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 whom he had lately given such large Priviledges by so Solemn an Act of Parliament Upon Notice of all which the Company 's Deputees went immediatly to the Senate and gave in a short Memorial in French which being faithfully Translated is as followeth Noble and Venerable Lords WE the Subscribers Deputees and Directors of the Indian and African Company of the Kingdom of Scotland Understanding that the Gentlemen His Majesty of Great Britain's Ministers here have presented a Memorial to your Lordships in which they seem to quarrel the Powers which have been granted to us by His Majesty and the Parliament of Scotland to make Treaties of Commerce with any Foreign Potentate Prince or State not in War with His Majesty the King our Soveraign for Enlarging the Trade and for the better Establishment of our said Company We pray your Lordships That you would be pleased to Communicat the said Memorial to us that we may take Measures accordingly Hamburgh the 9th day of April 1697. Your Lordships most humble and obedient Servants Jo. Erskine Jo. Haldan Will. Paterson The Senate thereupon recommended the Deputees above-nam'd to the Commercii in whose Hands the Memorial lay who gave them a Copy thereof Doubles of which were by the said Deputees dispatched to both the Secretaries of State for Scotland and to the Court of Directors of the Company And in the mean time the Merchants to assert their own Freedom and Priviledges Sign'd for considerable Sums in the Company 's Books But with a Condition to be void if the Company did not procure some Declaration from the King that might render them secure from the Threatnings and other Insinuations contain'd in the said Memorial To the Kings most Excellent Majesty The Humble Address of the Council-General of the Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies May it please Your Majesty WHereas By the 32d Act of the 4th Session and by the 8th Act of the 5th Session of Your Majesties current Parliament as well as by Your Majesties Patent under the Great Seal of this Kingdom this Company is Established with such Ample Priviledges as were thought most proper for encouraging both Natives and Forreigners to Joyn in the Carrying on Supporting and Advancement of our Trade The most Considerable of the Nobility Gentry Merchants and whole Body of the Royal Burrows have upon the Inducement and Publick Faith of Your Majesties said Acts of Parliament and Letters Patent contributed as Adventurers in raising a far more considerable Joynt-Stock than any was ever before rais'd in this Kingdom for any Publick Undertaking or Project of Trade whatsoever which makes it now of so much the more Universal a Concern to the Nation And for the better Enabling us to Accomplish the Ends of Your Majesties said Acts of Parliament and Letters Patent we have in Pursuance thereunto appointed certain Deputees of our own Number to Transact and Negotiat our necessary Affairs beyond Sea And at the same time to Treat with such Forreigners of any Nation in Amity with Your Majesty as might be inclinable to Joyn with us for the Purposes aforesaid In the Prosecution of which Commission to our said Deputees Vested with full Power and Authority according to Law we are not a little surpriz'd to find to the great Hindrance and Obstruction of our Affairs That Your Majesties Envoy to the Courts of Lunenburgh and Resident at Hamburgh have under Pretence of special Warrant from Your Majesty given in a Joint-Subscribed Memorial to the Senate of Hamburgh expresly Invading the Priviledges granted to our Company by your Majesty's said Acts of Parliament and Letsers Patent as by the herewith transmitted Copy may appear By the which Memorial we sustain great and manifest Prejudices fince both the Senate and Inhabitants of the said City of Hamburgh are thereby contrary to the Law of Nations expresly threatned with your Majesty's high Displeasure if they or either of them should countenance or joyn with us in any Treaty of Trade or Commerce whatsoever which deprives us of the Assistance which we had reason to expect from several Inhabitants of that City For Redress whereof we do in all Duty and Humility Apply to your Majesty not only for the Protection and Mantenance of our Priviledges and Freedom of Trade but also for Reparation of Damnages conform to your Majesty's said Acts of Parliament and Letters Patent And do further beg leave to Represent to your Majesty That tho by the said Act of Parliament and Letters Patent we conceive our selves legally and sufficiently Authorized to Treat even with any Sovereign Potentate or Estate in Amity with your Majesty for the Support and Advancement of our Trade yet we by our said Deputees have only treated with particular and private Merchants of the said City of Hamburgh without ever making any the least Proposal to the Senate