[1641/8/79]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The which day the king's majesty and estates of parliament, having taken to their consideration the petition of Master Alexander Wedderburn, town clerk of Dundee, making mention of the trust put upon him and the other commissioners who were entrusted with a commission and employed by the committee of parliament in 1640 in 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 at London, according to the commission and instructions respectively granted to the supplicant and the other commissioners contained therein relating thereto, whereby they were authorised with the said commission to proceed in the foresaid negotiation which they undertook and have undergone until the happy conclusion of the said treaty; after the which, having now returned to this honourable meeting of parliament the whole proceedings and articles of the treaty, the petitioner does in all humility lay down that commission laid upon him at the feet of his majesty and this high court of parliament, and does most willingly and humbly submit himself, his whole actions and deportment in that great and weighty charge to their examination and consideration, wherein he offers himself ready to give an account to the effect that if he has been remiss or negligent in the discharge of his duty and obedience to the commandments and instructions given to him, or if he has for fear of any hazard or hope of any benefit, preferment or anything else whatsoever, done anything contrary to the said instructions or prejudicial to the public, he being defective therein may undergo that censure which the wrongdoers of the country and abusers of such great trust deserves; and if it shall be found that he has acquitted himself faithfully of that charge and trust put upon him, then the petitioner does humbly crave that as his weak endeavours have been truly and sincerely contributed to the service of this kirk and kingdom, so he may be exonerated and discharged of that weighty burden he has so long time now underlain, and that his proceedings therein may be approved, seeing the negotiation of the treaty is now at an end and by God's assistance and blessing the same is closed, as the said supplication at more length bears. His majesty and the estates, finding the foresaid petition and desire most equitable, and having considered the report of the committee appointed for examination of the said Master Alexander Wedderburn's carriage in the said trust put upon him, and compared the same with the commission and instructions foresaid granted to him and the other commissioners, together with the testimony of the king's majesty and the other commissioners who were in the like commission and trust with the said Master Alexander Wedderburn, do find and declare that the said Master Alexander Wedderburn has so walked and behaved himself in the foresaid employment as he deserves their testimony of his approved fidelity and diligence; 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 testimony and approbation: that he has behaved himself in the foresaid employment, charge and trust as a loyal subject to the king and true patriot to his country.