[1705/6/7]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Her majesty's gift and commission in favour of William [Johnston], marquis of Annandale, to be one of the principal secretaries of state, 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, considering that the appointment and office of one of our principal secretaries of state of our ancient kingdom of Scotland is now vacant through the promotion of our most loyal and well-beloved kinsman and councillor James, earl of Seafield to the office of high chancellor of our foresaid kingdom, and that nothing can be more conducive to the welfare of our service and our kingdoms than the appointment of men of proven loyalty and integrity as principal ministers of the crown, especially our secretaries of state, in whom we shall be able to have particular trust regarding our authority and also the welfare of our subjects, and we are abundantly satisfied of the brilliant talents, probity and other very fine abilities of our most loyal and well-beloved kinsman and councillor William, marquis of Annandale, who is in every way fitted for the appointment and office of one our principal secretaries of state; therefore, for these and many other reasons and considerations of great importance, know that we have named, constituted and appointed, and by the tenor of this commission do name, constitute and appoint this same William, marquis of Annandale one of our two principal secretaries of state for the said kingdom of Scotland, during our pleasure only, to be co-principal and conjoint with our most loyal and well-beloved kinsman and councillor John [Ker], earl of Roxburghe, the other secretary of state for our foresaid kingdom, by giving and granting, as by the tenor of this commission we do give and grant the foresaid William, marquis of Annandale, the place, office and appointment of one of our two conjoint secretaries of state foresaid, with a just and equal half of all honoraria, emoluments, benefits, casual profits, dignities and immunities which pertained to the said appointment and office in earlier times, or could pertain and relate thereto, together with an annual pension of £1,000 sterling according to the donation of the same granted to him by us and dated with this commission, with full power to use and exercise the said appointment and office during the foresaid period, and especially to write, sign and offer us all donations, cautions and documents requiring our royal signature, and to raise and receive a just and equal half of all honoraria, payments and casual profits relating thereto, and to have equal power and privilege with the said John, earl of Roxburghe, our other secretary of state for the said kingdom, to receive, interpose and preserve all signets of the said kingdom, and to apply an equal half of the benefits and emoluments stemming therefrom to his own private uses and welfare; and power to constitute deputes and keepers of our said signets, and to admit and receive all clerks and secretaries to our signet, with all sheriff clerks and clerks of the peace in the said kingdom, and by that authority to grant them commissions. They may enjoy and take pleasure in these said appointments for life, and he may receive and apply to his own private uses one half of the fees and profits stemming from the admission of the said clerks as often as the said appointments are vacant for whatever reason. In witness whereof, we have ordered that our great seal be appended to this commission. At our palace of St James's, 9 March in the year of our Lord 1705, 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 16 March 1705. Signed thus: Charles Kerr. Sealed at Edinburgh, 16 March 1705, in absence of Sir Alexander Ogilvie of Forglen. Signed: John Stewart, depute.