[1663/6/4]¹

Letter: from the king

The which day the lord commissioner produced a letter direct from his majesty which, being openly read in parliament, was ordained to be recorded in the books of parliament, whereof the tenor follows.

Charles Rex,

My lords and gentlemen, the true sense we have of that eminent loyalty, duty and affection which you have expressed in the preceding sessions of our parliament, by rescinding what was derogatory to our authority and prerogative royal, and cheerfully and clearly asserting and vindicating the same by many excellent laws which have been made in this parliament; and restoring the ancient and right government of the church, gave us great desires to have given you these hearty thanks our self which we have done by our letters on several occasions. But seeing our great affairs cannot allow us to be present with you and that we have, for the good of our service upon diverse weighty considerations, recalled our two former commissions granted to [John Middleton], earl of Middleton, we have authorised [John Leslie], earl of Rothes, president of our council, to be our commissioner and to represent our person and authority during this session of our parliament, and have commanded him in our name again to give you full assurance of our constant affection to that our ancient kingdom, of whose loyalty and kindness we had large testimonies during our residence there, and yet more ample demonstrations in this full and free parliament. We are well assured that our commissioner will faithfully and truly communicate our pleasure to you in every thing which concerns our service and the good of that our kingdom; and as we desire you to give full credit to what he shall say in our name, so we are most confident you will unanimously concur in rectifying these few things which are amiss, in preserving the peace and unity of that our ancient kingdom, and in vigorous maintaining of our authority and the government both of church and state as now they are by law established, wherein we conceive our honour and the good and peace of our kingdom are very highly concerned. And so we bid you very heartily farewell. Given at our court at Whitehall, 4 June 1663, and of our reign the 15th year.

Directed: to our right trusty and right well-beloved cousin and councillor [William Cunningham], earl of Glencairn, our chancellor, to be communicated to the lords spiritual and temporal, the commissioners of shires and burghs assembled in our parliament of Scotland.