by the Restoration of King Charles II. and above all or generous and frank Concurrence with them in the late happy Revolution and Advancement of King William III. We did verily think that all these things deserv'd a better Treatment And to evince that they did we shall beg leave to insist 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 Eldâ—st 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 Grandure and Riches of England Whereas if the King of France did by that means fall Heir to the English Crown he would certainly draw the Court of England to Paris This the Scots were so far from being ignorant of that many of the Nobility and Gentry did express their dislike 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 therefore 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 Welfare 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 that Nation should be involv'd in War and Confusion and the Protestant Religion endanger'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 Nations when proposed tho' the same would visibly have tended to the Benefit of the whole Island the general Advantage of 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 Ancient Kingdom once in three Years he never saw it after but once and that not till Fourteen 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 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 to his Ancestors but if he did not think it worth his while they might perhaps be inclin'd to make choice of another Soveraign or to that effect as recorded in the Continuation of Sir Richard Baker's History Another Disadvantage 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 made 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 Constituted or most agreeable to the Scripture-Pattern It suffices for our Argument That we were Injur'd in having a Foreign Model offer'd to be obtruded upon us which was the Consequence of the Union of the Crowns and of having our King Educated in another Nation but that was not all another mischievous Effect of the Union was this That whatever King Charles had deserv'd at our Hands yet out of Natural Affection Conscience and Honour we were oblig'd to do what we could to prevent his Illegal Trial and Death and to defend his Son's Title which threw us into Convulsions at Home occasion'd us the loss of several Armies and expos'd our Nation afterwards to Ruine and Devastation 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 Heav'n but our selves of the Union of the Crowns ANSWER Our Caledonian as I believe being somewhat mistrustful of the strength of the Scotâ— Title as well as of his Arguments to perswade the English that it is for their Interest to maintain the Scots in their New Settlement thinks it best to take other Measures now and to try whether he can hector them into a Compliance with the Scots he sets the best Countenance upon the Matter and labours very hard to give the World to understand that the English are highly indebted to the Scots for suffering as he terms it their Crown to be United with that of England I will not enter into a Dispute with him about the design of Henry VII in Marrying his Daughter to the King of Scots I will allow him to have acted in this Point as much for the Interest of England as our Author would have him but what is all this to their suffering the two Crowns to be United under one Head I hope he will grant me that both the English and Scots Crowns were Hereditary and being such how was it in the Power of the Scots to alter the Succession upon that Score I will further allow him that whenever two Kingdoms or States are United under one Head the less Potent will in some measure be independent on the other But I would also have him grant me this Position That if at that Juncture the Infanta of Spain had succeeded in England the Protestant Interest both in England and Scotland must have been brought into no small Jeopardy and our Author would have had no great occasion at this time to brag of the Soveraignty and Independency of the Scots He makes a large Rehearsal of the Miscarriages in the Reign of King James I. and King Charles I. especially of their Innovations in Church Matters in Scotland but our Author might have remembred if they introduced Episcopacy among them they were not behind hand in furnishing England with Presbytery What he alledges concerning their Sufferings in the Civil Wars for the Defence of K. Charles I. and his Sons Title ought not to be put upon the English Score I wonder how he can be so forgetful as not to remember That the Scots Covenanters were of that Gang that begun the Dance and all the reason in the World they should help to pay the Fidler And
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 Undertakings by the Discouragements from England before-mentioned which exposes our Ships to be taken and treated as Pirates by any Nation that pleases the infallible consequence of it will be that the Ruine and Impoverishment of Scotland which must necessarily follow such a Miscarriage will immediately 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 may become an easier Prey to a Foreign 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 Weight of it it will lay the Foundation of an irreconcileable Feud and may 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 Casâ— they would find us Unanimous as one Man against them 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 and us against one another But they are mistaken in the People of Scotland We are sensible of our Obligations to King 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 was never any People under the Sun more Loyal and Affectionate to good Princes than we have been and if when we have been forc'd to oppose our Monarchs private Persons have sometimes carried their Resentments too high yet the publick Justice of the Nation was always govern'd with Temper We could multiply Instances to prove this but need go no higher than the three last Kings who tho all of 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 King Charles I. tho' the Malice of a Faction in our Neighbouring Nation fix'd a Scandalous Reproach upon us as if we had Sold him from which Reflection we are sufficiently vindicated by the Lord Hollis's Memoirs before-mention'd wherein that excellent Person makes it evident that tho' our War against that Prince was just yet we had all possible Respect for his Persons made the best Conditions we could for his Safety and Honour and to avoid greater Mischiefs and the playing of our Enemies Game to the Ruine of our selves and His Majesty we were necessitated to leave him in England Memoirs p. 68. Then since we carried it so to a Prince that had been no way kind to us it will be impossible to create a Breach betwixt us and a Prince to whom under God we owe all that we enjoy as Men and Christians But at the same time our Neighbours who think to drive that Nail as far as it will go would do well to consider that we never believ'd that Doctrine in Scotland That it is unlawful to resist a King or any that have a Commission under him upon any pretence whatsoever We left that Doctrine in Scythia from whence some Authors derive our Origin and think it only fit to be sent back to Turkey from whence it came We know very well how to distinguish betwixt a Lawful Power 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 they were not tho' they did not think themselves obliged to obey their Personal Commands when the Fortune of War or other Accidents had put them into the Hands of our Enemies Thus we refused Obedience to K. James I. when detain'd Prisoner 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 distinguish betwixt the Commands of a King and those of a Captive ANSWER Here is a Flourish indeed upon the Behaviour of the Scots