Commission regarding [Alexander Lindsay], lord Spynie

In the parliament held at Edinburgh, 28 June 1633, regarding the signature given in and presented to our sovereign lord and estates of parliament by his highness's trusty cousin Alexander, lord Spynie, of the which signature the tenor follows word for word: Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament ordain a ratification and act to be made therein to, and in favour of, his highness's trusty cousin Alexander, lord Spynie, ratifying, approving and, for his highness and his successors, perpetually confirming the letters patent and gift made and granted by his majesty to him under his highness's great seal of the date 2 June 1626, whereby, for the reasonable causes therein contained, our said sovereign lord made, constituted and ordained the said Alexander, lord Spynie, during all the days of his lifetime, general muster-master and colonel of all and sundry troops and trained bonds of the whole kingdom of Scotland and whole isles adjacent and pertaining thereto, with ample powers and privileges in manner contained therein, as the same letters of gift and patent of the date foresaid in themselves at more length bears in all and sundry the heads, points, clauses, articles, circumstances and conditions contained therein, and after the forms and tenors thereof in all points. And our said sovereign lord and estates of parliament will and grant and, for his highness and his successors, perpetually decree and ordain that the generality of this present ratification is, nor shall in any way be, hurtful nor prejudicial hereunto in any sort, but the same shall be as effectual and sufficient as if the whole tenor of the said letters patent and gift were all at length inserted in the said ratification, with the which our said sovereign lord and estates of parliament have dispensed and by this commission dispense for ever. And because his majesty and estates understand assuredly that the attendance and discharge of the said office and place will require great pains and charges, through which his majesty resolved to have gratified the said Alexander, lord Spynie with some rent answerable to his charges and expenses, and his majesty being uncertain by himself to modify any certain or proportional rent thereof at the present, not understanding the travails and expenses he may sustain in perfect discharging of the said office and place, therefore our said sovereign lord, with advice of the three estates of parliament, has found it expedient that the managing of the business and modification of the rent answerable to the charge shall be referred to the lords of his highness's secret council of Scotland, who by their care may better inform themselves of the estate of that matter than his majesty can do upon such sudden manner now at his being within this realm, having so many weighty concerns and so short time to abide here. In respect whereof, our said sovereign lord, with advice of the said estates of parliament, has committed and herby commits to the said lords of his majesty's said secret council of Scotland the ordering of that business, and gives and commits to them full power and commission to set down and modify such sums of money yearly to be paid to the said Alexander, lord Spynie during his lifetime as they shall think expedient, and to appoint and impose the same to be paid either out of his majesty's rents or by such persons as after trial they shall think expedient; and also with power to them to set down such articles and injunctions as they shall think expedient for advancement of that service and generally all and sundry other things in the premises to do that his majesty, with advice of the said estates of parliament, might presently do. And also, with power to the said lords of secret council to direct out warrants for compelling of the sheriffs of the shires, stewarts of the stewartries, bailies of the bailiaries and regalities, provost and bailies of burghs and all other judges and ministers of his highness's laws, as well to burgh as land, for performance of such articles as shall be set down by the said lords of secret council relating thereto, and for that effect to direct out letters of horning and others in the appropriate form, whereupon this commission and act to be made hereupon shall be as sufficient a warrant as if the same had been done and passed in this present parliament; and ordains the said ratification and act to be completed in the best form. Given at Holyroodhouse, the [...] day of June 1633. Our said sovereign lord and estates of parliament above-written having read, seen and considered the foresaid signature and commission contained therein and whole contents thereof, and the same being voted in parliament, have given and granted and, by the tenor hereof, give and grant full power and commission to the lords of his majesty's privy council, after consideration of the foresaid signature and whole contents thereof, to decree and determine relating thereto as they shall think fit and expedient, they always causing warn and call before them some commissioners for each estate to treat and reason in the particulars above-written contained in the said signature before they make any final determination or conclusion therein.

  1. NAS, PA2/21, f.44v-45r. Back