without any molestation, disturbance, or inquietude of us, our heirs or successors, or of the
justices, escheators, sheriffs, bailiffs, officers, or ministers of us, our heirs or successors, for ever.
And, further, of our more ample special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, with the
assent aforesaid, for us, our heirs and successors, We do give and grant to the aforesaid James Hamil-
ton, his heirs and assigns, that he the aforesaid James Hamilton, his heirs and assigns, and all people
resident or not resident in or within the aforesaid countries, territories, lands, tenements, and heredi-
taments whatsoever, may be free, acquitted, released, and exonerated for ever, of and from all, and all
manner of rents, exactions, and Irish customs whatsoever, called cess, bonnoght, coshery, and the like
customs, and which were heretofore used, taxed, issued, imposed, or assessed, or might, or happened
so to be, except the rents and services above by these presents reserved, and general hostings, for the
defence or keeping of the peace in the aforesaid countries, territories, and tenements.
c