The late King james His Letter to his Privy Council of Scotland, with their Answer, in reference to His Indulgence, containing His Absolute Power, without Reserve.  
His Majesty's Letter to His Honourable Privy Council of Scotland; together with their Answer. Edinburgh, February 24. 1687.  
ON Thursday, the 17 th' Instant, His Majesty's Gracious Letter to the Lords of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council of this Kingdom, was Read at the Board; After which their Lordships Unanimously Ordered, That His Majesty's Royal Proclamation therein Enclosed, should be Published here the next day, which was accordingly performed with great Solemnity and Demonstrations of Joy. The Copies of which Gracious Letter, together with the Councils dutiful Answer to His Majesty thereupon, do here follow.  

His Majesty's Letter to His Privy Council of Scotland.  
JAMES R.  
RIght Trusty and Right Wellbeloved Cousin and Counsellor, Right Trusty and Right Wellbeloved Counsellor, Right Trusty and Entirely-beloved Cousins and Counsellors, Right Trusty and Right Wellbeloved Cousins and Counsellors, Right Trusty and Wellbeloved Cousins and Counsellors, Right Trusty and Wellbeloved Counsellors, and Trusty and Wellbeloved Counsellors, We Greet you well. Whereas by Our Letter of the 21 saint of August last passed, We were graciously pleased to inform you of Our Designs in order to the Ease of Our Roman Catholic Subjects, unto which we had your Dutiful Answer in some days thereafter; We have now thought fit to Publish these Our Royal Intentions, and to give an Additional Ease to those of Tender Consciences, so to convince the World of Our Inclinations to Moderation, and to evidence that those of the Clergy who have been Regular, are Our most particular Care; though We have given some Ease to those Principles, We can with any Safety Trust: We have at the same time expressed Our highest Indignation against those Enemies of Christianity, as well as Government, and Humane Society, The Field Conventiclers, whom We recommend to you to Root out with all the Severities of Our Laws, and with the most vigorous Prosecution of Our Forces, it being equally Our, and Our Peopl's concern, to be rid of them. As for the other Particulars of Our Royal Proclamation here enclosed, We doubt not but they will appear to you most Just and Reasonable, as they do to Us, and that you will, in your respective Capacities Assert, and Defend Our Royal Rights and Prerogatives, which We are resolved to maintain in that Splendour and Greatness, which can only make them Safe for Us, Supports for Our Friends, and Terrors to Our Enemies. It is evident, We do not mean to encroach on the Consciences of any, and what We will not do, We are resolved not to suffer in others: And therefore it is Our Will and Pleasure, That these Our Commands be forthwith obeyed, and that in Order thereunto, this Our Proclamation be forthwith Printed and Published in the usual manner in such Cases accustomed; And if any shall be so bold as to show any dislike of this Our Procedure, We desire to be informed thereof by you, To the end We may convince the World, that We are in Earnest, assuring all, That as We expect Obedience therein, and a Readiness from you, and all Our Judicatures to assert Our Rights, so it shall be Our Care on all Occasions, to show Our Royal Favour to all of you in General, and to every one in Particular. For doing all these things, as well contained in this Our Letter, as in Our Proclamation aforesaid, These Presents shall be to you, and all others respectively, who may be therein any way concerned, a sufficient Warrant. and so We bid you Heartily Farewell.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Twelfth day of February, 1686/7. And of Our Reign the Third Year. By His Majesty's Command. MELFORT.   

The Answer of the Lords of the Council to His Majesty's Letter.  
May it please Your most Sacred Majesty,  
YOur Majesty's Commands are exactly Obeyed. Your Royal Proclamation is Printed and Published, by which Your Majesty hath given a further Evidence of your Favour and Goodness to all Your Subjects. And we are hopeful, that by Your Majesty's extraordinary Acts of Mercy to some, who have been too ready on many Occasions to abuse the Clemency of Your Royal Predecessors, they will be at last convinced what they owe to so Gracious a King; And if any shall be still so obstinate as to make any wrong use of Your Majesty's Goodness, We do unanimously assure Your Majesty, That we will maintain and assert Your Royal Prerogatives and Authority with the hazard of our Lives and Fortunes; And all of us shall in our several Capacities do our Utmost, that Your Government may be easy to all, whom Your Majesty thinks worthy of Your Protection.  
We are very willing that Your Majesty's Subjects who are Peaceable and Loyal, may be at Ease and Security, notwithstanding of their Profession and Private Worship, and do conceive that such of them as are or shall be employed by Your Majesty in Offices of Trust Civil or Military, are sufficiently secured by Your Majesty's Authority and Commission for their exercing the same.  
We return Your Majesty our most humble Thanks for giving Us Your Royal Word for maintaining the Church and our Religion, as it is now established by Law, and rest satisfied, believing Your Majesty's Promise to be the best and greatest Security we can have. We are,  
Edinburgh, 24. Feb. 1686/7. May it please Your Majesty, Your Majesty's most Humble, most Faithful, And most Obedient Subjects and Servants, Signed by The Earl of Perth Lord High Chancellor, the Lord Archbishop of St. Andrews, the Lord Archbishop of Glasgow Elect, the Lord Marquis of Athole Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, the Duke of Gordon, the Lord Marquis of Douglass, the Earl of Linlithgow, the Earl of Dumfermling, the Earl of Strathmore, the Earl of Lauderdale, the Earl of Southesque, the Earl of Traquair, the Earl of Airlie, the Earl of Belcarras, the Lord Viscount of Tarbat, the Lord Viscount of Strathallan, the Lord Livingstoun, the Lord Kinnaird, Sir George Lockhart of Carnwath Lord Precedent of the Session, Sir john Dalrymple younger of Stair Lord Advocate, Sir james Foulis of Collingtoun Lord Justice Clerk, Sir john Lockhart of Castlehill one of the Senators of the College of Justice, Lieutenant General james Douglas, Sir Andrew Ramsay of Abbotshall, Major General john Grahame of Claverhouse, and Andrew Wanchop of Nidry..  
And His Majesties said Privy Council having Ordered, That the said Letter should afterwards be Signed by such of the Counsellors as were not then present; It was accordingly Signed at Westminster by the Earl of Morray, and the Earl of Melfort, Principal Secretaries of State for the said Kingdom, the Earl of Arran, the Earl of Drumlanrig, the Earl of Winton, the Earl of Seafort, the Earl of Ancrum, and the Earl of Dumbarton.    

reprinted at Edinburgh, Anno DOM. 1689.