towards their good and bad Kings to comment upon which would require a whole Volume we will only take notice here of what he says concerning their selling King Charles I. to the English of which he clears his Countrymen but very indifferently the whole amounting to no more than that they made the best Terms for him and themselves too which does not take away the Stain of surrendering their Prince to his Enemies when they had a good Army to back their Pretensions The rest is taken up with his Arguments to convince the World that the Englesh ought at this Juncture to prefer the interest of Scotland before that of Spain upon which Head we have said so much already that I think it needless to make a fulsome Repetition of it here I will only add thus much That it may be hoped that those who have the Management of the Scots East-India Company will have more Prudence than to venture their All upon that Bottom and that consequently Scotland if they miscarry in this Undertaking will not be in so much danger of being utterly ruin'd as this Gentleman imagines His threatning Speculations about a War betwixt the two Nations and the Unanimity of the Scots against us sâ—aâ—ce deserves to be taken notice of since I see no reason why he should suppose the English so unconcerned at their own Interest as to act with less Vigour against them than they would against us which I am apt to believe would not turn to the Advantage of Scotland all this time when the English are more Potent than ever and the Scots have not the same Prospect of being back'd by a Foreign Power as they were in former Times when by reason of our Civil Dissensions they proved sometimes troublesome but never were dangerous Neighbours But let us see what he has further to say upon this Head DEFENCE To return to the Point of what may probably be the Consequences if the English should proceed to any further degree of opposition or if the Scots should miscarry 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
in granting them the dâ—sired Protection And I suppose the Scots for all our Authors Threats will be better advised 〈◊〉 they join with the Natives in making an 〈◊〉 upon Panama or any other strong 〈…〉 Spaniards for fear they should by 〈…〉 their Commissions forfeit all the righâ—◠〈…〉 Invested with by Virtue of the said Grant◠〈…〉 other irreparable Mischiefs upon their 〈◊〉 But let us now hear what our Author says to the next Point which has a more particular Relation to England DEFENCE 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 betwixt them and Spain To this we may easily Reply That being a distinct and Independant 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 Calidonia 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 from Customs granted to the Scots Company for so many years we shall be able to Under Sell the English Company forestall their Markets and lessen His Majesty's Customs We Answer That this Objection is in a great measure obviated since we do not now pretend to set up an East-India Trade but admitting it were true it will be to the general Advantage of the English Nation since the Buyers are always more than the Sellers It must certainly â—e better for the Kingdom in general that every one who has occasion for Muslin or Indian Silks c. should save so many Shillings per Yard or Piece 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 Nor can it be denied but it 's better for England that House-keepers 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 them must break Bulk no where but in Scotland which will diminish the number of English Ships and Seamen and make Scotland the only Free Port of all those Commodities To which it's Replied That tho' our own Ships are obliged to break Bulk no where but at home they don't lay the same Obligation upon others but allowing them a free Trade to Darien they may carry their Goods where they please or upon fair Proposals there 's no doubt but the Parliament of Scotland will give the English all possible Liberty as to that matter ANSWER Allowing the Scotch Nation to be Independant tho' this has been questioned by some our Author tells us They are not obliged to consult the Interest of England further than they consult theirs which indeed is the best Argument he has made use of hitherto in the Defence of the new Settlement But then I hope he will also grant That this being Reciprocal betwixt these two Nations he ought not to blame the English if they won't Sacrifice their own Interest to that of the Scots and take all necessary and legal Precautions against their Encroachments to the Disadvantage of our Trade This Objection he says may be answered By making such Regulations as will prevent the endamaging the Commerce of England This is much sooner said than put in practice For if the Scots could have found out an Expedient which might be satisfactory both in respect to the Honour and Interest of the English Nation in that Point Why was it not proposed and put in Execution before the English saw themselves under a necessity to represent their Grievances against the Scots new Company to His Majesty and to take such further Measures against it as they judged most suitable to their own Interest He further would perswade us That the Immunities from paying Customs granted to the Scots Company cannot be any Detriment to England because Muslin Indian Silks c. will be sold Cheaper for the general benefit of the Buyers But what would in such a case become of our East-India Trade who being obliged to pay heavy Customs could not afford to Sell at the same Rate What would become of our Silk Manufactory and the Turkey Company It is certain That a great many thousands of People who maintain their Families by the Silk Manufactory must be reduced to a starving Condition if those East-India Silks were sold at a cheaper Rate than they are now This is indeed the way to make our Merchants go on Foot and sâ—t the Scots on Horseback By the Constitution of this New Scots Company their Ships are obliged to break Bulk no where but in Scotland This Advantage he pretends to balance by assuring us That the Scots Parliament will Dispence with the English upon that Score But pray what Reason is there for the English to depend on the favour of a Scots Parliament when they may carry on the East-India Trade in their own Country without it especially since it remains doubtful under what Restrictions and Limitations this Liberty might be granted to the English But let us hear what he says in Reference to the danger of a Rupture with Spain DEFENCE Then as to the hazard of a Rupture with Spain we Reply That the Spaniards are in no Condition to break with England when they are not able to maintain themselves against the Insults of the French by Sea and Land and the only way to secure them in the British Interest is to have a
