A Full and Exact COLLECTION OF All the Considerable Addresses Memorials Petitions Answers Proclamations Declarations Letters and other Publick Papers Relating to the Company of SCOTLAND Trading to AFRICA and the INDIES since the passing of the Act of Parliament by which the said Company was established in June 1695 till November 1700. Together with a short Preface including the Act it self as also a Table of the whole Contents Forsan haee olim meminisse Juvabit Virg. Grata superveniet quae non â—â—perabitur hora. Hor. Printed in the Year 1700 The Preface THe Endeavours of the Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies in establishing a Colony and Settlement in so important a place as that Isthmus or narrow neck of Land commonly called Darien situated upon the hight of the World between the spacious South and North Seas and consequently a fit Center for so extended and universal a Trade as seems to have been intended by the Act of Parliament establishing that Company having not only been the Subject-Matter of a great deal of Discourse and Speculation both Abroad and at Home but also raised the Jealousy of some and the Envy of others of the most considerable Courts in Europe That together with the continued course of Opposition which the Company met with in all its Designs and Undertakings gave occasion to the Writing of several very Ingenious Books concerning it But these Books referring very often to several publick Papers contain'd in this Collection it is humbly presum'd that of all that has been written upon that Subject nothing can be more acceptable to the Publick nor of more real use in giving a juct View to indifferent Persons of positive Matters of Fact without any artificial Embellishments or Reflections thereupon than the following Collection taken as near as possible from the very Original Papers themselves It 's true there was a small Collection of this kind Printed formerly under the Title of Original Papers c. But the haste in which it seems that Collection was done giving probably occasion to its being very imperfect in many respects and it containing scarcely the Third Part of what this does it was thought fit for the General Satisfaction of all contending Parties and others to make this Collection with more deliberation and as compleat as possible to the end that there may be no occasion for any further Additions to it unless future events afford matter for a Second Volume And that the Reader may likewise see how far the measures taken by the Company are warranted by the Act of Parliament by which it was established an exact Copy of the Act of Parliament it self is hereunto subjoyned ACT FOR A COMPANY Trading to AFRICA and the INDIES June 26. 1695. OUR SOVERAIGN LORD Taking into His consideration That by an Act past in this present Parliament Intituled Act for Encouraging of Forraign Trade His Majesty for the Improvement thereof did with Advice Consent of the Estates of Parliament Statute and Declare that Merchants more or fewer may Contract and enter into such Societies and Companies for carrying on of Trade as to any Subject of Goods or Merchandise to whatsomever Kingdoms Countries or Parts of the World not being in War with His Majesty where Trade is in use to be or may be followed and particularly beside the Kingdoms and Countries of Europe to the East and West-Indies the Streights to Trade in the Mediterranean or upon the Coast of Africa or in the Northern Parts or else where as above Which Societies and Companies being contracted and entred into upon the terms and in the usual manner as such Companies are set up and in use in other parts consistent always with the Laws of this Kingdom His Majesty with consent foresaid did allow and Ap prove giving and granting to them and each of them all Powers Rights and Priviledges as to their Persons Rules and Orders that by the Laws are given to Companies allowed to be Erected for Manufactories And His Majesty for their greater Encouragement did promise to give to these Companies and each of them His Letters patent under the Great Seal confirming to them the whole foresaid Powers and Priviledges with what other Encouragement His Majesty should judge needfull as the foresaid Act of Parliament at more length bears And His Majesty understanding that several Persons as well Forreigners as Natives of this Kingdom are willing to engage themselves with great Sums of Money in an American African and Indian Trade to be exercised in and from this Kingdom if Inabled and Incouraged thereunto by the Concessions Powers and Priviledges needfull and usual in such Cases Therefore and in pursuance of the foresaid Act of Parliament His Majesty with Advice and Consent of the said Estates of Parliament Doth hereby make and constitute John Lord Belhaven Adam Cockburn of Ormistoun Lord Justice Clerk Mr. Francis Montgomery of Giffen Sir John Maxwell of Pollock Sir Robert Chiesly present Provost