His Majesty's MOST GRACIOUS LETTER TO THE PARLIAMENT OF SCOTLAND. TOGETHER WITH The Lord high Commissioner and Lord high Chancellor's Speeches. W R HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE royal English blazon or coat of arms EDINBURGH, Printed by the Heirs and Successors of Andrew Anderson, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, Anno Dom. 1700. His Majesty's most Gracious Letter to the Parliament of Scotland. WILLIAM R. My Lords and Gentlemen, THe State of Our Affairs Abroad, requiring Our going beyond Seas, was the Cause of Our Adjourning your Meeting till this time; When we ordered the last Adjournment by Our Letter then published, We fully expressed Our good Intentions towards that Our Ancient Kingdom, which We are now ready to make good in this Session of Parliament. We have considered the Address you made to Us in the Session of Parliament 1698, in behalf of the African Company, representing the same as a National Concern, and do assure you, that We are very willing to assent to what shall be reasonably proposed for repairing the Losses, and Supporting and Promoting the Interest of that COMPANY: And having ever reckoned the Ease and Prosperity of Our good Subjects Our greatest Honour and Happiness; We are likewise most willing to agree to all that can be demanded, for maintaining and advancing the Peace and Welfare of the Kingdom. And that you and all Our good Subjects may have full and satisfying Assurance of this Our good Mind; We again Declare, That We are resolved to give Our Royal Assent to all Acts that shall be offered for the better establishing the true Protestant Religion, and the Presbyterian Government of the Church, which you enjoy, for the more effectual preventing the growth of Popery, for the repressing of Vice and Immorality, and the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue, for the preserving and securing of personal Liberty, for the regulating and advancing of Trade; And more especially for making up the Losses, and promoting the Concerns of the African and Indian COMPANY, for the setting forward and improving Manufactories, and generally, We are ready to give Our Assent to all other Laws that shall be brought in for the farther clearing and securing Property and Civil Rights, strengthening and facilitating the Administration of Justice, restraining and punishing of Crimes, and the preserving the Peace and Quiet of the Kingdom, so that nothing shall be wanting on Our part to make Our People both Happy and Contented. It is truly Our Regrate, that We could not agree to the Asserting of the Right of the COMPANIES Colony in Darien, and you may be very confident, if it had not been for invincible Reasons, the pressing Desires of all Our Ministers, with the Inclination of Our good Subjects therein concerned, had undoubtedly prevailed, but since We were, and are fully satisfied, that Our yielding in that Matter, had infallibly disturbed the general Peace of Christendom, and brought inevitably upon that Our Ancient Kingdom a heavy War, wherein We could expect no Assistance; And that now the state of that Affair is quite altered, We doubt not but you will rest satisfied with these plain Reasons. We are hearty sorry for the COMPANIES Loss in what hath happened, but We being most willing that the COMPANIES Losses be repaired, and ready to concur in any new Projects or Design that shall be reasonably proposed for the Good and Advantage of the Kingdom, We are most confident, the Wisdom of the Parliament will no longer Stop upon this Obstruction, Having then this happy Opportunity for the promoving of the Good and Welfare of the Kingdom, you will certainly lay hold upon it; And seeing you cannot but notice the Designs and Practices of Persons disaffected both to Our Government and your Peace, and how Watchful and Ready Our Enemies are, also well at Home as Abroad, and desireous of nothing more as that Differences may fall in amongst Us; We are persuaded you will be no less careful to avoid them. All that We demand is, that you would provide proper and competent Supplies for such Forces as shall be necessary for the Kingdom's Security, and to maintain it in its present happy Settlement. We have continued the Duke of Queensberry to be Our Commissioner for representing Us in this Session of Parliament, as a Person of whose Ability and Fidelity We have made full Proof, and are assured will be to you acceptable; And therefore you are to give him full Credit: And We expect that in all things you will proceed with that Wisdom, Calmness and Unanimity, as that this Session may be concluded to Our mutual Satisfaction, and to the Joy of all Our good Subjects: And so We bid you hearty Farewell. Given at Our Court at Loo the 4th of October 1700. and of Our Reign the 12 Years By His Majesty's Command, Sic subscribitur, RO. PRINGLE. THE SPEECH OF JAMES Duke of Queensberry, etc. His Majesty's high Commissioner to the PARLIAMENT of SCOTLAND. On Tuesday the Twenty Ninth Day of October, 1700. