The which day Sir Archibald Johnston of Wariston, knight, having been upon 10 March instant elected and chosen clerk of his highness's registers, council and rolls, in respect the said place was vacant through Sir Alexander Gibson of Durie, knight, late clerk register, falling under the compass of the act of classes, in manner contained in an act of this present session of parliament; and the said Sir Archibald Johnston of Wariston, knight, being required by the said estates of parliament to give his oath anent his faithful discharging of himself in the said place as clerk register now entrusted by him, made faith for faithful administration and that he shall faithfully and truly behave himself in the discharge of the said place as clerk register, and thereupon asked instruments.
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The estates of parliament, taking into their consideration that there are many places which fall under the clerk register's charge, as his deputes, which are now possessed by several persons who are guilty of the crimes contained in the act of classes made in this present session of parliament, therefore they have ordained and ordain Sir Archibald Johnston of Wariston, knight, now clerk register, at the sight of the committee of estates, or any subcommittee they shall appoint, to purge out all those now under him who fall within the compass of the said act of classes.
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The estates of parliament ordain John Dickson of Hartree (in whose hands the keys of those houses within the castle of Edinburgh where the registers and records entrusted to the clerk register lie and remain) to deliver to Sir Archibald Johnston of Wariston, knight, now clerk register the said keys, together with the said whole registers, rolls, records and inventories thereof, for the which this act shall be to the said John Dickson and to Sir Archibald Gibson of Durie, knight, late clerk register, and all others whom it concerns a sufficient warrant.
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The estates of parliament, taking into their consideration the supplication given in to them by the magistrates and council of the burgh of Aberdeen, for themselves and in name and on behalf of the inhabitants of the said burgh, showing the great sums due to them by the public, with their losses and sufferings, as the same are mentioned and instructed in the said supplication; and that without present help they in that town will be utterly ruined; and therefore desiring, until some other effectual course be taken for their relief, that the maintenance and excise which is due and payable by them for arrears and what shall be due in time to come may be allowed to the supplicants in their own hands, as the supplication more fully bears. And also considering the report of the committee of common burdens, to which the same was remitted, finding the whole sums resting to the said burgh clearly instructed (whereof a great part formerly approved and declared a public debt by act of parliament), and that there will be due and resting to the said burgh in total the sum of 927,120 merks, and no part thereof paid; and that it is the opinion of the said committee, in regard of the great sums advanced by the said burgh to the public, and to encourage and strengthen the hands of their honest magistrates and ministers, that the sum of 1,000 merks monthly continue suspended as formerly, and what of their maintenance is formerly suspended and found resting by the said burgh be allowed to them in part payment of the sums due to them by the public; and that the excise of the said burgh since 1 February last be assigned and allowed to them in time coming until their Flemish and lent monies, with the annualrent thereof, be completely paid; and that some present and effectual course be taken for the further reparation and relief of the said burgh and that they be seriously recommended to the committee of estates for that effect. Which supplication and report thereof being considered by the estates of parliament, they, in regard of the present sad and distressed condition of the said burgh of Aberdeen, ordain them to be liberated and freed, and do hereby discharge and exonerate the said burgh of Aberdeen of all bygone monthly maintenance either resting unpaid by them or suspended to them for any months preceding 1 February 1649, whereof the parliament declares them free and allow the same to them in satisfaction for as much of the sums due to them by the public. And further the said estates of parliament ordain the sum of £1,000 sterling to be allowed and paid to the magistrates of Aberdeen out of the first and readiest of the maintenance, excise or other public dues to be uplifted out of the said burgh of Aberdeen or shire thereof for the month of February 1649 and subsequent months thereafter, and to that effect, the said estates give hereby precept and warrant to [Sir James Stewart of Kirkfield and Coltness], commissary-general, and his deputes to make payment to the magistrates of Aberdeen of the aforesaid £1,000 sterling in manner aforesaid and declare this act, with their discharge, to be a sufficient warrant to the commissary-general and his deputes for their exoneration in their accounts for as much of the said £1,000 sterling, and ordain the said sum to be employed by the magistrates of Aberdeen for making up of a part of the mortified monies in their burgh taken up and advanced by them for the use and service of the public. And for the other members of their supplication and report, with the acts and instructions thereof concerning the other sums mentioned therein due by the public to the burgh of Aberdeen, the said estates of parliament remit and recommend the same in a serious manner to the committee of estates, that a speedy and effectual course be taken for the relief and reparation of the burdens and losses of the said burgh as the said committee shall think expedient.