this is so unquestionably true that many of the wiser sort are of Opinion That the Presbyterian Faction would never have carried Matters to that heighth under that unfortunate Prince's Reign if they had not been back'd by the Covenanting Party in Scotland So that England may in a great measure lay the Calamities of the late Civil Wars and its fatal Consequences to their Doors which our Author would fain put altogether upon the English But let us see how he goes on in magnifying his beloved Scots DEFENCE Yet such was our Zeal for the Protestant Interest the Welfare of the Island and the Liberty of Europe that tho' we had a fair opportunity of providing otherwise for our security and the Advancement of our Trade and of forming our selves into a Commonwealth or of bringing England to our own Terms yet we frankly and generously concurr'd with them to settle our Government 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 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 at Darien by forbidding their Subjects to Trade with us there If these continued Slights 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 rate of Uniting with us as one Nation Had we but demurr'd upon forfeiting the late K. James or made but a Proffer of renewing our ancient League with France and joyning with that Crown to keep that Prince upon the Throne of Great Britain they know we might have made what Terms we pleas'd with the late King and 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 Natives and yet that gallant Nation thought it no disparagement to them however we be despis'd and undervalued 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 if 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 easie Conquest not disbanded his Army in such a manner as he did Ireland had certainly 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 the War and been liable to an Invasion from France These must certainly have been the Consequences of 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 foreign Colony of our own and treat us as Foreigners in theirs ANSWER Our Author has so entangled himself in pleading for the Scots that he is almost beyond his Senses for what Man who is in his right Wits could propose an Alliance with France which is in effect no less than to make Scotland a Province of France as more advantageous to the Scots than their Concurrence with England in the last Revolution for if they were become so indifferent as to their so much bragg'd of Liberty and Soveraignty and their Religion to Boot what need they have chang'd Masters since King James would have eased them of both and it appears to me as if our Caledonian was rather for the last since he takes so much pains to represent to us the consequences of it in the most passionate manner that could be But if the matter be duly weigh'd he has shot much beyond the mark for supposing the Scots to have stood it out against England for King James tho' I must confess it implies almost an absurdity to suppose it the consequences would not have been half so terrible as he would persuade us for Scotland being by reason of its Situation not easie to be relieved by France as long as the English and Dutch were Masters at Sea they might perhaps have proved troublesome but not so dangerous Neighbours as to make England the Theatre of War and it is I think odds on the English side that they might have served them as Cromwel did that is to bring them under an entire Subjection whereas they now enjoy many Priviledges beyond other Foreigners and have born but a very slender share in those vast Sums expended for the Glory and Interest of the Island in general It is not to be denied but that their ready Concurrence did hasten the Conquest of Ireland but I am apt to believe that their refusal would scarce have appear'd so dreadful to the English as to make them receive Laws from the Scots I cannot pass by in silence here with what Arrogance he is pleased to reflect upon the Measures taken in England on the account of the Scots East-India Company when it is beyond all question That every independent Nation has an inherent Right to secure their Commerce against the encroachments of a Neighbouring Nation which is the true state of the Case which our Author terms Ingratitude and I know not what in the English who did no more than to represent their Grievance to His Majesty's Consideration He runs on further thus DEFENCE To shew that this is not a mere Conjecture that has no other ground but a Vision of the Brain they may be pleas'd to consider the honourable Privileges granted us by their Ancestors and some of the greatest Princes that ever sway'd 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 Denizons of England and injoy the same Privileges with themselves because of their frequent Intermarriages with the English and that they did ever stood stoutly as one Man with them for the common Vtility of the Crown and Kingdom against the Danes and Norwegians fought it most valiantly and unanimously against the common
there is a Party in that Nation who bear ours no good will 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 Surprize to us to find that the English 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 likewise to complain of their constant practice of pressing our Seamen 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 the warm Influences of our Court the want of which is a considerable addition to the natural coldness of our Climate but they likewise oppress us on all occasions and do manifestly endeavour to prevent our Application to Trade We know there 's a Party in that Nation who think we sustained 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 has suffer'd in that respect now for almost an Hundred years besides the lessening our esteem in the Eyes oâ— the World and yet they will neither admit us to the Privileges of Fellow-Subjects with themselves nor suffer us to take such measures as may inable us stand on our own bottom We know that it was a Maxim 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 Rancour 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 Head 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 and 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 Quâ—s sibi Viros Caledonia sepâ—suerit and that as it was true what our Historian says of the War made upon us by Edward I. that Scotorum Nomen pene delevit it was also true what he says on the other hand that Angliam vehementer conâ—ussit So that those Gentlemen take the direct way by opposing us to run 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 ancient or new that will be glad of the opportunity to join with them Or if which is most probable tho' highly impolitick the English should so far neglect the Scots as to suffer them to be over-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 France It 's not to be doubted but that Crown would be very willing to renew their ancient Alliance with us and besides allowing us a share at least in the Trade of Darien would on condition 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 resonably desire for the uninterrupted Injoyment 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 Neighbours to judge what would become of their East and West-India Trade and Plantations and whether they would not find it difficult to stand out against France and us now that they have no footing on the Continent since formerly when they had so many Provinces of that Kingdom in their possession they found it a hard matter to do it and at last lost every foot of their French Dominions whereas had they been in Union with us they might certainly have retained 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 Gentlemen in our Neighboring 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 joyning 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 Balance of Europe in their hands and prevent the returns of its danger their own expence of Blood and Treasure to save its being threatened 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 incouraged and improved it will defeat all their ambitious and Antichristian Designs and thereby we shall also be in a condition to assist the English Plantations in the West-Indies who as we find by the proceedings of the Earl of Bellamont and the Assemblies of New England and New York are sufficiently 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 more justly esteemed an Incroachment upon Spain as being in the Bay of Mexico than our Plantation in Darien which argues the Humour of that Nation to make such an Out-cry against the Scots who have invaded no Man's Property when they themselves are so notoriously guilty 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 out for other Allies by their