[1649/5/412]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The estates of parliament, taking into their consideration a gift granted by Sir Archibald Johnston of Wariston, knight, lord clerk register, in favour of Mr James Scott of his place and office as clerk to the session and parliament, whereof the tenor follows: Be it known by all men by these present letters, me, Sir Archibald Johnston of Wariston, knight, clerk of our sovereign lord's register, council and rolls, one of the senators of the college of justice and present president thereof, in consideration that as Sir William Scott of Clerkington, knight, one of the ordinary clerks of session, is nominated to be one of the lords thereof, whereby he will be removed from the said office of clerkship, the said two places being inconsistent in one person, and the qualification and ability of Mr James Scott of Bonnington, his brother, for using, exercising and discharging the said Sir William's clerkship and place, he being brought up and having served his brother therein this long time, with the said Mr James' good behaviour and inclination being sufficiently and well-known to me, therefore to have made, constituted and ordained and by this act makes, constitutes and ordains the said Mr James Scott my depute and clerk of council, session and parliament in that third place and office of clerkship thereof which was possessed before by the said Sir William Scott, his brother, now vacant in my hands by the demission of the said Sir William's advancement to the place of an ordinary lord of session. Giving, granting and conveying to the said Mr James Scott during all the days of the said Sir William Scott's lifetime only the aforesaid third place and office of clerkship of session and parliament with the full exercise and whole fees, duties, casualties, freedoms and commodities thereof and privileges and benefit of the same, to be held and used by the said Mr James likewise and as freely in all respects as the said Sir William held and used the said office before or as any other clerk of session presently held or has held and used the said office in time bygone, and that as well as in parliament and session as in keeping and searching of the registers and books thereof, and otherwise in discharging the said office and in all respects as appertains freely, quietly, well and in peace, without any revocation, obstacle, impediment or recalling whatsoever, beginning the said Mr James' entry to the office thereof at the day and date of this act, and thereafter to be held and used by him as is above-written. Desiring hereby the lords of session to take the said Mr James' oath for faithful administration in the said office and that the same may be enacted in the books of sederunt and authorised with all solemnities requisite. In witness whereof, I have subscribed this document (written by William Fullarton, servant to the said Sir William Scott) with my hand at Edinburgh, 7 June 1649 before these witnesses, Mr Andrew Kerr, town clerk of Edinburgh, inserter of the date and witnesses' names, Mr Mungo Murray, my servant, and George Richardson, servant to the said Mr Andrew Kerr. Signed thus, A. Johnston, clerk register, A. Kerr, witness, Mungo Murray, G. Richardson, witness. Therefore the said estates of parliament have ratified and approved and do hereby ratify and approve the aforesaid gift in the whole heads, articles, clauses, circumstances and points of the same after the form and tenor thereof in all points.