of Edinburgh John Swinton of that Ilk George Clerk late Baillie of Edinburgh Mr. Robert Blackwood and James Balfour Merchants in Edinburgh and John Corss Merchant in Glasgow William Paterson Esquire James Foulis David Nairn Esquire Thomas Deans Esquire James Chiesly James Smith Thomas Couts Hugh Frazer Joseph Cohen D' Azevedo and Walter Steuart Merchants in London with such others as shall joyn with them within the space of twelve Months after the first of August next and all others whom the foresaid persons and these joyned with them or major part of them being assembled shall admit and joyn into their Joint-Stock and Trade who shall all be Repute as if herein originally insert to be one Body Incorporate and a free Incorporation with perpetual Succession by the Name of the CGMPANY of SCOTLAND Trading to Africa and the Indies Providing always Likeas It is hereby in the first place provided that of the Fond or Capital Stock that shall be agreed to be Advanced and Imployed by the foresaid Undertakers and their Copartners The Half at least shall be Appointed and Allotted for Scots Men within this Kingdom who shall enter and Subscribe to the said Company before the first day of August One Thousand Six Hundred and Ninety Six Years And if it shall happen that Scots Men living within this Kingdom shall not betwixt and the foresaid Term subscribe for and make up the equal half of the said Fond or Capital Stock Then and in that case allennarly it shall be and is hereby allowed to Scots Men residing abroad or to Forreigners to come in Subscribe and to be assumed for the Superplus of the said half and no otherways Likeas the Quota of every Mans part of the said Stock whereupon he shall be capable to enter into the said Company whether he be Native or Forreigner shall be for the least one Hundred lib. sterl And for the Highest or Greatest Three Thousand lib. Sterl and no more directly nor indirectly in any sort With power to the
said Company to have a common Seal and to alter and Renew the same at their pleasure with Advice always of the Lyon King at Arms As also to plead and Sue and be Sued and to purchase Acquire Possess and enjoy Lordships Lands Tenements or other Estate Real or Personal of whatsoever Nature or Quality and to dispose upon and alienate the same or any part thereof at their pleasure and that by Transfers and Assignments made and entred in their Books and Records without any other Formality of Law Providing always that such Shares as are first subscribed for by Scots Men within this Kingdom shall not be alienable to any other than Scots Men living within this Kingdom That the foresaid Transfers and Conveyances as to Lands and other real Estate when made of these only and a part be perfected according to the Laws of this Kingdom anent the Conveyance of Lands and Real-Rights with power likeways to the foresaid Company by Subscriptions or otherways as they shall think fit to raise a Joynt-Stock or Capital Fond of such a Sum or Sums of Money and under subject unto such Rules Conditions and Qualifications as by the foresaid Company or major part of them when assembled shall be Limited and Appointed to begin carry on and support their intended Trade of Navigation and whatever may contribute to the Advancement thereof And it is hereby Declared that the said Joynt-Stock or Capital Fond or any part thereof or any Estate Real or Personal Ships Goods or other Effects of belonging to the said Company shal not be lyable unto any manner of Confiscation Seisure Forfaulture Attachment Arrest or Restraint for and by Reason of any Embargo breach of Peace Letters of Mark or Reprisal Declaration of War with any Forreign Prince Potentate or State or upon any other account or pretence whatsoever But shall only be Transferable Assignable or Alienable in such way and manner and in sucâ— Parts and Portions and under such Restrictions Rules and Conditions as the said Company shall by Writing in and upon their Books Records and Registers direct and appoint and these Transfers and Assignments only and no other shall convey the Right and Property in and to the said Joynt-Stock and Capital Fond and Effects thereof abovementioned or any part of the samen excepting always as is above excepted and that the Creditors of any particular Member of the Company may by their real Diligence affect the share of the Profit falling and pertaining to the Debitor without having any further Right or Power of the Debitors Part and Interest in the Stock or Capital Fond otherways than as above appointed and with this express Provision that whatever Charges the Company may be put to by the contending of any of their Members deceased or of their Assigneys Creditors or any other persons in their Rights The Company shall have Retention of their Charges and Ezpenses in the first place And the Books Records Registers of the said Company or Authentick Abstracts or Extracts out of the same are