[A1571/9/5]* [print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
[John Erskine, earl of] Mar protested after he was chosen regent. The which day, in presence of the estates, compeared John, earl of Mar, lord Erskine, being nominated and elected to the office of regency, and made this protestation whereof the tenor follows:
I, John, earl of Mar, lord Erskine, show and declare to you, my lords and others, the estates presently assembled, that albeit it has pleased you by common voice and assent to accord that I shall be placed in the charge of regiment to the king's majesty, his realm and lieges, during his highness's minority, which place I avow before God and the world I was never ambitious of, neither can it be beneficial to me, nor any of mine, in any respect, considering the present troubled state of the realm and the hard reward that such as have proceeded in that office have received. And yet finding the present necessity that the person of the king, our sovereign lord, is in my custody, and not only his highness's person, but the state of his authority and commonwealth of the realm, in hazard and danger at this time, having so many avowed disobedient subjects to his highness and his authority, if it be thought by you, my lords and estates, that my person and travails can supply this want, I will neither contend with you or suffer the good and honest cause we have in hand to be endangered through my refusing or delay, but will expose myself to the peril if you think me qualified for the charge, notwithstanding seeing I am not able by myself nor upon my own counsel, rent or forces to bear this burden. I require that I be accompanied with yourselves, assisted by your counsels and aided by your forces at all occasions of danger, upon my warning to be given to you; and that none of you shall deal in any sort to the hinder or prejudice of the king's estate, or in anything touching the same, without common advice of me and us, all that now profess his highness's obedience; or that shall press me in that deed or grant tending to the violation of my present oath, I protest that then as now, upon any such refusal of your presence, counsel or aiding with your forces, if either you hereafter shall find my inability for the charge, or that I shall find myself overburdened therein above my power, that then upon lawful warning to be given by me to you, the nobility and estates, and with your advice and counsel had thereto, I may lawfully, freely and without violation of my present oath made for acceptance of this office, renounce and admit the same office and administration in the person of any other to be thought suitable and agreed upon by common advice of us all, without reproach to me in faith, honour or otherwise, seeing I aspire not to the position willingly or ambitiously, but altogether against my will, if it were not for the preservation of the king's innocent person, which I have always thought and think so dear to me, and for supplying of the present necessity, which my protestation I require of your lord and others of the estates to be admitted and registered for future memory.
After the which protestation read, the said Earl of Mar agreed to underlie and accept the said charge and office of regency; and to the effect that one uniform concurrence may be between him and the nobility in the setting forth of the glory of God and governing of the affairs of the commonwealth, they with one mind and assent are agreed and condescend mutually to the articles following: