Shown above is the Treaty of Perpetual Peace, the marriage contract of Margaret Tudor, princess of England to James IV, King of Scotland & the Isles.
Margaret, by the grace of God, queen regent of Scotland, princess of Ireland, princess of England and Calais, France, and countess of Angus, to the archbishop, bishops, abbots, priests and priestesses, earls, barons, justiciaries, foresters, sheriffs, stewards, servants, and to all her bailiffs and liege subjects, greetings. Know that, having regard to the Almighty Deity and for the salvation of our soul, and those of all our ancestors and heirs, and unto the honor of God and the advancement of His holy Purpose and for the rectifying of our realm, we have granted the following:
1. That none shall come for Knighthood into the Order of the Thistle without the express consent of their Knight Marshalls elected of each clan or appointed by Her Majesty by her own hand. Knight Marshalls of clans must be members of the clan they represent. Seekers of knighthood who are independent of a clan may press their suits by writ to Her Majesty and by proof of deeds worthy of honour. All will recognize the sovereignty of Margaret, Queen of Scots as patroness and Sovereign of the Order of the Thistle and shall not question her decisions of knighthood.
2. That none shall come for titles and/or land without proof of honourable deeds done or without the recommendations or sponsorship of the peers of Scotland.
3. That none shall reprimand Margaret, Queen of Scots for decisions made, if Her Majesty be not previously informed of discussions and recommendations made by Her Majesty’s peerage.
4. That none shall come to court or attend Margaret, Queen of Scots inappropriately covered. Thy dress and thy demeanor shall convey honour and respect for the Crown and moreover for thine ownself. Each clan is hereby empowered to enforce their own codes of attire among their own clansmen and clanswomen.
5. That none shall come to court in cups. Drunkeness during the business of Court is expressly forbidden on pain of excommunication from the Court.
6. That none shall come to court with the intent of expressing lewd behaviour. It is the desire of the Court and Margaret, Queen of Scots that all shall be able to witness the dealings of the court without fear for the influences foisted upon their children.
7. That all in sooth grievances shall be dealt with swiftly and privately outside of the Court, though all in faith grievances are welcomed to be aired within the Court.
8. Most importantly, all matters to be expressed at Court shall be scheduled by the hand of Her Majesty’s Royal Secretary. The time of appointment shall be dictated by the personal schedule of the Lady Secretary and her staff. The timing of all Court activities shall be monitored by the Lord Bailiff and timing constraints shall be herewith respected. Margaret, Queen of Scots reserves the right to bend the timing rules as she sees fit, but none other shall exercise this right and privilege.
9. All shall know that Margaret, Queen of Scots doth love and appreciate her subjects, that she is immeasurably grateful for their many kindnesses which come to her, not by requirement of fealty, but from the hearts of those who wish to give of themselves freely.
10. And all the will, hatreds, and bitterness that have arisen between us and our men and women, clergy and lay, from the date of the quarrel, we have completely remitted and pardoned to everyone. Moreover, all trespasses occasioned by the said quarrel, from Easter in the twenty-third year of our reign till the restoration of peace, we have fully remitted to all, both clergy and laymen, and completely forgiven, as far as pertains to us.
11. Wherefore we will and firmly order that the Scottish Court be free, and that the men and women in our kingdom have and hold all the aforesaid liberties, rights, and concessions, well and peaceably, freely and quietly, fully and wholly, for themselves and their heirs, of us and our heirs, in all respects and in all places forever, as is aforesaid. An oath, moreover, has been taken, as well on our part as on the art of the lairds and ladies, that all these conditions aforesaid shall be kept in good faith and without evil intent. Given under our hand - the above named and many others being witnesses - in the lane which is called Taylor, between the Slashed Shoe and Peasant Popcorn, on the twenty-fourth day of April, in the thirtieth year of our reign.
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