hereby declared to be good and sufficient for Evidents in all Courts of Indicature and else where And His Majesty with Advice foresaid further Statutes and Declares that the said John Lord Belhaven Adam Cockburn of Ormistoun Lord Justice Clerk Mr. Francis Montgomery of Giffen Sir John Maxwell of Pollock Sir Robert Chiesly present Provost of Edinburgh John Swinton of that Ilk George Clerk late Baillie of Edinburgh Mr Robert Blackwood and James Balfour Merchants in Edinburgh and John Corss Merchant in Glasgow William Paterson Esquire James Foulis David Nairn Esquire Thomas Deans Esquire James Cheisly James Smith Thomas Couts Hugh Frazer Joseph Cohen D' Azevedo and Walter Stuart Merchants in London and others to be joyned with or assumed by them in manner above-mentioned and their Successors or major part of them assembled in the said Company shall and may in all time coming by Plurality of Votes Agree Make Constitute and Ordain all such other Rules Ordinances and Constitutions as may be needfull for the better Government and improvement of their Joynt-Stock or Capital Fond in all Matters and things relating thereunto to which Rules Ordinances and Constitutions all persons belonging to the said Company as well Directors as Members thereof Governours or other Officers Civil or Military or or others whatsoever shall be subject and hereby concluded As also to Administrate and take Oaths de fideli and others requisite to the Management of the foresaid Stock and Company And the said Company is hereby impowered to Equipp Fit set Out Fraught and Navigat their own or hired Ships in any manner as they shall think fit and that for the space of ten years from the date hereof notwithstanding of the Act of Parliament one thousand six hundred and sixty one years Intitituled Act for Encouraging Shipping Navigation wherewith His Majesty with Consent foresaid dispenses for the said time allenaâ—ly in favours of the said Company that from any of the Ports or Places of this Kingdom or fromany other parts or places in Amity or not in Hostility with His Majesty in Warlike or other manner to any Islands Countreys or places in Asia Africa or America And there to Plant Colonies build Cities Towns or Forts in or upon the places not Inhabited or in or upon any other place by consent of the Natives and Inhabitants thereof and not possest by any European Sovereign Potentate Prince or State And to provide and furnish the foresaid Places Cities Towns or Forts with Magazins Ordinances Arms Weapons Ammunition and stores of War and by Force of Arms to defend their Trade and Navigation Collonies Cities Towns Forts and Plantations and other their effects whatsoever As also ro make Reprisals and to seek and take Reparation of Dammage done by Sea or by Land and to make and conclude Treaties of Peace and Commerce with the Sovereigns Princes Estates Rulers Governours or Proprietors of the foresaid Lands Islands Countreys or Places in ASIA AFRICA or AMERICA Providing always Likeas It is hereby specially provided that all Ships imployed by them shall return to this Kingdom with their Effects under the pain of Confiscation Forfaulture and Seizure of the Ship and Goods in case of breaking of Bulk before their return excepting the case of Necessity for preserving the Ship Company and Loadning allenarly And His Majesty with Consent foresaid doth further Statute and Ordain that none of the Leidges of this Kingdom shall or may Trade or Navigat to any Lands Islands Countreys or places in ASIA or AFRICA in any time hereafter or in AMERICA for and during the space of Thirty One Years to be counted from the passing of this present Act without Licence and Permission in writing from the said Company Certifying all such as shall do in the contrair hereof that they shall Forfault and Amit the third part of the Ship or Ships and of the Cargo or Cargoes therein imployed or the value thereof the one half
Lieutenant Governour and Commander in Chief in and over this his Island of Jamaica and other the Territories depending thereon in America and Vice-Admiral of the same A PROCLAMATION WHereas I have received Commands from his Majesty by the Right Honourable James Vernon Esq one of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State signifying to me that his Majesty is unacquainted with the Intensions and Designs of the Scots settling at Darien And that it is contrary to the Peace entred into with his Majesty's Allies and therefore has commanded me that no Assistance be given them These are therefore in his Majesty's Name and by Command strictly to command his Majesty's Subjects whatsoever that they do not presume on any pretence whatsoever to hold any Correspondence with the said Scots nor to give them any Assistance of Arms Ammunition Provisions or any other Necessaries whatsoever either by themselves or any other for them or by any of their Vessels or of the English Nation as they will answer the