[1641/8/71]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The which day the king's majesty and estates of parliament, having taken to their consideration the petition of William Drummond of Riccarton, making mention of the trust put upon him with some other commissioners by the committee of parliament in [...] 1640 for the treaty of peace between the king's majesty and his subjects of Scotland and between the kingdoms of Scotland and England, which was begun at Ripon and thereafter translated to London, according to the commission and instructions respectively granted to the said petitioner and the other commissioners relating thereto; and John [Campbell], lord Loudoun, one of the said commissioners, having returned in July 1641 with the whole proceedings and conclusions of the treaty to the estates of parliament, after due trial and public approbation thereof, he was sent back to London with new commission and instructions to himself and other commissioners joined with him for final concluding and subscribing the articles of peace, which accordingly was done by the commissioners of both kingdoms and thereafter ratified by the king's majesty and both parliaments; and therefore, the said petitioner humbly desiring the king's majesty and estates of parliament to examine his whole actions and carriage in the foresaid public and weighty employments, and if he has walked faithfully according to their commissions and instructions, that he may be exonerated of so great a charge and have the public approbation of the king's majesty and estates of parliament, as the said supplication at more length bears. His majesty and estates, finding the foresaid petition and desire most equitable, and having considered the report of the committee appointed by the parliament for examination of the said Laird of Riccarton's whole carriage in the foresaid employment, and compared the said petitioner's whole actions and deportments in the foresaid public negotiation with their commissions and instructions, together with the testimony of the king's majesty and other commissioners who were in the commission and trust with the said Laird of Riccarton, do find and declare that the said William Drummond of Riccarton has behaved himself so carefully, diligently and faithfully in the foresaid charge as he deserves their testimony and approbation thereof; and therefore his majesty and estates of parliament do not only liberate and exonerate him of all question or challenge that can be laid to him for his carriage in the foresaid charge and employment, but also do give him this well deserved testimony and approbation: that he has behaved himself in the foresaid employment and trust as a loyal subject to the king and true patriot to his country.