Commission to the Council, 15 March 1692, Edinburgh

Act, 29 December 1692, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Fyfteinth day off March Jaj vjc and Nyntie tuo years

A1692/3/231

Commission to the Council

Commission In favours of the Right Honourable James Johnstoun Esqr To be one of the tuo Secretaryes of State of the Kingdome of Scotland

Gulielmus et Maria Dei Gratia Magnae Brittanniae Franciae et Hyberniae Rex et Regina fideique defensores Omnibus probis hominibus ad quos presentes literae nostrae pervenerint Salutem Quandoquidem Cum ex serena nostra et seria animadversione perspicerimus2 nihil magis in ministerii nostri et Regnorum nostrorum Commodum Conducere posse Quam ut probatae Integritatis et fidelitatis viri praeclaris animi dotibus Imbuti principalis coronae nostrae ministri Specialim vera Status nostri Secretarii Constituantur Quibus specialem habere poterimus fidem tum quoad authoritatem nostram Cum subditorum nostrorum Commodum Nosque etiam satis Compertam habentes fidelitatem Insignem fidelissimi et Dilectissimi Nostri Jacobi Johnstoun Armigeri quippe Cum preclara habuerimus testimonia Intaminatae suae fidelitatis et summarum animi dotum non solum in Eminentioribus fidis et summi momenti ministeriis ante felicissimam nostram ad Coram accessionem ipsi concreditis verum etiam postea de omni occasione Et in omnibus stationibus nominatim vero tanquam legati nostri extraordinarii ad serenissimum Electorem Brandenburgicum Unde Nobis abunde satisfactum et de probata sua integritate sinceritate manifesta et genuino erga nostrum ministerium Zelo aliisque per pulchris facultatibus quibus ad munus et officium unius ex principalibus status nostri pro antiquiori nostro Scotiae regno Secretariis obeundum et exercendum Satis ample est Imbutus et usque quaque Instructus ob predictas itaque in multas alias res et rationes Satis momento fas Noveritis Nos nominasse Constituisse et ordinasse Sicut et per presentes hasce nostras patentes literas ordinatum nominatum et Constitutum esse volumus dictum Jacobum Johnstoun unum ex duobus Status Secretariis nobis pro dicto Regno antiquo (durante nostro bene placito et quoad presentes scripto non revocantur) principalem et Conjunctum Cum fidelissimo et dilectissimo nostro Conciliario Joanne Magistro de Stair altero nostro pro dicto Regno Status Secretario Atque Damus et Concedimus Ipsi dicto Jacobo Johnstoun Jacobo Johnstoun (durante spatio supra expresso) Locum officium et munus unius ex duobus principalibus conjunctis Status Secretariis Cum Justo et equali dimidio omnium honorariorum emolumentorum beneficiorum et premiorum Casualium Libertatum dignitatum et Immunitatum quae ad dictum munus Locum et officium perprius pertinebant seu pertinere poterant una cum annua pensione Mille Librarum sterlinarum secundum donationem ejusdem per nos ipsi concessam datam cum presentibus Cum plena potestate illi utendi exercendi et fruendi dicto munere et officio Et specialiter scribendi subscribendi Et nobis offerendi omnes donationes Cautiones et signaturas quascunque Regali nostra manu muniendas et Interponendi et recipiendi Justum et equalem dimidium omnium honorariorum praemiorum Casualium et emolumentorum eo pertinentium Atque etiam equalem Habendi potestatem et privilegium Cum dicto Magistro de Stair (altero nostro Status Secretario pro dicto Regno Scotiae) Recipiendi Interponendi et conservandi omnia signeta dicti nostri Regni Et Impendendi equale beneficiorum et Emolumentorum Inde provenientium dimidium in privatos suos usus et Commodum Atque etiam potestatem Constituendi deputatos et Custodes dictorum nostrorum signetorum Et intromittendi et adsciscendi omnes Clericos et asigneto nostro scribas Cum omnibus Clericis vice comitatum et Clericis ad pacem in dicto Regno Et eo nomine tribuendi ipsis Commissiones quibus maniti [recte muniti] fungi possunt et frui iis muneribus praedicti Clerici ad vitam Idque quoties Contingerit dicta munia quocunque casu esse vacua et recipiendi equalem Compositionum et Commodorum medium3 ex admissione praedictorum Clericorum provenientium ac ea ad privatos suos usus accommodandi In Cujus Rei Testimonium presentibus Magnum sigillum nostrum appendi praecipimus Apud aulam nostram de Kensingtoun tertio die mensis martii Anno Domini supra millesimum sexcentesimum nonogesimo secundo Regnique nostri Anno tertio Per signaturam manu S: D: N: Regis supra signatam Written on the back thus: Written to the Great Seall . and Registrat the Eleaventh day of March Jaj vjc and nyntie tuo years Sic subscribitur William Ker Sealled att Edinburgh the Eleaventh day of March Jaj vjc and nyntie tuo years Sic subscribitur Alexander Inglis

