Scottish Privy Council Records

Att Edinburgh the eleventh day of January J^aj vi^c and nyntie four years

A1694/1/18¹

Letter: royal

Letter from the King Anent the Highland Commission and Commission for plantatione of Kirks

The Letter underwryten direct from his Majestie to the Councell Being redd was
ordored to Recorded quherof the tenor Folloues
Suprascribitur William Rex
Right trustie and Right well Beloved Cousine and Councellor Right trustie and Entirely Beloved Cousins and Councellors Right trustie and well beloved Cousins and Councellors Right trustie and well beloved Councellors And trustie and well beloved Councellors We Greet yow well Wheras for the better setling of Justice peace and good ordor in the Highlands and all the neighbouring bounds Especially within the shyres of Caithnes Southerland Ross Inverness Cromartie Nairne Elgine Bamff Aberdeen Kincairden Forfar Perth Stirline Dumbartoune and others adjoyning We have thought fitt Be vertue of our prerogative royall Lately declared in parliament To Grant a Commissione of Justiciary uith severall pouers therin mentioned which we have heiruith sent to yow and which to the end it may be published and made Knouen to the Commissioners therin mentioned and all others concerned We Heirby authorize and Requyre yow to Cause publish the same by open proclamatione² in our Name at the mercat cross of Edinburgh and the mercat Crosses of the head burghs of the shyres abovenamed and other places needfull To the end our saids Commissioners may proceed and Act Conforme to the tenor of the same And that all Judges and magistrats Concerned may Give their Concurrence and assistance and all our Leidges may have nottice therof and Give due obedience therto And that the same be lykewayes redd at the severall parish kirks uithin the saids respective shires upon sabboth dayes after divyne worship And In regaird the said principall Commissione under our great seall Cannot be produced Conveniently in the respective places and meetings of our saids Commissioners We Have thought fitt that it shall remaine in the Custody of our Chancellor and that a printed Coppie therof signed by our Clarks and under the Councells signet shall be as sufficient a warrand for the saids Commissioners to meet and proceed as if our said principall Commissione under our Great seall were produced at their meetings and all other Intents and purposes And we Requyre That Conforme to the Late Act of parliament The saids Commissioners and uthers shall at their first meeting at Least before they Act in that Cappacity suear and subscribe the oath of alleadgance and assurance And wheras By the tuenty fourth Act of the last session of our Currant parliament Three Commissioners of every estate were by our Nominatione to be added to the Commissioners named in a former Commissione for plantatione of kirks and valuatione of teynds Therfore we have nominat and doe heirby nominat our Right trustie and entirely beloved Cousine and Councellor William Duke of Hamiltoune William Duke of Queensberry John Lord Carmichaell Sir Colline Campbell of Aberurqwhill, […] Boyll of Kelburne George Baillie of Jerviswood Sir Archibald Mure George Stirline and Provost Fletcher of Dundie And in respect the Lord Cardross is dead and Sir Patrick Home advanced to ane other estate we doe in their places name the Lord Polluarth and […] Craig of Riccartoune which nominatione are to Intimat to them To the end they may meet uith the other Commissioners And doe every other thing as effectually in every respect as if their names had been Insert In the saids Commissiones at the passing therof For doing all which This shall be your warrand And soe we bid yow heartily Fareuell Given at our Court at Kensingtoune the threttieth day of december 1693 And of our reigne the fifth year By his Majesties Command sic subscribitur J Johnstoune

At Edinburgh 11 January 1694

A1694/1/18¹

Letter: royal

Letter from the king concerning the Highland commission and commission for plantation of kirks

The letter underwritten directed from his majesty to the council being read was
ordered to recorded, whereof the tenor follows:
Suprascribitur William Rex
Right trusty and right well beloved cousin and councillor, right trusty and entirely beloved cousins and councillors, right trusty and well beloved cousins and councillors, right trusty and well beloved councillors, and trusty and well beloved councillors, we greet you well. Whereas for the better settling of justice peace and good order in the Highlands and all the neighbouring bounds, especially within the shires of Caithness, Sutherland, Ross, Inverness, Cromartie, Nairn, Elgin, Banff, Aberdeen, Kincardine, Forfar, Perth, Stirling, Dumbarton, and others adjoining, we have thought fit by virtue of our prerogative royal lately declared in parliament to grant a commission of justiciary with several powers therein mentioned, which we have herewith sent to you, and which to the end it may be published and made known to the commissioners therein mentioned and all others concerned, we hereby authorise and require you to cause publish the same by open proclamation in our name at the mercat cross of Edinburgh and the mercat crosses of the head burghs of the shires abovenamed and other places needful, to the end our said commissioners may proceed and act conform to the tenor of the same, and that all judges and magistrates concerned may give their concurrence and assistance and all our lieges may have notice thereof and give due obedience thereto. And that the same be likewise read at the several parish kirks within the said respective shires upon sabbath days after divine worship. And in regard the said principal commission under our great seal cannot be produced conveniently in the respective places and meetings of our said commissioners, we have thought fit that it shall remain in the custody of our chancellor, and that a printed copy thereof, signed by our clerks and under the council’s signet, shall be as sufficient a warrant for the said commissioners to meet and proceed as if our said principal commission under our great seal were produced at their meetings and all other intents and purposes. And we require that conform to the late act of parliament, the said commissioners and others shall at their first meeting, [or] at least before they act in that capacity, swear and subscribe the oath of allegiance and assurance. And whereas by the 24th act of the last session of our currant parliament, three commissioners of every estate were by our nomination to be added to the commissioners named in a former commission for plantation of kirks and valuation of teinds, therefore we have nominated and do hereby nominate our right trusty and entirely beloved cousin and councillor William, duke of Hamilton, William [Douglas] duke of Queensberry, John Lord Carmichael, Sir Colin Campbell of Aberuchill, […] Boyle of Kelburn, George Baillie of Jerviswood, Sir Archibald Muir, George Stirling, and Provost Fletcher of Dundee, and in respect [Henry Erskine] the Lord Cardross is dead and Sir Patrick Hume advanced to another estate, we do in their places name [Sir Patrick Hume] the Lord Polwarth and […] Craig of Riccarton, which nomination [you] are to intimate to them to the end they may meet with the other commissioners and do every other thing as effectually in every respect as if their names had been inserted in the said commissions at the passing thereof. For doing all which this shall be your warrant. And so we bid you heartily farewell. Given at our court at Kensington 30 December 1693, and of our reign the fifth year. By his majesty’s command sic subscribitur J Johnston.

0. NRS, PC1/49, 221.

1. NRS, PC1/49, 223-4.