The estates of parliament, taking into consideration the many distempers and sad condition of these times occasioned by civil wars and distractions, and that in such cases the best counsels and actions of former ages have been misconstrued, most men being led by passion, faction and private interest, whereby the truth has always suffered and the history has been many times unfaithfully transmitted to ages after and the posterity abused, the truth of proceedings concealed or called in question, men left to uncertainties, not knowing what to believe; and now for preventing such inconveniences which may follow upon our troubles and calamities, the estates of parliament do seriously recommend to the committee of estates to think upon and appoint some able and sufficient man for drawing up, compiling and writing the history, records and chronicles of the time; with power to them to appoint to him 300 merks monthly for his pains, and have recommended to the committee of estates and monies that this sum may be duly paid to him out of any monies that shall be received in, and that he be preferred in payment to any others.