[A1572/11/17]¹

Bond made to the king

We, and every one of us under-subscribing, understanding the king's majesty, our only sovereign lord, to be lawfully inaugurated and possessed with the royal crown of this kingdom of Scotland, and according to our debt bound duties and allegiance, being careful of his highness's safety and preservation, and to procure all good means that may quiet and settle this troubled state to his highness's obedience, therefore we shall, God willing, likewise we do presently reverence, acknowledge and recognise his majesty as our sovereign lord and king, and James [Douglas], earl of Morton, lord of Dalkeith etc., regent to his highness, his realm and lieges thereof, and shall serve and obey his highness, his said regent and authority as becomes dutiful subjects. Our lands and lives in the defence and advancement thereof we shall bestow and wear. The hurt, harm or subversion of the same authority we shall never know nor procure by any means, direct or indirect. All former bonds for obedience of any other authority subscribed or made by us in any times past, contrary or prejudicial to his highness, his said regent and authority, we renounce and discharge, affirming and swearing solemnly upon our faiths and honours to observe and keep this our declaration and plain profession and every point thereof, by God himself, and as we will answer to his general judgement; wherein if we fail, we are content to be accounted faithless, perjured and defamed, beside the ordinary pain of the laws to be executed upon us without favour, as a perpetual memory of our unnatural defection and inexcusable untruth. In witness whereof, we have subscribed this bond with our hands as follows.