the whole Town-Council and Clerks contrary to their Liberties and Express Charters without the pretence either of Sentence Surrender or Consent and the Commissioners in Parliament being chosen by these Magistrates and Councils the King might in effect as well nominate that entire Estate of Parliament and many of the said Magistrates put in by him were avow'd Papists and the Burroughs forc'd to pay Money for Letters imposing these Illegal Magistrates upon them 14. By sending Letters to the Chief Courts of Justice not only ordering the Judges to stop and desist sine dic to determine Causes but also ordering them and Commanding them how to proceed in Causes depending before them contrary to the express Laws and by changing the Nature of the Judges Gifts ad vitam aut culpam and giving them Commissions ad bene placitum to dispose them to compliance with Arbitrary Courses and turning them out of their Offices when they did not comply and particularly those who in Parliament opposed the abrogating the Laws made for security of the Protestant Religion 15. By granting personal Protections of Civil Debts contrary to Law notwithstanding the Representation of the Privy Council to the contrary The said Reasons upon reading were debated one by one which being done the following Declaration as it was prepar'd and voted by the Grand Committee was also read to this effect That the Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland did find and declare That King James the Seventh being a Profest Papist did assume the Royal Power and acted as King without ever taking the Oath requir'd by Law And had by the Advice of wicked and evil Counsellors invaded the Fundamental Constitutions of the Kingdom and alter'd it from a Legal Limited Monarchy to an Absolute and Despotick Power and had exercis'd the same to the subversion of the Protestant Religion and the violation of the Laws and Liberties of the Nation inverting all the Ends of Government whereby he had forefaulted the Right of the Crown and the Throne was become Vacant The foregoing reasons and this Declaration being thus read and consider'd were approved by the whole Convention except Twelve of which number seven were Bishops being all that were present Which being done a Vote passed that an Act should be brought in by the Committee for settling the Crown upon William and Mary King and Queen of England and to consider the Terms of the Destination of the Heirs to the Crown as also to prepare an instrument of Government to be offered with the Crown for securing the people from the Grievances of the last Reigns When all the business of the day was over one of the Bishops offered to say Prayers according to Custom Upon which it was moved that King James being then no longer King of Scotland that the Bishop should be admonished not to pray for him at his peril Which the Bishop observing to avoid the incurring a penalty very discreetly said only the Lords Prayer and so the House adjourned The Convention having made this Progress the Grand Committee for settling the Government were ordered to proceed in perfecting the instrument which was set on foot for that purpose containing a Claim of the Peoples Rights and a Representation of such Grievances as were thought proper to be redressed In the mean time a Proclamation issued forth for the Declaring William and Mary King and Queen of England to be King and Queen of Scotland and accordingly upon the Eleventh of April the same day that they were Crowned in England they were Proclaimed at the Market-Cross in Edinborough with all the joy and sincerity that could be exprest The Proclamation ran in this Form WHereas the Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland by their Act of the Date of these Presents have Resolved that William and Mary King and Queen of England France and Ireland be and be declared King and Queen of Scotland to hold the Crown of Royal Dignity of the said Kingdom of Scotland to them the said King and Queen during their Lives and the longest Liver of them and that the sole and full exercise of the Regal power be only in and exercised by the said King in the name of the said King and Queen during their Joynt Lives As also the Estates having Resolved and Enacted an Instrument of Government or Claim of Right to be presented with the offer of the Crown to the said King and Queen they do Statute and Ordain That William and Mary King and Queen of England France and Ireland be accordingly forthwith Proclaimed King and Queen of Scotland at the Market Cross of Edinborough by Lion King at Arms or his Deputy his Bretheren Heralds Macers Pursevants and at the head Burghs of all the Shires Stewarties Baillaries and Regalities within the Kingdom by Messengers at Arms. And because the States did not think it sufficient to Proclaim William and Mary King and Queen of Scotland unless the Authority of James the seventh were quite abolished in that Kingdom they put forth another Proclamation against the owning of the late King J. withall commanding public Prayers to be said for King William and Queen Mary to this effect That the Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland having Proclaimed and Declared William and Mary King and Queen of England France and Ireland to be King and Queen of Scotland They have thought it also fit by publick Proclamation to certifie the Subjects̄ that none did presume to own or acknowledge the late King James the seventh for their King nor obey accept or assist any Commissions or Orders that might be emitted by him and that none did presume upon their highest peril by word writing in sermons or in any other manner or way to impugn or disown the Royal Authority of William and Mary King and Queen of Scotland But that all the people should render their dutiful obedience to their Majesties and that none should presume to misconsture the Proceedings of the Estates or to create jealousies or misapprehensions of the Actings of the Government but that all the Ministers of the Gospel within the Kingdom should publicly Pray for King William and Queen Mary as King and Queen of the Realm And the Estates did farther require the Ministers within the city of Edinborough to read the Proclamation publickly from their Pulpits upon the next Sunday being the 14th Instant at the end of their forenoons Sermon And the Ministers on this side of the river Tay to read the same upon the Sunday after that being the 21th instant and those be North Tay upon the 28th of April under the pain of being deprived and losing their Benefices Discharging withall the Proclamation of the Council dated Septemb. 16th 1686. to be read any more in Churches And the Estates did also farther prohibit and discharge any injury to be offered by any person whatsoever to any Minister of the Gospel either in Churches or Meeting Houses who were presently in the Possession and exercise of their ministry there they behaving themselves as
in the Garison prevailed which hastened the surrender Windram in the hurry was endeavouring to have made his escape but being discovered was brought back to the Castle for which he had no small reason to bless his kind Stars for that if he should have fallen into the hands of the Rabble in all probability they would have torn him to pieces every body looking upon him as the cause that the Castle held out so long and of all the mischiefs that hapned during the Seige It was also reported that the Duke of Gourdon after the surrender of the Castle solemnly declared that during the time of the Siege he never received any Letter from the late King During this Blokade and siege of the Castle many affairs were transacted and brought to perfection in Order to the settlement of the Government Among other things the Convention appointed a Committee to draw up an Answer to the King of Englands Letter which being done and the draught of it being read and approved of by the House it was signed by all the Members that were present except three Bishops the rest of the Bishops having before withdrawn themselves from the Convention And as for some others that were not present the Duke of Queensbury the Marquiss of Athol and the Earl of Tweddale desired that the Letter might be sent to their Lodgings to be signed in regard their indisposition of body would not permit them to come to the House But though the three Bishops refused to approve of the Letter the day before yet the next day they agreed that the Lord Ross should be the bearer of it to present it to the King of England At what time the Question being put whi Sir Patrick Hume of Polwart might be admitted a Member of the House notwithstanding his Attainder the three Bishops left the House so that after they had unanimously Voted that Sir Patrick was duly chosen and ought to sit as a Member of the Convention the House were forced to rise that Night without prayers This refusal of the Bishops to approve of the Letter occasion some of the Members to call to mind a passage when the Bishops in the beginning of the Convention vigorously opposed the Convention's approving of the Address of the Nobility and Gentry at London to His Highness the Prince of Orange upon which one of the Members made this Observation That it was no wonder the Bishops opposed the approving the London Address and refused to sign the Letter to the