thereof And this we humbly conceiv to be the natural Right and Priviledge of all Merchants whatsoever even tho we had wanted the Sanction of so Solemn Laws And without some speedy Redress be had therein not only this Company but also all other individual Merchants of this Kingdom must from hence forward conclude That all our Rights and Freedom of Trade are and may be further by our Neighbours violently wrested out of our Hands We therefore to prevent the further evil Consequences of the said Memorial to our Company in particular do make our most Humble and Earnest Request to your Majesty that you would be Graciously pleased to grant us such Declaration as in your Royal Wisdom you shall think fit to render the Senate and Inhabitants of the said City of Hamburgh and all others that are or may be concern'd secure from the Threatings and other Suggestions contain'd in the said Memorial as well as to render us secure under your Majesty's Protection in the full prosecution of our Trade and free enjoyment of our lawful Rights Priviledges and Immunities contain'd in your Majesty's Acts of Parliament and Letters Patent above-mentioned Signed at Edinburgh the Twenty Eight Day of June 1697 in Name Presence and by Order of the said Council-General by May it please your Majesty Your Majesties most Faithful most Dutiful most Humble and most Obedient Subject and Servant YESTER P. Memorandum That the Council-General of the Company did at the same time come to a Resolution of Representing the Premisses likewise to His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council but were afterwards prevailed upon to supersede that Resolution at the Secretaries of State 's earnest Desire they being both then here and upon their joint Engagement to procure a speedy Answer from his Majesty The King's Answer to the said Address By the Right Honourable John Earl of Tullibardin c. and Sir James Ogilvy Knight Principal Secretaries of State My Lords and Gentlemen WE are impowered by the King to signify unto you That as soon as His Majesty shall Return to England he will take into Consideration what you have Represented unto him
And that in the mean time His Majesty will give Orders to his Envoy at the Courts of Lunenburgh and his Resident at Hamburgh not to make use of his Majesty's Name or Authority for obstructing your Company in the prosecution of your Trade with the Inhabitants of that City Signed at Edbinurgh the second Day of August 1697. To the Council-General of the Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies Tullibardin Ja Ogilvy A Letter from the Directors of the Company to the Right Honourable the Earl of Tullibardin c. Principal Secretary of State Edinburgh 28. September 1697. May it please your Lordship IT is not unknown to your Lordship in what Humor the Council-General of our Company and most part of the Nation were in with relation to the Memorial given in to the Senate of Hamburgh against our Company by the English Ministers there Upon which ensued the said Council-Generals late Address transmitted to His Majesty by your Lordship And your Lordship very well knows that at your Request and Desire only upon Promises of using your best Endeavours to procure a Speedy and Satisfactory Answer from His Majesty the said Council-General was prevailed upon to suspend representing that Matter further to the Government till the 2d day of August last past On which day your Lordship did signify His Majesty's Answer to the said Address Upon Receipt whereof the said Council-General did resolve to Supersede any further proceeding therein till His Majesty's arrival in England as not in the least doubting but His Majesty would have in the mean time pursuant to His said Answer given Orders to his Resident at Hamburgh with relation to the subject Matter of the said Memorial But we are extreamly surpriz'd to find by Letters of the 31 ultimo from our Company 's Agent in that City That he had according to our Order been to wait on the English Resident there and with all the Respect due to his Character intimated to him the Contents the said Address and Answer Upon which the said Resident declared That he was Ready and Willing to obey his Masters Orders but that as yet he had got none in that Matter We cannot imagine what should be the occasion of this new Dis-appointment since we cannot suffer our selves to believe but that His Majesty has according to His Letter to your Lordship given Orders as aforesaid which makes us admire the more where the Neglect of that Matter doth now stand Yet we must needs say we are in some measure afraid to acquaint the said Council-General with it lest they be more uneasie thereupon than we could wish till first we have your Lordships Answer For which cause we the several Subscribing Directors of the said Company who are now in Town have thought fit in as quiet a manner as possible to