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 in treat 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 undenvable, 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.