[A1641/8/145]¹

[Supplication of the Earl of Montrose, Lord Napier, lairds of Keir and Blackhall for release from their imprisonment]

Supplicatione Erle of Montrose, Lord Naper, Lairdis of Keir and Blackhall with the warrand for the libertie²

Unto the king's most sacred majestie and honorable estats of parlament, the humble petition of James, erle of Montrose, Archbald, lord Naper, Sir George Sterling of Keir, Sir Archbald Stuart of Blakhall,

Humbly sheuing,

Wheras we heave often formerly most humbly supplicatt your sacred majestie and those of the honorall estats (that since, inrespect of your majesties greatter affaires and those of the honorabill hous, we found small hopes to heave our selfs called into your majesties and ther remembrances) that it wold please your gratious majestie and those of the honorabill estats to thinke it fitt we might be inlarged upon what seurty your majestie and they outt of your great wisdomes should be pleased to thinke most expedient (according to ordinary pracktike, as by a great many particular instances already produced does clearly appeare, which, seimeing by the same curant of bussynes, we heave already beine putt by into as being also informed that your majesties affaires and those of the honorabill hous ar now tending towards ane conclusion and happy close). Our most humble desyres unto your sacred majestie and those of the honorabill estats therfor is that after so much tyme and patience we may nou, att last, be taken into your gratious majestie and ther wyse consideration be ane publike aither and present hearing (which we doe not shune, bot in all humility and confidence intreat), or if the tyme do not favor us with so much happynes, att least heave that common benefitt of inlargement according to the standing acts and practiks of this kingdome already maide to appeare, being aluayse holden to ansuer within what desynitt tyme your gratious majestie and those of the honorabill house shall thinke most fitt. Which being hitherto uncontroverted to all persons in all of this nature, your sacred majesties favorable ansuer and that of the honorall estats we most humbly expect.

• Montrose
• Naper
• A. S. Blakhall
• General Keir

16 Novembris 1641

Red in audience of his majestie and estaitts of parliament, who ordains the supplicants to be putt to libertie, they finding cautione to behave themselves in such ane quiett manner as may most conduce for the peace of the kingdom and according to the actis of parliament. Quhairin gif they failyie, the favour graunted to thame be the king and parliament to be null. And alss finding cautione to appeir before the councill whensoever they shall be required.

Balmerino, I[n] p[raesentia] d[ominorum] parliamenti³