[A1641/8/57]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
To the king's most excellent majesty and the right honourable the estates of parliament, the humble supplication of Master Archibald Johnston, procurator for the kirk,
Humbly showing,
That as it pleased the Lord, who is the framer and searcher of hearts, to make it my greatest desire in this life to be in any degree according to my weakness the meanest instrument of his service in this great work for the good of the kirk and state, so it pleased his majesty in his providence to move and incline the hearts of the assemblies of this kirk and of the estates of parliament to put trust, favour and employment upon their unworthy and weak servant, even in the most important and difficult passages of this work, far beyond his ability, deserving or expectation, which made me the more earnest with God in prayer and in the endeavours before men to prove thankful, faithful and useful in these employments. And whereas in the parliament of June 1640 the estates were pleased to give to me an ample testimony and to command me to attend the committee at the camp in case of a necessity of new treaties or public declarations for to show forth the reasons of or prejudices against their demands and proceedings in assembly and parliament, as the act for the committee of estates at more length purports; likewise the committee of estates was pleased to employ their servant with others in the treaty of peace begun at Ripon and transferred to London, and therein to continue me under that burden and charge until all the articles were debated and the conclusion of the treaty nears an end in June last, at which time upon command of the committees I returned home and rendered to them for the space of three days together a full account of our whole debates and proceedings and the reasons thereof. Whereupon they, having particularly examined me in several interrogatories, they seemed to give to me their exoneration and approbation, to which I acquiesced for the time. But seeing I perceive now by the supplications of all others who have been employed in that commission that they are to receive their censure or approbation in plain parliament, I desire not to shun a re-examination however exact, but do most willingly and humbly submit myself and whole actions and deportments through the whole passages of this work and specially in this last weighty and great charge to the consideration of his gracious majesty and of your lords, that if I have been unfaithful and negligent in discharge of my duty and obedience to the commandments and instructions given to me, and especially in that particular trust from the estates of showing the reasons of their demands and proceedings in assembly and parliament and the prejudices against either of them, or if I have for fears of any hazard or hope of any benefit, preferment or anything else whatsoever done anything in contrary to their instructions or prejudicial to the public, that I may undergo that censure which the wrongdoers of the country and abusers of such great trust deserves. And if your majesty and this honourable house shall find that I have been faithful and diligent according to my knowledge and conscience (albeit with great weakness and many infirmities) in that charge and trust laid upon me then do I in all humility beg, that seeing by God's assistance and blessing the treaty of peace is closed and seeing my employment in this public business is now at an end, that before I return to my private affairs and calling from the which these four years I have been continually distracted, I may obtain from his gracious majesty and your lords an exoneration of that charge and an approbation of my former carriage to be joined to an inward testimony of a good conscience before God, whose divine majesty I dare in all humility be bold to attest as the sole author and true witness of my greatest desire and endeavour to approve myself before God and man as a faithful and diligent servant to himself, to the kirk, the king and to the estate in this his great work and that without fears, hopes, particular designs, self aims or other respects whatsoever. And the answer of his gracious majesty and this honourable house most humbly I crave.
[A1641/8/58]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
To the king's most excellent majesty and the honourable house of parliament, the humble petition of Adam Blair,
Humbly shows,
That where I was employed as clerk to the lords and other commissioners for the treaty and have, according to my power, exerted the said office these 10 months bygone; and now, seeing it has pleased God to bring the said treaty to an happy conclusion, do therefore humbly entreat your majesty and this honourable house of parliament to take trial of my carriage in the said employment and either to censure me if I shall be found to have omitted anything entrusted to my charge, or to have committed anything to the prejudice of your majesty and the kingdom, or otherwise to approve my proceedings as they shall be found to deserve. And I as in duty bound shall always pray etc.
[A1641/8/59]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Warrant for the title page of the acts of parliament of 11 June 1640
The acts made in the session of the second parliament of our most high and dread sovereign.
Charles, by the grace of God, king of Scotland, England, France and Ireland, defender of the faith etc.
Held at Edinburgh, 11 June 1640 by the estates of parliament, convened by his majesty's special authority.
Printed at Edinburgh with royal privilege.
25 September 1641
Read in audience of his majesty and estates of parliament, who appoint the clerk to prefix the words above-written to the acts of June 1640 in the first page and that no other act be prefixed to them, but they to be printed according to the model of the treaty as they stand.
[John Elphinstone, lord] Balmerino, in presence of the lords of parliament
[A1641/8/60]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Petition of Sir Richard Graham regarding the middle shires
I am desired by Sir Richard Graham to move your majesty and this house of parliament that some present course may be taken for regulating the disorders that are now in the middle shires, this being the best time whilst the English commissioners are here that order may be given to the commissioners of both kingdoms to call the border landlords now in town to inform themselves what course has been formerly held for the suppressing of disorder and apprehending of felons and fugitives.
[A1641/8/61]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
At Edinburgh, 23 September 1641
The committee for the army sederunt: [James Livingstone, lord Almond], lieutenant general, [William Kerr], earl of Lothian, [James Elphinstone], lord Coupar, [Sir Alexander Erskine of] Dun, [Sir David Home of] Wedderburn, [Sir David Crichton of] Lugton, [Sir William Scott of] Harden, [Sir John Wauchope of] Niddrie, [Hugh Campbell of] Cessnock, [James Cochrane and Richard Maxwell, commissioners for] Edinburgh, [James Fletcher, commissioner for] Dundee, [Patrick Bell, commissioner for] Glasgow, [James Glen, commissioner for] Linlithgow, [John Osborne, commissioner for] Ayr.
The Laird of Johnstone's petition for his officers of fortune was read, which being taken to consideration, the committee found it doubtful whether it was within the compass of their commission, but before they gave answer to the same they thought the Laird of Johnstone should instruct his bill in the points of his not going out with the army and the other points of the said petition averred therein, and therefore could give no present answer.
It was debated whether or not the army or the regiments within the country shall be first taken to consideration, and was resolved that the considerations regarding the army shall be in the first place.
William Thomson, being called for, was asked what progress was made in the accounts, who answered that he had made all the accounts ready and was willing to account with any who pleases to come to him. The committee appointed William Thomson to give so much money to every colonel or other two superior officers, responsible landed men, as will pay the officers of fortune their dues. And the said sums to be put in the regiments' accounts, the rolls and dues of the said officers of fortune to be subtracted by the said colonel and quartermaster or other two superior officers upon their honour and credit, and they to pay the officers of fortune.
The committee appointed William Thomson to pay to the companies and regiments where any of those who come out of Ireland and are to return back again as much money as will pay those who come from Ireland and are to return back again. And lest any contravention be made herein, it is appointed that the colonel of the regiment or lieutenant colonel with the captain of the company where the men served shall declare upon their honour that these persons did come from Ireland and are to return thither and to put the same in the regiment accounts.
No arrestments are to be acknowledged.
The west country regiments are to be first accounted with that the Irish men and companies may be paid.
The Laird of Pitlochie and young [John Oliphant of] Bachilton are to make account and be answerable for [James Graham], earl of Montrose's Perth regiment, and [Sir Alexander Erskine], laird of Dun and the laird of Logie Wishart for the Angus regiment, [Sir David Home], laird of Wedderburn and [Master Alexander Belsches of] Tofts for [James Home], earl of Home's regiment.
[William Kerr, earl of] Lothian, in presence of the lords of parliament