[1639/7/2]¹

Procedure: production of commission

The which day Sir John Scott of Scotstarvit, knight, director of our sovereign lord's chancellery, produced the foresaid commission above-mentioned under his highness's quarter seal, of the date above-written, for fencing and continuing of the foresaid parliament to the day underwritten, of the which commission the tenor follows:

[Abstract:] The king sends greeting to all. Considering that parliament was to be continued to 23 July 1639, but now for various great reasons touching the good of the church and kingdom it cannot be held on that day, but it is to be prorogued anew or declared a running parliament, therefore the king appoints commissioners John [Stewart], earl of Traquair, treasurer, Robert [Ker], earl of Roxburghe, keeper of the privy seal, William [Keith], earl Marischal, John [Erskine], earl of Mar, George [Seton], earl of Winton, Alexander [Livingston], earl of Linlithgow, John [Maitland], earl of Lauderdale, Alexander [Napier], lord Napier, Sir Thomas Hope of Craighall, king's advocate, Sir William Elphinstone, justice general, Sir John Hamilton of Orbiston, justice clerk, and Sir Archibald Stewart of Blackhall, or five or three of them, with power to convene in the parliament house at Edinburgh on 23 July and there begin and hold the parliament according to the usual form used in similar cases before when any of the necessary members of parliament are absent, to do all that is necessary for the lawful affirmation of the court of parliament. Immediately after the affirmation the king commands them to prorogue the parliament until 26 August next, or declare it to be a running parliament. Under the great seal at Berwick on 18 July 1639, fifteenth year of the reign.

And thereupon asked instruments.