be a People that seldom or never mistake their Interest They are sensible how useful the Alliance of Scotland may be to them both in regard of their Liberty to fish in our Seas without controul and of being a Curb upon England in case the old Roman Maxim of delenda est Carthago should come any more to be applied by the English to that Republick as in the Reign of K. Charles II. They are likewise sensible of the Advantage it would be to their trade to be partners with the Scots at Darien and how effectual it may be to disable the Freâ—…ch to pâ—…sue theiâ—… Clâ—…im to Spâ—…in â—…nd by 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 tâ—…e old Title of thâ—…t â—…own upon their own Seven as well as to swallow up thâ—… other tâ—…n Provinces Thâ—…se things together wâ—…â—… lonâ—… conâ—…inu'd Amity and Trade beâ—…xt Scotlâ—…nd and Holland and their Union in Religion and Ecclesiastical Disciplinâ—… are sufficient to evince that thâ—… Dutch would become ouâ—… 〈◊〉 in America with little 〈◊〉 Thâ—…t they â—…re able to asâ—… us in that Case with a 〈◊〉 Force sufficiâ—… is beâ—…ond contradiction and that they would soon be convinc'd it is thâ—… 〈◊〉 to do it to prevent that moâ—…strous Iâ—…crease of the Frenâ—… Mâ—…chy is obvious enough from the part they acted in the lâ—… Wâ—… But admitting thâ—…t none of those 〈◊〉 should preâ—…il with the Dutch aâ—…d that they should likewisâ—… abandon us it is not impoâ—…ble for us to obtain aâ—… Alliance aâ—…d Naval Force 〈◊〉 tâ—…e Northerâ—… Croâ—…ns It 's well enâ—…gh kâ—… tâ—…at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abound â—…ith Meâ—… and Shippiâ—…g and that they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aâ—… their hearts to mâ—…ke an Exchange of 〈◊〉 for the Gold 〈◊〉 Silver of America which they might eaâ—…ily carry from Toâ—… to Toâ—… 〈◊〉 from Market to Market 〈◊〉 the trouble of a Wâ—…l-barrâ—… as they are now obliged to do â—…ith their â—…per Frâ—… all â—…ich it is evident 〈◊〉 that it is not impâ—…ble â—…or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 maintain themselves iâ—… Darien wiâ—…out the Aâ—…ance of England The next thing to be discours'd of is what the 〈◊〉 may probably be if the Eâ—…glish should oppose us in this Settlement We could hâ—…ily wish theâ—…â—…d â—…ever been any ground for this suggestion and that the Opposition we have met with from England had been lesâ—… National â—…han that which we hâ—…d from both their Housâ—…s of Parliament afâ—… the pâ—…ssing an Act for an African Company c. in ouâ—…s aâ—… it 〈◊〉 to be wish d 〈◊〉 so many of the English had not given us such proofs of an alienated mind and 〈◊〉 to our Welfare as they hâ—…ve donâ—… sincâ—… by their Resident at Hamborough and theiâ—… late Proclamations in their West India Plantations and we could have wish'd above all that his Majesty of England had not in the least concuâ—…'d or given his Countenance to that Opposition for as King of Scots it is â—…ain he could not do it he ha h confirm d what we have done by the Touch of his Scepter which no private Order or 〈◊〉 can revoke And we could wish that his English Counsellors who put â—…m upon those things would remember that Strafford and Laud lost their â—…eads â—…or giving K Charles the First that fatal Advice in oppressing and opposing the Scots We diâ—… verily think that the suffering of our Crown to be uniâ—…ed with that of England in the person of K James their first and our Sixth our seasonable coming to the rescue of â—…heir expiâ—…ing Libeâ—…es in the Reign of K. Charles I. our being so instrumental to rescue them from Anarchy and Confusion by the Restoration oâ—… K. Charles II. and above all our Generous and Frank Concurrence with them in the late happy Revoluâ—…ion and Advancement of K. William III. We did verily think that all these things deserv'd a better Treatment and to evince that they did we shall begg leave to â—…nsist a little upon the first and last The English have no cause to think that we were ignorant of the Reason why their Politick Henry VII Chose rather to match his Eldest Daughter with the King of Scots than with the King of France because he foresaw that if the King of Scots should by that means come to the Crown of England he would remove the Seat of his Government thither which would add to the Grandeur and Riches of England Whereas if the King of France did by that means fall Heir to the English Crown he would certaâ—…nly draw the Câ—…t of England to Paris â—…his the Scots were so 〈◊〉 from being ignorant of that many of the Nobility and Genâ—…ry did express their dislâ—…ke of the Union of the Crowns as well knowing that it would reduce our Kingdom into a Subjection and Dependance upon England and drain us of what Substance we had and theresore some of them express'd themselves on that occasion that Scotland was never Conquer'd till then Yet such was our Zeal for the common Wellfare of the Island the Interest of the Protestant Religion and of Europe in general which were then almost in as much danger by Spain as they have been since by France that we quietly and freely parted with our King and suffer'd him to accept the English Crown rather than the Nation should be involv'd in War and Confusion and the Protestant Religion indanger'd by another Successor as it must necessarily have been had the Infanta of Spain whose Title was then promoted by the Popish Interest Succeeded And all the reward we had for this Condescension and Kindness was a contemptuous and disdainful refusal on the part of England of an Union of the Nâ—…tions when proposed tho the same would visibly have tended to the Benefit of the whole Island the general advantage oâ—… Europe and the security and increase of the Protestant Interest And our King was so little thankful on his part that tho he promis'd solemnly in the Great Church of Edinburgh before his departure that he would visit his Antient Kingdom once in three years he never saw it after but once and that not till 14 years after And by the influence of that same Faction in England who are still our Enemies he made Innovations both in Church and State contrary to the Laws of the Land and his own solemn Oath which laid the foundation of all those Disasters that ended in the faâ—…al Exit of his Son and the subversion of the Government of both Nations These were the first Advantages we had by the Union of the Crowns His Son King Charles I had scarce ascended the Throne when we had new Proofs of the Disadvantages we labour'd under by that Union For he by the Advice of some Enemies to our Nation did in an Imperious and Arbitrary manner send for our Crown tho the only Monument almost left us of our Independency and Freedom but was generously answer'd by him that had it in keeping That if he would come and be Crown'd in Scotland he should have all the Honour done him that ever was
out â—…or other Allies by their Opposition and Neglect We shall conclude this matter with one or two more Arguments to prove That it is thâ—… Interest of England to join with us in this Affair by which also it will appear that there is nothing advanc'd in these Shâ—…ets out of any ill Design against the English Nation or to perswade to a disuâ—…iting of the Crowns but on the 〈◊〉 that a stricter Union is absolutely necessâ—…rry â—…hat both Nations may have but one Interest which will render us less lyable to Convulsions and intestine Commotions at home and put us out of danger of being atrack'd by Enemies â—…rom abroad The first Argument is this That by Encouâ—…ging ouâ—… Settlement at Darien English Ships that have occasion to pass by those Coasts will there be certain of a placâ—… of Retreat in case of attack either by Enemy or Tempest without danger of being Confiscated by the Spaniards and having their Men condemn'd to be perpetual Slaves in their Mines 2. Iâ—… we be encouâ—…aged in ouâ—… American Colony it will Contribute much to heighten the Consumption of the English Product since what we have not of our own or wherein we are wanting either as to quality or quantity we shall supplâ—… ouâ—… selves â—…or the use of our Plantation in England which may be of great benefit to the Northern Counties especially whence we may conveniently furnish our selves with B â—…eves â—…or Victualling our Ships ouâ—… own Cattle being for the most part too small for â—…hat use besides many other things that we shall have occasion â—…o export to England for the use of the Plantation and to maintain a Commerce with the Naâ—…ives 3. By joining with us in this Colony and securing a Post on the South-Sea which the Princes of Darien will no doubt very readily agâ—…ee to they may shorten their Voyages to the East-Indies and by that means be able to Outdo all their Rivals in that Trade But if they will be so far wanting to themselves as to suffer those advantages to fall into the hands of others who are Enemies to our Religion and common Country They cannot blame the Scots who have made them such fair Offers And if ouâ—… Nation should miscarry in the Attempt they themselves cannot expect to stand long but must be buried in the common Ruines and fall unpitied 4. If after all the English should continue obstinate in their Opposition to us as their late Proclamations in America and other Passages would