Sir Patrick Home [of Renton] and Sir John Swinton [of that ilk] desire to be admitted commissioners for the shire Berwick since the controversy anent their election was agreed. There was a petition read for Simon Marjoribanks of Dedrigs and several freeholders of that shire craving they might not be received because such agreements could not prejudge the privilege of the freeholders who had a right to choose a new commissioner when their votes came to be found equal in any election or that any commission became void as had happened in this case by [George Baillie], laird of Jerviswood's accepting another commission for the shire of Lanark, though he had more votes than both these commissioners at his election for the shire of Berwick; upon advising of which petition, the vote being stated admit both these commissioners or not, it carried that both should be admitted and they took the oath of allegiance and oath of parliament and subscribed the allegiance and assurance.
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A petition by Mr Roger Hepburn craving he might be allowed to take the oath of allegiance and assurance for exercising his employment as an advocate granted, and he allowed to swear and subscribe the same before the lords of session.
A petition for the disbanded officers relating to their arrears and subsistence, read and appointed to be brought in and considered the first sitting of parliament next week.
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The former day's debate was resumed.
Resolved that the parliament will proceed to make such acts as are necessary or fit for securing our religion, liberty and trade before any act for supply or any other business whatsoever.
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The draft of an act for security of the kingdom was read, and the drafts of the several acts following were presented and read namely: an act ratifying the first act of the first session of the last parliament and of new enacting and declaring that all acts passed in the several sessions thereof be obeyed as laws; an act ordaining that, after the decease of her majesty and heirs of her body, all offices civil or military in this kingdom formerly conferred by our kings shall ever after be given by the parliament by way of ballot; an act declaring that after the death of her present majesty and failing heirs of her body no person coming to the crown of Scotland, being at the same time king or queen of England, shall, as king or queen of Scotland, have power to make peace or war without consent of parliament; an act allowing the importation of all sorts of wines and other foreign liquors; and an act for securing the true Protestant religion and presbyterian government, all which were ordered to lie on the table.