Scotiæ indiculum, or, The present state of Scotland together with divers reflections upon the antient state thereof / by A.M. philopatris.

The Manner of the Riding of the Parliament.

When the day comes in which the first Sessions of each Parliament is to be held, the Regalia, The Crown, Scepter and Sword of State, which are kept in the Castle of E∣dinburgh, are brought down in State

to the King's Palace, the Coach in which they are, being well guarded by a File of Musqueteers; every one who pass the Coach being un∣covered; and are carried by three of the Antientest Earls that are up∣on the place, bare-headed, before the King or his Commissioner: In the Great Court, before the King's Palace, all the Members in Parlia∣ment do mount on horse-back with foot-cloaths. The Burgesses Ride first, being allowed one Lackey apiece; two Trumpeters in their Coats bare-headed; two Pursevants in their Coats bare-headed usher the way; the Commissioners from Shires Two and Two. The Officers of State, (not Noble men) are next in order. The Lords and Barons of Parliament; the Bishops, the Viscounts, the Earls, and the two Archbishops; all of them Two and Two: Next are four Trumpeters in

their Coats, bare-headed, Two and Two and Two; four Pursevants in their Coats, bare-headed, Two and Two; six Heralds in the••r Coats, bare-headed, Two and Two; the Gentleman Usher bare headed; Lyon King at Arms, with his Coat and Robes, and Foot-Mantle, and his Battoon in his hand, bare-headed; the Sword of State, the Scepter and the Crown, carried by three of the Antientest of the Nobility; on each side the Honours, three Mace bea∣rers bare-headed; a Noble man bare-headed, with a Purse, and in it, the Lord High Commissioner his Com∣miss••on. Then last of all the Lord High Commissioner, with the Dukes and Marquesses on his Right and Left hand: When the King is pre∣sent, the Master of the Horse Rides easie, but a l••ttle aside.

It is ordered there be no shooting,

under the highest pains and penal∣ties that day, neither displaying of Ensigns, nor beating of Drums, du∣ring the whole Cavalcade: The Of∣ficers of State (not being Noble men) Ride in their Gowns: The whole Members Ride covered, except those that carry the Honours. The highest degree, and the most Honourable of that Degree Ride last.

Every Duke hath eight Lackeys, every Marquess six, every Earl four, every Viscount three, every Lord three, every Commissioner for Shires two, every Commissioner for Bur∣roughs one, every Noble man to have a Gentleman to hold up his Train: They may have their Pages also.

The Two Archbishops to have each of them eight Lackeys; every other Bishop three; and if they

please they may have a Gentleman to hold up their Trains.

The Noble mens Lackeys have over their Liveries, short Velvet Coats, with their Badges, Crests and Motto's, done in Plate or embroi∣dered, on their back and breast.

The great Officers of State, Ride up from the Abby, the King's Pa∣lace, about half an hour before the Cavalcade, in their Robes, at∣tended with their friends on horse∣back, waiting in the Parliament-house: When the Commissioner en∣ters the House, the Lord Chancellor takes his own Purse, and ushers him from the Bar to the Throne: When the King is present, the Lord Chan∣ce••lor receives His Majesty at the door of the Parliament-house, and ushers him up to the Throne.

The whole Members of Parlia∣ment wait on the High Commissio∣ner in the Great Hall; the Noble∣men in their Robes.

They return in the same order back to the Palace; only the Con∣stable and Mareschal Ride on the Commissioners Right and Left hand, with Caps of Permission: The Lord Chancellor and Lord Privy Seal stay behind, until all march away, and then return in the same State to the Palace, as they Ride to the Parlia∣ment house.

When the King Rides in Person, the Lord Chancellor Rides, bearing the Great Seal: but this is not done before a Commissioner.

