Country code |
GB |
Repository code |
234 |
Repository |
National Records of Scotland |
Reference |
PC |
Title |
Records of the Privy Council of Scotland |
Dates |
1545-1707 |
Access status |
Open |
Location |
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Description |
This council existed from the 13th century although there is little direct evidence of its activities. By the later 15th century it had advisory, executive and judicial functions, surviving records being mainly confined to the last named. The balance of advisory and executive functions depended on the current status of the monarchy and they tend to be best documented when the king was a minor or inexperienced. There is little evidence of a secret or privy council in the reign of James IV but one reappears in the minority of James V. In 1517, 14 named persons were chosen to sit on the secret council but on subsequent occasions its members were elected in Parliament. Although the Lords of Secret Council were concerned with great matters, they were not a separate entity but part of the general body of Lords of Council, like the Lords of Session and Lords Auditors of Exchequer. The core was formed by the officers of state, the Chancellor and other high officers who also served as the Lords of Articles in Parliament. The Chancellor was ex officio the head but after 1610 the Lord President of the College of Justice presided in his absence. Up to 1567 the position of clerk of council held by the clerk register since 1483 was recognised as including that of clerk of the Privy Council though in practice the duties were carried out by a subordinate. By 1627 the post had become an independent crown appointment. After 1603 the Privy Council played a major part in James VI's governance of Scotland from London. this continued until the upheavals 1638-1641 when it was largely displaced by the alternative administration set up by the Covenanters. From 1643 the Privy Council was marginalised as the Committee of the Estates became the effective government of Scotland. In 1661, the appointment of councillors and officers of state was declared part of the royal prerogative. The Privy Council became once more a powerful executive body. After the Revolution of 1688-1689, the Privy Council assumed a more passive role. Under the Act of Union, a privy council in Scotland was to continue for the purposes of preserving law and order. In fact it survived only for a year when it was abolished possibly due to fears of its potential influence on elections. |
Level |
Fonds |
Accruals |
None expected |
Arrangement |
The series (except the first series) are generally arranged in accordance with the numbering on the backs of the documents, which corresponds to the inventory (PC9/4) where available. A few unnumbered documents are inserted at suitable points (eg PC14/5/48A etc.) |
Publication note |
Most Privy Council records are published in The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland. Details are given below. Series 1 Register of the Privy Council of Scotland 1545-1689 edited and abridged by John Hill Burton Series 1 volumes 3-14 and series 2 volume 1 edited and abridged by David Masson Series 2 volumes 2-8 and Series 3 volumes 1-8 edited by P Hume Brown Series 3 volumes 9-14 edited by Henry Paton with an introduction by Robert K Hannay |
Format |
Manuscript |
Language |
English |
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