give your Lordship an Account thereof to the end you may in your Wisdom and Prudence advise His Majesty with relation thereunto and doubt not but your Lordship will take such care herein as may prevent our calling another Council-General with relation to the Premisses which we are bound unavoidably to do if we have not your Lordships timely Answer We are May it please your Lordship Your Lordships most Obedient and humble Servants Ad Cockburn Fran Montgomery Arch Mure. Geo Clark Rob Blackwood Ja Balfour William Paterson Mem A Sign'd Duplicate hereof was likewise sent at the same time to the Right Honour able Sir James Ogilvy Knight c. To the King 's Most Excellent Majesty The humble Address of the Council-General of the Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies May it please your Majesty BY a former Address of the 28th of June last we have humbly represented to your Majesty how that your Majesty's Envoy to the Courts of Lunenburg and Resident at Hamburgh did under Pretence of Special Warrant from Your Majesty give in a Memorial to the Senate of the said City of Hamburgh contrary to the Law of Nations and expresly invading the Priviledges contained in the Acts of Parliament and Letters Patent by which our Company is established Copies of which Address and Memorial we have for Your Majesty's better Information hereto annexed In answer to which Your MAJESTY was then graciously pleased to signifie by Your Royal Letter That upon Your MAJESTY's arrival in England You would take the Contents of our said Address into Consideration And that in the mean time You would give Orders to Your said Ministers not to make use of Your Majesty's Name or Authority for obstructing our Company in the Prosecution of our Trade with the Inhabitants of the said City of Hamburgh In the full Assurance of which we rested secure and took our Measures accordingly till to our further Surprize and great Disappointment we find by repeated Advices from Hamburgh That Your Majesty 's said Resident continues still Contumacious and is so far from giving due Obedience to Your Majesty's said Order that upon Application made to him for that Effect with all the Respect due to his Character he pretended that he had never as yet got any such Order on our Behalf which we thought fit in all Duty and Humility to lay before Your Majesty renewing withal our most humble and earnest Request That Your Majesty would be now graciously pleased to take the Contents of this and our said former Address into Consideration and in Your Royal Wisdom order some speedy and Effectual Redress of our Grievances therein-mentioned and a just Reparation of the manifest Damages which our Company has already sustained by reason of the said Memorial And grant us a Declaration under Your Royal hand to render the Senate and Inhabitants of the said City of Hamburg and all others with whom we have occasion to enter in Commerce secure from the Threatnings and other false Suggestions mentioned in the said Memorial as well as to render us secure under Your Majesty's Protection in the free Enjoyment of our Lawful Rights and Priviledges contained in Your Majesty's Acts of Parliament and Letters Patent above-mentioned Sign'd at Edinburgh the 22d Day of Decemb. 1697 in Name Presence and by Order of the said Council-General by May it please Your Majesty Your Majesty's most Faithful most Dutiful most Humble and most Obedient Subjest and Servant Fr. Scott Fr. To the Right Honourable The Lord High Chancellor and remanent Lords of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council The humble Representation of the Council-General of the Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies May it please your Lordships 'T Is not unknown to your Lordships how that in several successive Sessions of this Current Parliament His Majesty's Instructions to His respective High Commissioners and their several Speeches pursuant thereunto have been full of repeated Assurance of His Majesty's good Inclinations for encouraging the Trade and Manufactures of this Nation And whereas accordingly by the 32d Act of the 4th Session and the 8th Act of the 5th Session of the said
