[1706/10/6]¹

Procedure: commission to the earl of Mar

Her majesty's gift and commission in favour of John [Erskine], earl of Mar to be one of the principal secretaries of state for this kingdom, read and ordered to be recorded, whereof the tenor follows.

Commission and gift of the office of one of the principal secretaries of state to the earl of Mar

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, considering that the appointment and office of one of the principal secretaries of state for our ancient kingdom of Scotland is vacant because of the promotion of our most loyal and well-beloved kinsman and councillor William [Johnston], marquis of Annandale, to the office of president of our privy council of this same kingdom, and that nothing can be more conducive to the welfare of our service and our kingdoms than that men of proven integrity and loyalty be appointed principal ministers of our crown, especially our secretaries of state, in whom we shall be able to have particular trust both in regard to our authority and to the welfare of our subjects; and we are abundantly satisfied of the loyalty, probity and other very fine abilities of our most loyal and well-beloved kinsman and councillor John, earl of Mar, whereby he is in every way fitted to exercise the appointment and office of one of our principal secretaries of state for the said kingdom; therefore for the foresaid and many other reasons and considerations of great importance, know that we have named, made, constituted and appointed, and by this commission do name, make, constitute and appoint this same John, earl of Mar, one of our two secretaries of state for the said kingdom, (during our pleasure only and until this commission may be revoked by us in writing), as co-principal and conjoint [secretary] with our most loyal and well-beloved kinsman and councillor Hugh [Campbell], earl of Loudoun, the other secretary of state for the said kingdom. Likewise, we give and grant, and by the tenor of this commission do give and grant, during the foresaid period, to the said John, earl of Mar, the place, appointment and office of one of our two conjoint secretaries of state aforesaid, with a fair and equal half of all honoraria, profits, emoluments, casual profits, liberties, dignities and immunities which pertained or could pertain to the said appointment, place and office in earlier times, together with an annual pension of £1,000 sterling according to the donation of the same granted to him by us and dated with this commission; with full power to use, exercise and enjoy the said appointment, place and office, and in particular to write, sign and offer us all donations, cautions and documents requiring our royal signature, and to intervene and to receive a fair and equal half of all honoraria, payments and casual profits relating thereto; and to have equal power and privilege with the said Hugh, earl of Loudoun, our other secretary of state for the said kingdom, to receive, interpose and keep all signets of the said kingdom, and to apply an equal half of the benefits and emoluments stemming therefrom to his own private uses and welfare; and power to constitute deputes and keepers of our said signets with all sheriff clerks and clerks of the peace in the said kingdom, and by this authority to grant them commissions, as often as the said offices are vacant for whatever reason, whereby they can discharge and enjoy these appointments for life; and he may receive a half of the admission-fees and profits stemming from the admission of the said clerks, and apply them to his own private uses. In witness whereof, we have ordered that our great seal be appended to this commission. At our palace of Windsor Castle, 29 September in the year of our Lord 1705, and in the fourth year of our reign. Signed by the hand manual of our supreme lady the queen.

Written to the great seal and registered 4 October 1705. Signed thus: Charles Kerr.

Sealed at Edinburgh, 4 October 1705. Signed thus: Alexander Ogilvie.