[1641/8/65]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The which day the king's majesty and estates of parliament, having taken to their consideration the petition and desire of John, now earl of Rothes and his tutors, making mention of the trust put upon the late John [Leslie], earl of Rothes, his father, with [Charles Seton], earl of Dunfermline, [John Campbell], lord Loudoun and the commissioners for the barons and burghs by the estates and parliament, whereby they were employed as commissioners from them in the treaty between the king's majesty and his subjects of Scotland and between the kingdoms of Scotland and England, first begun at Ripon and thereafter transported to London, and now happily concluded and ratified by the parliaments of both kingdoms, and therefore desiring the king's majesty and parliament to try and examine the said late John, earl of Rothes, his whole actions and carriage in the foresaid employment and public trust committed to him as one of the commissioners in the commission of the treaty with his fidelity, diligence and carefulness therein; and accordingly as his majesty and estates of parliament, after examination and trial thereof, shall find the said late earl of Rothes's behaviour and carriage in the foresaid employment and trust to have deserved, to grant their approbation and exoneration of the foresaid charge and of the said late earl's carriage therein. And his majesty and estates of parliament, finding the foresaid desire most reasonable, and having examined the said late John, earl of Rothes's whole actions and deportment in the foresaid public negotiation and employment, and compared the same with the commissions and instructions granted to him and the other commissioners, together with the testimony of the king's majesty and other commissioners who were in the commission and like trust with the said late earl, do find and declare that the said late John, earl of Rothes, has in all uprightness, wisdom, diligence and faithfulness walked worthy of so great trust as was committed to him in the foresaid employment; and therefore his majesty and estates of parliament do not only liberate and exonerate him of the foresaid charge and commission and of all question or challenge that can be laid to him or the said John, now earl of Rothes, his son, but also do add to that testimony, which true worth and the conscience of well doing has in itself their public approbation, and do honour the said late Earl of Rothes with this their national testimony: that he has deserved well of the public as a loyal subject to the king, a faithful servant to the estates of parliament and a true patriot to his country.