The minutes of the last sederunt read.
The lords [Francis Sempill, lord] Sempill, [John Elphinstone, lord] Elphinstone, [William Forrester, lord] Forrester and [John Bellenden, lord] Bellenden, Sir John Houston of that ilk, [Mr John Stewart], laird of Blackhall, younger and Alexander Gordon of Garty, commissioners for shires, took the oath of allegiance and oath of parliament and subscribed the allegiance and assurance.
The controversy anent the commissions of Sir Robert Sinclair of Longformacus and Sir John Home of Blackadder, for the shire of Berwick, being passed from, they took the oath of allegiance and oath of parliament and subscribed the allegiance and assurance.
Mr Robert Stewart of Tillicoultry, having chosen to represent the shire of Bute, and Sir John Erskine of Alva to represent the burgh of Burntisland rather than to insist upon their controverted commissions for the shire of Clackmannan, both took the oath of allegiance and oath of parliament and subscribed the allegiance and assurance.
[1703/5/22]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
[Archibald Douglas], laird of Cavers, having insisted on his protestation against the lord register and the lord lyon for altering the order in the return of the election for the shire of Roxburgh observed in this and former elections, where the lairds of Cavers were chosen, the lord clerk register was ordained to search in the records of parliament how the lairds of Cavers, when formerly elected with knights baronet to represent that shire, were in use to be ranked in the rolls, and to report.
[1703/5/23]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The consideration of the controverted election for the shire of Haddington between Sir George Suttie [of Balgown] and [John Cockburn], laird of Ormiston, younger, was with consent of parties continued to the first sitting of parliament next week.
The consideration of the double elections for the shire Berwick continued with consent to the same day.
Moved that the objections made against the elections for the shire of Dumfries might be considered and, in regard neither the objectors nor any having their mandate were present to insist, the consideration thereof was let fall.
The consideration of the controverted elections for the shires of Ayr and Dunbarton continued and all parties appointed to produce their several writs for instructing or answering the respective objections at the first sitting of parliament next week, that the parliament might then determine, with certification if they produce not that no further time should be allowed for producing thereof.
The controverted election for the shire of Renfrew in favour of [Robert Pollok], laird of Pollok of that ilk and [James Hamilton], laird of Orbiston, younger, with the several objections against these freeholders who voted for either party being considered, the objection against Houston, elder of Johnstone, was sustained, there being nothing produced to instruct his freehold. Then the objection against the town of Paisley (that being a burgh of barony although infeft and in possession of a freehold, yet since no burgess could be delegated for that end, therefore the incorporation could have no vote in the election of barons) was considered, and the house, having acquiesced to sustain the vote, the objection was passed from by the party and allowed to be withdrawn. After which the objections against Semple of Cathcart and some others who had voted for Orbiston, younger, being sustained, the commission in favour of the laird of Pollok was preferred, and accordingly he took the oath of allegiance and oath of parliament and subscribed the allegiance and assurance.
The competing commissioners for the respective shires of Linlithgow and Orkney were ordained to produce and interchange such writs as they were to found upon in their several competitions, to be seen by either party concerned in order to the determining thereof the first sitting of parliament next week, with certification if they fail that no further time should be allowed them etc.
James Sinclair of Stemster, one of the commissioners for the shire of Caithness, was ordained to instruct his having right to vote in the election of commissioners to the parliament from that shire against the same day, with the like certification.
[1703/5/24]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The protestation against the election of [Robert Douglas], laird of Strathenry for the shire of Fife and grounds thereof being considered, his election was found null as being made without the previous intimation at the head burgh of the shire required by law, and accordingly his name was ordained to be left out of the roll, and a warrant granted to the freeholders of that shire to meet for a new election on Tuesday 25th of this month in manner following:
Her majesty's high commissioner and the estates of parliament, considering that the commission formerly granted by the barons and freeholders of the shire of Fife to Robert Douglas of Strathenry for representing them in this parliament is now, by the parliament, declared null, have therefore granted and do hereby grant warrant and order to the sheriff principal of the said shire and his deputes to call and convene the barons and freeholders of the said shire together, at the usual place of their meeting, on 25 May instant, to the effect they may of new make choice of one to represent them with their other three commissioners in this present parliament, to which they are hereby empowered, and ordain intimation in the usual manner to be made hereof.
The competing commissioners from the burghs of Haddington, Kirkcaldy, Arbroath and Dornoch, ordained to inform anent their several cases and to produce their respective instructions, to be considered the first sitting of parliament next week, with certification that no further time shall be allowed for doing thereof.