The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2024), date accessed: 29 March 2024
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Declaration: closure of parliament
Act 60
Declaration and closure of the parliament
The said estates of parliament made this declaration after-specified, which was read, voted, passed and subscribed by [Robert Balfour, lord Balfour of Burleigh], president, in open and plain parliament before the rising thereof, namely:
The humble and continued desires of your majesty's subjects convened in parliament by your majesty's authority, these are the acts of this parliament called at first and convened again the second time by your majesty's authority, not in a common way of calling of parliaments but by your majesty's special and solemn promise in your majesty's royal declaration at the time of pacification grounded thereupon, which we now in all humility present to your majesty's view and princely consideration as containing no new thing different from our first and continued desires and serving for the preservation of our religion and laws and for settling the peace of this kirk and kingdom under your majesty's government. As it was never our mind to deny to your majesty, our native king and dread sovereign, any part of temporal and civil obedience, so do we now, all of us with one heart and voice, testify to your majesty before the world, against the open railings and secret suggestions of our enemies, that we account no earthly thing so desirable as to have the happiness of enjoying this peace under the long and prosperous reign of your majesty and your royal successors in whom we have so great and kindly interest, and therefore, as it has been our care and diligence to keep ourselves within the bounds of moderation (as if your majesty's throne standing before our eyes had been filled and we honoured with your majesty's personal presence), enacting nothing but the ratification of the constitutions of the late assembly approved by your majesty's commissioner and such other things as do conduce for your majesty's honour and the good and peace of the kingdom, and making no kind of alteration but such as either by unavoidable necessity and by strength of the matter itself was originated and derived from the acts of the assembly and without which they could not be ratified according to your majesty's declaration or according to the laws were most necessary for the preservation of our religion and liberties in time coming, so it is now our humble petition and confident expectation that your majesty will judge equally of the proceedings of your loyal and well meaning subjects, and will account of these acts as your majesty's own laws since they have been presented with their particular reasons to your majesty's examination by our commissioners and nothing remonstrated to us against the equity and necessity of them, and since they are concluded in parliament after one prorogation convened by your majesty, for this effect we had been inexcusable and could neither have answered to God Almighty nor to your majesty, his vicegerent, for our good if we had not in the extreme exigence of this kirk and kingdom made use of the liberty which by his divine providence and your majesty's authority and permission was put in our hands. When your majesty shall be graciously pleased to command these acts to be published in your own name as our sovereign lord, with the estates of parliament convened by your majesty's authority, when [John Campbell], lord Loudoun, one of our commissioners sent from the parliament upon your majesty's warrant, shall be returned in safety, the castle of Edinburgh and other strengths of the kingdom shall, with the advice of the estates, according to their first foundation, be furnished and used for our defence and security, some of our countrymen in your majesty's other dominions shall be free from censure for subscribing the covenant and be no more pressed with oaths and subscriptions unwarranted by our laws and contrary to our National Oath and Covenant approved by your majesty, others of them who have been wicked instruments to work us all our woe and to divide between your majesty and the kingdom shall be sent hither and put to a trial according to the laws, our ships and goods, soldiers and others imprisoned restored, and our losses and wrongs which all this time we have sustained repaired, declarations against us as traitors recalled, and when your majesty shall be pleased to condescend to a stable and well grounded peace for our enjoying of our religion and liberties against all fears of molestation, then will the real testimonies and royal proofs of your majesty's justice and goodness be so strong bonds of love and invincible chains to tie our hearts that never was there a people more obsequious to a king nor a king more contented and happy in a people. And why shall we not think that your majesty will regard the sound judgement and unfeigned affection of a whole kingdom above the opinion and self love of a few malcontents who are at discord with the times and account your majesty's danger and dishonour and our common calamities to be a mitigation of their justly deserved miseries? Why shall we not hope that your majesty's wisdom will judge it more convenient to bestow your royal favour upon this whole kingdom wherein every one of us may have our own benefit than upon some few persons who, by their intervention, make an eclipse of your majesty's countenance and goodness at so great a distance? And why shall not an obedient people that curse all rebellion and treason to hell where it is hatched look for better days when this storm is blown over, wherein God may have his own glory, your majesty as much honour as a good king can require, and we, your majesty's subjects, that peace and happiness which may make us heartily pray for the long and prosperous reign of our native king and monarch?
After divine service by preaching, prayers and thanksgiving the parliament rose and so this session was concluded as above.
- NAS, PA2/22, f.56r-57r.