[Opening of session; protests over precedency]

Prayers said.

Her majesty's commission to James [Douglas], duke of Queensberry for representing her royal person in this session of parliament was read by the lord clerk register and ordered to be recorded.

The rolls called.

[Archibald Douglas], earl of Forfar protested, in name of [Archibald Douglas], marquis of Douglas, that the calling of any others in the rolls of parliament before him may not prejudice him of his first vote in parliament.

The earl of Forfar protested also, in name of [John Gordon], earl of Sutherland, against the calling of any earls before him in the rolls of parliament.

[John Hay], earl of Erroll protested against the calling of any earls before him.

[William Keith], earl Marischal protested against the calling of any earls before him.

[John Erskine], earl of Mar protested against the calling of any earls before him.

[James Douglas], earl of Morton protested against the calling of any earls before him.

[Alexander Montgomery], earl of Eglinton protested against the calling of [John Cunningham], earl of Glencairn before him.

[James Ogilvy], earl of Findlater protested against the calling of [James Ogilvy], earl of Airlie before him.

[David Leslie/Melville], earl of Leven protested against the calling of [James Livingstone], earl of Callander before him.

[Roderick MacKenzie of Prestonhall], lord justice clerk, protested, in name of [Amelia Fraser], lady Lovat, against the calling of any lord before [Alexander MacKenzie], lord Lovat.

[John Haldane], laird of Gleneagles protested against the ranking of any shires in the rolls of parliament before the shire of Perth.

[Archibald Douglas], laird of Cavers protested against the calling of any other of the barons representing the shire of Roxburgh before him, who is the most ancient baron, and against the lord clerk register and lord lyon for altering the order of their commission wherein he is first returned.

[Sir William Anstruther of] Anstruther for the shire of Fife protested against the ranking of any other shire in the rolls of parliament before the shire of Fife.

[Major Henry Balfour], laird of Dunbog protested against calling [David Beaton], laird of Balfour before him, who is son to an ancient lord.

Hugh Montgomery [of Busbie], provost of Glasgow, protested that the order of the rolls that is now called might not prejudice the rank of the burgh of Glasgow.

Sir John Erskine of Alva protested that the calling of him as burgess of the burgh of Burntisland might not prejudice him of his choice to represent the shire of Clackmannan if his commission from that shire shall be sustained and preferred.

[James Spittall], laird of Leuchat for the burgh of Inverkeithing protested against the calling of any other burgh before Inverkeithing.

  1. All minutes begin with the heading 'Minutes of the proceedings of parliament'. NAS. PA3/7, Printed minutes No.1, 1-3 or NAS. PA6/36, 11, f.1-1v. Another identical manuscript copy at NAS. PA6/36, 12. Back
  2. NAS. PA6/36, 11, on rear: '11 May, read and approved'. Back
  3. The following declaration follows all 1703 printed minutes: 'By order of his grace James [Douglas], duke of Queensberry, her majesty's high commissioner, and the estates of parliament, Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh, one of the senators of the college of justice, appoints the heirs and successors of Andrew Anderson, her majesty's printer, to print these minutes of the proceedings in parliament, and that no other presume to print the same. James Murray, Edinburgh, printed by the heirs and successors of Andrew Anderson, printer to the queen's most excellent majesty, 1703'. Back
[Order of business; parliament fenced; commissions read and recorded]

Upon calling the rolls, there being several questions moved about double elections and objections against elections from some shires and burghs, it was agreed to proceed to constitute the house and to qualify the uncontroverted members and then to resume the consideration of these questions before the voting of any other business.

After calling of the rolls, the court of parliament was fenced in the usual form by the lyon king at arms, the words thereof being read by the lord clerk register, whereupon [David Boyle], lord Boyle, lord treasurer depute, took instruments in absence of her majesty's advocate.

Her majesty's gift and commission in favour of James [Ogilvy], earl of Seafield to be lord high chancellor read and ordered to be recorded.

Her majesty's gift and commission in favour of William [Johnston], marquis of Annandale to be president of her most honourable privy council read and ordered to be recorded.

Her majesty's gift and commission in favour of John [Murray], earl of Tullibardine to be lord privy seal read and ordered to be recorded.

