Page:The Laws and Acts of Parliament of Scotland.djvu/578

8 and fourty even, entituled, Declaration of the Kingdom of Scotland, concerning the Kings Majeties Peron. Which being now taken into conideration, The Etates of Parliament do find and Declare, That it was carried on, and concluded by a prevalent party, againt the judgement of many of His Majeties Loyal Subjects; And that it is a mot inful, diloyal, and unworthy Act, contrary to the will and commandment of GOD; contrary to all Laws, Divine and Humane; contrary to the Duty and Allegiance of Subjects; contrary to all the rules of Jutice, Honour, Gratitude and Humanity; and highly reflecting on the honour of this ancient Kingdom, and the reputation of His Majeties good Subjects therein. And therefore, the Kings Majety, with advice and conent of His Etates of Parliament, doth hereby Annull and Condemn the ame for ever: And Ordains it to be expunged out of all Records, and never to be remembred again, but with due abhorrence and detetation.

And the Etates of Parliament, conceiving themelves obliged in Concience, to make the truth of this buines, and the manner of the carrying of it, known to the world, for the jut vindication of this Kingdom, and His Majeties dutiful and loyal Subjects, who otherwie may eem to be comprehended and concluded in it. They do therefore, from their certain knowledge, Declare, That even in that Parliament (from which many of His Majeties good Subjects were debarred, for their affection and adherence to His Majeties Service and Commands) there was a coniderable number of worthy Patriots, of all Etates, who, at the paing of that bae Act, gave a publick tetimony and di-aent from it, which is here Recorded for their due honour; and for which, their memory will in all ages receive a famous celebration, And that there were divers others, who, upon the pretexts of Reformation, and aurances of the Safety of His Majeties Peron, being convinced, were in the implicity of their hearts drawn along for the time: But hortly thereafter, being convinced of their error, did imbrace the firt opportunity to expiate the ame, by freely hazarding their lives and fortunes in the year, one thouand ix hundred and fourty eight, to redeem His Majety from thee retraints and dangers, which by that impious Act he was driven into. And therefore, His Majety, with advice and conent foreaid, doth Declare, That the Act of Parliament foreaid, of the ixteenth of January, one thouand ix hundred and fourty even, is not to be look'd upon as the Deed of the Kingdom, but as the Act of a few diloyal and editious perons, who, having upon pecious, but fale pretences, crewed themfelves into the Government, did by force of Arms, keep the ame; and from the concience of their own guiltines, being afraid of the jutice of His Majeties Government, did violently carry on that Act. And in further owning thereof, did, in the aid year, one thouand ix hundred and fourty eight, rie in Arms, in oppoition to thoe who endeavoured to retore His Majesty to His Government, and to relieve Him from the imprionment and hazard He was then lying under, as the natural effects of that unworthy tranaction, o jutly hereby condemned.

And for the further clearing of the ene of this Kingdom, as to that bae and treacherous Act, and the aperions which have been thereupon raied, as if there had been previous Tranfactions and Bargains of Money for carrying on of the ame, The Etates of Parliament Declare, They do abominat the very thought of any uch thing; and that if at anytime hereafter, there hall be dicovery of any uch wickednes, (which they are confident GOD Almighty will in His jutice bring to light, (if it be true) and wherein they earnetly intreat the concurrence of all His Majeties dutiful and loyal Subjects) The perons guilty thereof, hall without mercy be purued as the vildet of Traitours, and hall be incapable of the benefit of any Act of Pardon, Oblivion, orlndempnity for ever.

XI. Act for taking the Oath of AUeagiance, and averting the Royal Prerogative.

Ur Soveraign Lord, being truly enible of the many ufferings and ad confuions, that His dutiful and loyal Subjects have been brought under, during thee troubles; and deirous, that His Royal Government, in it's due Adminitration, may be refrehing and comfortable unto them; And conceiving it necear for that end, and for the honour and advancement of His own Service, the welfare and happines of His Subjects, and the peace and quiet of this Kingdom, that the places of publick Trut (which be the Channels and Conduits by which His Majesties Government is conveyed unto His people) be upplied and exerced by perons of known integrity, abilities, and loyalty, Do therefore declare, That it is, and will be, His Majesties Royal care, that thoe whom ( according to the undoubted Right of the Crown} He hath, or hall think fit to call to His Councils, or any publick imployments, hall be o qualified; And that for the full atisfaction of all His good Subjects, and for removing any cruples or jealouies, can arie upon this account, they hall before their admittance to, or exercie of, any uch Trut, give uch publick tetimony of their Duty and Loyalty, as may evidence to the world, they are uch as the Kingdom and all honet men and good Subjects, may jutly confide in. And therefore the Kings Majety, with advice and conent of His Etates of Parliament, Doth Statute and Ordain, that all and whatoever peron, or perons, who are, or hall be, nominat by His Majesty, to be His Officers of State, of His Privy Council, Seion, or Exchequer, Jutice