opposition and neglect ANSWER I am apt to believe our Caledonian begins to have but a very indifferent Opinion of the success of their New Settlement and so like a desperate Gamester who is reduced to the 〈◊〉 Stake throws at all and is for Sacrificing the â—â—rien Settlement nay their own Religion and 〈◊〉 as well as that of Europe rather than to 〈…〉 â—hare in it For what he says of security to be gâ—â—â—n by the French for the Enjoyment of the Protâ—â—â—â—nt Religion are nothing but Chimerical Notions as indeed are all the rest For supposing the French should be so fond of the Possession of Darien which they don't seem to be as has been demâ—â—strated before it is only a vain Speculation thâ—â—â—â—â—â—eby they would become so Potent as to become an over-match for England and its Allies who are so nearly concern'd in its Preservation and it is more than probable that the Scots in such a case would pay the Fidler since considering the Situation of Scotland its want of good Harbours and Barrenness in many Places it would be very difficult for the French to send them any considerable Supplies of Men or Provisions when the English and Dutch are Masters of the Channel which was the reason that the French never so much as attempted the Relieving of my Lord Dundee who gave them the fairest opportunity in the World of getting a footing in Scotland if they had either thought it practicable or worth their while But we must go on to see how he winds up the thread of his Arguments DEFENCE We shall conclude this matter with one or two more Arguments to prove That it is the Interest of England to joyn with us in this Affair by which also it will appear that there is nothing advanc'd in these Sheets out of any ill Design against the English Nation or to persuade to a disuniting of the Crowns but on the contrary that a stricter Union is absolutely necessary that both Nations may have but one Interest which will render us less liable to Convulsions and intestine Commotions at home and put us out of danger of being attacked by Enemies from abroad The first Argument is this That by incouraging our Settlement at Darien English Ships that have occasion to pass by those Coasts will there be certain of a place 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 the Mines 2. If we be incouraged in our 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 supply our selves for 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 Beeves for Victualling our Ships our own Cattel being for the most part too small for that use besides many other things that we shall have occasion to export from England for the use of the Plantation and to maintain a Commerce with the Natives 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 agree to they may shorten their Voyages to the East-Indies and by that means be able to out-do 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 4. If after all the English should continue 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 especially since the Restoration of K. Charles II. to which we did so much contribute that without our Concurrence it could never have been effected This will appear to be incontrovertibly true if we consider that in the time of K. James I. we were under 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 K. Charles II. and the English did very ungratefully lay such Preclusions and Restrictions upon us contrary to the Laws relating to the Postnati by the 12 Car. II. For the incouraging and increasing Shipping and Navigation and the 15 Car. II. For the Encouragement of Trade by which we are put in the same Circumstances as to Traffick with France and Holland and in a worse Condition than Ireland that is a Conquest which is so much the more unreasonable since we are always involv'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 Wars 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 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 so that in this respect we are in a worse condition than any Foreigners with relation to England for 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 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 if by any
South To this it is answered That Darien is bounded only by the Sea on both sides without so much as a Spanish Forâ— or Garison from Nombre de Dios to the Gulf of Darien on the North Sea or from the River of Cheâ—o to the River Congo on the South Sea The Territories of the Spaniards confining on both ends of the Isthmus are not unlimited but are restricted on both sides by the Dariens who has been already said were never subject to Spain Nor is it any new thing in the World for independent Soveraignties to lie inclos'd within the Dominions of other Princes to instance in no more than Orange and Avignon in Europe Ceuta Metilla c. possessed by the Spaniards themselves in Africk which lie in the very Bosom of Morocco and yet the Spaniards don't think their Title to them e're a whit the worse The Dutch and Portugueze have both of them Settlements on the Coast of Brasil to which the Spaniards pretend a Right The French have Settlements in Hispaniola and Guiana notwithstanding the Neighbourhood of the Spaniards The English and French have both of 'em Plantations in Newfound-land The Dutch in time of Peace settled on Long Island in the middle of the English Plantations yet no War ensued upon it The English possessed themselves of Bahama Islands tho' the Spanish Fleet passed betwixt them and Florida And the English have several times settled at Port-Royal in Campechy Bay to cut Logwood c. and remov'd and settled as they found convenient King Charles II. in time of Peace grantted a Patent to Dr. Cox to settle a Colony in the Bay of Mexico which was never question'd by the Spaniards And the French have now since the Conclusion of the last Peace planted a Colony on the River Messissipi in that same Bay against which we hear of no Complaints from Madrid So that the Plea of the Spaniards from this Topick is perfectly overâ—urn'd by Common Practice the Law of Nations and their own Concessions in parallel Cases ANSWER If the Matter be well weighed it will be no difficult Task to find out that these Cases mentioned by our Calidonian are so far from being parallel to the Scots Settlement at Darien that they are of a quite different Nature Dr Cox's Patent came to nothing and what occasion was there for the Spaniards to complain then And because the English have now and then Landed in Campechy Bay to cut Log-Wood Is this I say to be put in comparison with the Scots attempt upon Darien Some Dutch settled themselves among the English in Long Island but in a peaceable manner and tho' no War ensued yet Complaint was made of it and the Matter brought to an Agreement The Dutch and Portuguese have both Settlements in Brasil the French in Hispaniola and Guiana and the English and French in Newfoundland What Argument is this to the Scots Settlement in question For whoever questioned but that different Nations might settle their Colonies upon waste Grounds in the same place provided they were not in any Bodies Possession before The Instances he gives of Orange Avignon Ceuta and Metilla which lie as he says in the Bosom of other Prince's Dominions seem to carry something of more Weight with it in so far as they prove that there is a possibility of independent Sovereignties being inclosed by the Dominions of other Princes I could furnish our Author with a great many more of this nature as the Imperial Cities in Germany the Lordship of Vianen in Holland the Morlacks in Dalmatia and the Cossacks on the Frontiers of Poland and Muscovy but all duly considered it will appear that they are still of a different Nature from the Matter in Question For Orange and Avignon are the Remnants of those many Lordships and