[1662/5/4]¹

Legislation

Act for calling in the bishops to the parliament

Forasmuch as the king's majesty has been graciously pleased to restore the church to its ancient and right government by archbishops and bishops, dean and chapter, yet seeing by the troubles and confusions these twenty-four years past that government has been suppressed, so as their election and establishment at this time could not be in the form prescribed by the act of parliament by dean and chapter; his majesty has, with advice and consent of his estates in parliament, thought fit to dispense with the present manner of election, and declares the same to be sufficient and good and as valid as if the same had been done by dean and chapter; and therefore, his majesty, with advice foresaid, ratifies and approves the same. And considering that the clergy did always, in the right constitution of parliaments, represent the first state, and that now archbishops and bishops being restored, it is fit the parliament is returned to its ancient constitution, and that the clergy have their place and vote in parliament as formerly; therefore, his majesty, with advice foresaid, gives commission to the earls [Alexander Erskine, earl] of Kellie and [David Wemyss, earl of] Wemyss, [Walter Sandilands], lord Torphichen, the lairds [Sir John Urquhart] of Cromarty, [Archibald Murray, laird of] Blackbarony, and [Sir Thomas Hamilton of] Preston, the commissioners [Sir Robert Murray of Cameron and John Milne] for Edinburgh, [William Cunningham of Brownhill for] Ayr and [Andrew Carstairs for] St Andrews, to go and, in his majesty's name, invite the archbishops and bishops to come and take their place, and vote in parliament as in former times before these troubles, which was accordingly done.²