seem to imply they have a mind to the World cannot blame the Scots to provide for themselves by such other Alliances as they shall think meet since the English are so unkind and have been constantly growing upon us especially since the Restoration of King Charles II. to which we did so much contribute that without our Concurrence it could never have been effected This will appear to be incontâ—…overtibly true iâ—… we consider that in the time of K. â—…ames I. we were uâ—…der no Restrictions as to matters of Trade more than they except as to the Exportation of Wool and a few other things of English Product and so we continu'd till the Restoration when King Charles II. and the English did very ungratefuâ—…ly lay suâ—…h Precâ—…usions and Restrictions upon us contrary to the Laws relating to the Postnati by the 12th of Car 2. for the incouraging and increasing Shipping and Navigation and the 15 Car 2. for the encouraging of Trade by which we are put in the same Circumstances â—…s to Trasfick with France and Holland and in a worse Câ—…ndition than Ireland that is a Conquest which is so much the more unreasonable since we are always invol'd and ingag'd in the Wars betwixt England and other Countries And those with whom they have most frequent Wars being Holland and France the only two Nations with whom the Scots have almost any Commerce our Trade must of necessity sink during such Waâ—…s whereas England hath still a great Trade to other parts of the World and by this means we are forc'd to be sharers in their Troubles tho they will not allow us to partake of their Profits nor suffer us to take any measures to procure such as we may call our own It is plain from the Instance of Darien and the Proclamations in the English American Colonies against their Subjects Entertaining any Commerce with our Settlement there that by the Union of the Crowns upon the present footing we are in a worse Condition than ever For when any thing happens wherein the Interest of England seems to be contrary to Ours it is certainly carried against us and we are left without Remedy So that in this respect we are in a worse Condition than any Forreigners with relation to England â—…or if a Foreign People discover any thing that may be of advantage to them they are at Liberty to pursue it by themselves or to take in the Assistance of others And if they find themselves aggriev'd by England they have their Respective Governments to make application to for Redress But we are the most unhappy People in the World For if Endlâ—…nd should oppose us we have no King to appeal to but one that is eâ—…ther an Alien and Enemy to us as being King oâ—… a greatâ—…r People who are such or if he be inclinable to protect and do us Justice as King of Scots he is a Prisoner in England and cannot do it If they Question him in the Parliament of England for any thing relating to his Government of Scotland as in the case of our late Act for an East India and African Trade his Interest as King of England obliges him to submit himself as King of Scotland By which means our Crown which we desended so gallantly for so many Ages and which the English could never make subject to theirs by force is now intirely subjected by a false step of our own in suffering our King to take their Crown upon him without making better Terms for our selves So that instead of having a King to fight our Battels we hâ—…ve made a Surrender of our Prince to the Enemy who arm him againâ—…t us and which is worst of all we have satisfied our own Proverb as to our selves That Scots men are wise behind hand For tho we sufficiently smaâ—…ed for it in the four last Reigns yet we had not so much foresight or Care of our selves as to prevent the Consequences of it in this Reign when it was in our power to have done it Then if we make Application to our antient Allies or any other foreign Power for our Assistance when we groan under Oppâ—…ession then we are treated as Rebels Thus our whole Nation was proclaim'd such for but offering to make Application to the King of France as our ancient Friend and Ally when a certain Party in England had arm'd our natural Sovereign K. Charles I. against us And that which is still worse tho our Crown from the time of the Uniâ—…n has
A DEFENCE OF THE SCOTS Settlement at DARIEN WITH An Answer to the Spanish MEMORIAL against it AND ARGUMENTS to prove That it is the Interest of ENGLAND to join with the SCOTS and protect it To which is added A DESCRIPTION of the Countrey and a particular Account of the SCOTS Colony Printed in the Year M. DC XC IX TO THE KING'S Most Excellent Majesty SIR THE Interest you have in the flourishing of Your Antient Kingdom of Scotland whose Crown is transmitted to You by an Hundred and eleven of your Ancestors without ever having been on the Head of a Forraigner emboldens the Author to lay the following Sheets at your Majesties Feet The design of them is to vindicate the Settlement of the Scots in Darien and Your Majesties Justice in protecting them against the Oblique Aspersions which are cast upon it in the Spanish Memorial The Soveraignty of the Crown of Scotland hath alwise been held Sacred by our Ancestors who never were sparing of their Blood to defend it either from the Invasion of Foreigners or the mean Compliance of some few of our Princes that were unworthie to wear it and therefore were either totally excluded from it as the Family of Baliol or oblig'd to reassert its Right when rescu'd out of the Hands of their Enemies as happen'd to our William I. and James I. Providence having now plac'd it on the Head of Your Majesty whose Heroic Courage is known to all the World our Nation should be unjust to Your Character to expect any thing less than that our Crown which You receiv'd free and independent from Your Ancestors should be transmitted by You with greater Advantages than ever to Your Successors Therefore it is Great Sir that a privat Subject of your Antient Kingdom takes the holdness to vindicate the Soveraignty and Dignity of Your Crown as Kings of Scots and to put such as are Enemies to it in mind that when Edward I and II. of England invaded it the Scotish Nation did gallantly defend it advanced Robert Bruce to the Exclusion of Baliol the nearest Heir and acquainted the Princes of Christendom that they did so in defence of their Independency adding that they would expel Robert Bruce if he offered to betray their Liberty and would never subject their Crown to that of England whilst there were 100 Scots men alive This being the fundamental Constitution of our Government and the Condition on which that Prince and his Successors were admitted to Our Crown they can in no wise be look'd upon as Friends to your Majesties Dignitie as King of Scots who call in question what You enact in the Parliament of that Kingdom or that offer to traverse it by contrary Proclamations We are Your Majesties Subjects as well as our Neighbours and have an equal Right to share your Protection which its hop'd they will at last be convinc'd it is their Interest to agree to in relation to our American Settlement Your Majesty's Paternal Affection to the Kingdom of Scorland hath discover'd it self in many Instances nor is it to be desired or expected by our Nation that it should any way interfere with the like Care and Affection which is owing to our Brethren of England but there is no reason that they should enjoy a Freedom of Trade throughout the World and that we should be denied it â—…our Majesty in yoâ—…r Gracious Proposals os an Union gave sufficient Evidence of a Fatherly Concern for both Nations Thereforo as it hath pleased GOD to make You the Glorious Instrument of our Common Deliverance that He would also make you the happy Instrument of our Inseparable Union and after a long Reign here Crown You with Everlasting Glory hereafter is the sincere and ardent Prayer of Your Majesty's Loyal and Affectionate Subject Philo Caledon A DEFENCE of the Settlement of the SCOTS on the Isthmus of DARIEN in America With Arguments to prove That it is the Interest of England to join with them and to protect them in that Colony THE Heads propos'd to be insisted upon in the following Sheers arâ—… The Legality of the SCOTS Establishment The Advantage or Disadvantage that may redound from it to England Whether the Scots without the Assistance of the English may be able to maintain their footing in America and what may probably be the Consequences if the Scots should be oppos'd therein by the English and miscarry in the Undertaking The chief Objections against the Legality of their Establishment ariâ—…e from the Memorial delivered in against it to the King by the Ambassad or Extraordinary of Spain May 3 1699. O S as follows THE Under-Subscriber Ambassador Extraordinary from his Catholick Majestie finds himself oblig'd by express Orders to represent to your Majesty that the King his Master having receiv'd Information from different places and last of all from the Governor of Havana of the Inâ—…ult and Attempt of some Scots Ships equip'd with Men and other things requisit who design to settle themselves in his Majestres Soveraign Demains in America and particularly the Province of Darien His Majesty receiv'd those Advices with very much difcontent and