[A1641/8/57]¹

[Supplication of Mr Archibald Johnston, procurator for the kirk, for exoneration of his carriage in the treaty negotiations]

Unto the king's most excellent majestie and the rycht honorabill the estates of parliament, the humble supplication of Maistir Archibald Johnstoun, procurator for the kirk,

Humblie shewing,

That as it pleased the Lord, who is the framer and searcher of hearts, to mak it my greatest desire in this lyfe to be in any degree according to my weaknes the meanest instrument of his service in this great work for the goode of the kirk and state, so it pleased his majestie in his providence to move and enclyne the hearts of the assemblies of this kirk and of the estates of parliament to put trust, favour and employment upon there unworthie and weak servant, even in the most important and difficult passages of this work, farr beyond his abilitie, desert or expectation, which made me the more earnest with God in prayer and in the endevours before men to prove thankfull, faithfull and usefull in these employments. And where as in the parliament of Junii 1640 the estates wer pleased to give unto me an ample testimonie and to command me to attend the committie at the campe incase of a necessitie of new treaties or publict declarations for to show furth the reassons of or prejudices against thair demands and proceedings in assemblie and parliament, as the act for the committie of estates at more lenth proports; lykas the committie of estates wes pleased to employ thair servant with uthairs in the treattie of peace begun at Rippon and transferred to London, and therin to continow me under that burthene and charge untill all the articles wer debaitted and the conclusion of the treatty nears an end in June last, at which tyme upon command of the committies I returned home and randerit unto them for the space of three dayes together an full account of our haill debaits and proceedings and the reassons thairof. Wherupon they, haveing particularlie examined me in severall interrogators, they seemed to give unto me thair exoneration and approbation, wherunto I acquiesced for the tyme. Bot seing I perceave now by the supplications of all uthers who hes bene employed in that commission that they ar to receave thair censure or approbation in plaine parliament, I desire not to shun an reexamination how exact so evir, but doe most willinglie and humblie submitt my selffe and whole actions and deportments throw the whole passages of this work and speciallie in this last weghtie and great charge to the consideration of his gratious majestie and of your lordis, that if I have bene unfaithfull and negligent in discharge of my duetie and obedience unto the commandements and instructions gevin to me, and especiallie in that particular trust from the estates of showing the reassons of ther demands and proceedings in assemblie and parliament and the prejudices against athair of them, or if I have for fears of any hasard or hope of any benefeit, preferment or any thing els whatsomevir done any thing in contrair to thair instructions or prejudiciall to the publict, that I may undergoe that censure which the wrongers of the countrey and abusers of such great trust deserves. And if your majestie and this honnorabill hous sall find that I have bene faithfull and diligent according to my knowledge and conscience (albeit with great weaknes and manie infirmeteis) in that charge and trust layde upone me then doe I in all humilitie begg, that seing by Gods assistance and blessing the treattie of peace is closed and seing my employment in thir publict bussines is now at an end, that before I returne to my private affaires and calling from the which these four yeires I have bene contenuallie distracted, I may obtaine from his gratious majestie and your lordis an exoneration of that charge and an approbation of my former cariage to be joyned to an inward testimonie of an goods conscience before God, whose divyne majestie I darr in all humilitie be bolde to attest as the sole author and true witnes of my greatest desire and indevoure to approve my selfe before God and man as an faithfull and diligent servant to himself, to the kirk, the king and to the estate in this his great work and that without fears, hopes, particular designes, selfe aymes or uther respects quhatsomevir. And the answer of his gratious majestie and this honnorabill house most humblie I crave.