Contempt of his Majesty's Command to the contrary at their utmost peril Given under my Hand and Seal of Arms this 8th day of April 1699. And in the 11th Year of our Soveraign Lord William the Third of England Scotland France and Ireland King and of Jamaica Lord Defender of the Faith c. WILLIAM BEESTON Barbados By his EXCELLENCY A PROCLAMATION WHereas his Majesty has been pleased to signify his pleasure to me by Mr. Secretary Vernon that he hath been advertised that several Ships of Force fitted out of Scotland were arrived at the Island of St. Thomas with an Intention as they declared to settle themselves in some part of America Their Design being unknown to his Majesty and least the same should derogate from the Treaties his Majesty hath entered into with the Crown of Spain or be otherwise prejudicial to any of his Majesty's Colonies in the West-Indies These are therefore in his Majesty's Name by and with the Advice and Consent of the Council strictly to command all his Majesty's Subjects inhabiting within this Island that they forbear holding any Correspondence with or giving any Assistance to any of the said Persons And that no Provisions Arms or other Necessaries whatsoever be carried to them as they shall answer the same at their peril Given under my Hand this 13th of April 1699 and in the Eleventh Year of his Majesty's Reign R. GRAY By his Excellency Richard Earl of Bellomont Captain General and Governour in chief of his Majesty's Province of New-York and Territories depending thereon in America and Vice-Admiral of the same A PROCLAMATION WHEREAS his most excellent Majesty hath received Advice That several Ships of Force fitted out of Scotland were designed to settle themselves in some parts of America and lest the same should derogate from the Treaties his Majesty hath entred into with the Crown of Spain or be otherwise prejudicial to any of his Majesty's Colonies in America his Majesty has been pleased to signify his Royal pleasure to me That I should strictly forbid all his Majesty's Subjects or others inhabiting within the Districts of my Government that they forbear holding any Correspondence with or giving any Assistance to any of the said Persons while they are engaged in the aforesaid Enterprize and that no Provisions Arms Ammunition or other Necessaries whatsoever be carried from hence to them nor be permitted to be carried either in their own Vessels or any other Ship or Vessel for their Use In pursuance of his Majesty 's said Royal Will and Pleasure I have thought fit by and with the Advice of his Majesty's Council of this Province to publish and declare his Majesty's Pleasure and by these presents do strictly charge and command all and every one of his Majesty's Subjects and others within this Province and Territories depending thereon in America That they forbear holding any Correspondence with or giving any Assistance to such Person or Persons who have been fitted out of Scotland in manner aforesaid are said to have settled in a certain place which they have called Caledonia That no Provision Arms Ammunition or other necessaries whatsoever be carried either in their own Vessels or in any other Ship or Vessel for their use from this Province or any part thereof And his Majesty's Collector and Receiver General and all other Officers of his Majesty's Custom-House are hereby required to take notice hereof accordingly And I do further strictly charge command and forbid by and with the consent of his Majesty's Council as aforesaid all his Majesty's said Subjects and others within this Province that they neither by themselves nor by any other Persons authorized by them contrary to his Majesty's Royal Pleasure as aforesaid hold any Correspondence or give any Assistance or enter into any Traffick or Commerce with such persons as are said to be settled in Caledonia aforesaid And if any Person or Persons within this Province by themselves their Factors or Agents shall contrary to and against the true intent and meaning of this his Majesty's Royal Will and Pleasure signified unto me as aforesaid hold any Correspondence or give any Assistance or enter into any Traffick or Commerce in manner aforesaid then all such Person or Persons so acting as aforesaid shall incurr such Pains Penalties and Forfeitures as by Law in such Cases are provided And all his Majesty's Subjects and others within this Province are hereby required to take due notice hereof and to observe his Majesty 's said Royal Will and pleasure in all and every of the Premisses as they will answer the contrary at their peril Given at Fort William Henry in New-York the 15th day of May 1699. and in the Eleventh Year of his Majesty's Reign By Order B. Cole Cl. Concilii Bellomont God save the King Printed by W. Bradford Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty in New-York 1699. By his Excellency Richard Earl of Bellamont Captain General and Governour in chief of