XXVI

HISTORY OF THE

[APPENDIX.

COMMISSION TO DAVID NAIRN, ESQ. TO BE HER MAJESTY’S SECRETARY TO THE MOST NOBLE

ORDER OF THE THISTLE.

“■ANNE R.

“ Anne, by the Grace of God, Queen of Scotland, England, France, and Ireland, Defender of theFaith, Sovereign of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. To Our right trusty andwell-beloved David Nairn, Esquire, greeting. Whereas We have thought fit to revive and restore thesaid Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, to its ancient splendour and magnificence, tothe end it may remain a lasting mark and testimony of Our Royal favour to Our ancient Kingdom ofScotland. And whereas several Officers are needful for attending the service of the same, especially aSecretary for giving an account of Our intentions and pleasure from time to time, to the Brethren ofthe said Order, and Sir Andrew Forester, who did possess the said Office, having now resigned thesame to Us, We have, therefore, thought fit to nominate, constitute, and appoint, and by these presentsWe do nominate, constitute, and appoint you, the said Sir David Nairn, to be Our Secretary of thatMost Ancient and Most Noble Order, during all the days of your life, giving, granting, and disponingunto you, the said place and office of Our Secretary of the Order aforesaid, with full power and autho-rity to you to receive the sum of three hundred pounds sterling money yearly, as a fee and salarybelonging to the said office, conform to Our Royal grant 2 for that effect, of the date of these presents,with all other fees, profits, and perquisites, and to enjoy all privileges and immunities belonging, orthat shall hereafter be by Us declared to pertain and belong to the same, and generally with full powerto do and perform all things pertaining to the place, office, and duty of Our Secretary of that Order;and after your having taken of Our Oath de fideli administratione in the said office, you are herebyauthorized to carry the Badge, and to wear and use all habits, distinctions, and others, which to OurSecretary of the said Order do rightly belong, for all which this shall be your Warrant. Given underOur Royal hand and signet, at Our Court at St. James’s, the 29th day of January 1703-4, and of Ourreign the second year.

“ By Her Majesty’s command,

“ Queensberry.”

WARRANT FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF SIR HENRY ERSKINE, BARONET, AS SECRETARY

TO THE ORDER.

“GEORGE R.

“ Our Sovereign Lord ordains a Commission to be made and passed under the Seal appointed by theTreaty of Union to be made use of in Scotland, in place of the great Great Seal thereof, making mentionthat, whereas the office of Secretary to the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, isbecome vacant by the death of George Drummond, Esquire, late Secretary to the same, His Majestybeing fully satisfied of the sufficiency, qualifications, and ability of his trusty and well-beloved SirHenry Erskine, Baronet, for discharging the duty of the said office, has, therefore, nominated, con-stituted, and appointed, as His Majesty by these presents nominates, constitutes, and appoints him, thesaid Sir Henry Erskine, during all the days of his lifetime, to be Secretary to the said Order, giving,granting, and disponing unto him, the office of Secretary, to the office aforesaid, with full power andauthority to receive the sum of three hundred pounds sterling, as the usual fee and salary belonging tothe said office, conform to his Royal grant for that effect, as also all other fees, profits, and perquisites,

5 A copy of the Warrant occurs in the Register, but it is in the same words, mutatis mutandis, as this instru-ment.