present Parliament We therefore in all humble Duty lay before your Majesty the whole Nation 's Concern in this Matter and we do most earnestly entreat and most assuredly expect That your Majesty will in your Royal Wisdom take such Measures as may effectually vindicat the undoubted Rights and Priviledges of the said Company and support the Credit and Interest thereof And as we are in Duty bound to return your Majesty most hearty Thanks for the gracious Assurance your Majesty has been pleased to give us of all due Encouragement for promoting the Trade of this Kingdom So we are thereby Encourag'd at present humbly to recommend to more special Marks of your Royal Favour the Concern of the said Company as that Branch of our Trade in which we and the Nation we represent have a more peculiar Interest Subscribed at Edinburgh the 5th of August 1698. in Name Presence and by Warrant of the Estates of Parliament Seafield I. P. D. P. To the King 's Most Excellent Majesty The humble Petition of the Court of Directors of the Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies Sheweth THAT whereas the Estates of Parliament have by their Address of the 5th of August instant been pleased to recommend the Concerns of the said Company to some Marks of your Royal Favour for supporting the Credit and Interest thereof which has already suffered in a great measure by reason of the several Obstructions which they have met with in the prosecution of their Trade particularly by a Memorial given in to the Senate of Hamburgh by your Majesty's Ministers there We are thereby encourag'd in all humility to lay before your Majesty That as the said Memorial was given in to the Senate of Hamburgh in a most solemn and publick manner so your Petitioners humbly conceive that the Effects thereof cannot be taken away but by some Intimation made to the said Senate that they may enter into Commerce with your Petitioners as freely and securely in all respects as they might have done before the giving in of the said Memorial That in consideration of the Damages sustain'd by the Company as aforesaid Your Majesty would be pleased for their Incouragement at present as a Gracious Mark of your Royal Favour to bestow upon them the two smallest of the Frigots now lying useless in Bruntisland Harbour That in regard of the time already lost by reason of the Obstructions aforesaid Your Majesty would be graciously pleas'd to continue the Priviledges granted by Act of Parliament to the said Company of being Custom-free for such longer time as your Majesty shall in your Royal Wisdom think fit In respect of all which may it please your Majesty to take the whole Premisses into your Royal Consideration and give such Orders and Directions with relation thereunto as to your Majesty in your Royal Wisdom shall seem meet and expedient Signed at Ediburgh the 16th day of August 1698. in Name Presence and by Warrant of the said Court of Directors by May it please your Majesty Your Majesty's most Loyal most Dutiful most Humble and most Obedient Subject and Servant Geo. Clark I. P. C. D. Letters from Mr. Stevenson the Company Agent at Hamburgh to the Court of Directors of the Company Hamburgh the 4th of October 1698. Much honoured Lords and Gentlemen I Wrote to you on the 26th past advising you of my going post to Hamburgh in pursuance of your Orders where I arriv'd the 2d instant And the Day following I waited upon the English Resident and in the Company 's Name desired to know if he had yet received his Master's Pleasure ordering him no more to oppose the Transactions of the Indian and African Company of Scotland in this City which I pressing hard answered by his Character and Honour he never received any Orders from his Master that mentions the said Company since his giving in the Memorial against them So I have no further to add but that I am My Lords and Gentlemen Your most faithful Servant to power Alexander Stevenson This was under Cover which contained what followeth Much honoured Lords and Gentlemen BY this within-closed you have a full Answer as to what may be expected here for ever Since my parture from this I am informed that the English here did constantly assert that the Company would never be redressed and the Delay of the same after all your means has made an Impression upon the Minds of People that it will never be at least such as they might trust to Hamburgh the 18th of October 1698. Much honoured Lords and Gentlemen I Wrote to you of the 4th current wherein I advised you of Sir Paul Rycaut English Resident at Hamburgh's Answer given me anent your Affairs to which refers Mr. Cresset Envoy at the Courts of Lunenburgh being returned from waiting upon his Majesty there I thought it my Duty to wait upon him and demanded in your Names to know if his Majesty had signified his Royal Pleasure anent removing of the stop put to the Company 's Affairs in this City through the Memorial given in to the Senate against them To which Answered he received no such Orders and was of the Judgment If the Memorial were yet to be given in it would be done I shall not enlarge what farther past but assure you he seems to insinuate that his private Orders from the Government of England was to act quite contrary to your Expectations This is all from To the Right Honourable the Court of Directors c. My Lords and Gentlemen Your obedient Servant Alex. Stevenson This was under Cover which contained what followeth Much honoured Lords and Gentlemen BY the within-closed you have an account of what relates to your Affairs with respect to have the Merchants in this City concerned I cannot offer to speak to the Commercij about the same but those Merchants here that are Signers in the Books of Subscriptions are as cordial as ever were the Stop removed they doubt not things here would take the desired effect A Letter from the Court of Directors of the Company to the Lord Seafield Secretary of State upon receipt of Mr. Stevenson's Letters Edinburgh Novemb. 