his Majesty's Provinces of the Massachusetts-Bay New-York c. in America and of the Territories thereon depending and Vice-Admiral of the same A PROCLAMATION WHEREAS his most Excellent Majesty having received Advice that several Ships of Force fitted out in Scotland were arrived at the Island of St. Thomas with an Intention as they declared to settle themselves in some parts of America Lest the same should derogate from the Treaties his Majesty has entred into with the Crown of Spain or be otherwise prejudicial to any of his Majesty's Colonies in the West-Indies his Majesty has been pleased to signify his Royal Pleasure to me That I should strictly forbid all his Majesty's Subjects or others inhabiting within the Districts of my Government that they forbear holding any Correspondence with or giving any Assistance to any of the said Persons while they are engaged in the foresaid Enterprize and that no Provision Arms Ammunition or other Necessaries whatsoever be carried to them from thence nor be carried either in their own Vessels or any
to believe that his not being allowed Access to His Majesty is upon the Account of his carrying an Address from this Company which every Body knows stands in great need of and has a just Right to His Majesties Royal Favour and Protection And which being the General Concern of the whole Nation is confidently expected signified to your Lordship by Order and in name of the Court of Directors by Edinbur the 9th day of January 1700. My Lord Your Lordships most humble Servant Pat. Scot. I. P C. D. A Letter from the Company to my Lord Basil Hamilton My Lord WE have your Lordships Letter of the 2d Instant by yesterdays Post in relation to to the Contents of which we send you herewith the Copy of a Letter which we have written by this Nights Post to both the Secretaries of State and likewise the Copy of another Letter which we had this morning from the Lord Chancellour upon the same head As our Company cannot but have a just sense of your Lordships generous condescension to the Council-Generals request in undertaking a troublesome Journey to London this time of the Year to wait upon and Solicite his Majesty about our Company 's Affairs with no other view but frankly to serve the Interest of your Country to the manifest neglect of your own So we cannot but heartily regret that the carrying of the Company 's Commission should be the occasion of putting such a distinguishing Mark upon a Person of your Lordships Quality and merit as to be denied access to His Majesties Person because you did not wait upon His Majesty when you were formerly at London No body can be so blind as not to see through this And whereas we never could hear that your Lordship did ever any thing unworthy of your Quality or inconsistent with the duty of a Loyal and Peaceable Subject So we are still hopefull that by your own prudent management His Majesty may be undeceived of any mis-representation he might have had of you that he will yet condescend to grant your Lordship access to his Royal Person with the Company 's said Address and give you a Gracious Answer to the Contents thereof and to the other particulars mention'd in your instructions An account whereof would be very welcome News in the midst of our misfortunes to the Company in general and particularly to the Court of Directors in whose Name and by whose Order this is from Edinburgh the 9th day of January 1700. My Lord Your Lordships most humble Servant Pat. Scot. I. P. C. D His Majesties Letter to His Council of Scotland William R. RIght Trusty and Right well beloved Cousin and Councellor Right Trusty and Entirely beloved Cousin and Councellour Right Trusty and well Beloved Cousins and Councellours Right Trusty and well Beloved Councellours and Trusty and well Beloved Councellours We greet you well WHEREAS The Council-General of the Company of that our Kingdom Trading to Africa and the Indies by their Letter to our Secretaries of the Fourth day of December last did desire That they might give their concurrence to procure a Gracious Return from Us to the Petition which they had sent with Lord Basil Hamilton And the said Lord Basil having communicated to Our Secretaries both the foresaid Petition and His Instructions And they having represented to us what is desired in behalf of the said Company and we having refused the said Lord Basil Hamilton Access to present the the foresaid Petition to Us for the Reasons We did Order our Secretaries to Comunicate to Our Chancellour Yet We being willing to give an Answer to what the said Company does desire You are therefore to call for some of the Council-General and acquaint them that We are resolved in the terms of our Treaties to demand from the King of Spain that Captain _____ Pinkarton and these of his Crew who are detained Prisoners at Carthagena be Released and set at Liberty And you may also acquaint them that our Subjects of that our Kingdom shall