Act, 6 October 1697, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Eight day of September J^aj vi^c nyntie seven years

A1697/9/5

A1697/9/5¹

Act

Act Mr Theodor Wamphray

Anent the petition given in to the Lords of his Majesties privie Councill By Mr Theodor Umphray minister of the Gospell at Nesting in the Island of Zetland Sheuing That wher the petitioner hath been minister at the said paroch upuards of Fourtie years bygone During which tyme he hath behaved himself as became a Minister of the Gospell And since the happy revolutione hes Carryed himself with all tender respect and regaird to the present Government under his majestie King William And for testifying therof to his people and Flock did cheerfully obey all such orders for keeping of Fasts for the prosperity of his Majesties armes Thanksgivings for his delyverie and praying for his sacred persone so soon as they came to his hand And was aluayes willing and ready to Give all testimony of his fidelity and Loyaltie that the Law should require And having Lately gott Informatione of some acts of parliament requiring all Ministers to take the oath of alleadgance and subscribe the assurance The petitioner thought it his deuty to repaire hither for Certain Information therof and for qualifying himself accordingly And now understanding that ther is ane Act of parliament dated the tuenty third of May J^aj vi^c nyntie three wherby all therinnamed are ordained to suear the said oath and subscribe the assurance betuixt and the tuenty day of June therafter And that ther is another Act the sixteenth of Jully J^aj vi^c nyntie five prorogating the dyet as to the Ministers untill september therafter The petitioner hath presumed uith all humility to represent to their Lordships that none of the saids acts was soe much as heard of in the said Countrey of zetland till Long after the tymes appointed therby were elapsed and the Certification of Law Incurred And Considering the short tyme therin prescribed It was Impossible the same could come to any mans knouledge tymously in that Island albeit ane express had been sent theruith much less in the condition the Inhabitants therof are in Being In a manner secluded from all Intercourse uith any other place in the kingdome except once or tuyce at most that ane bark used to Come from Dundie or therabout in the month of March and october yearly But this whyle bygone hes been Interrupted by the French Capers who Continuallie Infest that Coast so that the Inhabitants of zetland have some tymes been Locked up for a whole year uithout having any Certaine account of what is done or transacted in other parts of the Kingdome In relation to the Government And being Informed that their Lordships have been graciously pleased to repone severall ministers who Live at any Considerable distance many wherof have not by farr so much to say for a Just and relevant excuse As the petitioner who Lives in the most remote and Inaccessable Inhabitant Island of Scotland Being above a hundred miles separat from any Land and uithout any boat or bark belonging to the Island that can goe to the Continent And therfore Humblie Craving their Lordships to take the premisses to their serious Consideration And to repone him against the Certificatione of the forsaids acts of parliament And to allow him to qualifie himself before their Lordships or any of their Lordships Number they shall please to appoint as the said petition bears The saids Lords of his Majesties privie Councill Having Considered this petition given in to them by the said Mr Theodor Wmphray They heirby allou the petitioner to take and suear the oath of alleadgance and subscribe the assurance appointed to his Majestie by Act of parliament And that In presence of any one of the Lords of his Majesties privie Councill And upon the petitioners suearing and signing as said is The saids Lords doe heirby repone him against the Certifications Contained in the Acts of parliament anent the said oath and assurance In respect the petitioner hath suorn and signed as said is And Inacted himself in the books of his Majesties privie Councill That he shall submitt himself in all things pertaining to his Doctrine Life and office to the Jurisdiction and Censures of the presbyterian church of his kingdome as now setled by Law.