Procedure, 12 June 1705, Edinburgh

Act, 12 March 1705, Edinburgh

Att Holy-rudehouse the Twelfth day of June Jaj vijc and fyve years

A1705/6/81

Procedure

Commission The Earl of Loudoun to be one of the Secretaryes of State

Anna dei gratia Magnae Brittaniae, Franciae et Hiberniae Regina, fideique defensor, Omnibus probis hominibus ad quos praesentes literae pervenerint Salutem , Quandoquidem no2 Regio nostro animo perpendentes Nihil magis in Ministerii nostri et Regnorum nostrorum Commodum Conducere posse Quam ut probatae fidelitatis et integritatis viri principales Coronae nostrae Ministri , Speciatim vero Status nostri Secretarii Constituantur Quibus specialem poterimus habere fidem tam quo ad authoritatem nostram quam Subditorum nostrorum Commodum ; Nosque etiam abunde satisfacti et compertum habentes de fidelitate, integritate aliisque perpulcris facultatibus, fidelissimi et dilectissimi nostri et Consanguinei Conciliarii Hugonis Comitis de Loudoun, Quibus ad munus et officium unius ex principalibus Status nostri Secretariis praedictis obeundum usquequaque sit idoneus; Ob praedictas itaque et multas alias rationes et considerationes , Noveritis nos nominasse constituisse et Ordinasse, Sicuti nos tenore praesentium Nominamus , constituimus et Ordinamus eundem Hugonem Comitem de Loudoun unum ex duobus Status nostri Secretariis nobis pro antiquo Regno nostro Scotiae (durante nostro beneplacito solum modo , et donec praesentes a nobis Scripto revocentur) Coprincipalem et conjunctum cum fidelissimo et dilectissimo nostro Consanguineo et Conciliario Gulielmo Marchione de Annandale altero pro dicto regno Status Secretario, Dando et Concedendo; Sicuti nos tenore praesentium Damus et concedimus durante Spatio antedicto Ipsi dicto Hugoni Comiti de Loudoun Locum, Munus et officium, Unius ex duobus principalibus Status nostri Secretariis antedictis, Cum Justo et aequali dimidio omnium feodorum, proficuorum, emolumentorum, Casualitatum, libertatum et immunitatum, Quae ad dictum munus, Locum et officium perprius pertinebant seu pertinere poterant, Una cum annua pensione Mille librarum monetae Sterlinensis secundum donationem ejusdem per nos ipsi concessam datam cum praesentibus; Cum plena potestate illi utendi, exercendi et fruendi dicto Loco, 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 aequale dimidium omnium honorariorum, praemiorum et casualitatum eo Spectantium; Atque etiam aequalem habendi potestatem et privilegium Cum dicto Gulielmo Marchione de Annandale; altero nostro Status Secretario pro dicto Regno recipiendi, Interponendi et conservandi omnia Signeta dicti Regni, et equale dimidium beneficiorum et emolumentorum inde provenientium [provenien]tium in privatos suos usus applicandi, ac etiam potestatem deputatos et Custodes dictorum nostrorum Signetorum Constituendi, et admittendi et ad sussendi3 omnes Clericos et Signeto nostro Scribas, Cum omnibus Clericis vicecomitatum et Clericis ad pacem in dicto regno, et eo nomine ipsis Commissiones tribuendi; Quibus muniti iis muneribus ad vitam fungi et frui possunt; Idque quoties contigerit dicta munia vel quodvis eorum quocunque casu esse vacua et recipiendi Compositionum et commodorum aequale dimidium ex admissione dictorum Clericorum provenientium, et ea ad privatos accommodandi usus, In cujus rei testimonium praesentibus Magnum Sigillum nostrum appendi praecepimus Apud Aulam nostram de Kensingtoun Quinto die mensis Junii Anno dom[i]ni Millesimo Septingensimo4 quinto et Anno regni nostri quarto Per Signaturam manu S . D . N . Regina[e] Superscriptam, wrytten to the great seall and Registrat the Ellevinth day of June 1705. Sic subscribitur Ron: Campbell deput. Sealled at Edinburgh the Ellevinth day of June one thousand Sevine hundreth and fyve years Sic Subscribitur Alexander Ogilvie.
The above Commission being presented by Sir Gilbert Elliot one of the Clerks of Councell, the samen was read, and ordered to be recorded, and thereafter delyvered by the Lord Chancellor to the said Earle, who received the same upon his Knee as use us, and thereafter did qualifie himselfe to her Majestie by swearing the oath of allegance and subscribeing the same with the assureance, and the Lord Chancellor did tender to his lordship the oath de fideli, and thereafter his lordship took his place at the board accordingly as principall secretary of state.