29. 1698. My Lord THis is by order of the Council-General of the Indian and African Company of Scotland to cover the inclosed Copies of two Letters lately received from our Company 's Agent at Hamburgh Upon reading whereof yesterday at a meeting of the said Council-General they were not a little surpriz'd at the Contents thereof considering the many repeated Assurances given them formerly by Letters word of Mouth and even in Parliament that the King had already given Orders to his Ministers at Hamburgh with relation to the Memorial given in to the Senate of that City against our Company But after some reasoning thereupon and considering how far your I ordships frank Undertaking when last in Scotland as well as the Station you are in doth engage your best Endeavours to procure the Company Justice and vindicate the
That is only for to beg the Question for the Natives having the Ancient undoubted Right it must be instructed that they became Subjects before they could be Rebels And tho' it be alledged that what was done in Sharp's Case was reckoned a Jest and that he was not acquitted upon that ground as acting by Commission from the Dariens yet the matter of Fact is certain and known and was indeed remarked by all England that Sharp join'd with the Dariens did commit acts of Hostility and carried away great booty from the Spaniards and was pursued for Restitution in England and did propone a Defence That he acted by Commission from an Independent People and was acquitted by a competent Judicature in England These matters of Fact being all acknowledged it must be thought that a Decision in the way of Justice was no Jest but according to the Law of the Nation To Conclude and Sum up the whole Matter The Scots did not move one foot untill they obtain'd two Acts of Parliament and a Patent in their favours These Acts tho' very ample were framed with a just regard to former Planters who by the express Tenor of the said Laws were not to be invaded or molested in their Possession even the just Right and Property of the Infidel Natives was considered and the Undertakers not allowed to dispossess them by Force and Violence but to Plant with their consent Upon the faith of these Laws a greater Stock was advanced in Scotland than ever was raised by any other Nation upon the first project of a Forreign Plantation the Directors of the Company did very narrowly and exactly consider all the Treaties with Spain and pitched upon a place that the whole World considers to be of a great value for founding and raising a profitable Trade to the Honour of the King who as the Father of the Countrey did endue them with ample and just Priviledges to the encrease of the Strength and Riches of the Isle of Brittain which is all under the Government of one Monarch of one Religion and Interest and can have no different Friends or Enemies without endangering the whole In one word The Scots Company have acted deliberatly for advantage to themselves the Nation and the Isle of Brittain they have only used their own Right and have wronged no Nation or People nor exceeded the Limits of their Patent in any circumstance And if any will stand up for the Interest of Spain and call in question the matters of Fact and principles of Law above asserted which are generally known and need not to be confirmed by particular Citations they may assuredly expect that what has been affirmed shall be made further clear and evident beyond contradiction and whatever Obstacles or Difficulties have or may fall in Ardua quae Pulchra the undertaking was deliberate just for the interest of the Nation and with more regard to the Right of former Planters and Natives than any former Project of that Nature Memorandum That about this time it was given out that the Spanish Embassador had presented a Second Memorial concerning the Scots Settlement at Darien and that the French Embassador had likewise given in a Memorial to the Court of England concerning the French Ship which was cast away near Caledonia Harbour But whether so or not the Company could never procure a Copy of either The Council of Caledonia's Address To the King 's most Excellent Majesty Most Gracions Sovereign WE your Loyal and Obedient Subjects the Council of your Colony of Caledonia being settled pursuant to Powers and Immunities proceeding from your Royal Favour and Goodness where upon our arrival the Natives on all hands in complyance with former Agreements received and entertained us with all possible demonstration