When the King is present, the Mar∣quesses and Dukes Ride after the Earls; but if His Majesties Com∣missioner

be present, they follow him at some distance, or on his Right and Left hand. After the King or his Commissioner is receiv∣ed by the Lord Chancellor, he is seated in a Throne, six steps high, with a State over it: And in the first step under him, in a Bench, sits the Lord Chancellor, with other Officers of State, on both hands of him: In the next step under these sit the Lords of Sessions, or Judges: On the Right hand of the Throne is the Bishops Bench, that rises up in two rows of Benches: On the highest the two Archbishops sit, and on the lower sit the Bishops, accord∣ing to the Dignity of their Sees.

On the Left hand of the Throne there is another great Bench, of three steps, and rows of Benches, on which sits the Nobility, according to their Precedency.

In the middle of the four there are two Tables; on the one whereof the Regalia are laid, and in two great Chairs by them, sit the Con∣stable and the Mareschal; at the o∣ther Table sits the Lord Clerk of Registers, with his Deputy Clerks, who are the Clerks of the Parliament.

There are also Forms placed on the Floor; these on the Right side are for the Commissioners of the Shires; and these on the Left for the Com∣missioners of the Burroughs. When all are placed, the Parliament is fenced (as the phrase is) in the King's Name: Then the King speaks to them, if he be present, in his Robes with the Crown on his head, all standing up bare headed: But when a Commissioner represents him, he is in an ordinary Sute, and stands and speaks also bare-headed (nor is the Commissioner covered when there is

pleading at the Bar, but continues bare-headed as all the Members are) and tells them the reason for which they are called together, which is en∣larged by the Lord Chancellor.

The next thing to be done, is the Chusing of the Lords of the Articles, which is a matter of great impor∣tance, who are eight of every State, who have been chosen different waies: Sometimes the Bishops did Chuse the Eight Lords; and some∣times the Nobility the Eight Bishops. At other times the Nobility did Chuse their own Eight, and the Bi∣shops their Eight: But now it is set∣led by an Act of Parliament, that the King, or His Commissioner names Eight of the Bishops; the Lords Chuse Eight for themselves; and these Sixteen do Chuse Eight Commissioners for the Shires, and Eight for the Burroughs: These

Thirty two are the Committee of Parliament, to prepare matters: When a Bill is drawn by them, it is brought into the Parliament: An∣tiently all these Bills were brought in the last day of the Parliament, on which, the Members Ride in the same State, as they do the first, and the Bills being Read, they were put to the Votes of the Parliament, and then were approved, or not; being approved, were presented to the King, who by touching them with the Scepter, gives his assent to them, which is done by his Commissioner in his absence; if he refuse to touch them, they are of no force: Matters have been fully and freely debated in Parliament: Sitting all in one House, every one answers di∣stinctly to his Name, and gives his Vote, which is in these terms, I approve, or not approve; only these who are not satisfied one

way or another, say Non liquet, which is a great ease to those who are con∣scientious, and a common refuge to the cunning Politician: The major Vote carries it: No Dissents or Pro∣tests are allowed in publick Acts; these are accounted Treasonable; but in private Acts that relate to mens Properties and Rights, any one may protest for his Interest. Af∣ter all business is ended, the King or his Commissioner makes a Speech to the Parliament Assembled, after which they are Dissolved.

Sometimes the King His Majesty makes use of a Convention of Estates, which can make no Laws; only by this Meeting Impositions are laid upon the Subjects: they do not Sit in State; and have been most in use before the Kings were Crowned.

Whatever Acts are passed in Par∣liament,

or Convention of Estates, are to be proclaimed soon after the Dissolution, at the publick Market-Cross of Edinburgh, by the Lyon King at Arms, with a great deal of State and Ceremony; after which they are obligatory on the Subjects: And it is Enacted, that none of the Lieges shall presume to impugn the Dignity and Authority of the Three Estates, or any of them in time com∣ing, under the pain of Treason; the Authority of the Parliament being the Supreme Court, it is not im∣pertinent to give a List of the Nobi∣lity of the Kingdom of Scotland, with their Precedency, which is as follows; with their Surnames.