King of England since the House had been so unkind as not to approve of the Bishops famous Address to the late King James The Paper being therefore agreed upon without their consent the Lord Ross was made choice of to deliver to the King It was called an Answer of the Convention of Scotland to the King of England's Letter in these Words May it please your Majesty AS Religion Liberty and Law are the dearest Interests of Mankind so the deep sence of the great hazzards these were exposed to must produce sutable Returns from this Kingdom to your Majesty whom in all sincerity and gratitude we acknowledge to be under God our great and seasonable Deliverer And we heartily congratulate that as God has honoured your Majesty to be an Eminent instrument for the preservation of his Truth so he hath rewarded your endeavours with success and blessed us with deliverance We do likewise acknowledge your Majesties Goodness and care in accepting the Administration of the Publick Affairs of this Kingdom and calling the Estates and we return our most dutiful Thanks to your Majesties Gracious Letter We intend to take every part of it into our consideration and we hope shortly by the Blessing of God to fall upon such Resolutions as may be acceptable to your Majesty and may secure the Protestant Religion and establish the Government Liberties and Laws of the Kingdom upon solid Foundations most agreeable to the interest and genius of the Nation As to the Proposal of the Vnion we doubt not but your Majesty will so settle that matter that there may be an equal Meeting and readiness in the inclination of England We hope the perfecting that great work so often attempted in vain hath been reserved to your Majesty We have hither and shall avoid and lay aside all Animosities or Prejudice which may disturb or impede the Vnity and Considence of our Counsels that as we design the publick good so it may be done with the General Concourse and Approbation of the Nation In the mean time we humbly intreat the Continuation of your Majesties Care and Protection to us in all our Concerns whereof the Kindness expressed in your Royal Letter gives us full Assurance We do pray the Almighty God who has fitted and raised you up to be a Defence to the Protestant Religion always to protect and preserve your Majesty Subscribed in our Name the Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland by our President Hamilton This Answer being thus dispatched away for England the Convention judging it most necessary in the first place to secure the Peace of the Kingdom against all attempts of the dis-affected Party and Favourers of the late Kings Arbitrary designs gave order to Sir John Hall Mr. George Stirling and Mr. William Hamilton or any two of them to see the Oath Administered to such as had any Military office in and about Edinburough and to bring in an Accompt of such Arms as were in the several Garrisons And whereas several persons were seen coming Arm'd from the Borders of England therefore the respective Magistrates and Officers of the Militia in the Bordering Counties were ordered to seize such persons in Arms until they gave a good accompt of their business or if they could give no good accompt of themselves that the Magistrates or Officers who should seize such persons should have their Horses and Arms for their Reward At the same time also they gave their approbation of an Order given by the Earl of Tweddale in January to William Drummond for the delivery of Forty barrels of Powder to Mr. Hamilton Merchant of London-derry for the use of the Protestants in Ireland and ordered farther that the President should have power to dispatch such persons as he should judge necessary either for Ireland or such other places as the Present exigency of affairs required Nor were they less vigilant in giving out their Commands for the securing all suspected Persons and keeping of strong Guards in Sea-port Towns and at all the Bridges Ferries and other Passes throughout the Kingdom With these debates fell in at the same time a long consultation about giving Orders in reference to the Militia which took up some time for the naming of Trusty Officers and appointing places for the Musters within the several Counties and care was taken to provide that the Souldiers at those Musters should continue six dayes together in the exercise of their Arms and after that should be ready to march upon
notice given with twenty days Provision By this the month of March drew toward a conclusion at what time the President moved that a Committee be named to consider the State of the Government and bring in their opinion for the settling of it Which raised a debate whither the matter should be first treated of in a Committee or not which was carryed in the Affirmative After which the names of the Lords Knights and Burgesses that were to be of this Committee were agreed upon according to the following List of the Nobility The Marq. of Athol E. of Argyle E. of Crawford E. of Sutherland Knights Blare Grant Scot of Hordin Pettiver Burgesses Sir John Hall Sir John Dalrimple Sir Charles Hacket Mr. William Hamilton E. of Louthian Viscount Tarbet Lord Cardross Lord Melvin Dunbar of Grange Orminston Polward Sketmorley Mr. Fletcher of Dund Mr. Moore of Acre Mr. Anderson of Glasgow Mr. Smith of Pearch All which persons were selected into this great Committee by the plurality of Fifty Four Voices more then the fourth part of the Meeting When the President moved that this Committee might be named and eight out of every State were adjudged a competent number the Bishops of which six were then present moved that they might have the Priviledge of a State but they were answered that that point was over-ruled and they must joyn with the Nobility Then the Question was mov'd whither every one of these three Bodies or States the Nobility Knights and Burgesses should distinctly choose their eight but it was carried that every Member of the House should give in a List of twenty four being eight out of every State under their hands and that those that had the most Voices should be chosen which fell to be the Lot of the persons above-named These and some other like struglings of the Bishops against the stream and some other discontents which the Convention observ'd in their behaviour were highly disgusted by the generality of Estates insomuch that although they began to have such a mistrust of them that they made a particular Order that the Bishops in their Prayers should not mention or insinuate any thing against their Acts or Proceedings And this disgust against the Bishops was heightned by another accident which happened at the same time for that while the Convention was Voting Major General Mackay to be General the Arch-bishop of Glasgow desired That all the Bishops might be excus'd in regard the House was then upon a Military concern Upon which one of the Members stood up and declared that the Bishops had got a new sight but that he had seen Military Orders signed by the very same Bishop To which when the Archbishop replyed that the Case was different for that then he was Chairman of the Committee the same Member made answer That he knew no difference in the Cafe but onely those Orders were then against Protestant Dissenters and the Order in question against Papists And this was one reason that they who retain'd a Great Reverence for the Order yet had no kindness for the Persons who were then of it Upon the 30th of March the Grand Committee of Twenty four agreed among themselves the Throne to be vacant but came to a Conclusion in nothing else Some there were who seem'd to incline not to insist so much upon the Head of Desertion or Abdication but on that of Male-Administration Others there were who seem'd desirous that the Crown should not be confirm'd by way of Translation but by succession to the Queen of England and to the King in the Right of a Husband only he to have the Adminstration during life Others were for conferring the Care with a Union of both Kingdoms Others were first for settling the Crown and then for treating of the Union But notwithstanding this diversity of Opinions at length the Earls of Tweddale and Calender and Mr. Hugh Brown being added to the Committee they came to an Agreement and it was referr'd to a Sub-Committee to draw up the Reasons for the Vacancy which being brought into the Grand Committee the same were approv'd and pass'd with a Nemine Contradicente Upon the Fourth of April the Reasons for declaring the Throne vacant were read the last time in the House in the following Terms 1. King James the Seventh being a professed Papist did assume the Regal Power and acted as a King without ever taking the Oath requir'd by the Law whereby every King at his Access to the Government is oblig'd to swear to maintain the Protestant Religion and to Rule the People according to the Laudable Lawes 2. That by the Advice of wicked and evil Counsellors he had invaded the Fundamental Constitutions of the Kingdom and alter'd it from a Legal limited Monarchy to an Arbitrary Despotick Power and by publick Proclamation had asserted an Absolute power to annul and disable all the Lawes and particularly arraigning the Laws that established the Protestant Religion by erecting publick Schools and Societies of the Jesuits and not only allowing Mass