looks upon the same as a Token of small Friendship and as a Rupture of the Alliance betwixt the two Crowns which his Majesty hath observed hitherto and alwayes observes very religiously and from which so many Advantages and profits hath resulted both to your Majesty and youâ—… Subjects as a Consequence of which good Correspondence his Majestie did not expect such sudden Insults and Attempts by your Majesties Subjects and that too in a time of Peace without pretext or any Cause in the very heart oâ—… his Demains All that the King desires is That this may be represented to your Majesty and that your Majesty may be acquainted that he is very sensible of such Hostilities and unjust Procedures against which his Majesty will take such Measures as he thinks convenient Given at London May â—… 1699. It were easie to make proper Remarks upon the Weakness Insolence and ingratitude of this Memorial but it is not worth while all the World knows what the Crown of Spain ows to his Majesty of Great Britain and therefore a more civil Application might reasonably have been expected to a Prince who hath not only saved the Netherlands but prevented his Catholick Majesty from being insulted on his Throne at Madrid But these things we pass over and come to the chief point in the Memorial which is That the Scots have posted themselves in the King of Spain ' s Demains in America contrary to the Allyance betwixt the two Crowns If this be proved to be â—…alse then the cause of the Complaint ceases and his Majesty of Great Britain hath reason to demand Satisfaction for the Affront offered thereby to his Justice and Soveraignty To prove the falshood of the Allegation That the Province of Darien is part of the King of Spains Demains It is positively denied by the SCOTS who challenge the Spaniards to prove their Right
been for the most part on the head of an Alien or Enemy yet it has iufluence enougâ—… to divide us amongst our selves against the Interest of the Nation as in the Reign of K. Charles II. those that comply'd with the Court of England were brib'd with all the chief places in our Administration whilst those who were Patriots to their Country as for Honour sake to instance in the late Great Duke of Hamilton and our present Lord high Chancellor were exposed to all manner of Dangers and Vexations This we think sufficient to convince our Neighbours that we have no Reason to be fond of having the Union of the Crowns continu'd except the Interest of the Nations be more closely united then ever they have been hitherto And to let them see that it is their Interest as well as ours it should be so we shall only desire them to consider how fatal it may be to them if by any Emergency we should be forc'd to break off the Union of the Crowns and enter again into a F â—…ench Alliance It â—… in vain for them to object that in such a case we should betray oâ—…r Religion for we see the persecuted Hungaâ—…ans were protected in that â—…y the Tuâ—…ks tho sworn Enemies to it nor is it less impossible but there may be a Change as to that matter in France L. XIV is not immortal aâ—…d even Julian the Apostate himself found it his Interest for some time to protect the Orthodox Christians whom he mortally â—…ated But supposing as indeed there 's no great likelyhood of it that no such Allyance as this should ever happen yet howevâ—…r if these two Nations be not more closly united it may be of ill Consequencc to England if any of their Kings at any time should be so far disgusted with their Proceedings as to leave them and betake themselves to Us. What a Field of Blood and Slaughter must England have become had we carried off K. Charles I. when he came to our Army or if we had join a him against the Parliament of England What great Efforts did a Party of our Nation make to inthrone King Charles II when England was against him and how did our Concurrence afterwards with General Monk effect it How soon did our espousing the D. of York ' s Interest turn the Tables upon those that opposed him in England And if our Nation had likewise espoused his Cause before the Revolution the Viscount of Dundee gave a sufficient Proof what we could have done for him There 's a strong Party in England at present against allowing the King a standing Force for fear as they pretend of losing their Liberties but all their Opposition in that respect would signifie little if in case of a Rupture ouâ—… Nation should take part with the Court and bring in 22000 Men. with 6 Weeks Provisions and Pay as we are obliged to do by Act of Parliament for his Assistance This makes it evident that it is not the Interest of England to slight an Union with US so much as they have done soâ—… so long as we remain divided any King that is so minded may make use of us to inslave one another and any envious Neighbour whose Interest it is to keep this Island low will be sure to blow the Coals If they 'd but turn the Tables and make our Case their own they would quickly be satisfied of the truth of what we advance Supposing that the Government of Scotland should traverse the Actings of the Government of England in relation to their Trade c. as they have done ours and supposing that a Parliament of Scotland when the King were there should question him for the Navigation Act and that for the Encouragement of Trade in England by King Charles the Second Which lays Us under such hard Circumstances and Restrictions the English would certainly very much resent it and speedily tell us we meddled with what did not belong to us Then why should they deny us the like Liberty in reâ—…erence to their 〈◊〉 against us seeing we are a free Nation as well they They cannot think that Scotland will look upon the English Proclamations in the West Indies against having any Commerce with our Colony at Darien to be the Act and Dâ—…ed of a King of Scotland sincâ—… it is not only contrary to his own Act oâ—… Paâ—…liament there and his Patent under the Great Seâ—…l of that Kingdom but contraâ—…y to the Interest of that Nation but being the Act of a person who is really King of Scots we can look upon it to be no other than the esfect of a â—…orce put upon him by a Nation which in this matter thinks it their Interest he should do so Now suppose which GOD forbid our Colony should be starv'd by virtue of these Proclamations or that our Ships going and coming from Darien should by reason thereoâ—… be attack'd and treated as Pirates by the English French Dutch or any other Nation who may take the opportunity to do it and say ouâ—… King has dâ—…clared against us to whom should we make application sor redress in this matter The King of England he is our Enemy and eâ—…itted these Proclamations the King of Scots is detain'd in England and not Master of himselâ—… but is forc'd to act thus contraty to the Interest of his own antient Crown and Kingdom as a former K. William John Baliol and James I. were 〈◊〉 ' d to do when in the power of the English â—…n such a 〈◊〉 if our inâ—…ant Colony should by this means bed stroyâ—…d ouâ—… 〈◊〉 must needs think that we should look â—…or a Compensâ—…tion 〈◊〉 resume the Government into our own hands and strengthen our selves by new Alliances which perhaps might be litâ—…le â—…o their advantage This is not suggested as a thing that is ever likely to be practis'd or to which the Kingdom of Scotland is any way inclin'd Our whole Conduct since the Union is a continu'd evidence of the uprightness of Our Intentions towards England and the Offers we did make and do still continue to make of admitting 'em as Partners and Sharers in our Settlement are enough to stop the mouth of Calumny it self But if in return for our kindness we meet with Neglect and Contempt have our Soveraignty trampled under foot our Settlement in America by an Act of Parliament in Scotland reflected upon as unjust by Proclamations from England the World cannot blame us to complain of the Violence done to our Independency and Honour which is not to be salv'd by any politick Considerations whatever that our Neighbours pretend for this Treatment Nor can any thing less than joining with us and protecting that Settlement against all opposition in case of Attacks by the French or others sufficiently atone for what is already done or heal the Wound those Proclamations have giv'n to the common Interest and Honour of the Island WE Come in the next place to give a Description of the Isthmus of