At Holyuroodhouse 12 June 1705

A1705/6/81

Procedure

Commission the earl of Loudoun to be one of the secretaries of state

Anna by the grace of God queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and defender of the faith, to all good men to whom the present letters will have come, greetings. Since we weighing in our royal mind that nothing is more able to lead to the advantage of our service and of our kingdoms than that men of proved fidelity and integrity should be appointed principal ministers of our crown, especially indeed our secretaries of state, in whom we shall be able to have special trust, so much as far as our authority as the profit of our subjects. And we are also abundantly satisfied and have knowledge about the fidelity, integrity and other most beautiful faculties of our most loyal and dearest kinsman and councillor Hugh [Campbell] earl of Loudoun, with which he may be entirely suitable for performing the duty and office of one of the foresaid principal secretaries of our state. Therefore, on account of the foresaid and many other reasons and considerations, know that we have nominated, constituted and ordained, just as by the tenor of the presents, we nominate, constitute and ordain the same Hugh earl of Loudoun one of our two secretaries of our state for our ancient kingdom of Scotland (during our pleasure only, and until the presents may be recalled in writing by us), co-principal and conjunct with our most loyal and dearest kinsman and councillor William [Johnstone] marquis of Annandale, the other secretary of state for the said kingdom. By giving and granting, just as by the tenor of the presents we give and grant, during the aforesaid interval, to the said Hugh earl of Loudoun himself the position, duty and office of one of the two aforesaid principal secretaries of our state, with just and equal half of all fees, profits, emoluments, casualties, liberties and immunities, which pertained to the said duty, position and office formerly, or could pertain, along with an annual pension of one thousand pounds of money of sterling, according to the donation of it granted to him by us, given with the presents. With full power to him of using, exercising and enjoying the said position, duty and office, and especially of writing, subscribing and offering to us all donations, cautions and signatures whatsoever to be fortified by our royal hand, and of inserting and receiving just and equal half of all honoraria, rewards and casualties pertaining to it. And also of having equal power and privilege with the said William marquis of Annandale, our other secretary of state for the said kingdom, of receiving, inserting and conserving all signets of the said kingdom, and of applying equal half of benefits and emoluments arising hence into his own private uses. And also power of appointing deputies and keepers of our said signets, and of admitting and receiving all clerks and scribes to our signet, with all clerks of sheriffdoms and clerks to the peace in the said kingdom, and of bestowing to them commissions with his name, fortified with which they can perform and enjoy these duties for life, and that as often it touches the said duties or any of them by whatever case to be vacant, and of receiving equal half of the compositions and profits coming forth from the admission of the said clerks, and of accommodating these to private uses. In testimony whereof, we have ordered our great seal to be appended to the presents. At our court of Kensington 5 June 1705, and in the fourth year of our reign. By the sign manual of our supreme lady the queen above written. Written to the great seal and registered 11 June 1705. Sic subscribitur Ron. Campbell deput. Sealed at Edinburgh 11 June 1705 Sic Subscribitur Alexander Ogilvie.
The above commission being presented by Sir Gilbert Elliot one of the clerks of council, the same was read, and ordered to be recorded, and thereafter delivered by [James Ogilvie, earl of Seafield] the lord chancellor to the said earl, who received the same upon his knee as use us, and thereafter did qualify himself to her majesty by swearing the oath of allegiance and subscribing the same with the assurance, and the lord chancellor did tender to his lordship the oath de fideli, and thereafter his lordship took his place at the board accordingly as principal secretary of state.

1. NRS, PC1/53, 411-12.

2. Sic. *Recte* ‘nos’.

3. Sic. *Recte* ‘adsciscendi’.

4. Sic.

1. NRS, PC1/53, 411-12.