Procedure, 20 March 1705, Edinburgh

Act, 12 March 1705, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Twentieth of March Jaj vijc and fyve years

A1705/3/171

Procedure

Commissio Joannis Ducis de Argyle pro parliamento tenendo

Commission under the great Seall of this kingdome In favours of John Duke of Argyll To be Commissioner to and represent her Majesties Sacred persone in the nixt Session of parliament being presented by Sir Gilbert Elliot Clerk, The Samen was read, and ordered to be recorded, And thereafter delyvered by the said Sir Gilbert to the Marques of Annandale president for the tyme, who delyvered the Same to the Earle of Loudoun in name and in absence of the said Duke, who received the same upon his Knee as use is, The tenor of which Commission follows
Anna Dei Gratia Magnae Brittaniae, Franciae et Hyberniae Regina, fideique defensor, Omnibus probis hominibus ad quos presentes Letterae nostrae pervenerint Salutem, Quandoquidem nos magni momenti rationibus Currentis nostri Parliamenti hujus antiqui regni nostri Scotiae Concilia in tertia sua sessione Tertio die mensis Maii proximi futuri Conventura hactenus Statuimus, rebus autem nostris necessario nos avocantibus dictae nostri Parliamenti Sessioni interesse nequimus, Ideoque Commissionem nostram Cuidam emenentissimi ordinis Summaeque fiduciae ac praeclaris animi dotibus imbuto, Regiam nostram personam et authoritatem in eadem representandi, Concedere decrevimus; Cumque quam plurima habemus Judicia de fidelitate interminata egregiis animi dotibus et integritate fidelissimi et dilectissimi nostri consanguinei et Conciliarii Joannis Ducis de Argyle, Cujus egregiae animi dotes ad summum illud fiduciae munus rite obeundum , Ac pro nostra Regia proposita propaganda tam in promovendo Commodo et Interesse dicti nostri antiqui regni, et in Ecclesia et in publica quam in Ministerio nostro ipsum usquequaque Idoneum et instructum reddam2, Noveritis igitur nos Dedisse et Concessisse, Tenoreque praesentium Damus et Concedimus praedicto fidelissimo et dilectissimo nostro Consanguineo et Conciliario Joanni Duci de Argyle nostram plenissimam potestatem et Commissionem Sacram nostram personam representandi, et regiam nostram autoritatem in dicta proxima Sessione praedicti currentis Parliamenti nostri dicti regni gerendi, et in re quavis alia ubicunque de Ecclesia formanda3 pace, et policia dicti regni nostri conservanda et excollenda et re nostra promovenda tractandum fuerit in universis ejusdem administrationibus Tanquam Supremo nostro Commissionario ; Porro tenore praesentium eundem Joannem Ducem de Argyle Cum Commissionarii nostri titulo regali nostra autoritate Insignimus , plenamque illi tribuimus potestatem , Omnia et singula ad munus et imperium Commission[a]rii spectantia tam plene et libere in quovis respectu et conditione , quam quilibet aliis4 ejusdem summi muneris et Characteris (regnantibus quibuscunque nostrorum decessorum) unquam fecerat, seu de Jure facere potuerant , Faciendi quoquidem omnia et singula in dicta hac Commissione prosequenda ab ipso facienda nos firma et ratehabemus5 et habituri sumus omnibus et singulis , Insuper Status nostri officialibus iisque qui a nobis ab int[i]mis Conciliis Judicibus legalis et officiariis nostrarum in hoc regno Cesuratim6 Caeterisque quibuscunque subditis nostris et praedictum Joannem Ducem de Argyle tanquam Supremum nostrum Commissionarium Sacram nostram personam representantem , et regalem nostram autoritatem gerentem ad effectum et secundum formam in hac nostrae Commissione praescriptam ; Quaequidem Commissio ad datum praesentium Incipiet , et durante dicta proxima Sessione Parliamenti , et donec eadem a nobis revocabitur In vigore durabit agnoscant reverantur et dicto ipsius aud[i]entes se praebeant Stricte Mandamus Imperamus et declaramus hanc nostram Commissionem absque prejudicio fore praefato Joanni duci de Aryle7 ejusvis8 aliis diplomatis seu Commissiones9 de quocunque alio munere a nobis ipsi concredito, Sed eadem durante hac nostra Commissione, Ac etiam post ipsius expirationem durante nostro beneplacito in pleno vigore continuare Modo in singulis diplomatibus et Commissionibus ipsi concessis Contentis10 In Cujus rei Testimonium praesentibus magnum Sigillum nostrum appendi Mandavimus Apud Aulam nostram de St James Sexto die mensis Martii Anno domini Millesimo Septingentesimo quinto et Anno regni nostri Tertio, Per Signaturam manu S . D . N . Reginae suprascriptam Wrytten to the great Seall and registrat the fourteenth day of March 1705 . Sic Sub[scrib]itur Charles Kerr, Sealled at Edinburgh the Sixteinth day of March 1705. In absence of Sir Alexander Ogilvie of Forglen Sic Subscribitur John Steuart deput