of joy and satisfaction there being no Possession nor so much as pretended possession for any Prince or State in Europe upon this whole Coast extending it self considerably more than one hundred Leagues together We found the Indians on all sides in open War with the Spaniards their nearest Neighbours Against whom they besought our Assistance which we could by no means comply with by reason of the present Peace and good Understanding between your Majesty and the King of Spain Yet notwithstanding this our just and peaceable deportment and inclination and our certifying the same by Letters to the two neighbouring Governours of Panama and Carthagena We have to our no small surprize received certain Information that several great and warlike Designs and Preparations are on foot and carrying on by the Spaniards against this Colony and that contrary to all Justice and Humanity as well as the Treaties of Peace between your Majesty and the Catholick King they now unjustly detain and refuse to deliver up the Persons and Goods that were saved of a Ship belonging to this Colony called the Dolphin which by misfortune of springing a Leak was not long since oblg'd to run ashore and suffer Shipwreck near the City of Carthagena All which have been no small inducement for us to have improved the frequent opportunities we have had of taking Measures greatly disadvantagious to the Crown of Spain Yet in order to avoid as much as possible any thing that might look like a publick Breach untill the same were laid before your Majesty and your Royal pleasure known therein We have hitherto proceded no further than the granting of Letters of Reprisals for the People and Effects unjustly detained from us Great Sir The Indies as well as Europe do at this time implore your Protection And as the effectual opening the Door of Commerce to the trading World and of more easy access to and correspondence with the ends of the Earth hath been hitherto hidden and reserved by the Divine Hand for one of the singular Glories of your Majesty's Reign So it 's with no small satisfaction to be any way concern'd in so hopeful an Accession to the Dominions and Greatness of your Majesty and Wealth of your People That we presume to lay ourselves our Case and this valuable Opportunity at your Royal Feet most humbly beseeching that as it had its beginning so it may continue to have its Being and Support from the happy Influences of your peculiar Bounty and Grace So with our earnest Prayers to Almighty God for the long and happy preservation of your Royal Person and continuance of your Glorious Reign and most humble tender of our Lives and Fortunes to your Majesty's Service and Disposition We beg leave to Subscribe our selves This Address was delivered to the Secretaries of State about the middle of September together with a Memorial concerning the French Ship commanded by Cap. Duvivier Thomas which was Shipwrack'd near Caledonia Harbour on the 24th of December 1698. Most Gracious Soveraign Your Majesty's most Loyal most Dutiful and most Obedient Subjects and Servants Daniel Mackay Robert Pennicuik William Paterson Colin Campbell Samuel Vetch Charles Forbes Thomas Drummond By the Honourable Sir William Beeston Kt. His Majesty's
other Ships or Vessels for their use In observance therefore 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 charge and command and do hereby charge and command all and every of his Majesty's Subjects and others within this Province and Territories thereon depending that they forbear holding any Correspondence with or giving any Assistance to any Person or Persons who have been fitted out of Scotland in manner aforesaid and are said to have settled in a certain place in the West-Indies by 'em call'd Caledonia or to enter into any Traffick or Commerce with them or any of them And that no Provisions Arms Ammunition or other Necessaries whatsoever be transported or carried unto them from this Province or any part thereof either in their own Vessels or any other Ship or Vessel for their Use Of which all his Majesty's Subjects and others within this Province are hereby required to take due notice and conform themselves accordingly as they will answer their acting hereunto under the outmost Pains Penalties and Forfeitures as are by Law in such cases provided And the Officers of his Majesty's Customs and all other his Majesty's Officers are hereby also required to take effectual care that his Majesty 's said Royal Will and Pleasure in all and every of the Premisses be duly observed and kept as they will answer the contrary at their Peril Given at the Council Chamber in Boston the third of June 1699 in the Eleventh Year of his Majesty's Reign By Order of his Excellency and Council I. Addington Secr. BELLOMONT God save the King Boston Printed by Bartholomew Green and John Allen Printers to his Excellency the Governour