[1662/5/102]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The estates of parliament, having heard a supplication presented to them by Sir Archibald Stirling of Garden, showing that whereas [John Kennedy], earl of Cassilis, [Sir George Stirling], laird of Keir and several others were engaged to the deceased Sir William Dick [of Braid] for a public debt, and the laird of Keir, by an order from the usurpers, being compelled to pay a double proportion thereof, was assigned by the said Sir William Dick to the earl of Cassilis for his relief of the equal half of the said sum, to which the petitioner has right, by assignation dated 20 August 1654 and, notwithstanding that there have been pursuits formerly for relief thereof before the ordinary judges, and that the said earl has often promised to make payment thereof, yet, expecting it will be laid aside as a public debt, although as to him and the petitioner it be merely a private debt, refused altogether to make payment of it; humbly desiring if it be expedient to lay aside public debts at present to except the said debt therefrom and to ordain the lords of session to do speedy justice thereupon as in other private debts. Which with the report of the lords of the articles, being taken into consideration, the king's majesty, with advice of his estates of parliament, has remitted and remits the pursuit for payment of the debt above-written to the ordinary course of justice, notwithstanding of the general suspension of public debts to the next session of parliament, and appoints the lords of session to administer justice to the petitioner in this matter notwithstanding of the said suspension.