to be publickly said but by converting Protestant Chappels and Churches to Publick Mass-Houses contrary to express Laws against saying and hearing of Mass 3. By disarming Protestants while in the Interim he employ'd Papists in the Places of greatest Trust both Civil and Military such as Chancellors Secretaries Privy Counsellors Lords of Sessions thrusting out Protestants to make room for Papists and by entrusting the Forts and Magazines of the Kingin their Hands 4. By allowing Popish books to be printed and dispersed by a Gift to a Popish Printer to his Majesties Houshold and Chappel contrary to the Laws 5. By taking the Children of Noblemen and Gentlemen sending and keeping them abroad to be bred Papists making great Funds and Donations to Popish Schools and Colledges abroad by bestowing Pensions upon Priests and perverting Protestants from their Religion by offers of places and pensions 6. By Imposing Oaths contrary to Law 7. By giving Gifts and Grants for exacting Money without consent of Parliament or Convention of the Estates 8. By Levying and keeping on foot a standing Army in time of Peace without consent of Parliament 9. By employing Officers of the Army as Judges through the Kingdom and imposing them where there were Heritable Offices and Jurisdictions and by them many of the Lieges were put to death Summarily without Legal Trial Jury or Record 10. By using inhuman Tortures without any Evidence and in Ordinary Crimes 11. By imposing exorbitant Fines to the value of the Parties Estates in exacting extravagant Bail and by disposing of Fines and Forfeitures before any Process or Conviction 12. By causing to pursue and forfeit several persons upon old and obsolete Laws upon frivolous and weak pretences and upon lame and defective probation particularly the Earl of Argyle to the Scandal and Reproach of the Justice of the Nation 13. By subverting the Right of the Royal Burroughs the third of the Estates in Parliament imposing not only the Magistrates but also
such an Establishment as that their Religion Laws and Liberties might not again be in danger of being subverted The said Estates being at that time assembled accordingly in a full and free Representative of the Nation taking into their most serious Consideration the best Means for attaining the Ends aforesaid did in the first place as their Ancestors in the like Cases had usually done for the Vindicating and Asserting their Ancient Rights and Liberties declare That by the Law of Scotland no Papist could be King or Queen of the Realm nor bear any Office whatever therein nor that any Protestant Successor could exercise the Regal power till he or they had sworn the Coronation Oath That all Proclamations asserting an Absolute Power to nul and disable Laws in order to the Erecting Schools and Colledges for Jesuits converting Protestant Churches and Chappels into Mass-Houses and the allowing Mass to be said That the allowing Popish Books to be printed and dispersed was contrary to Law That the taking the Children of Noblemen Gentlemen and others and keeping them abroad to be bred Papists the making Funds and Donations to Popish Schools and Colledges the bestowing Pensions on Priests and the seducing Protestants from their Religion by offers of places and preferments was contrary to Law That the disarming of Protestants and the employing Papists in the greatest places of Trust both Civil and Military c. was contrary to the Law That the imposing an Oath without Authority of Parliament was contrary to Law That the raising of Money without consent of Parliament or Convention was contrary to 〈◊〉 That the imploying Officers of the Army as Judges c. was contrary to Law That the Imposing Extraordinary Fines c. was contrary to Law That the Imprisoning of persons without expressing the Reasons c. was the same That the prosecuting and seizing Mens Estates as forfeited upon stretches of old and obsolete Laws c. was contrary to Law That the nominating and Imposing Magistrates c. upon Borroughs contrary to their express Charters was the same That the sending Letters to the Courts of Justice ordaining the Judges to desist from determining of Causes and ordaining them how to proceed in Causes depending before them c. was contrary to Law That the granting of personal protections c. was the same That the forcing the Subjects to depose against themselves in Capital Causes however the punishment were restricted was contrary to Law That the using Torture without Evidence or in Ordinary Crimes was contrary to Law That the sending of an Army in a Hostile manner into any part of the Kingdom in time of peace and exacting Locality and free Quarter was the same That the charging the Subjects with Law-burroughs at the Kings instance and imposing Bonds without Authority of Parliament and the suspending Advocates for not appearing when Bonds were offer'd was contrary to Law That the putting Garrisons into private Mens Houses in time of Peace without Authority of Parliament was Illegal That the Opinions of the Lords of the Sessions in the two Cases following were Illegal viz. That the concerting the demand of supply for a forefaulted person although not given was Treason 2. That persons refusing to discover their private thoughts in Relation to points of Treason or other mens Actions are guilty of Treason That the fining Husbands for their Wives withdrawing from Church was Illegal That Prelacy and Superiority of any Office in the Church above Presbyters is and has been a great and unsupportable burthen to this Nation and contrary to the Inclinations of the Generality of the people ever since the Reformation they having reform'd Popery by Presbytery and therefore ought to be abolish'd That it is the Right and Priviledge of the Subject to protest for remedy of Law to the King and Parliament against Sentences pronounc'd by the Lords of the Sessions provided the same do not stop Execution of the said Sentences That it is the Right of the Subject to Petition the King and that all Prosecutions and Imprisonments for such petitioning are and were contrary to Law Therefore for the redress of all Greivances and for the amending strengthening and preserving the Laws they claim'd that Parliaments ought to be frequently call'd and allow'd to sit and freedom of Speech and Debate allow'd the Members And then they farther claim'd and insisted upon all and sundry the premises as their undoubted Rights and Liberties and that no Declarations or Proceedings to the prejudice of the people in any of the said premisses ought in any wise to be drawn hereafter in Example but that all Forfeitures Fines Loss of Offices Imprisonments Banishments Prosecutions Persecutions and Rigorous Executions be consider'd and the Parties redress'd To which demand of their Rights and redress of their Grievances they took themselves to be encouraged by the King of England's Declaration for the Kingdom of Scotland in October last as being the only means for obtaining a full Redress and Remedy therein Therefore Forasmuch as they had an intire Confidence that His Majesty of England would perfect the Deliverance so farre advanced by him and would still preserve them the violation of the Rights which they had asserted and from all other Attempts upon their Religion Laws and Liberties The said Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland had resolved That William and Mary King and Queen of England be declared King and Queen of Scotland to hold the Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdom to them the said King and Queen during their Lives and the longest Liver of Them and that the sole and full Exercise of the Power be onely in and exercis'd by him the said King in the Names of the said King and Queen during their Lives And after their decease that the said Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdom be to the Heirs of the Body of the said Queen Which failing to the Princess Ann of Denmark and the Heirs of her Body which also failing to the Heirs of the Body of the said William King of England And then withal they pray'd the said King and Queen to accept to same accordingly It was also declar'd by the Instrument that the Oath hereafter mention'd should be taken by all Protestants by whom the Oath of Allegiance or any other Oaths and Declarations might be required by Law instead of it and that the Oath of Allegiance and all other Oaths and Declarations should be abrogated The Oath was but short and conformable to that which was prescrib'd in England I A. B Do sincerely promise and swear That I will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary So help me God So soon as the Secretary had done reading the Instrument an Address was also read from the Estates of Scotland Humbly desiring His Majesty That for the farther settling and securing the Protestant Religion the Government Laws and Liberties of that Kingdom and redressing the Grievances represented by them His