be allowed the same Liberty of Trade that others enjoy with the English Plantations And in general you may signifie to them Our Resolution to promote and advance the Trade of the Kingdom And the three Friggots they demand having been given by Parliament for guarding the Trade of the Coasts We are not resolved to dispose of them till we have the Advice of our Parliament And so we bid you heartily Farewel Given at our Court at Kensingtoun the Tenth day of January 1700 and of our Reign the Eleventh Year By his Majesties Command Sic Sub. Seafield Directed thus To Our Right Trusty and Right well Beloved Cousin and Councellor Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Cousin and Councellor Our Right Trusty and well beloved Cousins and Councellours Our Right Trusty and well Beloved Councellours and to our Trusty and well Beloved Councellours Patrick Earl of Marchmont our Chancellor and the rest of the Lords and others of our Privy Council of our Ancient Kingdom of Scotland This is a true Copy taken from the principal and Subscribed by Gilb Eilot Cls. Sti. Con. An other Letter from the Council General of the Company to my Lord Basil Hamilton My Lord YOur Lordships Letters to the Court of Directors having been by them Communicated to us We cannot but acknowledge that as you have at our request frankly undertaken a troublesome Journey and Task to serve the Interest of your Country and our Company So we are fully satisfied that you have acquitted your self with a great deal of Prudence and Discretion in the execution of that Charge for which we render you most hearty Thanks But finding by a Letter of the 10th instant from His Majesty to the Lords of his Privy Council and by a former from the Secretaries of State to the Lord Chancellour Copies of both which are herewith inclosed That his Majesty has determin'd not to to allow your Lordship access to present our Address nor to impart to His Majesty what other things we gave you in charge by your Instructions We are heartily Sorry that your Lordships carrying of our Address should bring you you under any such disagreeable circumstances with His Majesty But the matter being so we cannot think it just to detain your Lordship any longer at London to the neglect of your own affairs at home and do therefore hereby signify that your Lordship may use your own Freedom to take Journey homeward as soon as you think fit and as may sute best with your conveniency This is in Name presence and by order of the Council-General of our Company from Edinburgh the 29th of January 1700. My Lord Your Lordships most humble Servant John Home P. Upon the first notice that was given of a National Address or Petition to His Majesty for the fltting of the Parliament the following Proclamation was emitted PROCLAMATION Anent Petitioning WILLIAM By the Grace of GOD King of Great Brittain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith To Macers
and its Colony of Caledonia Praying for Redress thereof and that the Parliament would be pleased to Vindicate and Assert its just Rights and Priviledges c. After reading of all which a Motion being made and press'd that the Parliament should make a Resolve in the following Words viz. Resolved That our Colony of Caledonia in Darien is a Legal and Rightful Settlement in the Terms of the Act of Parliament 1695 and that the Parliament will mantain and support the same His Grace His Majesty's High Commissioner was pleased immediatly to Adjourn the Parliament for three days and at their next Meeting without so much as reading the Minutes of the former diet Adjourn'd it further for full Twenty Days Whereupon the Plurality of the Members of Parliament then present met that very evening and sign'd the following Address May it please your Majesty WE Your Majesty's most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects the Subscribing Noblemen Barons and Burgesses of this Your Antient Kingdom of SCOTLAND Members of the same Parliament which happily Settled Your Majesty's Government over Us and has ever since given continued Proofs of Zeal and Affection to Your Majesty's Service in the several Sessions thereof Do humbly Represent to Your Majesty that having according to your Majesty's Royal Appointment met together in Parliament with full Resolution to have proceeded in the like good Intentions for the Honour and Interest of your Majesty and People It is to Our unspeakable Grief and Disappointment that not only there has been no Return given to the Unanimous Address of the last Session of Parliament Expressing the whole Nation 's Concern in the INDIAN and AFRICAN Company But also after a Motion made in this Session of Parliament for a Resolve That Our Colony of CALEDONIA in DARIEN is a Legal and Rightful Settlement in the Terms of the Act of Parliament 1695. And that the Parliament would Mantain and Support the same Members beginning to Reason thereupon were interrupted by an Adjournment