Principalities which formerly composed the Empire of France before it was brought in subjection under one Head Their Situation is such that they cannot be relieved from abroad and their strength so inconsiderable as not to be able to hold out against the first Attack of the Prince who commands round about it The Case is quite different with the Spaniards in America who when they established themselves there by their Sword had not the least reason â—o leave those petty Principalities unattempted which lay in the very Heart of their Conquests and by reason of their convenient Situation on the Sea-shoar might one time or other prove dangerous Neighbours if not brought to Submission either by force of Arms or a voluntary Surrender If the Emperour of Morocco's strength were equivalent to his Title he might very justly drive the Spaniards from the African Coast where they have no other Title but Possession and those Places which I have mentioned are so engaged either by Alliances or other Contracts to those Princes in whose Dominions they are inclosed that without offering a notorious violence to those Engagements they cannot submit themselves to any Foreign Power DEFENCE The next Plea says our Author of the Spaniards is from the Treaties betwixt them and the Crown of Great Britain of which they alledge the Settlement of the Scots at Darien to be a Breach But that there 's no ground for this Allegation will appear to those that peruse the said Treaties viz. that of May 23 1667. and that of July 1670. wherein there 's not the least mention of excluding either Party from enlarging their Dominions in America upon Wastes or by consent of the Natives in such places as have never yet been possest by Spain or Great Britain So that all that can be infer'd from those Treaties is that they were a mutual Security for the peaceable possession of what each Crown enjoy'd in that Country and no more which is sufficiently confirm'd by the Patent granted to Dr. Cox and the settling and removing of the English in Campechy Bay c. without Controul as before mention'd ANSWER If it were granted by the Spaniards or sufficiently proved by the Scots that their Settlement at Darien was made in such a place as never had any dependency on Spain it might easily be granted that their Establishment there was no breach of those Treaties but I hope they will allow at the same time that till the same be proved beyond Contradiction we ought at least to suspend our Judgment in this point which hitherto has not appear'd so evident in the English as ours to our Calidonian For thus he says further DEFENCE Having thus made it evident that the Spaniards have no manner of Title or Right to Darien it is natural in the next place to shew that they themselves are guilty of the Breach of Treaty by proceeding in this Affair as they have done By the third Article of the Treaty between the Crowns of Great Britain and Spain concluded at Madrid May 12 23. 1667. it is provided That if any Injury shall be done by either of the said Kings or by the People or Subjects of either of them to the
in England gave the French a fair opportunity of ridding their Hands by degrees from the English but it was not so much for want of such an Union as he would make us believe but because they were glad of any opportunity to supply their Wants at Home by Plundering and Ravaging the Borders of England and because as he himself confesses the French paid them very well besides for their Pains so that we may well apply to Scotland what Jagurtha if I mistake not said of Rome O Romam venalem dummodo emptorem invenisset For the Scots were always for him that did bid most But let us hear his last Argument upon this Head DEFENCE 10. It will be of general Advantage to the Protestant 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 inâ—linable to imbrace Christianity when they find the difference of the Morals and Doctrine betwixt Protestants and Papists and see that the former treat them with Humanity and seek their Welfare both in Body and Soul whereas the Spaniards have render'd themselves and the Religion they profess odious by the Inhumane Cruelties and Brutish Lusts which they have exercis'd upon so many Millions of the Natives This is so far from being a Calumny that an unexceptionable Author of their own Don Bartholomew de las Casas Bishop of Chiapa formerly mention'd 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 another and testified their great Inclination to have embrac'd the Christian Religion But the Spaniards aim'd at the Destruction and not at the Conversian of the Indians and are avowedly charg'd with it by the said Bishop who in many places of his Book declares That after they had sent for the Chiefs of the Countries to meet them in an amicable manner which the poor harmless Creatures did without suspicion of any Fraud these merciless Tyrants Murder'd them by wholesale on purpose to make themselves terrible to them This was a Practice so inconsistent with Humanity that all the People â—f the World ought to have resented it as having much more reason to declare the Spaniards to be Enemies to Mankind than ever the Roman Senate had to declare Nero to be such But this sort of Treatment compar'd with what they made others to suffer may well be call'd Mercy For tho' it was Death the Indians were hereby quickly deliver'd from their Misery whereas they put Multitudes of others to lingring Deaths that they might feel themselves die gradually and yet this is not so intolerable neither as the Condition of those poor People that had the Misfortune to survive that Cruelty for the whole time of their Lives under that miserable Servitude is but Death prolong'd or making his Attacks upon 'em by intolerable Labour and continual Hunger the most insupportable of all Plagues those poor Creatures that toil in the Mines and are imploy'd in Pearl-fishing c. having no more Sustenance allow'd them and that too of the coarsest sort than is just enough to keep Soul and Body together in order to prolong their Misery Then let any Man who has but the least remains of Humanity left him judge whether the Scots could be Criminal if they should have actually Landed upon a Spanish Settlement and have seiz'd the same in order to deliver their Brethren the Sons of Adam from such Hellish Servitude and Oppression as the above mention'd Bishop describes and if no Man that has any Bowels of Compassion within him can say they could what shadow of reason is there to blame the Scots for erecting a Colony where the Spaniards never had any footing ANSWER If this could be proved beyond Contradiction I must confess no Body could blame the Scots for settling themselves at Darien but till that be done we must ask our Author'â— Pardon to suspend at least our Judgment as to the legality of their Title to it If I mistake not the matter he does not seem to build altogether upon that Foundation so much as upon their having forfeited their Title by their unheard of Cruelties for to what purpose else this tedious Repetition when he had enlarged himself sufficiently before upon that Theme Which indeed may serve to render the Spaniards odious but in my Opinion is but a slender Addition towards the strengthning of their Title upon Darien since with the same Right not only the Scots but any Nation whatsoever might lay claim to all America as far as it is in the Possession of the Spaniards We will therefore hear what he has to alledge for us Caledonians in the third Head DEFENCE The next thing to be consider'd is Whether the Scots without the assistance of England may probably maintain their footing there which there 's no doubt may very well be determin'd in the affirmative 1. Because the whole Kingdom of Scotland being more zealous for it and unanimous in it than they have been in any