THE HISTORY OF THE AFFAIRES OF SCOTLAND FROM The Restauration of King Charles the 2d in the year 1660. And of the late great Revolution in that Kingdom WITH A particular account of the Extraordinary Occurrences which hapned thereupon and the Transactions of the CONVENTION and PARLIAMENT to Midsomer 1690. With a full Account of the Settling of the Church Government there Together with the Act at Large for the Establishing of it Licensed and Entred according to Order LONDON Printed for Tho. Salusbury at the sign of the Temple near Temple-Bar in Fleet-street 1690. TO THE Right Honourable JANE Countess of SUTHERLAND Madam IT was the Custom in former Ages when Offerings were made to various Deities that the Adorer made choice of that same Numen to which he thought his Oblation would be most Grateful The same reason encourages this Address to your Ladiship in hopes the Subject of it will be acceptable to a Personage so eminently fam'd for being so highly concerned in the late Miraculous Revolution and your assisting the Deliverance of these Oppressed Nations To you therefore Madam this Compendium appeals as an accomplished judge of Truth where ' ere you find it or in what ever dress 'T is true Madam the Present is but inconsiderable as is the Quality of the Presenter But Persons in your Station look down as well as upward Which if your Ladiship shall vouchsafe to do with an Eye of favour upon this unworthy Offering it is the chief Happiness aspir'd to by Madam Your Ladyships most faithful and most Humble Servant T. S. TO THE READER PRovidence over-rules all Things but never any Act of Providence so strange and so surprizing as the great Revolution that so lately happened in the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland A Revolution not to be parallel'd in History but seasonable to the British Monarchy the Glory whereof was almost brought to Ruine and Destruction Nor was it to be admired that the desire of such a Change should reach so far as Scotland where the causes were the same and the cries of Oppressions were no less loud then in England For it is too evident that all the Laws Priviledges and Rights of the Kingdom of Scotland had under the late Raigns been not onely encroached upon but subverted and Overthrown In regard that by the gradual enlargements of the Prerogative beyond what was allow'd by the Laws of the Constitution and the Statutes of the Realm the Legal and Regular Monarchy of the Nation was swell'd into an Arbitrary and Despotic Power So that all the Franchises and Rights which by Original Contracts and Subsequent Laws were reserved unto the People were either overthrown or precariously enjoy'd No wonder then it was that as well the Scots and the English sought for speedy Redress and to be freed as well from Spiritual Bondage as Temporal Slavery Which at length they obtained by the auspicious Conduct and Generous Advance of his Present Majesty to their Relief A Story certainly that cannot be otherwise then most grateful to Posterity as being accompanied with such Variety of circumstances such unparallel'd Success and the General Advantage of all Europe It was no easie Thing to reduce into Order a Chaos of Government so dismally mangled and confus'd which being so great a Work and brought to so much Perfection in so short a Time as it shews the Extraordinary Zeal and Prudence of the Artificers so did it no less magnifie the Influences that govern'd and directed all their Actions Insomuch that it may be said of the Most Illustrious King WILLIAM what Suetonius says of the Famous and Best of the Roman Emperours Vespasian Rebellione Trium Principum et caede incertum et quari vagum Imperium suscepit firmavitque Gens Nassovia Popery and Idolatry now droop and the Protestant Religion enjoys a general Freedom under a truly Protestant Defender Vnder whose Auspicious Government soon might these two Nations be happy had we not so many Disturbers of Israel amongst us though it was not well known what they repined and grumbled at till this late detection of complicated Conspiracy for the Restoration of Popery and Tyranny In short there has already an accompt been given of our deliverance in England This is a Prospect of the same Deliverance in Scotland the one no less conducible to be known then the Other especially to those who are desirous to observe the Coherences and Concatenations of Providence I will not say it is a structure embellished with the flourishes of Eloquence as being only designed for plainness and exactness wherein I may he bold to say that diligence has been observed as to compile it in the best manner and method that the Truth of Collection could any way claim as due to it And being laid upon so solid a foundation however it fares of it self it may serve to give Light to politer Pens when they shall be at leisure to be more accurate Though there is no question to be made but that many will be as willing to see the naked Rasters of a History as to view the covered Frame though Japanned over never so curiously The History of the Affairs and late Revolution in Scotland from the Year 1660. to this present Year 1690. WHEN Charles II. was restored in the Year 1660. to his ancient Dominions from which he had been for some time kept out by the Civil Wars the Joy was no less cordial and universal in Scotland then in England And it may be said the extraordinary favour of Heaven did so second the Constancy of the Scottish Nation 's Love to a Prince so long wish'd for that their great Persuasions of his singular Endowments without regard to the wary Cautions of scrupulous Prudence were the only measures of their Concessions They established his Prerogative to be absolute and uncontroulable in the choice of all Officers of State Counsellors and Judges and in and over all matters of Peace War Leagues Conventions and Parliaments with a distinct Exclusion of all Exceptions They added to his Revenue above double of what he formerly possessed They declared his ordering and disposal of Trade with Foreign Nations and the laying Restraints and Impositions upon Foreign Imported Commodities to belong to his Majesty and his Successors as an undoubted Prerogative of the Crown And that it might appear that they placed the Security of all their Interests more in the confidence of His Majesties Goodness than on the firmest provision of their best Laws tho' the Parliament in 1641. was held by King Charles I. then present in person and many Acts were there pass'd and subscribed by him for the setling their Religion and Liberties with all the Authority of Judgment that long and well-weigh'd Experience could furnish yet because their Luster seemed to be somewhat eclipsed by the harsh remembrance of some previous Contentions wherein it was their misfortune to have His Majesty differing from them at one blow they annull'd that Parliament and without any other reason
December his Holiness was burnt in a true orderly manner by the Students themselves marching with their Swords in their Hands every Classis under their particular Captain and the College Mace carry'd before them by the Under-Porter bare the Haut-boys playing all the while besides the Honour which the Privy Council and City Magistrates did them to be Spectators of their Show But in the attempt of the Multitude the next day upon the Abby which is the Kings House wherein there was at that time a Popish Chappel they had at first but course Entertainment For the Chancellor of Scotland tho he found Edinborough too hot to hold him yet such was his Kindness being himself a Papist for the Popish Relicks which he left behind that he gave particular order to one Captain Wallace to defend the Abby with his Company which the Captain with a true Papistical Zeal readily undertook to do So that when the Boys went thither tho without any other Arms then their Links and Battoons upon their pressing too close upon him the Captain ordred his Men to let fly among 'em so that many were wounded and some died of their Wounds Of which complaint being made to the Council they sent six Heralds to command Wallace and his Men to lay down their Arms and surrender themselves and the Guard of the Place to the Magistrates of the City But the Heralds were answer'd in the same Language with the Boys Thereupon the Council ordred a sufficient number of the Train'd Bands to remove him by force who accordingly fell upon Wallace and constrain'd both him and his Men to betake themselves to flight And then it was that the Boys to revenge the loss of their Mates broke in pell-mell into the Abby and burnt all that they found in the Chappel fir'd the Jesuites College the Popish Printing-House the Abby Church and in a word all that they found in the Papists Houses in the Suburbs and Cannigate sparing nothing but what was purloyn'd away by such as bore them Company with a design to plunder During these Extravagances in Edinborough the Chancellor of Scotland had withdrawn himself to Castle-Drummond but not thinking himself safe there he resolv'd for France and with that resolution with all the secresie imaginable himself in Womans Habit and his Wife in Mans Apparrel upon the 10th of December got on board a Vessel bound from the Frith of Castle-Drummond and was just under Sale with a fair Wind. At what time a certain Person on Horse-back riding by Kirkalden where the Seamen us'd to walk call'd to them and inform'd them That there was a good Prize in the Ship which they saw under Sale meaning the Chancellor of Scotland Thereupon about six and thirty common Sea-men commanded by one Wilson that had been a Buccaneer in Jamaica furnish'd themselves with Muskets and having got a light Boat without any Provision only a