[A1641/8/73]¹

[Supplication of the Earl of Home for reparation of his losses at Dunglass House]

Supplication by [James Home], earl of Home

To the king's most excellent majesty and honourable estates of parliament, the humble petition of James, earl of Home, lord Dunglass etc., shows whereas by that grievous and lamentable accident which fell out at my house of Dunglass, as this whole kingdom in general and a great many your majesty's subjects in particular have extraordinary sufferings and losses of parents, friends and others in whom they had near interest, to the great grief of all good people who have got any notice of the same, so have I most sensible prejudice thereby in my means and estate. And seeing my prejudice was occasioned by the public service of the kingdom, for which my said house, plenishing and others belonging thereto were taken up and wholly employed, namely: for keeping of victuals, ammunition, billeting of soldiers, officers and for judging of prime commanders as opportunity offered, in which service my said house was totally overthrown, the plenishing thereof spoiled, yards, planting and wire belonging thereto deducted to my great hurt. Whereupon I having supplicated the committee of estates that they might be pleased to give warrant to examine my losses and take course relating thereto, they, upon 27 November 1640, did nominate and ordain [Sir Alexander Swinton], laird of Swinton, [Sir William Cockburn of] Langton, [Douglas of] Kilspindie, [Sir John Sinclair of] Stevenston and [John Arnott of] Cockburnspath, or any three of them, to be appraisers of my loss and prejudice and to use all means for information and trial thereof, and to make report of the same to the said committee of estates, to the effect they might make report thereof to the parliament, as the commission directed relating thereto at more length bears. Likewise according thereto the said commissioners took careful information and trial of the business and whole particulars of my losses so far as concerns my said house of Dunglass, yards, dykes and planting thereof, and concluded that the reparation thereof would amount to the sum of £40,133, which report being exhibited before the said committee of estates upon 14 July last, reference was made thereof to the parliament now convened. Humbly therefore I beseech your majesty and this honourable house to take to consideration the said commission and report, and to appoint such course for reparation or payment of my said losses after consideration of the whole particulars mentioned in the report and of the condition of my said house before the ruin thereof, which apprising cannot but be found to be far within the worth valued, seeing it was estimated by some workmen who were builders of the said house that the reparation of the said house would amount to the sum of 130,000 merks, which sum is the double and more than that which is contained in the commissioners' report. And your majesty's and estates' answer I humbly crave.

15 September 1641

[James Home], earl of Home produced the commission with the report of the valuation thereof. The committee thinks this supplication and desire thereof deserves the parliament's consideration, and therefore they represent the same thereto.

1 October 1641

Read in audience of his majesty and estates of parliament, who appoint a duplicate hereof, together with the commission granted by the committee of estates and report thereof, to be given to every estate and another to [John Maitland], earl of Lauderdale for [Mary Sutton], lady Home.