The estates of parliament, having received your lordships' papers of 1 June with the votes of the honourable houses of 6 May last, to which they can return no answer until just satisfaction be given to their necessary desires of 26 April.
By your other paper of the same date your lordships gave notice of the march of [Thomas Fairfax], lord Fairfax [of Cameron] into the northern counties by command from the honourable houses of the parliament of England, with this assurance: that it is not with the least intention of any offence or prejudice to the kingdom of Scotland. And as you therein express the respect of the two houses to this kingdom, so the parliament do assure your lordships that their resolutions of raising new forces within this kingdom for their own securities and for obtaining their pious and loyal desires are without the least intention to interrupt the union between the kingdoms of Scotland and England or violate in the least manner any of the articles of the Solemn League and Covenant by which they are so strictly united under his majesty's government.
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To all and sundry generals, lieutenant generals, colonels, admirals and other officers and soldiers, and to all magistrates, sheriffs, constables and others whatsoever whom these do or may concern: Whereas Lady Margaret Graham is for her own private affairs to go to Ireland and from there to Spain, these are therefore to desire you to give to her and her servants free pass and not to make any stop to them, but to be assisting in everything that may further and accommodate them in their voyage. Given by the parliament of Scotland at Edinburgh on 7 June 1648.
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The estates of parliament, having taken into their serious consideration a supplication presented to them by some gentlemen of East Lothian, as the supplication of the committee of war of that shire, desiring the parliament to be pleased to attempt all such lawful means and endeavours that the mistakes and divisions between the estate and the kirk may be removed and that the ministry may be satisfied in their consciences and just scruples and so may join with and countenance this present expedition, as the supplication more fully bears; together with a letter produced by [Sir Patrick Cockburn], laird of Clerkington, one of the commissioners for East Lothian, and read in audience of the parliament directed from the committee of war of that shire to the noblemen of the committee of East Lothian and commissioners of the sheriffdom thereof, relating to the supplication above-mentioned, declaring their dissent thereto as being unlawful and contrary to their judgment to frame any petition averse to an act of parliament which they acknowledge so just, as this letter likewise bears, which the laird of Clerkington, commissioner aforesaid, in name of the committee of the shire, gave in opposition to the aforesaid supplication. The said estates of parliament ordain thanks to be returned from the parliament to the subscribers of the aforesaid letter produced by the laird of Clerkington, and accordingly the parliament do hereby return hearty thanks to the laird of Clerkington in their name for their care and obedience to the acts and ordinances of parliament. And as for the supplication above-specified, the parliament caused read and received the same as a supplication from the subscribers as private gentlemen, but not as a supplication of the committee of war of the sheriffdom of East Lothian, in respect of the letter above-mentioned from the committee of war of that shire to the contrary of the said supplication. And in the meantime they remit the same supplication to the consideration of the committee of 33 appointed for considering the supplications presented to the parliament of that nature.
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The estates of parliament ordain and give hereby warrant to the magistrates of Edinburgh to put the act of 1 June instant for executing John Hendry, one of Rutmaster Blair's troop, for killing the late William Johnston, to execution upon Friday next, 9 June; and for that effect to cause execute to death the said John Hendry upon the day aforesaid on the castle hill of Edinburgh by striking his head from his body, for the which this act shall be a sufficient warrant.
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The estates of parliament, having heard and considered the supplication of the members of the college of justice presented to them by Sir Lewis Stewart and Mr John Gilmour, Mr John Nisbet, Mr George Gibson, Mr Harry Mauld, Robert Pringle, James Gibson, Mr George Trotter, Robert Hay, [...] and some others of that body, showing that in all former expeditions they had been continually assisting with their best power to all public undertakings of this kingdom and that they have taken to heart the desire of the honourable committee of estates for best assistance to the present levies, and for that effect that they have entreated [Sir Alexander Gibson of Durie], lord register, to be their colonel, under whose command such a competent number of horses shall be in readiness as may be expected of those who heartily love the true religion, the happiness of king and kingdoms; and that they resolve to give all due obedience to the ordinances of the high court of parliament, and therefore supplicating the parliament to proceed with all alacrity notwithstanding whatsoever obstructions, and to make use of such means as their honours shall think most fitting for the security of religion and liberation of the king's majesty, as the supplication purports. The said estates do accept their carriage and offer aforesaid mentioned in the said supplication as a singular testimony of their constant affection to religion, to the honour of the king's majesty and his royal posterity and the peace of the kingdom, which as now so formerly in other expeditions they have witnessed, and do return to them and to the aforenamed persons, presenters of the petition, hearty thanks for the same, with an assurance that the parliament will be ready to give them all necessary encouragements in this their pious and loyal undertakings and will have a tender regard in any thing wherein that body may be concerned. Likewise the parliament, with advice of [James Hamilton], duke of Hamilton, lord general, do approve of the nomination of Sir Alexander Gibson of Durie, lord register, to be their colonel, and for this effect they, with advice aforesaid, do appoint and make choice of the said lord register to be colonel of the horse to be put out by the college of justice for the effect aforesaid. With power to him to use and exercise the said place and charge of colonel thereof and to do everything necessary for the good of religion, the covenant, his majesty's person and authority and peace of this kingdom which to the place and charge of a colonel of horse does appertain, giving and granting hereby to him all the honour, power and privilege due to the said place and charge now entrusted to the said lord register by the parliament and members of the college of justice in manner above-written.
