[1703/5/11]¹

Procedure: commission to Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh

Her majesty's gift and commission in favour of Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh to be lord clerk register, read and ordered to be recorded, whereof the tenor follows:

Commission to Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh to be lord clerk register

Anne, by the grace of God, queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and defender of the faith, to all honest men to whom our present letters shall have come, greetings. In as much as we are already abundantly satisfied both of the loyalty and outstanding talents, and also the sincere integrity of our most loyal and well-beloved councillor, Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh, and in particular that he is in every way fitted to exercise the appointment and office of clerk of our registers and rolls in our said kingdom; know therefore that we have named, constituted and appointed, and by the tenor of this commission do name, constitute and appoint the said Sir James Murray, (during the period of our pleasure only), clerk of our registers and rolls of our council of session and exchequer, and of all commissions of the meetings of parliaments and estates in our said kingdom, by giving and granting him this same appointment and office during the foresaid period, with every honour, dignity, privilege, profit, immunity and casual profit whatsoever relating thereto, or which may be considered to relate thereto by right and the practice of our said kingdom; with full and absolute power and authority to choose and constitute one or more substitute or depute clerks in the said office or any part thereof for the lifetime of such substitutes or deputes, who shall exercise their offices² with all the emoluments of the same throughout all the days of their life respectively. Finally, we ordain and grant him authority to do and fulfil each and every thing relevant to the said office concerning the law and practice of this our kingdom, or done by anyone else in the same office in earlier times; and by the tenor of this commission, we ordain and constitute the said Sir James Murray to have, to raise and to receive the entire past profits, payments, perquisites and casual profits which have arisen through the said appointment and office from the time we declared the office vacant. In witness whereof, we have taken pains to have our great seal appended to this commission. At our palace of St James's, 21 November in the year of our Lord 1702, and in the first year of our reign. Signed by the hand manual of our supreme lady the queen.

Written to the great seal and registered 30 November 1702. Signed thus, Charles Kerr. Sealed at Edinburgh, 30 November 1702, in absence of Sir Andrew Home, by special warrant until the seal is renewed. Signed thus, George Renton.