to the said Province either by Inheritance Mâ—…rriage Donation Purchase Reversion Surrender or Conquest which being the only Titles by which they or any other People can claim a Right to those or any other Dominions if the Spaniards cannot make out their Right by those of any of those their Claim must of consequence be null and void It is evident that the Spaniards cannot pretend a Tittle to that Countrey by Inheritance Martiâ—… or the Donation of Prince and People and as to Conquest it would be ridiculous to alleadge it since the Dariens are in actual possession of their Liberty and were never subdued nor receiv'd â—…ny Spanish Governor or Garison amongst them Nay they were so far from it that Wafer Dampier and others that have wrote of that Countrey do all agree that they mortally hate the Spaniards were in War with them and that the Spaniards had no Commerce with those Indians nor command over them in all the North side of the Isthmus a little beyond Porto Bello Capt. Sharp in the Journal of his Expedition published in Capâ—… Hacke's Collection of Voyages gives an account that in 1680 he landed at Golden Island with 330 Men and being joyn'd by one of the Darien Princes whom they call'd Emperor and another to whom they gave the Tittle of King Golden Cap with some hundreds of their Men took Sancta Maria attempted Panama and made prize of several Spanish Ships which is the more remarkable because Capt. Sharp was afterwards tryed in England for Robbery and piracy on this very Account but acquitted because of his Commission from those Darien Princes which is a plain Demonstration that the Government of England did then look upon Darein to be no way subject to Spain whateveâ—… some who are Enemies to the SCOTS do now say against the Legality of their Settlement in that Country This same Expedition against the Spaniards by assistance of the Darien Indians is confirm'd by Mr. Dampier in his Introduction to his New Voyage round the World And the â—…p of Chiapa a Prelate of their own in his Relation of the Spanish Voyages anâ—… Cruelties in the West-Indies p 217. owns that the Spaniards had no Title to the Americans as their Subjects by right of Inheritance Purchase oâ—… Conquest We have likewise a large Account and a full Confirmation of the War and perpetual Enmity betwixt the Dariens and the Spaniards in the History of the Buccaneers of America Vol. 2. Part 4. wrote by Basil Ringrose who was one of their Company There he inâ—…orms us that the Indians of Darien and the Spaniards are commonly at War with one another and that the Buccaneers were invited into that Countrey and join'd by the Darien Princes Capt. Andreaâ—… Captain Antonio and the King of Darien who assisted thâ—…m in the taking of Sancta Maria auâ—… their Attempt upon â—…anama and the King whose Daughter the Spaniards had stole away promised to join the Buccaneers with 50000 Men. This is the more remarkable because those very Princes or their Successors are now in League with the Scots and have joyfully receiv'd them into their Countrey So that it is the strangest Imposition that can be put upon any Nation and one of the most audacious affronts that ever was put upon so Great a Prince as K William for the Spaniards to pretend a Right to Darien and accuse him of a Bâ—…each of the Peace because a Colony of his Subjects have settled themselves there when it is so well known to the World that the Crown of Spain has no manner of Title to that Province Then as to any Claim by virtue of Possession the Spaniards have noâ—… the least grâ—…und of Plea All they can alledge on this head is that they were once admitted by the consent of Capt. Diego another of the Darien Princes to work on some Golden Mines within 15 Leagues or thereabouts of the SCOTS Settlement But it is plain that this makes nothing for their purpose That Prince admitted them only as Labourers but not as Proprietors and when they broke the Conâ—…itions on which they were admitted viz to allow the Dariens such and such Shares of the Product they were expell'd again by forcâ—… and ever since that time the Dariens refuse to have any further dealings with the Spaniards who made themselves odious to them by their Treachery and Insolence So that Mr. Wafer tells us pag. 133. they allow a distinguishing Mark of Honour to him who has kill'd â—… Spaniard and pag. 179. that Lacenta one of the chief of the Darien Princes did in his converse with him express his Sense and Resentment of the havock made by the Spaniards in the West of America at their first coming thither It remains then that the Spaniards can lay no other claim to Darien but what they plead from the Pope's general Grant of America its being bounded by their Dominions and the Treaties with England which shall be considered in their Order To urge the Pope's Grant amongst Protestants is ridicolous and amongst Papists themselves but precarious but admâ—…tting it were sufficient to justifie their Title it is easie to prove that the Spaniards have forfâ—…ited all the Right that they can claim by virtue of that Grant The Church oâ—… Rome will not publickly own her power to grant a Right of Conquest but in order to propagate the Faith and not that neither except the Infidel Prince or People be guilty of a breach of Treaty So that the Pope's Grant with these Restrictions is so far from establishing the Title of the Spaniards that it plainly overthâ—…ows it That the Indians were committed to the Spaniards by Pope Alexander the VI. on condition that they should teach them the Christian Religion is proved by Don Bartholomew de las Casas Bishop of Chiâ—…pa iu his Account of the first Voyages and Discoveries made by the Spaniards in America and the Relation of their unparallel a Cruelties p. 165. and there he likewise owns that their acquitting themselves so ill of that Commission they ought to make Restitution of all they have taken from them under this pretâ—…xt And pag. 200 he charges them with breach of the Terms prescrib'd by the Apostolical Brief tho Queen Isabella to whom it was granted earnestly entreated them to keep exactly to it P. 218. he says that the Title of the King of Spain to the Indians is â—…ounded only on the Obligation he hâ—…d taken upoâ—… himselâ—… to instruct them in the true Faith as appears by the Apostolick Bâ—…ief which they wâ—…re so far from performing that instead of converting their Souâ—…s they destroyed their Bodies having in those early dayes viz In the time oâ—… the Emperor Chaâ—…les V. muâ—…dered above 40 Millions of them and â—…ook so little care to 〈◊〉 them in the Christian Religion that they perfectly obstâ—…ucted their Conversion and sold those very Idolâ—… that some of the poor people had 〈◊〉 away with abhorrence to oâ—…her of the Indians ibid p 194. which
a Letter to the Governor of Panama asserting that the King of Darien was true Lord of Panama and all the Countrey thereabouts and that they came to assist him History of Buccaneers Vol. 2. part 4. p. 32. And we have mentioned before that Capt. Sharp who was accused of Piracy for that same Expedition and succeeded Sawkins in his Command was acquitted in England because he had that Prince's Commission Having fully prov'd that the Spaniards have no Title in Darien it remains to be prov'd that the SCOTS have as good and just a Title to their Settlement there as any People in the World can have which may easily be demonstrated thus They were authorized by an Act of Parliament and the Kings Letters Patent to plant Colonies in Asia Africa or America upon Places not inhabited or any other Place by Consent of the Natives not possest by any European Prince or State Being provided with this Authority than which there cannot be a Greater or one more duly and honestly limited they equipp'd their Ships and landed on the North side of the Isthmus of Darien in November 1698. where the Spaniards as has been fully prov'd never had any possession and no other European Prince or State pretends any Claim to it Being arriv'd there they fairly obtained the Consent of the Princes and People of the Country and particularly of Captain Andreas who is the chief Man in that Tract And after a solemn Treaty and Alliance deliberatly made and wrote in Spanish because the said Prince understands that Language they peaceably enter upon their new Colony without either Force or Fraud So that they have religiously kept to the Conditions of the Act and Patent which is a plain demonstration hat they have a just and legal Title to their Settlement and a Right to the Protection of the Government against the Attempts of the Spaniards or any other People whatsoever The next Topick to be insisted upon is the Advantage or Disadvantage that may redound to England from this Settlement We shall begin with the Disadvantage which consists in the supposed Damage it may do to the Trade of England and that it may as is pretended occasion a Rupture between them and Spain To this we may easily reply that being a distinct and independent Nation we are not oblig'd to consult their Interest any further than they consult ours and that we have as much Reason to maintain this Colony because of the Advantage it may bring to our selves as they have to oppose it because of the Disadvantages that they fancy may arise from thence to England But withal we deny that it can be any damage to their Trade which from that part of the World consists chiefly in Sugar and Tobacco neither of which are yet to be found in New Caledonia But that which we look upon to be a compleat Answer to the Objection is this That they may be sharers with Us in the settlement if they please and by consequence Partners in the Profits and Trade and lay it under such Regulations as may prevent its endamaging the Commerce of England And whereas it is further objected That by the great Immunities and freedom granted to the SCOTS Company for so many Years we shall be able to undersell the English Company forestal their Markets and lessen his Majesties Customs we answer that this Objection is in a great measure obvâ—…ated since we do not now pretend to set up an East-India