other thing for forty or fifty Years past it is not to be doubted but they will use their utmost Efforts to support themselves in it by their own strength or if that will not do by making Alliances with other Nations that are able to assist them with a Naval Force 2. If they meet with no other Opposition but what the Spaniards are able to make to them it will be easie for the Nobility and Gentry and Royal Burroughs of Scotland to raise Money upon their Lands c. to increase their Stock for the American Trade and buy Ships of Force to protect it Nay without that it 's but giving Commission to the Buccaneers to become an over-match for the Spaniards 3. Supposing the French should offer to join with the Spaniards and assist them to drive the Scots from Darien as some say they have already proffered we are not to imagine that the Spaniards will accept their Proffers in this case when they refused them as to the driving the Moors from before Ceuta The Reasons are obvious They declin'd the accepting their Proffers as to Ceuta because they would not thereby give the French an opportunity of possessing themselves of any of their Towns in Africa as it is but too common for Foreign Auxiliaries to do in such cases Then certainly they have much greater reason to refuse their Proffers as to Darien America being of infinitely more value to them than some African Towns And if once the French should get footing there it would be in vain for the Spanish Grandees any further to dispute the
Succession of France to their Crown for they would immediately seize upon their Mines and Treasures in the West-Indies without which the Spanish Monarchy is not able to support it self Or supposing the King of Spain should live for many Years and by consequence keep the French out of possession yet having once goot footing at Darien which they will certainly do if the Scots be expell'd by their assistance the Spaniards will quickly be convinc'd to their Cost that they are more dangerous Neighbours than the Scots not only because of their greater Power to do them more mischief but because of their incroaching Temper which all Europe is sensible of and being of the same Religion with the Spaniards and having of late Years set up for the Champions of Popery they will by the Influence of the Clergy bring all the Spanish Settlements of America to a dependence upon them and a love for them as the great Protectors of the Catholick Faith which will at once destroy the Interest of Spain in America This will appear to be no vain Speculation to those that consider the Temper of the Popish Clergy and the Insolence of the Spanish Inquisitors who so daringly reflected upon the late Alliance of Spain with Protestant Princes and States tho' absolutely necessary to preserve that Nation from being swallowed up by France Whereas the Scots being Zealous Protestants and for that very reason hateful to the Popish Clergy and Laity they are under a moral Impossibility of having so much Influence to withdraw the American Settlements from the Obedience of Spain And besides being under an obligation by the Principles of their Religion and their fundamental Constitution not to invade the Property of another the Spaniards have no cause to fear any thing from them provided they forbear Hostilities on their part but on the contrary may find them true and faithful Allies and useful to assist them in the defence of their Country if attack'd by the French as in the late War It being the Interest of the Scots as well as of the Spaniards to prevent the Accession of the Crown of Spain to that of France These things together with the known Endeavours of the French to procure an Interest amongst the Natives of that Country and especially with Don Pedro and Corbet in order to a Settlement make it evident enough that it is the Interest of Spain the Scots should rather have it than the French who have already been tampering with the Spaniards as well as with the Indians and doubt not to have a large share of America whenever the King of Spain dies ANSWER Most People I am apt to believe will soon agree with our Author in this point That the French would be by far the more dangerous Neighbours to the Spaniards in America both in respect of their Power and the influence they might have over the Spaniards in America upon the score of their Religion but I hope he will also grant me that it is much more for the Spanish Interest not to be troubled with any Neighbours at all there that may be in any probability to interfere with them either in Power or Traffick but whether the Spaniards will be able as the case now stands to gain this point is what must be the present Object of our consideration I will for once suppose the Scots to be so unanimous in this matter as our Author would have them yet it is much to be doubted whether they would be so fond of a Project that is subject to so many Casualties and to no small danger of succeeding as the Nobility Gentry and others to mortgage their Estates upon that Score but supposing they should it would still be a question Whether they could be in a condition to procure time enough such a number of serviceable Ships and other Necessaries requisite for the maintaining themselves at Darien even against the Spaniards alone For granting they should not be in a capacity to force the Scots from their Fortifications they have other means to annoy and intercept their Convoys which considering a Communication betwixt the English West-India Plantations and the Scots Settlement is taken off may in all likelihood reduce them to a starving condition there or at the best put the Scots East-India Company under a necessity of providing their Ships with such strong Convoys at so great a distance that the Charge may surmount the Profit notwithstanding the hopes of their rich Mines What our Calidonian says of giving Commissions to the Buccaneers is little to the purpose it being evident that they have no power so to do by vertue of their Letters Patents and that consequently by so doing they must put themselves in the same range with them which would be the ready way for them to forfeit all the Title they can pretend to upon that Settlement But supposing the Scots should put the Spaniards so hard to it as to be obliged to seek for aid by the French who at this juncture seem to be very forward to purchase their good will at any rate it is very probable that they may have their Assistance upon much easier terms than the Surrender of Darien into their Hands neither is it to be questioned but that the Spaniards who are jealous of the French to the highest degree might take such sure Measures as to the Number and other Circumstances of the French Auxiliaries as might free them from the danger of being surprized by them especially at this time when the French are so cautious of creating a Jealousie in that Nation What our Author alledges of Ceuta is no parallel to this the only reason of the Spaniards refusing the Offers of the French as to the relief of that place being no more than that they thought it inconsistent with their Grandeur to leave the Glory of relieving a place which is so near them to a Foreign Nation when as yet they were sufficiently able to defend it against the Moors It may also be consider'd That the French have not shewn so much inclination to get a firm footing in America as our Author would fain perswade us for what reason I will not pretend to determine but certain it is that when Monsieur de Ponti had made himself Master of Carthagena they might with as much probability have defended themselves there against the Spaniards as the Scots in their Settlement at Darien And if Darien was of so much consequence to France what could hinder them from settling there when Monsieur de Ponti touch'd at that place in his way to Carthagena Which makes it very evident that the French did not think it for their Interest to plant any Colonies at this time in America or at least not at or near Darien DEFENCE But admitting says our Caledonian that the Spaniards should so far mistake their Interest as to accept of the Proffers of the French to expel the Scots it is not impossible for the latter to find other Allies than the
