[A1641/7/14]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
To the right honourable the lords and others of the committee at Edinburgh,
Right honourable,
Upon 17 [July 1641] we received yours desiring the removal of the incendiaries, which we presented to his majesty, to which his majesty returned this answer: first, as concerning [John Stewart], earl of Traquair, his majesty declares upon his trust and credit that he never had any communication with him since his removal from court, neither had his majesty any commission from him, but only concerning his submission sent to the parliament, that it might be so formed as would make it most acceptable to the parliament and concerning other two particular signatures, and now his majesty will advertise him that he may retire towards Scotland and at a greater distance from court.† As for Sir John Hay [of Bara] and Sir Robert Spottiswood [of Dunipace], his majesty declares it is long since they took their leave of him, but they are forced to stay through want of money, and his majesty has given them advertisement that they come no more to court. As for Doctor [Walter] Balcanquall, his majesty declares he will come to Scotland, but gave no other answer.
We desired of before that your lordships would be pleased to give us timeous advertisement how you were satisfied with the treaty, that so the same might have been the more timeously presented to the parliament, but it would appear that your lordships resolve to delay until [John Campbell], lord Loudoun's return.
We perceive by a letter from [Charles Seton], earl of Dunfermline and Lord Loudoun direct to his majesty that your lordships are not resolved to prorogue the parliament, but to sit still until 17 August and prepare business for the parliament without making any acts unless some occasion occur which the parliament shall find to concern the public good of the kingdom and present necessity thereof. This conditional exception presupposes a possibility of doing such acts, which truly may disorder a fair game. His majesty protests very frequently to accommodate all matters according to our hearty desire, but declares that if any such acts shall now be made he will hold the same as the greatest injury that ever has been done to him, being in such fair terms as we are now into, and will protest against the same, for what we did formerly was through necessity and in the times of mistake. We are confident your lordships will be very tender in this point, and do humbly entreat you to send us some letter under your hands relating thereto whereby his majesty's mind may be put to peace and quietness.
As your lordships have delayed the proceedings of your parliament to 17 August for his majesty's coming down, so do we conceive it necessary that your lordships would write a new letter to his majesty to keep him in mind of his coming down. Not that we do think his majesty in any way remiss therein (for never one was more earnest on a journey), but lest if the English do not get their own business ended again that time, they may possibly labour to divert his majesty. Wherefore the invitation will be very necessary, which is much wished and expected by,
Your lordships' affectionate friends and servants, [John Leslie, earl of] Rothes, London, 21 July 1641†
28 July 1641
Produced by [Charles Seton], earl of Dunfermline. Read in audience of parliament, which appoints every estate to take the same into their consideration and think upon the answer.†