Trade but admitting it were true it will be to the general Advanâ—…age of the English Nation since the Buyers are always more than the Sellers It must certainly be better for the Kingdom in general that every one who has occasion for Muslâ—…n or Indian Silks c. should have so many shillings per Yard or peice in their Pockets than that some two or three Merchants should once in an Age get Money enough to make a Daughter or two a Countess or Dutchess Noâ—… can it be denied but it's better for England that Housekeepers in general should save that Money to buy Provisions for their Families which consumes our own Product than that a dozen of Merchants should be enabled by the extravagant prices of those commodities to keep their Coaches Add to this that the English if they please by joining with the SCOTS may have an equal share of all those Immunities and if there should be for some time a lessening of the King's Customs of which there is at present no manner of prospect it will be sufficiently made up in time to come by a large Addition if that Colony prospers so that the King's Bounty in that respect is but like the bestowing of charge to improve barren or waste Ground which will return with treble Interest to him or his Heirs There 's another Objection made against the SCOTS Company that by their Constitution such Ships as belong to them must break Buâ—…k â—…o 〈◊〉 but in Scotland whâ—…ch will diminish thâ—… number of English Ships and Seâ—…men and make Scotland the only Free Port of all these Commodities â—…o which it 's â—…eplyed That tho ouâ—… own Ships are obliged to break Bulk no where but at home they don't lay same Obligation upon others but allowing them a free Trade to Darien they may caâ—…ry their Goods where they please or upon fair Proposals there 's no doubt but the Parliament of Scotland will give â—…he English all possible Liberty as to that matter Then as to the hazaâ—…d of a Rupture with Spain we reply Thaâ—… the Spaniards are in no condition to break with England when they are not able to maintain themselves against the Insuâ—…ts of the French by Sea and Land and the only way to secure them in thâ—… British Interest is to have a powerful Colony in Darien which lying in the very Centre oâ—… their American Dominions and within reach of their Silver and Gold Mines will be an effectual Cuâ—…b upon them and not only prevent their own Hostâ—…lities but their joining at any time with our Enemies or if they do being Masters of their Money we shall speedily cut â—…e sinews of their War In the â—…ext place we uâ—…ge that it will be very much for the Inâ—…rest and Advantage of England to incourage and support us in â—…his Settlement 1. Because by this means the SCOTS will increase their shipping and come in time to have a Naval Force capable of assisting the English in the common Defence of the â—…sland in maintaining the Soveraignty of the Seas and convoying their Merchant Men in time of Waâ—… the necessity of which is obvious enough since they and the Duâ—…ch both have been scarce able to secure their Tâ—…ade maintain their Dominion in the Seas and defend themselves from the Invasions of the French during the last War Nor can the English always promise to themselves the Amity of the Dutch who are their Rivals in Trade and difâ—…er far enough from them both in Tâ—…mper and Interest there 's noâ—…hing
to cement them but the Life of our pâ—…esent Soveraign Whereas the SCOTS being united with the English under the same Government and inhabiting the same Island must of 〈◊〉 have the same interest as to Trade and to defend the Counâ—…y against all Forraign Invad ers as they constantly did in foâ—…mer times against Romans Danes Saxons and Normans 〈◊〉 thâ—…ir living then under a separat Prince and their frequent Wars with England Noâ—… is that brave Resistance which a few of them made to the Dutch at Chattam to be forgotten which did in a great measure repair the Honour of England and make amends â—…or the Ignominy and disgrace which that Attempt put upon the English Nation 2. As Scotland increases in shipping they will increase in Wealth and by consequence be able to bear a greater share of the Burden of any Foreign War which will save Men and Money to England and lighten their Taxes 3. The Success of the SCOâ—…S in their Americâ—…n Colony wâ—…ll be an additional strength to the English 〈◊〉 in the West-Indies as well as an Advancement of their Trade by consuming their product and giving them theirs in Exchange 4. The success of the Scots at Darien will be oâ—… great advantage to England for the more Monâ—…y the Scots acquire by their Trade the more they will spend in England which being the Seat of the Government must frequently be visited by their Nobility and Gentry who generally furnish theâ—…seves in England with their best Apparel Household 〈◊〉 Coaches and Horses c. besides the Money that the young Noblemen and Gentlemen spend in their passage through that Nation when they go come from their Travels These things occasion their laying out vast Summs of Money annually in the City of Lonâ—…n â—…hich being the Seat of the Government will as certainly draw Money from Scotland as the Sun draws Vapours after it 5. The success of the Scots in their Forreign Plaâ—…tation will not only ease England of a great number of their Pâ—…dlars so frequently 〈◊〉 of in 〈◊〉 by Country Corporations and 〈◊〉 but it will occasion the return home and prevent the going oâ—…t of vâ—…st numbers of their Youth who follow the 〈◊〉 sort of 〈◊〉 or betake themselves to the Sword in Denmark 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mâ—…ovy Germany Holland and 〈◊〉 By whâ—…ch meâ—…ns the Government of Great Britâ—…in may fuâ—…nish tâ—…ir Fâ—…ts and Armies at a much Cheaper and easier Rate than foâ—…merly and wâ—…th as good Mariners and Souldiers as any in the Worlâ—… 6. The Eâ—…glish by joining with the Scots and supporting their Colony at Dâ—…rien may have their Plate brought home in their own Bottoms and from their own Mines with which we are assured that Country abounds without being obliged to touch at Cadiz or any 〈◊〉 Port being lyable to the Vexatious Induâ—…os of Forreign Princes or in such hazard of being Intercepted as they many times were duâ—…ing the late War 7. The English may by joining with the Scots render themselves more Capable than ever of keeping the Ballance of Europe in their Hâ—…nds a Trust which Nature and Providence seems to have assign'd them since their Situation and Naval Force not only makâ—…s it propper for them but they have had an opportunity put into their hanâ—…s in lâ—…ttle above the Revolution of â—…ne Century of twice breakiâ—…g the Chaines of Europe when threatned with Slavery first by the Spaniards and then by the French This is so much the more evident that by being possess'd of Darien they will be able either to prevent the uniting the Spaniâ—…h and French Monarchies or if not so to render that Union so much the less dangerous when it will be in their power to sâ—…ize their 〈◊〉 aâ—… Dominions in the Indies without which that bulky Monaâ—…chy must fall by his own weight This is likewise of so mâ—…ch the greater importance that it may very probably ether 〈◊〉 a Religious War â—…owards which the Papists discover so muâ—…h 〈◊〉 or at least bring it to a 〈◊〉 Conclusion For we have as good Reason to look upon the Spanish Mines in the West-Indies to be Antichrist's Pouch by which he maintaines his War against the Church as the old Taborites had to call the Silver Mines in Bohemia by that Name It is ceâ—…tainly the surest Method of destroying Antichrist to seize his Purse for if he once be depriv'd of Judas's Bag he will quickly drop St. Peter's Keyâ—… It 's by the Charms of her Gold that the Babylonish Whore hath made the whole World to wonder after her and the Kings of the Earth to be Drunk with the Cup of her Fornication 8. By this means the English may be better able to prevent the ruin of their Trade in the Mediterranean and West-Indies if the French should possess themselves of the Kingdim of Spain and they will likewise be the better able to prevent their possessing themselves of the Netherlands which if once they should do and get Ports there capable of holding a Fleet they would also ruin thier Eâ—…stland Trade and put a period to the Liberties of Great Britain 9. It will effectually unite the Scots to England by an inseparable Tie if the English join us in this Undertaking Their Ancestors would have gladly purchased this Union at a much dearer rate but were alâ—…ise out bid by France and the want of which Union made the English not only an easie prey to their successive Conquerors but lost them all the large Provinces that they enjoy'd beyond sea which were their natural Barriers gave them a free Access to the Continent and made the English Name so glorious in the days of their Ancestors 10. It will be of general advantâ—…ge to the Protestaâ—…t Interest and contribute to the advancement of pure Christianity without any of the Romish sophistications which certainly ought to weigh much with all true Protestants and so much the more that the Pope and the Conclave of Rome have espoused the Quarrel of the Spaniards in this Affair as a Cause of Religion Doubtless the poor Americans will be more iâ—… clinable to embrace Christianity when they find the difference of the Morals and Doctrine betwixt Protestants and Papists and see â—…t the former treat tbem with Humanity and seek their Welfare both in Body and Soul whereas the Spaniards have render'd 〈◊〉 and the Religion â—…hey profess odious by the inhuman Cruelties and brutish Lusts wbich they have exercised upâ—…n so many Millions of the Natives This is so far from being a Calumny that an unexceptionable Author of their own Don Bâ—…tholomew de las casas Bishop of Chiapa fâ—…rmerly mentioned who was an Eye witness of their Cruelties gives an account that they had in his time destroyed above 40 Millions of the poor Indians tho they receiv'd them with the greatest kindness imaginable were ready to do 'em all the Friendly Offices that one man could desire of anoâ—…her and testified their great Inclination to have embrac'd the Christian Religion But the Spaniards