Enemy and bore the burden of most fierce Wars in the Kingdom This they will find in a Book call'd Archaionomia translated from the Saxon by William Lambard and Printed at London by John 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 our Country-men might reasonably entitle us to the same Privileges now that our Ancestors were formerly allow'd by K. Edward and William the Conqueror We need not insist on another sort of Obligation 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 Junto's by encouraging General Monk's Undertaking for it cannot be denied that we had the Balance of Europe in our hands at the time of the last Revolution and that we turn'd the Scale to the advantage of England in particular and of Europe in general which must be allow'd to be as great a Service as that which was so thankfully rewarded by Edward and William the Conqueror 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 than 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 incourag'd to perform their Duties by Rewards and their Ancestors were so sensible of this that tho' they knew we were equally concern'd to defend the Island against foreign Invaders as well as they yet they thought themselves oblig'd in Policy as well as Gratitude to Reward us which they not only did by that Honorary Praemium of allowing us to be Denizons of England as above-mention'd 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 our Assistance against King 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 sense 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 the Parliament of England prov'd unsuccessful we sent in an Army which cast the Balance on the side of the latter who before that time were reduc'd low enough by the King's 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 publish'd ANSWER Our Caledonian most extreamly misses his aim in relating those Matters as Obligations done to England for which they have but little reason to be thankful to them Their behaviour under the Reign of K. Charles I. was such that the English ought to keep it in eternal Remembrance and in lieu of Acknowledgment rather ought to take care of them so that they may not be able for the future to be the Incendiaries of a Civil War as they were at that time For after they had put all England into Confusion by their Encouraging and afterwards declaring for the Presbyterian Faction after I say they had been instrumental in bringing this unfortunate Prince to his fatal End they took the opportunity of siding with his Son not out of any love to his Person or to maintain his rightful Title as may appear by those Conditions they imposed upon him but to Revenge themselves upon those who had wrested the Power out of their Hands and afterwards made them bear their share in those Miseries they had brought upon England Certainly our Author must think the English to be very ill versed in their own History when he alledges the Scots to have had any share in General Monk's Undertaking who can be so ignorant as not to know that all what this General desired from and was granted by the Convention of the Scots was to furnish him with so much Money as might maintain his Army in their march to London and there is no question but they understood their Interest so well as that they would have parted with a far greater Sum to rid their hands of a conquering Army in their Bowels and to set the English together by the Ears among themselves by which means they might hope to recover their lost Liberty For the rest it is sufficiently evident That if General Monk had at that time any Thoughts of recalling the King which I much question he had more Prudence than to Communicate it to the Scots or any body else For if the Rump had had the least suspicion of his design they would scarce have made him General of all the Forces in the three Nations This is the true state of the Case as to the first of these Obligations our Calidonian brags of What he says of Scotland's turning the Balance in the time of the late Revolution when it was in their hands shews so much Vanity and want of Judgment in point of Policy that it deserves no Answer and I am apt to believe the wiser sort among the Scots will owe him but little thanks for representing them as a People who could fall under a possibility of mistaking their own Interest and Preservation so far as to let slip so extraordinary an opportunity as was offered them by Providence to secure their Religion and Liberty and in lieu of that to Embrace a foreign Protection or to speak truer to submit their Necks under a Foreign Yoke rather than to Unite themselves with the English under one Head who perhaps notwithstanding their foreign Alliances might have taken this opportunity to bring them once for all to Reason as Cromwel did who 's Title to Scotland as their Conqueror was own'd by all Europe He goes on thus DEFENCE But to return to the last Revolution Tho' we must own that we owe our Deliverance to His Majesty and were oblig'd in Conscience and Honour to concur with him yet who could have blam'd us to have stood
Emergency we should be forc'd to break off the Union of the Crowns and enter again into a French Alliance It 's in vain for them to Object that in such a case we should betray our Religion for we see the persecuted Hungarians were protected in that by the Turks tho' sworn Enemies to it Nor is it impossible but there may be a change as to that matter in France L. XIV is not immortal And even Julian the Apostate himself found it his Interest for some time to protect the Orthodox Christians whom he mortally hated But supposing as indeed there 's no great likelihood of it that no such Alliance as this should ever happen yet however if these two Nations be not more closely united it may be of ill Consequence to England if any of their Kings at any time should be so far disgusted as to 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 iâ— we had join'd him against the Parliament of England What great Efforts did a Party of our Nation make to inthrone K. Charles II. when England was against him And how did our Concurrence afterwards with General Monk effect it How soon did our Espousing the Duke of York's Interest turn the Tables upon those that opposed him in England And if our Nation had likewise Espous'd his Cause before the Revolution the Viscount of Dundee gave a sufficient proof what we could have done for him This makes it evident That it is not the Interest of England to slight an Union with us so much as they have done For so long as we remain divided any King that is so minded may make use of us 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 Incouragement of Trade in England by King Charles II. 