[A1641/7/3]¹

[Declaration of the Earl of Traquair against the deposition of Captain Stewart]

The Earle of Traquairis earnest desine, signed be himselff, that the parliament of the kingdome of Scotland will be pleased to bring him to his tryell for whatt Capitane Stewartis depositiones may seime to concerne him, which his majestie desyres may be red to the committies and to the parliament.²

It is a great misfortune and unhappines for me that I can not conveniently be at this meating of the parliament of Scotland, befor quhom (as thes quhois judgement I sall most willinglie submit my self unto) I might clear the truethe of all that hes past betuixt Captain Stewart and me. In consideratione quhairof, and of that deutie I owe to the parliament, quho (as I hear) have taken particular notice of his depositiones, and that his folleis or knaverie may nather wrong my innocencie nor the treuthe, I doe by thes declair that I hade no negociatione with him concerning publik busines, but suche as was fitting for ane quho hade suorne and subscryved the confession and covenant of Scotland. And this and all that was heirin betuixt him and me was upon suche generals as I sall be glade and by thes I doe most hartilie and freilie offer my self to the tryall and censure of the parliament of Scotland for any thing past betuixt him and me. And if in any thing I sall be fund to have desborded, ather from the deutie of a gud Cristian and one quho hade subscryved the covenant, or if therin it sall appear that I have done any thing that may appear factious or contrair to gud of the happie conclusion of this treatie of peace, lat my censure be [...]³ upon me accordinglie. As for thes informationes he brought [...]⁴ first be word and therefter be writ against the Earle of Argyll, they ware from himselff without ather procurment or forknawledge of myn, never intertained be me nor thought I them considerable, as my answer both to his verball and writtin informatione, and quich I am vire confident he can not deny, will clearlie evince. Leikas I nevir did soe muche as tak notice therof to king or subject.

Quhat his or his complices (if any he hade) their plot was against the Marquis of Hamiltone I knaw not. I and diverse uthers have hard him espres foolische and impertinent speaches of the marques and uthers, but nothing in particulare of him nor any uther, and for quhich he was cheked be me and uthers to quhom he keiped the leik discourses.

It is not for me to descend to particulairs or at this distance to offer any thing to the consideratione of the parliament, quich be undenyable circumstances will mak the treuthe and ingenuitie of my cariage heirin appear, and will mak him appear ather a verie vaek bussie body or a verie great and malicious knave, one or uther of quich I sall most clearlie evince (if his informationes and depositiones be suche as I am made to beleive). In the mean tym, my humble and earnest sute to the parliament of Scotland is that upon quhat comes from him I suffer no farder prejudice in ther gud opiniones, since for ther satisfaction and clearing of the treuthe I am most willing and desyrous to cum to a tryall and to submit myself therin to quhat they sall find to have bein demerited be the cariadge of ther most humble servand.

Traquaire

15 Julii 1641

Producit be the Lord Lowdoune and red in face of parliament.⁵