to his Ancestors but if he dâ—…d not think it worth his while they might perhaps be inclin'd to make choâ—…e of another Soveraign or to that effect as recordâ—…d in the Conâ—…uation of Sâ—…r Richard Baker's History Another 〈◊〉 we had by that Union of the Crown was this That that unfortunate Prince being inspir'd with an Aversion to the Constitution of our Country by his Education in the Court of England he made an unnatural War upon us to bring us to a Conformity with England in Church-Matters We shall not here offer to debate which of the Churches was best constâ—…uted or most agreeable to the Scripture-Pattern It suffices for our Argument that we were injur'd in having a Forreign Model offered to be obtruded upon us which was â—…he Consâ—…quence of the Union of the Crowns and of having our King eâ—…ucated in another Nâ—…tion but that was not all another mischievous effect of the Union was this that whatever K. Charles had deserv'd at our hands â—…et out of natural Afâ—…ection Conscience and Honour we were oblig'd to do what we could to prevent his illegal Trial and Death and to defend his Sons Title which threw us into Convulsions at home occasion'd us the loss of several Armies and exposâ—…d our Nation afterwards to Ruine and Devaâ—…tation by our implacable Enemy the Usurper which together with the Ungrateful Retributions made us by the Government after the Restoration were enough to have wearied any Nation under Heavâ—…n but our selves of the Union of the Crowns Yet such was our Zâ—…al for the Protestant Intrest the Welfare of the Islâ—…nd and the Liberty of Europe that tho we had a 〈◊〉 opporâ—…ity of providing otherwise for our 〈◊〉 and the Advancement of ouâ—… Trade and of forming our selves into a Common wealth or or bringing England to our own terms yet we frankly and generously concurr'd with them to settlâ—… our Gâ—…vernment on the same Persons and in the same manner as they did theirs and all the Reward we had from them is that an Union of the Nations tho twice propos'd by his Majesty in Parliament hath been 〈◊〉 rejected our King questioned by Parliament of England â—…or an Act of his Parliament in Scotland which is a manifest Impeachment of our Soveraignty a Compliance with which excluded Baliol and his Heirs for ever from our Crown and to this they have added an opposition to our receiving foreign Subscriptions at Hamburgh and elsewhere refus'd us a Supply of Corn for our Money to relieve us in our Distress and discourag'd our Settlement aâ—… Darien by forbidding their Subjects to Trade with us there If these continued Slights and Injuries be not enough to make us weary of the Union of the Crowns let any Man judge To discover a little of the unreasonableness of this sort of Treatment we dare appeal to the calm thoughts of such of our Neighbours in England as prefer the Interest of the Publick to private Animosities and foolish ill-grounded Piques either as to Church or State whether at the time of the Revolution and before we declar'd our selves they would not have been willing to have assur'd themselves of our Friendship at the rare of uniting with us as one Nation Had we but demurr'd upon forâ—…eiting the late K. James or made but a Proffer of renewing our antient League with France and joining with that Crown to keep that Prince upon rhe Throne of Great-Britain they know we might have made what Terms we pleas'd with the late King Louis XIV on that condition and might have been restor'd to all the Honours and Privileges that our Ancestors enjoy'd in France which were almost equal to those of the Nâ—…tives and yet that gallant Nation thought it no disparagement to them however we be despis'd and uâ—…dervalued now by a certain Party in England Had we but seem'd to have made such Overtures the English must needs have foreseen that the natural Consequences of such a design iâ—… it had taken effect must have been these viz the late King's Adherents in England would certainly have join'd us and our Nation would have afforded them a safe retreat in case of any Disaster till they could have concerted Matters to the best advantage the late King would not have yielded himself such an easy Conquest nor disbanded his Army in such a manner as he did Ireland had certainly never revolted since every one knows that the Revolution was begun and in a great measure perfected there by the Scots of the North so that England must have become the Theatre of War been lyable to an Invasion â—…rom France on all occasions would only have strengthned her Fetters by struggling with them and expos'd all the Patriots of her Religion and Liberty to Butchery and Destruction These must certainly have been the Consequences os our adhering to the late King and the English would have thought they had had a very good Bargain if they could have bought us off in that Case with uniting both the Kingdoms into one and granting us a joint Trade to their own Plantations whereas now they will not allow us to settle a Forreign Colony of our own and treat us as Forreigners in theirs To shew that this is not a mere Conjecture that has no other ground but a Vision of the Brain they may be pleased to consider the honourable Privileges granted US by their Ancestors and some of the greatest Princes that ever swayed their Scepter viz King Edward and William the Conqueror who by the Consent of the States in Parliament assembled enacted That the Scots should be accounted Denizâ—…ns of England and enjoy the same privileges with themselves because of their frequent Intermarriages with the English and that they did ever stand stoutly as one Man with them for the common Utility of the Crown and Kingdom against the Danes and Norwegians fought it most valiantly and unanimously against the common Enemy and bore the burden of most fierce Wars in the Kingdom This they will sind in a Book call'd Archaionomia translated from the Saxon by William Lambard and printed at London by Joâ—…n Day in 1568. It must be granted that the Reasons of such a grateful Retribution are redoubled now Intermarriages betwixt the two Nations are more frequent than ever the Union of the Kingdoms under one Crown for almost 100 years the generous Concurrence of the Scots in the last Revolution their loss of so many gallant Officers and brave Soldiers in the common Cause during the late War and the preservation of Ireland which hath been twice owing to ouâ—… Countreymen might reasonably entitle us to the same Priviledges now that our Ancestors were formerly allow'd by K. Edward and William the Conqueror We need not insist on another sort of Obligatiâ—…n that we have put upon England twice within this 60 years viz the delivering them from their Oppressions in the time of K. Charles I. the Anarchy of the Rump and several Models of Armies and Juntos by encouraging
General Monk ' s Undertaking for it cannot be denied that we had the Ballance of Europe in our hands at the time of the last Revolution and that we turned the Scale to the advantage of England in particular and of Europe in general which must be allowed to be as great a Service as that which was so thankfully rewarded by Edward and William the Conquero whence it is evident that those Englishmen who at present oppose our Settlement in America don't inherit the gratitude of their Ancestors when they not only will not allow us to trade in Conjunction with them but withstand our doing any thing that may advance a Trade by our selves If they object that what we did in all those cases was no more thâ—…n our duty and what we ow'd to our own preservation as well as to theirs it is easie to reply that admitting it to be so yet by the Laws of GOD and Men People are encouraged to perform their Duties by Rewards and their Ancestors were so sensible of this that tho they knew we were equally coneern'd to defend the Island against foreign Invaders as well as they yet they thought themselves obliged in Policy as well as Gratitude to reward us which they not only did by that Honorary Premium of allowing us to be Denisons of England as abovementioned but sometimes gave to us and at other times confirm'd to us the three Northern Counties of Northumberland Westmorland and Cumberland to be held in Fee of the Crown of England It is likewise very well known with how much honour the Parliament