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, AT our last Meeting, I told you that I was instructed by His Majesty in every thing that could appear necessary or convenient for the interest of this Kingdom, and of solid use to the Indian and African Company. You have ample assurances renewed to you since that time, that His Majesty retracts nothing that was then designed for the welfare and satisfaction of His People, as He has plainly expressed, in a Letter to His Privy Council, published by His special Order, that all His Majesty's good Subjects might have the advantage to understand, and leisure to reflect and consider on the present state of Affairs, and that you might come together with a cheerful disposition, to give His Majesty just and full Concurrence in what is laid before you. I wish the Kingdom had sooner received the benefit of His Majesty's good intentions, but you have it now in your power to repair that loss. His Majesty's most gracious Letter which you have heard read, does clearly confirm all that was formerly offered, or can be reasonably proposed to make you happy It is with regrate the King tells you that He cannot agree to assert the Right of the Indian and African Company's Colony in Darien, He perfectly knows the earnest desire of these concerned in it, and of many others of His good Subjects, and does His Servant's Justice in that matter. His Majesty would certainly have granted what was so pressingly desired, had he not known that his yielding that point must have disturbed the peace of Europe, and engaged us is a War, in which he could expect no support. The circumstances of that Affair are so much altered, that you cannot but be convinced it is unnecessary at present to assert that Right; and the insisting upon it may obstruct things of more value, both to the Nation, and Company. It may be the endeavour of some in the Nation, who are disaffected to the Government of the Church and State, to influence you to press the asserting the Right of the Colony; and the more they see His Majesty straitened betwixt his inclinations to satisfy the Company, and His care to preserve the Peace of Christendom, the more they will urge you to it. It must therefore be highly suitable to the Wisdom of this Parliament, to be a war of such Artifices, and to apply themselves to disappoint any advantage our Enemies at home or abroad may make of the least appearance of difference amongst us. For this reason I cannot doubt but you will unanimously proceed to these things that are more valuable, and entirely in your power. For His Majesty is willing to concur with you in maintaining and securing the Protestant Religion, and Presbyterian Government of the Church; in putting a stop to the growth of Popery, repressing Vice and Immorality, in providing for the liberty of your Persons by a clear and perpetual Law. And His Majesty is also willing that you proceed to such Laws as may advance the Trade & welfare of the Kingdom particularly the true interest of the Indian and African Company, and Erect and Improve Manufactories, employ and provide for the Poor, and clear and secure private Rights and Property, strengthen and facilitat the Administration of Justice, restrain and punish Crimes, and generally to do all that may secure the Peace, and promote the Welfare of the Kingdom. My instructions are full in relation to these matters; So His Majesty has done every thing that can be desired on His part. The King on the other hand demands nothing of you, but competent Supplies for maintaining such Forces as are necessary for the Security of the Nation, in which I assure myself of your ready compliance. I know & do hearty regrate that the Nation is brought low by the Scarcity which has continued for several years, & by other misfortunes. And I should be as tender as any Man to have heavy Burdens laid upon it: But I think no good Subject will grudge to contribute what is necessary to support the Government, and secure ourselves from the Insults and Rapine of ill Men, which cannot be done without new Supplies. My Lords and Gentlemen, IT has pleased His Majesty to continue me in the great Honour & Trust of representing His Royal Person. And I consider it as the highest mark of his Favour & the happiest occasion of my Life to be employed by him, when so many valuable Concessions are made for the good of the Kingdom, & by your Prudence and Conduct, I am persuaded that this Session shall come to an happy issue. FINIS. The Speech of Patrick Earl of Marchmont, etc. Lord High Chancellor, to the Parliament of SCOTLAND, On Tuesday 29. October 1700. My Lords and Gentlemen, NOW We see the Estates of this Kingdom again met in Parliament, so soon as the Kings other weighty Affairs, and his absence from Britain could allow it; whereby all may be satisfied that the Suspicions which have been vented, as if their Meeting would be delayed and put off, were altogether groundless. His Majesty in his Letter to you when you last met, told you of His firm Resolution to make it the chief design of His Reign to do every thing that may tend to the Advantage and Good of His Subjects, and the Commissioners Grace acquainted you in that Meeting that he had full power and Instructions for every thing that appeared necessary or convenient for the Good and Advantage of the Nation, as to Religion, Property, Liberty, Trade, and particularly what could be of most solid use to the African and Indian Company. Since that time, His Majesty by a Letter to His Privy Council, published by his Order, for the Satisfaction of His Good Subjects, has repeated the same Assurances which were formerly given you, and has expressed his good Intentions towards this Kingdom. Now again His Majesty by His most Gracious Letter Read in your Audience, is pleased fully and kindly to certify you, that he