Here followes the tennor of the abovewritten commission, in English :- WILLIAM REX, Our soveraigne Lord and Lady ordain a letter to be made and passed under there Majesties great seall of there ancient kingdome of Scotland, makeing mentione that there Majesties being fully satisfied with the loyalty, fidelity, and integrity of maister Andrew Kennedy of Clowburne, and of his fittness and qualificationes for exactly dischargeing of the duties of the place and office of conservator of the priviledges granted to the subjects of there said ancient kingdome of Scotland in the Netherlands, as also there Majesties resident for all affairs of thair said kingdome of Scoptland in the whole bounds of the sevinteen provinces of the Low Cuntries; Therefore to have made, constitute, an appoynted, lykeas there Majesties by there presents make, constitute and appoynte the said maister Andrew Kennedy, dureing all the dayes of his naturall life, conservator of the said priviledges granted to the subjects of there Majesties said ancient kingdome of Scotland in the Netherlandes, and moreover making, constituteing, appoynting, lykeas there Majesties by there presents make, constitute , and appoynt the said maister Andrew Kennedy (dureing the space forsaid) ther Majesties resident for all affairs of thair said kingdome of Scotland in the whole bounds of the seventeen provinces of the Low Cuntryes; giveing and granting the said offices unto him with no lesse amplitude of power, priviledge, right and liberty then any conservator or resident hade at any tyme heretofore; and yeirly with power unto him to appoynt and constitute deputes one or more under him (for quhom he shall be answerable) in the saids offices, as also clerks, servants, assessors, and all other necessar officers of court, and them to place or displace and to admitt or extrude at his pleasure; with power unto him to use and exerce the said offices (with all dignitys, priviledges, libertys, immunities, fies, and casualtys, justly belonging to the same, by himself or his deputts in maner aforesaid, and by his servants and collectors to crave, exact, uplift, and receive all and sundry the rents, emoluments, and casualities pertaining to the said office of conservator and resident or which might have pertained or belonged unto them or either of them; and with power unto him to take and apprehend the persons to destrenyie and sell the goods of delinquents; there Majesties commanding, and they doe hereby requyre and command all there subjects of there said kingdome, especially the merchants and factors, masters of ships and all others whom thir presents doe or may concern, that they honor, respect, and obey the said maister Andrew Kennedy and his deputts with all due reverence in there faithfull discharge of the said two offices; and that they readily and thankfully pey unto him, his said deputts, collectors, or vther officers in his name, all fies, rents, and emoluments pertayning ot which may pertain to either of the said two offices (dureing the space forsaid) under all highest payne and as the will answere the contrary at there perrill. Requyring hereby thee directors of there Majesties chancellary or deputts to wryte this present commsiione (in the most ample forme, with all claussis needfull), and the lord chancellor or kepers of the great seall for the tyme being to cause the samyne to be appended therto without passing any vther seall or register, for doeing whereoff this shall be to them and all others who may be therin concerned a sufficient warrant. Given at the Court at Holland House, the first day of November 1689 yeirs, and of there Majesties reigne the first yeir.

Followes the docatt of the said commissione :- may it please your Majesties. These contayn your Majseties warrant for a letter to be past (per saltum) under the great seall of your ancient kingdome of Scotland, makeing constituteing, and appoynting maister Andrew Kennedy of Clowburne, dureing all the dayes of his naturall lyfe, conservator of the priviledges granted to your subjects of the said kingdome in the Netherlands, and your Majesties resident for all affairs of your said kingdome in the whole bounds of the seventeen provinces of the Low Cuntreys; giveing and granting the offices of conservator and resident as afforsaid unto the said maister Andrew Kennedy, with no less amplitude of power, right, priviledge and liberty as any conservator and resident ever hade at any tyme heretofore, with all dignitys, priviledges, libertys, immunities, fies, and casualitys pertayning to them or either of them; with full power unto him to appoynte and constitute deputts one or moe under him (for whom he shall be ansuerable) in the said offices and all other members needfull, and to upluft and receiue all fees, rents, and emoluments pertayning or which may pertayne to either of the saids offices. Sic Subscribitur : MELVILLE.

Transcribed by Innes A. Duffus, Honorary Archivist to the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee, from Dundee Town Clerk's copy of Extracts from the Records of the Convention of Royal Burghs (published by the Scottish Burgh Records Society, 1878-1918).