of England treated us when they courted onr Assistance against K. Charles I. and what large Promises that Prince made us if we would have but stood Neuter which tho we had reason to think many of those that opposed him had no great kindness neither for our Civil nor Ecclesiastical Constitution yet the sence that we had of the common danger that our Religion and Liberties were in at that time made us proof against all those Tentations so that after all Endeavours for a Reconciliation betwixt the King and Parliament of England proved unsuccessful we sent an Army which cast the Ballance on the side of the latter who before that time were reduced low enough by the Kings Army as is very well known to such as are acquainted with the History of those times and is own'd by my Lord Hollis in his Memoirs lately published But to return to the last Revolution Tho we must own that we owe our Deliverance to his present Majesty and were oblig'd in Conscience and Honour to concurr with him Tet who could have blam'd us to have stood upon Terms before we had fallen in with England Especially considering how ungratefully nay villanously we were treated by Cromwel and his Party after we had sav'd them and the Parliament of England from the Scorpions that the Cavaliers had prepar'd to chastise them with as is own'd by the said Lord Hollis Not could we have been any way Calpable if we had stood upon higher and surer Terms with his Majesty Considering how unthankfully we were abus'd and enslav'd by our late Kings for whom we had acted and suffered so much And tho we must own that no less Present than that of ouâ—… Crown was sufficient to testify our Gratitude for what the Prince of Orange had done for us yet we were under no necessity of gratifying him in that manner since our Deliverance was effected before hand and that he himself in his Declaration expres'd it to be no part of his design to come for the Crown so that our Re ward was as frank and generous as his Service Then as to England we were under no manner of obligation to continue the Union with them We might have insisted upon having our King obliged to reside as much amongst us as amongst them that we should be govern'd without any Consideration or respect to their Interest any further than it fell in with our own We might have insisted upon an Act that we should not be oblig'd to attend his Majesty at any time at the Court of England about our Affairs but that he should either attend upon our Administration in person pro re nata as he does now upon the Affairs of Holland or lay down Methods to have his Pleasure signified to us at Home in such cases as it was requir'd which would save a vast deal of Money annually to the Kingdom of Scotland Then as to the Succession we were under no Necessity of settling it in the same manner as they did in England for since they had made a Breach in the Line they could not handsomely have blam'd us to have made an improvement of it and either to have limited the Reversion after his present Majesty's Death or otherwise as we should have thought best for the Security of our Civil and Religious Liberties or we might have settled it upon the Prince of Orange and his Issue by any other Wife there being cause enough then to conceive that he was never like to have any by his late excellent Princess Had we taken any of these Methods it must be own'd that England would have been considerably weakned and lessen'd in the Esteem of the World by it that we should have thereby had an opportunity of making such Forreign Alliances with France as formerly or with any other Nation as would have made England uneasy and perhaps unsafe on occasion and therefore it must be reckon'd highly impolitick as well as ungrateful in our Neighbours to treat us continually at such a rate as if they had a mind to bring us under Subjection since we have so many open Doors to get out at They must not think that we have so far degenerated from the Courage and Honour of our Ancestors as tamely to submit to become their Vassals when for 2000 years we have maintain'd our Freedom and therefore it is not their Interest to oppress us too much If they consult their Histories they will find that we alwayes broke their Yoke at long-run if at any time we were brought under it by force or Fraud The best way to assure themselves of us is to treat us in a Friendly manner Tho we be not so great and powerful as they it is not impossible for us to find such Allies as may enable us to defend our selves now as well as formerly None of these things are suggested with an ill design to raise Annimosity betwixt the Nations or to perswade to a Separation of the Crowns but meerly to shew those of our Neighbours who use us os unkindly that they are bound in Gratitude Duty and Interest to do otherwise and particularly to support us in our American Settlement and not to lay our King under a necessity by their froward Humours in Parliament or otherwise to discourage us in that Undertaking as they have hitherto done and continue still to do in their American Colonies by their
Proclamations against having any Commerce or Trade with the Scots at Darien Tho they be settled there according to the Terms of his own Patent and an Act of Parliament in Scotland We are not insensible that the present Juncture of Affairs obliges the Kingdom of England to carry fair with Spain and may admit that in part as an Apology for some of that Opposition we have met wiâ—…h from them but the questioning our Act of Parliament at first and their hindering our Subscriptions at Hamburgh afterward before ever they knew what our design was make that excuse of little weight but allowing it all the Force they would have it to bear it may be worth their while to consider whether it be more their Interest to incourage the Spaniards in an unjust Opposition to our American Settlement or to support the Scots in maintaining their Right It is certain that the Spaniards are in no condition to break with England or if they should it 's in the power of the English to reduce them speedily to reason whereas if the Scots should miscarry in their Undertaking by the Discouragements from England before-mentioned which exposes our Ships to be taken and treated a Pirates by any Nation that pleases the infallible consequence of it will be that the Ruin and utter impov'rishment of Scotland which must necessarily follow such a miscarriage will immediatly affect England both in her Trade and Strength The City of London and the Northern Road will soon feel the Effects of it when the Money spent by our Gentry and Merchants continually for Cloaths Provisions and Goods ceases to circulate there England must unavoidably become an easier Prey to any forreign Enemy since it will not be only the loss of a Tribe but of an entire Sister-Nation Or supposing that Scotland should be able to bear up under the loss it will lay the Foundation of an irreconcilable Feud and perhaps issue in a War betwixt the two Nations which did never yet terminate at long run to the advantage of England and is as unlikely to do so now as ever For in such a case they would find us unanimous as one Man against them whereas we are sure that all those who wish well to the Protestant Interest and their present Constitution would never join in any such War against us and therefore those who are Enemies to the Peace of the Nations being aware of this labour to Effect their design by another Method and endeavour as much as they can to dash the Government against one another But they are mistaken in the People of Scotland we are so sensible of our obligations to K. William and know so well what is due to our Deliverer that it surpasses all their Art to create in us the least ill thought of him it is not in the temper of our Nation The World knows that however frequent and successful we have been in reducing our bad Kings to reason yet there never was any People under the Sun more Loyal and affectionate to good Princes than we have been and is when we have been forc'â—… to oppose our Monarchs private Persons have sometimes carried â—…eir Râ—…tments too high yet the publick Justice of the Nation was alwâ—…e govern'd with Temper We could multiply instances to prove this but need go no higher than the three last Kings who tho aâ—… oâ—… them Enemies to our Constitution as appear'd by their Principles and Practices yet it 's very well known what we both did and suffer'd for them and particularly for K Câ—…arles I. tho the Malice of a Faction in our Neighbouring Nation six'd a â—…ous Reproach upon us as if wâ—… had sold â—…im 〈◊〉 which Refâ—…ection we are sufficiently vindicated by the Lord Hollis's Memoirs before-mentioned wherein that excâ—…llent Pâ—…rson makes it Evident that tho our War against that Prince was just yet we had all possible respect for his Person made the 〈◊〉 Conditions â—…e could for his Safeâ—…y and Honour and to avoid greater Mischâ—…fs and the playing of our Enemies Came to the 〈◊〉 of our sâ—…lves and his Majesty we were 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 him in England Memoirs p. 68. Then since we carried it so to a Prince that had been no 〈◊〉 kind to us it will be impossible to create a Breach 〈◊〉 â—…s anâ—… a Prince to whom