[1705/6/32]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Her majesty's commission to James [Douglas], duke of Queensberry, to be lord privy seal, 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 the long-standing loyalty and notable talents of our most loyal and well-beloved kinsman and councillor James, duke of Queensberry, whereby he is in every way fitted loyally to exercise the appointment, place and office of lord privy seal; know therefore that we have made, named, constituted and appointed, and by the tenor of this commission do make, name, constitute and appoint this same James, duke of Queensberry, (during our good pleasure only),† privy seal of our ancient kingdom of Scotland, by giving, granting and assigning to him the appointment and office of lord privy seal aforesaid, with place and precedence next to and immediately after the president of† said privy council, together with every honour, dignity, privilege, fee, casual profit, profit and payment whatsoever relating thereto, which he is to enjoy and take pleasure in as fully and freely in every respect and condition as any of his predecessors in the said appointment and office possessed and enjoyed at any time in the past; with power to the said James, duke of Queensberry to name and constitute deputes for the wardship of the said privy seal, and to create clerks and secretaries to the said seal, (for whom he will be responsible), and in general to use and exercise each and every thing pertaining to the privilege and liberty of the said office in earlier times, or which shall be recognised in future as pertaining thereto. We regard as permanent and binding everything the said James, duke of Queensberry may legally do in the execution of the said appointment, place and office. In witness whereof, we have ordered that our great seal be appended to this commission. At our palace of Windsor Castle, 18 June in the year of our Lord 1705, and in the fourth year of our reign. Signed by the hand manual of our supreme lady the queen.
Written to the great seal and registered 24 July 1705. Signed thus: Charles Kerr. Sealed at Edinburgh, 24 July 1705. Signed: Alexander Ogilvie.
Thereafter, the said duke of Queensberry swore the oath of allegiance, subscribed the same with the assurance and swore the oath of parliament.