[1641/8/171]¹

Commission for receiving of the brotherly assistance from the parliament of England

Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, considering that of the brotherly assistance promised and obliged to be paid by the parliament and kingdom of England to this kingdom of Scotland, for relief and defrayment of the common burdens and losses of the same, there is yet resting the sum of £220,000 sterling according to the articles of the late treaty and an act of public faith granted by the parliament of England for payment thereof at the terms therein contained, therefore our said sovereign lord and estates of parliament do hereby grant full power, warrant and commission and appoint, nominate and authorise the persons particularly after-mentioned, namely: John [Campbell], earl of Loudoun, chancellor of Scotland, Archibald [Campbell], marquis of Argyll, Alexander [Montgomery], earl of Eglinton, John [Kennedy], earl of Cassilis, William [Cunningham], earl of Glencairn, John [Maitland], earl of Lauderdale, William [Kerr], earl of Lothian, John [Lindsay], earl of Lindsay, David [Carnegie], earl of Southesk, James [Ogilvie], earl of Findlater, John [Sinclair], lord Sinclair, John [Elphinstone], lord Balmerino, Robert [Balfour], lord [Balfour of] Burleigh, George [Forrester], lord Forrester, Sir Charles Erskine of Bandeath, [Alva and Cambuskenneth], Sir David Home of Wedderburn, Sir Robert Innes of that Ilk, Sir George Dundas of that Ilk, Sir William Cunningham of Caprington, Sir John Wauchope of Niddrie, Sir Alexander Erskine of Dun, Sir Gilbert Ramsay of Balmain, Sir Duncan Campbell of Auchinbreck, Sir William Forbes of Craigievar, Sir Robert Grierson of Lag, Master George Douglas of Bonjedburgh, William Rigg of Aithernie, Alexander Gordon of Earlston, John Binney, burgess of Edinburgh, Thomas Durham, burgess of Perth, Patrick Leslie, burgess of Aberdeen, George Bell, burgess of Linlithgow, Patrick Bell, burgess of Glasgow, James Sword, burgess of St Andrews, John Kennedy, burgess of Ayr, John Semple [of Stainflett], burgess of Dumbarton, William Glendinning [of Gelstoun], burgess of Kirkcudbright, James Scott [of Logie], burgess of Montrose, Master Robert Barclay, burgess of Irvine, James Anderson, burgess of Cupar, George Gardyne, burgess of Burntisland and Master Alexander Douglas [of Downies], burgess of Banff, together with Alexander [Leslie], earl of Leven and Sir Adam Hepburn of Humbie, one of the senators of the college of justice, whom his majesty and estates of parliament add to the foresaid number as ordinary members, with the rest to be commissioners from his majesty and the parliament to the effect after-specified, granting and committing, likewise his majesty and estates foresaid do, by virtue of this commission, grant full power, warrant and commission to the forenamed persons, or to any 12 of them, who shall be a quorum, there being always three of them of each estate, either by themselves or by such other persons as shall be entrusted and authorised by them, or their quorum foresaid for that effect, to crave, receive, uplift and intromit with the foresaid sum of £220,000 sterling foresaid yet resting unpaid of the said brotherly assistance promised and obliged to be paid by the said parliament of England in manner foresaid; and with power to the said commissioners, or such as shall be appointed by them as said is, to give and grant discharges upon the receipt of the said sum in whole or in part, which shall be as valid and sufficient as if the same were granted by the king's majesty and whole body of this present parliament; and with power to them to settle, accord and agree upon the best ways and courses how the said brotherly assistance may be most timeously and conveniently paid at the terms of payment appointed for that effect, or otherwise how the same may be advanced, either by exchange or other ways for defrayment and relief of the said common burdens, as may be most conducible for the good and relief of the public; and whatsoever acquittances or discharges the forenamed persons or such other persons as shall be authorised by them shall grant and subscribe upon the receipt of the said sum or any part thereof, or whatsoever other course they shall accord or agree upon concerning the same, his majesty and estates of parliament do by this commission approve and authorise the same and, if need be, shall ratify the same in the next ensuing parliament. And generally our said sovereign lord aids, grants and commits full power and commission to the forenamed persons and their quorum foresaid, and to those who shall be authorised by them as said is, to do, exercise, accord and agree upon all and every thing necessary regarding the payment and recovery of the foresaid sums and everything else which may concern the same in all respects needful and expedient; concerning which our said sovereign lord and estates of parliament declare that this commission shall be a good and sufficient warrant for them and all others whom the same may concern, the forenamed commissioners and those to be authorised and appointed by them for the effect above-specified being always accountable and answerable for their carriage and proceedings in the premises.