little Brandy and without any otder from any Magistrate set sail immediately and coming up with the Ship that Night boarded her and enquir'd for the Chancellor who was at first denied to be in the Ship but after some little search they found Him and his Lady in the disguise already mention'd Upon which they brought the Ship back and carry'd the Prisoners together with one Nicholson a Priest and Regent of the Colledge at Glasgow to the Prison of Kirkaldy from whence the Council order'd the Chancellor to be remov'd to Sterling Castle The face of Affairs being thus alter'd in Scotland as well as in England there was only a Council of the prime Persons of that Kingdom to watch over the safety of the Nation at such a Ticklish Conjuncture Nevertheless they took care that several Personages of the highest rank in the Kingdom of Scotland and most eminent for their Zeal for the Protestant Religion should be in a readiness in England to make their Address to the most Excellent of Princes his Highness the Prince of Orange so soon as he arriv'd in London This was the least Deference that could be expected they should give to a Prince who by a particular Declaration to the People of that Kingdom had signify'd his Resolutions to be no less careful to restore the Laws and Liberties of Scotland and to maintain the Protestant Religion there then he was to pursue the ends of his Declaration to the people of England Nor is the recital of that Declaration to be here omitted as being so full and generally satisfactory to all the good People of Scotland that there was nothing more welcom to their Ears nor any thing next under God wherein they more entirely placed the Assurances of their Deliverance more espcially when they saw it attended with an armed Force under the Conduct of Prudence and Fortitude to make it good The Declaration it self ran thus The Declaration of His Highness William Henry by the Grace of God Prince of Orange c. of the Reasons inducing him to appear in Arms for preserving of the Protestant Religion and for Restoring the Laws and Liberties of the ancient Kingdom of Scotland IT is both certain and evident to all men that the publick Peace and Happiness of any State or Kingdom cannot be preserved where the Laws Liberties and Customs established by the Lawful Authority in it are openly Transgressed and Annulled More especially where the alteration of Religion is endeavoured and that a Religion which is contrary to Law is endeavoured to be introduced Vpon which those who are most immediately concerned in it are indespensably bound to endeavour to preserve and maintain the Established Laws Liberties and Customs and above all the Religion and Worship of God that is Established amongst them And to take such an effectual care that the Inhabitants of the said State or Kingdom may neither be deprived of their Religion nor of their Civil Rights Which is so much the more necessary because the Greatness and Security both of Kings Royal Families and of all such as are in Authority as well as the Happiness of their Subjects and People depend in a most especial manner upon the exact Observation and Maintenance of these their Laws Libertie and Customs Vpon these grounds it is that We cannot any longer forbear to declare That to Our great Regret We see that those Counsellors who have now the chief Credit with the King have no other Design but to overturn the Religion Laws and Liberties of those Realms and to subject them in all things relating to their Consciences Liberties and Properties to Arbitrary Government and that not only by secret and indirect ways but in such an open and undisguised manner that their Designs are now become visible to all that consider them And indeed the lamentable Effects of an Arbitrary Power and of Evil Counsels are so manifest in the deplorable State of the Kingdom of Scotland that both our Reason and Conscience do prompt us to an Abhorrence of them For when We consider the sad Condition of that Nation though
besought their Majesties in the presence of the persons by them sent to swear and sign the Oath at the same time presented which the Law had appointed to be taken by their Kings and Queens at their Entry to their Government till such time as the Great Affair should allow that kingdom the happiness of their presence in Order to Their Coronation That they were most sensible of His Majesties Kindness and Fatherly care in both his Kingdoms in promoting their Union which they hop'd had been preserv'd to be accomplish'd by him that as both Kingdoms were united in one Head and Soveraign so they might become one Body Politick one Nation to be represented in one Parliament And to testifie their Readiness to comply with the King in that matter they had nominated Commissioners to treat the Terms of one entire and perpetual Union betwixt the two Kingdoms with reservation to them of their Church Government as it should be establish'd at the Time of the Union Which Commissioners waited onely for His Majesties Approbation and Call to meet and treat with the Commissioners to be appointed for England at what time and place His Majesty should appoint And that if any difficulty should arise upon the Treaty they did on their part refer the determination thereof to His Majesty Moreover that they did assure themselves from His Majesties Prudence and Goodness of a happy conclusion to that Important Affair so that the same might be agreed to and ratified by His Majesty in the first Parliament That they did render likewise to His Majesty their most Dutiful thanks for his gracious Letter brought them by the Lord Râ—ss a Person well affected to his Service and for his Princely care in sending down those Troops which might in the mean time help to preserve them and when the season offer'd might be imploy'd toward the Recovery of Ireland from that deplorable Condition and extream danger to which the Protestants were expos'd Farther That as it was the Interest of England to contribute to secure Scotland from the Common danger so they should not be wanting on their parts to give their Assistance for the reducing of Ireland that all Their Majesties Kingdoms might flourish in Peace and Truth under the Auspicious Influence of their Happy Reigns The Letter of which this was the full substance being thus read the Instrument of Government or the Claim of Right together with the Paper of Grievances which the Estates desired might be redressed and which were afterwards added to the Instrument were presented to the King and being deliver'd back by his Majesty were read in Order by the Secretary Which Instrument of Government imported That whereas James the Seventh being a professed Papist did assume the Regal Power and act as a King without ever taking the Oath required by Law whereby every King at his Access to the Government was oblig'd to swear to maintain the Protestant Religion and to Rule the People according to the Laudable Laws and by the Advice of wicked Counsellors did invade the Fundamental Constitutions of the Kingdom of Scotland and alter'd it from a Legal limited Monarchy to an Arbitrary and Despotick Power and in a publick Proclamation asserted an Absolute power to annul and disable all Laws particularly by arraigning the Laws establishing the Protestant Religion and exerted that Power to the subversion of the Protestant Religion and to the Violation of the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom By erecting publick Schools and Societies of the Jesuits and not only allowing Mass to be publickly said but also converting Protestant Chappels and Churches to Publick Mass-Houses contrary to the express Law against saying and hearing of Mass By allowing Popish books to be printed and disâ—â—â—sed by a Patent to a Popish Printer designing him Printer to his Majesties Houshold Colledge and Chappel contrary to Law By taking the Children of Protestant Noblemen and Gentlemen sending them abroad to be bred Papists and bestowing Pensions on Priests to pervert Protestants from their Religion by offers of Places and Preferments By disarming Protestants while at the same time he employ'd Papists in Places of greatest Trust both Civil and Military c. and intrusting the Forts and Magazines in their Hands By Imposing Oaths contrary to Law By exacting Money without consent of Parliament or Convention of Estates By Levying and keeping up a standing Army in time of Peace without consent of Parliament and maintaining them upon Free Quarter By employing the Officers of the Army as Judges throughout the Kingdom by whom the Subjects were put to death without Legal Trial Jury or Record By imposing â—â—orbitant Fines to the value of the parties Estates exacting extravagant Bail and disposing Fines and Forfeitures before any Process or Conviction By imprisoning Persons without expressing the Reason and delaying to bring them to Trial. By causing several persons to be prosecuted and their Estates to be forfeited upon stretches of old and forfeited Laws upon weak and frivolous pretences and upon lame and defective Proofs as particularly the late Earl of Argyle to the Scandal of the Justice of the Nation By subverting the Rights of the Royal Burroughs the Third Estate of Parliament imposing upon them not only Magistrates but also the whole Town Council and Clerks contrary to their