which We Humbly Conceive is not agreeable to the 40 Act of the 11th Parliament of King James the 6. Where it is promitted That nothing shall be done or Commanded which might Directly or Indirestly Prejudge the Liberty of free Voting and Reasoning of the Estates of Parliament or any of them in all time coming And thereafter by a Subsequent Adjournment from the Thirtieth day of May instant to the Twentieth day of June next the Parliament was not permitted to come to any Resolution in the pressing Concerns of the Nation which we cannot think consistent with that Article of Our Claim of Right Whereby it is Declared That for the Redress of all Grievances and for the Amending Strengthning and Preserving of the Laws Parliaments ought to be frequently called and allowed to Sit and the Freedom of Speech and Debate secured to the Members We do therefore in all Humility and Earnestness Intreat That Your Majesty will be graciously pleased to allow your Parliament to Meet at the Day to which it is now Adjourned and to sit as long as may be Necessary for Redressing the Grievances of the Nation Asserting its just Rights and Priviledges as well at Home as Abroad in its Colony of CALEDONIA and for Enacting such Lawsas may be for the Advancement and Security of Religion the Honour of your Majesty and the true Interest of this Nation We are May it please your Majesty Your Majesty's most Dutiful most Loyal and most Obedient Subjects and Servants This Address was presented to His Majesty at Kensington the 11th day of June 1700. By the Right Honourable the Lord Ross for the Subscribing Noblemen James Pringle of Torwoodlie and William Bennet younger of Grubbet for the Barons and Patrick Murray of Dollory for the Burgesses Commissioners appointed for that end To whom His Majesty upon hearing the same read was graciously pleased to say That He would consider of it And at a second Audience the Lord Ross in Name of the other Commissioners Addressing the King thus May it please your Majesty We are come here by Your Appointment to receive your Answer to the Address which we presented from the Loyal Members of your Parliament of Scotland His Majesty was Graciously pleased to give the following Answer Gentlemen I Can give no Answer now to the Petition which you presented but you shall know my intentions in Scotland These Parliamentary Addressers finding that the Parliament was yet further Adjourned by Proclamation and not knowing it seems how soon it might be allowed to Sit They framed the draught of a Second National Address to be Sign'd by the several Shires and Burrows throughout the Kingdom but while the same was carried on His Majesty was graciously pleased to signify His mind in a Declaration by way of Letter directed to His Grace James Duke of Queensberry His Majesties High Commissioner and the Privy Council of Scotland Which Letter was published after the manner of Proclamations and is as followeth William R. RIght Trusty and Intirely Beloved Cousin and Counsellor Right Trusty and Right well Beloved Cousin Counsellor Right Trusty and well Beloved Cousins and Counsellors Right Trusty and well Beloved Counsellors and Trusty and well Beloved Counsellors We Greet you well We heartily wish that the last Meeting of Parliament had proceeded so as that the Kingdom might have been made partakers of these Advantages for which Our Commissioner was so fully Instructed If it had been possible for Us to have agreed to the Resolve offered to Assert the Right of the African Company 's Colony in America tho that Method had appeared to Us more unnecessary yet we had from the beginning readily done it at the earnest Desire of Our Ministers and for Our Peoples Satisfaction all other Considerations set apart But now that Things are much changed wherein We are truly Sorry for the Nation 's Loss And We being most willing to grant what may be needfull for the Relief and Ease of the Kingdom and the Advancement of its Welfare in all its Concerns We have thought fit to Declare this Our good Mind to be made known to all Our loving Subjects And for the Company 's Concerns We Assure you that we will be so ready to concurr with Our Parliament in every thing that can be reasonably ex-expected of Us for Aiding and Supporting their Interests and Repairing their Losses that Our good Subjects shall have just grounds to be sensible of our heartie Inclinations to advance the Wealth and Prosperity of that our Ancient Kingdom And as for Captain Pinkerton and the other Prisoners in Spain We have already and We hope Effectually Interposed for their Liberation In the next place As We did fully struct our Commissioner So we are still Resolved to pass all such Laws as shall be offered for the better Establishing the true Protestant Religion and the Presbyterian Government of the Church which you at present Enjoy For the more effectual preventing the growth of Popery justly feared for the Repressing of Vice