The Honours of Scotland

Charters Issued by the King

Royal charters, such as the ones below, can give us a glimpse into the sometimes-fraught relationships between the king and his lords. Royal favour was highly valued, not only for the political advantages but also for the lands that often came with it. Having a good relationship with the king benefited lords by giving them special privileges over the land they received, such as the criminal jurisdiction over baronies, as was the case with John Menzies, c.1451. The king also benefitted from this system, using titles and land grants to reward those who served him, or withholding or revoking them to punish those who did not. 

XS5 MS A001 D-1

Royal charter by James II of Scotland to John Menzies conferring the barony of Wemyss. Scotland, 6 June 1451. In Latin. Ink on parchment. University of Guelph, Archival and Special Collections (XS5 MS A001 D-1).

Through this 1451 charter, King James II confirmed the lands, titles, and offices of John Menzies of Rawar, uniting them under a single new barony—the barony of Wemyss—to be held by John and his descendants in perpetuity. This charter represents James II’s prerogative of confirming his lords’ lands and titles, as well as reorganizing them.

Baronies in medieval Scotland differed from their English counterparts, since they were not restricted to a handful of powerful lords and did not guarantee said lords a place in Parliament. The hundreds of Scottish baronies in the Late Middle Ages were held by all ranks of nobles, from local lords to great earls. Lands held “in free barony”—like the one confirmed in this charter—granted barons some criminal jurisdiction over their lands, making them an important part of the political and judicial systems of medieval Scotland.

XS1 MS A001 - Doc 12

Charter in Latin (XS1 MS A001 - Doc 12)

This charter, issued by king James III (1460-1488) in 1463, does not have a transcription or translation and is one of the charters currently being studied by students at the University of Guelph. It refers to a grant that involves John Stewart, the first Earl of Atholl (1440-1512), a half-brother of King James II, and Sir John Menzies of Weem (1397-1467). In 1451, Sir John Menzies was granted the Barony of Weem, and allowed to build a parish church. The church, later known as the Old Kirk of Weem, became the mausoleum of the prominent members of the Menzies family.

In 1463, the Earl of Atholl and Sir John Menzies were embroiled in a dispute over the church, obliging Menzies to get a confirmation of the original charter outlining his rights, issued under the Great Seal of Scotland. It is possible that this charter, dated the same year, relates to these events. However, more transcription work is needed to confirm this hypothesis. Let us know if you would like to help!