The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2024), date accessed: 3 October 2024
[1571/8/22]1
Procedure: appointment of negotiating commissioners with England
2Item, forasmuch as in this present running [parliament], [Matthew Stewart, earl of Lennox], the king's majesty's grandfather and late regent, having proposed of before to make answer to [Elizabeth I], the queen's majesty of England's letter sent to him touching the directing of commissioners for the part of our sovereign lord the king to the frontier at Berwick, where also her majesty intended to send some persons of her council to hear and deliberate upon matters in contention for establishing of quietness between the two realms, as also to commune upon the differences of the crown, at the receipt of the which letter, the matter being of such importance that no few number dare presume to treat or grant commission thereupon, opinions of the whole estates thought necessary and requisite to be had therein; which being moved and proposed to the said estates [...] of this present parliament by our sovereign lord's late [...] regent, they being ripely advised therewith, then took [...] queen's matter of England's meaning in very good p[art] [...]ance of her accustomed care towards the preserva[tion ...] of our sovereign lord and his good subjects and of the [...] realms, and therefore gladly willing to embrace [...]ceeding on her majesty's motion, they thought and also [...] of commissioners be at the borders. And for the part [of the k...] our sovereign will in no way refuse the same, to confer and tr[eat ...] queen's majesty of England's commissioners upon all d[iffere ...] causes or matters depending between the subjects of either rea[lm] given upon the occasion of the late troubles, and for further conf[irm]ation or augmenting of any treaty of peace heretofore made and concluded between the realms of Scotland and England, or for contracting and perfecting of any new treaty or consideration, as well for the maintenance of the true religion publicly professed by the inhabitants of both the realms, and for resisting of any power that might be stirred up within either realm going about to disturb the amity wherein it has pleased God to contain the two realms in the unity of the said religion; as also for the increase of amity, peace and concord between her majesty and our sovereign lord, her and his realms, dominions, people and subjects, and therefore, when it shall be her majesty's good pleasure to authorise commissioner or commissioners and send them to her frontiers to the effect aforesaid, the estates thought good that they be met by the noblemen of this realm, and for that purpose have nominated the noblemen and others after specified: that is to say, James [Douglas], earl of Morton, lord of Dalkeith etc., chancellor and great admiral of Scotland, Archibald [Campbell], earl of Argyll, lord Campbell and Lorne etc., great justice, John [Graham], earl of Montrose, lord Graham, Alexander [Cunningham], earl of Glencairn, lord Kilmaurs, William [Ruthven], lord Ruthven, treasurer, John [Lyon], lord Glamis, Patrick [Lindsay], lord Lindsay of the Byres, Robert [Sempill], lord Sempill, Robert [Boyd], lord Boyd, Adam [Bothwell], bishop of Orkney, commendator of Holyroodhouse, Robert [Pitcairn], commendator of Dunfermline, secretary, James [Stewart], commendator of Inchcolm, David [Erskine], commendator of Dryburgh, Sir John Bellenden of Auchnoull, knight, [clerk] of justiciary, and Master James MacGill of Nether Rankeilour, clerk register, to whom any four, three [...] of them, our sovereign lord, with advice of his right trusty [cousin] John [Erskine], earl of Mar, lord Erskine etc., now regent to his [highness], his realm and lieges, and also with advice of the three est[...] whole body of this present parliament, gives full power [...] to convene, treat and conclude with commissioners or [...] whatsoever of the queen's majesty of England at [...] days and places to the effect above-written, and [...] the title of the crown of this realm, the said lo[rd] and whole estates will in no way condescend to [grant], to commune or enter in question thereupon.3
- NAS, PA2/11, pp.115-16.
- This item is not included in The Actis of King James the Sext, printed by R. Lekprevick (St Andrews, 1573). Gaps in text due to damage to manuscript.
- Fragmentary folio, unclear if this is the end of the act or of the material relating to August 1571.