Her majesty's gift and commission in favour of George [MacKenzie], viscount of Tarbat to be one of her principal secretaries of state for this kingdom, as also a letter from her majesty to my lord commissioner appointing the said viscount to have the seat and vote of secretary of state for this session of parliament, both read and ordered to be recorded.

Her majesty's gift and commission in favour of Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh to be lord clerk register read and ordered to be recorded.

Her majesty's gift and commission in favour of Mr Roderick MacKenzie of Prestonhall to be lord justice clerk read and ordered to be recorded.

  1. All minutes begin with the heading 'Minutes of the proceedings of parliament'. NAS. PA3/7, Printed minutes No.1, 1-3 or NAS. PA6/36, 11, f.1-1v. Another identical manuscript copy at NAS. PA6/36, 12. Back
  2. NAS. PA6/36, 11, on rear: '11 May, read and approved'. Back
  3. The following declaration follows all 1703 printed minutes: 'By order of his grace James [Douglas], duke of Queensberry, her majesty's high commissioner, and the estates of parliament, Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh, one of the senators of the college of justice, appoints the heirs and successors of Andrew Anderson, her majesty's printer, to print these minutes of the proceedings in parliament, and that no other presume to print the same. James Murray, Edinburgh, printed by the heirs and successors of Andrew Anderson, printer to the queen's most excellent majesty, 1703'. Back
[Oaths taken; queen's letter read; speeches made]

The lord chancellor took the oath of allegiance and subscribed the same with the assurance and then took the oath of parliament, all administered to his lordship by the lord clerk register; and the lord clerk register took the same oaths and subscribed the oath of allegiance with the assurance, administered to him by the lord chancellor. After which, all the other nobility, officers of state and commissioners from shires and burghs, five by five together in their order, took the oath of allegiance and oath of parliament and subscribed the allegiance and assurance.

Her majesty's letter to the parliament was read first by the lord clerk register and thereafter read again by one of the ordinary clerks.

The lord high commissioner made a speech to the parliament and the lord chancellor another, both which speeches, with her majesty's letter to the estates, were ordained to be printed.

  1. All minutes begin with the heading 'Minutes of the proceedings of parliament'. NAS. PA3/7, Printed minutes No.1, 1-3 or NAS. PA6/36, 11, f.1-1v. Another identical manuscript copy at NAS. PA6/36, 12. Back
  2. NAS. PA6/36, 11, on rear: '11 May, read and approved'. Back
  3. The following declaration follows all 1703 printed minutes: 'By order of his grace James [Douglas], duke of Queensberry, her majesty's high commissioner, and the estates of parliament, Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh, one of the senators of the college of justice, appoints the heirs and successors of Andrew Anderson, her majesty's printer, to print these minutes of the proceedings in parliament, and that no other presume to print the same. James Murray, Edinburgh, printed by the heirs and successors of Andrew Anderson, printer to the queen's most excellent majesty, 1703'. Back
[Draft act read; continuation]

Then the draft of an act for recognising and asserting her majesty's authority and her undoubted right and title to the imperial crown of this kingdom was presented by his grace [James Douglas], duke of Hamilton and read and ordained to be marked as read for the first time.

After which the lord chancellor, by order of the lord high commissioner, adjourned the parliament until Tuesday next at 10 o'clock.

[James Ogilvy, earl of] Seafield, chancellor, in the presence of the lords of parliament

  1. All minutes begin with the heading 'Minutes of the proceedings of parliament'. NAS. PA3/7, Printed minutes No.1, 1-3 or NAS. PA6/36, 11, f.1-1v. Another identical manuscript copy at NAS. PA6/36, 12. Back
  2. NAS. PA6/36, 11, on rear: '11 May, read and approved'. Back
  3. The following declaration follows all 1703 printed minutes: 'By order of his grace James [Douglas], duke of Queensberry, her majesty's high commissioner, and the estates of parliament, Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh, one of the senators of the college of justice, appoints the heirs and successors of Andrew Anderson, her majesty's printer, to print these minutes of the proceedings in parliament, and that no other presume to print the same. James Murray, Edinburgh, printed by the heirs and successors of Andrew Anderson, printer to the queen's most excellent majesty, 1703'. Back