Liberties and express Charters without any pretence of Sentence Surrender or Consent So that the Commissioners to Parliaments being chosen by the Magistrates and Councils the King might in effect as well nominate that entire Estate of Parliament Besides that many of the Magistrates by him put in were Papists and the Burroughs were forc'd to pay Money for the Letters imposing those Illegal Magistrates upon them By sending Letters to the Chief Courts of Justice not only ordering the Judges to stop sine die but also commanding them how to proceed in cases depending before them contrary to the express Laws and by changing the nature of the Judges Patents ad vitam or Culpam into Commission de bene placito to dispose them to a complyance to Arbitrary Courses and turning them out of their Offices if they refus'd to comply By granting personal Protections for Civil Debts contrary to Law All which were Miscarriages of King James utterly and directly contrary to the known Laws Freedoms and Statutes of the Realm of Scotland Upon which Grounds and Reasons the Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland did find and declare That King James the Seventh being a profest Papist did assume the Regal Power c. as at the beginning whereby he had forfeited the Right of the Crown and the Throne was become vacant Therefore in regard his Royal Highness then Prince of Orange since King of England whom it pleas'd God to make the glorious Instrument of delivering these Kingdoms from Popery and Arbitrary Power by advice of several Lords and Gentlemen of the Scotch Nation then at London did call the Estates of this Kingdom to meet upon the Fourteenth of March last in order to
to be dispensed with such Moderation that the Sentence it self might convince the world that there was not wanting in it both Mercy and Favour That it was not the Goodness or Fertility of the Climate nor the Goodness of the Laws that made a Kingdom happy but their passing through those impure Channels whose Ambition Luxury and Pride rendered them fit Tools for Tyrannical Arbitrary Men that was to be prevented So that if their Lordships did but make it their Duty Honour and Interest to imitate their Religious Prudent Valiant and just Prince and Deliverer the Nation would be the most happy in the World Insomuch that for his part if he could be so Fortunate as to add but one Grain to the Scale of Equity he should esteem it his greatest Advantage and himself overpaid for all the pains he could ever he capable of This Speech of the Earl of Lothian as it was received with a deserved applause by the other Lords and Officers so the Subjects of Scotland in General quickly perceived the difference between the Arbitrary proceedings of the late Reign and the legal and easie administration of Justice since the happy Revolution and the late settlement of the justiciary here a particular instance of this may be seen in the permitting the Lady Castle-Haven to enter a Protestation against a Decree even of the Lords of the Session pronounced in a case before their Lordships betwixt the said Countess and the Lord Collington her son in Law wherein she declared her resolution to seek her remedy in the next ensuing Session of Parliament a Liberty which for many years before has been disallowed and found impracticable by the Scottish Subjects But yet notwithstanding the many signal advantages accruing to this Kingdom by the redress of those Grievances under which they had for several years lay there were found several ill affected persons who both by publick and private practices endeavoured to disturb and bring into confusion the present well settled Government About the beginning of February eighty nine five Gentlemen of the Shire of Angus were apprehended and brought away prisoners for committing a Riot that by the circumstances produc'd and prov'd against them of an Insolence not often parallel'd It seems they being at a Countrey Wedding they amongst other Healths began and drank that of the late King not at the same time omitting some scandalous Reflections on the present management of Affairs and not content with their own crimes were resolved to force others of their Company to a commission of the same and accordingly drawing their Swords set them the to refusers breasts threatning immediate death without their compliance their names were Durham of Omaghie Graham of Duntreath with his two brothers and Guthrick of that Title but being carried before the Privy Council after a full hearing the two first were sentenced and adjudged the one to pay one hundred pounds the other five hundred Marks and to be imprisoned till the payment thereof And now his Majesty having in a Letter bearing date the thirteenth of February intimated his kind acceptance of the Lords of his Privy Councils humble invitation that His Majesty would be pleased to be present at the next Session of Parliament which was to be holden the first of March next ensuing he gives them many reiterated assurances of his Gracious designs and resolutions to perfect the delivery of the Protestant Religion in general from the many dangers and encroachments it lay under and in particular of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland but that upon mature consideration that the many urgent and great matters that concerned the common good of the Protestant interest throughout his Kingdoms and elsewhere did indispensably require him to meet his people of England in a Parliament to be held on the twentieth day of March he thought fit to continue the adjournment of the Parliament of that his ancient Kingdom to some longer time and therefore required them to issue out in his Majesties name a Proclamation for the adjournment of the said Parliament of Scotland from the first to the eighteenth of March ensuing betwixt and which time he would endeavour to lay down such measures and give such instructions to his High Commissioner till his Affairs would permit his own presence as he doubted not would give satisfaction to his people graciously expressing to them that he should always prefer their safety to his own quiet and repose Assuring them that he esteemed the governing by Law to be the greatest and furest of his Prerogatives Upon the receipt of His Majesties Gracious Letter the Privy Council forthwith issu'd their Proclamation in His Majesties name to adjourn the Parliament from the first to the eighteenth of March following About this time one Strachan who was suspected to have held and carryed on a correspondence with the late King James was apprehended at Greenock by a party of the Earl of Argyle's Regiment and brought Prisoner to Endinburgh he was examined before a Committee of the Privy Council to whom after a promise of his Life made to him he confessed all that he knew of the matter he owned he was a Roman Catholick and that he had lately come from Dublin with several Letters Commissions and Papers from the late King which with other things he had delivered to one Gourdon a Regent of Philosophy in the Colledge of Glasgow Gourdon thereupon by the application of the Earl of Argyle was forthwith siezed and brought up to Town and upon search there were several Treasonable Papers and Commissions found about him his contrivance to conceal them was by sowing them up in the soles of his shoes the directions were to several suspected persons and an order to apprehend them was immediately issued forth These Papers were thought to make an ample discovery of the late Kings designs on the Kingdom of Scotland and of most of the persons that were to be made instruments for the bringing them about nor were the publick and hostile endeavours of the Rebels less unfortunate or successful than the private intrigues and managements of some disaffected persons in this Kingdom For Sir Thomas Levingston about the latter end of this Moneth being advertised that several Partys of the Rebels designed to Rendevouze about the Castle of Erchless belonging to the Chisholm of Strathglass he presently orders a detachment of seven Companies of Foot of the Lord Strathnavers Regiment two of the Laird of Grants Regiment two Companies out of the Garrisons of Castlehead and Braan with two Troops of Horse all under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Lumsdane to advance to Strathglass and Erchless with instructions to use Military Execution on all that opposed them and because the Castle of Erchless seem'd to stand convenient for the settling a Garrison which might overawe and restrain the incursions and Robberies of the Highlanders they were order'd to leave a sufficient number for that purpose and to make good the place Upon the first approach of our Forces
