[1644/1/21]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The convention of estates recommend and thereupon give full power and commission to the committee of estates to take such course as they shall think fit for the sitting or raising of the session.
[1644/1/22]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The estates declare that if any gentlemen or any others will willingly go on in this expedition and either make up a troop or troops of horse themselves, or else join with other troops and be ready for service as they shall be commanded, they shall have pay according to the rest of the army.
[1644/1/23]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Forasmuch as the estates of parliament convened in June 1640, considering the privilege and exemption enjoyed by the nobility and barons of the kingdom whereby they are exempt of all custom of goods imported to their own use, and that the same might more specially be enjoyed for the arms brought home for defence of the kingdom in the time of the late troubles, did therefore ordain that all ammunition and arms brought home since 1637 should be free of custom; and the estates now convened, finding the necessity of having arms brought home at this time in respect of the present expedition and posture of the kingdom, do therefore, according to the act, ordain that all arms and ammunition to be brought home this year shall be free of custom, and inhibit and discharge all customs officers or receivers of exacting any custom or imposition for any kind of arms or ammunition to be imported during the time aforesaid, and of arresting and detaining the said arms and ammunition or any goods belonging to the merchants, importers thereof, for any custom acclaimed for the same, which the estates find not reasonable to be granted at this time.
[1644/1/24]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Forasmuch as the commissioners of the common burdens by their act of 19 August 1642, after account and reckoning, found the sum of £33,144 Scots money to be due by the estates of this kingdom to Colonel Alexander Hamilton, general of the artillery, and accordingly by their act of 31 March 1643 ordained William Thomson or any other receiver for the public to pay and deliver to the said general of artillery or any having his order the said sum of £33,144 Scots money, and likewise to make payment to him of the total annualrents of the said sum which shall be due therefore at the payment of the same; and the said general of artillery having now received the principal sum above-written, together also with the sum of £3,314 7s 11d aforesaid as a year and a quarter's annualrent of the said sum, from the term of Lammas [1 August] 1642 to the term of Martinmas [11 November] last in this year of God 1643, and accordingly has given a discharge thereof to the said William Thomson in name of the said estates of this kingdom; and whereas the said general of the artillery, out of his affection to the good of the cause now in hand and advancement of this expedition now intended by this kingdom for the prosecution of the ends expressed in the covenant, has at the earnest desire of the convention of estates of this kingdom lent at the feast and term of Martinmas last the sum of 50,000 merks good and usual money of this realm of Scotland of the sums above-written, to be employed and made use of by the said committee of estates to the use of the public for the ends above-written, therefore we, the convention of estates under-subscribing, do hereby grant the receipt of the said sum of 50,000 merks from the said general of artillery, and declare the same to be a public debt due by the estates of this kingdom; and accordingly do bind and oblige us and our successors, the estates of this realm present and to come, to thankfully satisfy and pay the said Colonel Alexander Hamilton, general of the artillery, his heirs, executors or assignees the said sum of 50,000 merks money aforesaid between the date hereof and the feast and term of Whitsunday [9 June] 1644, together with the sum of 2,000 merks money aforesaid as for the annualrent of the said sum from the said term of Martinmas last that the same was borrowed to the said term of Whitsunday next to come, that the same should be paid without longer delay; together also with the ordinary annualrent of the said principal sum yearly, termly and continually thereafter, always and so long as the same shall remain unpaid after the said term, as well, by virtue of this present act, they not being infeft and seised as infeft and seised in the said annualrent and not entered as entered thereto; without prejudice always of such action and execution as may follow hereon for payment of the said principal sum and annualrent thereof aforesaid at any time after the said term of payment be passed, without premonition or requisition notwithstanding of the aforesaid clause and condition of annual paying.
[1644/1/25]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Forasmuch as Archibald, marquis of Argyll is appointed to go along with the army as president of the committee of estates that goes forthwith, and whereas it is fitting that there should be some companies of horse ready to attend the committee and his lordship, and that a complete allowance be appointed to them, therefore the convention do declare that whatever gentlemen or any others will willingly furnish and provide themselves with horse and arms and attend the service aforesaid, they shall have pay according to the rest of the horsemen in the army, and their foot men, having snap guns and swords, shall have the pay of foot soldiers.
[1644/1/26]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Forasmuch as the convention of estates of this kingdom considering how necessary it is that all means be used for providing victual for maintenance of the armies in England or Ireland and provision of the kingdom within, and the prejudice likely to ensue through the avaricious disposition of some private persons, who, for their own advantage, do daily transport all manner of victual out of this kingdom, if the same be not prevented by a general restraint, they do therefore ordain heralds and messengers of arms to pass to the market cross of Edinburgh and other places needful, and there, by open proclamation, to command, charge and inhibit all his majesty's subjects of whatsoever rank and quality that none of them presume nor take upon hand after the date hereof to transport out of the kingdom any manner of victual, wheat, barley, oats, meal or rye without special licence from the committee of estates, under the pain of confiscation of the said victual and ships carrying the same, if they can be had; and failing thereof, under the pain of confiscation of the moveable of the transporters and masters or owners of the ships transporting the same, and such further punishment as the committee shall think fit. Commanding hereby all magistrates to burgh and land and all searchers to make diligent trial and to lay on an embargo of all ships, barks or boats transporting any victual embarked or to be embarked without licence as said is, as they will be answerable upon the duty of their lives.
[1644/1/27]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The convention of estates having this day received an act of the commissioners of the general assembly for planting of kirks of his majesty's patronage during the time of these troubles, presented to them by Mr Robert Douglas, moderator, and Mr Andrew Ramsay, and having considered the same and the recommendation contained for providing some way by authority of this convention for settling and possessing the entrants in the stipends and benefices belonging to these kirks, and finding no way so fit for that end and for preserving the right and possession of the patronages to his majesty than that in this time of trouble presentations pass his majesty's cachet and privy seal, which is similar to and is hereby declared to be of as great force and authority as if the same had passed his majesty's royal hands; therefore give hereby warrant and command to the commissioners of the treasury, or any one of them, to receive presentations from presbyteries to all kirks of his majesty's patronages becoming vacant or which hereafter shall become vacant during these troubles and to sign the same. And ordain the same so signed to pass his majesty's cachet and thereafter the privy seal, and that all letters and executorials necessary be directed thereupon. And recommend to the commissioners of the kirk to intimate this to presbyteries, that they choosing fit and well qualified men with consent of parishes, the presentations to the vacant kirks of his majesty's patronage during these troubles may be passed in the manner aforesaid, whereupon the entrants may obtain all letters and executorials necessary. Which way the estates think agreeable to the desire and intention of the commissioners of the assembly.