Act, 27 December 1694, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Tuentie seventh day of february J^aj vi^c nyntie four years

A1694/2/42

A1694/2/42¹

Act

Act James Clerk

Anent the petitione given in to the Lords of their Majesties privie Councill Be James Clerk youngest sone to umquhile James Clerk of Pittencreiff Shewing That wheras the petitioner had the honour to serve their present Majesties in the quality of ane Ensigne in the army in Flanders And by reasone of his young years Having but a small experience in the sinistrous polliticks and insinuationes of some persones who were noe well wishers to the present government And in the year J^aj vi^c nyntie one about the opening of that Campaigne seduced and prevailled upon by the allured arguments and promises of the abovementioned persones (whose names are butt too well knouen that he should particularly mentione them in this place) Being he said by their Instigatione prevailled upon to desert their Majesties army and offered his service to the French The petitioner had noe sooner done it But he was Immediatly sensible of the baseness of the Actione which he doeth heirby acknouledge from the very bottome of his soull and which he thought Could be noe wayes repaired but by a humble submissione and Ingenuous Confessione of the Just resentment the petitioner hath of it Being therfore desyrous (so soon as a Convenient opportunity offered) publictly to oune his penitence for soe mean and disloyall ane Actione The petitioner doeth now with all submission Imaginable throw himself In their Majesties mercy by delyvering up his persone to their Lordships who the petitioner hopes uill be so charitable as to Look upon this as a free voluntary and conscientious Act and not as a surrenderer occasioned aither throw a pinching necessity or by the I advyces of any he is Concerned in Therfore Earnestly Intreating that their Lordships would accept of it as such The petitioner Humbly submitts himself to their Majesties Clemency and their Lordships Compassione For which their Lordships unuorthie petitioner who was ready to appear when called for doeth most earnestly pray as the said petitione bears The saids Lords of their Majesties privy Councill Having Considered the above petitione with the petitioners declaratione Bearing that he was in the Duke of Shambergs regiment and did desert with severall of the officers of the Regiment of Scotts guairds and one of the officers off D’Offerrells regiment That he went to the french Army and uas in Catellonia And offering to take the oath of alleadgance and assurance They heirby allow the petitioner to be att Liberty as any others of their Majesties free Leidges upon his taking the oath of alleadgance and assurance And giving bond and finding sufficient Cautione acted in the books of privy Councill That he shall Live peacably under and with all submission to the present government of their Majesties King William and Queen Mary And that he shall not Act Consult or Contryve any thing thing² in prejudice therof nor Converss or Correspond uith any rebells And that he shall appear before the saids Lords when called for under the penaltie of one Thousand merks In caise he shall transgress In any pairt of the premisses