Ministers of Christ's Church within this Kingdom as they are or shall be Legally admitted to particular Churches Likewise in pursuance of the Premisses Their Majesties do hereby appoint the first meeting of the General Assembly of this Church as above Established to be at Edinburgh the third Thursday of October next to come in this instant year 1690. And because many conform Ministers either have deserted or were removed from Preaching in their Churches preceding the thirteenth day of April 1689. And others were Deprived for not giving Obedience to the Act of the Estates made the said 13 of April 1689. Intituled a Proclamation against the owning of the late K. J. and appointing publick Prayers for King William and Queen Mary Therefore Their Majesties with Advice and Consent foresaid do hereby Declare all the Churches either deserted or from which the Conform-Ministers were Removed or Deprived as is said to be vacant and that the Presbyterian Ministers exercising their Ministery within any of these Parishes or where the last Incumbent is dead by the Desire or Consent of the Paroch shall continue their Possession and have Right to the Benefices and Stipends according to their Entry in the year 1689 and in the time coming ay while the Church as now Establish take further Course therewith And to the Effect the Disorders that have hapned in this Church may be Redressed Their Majesties with Advice and Consent foresaid do hereby allow the General Meeting and Representatives of the foresaid Presbyterian Ministers and Elders in whose hands the Exercise of the Church Government is Established either by themselves or by such Ministers and Elders as shall be appointed and Authorised Visitors by them according to the Custom and Practice of Presbyterian Government throughout the whole Kingdom and several parts thereof to try and purge out all insufficient Negligent Scandalous and Erroneous Ministers by due course of Ecclesiastical Process and Censures And likewise for Redressing all other Church-Disorders And farther It is hereby provided that whatsoever Minister being Convened before the said General Meeting and Representatives of the Presbyterian Ministers and Elders or the Visitors to be Appointed by them shall either prove Contumacious in not appearing or be found Guilty and shall be therefore Censured whether by Suspension or Deposition they shall Ipso Facto be Suspended from or Deprived of their Stipends and Benefices And Ordains this Act to be Printed and Published Extracted out of the Records of Parliament by me Th. Burnet Cls. Reg. Thus after so much disorder so much Tyranny and Oppression in a Kingdom the ill successes of Rebellion and the Return of Law and Justice into their ancient Channel one would think should be sufficient to regain the Affections of Men wandring after Chimera's and unite them to a Prince who has laid such Foundations of their Tranquillity But Rebels and Robbers very seldom lissen to these charms let the charmer charm never so wisely Which is the reason that the remains of Rebellion cannot yet be extinguish'd and that their are several Trayterous Conspiracies and Correspondencies found out of such as make it their business to disturb the peace of the Government However in regard those Discoveries are not yet ripe for publick view and that we can say nothing more of the Highlanders but that they Rob and plunder where they can find any advantage it is time here to conclude this accompt of the Revolution in Scotland no less memorable then that in England FINIS Books lately Printed and Sold by Tho. Salusbury at the sign of the Temple near Temple-Bar in Fleet-street 1690. THE History of the late Great Revolution in England with the Causes and Means by which it was accomplish'd Together with the Settlement thereof under their most Serene Majesties King William and Queen Mary by the Lords and Commons assembled in the late Parliament With an exact List of the Members of both Houses then Sitting The Second Edition To which is added the Effigies of their Present Majesties curiously Engraven on a Copper Plate A new Art of Brewing Beer Ale and other sorts of Liquors so as to render them more healthful to the Body and agreeable to Nature and to keep them longer from souring with less trouble and charge then generally practised which will be a means to prevent those torturing Distempers of the Stone Gravel Gout and Dropsie With easie Experiments for making excellent Drinks with Apples Currans Goosberries Cherries Herbs seeds Hay c. and the way to preserve Eggs 5 or 6 Months from being musty or rotten With an Appendix how to make Fruit-trees constantly fruitful Miscellany Poems viz. I. Remarks on the Death of K. C. II. II. On the Success of K. J. II. III. Upon Faith IV. Upon Patience V. Ambitioh VI. To the University of Oxford VIII The Soul to a good a Conscience VII The Soul to a bad Conscience By J. Whitehall The Declaration and Manifesto of the Protestants of the Vallies of Piedmont called the Vaudois to all Christian Princes and States of the Reasons of their taking up Arms against the Duke of Savoy And why they have put themselves under the protection of WILLIAM King of Great Britain and of the Evangelick Cantons of Switzerland An exact Collection of many Wonderful prophesies relating to the Government of England c. Since the first year of the Reign of K. James I. to this present time 1690. All which have been truly fulfilled and accomplished Also many Prophesies yet foretelling what Government is to succeed to make this Kingdom happy With the certain time of the Downfal of Antichrist throughout the World Remarks upon the Dream of the late abdicated Q. of England and upon that of Madam the D. of La Valiere late Mistress to the French King c.
far humbled as from a proud insulting Enemy to become a Suppliant for Peace well foreseeing that if England joyn with those other Princes whom his Insolence Cruelty and Avarice have so justly Arm'd against him his ruine is inevitable Lastly I beseech you consider what persons they are that would instill this poyson into yee Either such as postponing the Common Good of the Nation are wholly acted by Self-Interest considering that in a Government where Justice and Mercy equally flows Vertue and Merit not Villany will be rewarded Or such as being ignorant of the Nature of Government never examin'd what measures the Law of Nature and Nations have set to Mens Obedience Or such as have been Instrumental toward the enslaving their Country and are afraid if they be call'd to an Account that they must be brought to condign Punishment If such cannot succeed in their designs they hope at least to be overlookt in the General Confusion and if Heav'n fail them they summon Hell to their Aid Not that Love to their Prince but Interest drives those Criminals to such Attempts so that 't is no wonder they take so much pains to sow Division among us But no person of Wit and Judgment nor any good Man truly Protestant will suffer himself to be so grosly imposed upon by such Firebrands who would build their future Imaginary Greatness on the Ruine of our Religion Laws and Countrey Being thus settled to their business for the greater security of their Sitting because of the vast concourse of People from all parts of the Kingdom who were generally arm'd it was thought requisite for the prevention of tumult and disorder to Command all persons from the Town that were not Inhabitants or Retainers to the Members of the Convention In the mean time the Lords having acquitted themselves of their Commission the following Paper was sent from the Duke of Gourdon and read the next day in the Meeting wherein he gave them to understand That he was willing to comply with the Commission he received by the Earles of Lothian and Tweddale as to his removal from the Castle of Edinborough though he could not do so as a Papist that being dangerous and he not convicted For that he hoped that his being in Employment without taking the Test contrary to an Act of Parliament was no Conviction of Popery To this he added That he had received not long ago a Letter from the Prince of Orange desiring he would leave the Castle which he promis'd to do but expected some reasonable things to be first granted to himself and Garrison He hop'd he had not merited so ill of his Country as that he might not be trusted with the Castle until a Return came to that Letter which he expected every Hour But if that could not be granted barely on his promise not to molest or harm any Person especially those of that Illustrious Assembly He proffer'd Hostages of Bayl to the value of Twenty Thousand Pound Sterling for his Peaceable Deportment Otherwise he expected before his removal First a General Indemnity for himself and Friends both Protestants and Papists as likewise absolute security for their Lives and Fortunes in time coming and assurance the same should be ratify'd in the next Parliament Secondly Security for all Protestants in the Garrison who design to stay in it to continue in their Employments and for himself and those who should go out with him either Protestants or Papists to go beyond Sea or to remain within the Kingdom as their occasions should lead them Lastly That the Garrison should be paid off all by-gone Arrears and have Liberty to dispose of their Goods within the Castle as they pleas'd The Convention was quick in their Reply and agreed upon certain Resolves which were sent away forthwith to the Duke to this effect That the Meeting of Estates having consider'd the Paper given in and subscrib'd by the Duke of Gourdon in Answer to their Order did declare That it was not the Mind of the Meeting that the Dukes officiating as Governour of the Castle of Edinborough or any other Imployment or his quitting his command at that time should import any acknowledgment or Conviction against him or those under his Command of his or their being Papists That it was likewise resolved That the Covention