At Edinburgh 20 March 1705

A1705/3/171

Procedure

Commission of John, duke of Argyll for holding a parliament

Commission under the great seal of this kingdom in favour of John [Campbell] duke of Argyll to be commissioner to and represent her majesty’s sacred person in the next session of parliament being presented by Sir Gilbert Elliot, clerk, the same was read, and ordered to be recorded, and thereafter delivered by the said Sir Gilbert to [William Johnston] marquis of Annandale, president for the time, who delivered the same to [Hugh Campbell] earl of Loudoun in name and in absence of the said duke, who received the same upon his knee as use is. The tenor of which commission follows:
Anne by the grace of God queen of Great Britain, France, and Ireland and defender of the faith, to all good men to whom our present letters will have come, greetings. Since thus far we, for reasons of great importance, have decided that the councils of our current parliament of this our ancient kingdom of Scotland in its third session are to be held on the third day of the month of May next to come, but we are unable to be present at the said session of our parliament, because of matters calling us unavoidably, and so we have decreed to grant our commission of representing our royal person and authority in it, to someone of the most eminent rank and of the greatest trustworthiness and imbued with excellent qualities of character. And since we have very many opinions about the unending loyalty, admirable character traits and integrity of our most faithful and dearest kinsman and councillor John [Campbell] duke of Argyll, whose distinguished qualities of character render him entirely suitable and trained for performing rightly that greatest duty of trust, and for promoting our royal proposals, as much in advancing the profit and interest of our said ancient kingdom, both in the Church and in public, as in our service. Know therefore that we have given and granted, and by the tenor of the presents we give and grant to our foresaid most loyal and dearest kinsman and councillor John, duke of Argyll our fullest power and commission of representing our sacred royal person and of bearing our royal authority in the said next session of our foresaid current parliament of our said kingdom, and in any other matter wherever it will require to be transacted for firming Church peace and conserving and cultivating the governance of our said kingdom and promoting our business in all administrations of it, as our high commissioner. Moreover, by the tenor of the presents, we distinguish the same John, duke of Argyll with the title of our commissioner with our royal authority, and we bestow on him full power of doing all and single relating to the duty and power of commissioner, so fully and freely in whatever respect and condition as any other of that highest office and character had ever done (while whoever of our ancestors was reigning), or could do according to law. All and single to be followed in this said commission which are done by him, we hold firm and fixed, and will hold to all and single. Moreover, to the officials of our state and those who are from our inner councils, judges, and officers of our forces in this kingdom, and our other subjects whatsoever, we command strictly that they should recognise the foresaid John, duke of Argyll as our high commissioner representing our sacred person and bearing our royal authority, revere and provide themselves listening to his word, to the effect and following the form prescribed in this our commission. Which commission shall begin at the date of the presents and will last in strength during the said next session of parliament, and until it will be revoked by us. We order and declare this our commission to become without prejudice to the foresaid John, duke of Argyll to any other diplomas or commissions concerning any other duty granted to him by us, but the same to continue in full strength during this our commission and also after its expiration, during our pleasure only, contained in single diplomas and commissions granted to him. In testimony whereof, we have ordered our great seal to be appended to the presents. At our court of St James’s on 6 March 1705, and in the third year of our reign. By the sign manual of our supreme lady the queen above written.

1. NRS, PC1/53, 373-4.

2. Sic. Recte ‘reddant’.

3. Sic. Recte ‘firmanda’.

4. Sic. Recte ‘alius’.

5. Sic. Recte ‘rata habemus’.

6. Sic. Recte ‘copiarum’.

7. Sic.

8. Sic. Recte ‘cuivis’.

9. Sic.

10. Sic. Recte ‘contento’.

1. NRS, PC1/53, 373-4.