under God we owe all that we 〈◊〉 as Meâ—… and 〈◊〉 But at the same time our Neighbours wâ—…o 〈◊〉 â—…o driâ—…e 〈◊〉 Nâ—…il as far as it will go would do well to 〈◊〉 â—…hat â—…e never bâ—…liev d that Doctrine in Scotland that it is 〈◊〉 to resist a King or 〈◊〉 that has a Commission under him upon any pretence whatsoever we 〈◊〉 that Doctrine in Scythia 〈◊〉 whâ—…ce sâ—…me Aâ—…ors derive our Origin and think it oâ—…ly fit to be â—…nt back to Turkey from whence it came We know very well how to distinguish betwixt a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the abuse of it And our Ancestors rightly understood how to obey the lawful Commands of their Princes when Masters of themselves and how to govern by their Authority and in their Name when â—…ey were not tho they did not think themselves obliged to oâ—…ey their personal Commands when the Fortune oâ—… War or other Accidents had put them into the hands of our Enemies Thus we refused Obedience to K. James I. when detain'd prisonet in England contrary to the Law of Nations and carried over into France to command his Subjects there not to bear Arms against the English Army where he was in person We told him we knew how to Extinguish betwixt the Commands of a King and those of a Captive And that most of the Kings of Scots have been such in Relation to us since the Union we could heartily wish were not too demonstrable To return to the point of what may probably be the Consequences if the English should proceed to any surther degree of of Opposition Or if the Scots should misearry in the Design It 's reasonable to believe that the English will be so wise as to forbear Hostilities tho we are very well satisfied there is a Party in that Nation who bear ours no Good-will but they being such as are either disaffected to the present Constitution or acted by a sordid principle of private Interest it 's to be hop'd they will never be able so far to leaven the sound part of the English Nation as to occasion a Rupture betwixt them and us Yet we must needs say that we look upon their way of treating us to be a very unaccountable thing and that it was no small surprise to us to find that an English Parliament should look on our taking Subscriptions in England in order to admit them Joint-Sharers with our selves in the benefit of the Act to encourage our Trade to be no less than a high Misdemeanour We have reason likewiwe to complain of their constant practice of pressing our Sea-men in time of War as if they were their own Subjects and that they should treat
us in other respects as if we were Aliens and sometimes confiscate Ships by reckoning Scots Mariners as such So that the English have not only depriv'd us of our Government and the warm influences of our Court the want oâ—… which is a considerable addition to the Natural coldness of our Climate but they likewise oppress us on all occasions and do 〈◊〉 endeavour to prevent our Application to Trade We know there 's a Party in that Nation who think we sustain'd no great loss by the removal of our Princes but we would wish them to consider what a murmuring they themselves make when the King goes annually to the Netherlands tho the safety of Europe requires it because of the damp it puts upon Trade and the Money it carries out of the Kingdom Let them consider then what our Nation hath suffered in that respect now for almost 100 years besides the lessening our Esteem in the eyes of the World so that our Honour and Substance are both swallow'd up by the Kingdom of England and yet they will neither admit us to the privileges of â—…ellow-Subjects with themselves nor suffer us to take such measures as may enable us to stand on our own bottom Certainly this is not the way to establish the Peace noâ—… to increase the Wealth of the Island We know that it was a Maxime in some of the late Reigns That it would never be well till all that part of Scotland on this side Forth were reduc'd to a hunting Field but we were in hopes the bitterness of those days had been past yet it seems that Party have still so far the ascendant amongst our Neighbours as to procure a publick Opposition to all our Endeavours for raising our Nation by Trade It will upon due Examination be found as bad policy as it is Christianity to urge as some of our Neighbours do that it is the Interest of England to keep the Scots low because they are an independent and free Nation and were our ancient Enemies and therefore may be dangerous Neighbours if they grow rich and potent Nothing but Rancor and inveterate Malice can suggest such sour thoughts as these It were fit that sort of Men should be purg'd of their Choler The Scots to obviate all dangers from that hâ—…ad have tho they be much the ancienter Nation condescended so far as several times to propose an Union which the Gentlemen of that Kidney have hitherto prevented and therefore we would wish them to look back into their Histories â—…nd upon casting up their Accounts make a true Estimate of whatever they gain'd by a War with Scotland They will find that their Ancestors as well as the Romans have been sensible as Tacitus expresses it Quos sibi Viros Caledonia seposuerit and that as it was true what ou Histoâ—…ian says of the unjust and treacherous War made upon us by Edwaâ—…d I. that Scotorâ—… nomen pene delevit it was also true what he says on the other hand that Angliam vehementer concussit So that those Gentlemen take the direct way by opposing and oppressing us to â—…un into those dangers they would avoid for they may assure themselves that if the English Opposition to our American Settlement should once break out into Hostilities the Scots will find some Allies antient or new that will be glad of the opportunity to join with them Oâ—… if which is most probable tho highly ungrateful and impolitick the English should so far neglect the Scots as to suffer them to be ovâ—…power'd by the French they may be sure that the Scots when put to their last shift can always make an honourable Capitulation with Franâ—…e It 's not to be doubted but that Crown would be very willing to renew their antient Alliance with us and besides allowing us a share at least in the Trade of Darien would on coâ—…dition of giving them the possession of New Caledonia restore us likewise to all our ancient Privileges in France They would think it a very good purchase if they could secure themselves of that Colony by doing so granting us what security we could reasonably desire for the uninterrupted Enjoyment of the Protestant Religion and a Freedom of Trade to all places of the World where it did not actually interfere with their own Settlements and Colonies So that if this should be the Case we leave it to our Nâ—…ighbours to judge what would become of their East and West India Trade and Plantations and whether they would be able to stand out against France and US now that they have no footing on the Continent â—…nce formerly when they had so many Provinces of that Kingdom in their possession and could not do it and at last lost every foot of their French Dominions Whereas had they been in Union with us they might certainly have retain'd them and by consequence have prevented the great Calamities that Europe hath since groan'd under by the prodigious Increase of the French Monarchy This we think sufficient to convince those angry Gâ—…ntlemen in our neighbouring Nation that are so very much disgusted with our American Settlement that it is the Interest of England to join with us and support it and that it may be of dangerous Consequence to them either to oppose or neglect us Whereas by joining cordially in this Matter they may unite us inseparably to themselves for ever inrich their own Nation secure and advance the Protestant Interest keep the Ballance of Europe in their Hands and prevent the returns of its danger their own Expence of Blood and Treasure to save its being threatned with Slavery any more either by the House of Bourbon or Austria Therefore we cannot believe after all but our wise and Politick Neighbours will at last see it their Interest to protect and incourage us in this matter that we may mutually strengthen and support one another against the French who are loudest in their Clamours against our Settlement because if incourag'd and improv'd it will defeat all their ambitious and Antichristian Designs And thereby we shall also be in a condition to assist the English Plan ations in the West Indies who as we find by the proceedings of the Earl of Bellomont and the Assemblies of New England and New York are suâ—…iciently sensible of their danger from the incroaching temper of the French which increases every day and it is evident that their new Design'd Colony in Mississipi River looks with a dangerous Aspect upon all the English Plantations in America and may be 〈◊〉 justly esteemed an Incroachment upon Spain as being in the Bay of Mexico than our Plantation in D rien Which argues the treacherous Humor of that Nation to make such an Ouâ—…cry against the Scots who have envaded no Mans Property when they themselves are so notoriously guilâ—…y of it and therefore it would seem to be the Interest of England rather to strengthen themselves by our Friendship and to look after the French than to provoke us to look