March 5, 1652. March 5, 1652. To the Right honoble the Comissioners of the Parliam of the Commonwealth of England for orderinge and Managinge Affaires in Scotland. The humble Answeres of the Deputies of ye Shire of Peibles. Wee in behalfe of our selues and those represented by vs declare our free and vnanimous Acceptance of and Consent vnto the Tender made by the Parliament of England that Scotland be incorporated into and made one Comon wealth with England, That thereby the same government that is established and enioyed without Kinge or howse of Lords vnder the free State and Comon wealth of England may be derived to all the people of Scotland. Secondly, wee declare that wee will in the meane tyme liue peaceably vnder and giue obedience vnto the Authority of the Parliament of the Comon wealth of England exercised in Scotland. Vera copia: Jo. PHELPES. MURRAY,2 Endorsed:-Peibles shire Deputies assent, March 5th 1651. LXXXVI ANSWER AND OVERTURES OF THE SHIRE OF PEEBLES 3 To the right honoble the Comissioners of the Parliam1 of the Comon wealth of England for orderinge and managinge Affaires in Scotland. The humble Answere and Overtures of the Deputies of the Shire of Peibles to ye third Article. To the end ye Vnion mencōned in the first Article may be 1 Portland MSS., N. xx. 83. 2 Probably Sir Alexander Murray of Black barony. 3 Portland MSS., N. xx. 100. brought to effect wth satisfaccōn to ye people of Scotland Wee doe humbly desire, That so soone as the Comissioners of the seūall Shires and Burghes shall be fully heard a short tyme may be condiscended. vppon for pfittinge of the Vnion, As alsoe that it be declared by ye Authority of the Parliament of the Comon wealth of England that for the future this nation may be ptected in ye excercise of the true ptestant religion, as it is psently pfessed in Doctrine, worshipp, and government, In enioyinge theire owne Lawes, In the freedome of their persons and in the right and prosperity of their goods and Estates, and that an Act of grace and fav may be extended to all ye people of the Land that shall condiscend to this vnion, And perticularly that forfeitures, Confiscations, and Sequestracōns may be taken of and discharged, the prisoners released and a considerable part of ye forces removed. And in regard the right ordering of the Civill Judicatories is of weighty concernment, the want thereof sadly lamented by all Ranckes of people, it is humbly desired that those Judicatories and Judges as also the tyme of their meetinge may be by yr honors with the advice of the whole nation as their representatives setled and determined. And because many other thinges will be necessary for ye pfecting this vnion weh cannot for ye psent be thought vppon by vs, wee doe humbly desire that a selected number of fitt persons may be authorized from the body of this nation to meet with ye Comissioners of ye Parliamt of ye Comonwealth of England for ye speedy settlem1 thereof in such a way as may be best and most satisfactory to the people of this nation. Vera copia: Jo. PHELPES, Secr. Endorsed:-Peebles shire, Deputies overtures, Martij 5o, 1651. LXXXVII PROTEST OF SIR JAMES STEWART March 1652. IBRARY I Sir James Stewart proteste that before the Seythinge [?] March 5, or electinge of the Councell or Magistrates by the neighbours, 1 Portland MSS., N. xx. 110. Cf. supra, Nos. XII., XIII., LXXXIII.; and infra, Nos. LXXXVIII., LXXXIX. 1652. which I conceiue is required by the returnes of the Towne of ROBERT FOULES, JOHN DENHAM, DAVID KENEDIE, ANDREW Endorsed:-S James Steuart his Protest against the electing of Magistrates in Edinburgh. March 5, 1652. LXXXVIII PROTEST OF SEVERAL PERSONS IN EDINBURGH1 The desires of scuall neighbors of this Burgh of Edinburgh to the late Towne Councell now mett together at Edinburgh this 5th of March 1652. Whereas we are informed of the willingnes of the Comissioners of the Parliament of England for settinge vpp a Magistracy over vs the people of this Burgh And for that end haue sent orders to the neighbors and Deacons that they may elect such Magistrates as they shall thinke fittinge, But wee when we consider the frame of Spiritt that most part hath to such a worke, together wth the differences of Judgements and breaches of Loue amongst vs, wee Conceiue the difficulties that will arise in such a meetinge will not be few and may tend to makinge ye rupture greater, And therefore for our parte wee declare our sense that it may and will be for ye Advantage of the whole Body to remitt the samen backe to those from whom the order floweth, That they may by themselues for this time appoynte Magistrates for this ensuinge yeare, And the samen is to be without p'iudice of the Libty of the Towne in all tyme Cominge. 1 Portland MSS., N. xx. III. Whereas these our desires beinge p'sented and altogeather slighted notwithstandinge the Samen is Conforme to the ordr of ye Com's of ye Parliament of England for the election of o' Magistrates, Therefore wee vnderscrivers in or owne names and of all who adhere to vs doe ptest against all that shall be done by those that intende and p'tend to this power of Election in order to all that shall be done heerein. Endorsed :-Protest of severall persons in Edinburgh agt the Eleccon of officers. LXXXIX PETITION FROM CERTAIN NEIGHBOURS OF EDINBURGH 1 The humble Peticon of certeine neighbours of the Citty of Edinburgh To the right honoble the Coms of the Parliamt of the Comōn wealth of England appointed for orderinge and Managinge Affaires in Scotland. May it please yo' honors Wee vndersubscribers in our owne names and in name of all who adhere to vs within the Citty, Out of the deepe sense of many sad p'iudices susteyned by vs (through want of a well ordered Magistracy) And haveinge at former tymes tasted of the sower grapes of goverment by Corrupt Magistrates when the proud were called happy and thouse who wrought wickedness sett vpp, Doe make our applicatōn and pray for Redress in the future to yo honors in whose hands the Lord hath putt power which as you haue pmised by Declaracōn 1 Portland MSS., N. xx. 113. March 5, 1652. Soe wee are hopefull you will endeavor to imploy the same for his honour and the Advantage of his people, Especially in settinge over vs such governers as after Inquiry made and Inquisicon gotten may be found Men fearinge god, lovinge righteousnes, Countenancers of Piety and the professors thereof, That soe they may be indeed the ministers of God for our good And not a Terrour to good workes but to ye evill. Endorsed :-Peticon from certaine Neighbours of Edinburgh to ye Com's to resume the nominacōn of Magistrates to themselves. XC March 8, 1652. RATIFICATION OF ST. ANDREWS DEPUTY 1 Sanctandreis the eight day of March 1652 yeares. The which day the Burgesse and neighbours of St. Andreis after named beinge convened this day in ye Tobooth of this sd Citty anent the retourne and reporte of James Sword theire p'sent provost from the right honoble the Comissioners of the Comōn wealth of England, they by theire subscribed warrant vnderwritten haue appoynted me there Comōn Clarke to extract and deliver to the said James Sword what they haue done in his report and retourne, Whereof the Tenour followes. Wee ye Burgesses and neighbors of St. Andreis beinge 1 Portland MSS., N. xx. 138. |