[1704/7/5]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Her majesty's gift and commission in favour of Mr James Johnston to be clerk register was read and ordered to be recorded, whereof the tenor follows.
Anne, by the grace of God, queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and defender of the faith, to all honest men to whom our present letters shall have come, greetings. In as much as we are abundantly satisfied not only of the loyalty and outstanding talents and abilities, but also of the genuine integrity of our most loyal and well-beloved James Johnston, recently our secretary of state for our ancient kingdom of Scotland, and especially that he is in every way fitted to exercise the appointment and office of clerk of our registers and rolls in our said kingdom; know therefore that we have named, constituted and appointed, and by this commission do name, constitute and appoint the said James Johnston, during the period of our pleasure only, clerk of our registers and rolls of our council and session and treasury, and of all commissions, parliaments and meetings of the estates in our said kingdom. We give, grant and entrust him with this same appointment and office during the foresaid period, with every honour, dignity, privilege, profit, immunity and casual profit whatsoever pertaining thereto, or which may be considered to pertain thereto by right and practice of the said kingdom, together with full and absolute power and authority during the period of our pleasure as aforesaid to choose and constitute one or more substitute clerks or deputes who will hold office with their emoluments for the whole of their lifetimes respectively. Finally, we ordain and we grant him authority to do each and every thing relating to the said office in accordance with the law and practice of this our kingdom, or which anyone else in the said office did in times past. In witness whereof, we have ordered that our great seal be appended to this commission. At our palace of Windsor, 2 June in the year of our Lord 1704, and in the third year of our reign. Signed by the hand manual of our supreme lady the queen.
Written to the great seal and registered 7 June 1704. Signed thus, Charles Kerr. Sealed at Edinburgh, 8 June 1704, by special warrant until the seal is renewed. Signed thus: Alexander Ogilvie.
Thereafter the said lord register took the oath of allegiance and subscribed the same with the assurance and took the oath of parliament.