Note 286 — THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AT ST ANDREW’S, 1642.
Reading edition
The following lists of officers of state, &c., (from Balfour’s Annals, vol. iii., p. 148,) when compared with the rolls of the Assemblies in 1638 and 1639 shew, that the former of these, (and, indeed, the latter, too,) were quite as much political as ecclesiastical conventions. The lay leaders of the Tables, and in the Assemblies, were just the identical persons who had mounted on the ecclesiastical ladder to political power and place:—
“The 3 estaits of parl: hes delett out of the roll of counsellors giuen in by hes Maiesty, thesse follouing—viz., George, Marques of Huntley; Villiam, Earle of Airth and Menteth; Alexander, Earle of Linlithgow; James, Earle of Home; Patrick, Earle of Tullibardyne; Alexander, Earle of Galloway; Villiam, Earle of Dumfreis; Robert, Earle of Carnwathe. And in ther places the 3 estaits did put in Johne, Earle of Sutherland; Villiam, Earle of Louthean; Alex: Earle of Dalhousie; Johne, Lord Zester; Johne, Lord St. Claire; Johne, Lord Balmerinache; Robert, Lord Burlie.
“Acte anent the nominatione and electione of the counsellours votted and past, according to this subsequent roll:—James, Duck of Lennox and Richmond; James, Marq: of Hamilton; Archbald, Earle of Argyle; Villiam, Earle of Marishall; Johne, Earle of Sutherland; Johne, Earle of Mar; Alex: Earle of Eglintone; Johne, Earle of Cassiles; Villiam, Earle of Glencairne; James, Earle of Murray; Johne, Earle of Perth; Charles, Earle of Dumfermling; Johne, Earle of Vigtone; Johne, Earle of Kingorne; George, Earle of Seaforte; Johne, Earle of Lauderdaill; George, Earle of Kinnoule; Villiam, Earle of Louthean; Dauid, Earle of Southescke; John, Earle of Wymees; Alex: Earle of Dalhousie; James, Earle of Finlater; Alexander, Earle of Leuin; Archbald, Lo: Angus; Johne, Lo: Lindesay; Johne, Lo: Zester; Johne, Lo: St. Claire; Alex: Lo: Elphingstone; Johne, Lo: Balmerinoche; Robert, Lo: Burlie; James, Lo: Amont; Alexandʳ, Lo: Balcarras; Sʳ Robert Gordon, Vice Chamberlaine; Sʳ Patrick Hepburne of Vaughtone; Sʳ Villiam Douglas of Cauers; Sʳ Ja: Dundas of the same; Thomas Myrtone of Camwo; Sʳ Dauid Grhame of Fintrey; Sʳ John Erskyne of Dune; Sʳ Robert Grhame of Morphie; Sʳ Robert Innes of the same; Prouest of Edinbrughe for the tyme.
“Acte anent the nominatione and electione of thesse officers of estait retained in ther places, votted and past accordinng to this ensewing roll, they all beinng includit within the roll of counsellers also, viz:—
“1. Jo: Lord London, Chancelour;
“2. Commissioners for the office of Thesaurer, 3 of them to be a coram, votted, viz.:—Chancelour, Argyle, Glencairne, Lindesay, Thʳˢ depute.
“3. Earle of Roxbrughe, Lo: Priuey Seall;
“4. Earle Lanricke, Secretarey;
“5. Mr Alex: Gibsone of Durie, Clerke Register;
“6. Sʳ Tho: Hope of Craighall, Aduocat;
“7. Sʳ Jo: Hamilton of Orbeston, Justice Clerke;
“8. Sʳ Ja: Carmichell of the same, Thʳˢ depute;
“9. Sʳ Ja: Galloway, Master of Requysts.
“Supernumerarey counsellours, so called in his Maiesties rolls, wotted and approuen by the housse, wer:—Thomas Houard, Earle of Arundaill; Philipe Herbert, Earle of Pembrock and Montgomerey; Villiam Cicill, Earle of Sarisburrey; Henrey Riche, Earle of Holland; Lord Villoughbie; Eduard, Lord Houard; Sʳ Henrey Vaine, Secretarey for England; Sʳ Johne Cooke, knight.
“Acte ament the nominatione and electione of the ordinar and extraordinar Lordes of the Session, conforme to this roll, votted and approuen by the housse:—Sʳ George Erskyne of Innerteill; Sʳ Alex: Gibsone of Durie, elder; Sʳ Androw Fletcher of Innerpepher; Sʳ James Lermonth of Balcomey; Sʳ George Halibrunton of Fodrens; Sʳ James Mackgill of Cranston-Ridell; Sʳ Johne Hope of Cragehall; Sʳ Johne Hamilton of Orbestone; Sʳ John Scott of Scottstaruett; Sir James Carmichell of the same; Sʳ Alex: Falconer of Halcartone. Thesse foure follouing, by the estaits wer putt from ther places in Sessione, for crymes lybelled aganist them:—Sʳ Rob: Spotswood, President; Sʳ Jo: Hay, Clerke Register; Sʳ Vill: Elphingstone, Justice Generall; Sʳ Patrick Nisbett of Eastbancke. And in the place of thir forsaid foure, the estaitts put in John Lesley of Neutone; Sʳ Thomas Hope of Kers; Mr Adam Hepburne of Humbie; Mr Archbald Ihonstone, Clerke of the Generall Assembley.
Extraordinarey Lordes of the Sessione, wotted and approuen by the housse this day, wer:—E. Argyle, L. Angus, L. Lindesay, L. Balmerinoche.”