continues firm in the same good Intentions, still reckoning the Ease and Prosperity of His good Subjects to be His greatest Honour and Happiness. These ample and full Assurances which His Majesty has in His Letter given you, are so distinctly expressed in it, and in the Discourse the Commissioners Grace has had to you, that it were superfluous to me to add much to what you have heard. Only I must much take notice, and I wish that you may do so too, of the large extent of His Majesty's good Intentions towards his Subjects of this Kingdom. His Majesty is resolved to give the Royal Assent to all Acts for the better establishing the true Protestant Religion and the Presbyterian Government of the Church which we Enjoy. For the more effectual preventing the growth of Popery, for the repressing of Vice and Immorality, and Encouragement of Piety and Virtue, for the preserving and securing of personal Liberty, for the Regulating and Advancing of Trade, for making up the Losses, & promoting the Concerns of the African and Indian Company, and for the setting forward and Improving of Manufactories. By these seven Channels, His Majesty is disposed and ready to let out unto this Nation a Stream of most valuable Advantages, which cannot miss (by the Blessing of GOD) to make it happy. Yet lest these Heads might come short of importing the extent of His Majesty's good meaning, He is pleased to add, that generally he is ready to give the Royal Assent to all other Laws for the further clearing and securing Property and Civil Rights, for strengthening and facilitating the Administration of Justice, for restraining and punishing Crimes, and for settling the Peace and Quiet of the Kingdom, so that nothing shall be wanting upon His Majesty's part to make his people both Happy and Contented; What more can we reasonably Hope, what more can we reasonably Wish. Upon the other hand, all that His Majesty demands of us, is, that we will provide proper & competent Supplies for such Forces as shall be necessary for the Kingdom's Security, and to maintain it in its present happy Settlement. And here I must say, what less can reasonably be demanded, what less can reasonably be expected. The many cross Providences which the African and Indian Company has met with in the prosecution of its Designs, with the great Loss both of Men and Treasure, which has been the event of the Companies attempt, for settling a Colony in the Province of Darien, have much disturbed and perplexed the minds of many, and it is too evident, that there are not wanting some who would raise and foment Jealousies in well-meaning People of Our Sovereign the King, as if he were not enough concerned to protect and assist this Nation in what relates to its Trade. I would entreat you to take heed how you harbour so bad a guest as Jealousy is, it is apt to darken the Understanding, and to disturb the motion of the Mind, it will create Fear where no Fear is, and no ground for it, I pray you beware of it. This is undeniable, that the Scots Nation never had a King, whom it had better reason to trust & confide in, never had a Parliament which it had better reason to trust and confide in; it is so, we have all the reason in the World to do what is possible to us for maintaining a good Understanding betwixt this King and this Parliament, even as we wish the Prosperity and Peace of this Kingdom. There is one thing which has made a difference of Opinion amongst us, some would have an Act asserting the Right of the Company to the Colony, which it planted upon Darien. In this matter the King has been much straitened, and has declared to you with regrate, that he cannot agree to the asserting a Right to that Colony, and that for invincible reasons, which His Majesty is pleased to communicate to you. That it would infallibly disturb the general Peace of Christendom, and bring inevitably upon this Kingdom a heavy War, wherein we could expect no assistance. This is very evident, for the power of the Spanish Monarchy, and of those concerned in the Support of it, would be united against us, and we in all appearance left to our own strength, without expectation of any Assistants. Besides we are to consider, that the Company has not now the Colony in Possession to support and maintain, but to recover by force of Arms, and we have good Reason, this Kingdom having so lately come off from a great and long War, to take notice in what Condition and Preparation the Nation is to engage in a new one, and what Assistance we may expect. These plain Reasons, I do not doubt, will satisfy all these who are satisfiable, & not too indifferent of keeping up a mutual Trust and Confidence betwixt His Majesty and his People and Parliament. My Lords and Gentlemen, As you have great Assurances and Kind offers from your Sovereign at this time, whereby this Nation may be made very happy, it's most important Interests further secured, its Peace preserved, and its Trade advanced. Let not the humour or jealousy of any who have access to the doing Business in this Juncture, hinder or obstruct so great a Blessing as we have in prospect. But seeing our King is so ready to concur with us, let us not be backward or slow to concur with Him for the good of our Nation, that the people now living, and the posterity which shall come after us, may have this Session of Parliament in Veneration, and for a Pattern worthy to be regarded, and fit to be imitated. FINIS.