would not allow of the Dukes keeping the Castle upon Promise Bail or Hostages until he got a Return of the Letter written by him to the Prince of Orange Then it was farther Resolved That the Indempnity offered by the Meeting of the Estates should only extend to those belonging to the Garrison and their Servants either Protestants or Papists that the Persons who were to have the benefit of the said Indempnity should be named expresly if the Duke desir'd it and that the Indempnity to be granted by the Meeting should have a Clause Inserted that it should be ratified in the next Parliament And as to the last Article It was moreover Resolved That those of the Garrison who were pleased to retire with the Duke should have leave either to go out of the Kingdom or stay in it as they should think fit and should have Liberty to dispose of their Goods and have safe Conduct granted them for that Effect if the same were desired before the dissolution of the Meeting of the Estates But that they should not take out with them any Arms Ammunition or Store but what they should make out to belong properly to themselves And lastly That it was agreed by the Convention That the Officers and Soldiers should be paid their Arrears Nevertheless that the Meeting refused to give them Assurance of their being continued in Employment But notwithstanding these Condescentions for the Convention was willing to have bin rid of such a suspitious Neighbour at any Honourable rate the Duke of Gourdon who was not ignorant of their Fears return'd an Answer to these Resolves so full of new and Extravagant Demands that the Convention was fully satisfied that the Duke was only trifling with them as he had done with His Majesty of England to gain time For King William and Queen Mary had bin Proclaim'd at London ever since the Thirteenth of February before So that the Convention perceiving the Dukes design which was to keep off in expectation of some Attempts which would be made in Scotland in behalf of the late King James and of which he was desirous to see the Issue They order'd the Heralds with the usual Solemnities to Summon him to surrender the Castle under the Penalty of Treason and to proclaim him Traytor in case of refusal and to forbid all people to have any Correspondence with him Which was accordingly performed and Orders also given to block up the Castle Soon after a Letter was deliver'd to the Convention by one Crane who went under the Notion of a servant to the late Queen in France But the Lord President acquainted the Members at the same time that there was a Letter also
from His Majesty of England Upon which a Debate arose about the reading of the Letters at what time the Earl of Lothian mov'd That since they were met at the Desire of his Majesty of England they ought to give his Letter the Precedence which being put to the Vote was carried in the affirmative and the King of England 's Letter was read the Contents of which were as follow The Direction was To the Meeting of the Estates of Scotland My Lords and Gentlemen WE are very sensible of the Kindness and Concern which your Nation has evidenced toward Vs and Our Vndertaking for the preservation of your Religion and Liberty which were in such imminent Danger Neither can we in the least doubt of your Considence in Vs after having seen how far so many of your Nobility and Gentry have own'd our Declaration countenancing and concurring with us in our Endeavours and desiring Vs that We would take upon us the Administration of Affairs Civil and Military and to call a Meeting of the Estates for securing the Protestant Religion and the Ancient Laws and Liberties of that Kingdom which accordingly we have done Now it lies on You to enter upon such Consultations as are most probable to settle You on sure and lasting foundations which We hope you will set about with all convenient speed with regard to the publick Good and to the General Interest and Inclinations of the People that after so much Trouble and great Suffering they may live happily and in Peace and that you may lay aside all Animosities and Factions that may impede so good a Work We were glad to find that so many of the Nobility and Gentry when here in London were so much inclin'd to a Vnion of both Kingdoms and that they did look upon it as one of the best means for procuring the Happiness of both Nations and settling of a lasting Peace among them which would be advantagious to Both they living in the same Island having the same Language and the same common Interest of Religion and Liberty especially at this Juncture when the Enemies of both are so restless endeavouring to make and increase Jealousies and Divisions which they will be ready to improve to their own Advantage and the Ruin of Britain We being of the same Opinion as to the usefulness of this Vnion and having nothing so much before our Eyes as the Glory of God Establishing the Reformed Religion and the Peace and Happiness of these Nations are resolv'd to use Our Vtmost Endeavours in advancing every thing that may conduce to the effectuating the same So we hid you Heartily Farwell From our Court at Hampton the seventh day of March 1689. His Majesties Letter being thus read the next debate was whither the late King James 's Letter should be read or no. And here to remove all Heats and disputes the Lord Lothian again stept up and propounded an Expedient to which the House agreed That is to say that before the reading of it they should pass an Act which should be subscribed by all the Members That For as much as there was a Letter from King James the Seventh presented to the Meeting of the Estates That they before the Opening thereof declar'd and Enacted That notwithstanding of any thing that might be contain'd in that Letter for dissolving them or impeding their Procedure yet that they were a Free and Lawful Meeting of the Estates and would continue undissolved until they had settled and secur'd the Protestant Religion the Government Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom This Act was sign'd by the whole Meeting except only six or seven and then the following Letter was opened and read overwritten James Rex My Lords and Gentlemen WHereas we have been inform'd that You the Peers and Representatives of the Shires and Boroughs of that our Ancient Kingdom who are to meet together at our good Town of Edinborough some time in this Instant March by the Usurp't Authority of the Prince of Orange We think fit to let you know That we have at all times rely'd upon the Faithfulness and Affection of You our Ancient People so much that in our greatest Misfortunes heretofore we had recourse to your Assistance and that with good success to our Affairs So now again we require of you to support our Royal Interest expecting from you what becomes Loyal and Faithful Subjects Generous and Honest Men that will neither suffer your selves to be cajol'd nor frighted into any Action misbecoming true-hearted Scotchmen And that to support the Honour of the Nation you will contemn the base Example of Disloyal Men and Eternize your names by a Loyalty sutable to the many Professions you have made to us in doing whereof you will choose the safest part since thereby you will evite the danger you must needs undergo the Infamy and Disgrace you must bring upon your selves in this World and the Condemnation due to the Rebellious in the Next and you will likewise have the Opportunity to secure to your selves and your Posterity the gracious Promises which we have so oft made of securing your Religion Laws Properties and Rights which we are still resolved to perform as soon as it is possible for us to meet you safely in a Parliament of our Ancient Kingdom In the mean time fear not to declare for Us your Lawful Soveraign veraign who will not fail on our part to give you such speedy and powerful Assistance as shall not only enable you to defend your selves from any Foreign Attempt but put you in a Condition to assert our Right against our Enemies who have depressed the same by the blackest of Usurpations the most unjust as well as most unnatural of all Attempts which the Almighty God may for a time permit and let the Wicked prosper yet then must bring Confusion upon such Workers of Iniquity We farther let you know that we will pardon all such as shall return to their Duty before the last day of this Month Inclusive and that we will punish with the Rigor of our Lawes all such as shall stand out in Rebellion against Us or our Authority So not doubting that you will declare for us and suppress whatever may oppose our Interest and that you will send some of your number to us with an Accompt of your diligence and the Posture of our Affairs We bid you Heartily Farewell Given on Board the St. Michael March the First 1689. By His Majesties Command Melfort This Letter being directed to Persons at that time sitting who either lay under the Ignominy of his Attainders or had else severely otherwise suffered either themselves or their nearest Relations the dilacerating stripes of his Tyrannical severity could not so soon forget the anguish of their Sufferings as to be sugar'd up into a Reconciliation by the fair Promises of a Person that had lost the Reputation of being true to his Publick Word Besides that there was so little Majesty in the Style of the Letter