Without the archives of the Seafield family this work would not have been possible. Material from the Seafield Muniments was made available by kind permission of The Right Honourable The Earl of Seafield.
I also owe a debt of gratitude to the University of Edinburgh where I studied for my PhD upon which this book is based. My ability to undertake this research was only thanks to the generous financial support of the University of Edinburgh Law School, who kindly saw fit to support this project through the award of a scholarship in 2016.
Particular thanks must go to my supervisors, Professor John Cairns and Dr Alasdair Raffe, who have been invaluable with their advice and expertise on Scottish history. Both have been a constant source of support and encouragement throughout my research.