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The estates of parliament, having heard and considered the supplication of Hugh Rose of Kilravock, showing that by act of the estates in favour of those whose lands were burnt, harried and wasted, they did liberate them from payment of monthly maintenance, and that the supplicant and his tenants are enrolled and ought to have the benefit of the act until reparation be made of his losses; and that notwithstanding thereof Robert Gray [of Ballone], commissary depute of those bounds where the supplicant and his tenants dwell, charges and molests them for payment of the maintenance for certain months bygone, and therefore desiring warrant to discharge him and his deputes and all others having power of collecting the said maintenance that they nor none of them charge, trouble nor burden the supplicant nor his tenants for the said maintenance bygone nor to come until the estates be pleased to take trial of their losses, according to the aforesaid act, as the supplication bears. The said estates have remitted and recommended the aforesaid supplication and desire thereof to the committee of 33 during the sitting of parliament and thereafter to the committee of estates, to be taken into consideration by them and to do therein for the supplicant's satisfaction as they, after consideration of the aforesaid supplication and instructions thereof, shall find just and reasonable.
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The estates of parliament, having heard and considered the supplication of Sir Patrick Hamilton of Little Preston, William Baillie of Letham and William Butter of Argath, tutors nominated by testament to Margaret and Jean Baillie, lawful daughters to the late Sir Gideon Baillie, showing that the committee of parliament for bills did upon their supplication for delivery of their said pupils to them to be educated and bred by them, according to their office of tutory, ordained [Sir John Crawford], laird of Kilbirnie and his lady in whose custody they then were to be cited to answer to the supplicants' desire, and in the meantime not to remove themselves nor the said Margaret and Jean Baillie, pupils, out of the town of Edinburgh under all highest pain; and that, nevertheless hereof after they were cited by a messenger of arms, they did remove the said Margaret Baillie and have, as is informed, married her with [Sir John Colquhoun], laird of Luss, and that thereupon the supplicants have action depending against the laird and Lady Kilbirnie, the laird of Luss and the minister who is supposed to have married them for the abduction and delivery of the said pupil to the plaintiffs and to be punished for that as the crime should be found to deserve. And that also the supplicants have intended and are to intend several other actions both civil and criminal against the aforesaid persons and their accomplices, and therefore desiring that the parliament would either discuss the same by themselves or remit and recommend the decision thereof to the committee of estates, and to appoint them to be judges thereto and ordain them to proceed and administer justice therein, as the supplication purports. The said estates of parliament have remitted and recommended and do hereby remit and recommend the aforesaid action above-mentioned intended and depending at the instance of the supplicants against the laird and Lady Kilbirnie and laird of Luss and the minister for the abduction and delivery of the said pupil and punishing of the parties as the crime shall be found to deserve, with the said several other actions also intended or to be intended both civil and criminal against the aforesaid persons and their accomplices for the causes specified therein at the instance of the supplicants, to the committee of estates of parliament; with power to them to determine in the said matters according to law and justice. And for this effect the estates of parliament make and constitute the committee of estates judges in that part for judging, deciding and determining the said actions according to justice and the laws and practices of the kingdom in similar cases, and ordain them accordingly to proceed and administer justice in the said matters until the final end and decision thereof, for the which this act shall be a warrant.
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The estates of parliament, having heard the supplication of Sir Lauchlan MacLean of Duart, showing that, according to his promise to Lieutenant General David Leslie, he was addressing himself to proceed to Edinburgh to give satisfaction to church and state and thereafter to remove out of the kingdom; and that in the meantime he was surprised by an advertisement that the committee of estates had declared and forfeited his capitulation and pass in regard he did not compear before them on 2 February last, which citation did never come to his hand, being then necessitated to proceed to the Isle of Skye for settling his private business with his brother-in-law, MacLeod, and therefore desiring that the parliament would make his former capitulation and pass to remain in vigour and that he may have freedom to come and perform what he is thereby obliged to do, with assurance from personal danger during the time of his giving satisfaction and for such time thereafter as without personal hazard he may leave the country, as the supplication bears; together with an act produced of the committee of estates of 8 February last in favour of Hector MacLean of Torloisk, declaring that they would not restore Sir Lauchlan MacLean to the benefit of his pardon nor grant him any conditions to the prejudice of Hector MacLean, but that it should be lawful to Hector to pursue him for restitution of all that he had unjustly meddled with pertaining to Hector, as the act also bears; together likewise with a supplication of the gentlemen, heritors and others within the sheriffdom of Argyll opposing the desire aforesaid of the said Sir Lauchlan MacLean's supplication upon the reasons contained in their supplication, but consenting that he have a protection for his appearance before the parliament or committee or for meeting with the supplicants at home to see how he may make their satisfaction for what justly they have to lay to his charge, as this supplication likewise more fully bears; together also with the opinion of the committee for the bills upon the said Sir Lauchlan MacLean's supplication, which is that one month after the parliament's answer to the committee's report should be given to him to come to the parliament or committee of parliament and obey the condition, and that thereupon he be restored to his defences to which his pass should not be forfeited, reserving to Hector MacLean his act and answers to maintain the forfeiture of the pass. The said estates of parliament remit and recommend the said Sir Lauchlan MacLean's supplication and desire thereof, with the supplication given in for the sheriffdom of Argyll against and act aforesaid produced for Hector MacLean, with the opinion of the said committee for the bills thereupon, to the committee of estates, to be taken into consideration by them, with power to them to do and determine herein as they after consideration of the premises respectively above-mentioned shall find just and reasonable.