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Prayers said, the rolls called.
[George MacKay], lord Reay and Mr John Pringle of Haining, commissioner for the shire of Selkirk in place of Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh, now lord register, took the oath of allegiance and oath of parliament and subscribed the allegiance and assurance.
The minutes of the last sederunt read.
The act for recognising her majesty's authority was touched with the sceptre by the lord high commissioner in the usual form.
[Charles Home], earl of Home presented the draft of an act and offer of a supply to her majesty for the ends therein contained.
[John Hay], marquis of Tweeddale presented an overture for a resolve of parliament that before all other business the parliament might proceed to make such conditions of government and regulations in the constitution of this kingdom to take place after the death of her majesty and the heirs of her body as shall be necessary for the preservation of our religion and liberty, both which papers were read in order as they were presented and ordered to lie on the table.
The consideration of the controverted elections for the shire of Haddington between Sir George Suttie [of Balgown] and [John Cockburn], laird of Ormiston, younger, was resumed, and the objection against Home of Gamelshiel who had voted for Sir George, that his retour did not bear his lands extended to the twenty merks of old extent mentioned therein as distinct from the feu duty in the reddendo, according to the act of parliament of 1681, was sustained. The objection against Cant of Dryburnford, another of those who voted for Sir George, was passed from, and the objection against Ogle of Poppilhall (that although his writs contain a ten pound land, yet he has not right to such a part thereof as corresponds to a forty shilling land within the shire of Haddington, with the answer to it, namely: that unless it was proven he was deprived thereof or that so much of his land lay in the shire of Berwick as leaves not such a proportion thereof in Haddingtonshire as corresponds to a forty shilling land, he ought still to have his vote), being considered, the party objected against was called and he affirming that he had still remaining within the shire of Haddington more of the ten pound land in the retour produced for him than corresponding to a forty shilling land, there was a joint probation allowed to either party anent Poppilhall's having still in his possession within the shire of Haddington a fifth part of the ten pound land contained in the retour produced according to the several proportions thereof lying in both shires, and diligence granted for that effect against the first sitting of the parliament next week, with certification that no further time should be allowed. Then the objection against [William] Hepburn of Beinstoun's vote, with the answer made thereto, being considered, after some reasoning thereupon, the vote was stated proceed to determine or remit to a new election, and it was carried proceed. After which the vote was again stated sustain the objection or not, and carried not.
A petition for [William Ross], lord Ross presented and ordained to be read the next sitting of parliament.
The lord chancellor, by order from the lord high commissioner, adjourned the parliament until Friday next at 10 o'clock.
[James Ogilvy, earl of] Seafield, chancellor, in the presence of the lords of parliament†