[A1570/3/2]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
At Edinburgh, 14 March 1569 [1570]. The lords of secret council and others of the nobility, prelates and commissioners of burghs underwritten: they are to say, John [Stewart], earl of Atholl, lord of Balvenie, James [Douglas], earl of Morton, lord of Dalkeith, chancellor of Scotland, John [Erskine], earl of Mar, lord Erskine, Alexander [Cunningham], earl of Glencairn, lord of Kilmaurs, Robert [Douglas], earl of Buchan, Patrick [Ruthven], lord Ruthven, John [Lyon], lord Glamis, Patrick [Lindsay], lord Lindsay of the Byres, Robert [Sempill], lord Sempill, Alan [Cathcart], lord Cathcart, Andrew [Stewart], lord Stewart of Ochiltree, Henry [Stewart], lord Methven, Patrick [Gray], master of Gray, Adam [Bothwell], bishop of Orkney, Robert [Pitcairn], commendator of Dunfermline, John [Hay], commendator of Balmerino, Mark [Kerr], commendator of Newbattle, David [Erskine], commendator of Dryburgh and Inchmahome, Adam [Erskine], commendator of Cambuskenneth, Alexander [Colville], commendator of Culross, John [Winram], prior of Portmoak, Adam Fullerton, commissioner for Edinburgh, Master James Haliburton, provost of Dundee, Patrick Murray of Tibbermuir, commissioner for Perth, Alexander Forrester of Garden, provost of Stirling, David Lucklaw, commissioner for Cupar, Master Alexander Sibbald, commissioner for St Andrews, Paul Reid, commissioner for Ayr, Sir John Bellenden of Auchnoull, knight, justice clerk, and Mr James MacGill of Nether Rankeilour, clerk of our sovereign lord's register, being convened in the tolbooth of our burgh of Edinburgh, it was proposed in what dangerous state the commonwealth of this realm stood, the same presently being destitute of a governor through the treasonable, vile and unworthy murther lately perpetrated in the person of the late James [Stewart], earl of Moray, lord Abernethy, regent to our sovereign lord, his realm and lieges, his highness being yet minor and unable to administrate in his own person; the lords, prelates, commissioners of burghs and others above-written commanded the acts and constitutions of parliament concerning the coronation of our sovereign lord and constitution of the regiment of the realm during his highness's minority to be read, and especially a commission made and subscribed by [Mary], the queen, our sovereign lord's mother, at the time of demission of her crown in his highness's favour, of the which the tenor follows: Mary, by the grace of God, queen of Scots, etc.;† which acts and commission being read, after long reasoning and mature deliberation, the said lords, prelates, commissioners of burghs and others above-specified find and declare that the said commission is in itself good, valuable and sufficient, and that the whole number of the noblemen above-mentioned nominated therein, or any four, three, two or one of them professing and acknowledging the king's authority (the remainder refusing or having just cause of excuse), may accept upon them the said commission and office of regency to our sovereign lord, his realm and lieges, and may use and exercise the same office by virtue of the said commission as fitly and lawfully as any other governors or regents of this realm have used the same office in time bygone preceding the date hereof.