Lords of the Articles

Scottish parliamentary committee which supervised all legislation to be presented to the full Parliament, which could not debate what the Lords proposed, only reject or amend. Though of 15th century origin, the committee became a vital instrument of royal control in the early 17th century, as James VI's revival of episcopacy allowed him to use crown-appointed bishops to dominate the committee. The Covenanters abolished the system, but with the restoration of the Stuart monarchy the Lords reappeared. They were finally abolished 1690.