and Council A second Proclamation published in Barbadoes against the Scots Company and Colony Barbadoes By his EXCELLENCY VVHEREAS his Majesty has been pleased to signify his pleasure to me by Mr. Secretary Vernon That he hath been Advised that several Ships of force are arrived at the Island of Cairat near Darien from Scotland with an intention to settle themselves their Design being unknown to his Majesty and least 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 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 the said Persons and that no Provision Arms Ammunition or other Necessaries whatsoever be carried to them as they shall answer the same at their peril Given under my hand the 5th day of September 1699. and in the Eleventh Year of his Majesty's Reign R. Gray The Council General of the Indian and African Company 's Petition to his Majesty May it please your Majesty WE your Majesty's most dutiful Subjects The Council-General of the Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies do in all humble duty beg leave to lay before your Majesty the present Condition of our Affairs Your Majesty from an earnest desire of the flourishing of your Antient Kingdom having been graciously pleased by the 32d Act of the 4th Session by the 8th Act of the 5th Session of this current Parliament and your Majesty's Letters Patent under the Great Seal of this Kingdom following thereupon to authorize the settling of Plantations and Colonies in Asia Africa or America by the Natives of this Kingdom and and such others as should joyn with them as in the said Acts of Parliament and Letters Patent is more particularly express'd We and our Constituents your Majesty's most Loyal Subjects did upon the faith and encouragment of the said Acts and Letters Patent enter into a Society erect a Company of Trade and with great Charge and after many Difficulties settled a Plantation on the North side of the Isthumus of Darien a place precisely in the terms of the said Acts of Parliament and Letters Patent And being sensible That as our Company had its Birth from your Majesty's most Gracious Favour so it could not subsist but by your Royal Protection We did therfore in all humble manner Petition your Majesty's High Commissioner and the Estates of Parliament assembled the 19th of July 1698. Upon which the Estates of Parliament did with great unanimity Address your Majesty That you would in your Royal Wisdom be pleased to take such measures as might effectually vindicate the undoubted Rights and Priviledges of the said Company and support the Credit and Interest thereof That Session of Parliament ending before any Return could be had from your Majesty Reports have been spred by the Enemies of our Settlement as if our Company had not your Majesty's Protection And as an evidence thereof That Proclamations have been issued out in your Majesty's Name by your Governours in all the American Plantations not only to deprive our said Company and Colony of the friendly Assistance that might have reasonably been expected from our Neighbour Nation but also strictly forbiding all your Majesty's Subjects or others within these Plantations to enter into any Traffick or Commerce with the said Colony that no Provisions Arms Ammunition or other Necessaries whatsoever should be transported or carried to them either in their own Vessels or any other Ship or Vessel for their use and that under the utmost Pains Penalties and Forfeitures mentioned in the said Proclamations Which Proceedings we have but too much reason to believe have been of fatal consequence to our Company and Colony and consequently to the interest of all your Majesty's good Subjects in this Kingdom And we being fully persuaded that nothing could be so conducible for the support of our said Company and Colony in our present Circumstances as some special Testimonies and Evidences of your Royal Protection We do therefore in all humility and earnestness beg of your Majesty's fatherly care of our said Company in particular and of the Nation in general That your Majesty would be graciously pleased to take off the force and effect of these Proclamations which have been so prejudicial to us and to signify your Royal Pleasure to the Governours of these your Plantations that we may be supply'd in the common and ordinary way of Commerce As also that your Majesty may allow your Parliament to meet at the day appointed in November next or as soon as possibly can be that your Majesty may have the Advice and Assistance of the Great Council of this Nation in such a weighty and general Concern which we hope God will bless with an happy issue to his Glory the Honour of your Majesty the Credit of your Parliament the Interest of the Nation and the Good of our Company and Colony Sign'd at Edinburgh the 19th day of October 1699. in Name presence and by Order of the said Council General by