At Edinburgh 15 March 1692

A1692/3/231

Commission to the Council

Commission in favour of the Right Honourable James Johnston esquire to be one of the two secretaries of state of the kingdom of Scotland

William and Mary, by the grace of God, king and queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and defenders of the faith, to all good men to whom our present letters will have come, greetings. Since when out of our serene and grave consideration we have perceived nothing more to be able to conduct in the profit of our service and of our kingdoms than that there should be constituted as principal ministers of our crown, especially indeed our secretaries of state, men of proved integrity and fidelity, imbued with remarkable qualities of character, in whom we will be able to have special faith so much as far as our authority as the profit of our subjects. And we also having ascertained enough the distinguished fidelity of our most faithful and dear James Johnston, knight, certainly since we will have had famous testimonies of his untainted fidelity and the greatest qualities of character, not only in the services most eminent, trustworthy and of greatest importance granted openly before our most happy accession, but also afterwards on every occasion. And in all positions namely indeed as of our extraordinary legate to the most serene elector of Brandenburg, whence it is satisfied abundantly to us and about his proved integrity, clear sincerity and genuine zeal towards our service and the other most beautiful faculties, with which he is amply imbued and completely trained for performing and exercising the duty and office of one of our principal secretaries of state for our ancient kingdom of Scotland. Therefore, on account of the foresaid and in many other matters and reasons right enough for the moment, know that we have nominated, constituted and ordained, just as and by these our present letters patent we want the said James Johnston to be ordained, nominated and constituted one of our two secretaries of state for the said ancient kingdom (during our pleasure and as far as the presents are not revoked in writing) principal and conjunct with our most faithful and dear councillor John [Dalrymple] master of Stair, our other secretary of state for the said kingdom. And we give and grant to the said James Johnston himself (during the interval above expressed) the place, office and duty of one of the two principal conjunct secretaries of state, with the just and equal half of all honoraria, emoluments, benefits and rewards of casualties, liberties, dignities and immunities which pertained to the said duty, position and office before, or were able to pertain, along with an annual pension of one thousand pounds sterling according to the donation of that granted by us to him, given with the presents. With full power to him of using, exercising and enjoying the said gift and office, and especially of writing, subscribing and of offering to us all gifts, cautions and signatures whatsoever to be fortified with our royal hand, and of interposing and receiving lawful and equal half of all honoraria, rewards, casualties and emoluments pertaining to it, and also of having equal power and privilege with the said master of Stair (our other secretary of state for the said kingdom of Scotland) of receiving, interposing and conserving all the signets of our said kingdom and of weighing equal half of benefits and emoluments coming hence into his own private uses and profit. And also the power of appointing deputies and keepers of our said signets, and of admitting and recruiting all clerks and scribes for our signet, with all clerks of sheriffdoms and clerks to the peace in the said kingdom, and of bestowing commissions to them with his name, equipped with which the foresaid clerks can perform and enjoy these offices for life, and as often it will have touched the said duties by whatever cause to be vacant, and of receiving equal half of compositions and profits coming forth from the admission of the foresaid clerks, and of accommodating these to his own private uses. In testimony whereof, we have commanded order our great seal to be appended to the presents. At our court of Kensington on 3 March 1692, and in the third year of our reign. By the sign manual of our supreme lord the King above signed.

1. PC1/48, 104-5

2. *Sic.*, *recte* perspiceremus.

3. *Sic.,* *recte* dimidium?

1. PC1/48, 104-5