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 reference to their Proceedings against us seeing we are a free Nation as well as they 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 of the Island ANSWER These several Pages are no more than a Repetition of what he has urged before with this difference only that he intermixes them with some bitter and unseemly Expressions which are altogether insufferable in a private Person and a Subject He as good as denounces War against England in case the Scots should miscarry and sounds alarm without any publick Authority I cannot forbear to take notice of one Passage when he says That if the Scots had carried off K. Charles I. when he came to their Army what a Field of Slaughter and Blood must England have become whereas before to excuse the Scots for their surrendring the said King he had told us with a great deal of Confidence that they were necessitated so to do What he says concerning their Endeavours to Inthrone King Charles II. is not altogether to be denied but he might also have remembred upon what Terms they did it which is I think a sufficient warning to any King not to relie upon their Gencrosity and he might have very well saved himself the trouble of offering the Assistance of the Scots to the English Court there being no great likelihood thanks be to God at this time that they will have any occasion for them or if they should they would scarce think fit to accept of them Their Concurrence with General Monk has been spoken off before as most of all the other Points which he treats of here so that we think it needless to make a Repetition of them here And so will take a short View of his Description of Darien WE come in the next place to give a Description of the Isthmus of Darien It lies betwixt the 8th and 10th Degrees of Northern Latitude and in the narrowest place is betwixt 60 and 80 Italian Miles over We shall not trouble our selves with the Description of any more of it than is in the possession of the Natives which is in length from E. to W. on the N. side from the mouth of the River Darien to Port Scrivan above 140 Italian Miles from Caret Bay to the River of Cheapo on the Southside it is about 160 in length It is supposed to take its Name from the great River of Darien that bounds its Northern Coast to the Eastward It is bounded on the North and South with the vast Oceans that carry the names of the North and South Seas It s Situation is very pleasant and agreeable and very commodious for a speedy and short Communication of Trade betwixt the North and South Seas and preventing that vast Compass that must otherwise be fetch'd round either of the Extremes of North and South America By this means also it lies convenient for a speedier Communication of Trade betwixt Europe and the East Indies than any that hath hitherto been found out Mr. Dampier says That from Cheapo or Santa Maria River a Man may pass from Sea to Sea in three days and that the Indians do it in a day and a half There are abundance of valuable Islands on both sides the Isthmus which prevent the breaking in of the Ocean upon it at once and besides the Conveniences of Wood Fish Fowl and Water afford good and safe Riding in all Weathers to any number of Ships especially those call'd the Sambaloes that lie along the Northern Coast The Continent is agreeably intermix'd with â—â—ills and Valleys of great variety for height depth and extent The Vallies are water'd with Rivers Brooks and Springs which take their rise from a great ridge of Hills that run along the Isthmus but nearest to the Northern Shore from which it is seldom above 15 Miles distant and from whence the Sambaloes Islands and the various Makings of the Shore and the continued Forest all along the Country gratifie the Eye with a very fine prospect The Rivers on the Northern Coast are generally small because their Course from the above-mentioned ridge of Hills is but short yet the River of Darien is very large but the depth of its entrance not answerable to its width yet
House live Ambrosio and his Son-in-Law Don Pedro with both their Families consisting of about 40 Persons We saw Ambrosio's Grandmother there who is 120 years old and yet was very active in getting things ready for an Entertainment She has six Generations descended from her now in the House with her The People live here to 150 and 160 years of Age but those that converse much with Europeans and drink strong Drink don't live so long From the Samballoes to the River of Conception the Country is commanded by one Corbet who is altogether in the French Interest he having contracted a Friendship with their Priveteers 7 years ago and done them many good Offices They promised to reward him if he would go to Petit Guaves and in his way thither he was taken by an English Privateer and carried to Jamaica whence the Governor of Petit Guaves got him releas'd He was with Ponti at the taking of Carthagena and has a Commission from the French to be General of all the French and Indian Forces on that Coast and to take sink and destroy Spaniards or any other Enemies Yet the French themselves and the sensible part of the Indians don't put any confidence in him and Ambrosio who is the bravest of all those Indian Captains keeps him in Awe and within Bounds Next to Corbet there 's another of their Captains call'd Nicola who is said to be a wise brave and good natur'd Prince insomuch that the Indians had a mind to have set him up instead of Ambrosio who is of a rugged military Temper But Ambrosio's Authority and Power is so great that they did not find it practicable Nicola is a mortal Enemy to the Spaniards and can never entertain a good thought of them since the Governor of Porto-Bello robb'd him of a curious Fusee that had been presented him by some of the Buccaneers and being out of order he sent it thither to be mended upon which the Governour taking a liking to it kept it to himself and sent Nicola another sorry piece instead of it Since we came hither there have been an English a Dutch and a French Ship in our Bay The English Ship was Captain Long in the Rupert Prize He had been in the Gulf of Oâ—ba but he himself and his Men own'd that they had not then been ashore there He hath some way or other disoblig'd the Captains Ambrosio and Diego Tho' we treated him with all possible Civility yet we are since inform'd that he hath been a days Journey into the Gulf and endeavour'd to incense the Indians against us telling them that we were Privateers and that the King of England would not protect us He left some Men in the Bay who had since kill'd some Spaniards and came to us for Arms and Ammunition but we told them we could not grant them any and that they had done what they could not justifie We gave them however what was necessary for sitting up a Boat and as a Reward they intic'd away the Carpenter and Mate of one of our Ships call'd the Vnicorn The Dutch Ship that came hither was afraid of the Spanish Barlâ—vento Fleet and put in here for Protection that Fleet having made Prize of another Dutch Ship of 32 Guns and of two English Sloops for Trading on those Coasts The French Ship that put in here was that which was order'd to carry back the Church Plate c. to Carthagena did afterwards bulge on a Rock and was cast away in our Harbour We sav'd all their lives and Captain Pincarton our Commodore endanger'd his own life to save that of the French Captain He inform'd us That the French had four Men of War of 50 Guns each who thinking we had a Design on the River Mississipi were gone to the Gulf of Mexico in quest of us The French have been very industrious in cultivating their Interest both with the Natives and Spaniards in this part of America and doubt not of having a good share in those Countries after the King of Spain's Death They have got a great Interest with Captain Ambrosio by means of his Son-in-Law Don Pedro whom they caress extreamly and design'd to have carried him to Petit Guavus and from thence into France to acquaint the French King with the favourable Sentiments the Indians have entertain'd of the French and of their design to surrender themselves to his Majesty This has been projected by the French a long time but the King of Spain's Indisposition and their Pretensions to that Crown made them refer it and there 's no doubt but our Settlement will quicken those Resolutions Captain Andreas Captain Pedro his Brother Captain Diego and Captain Pousigo our Neighbours have no manner of Correspondence with the French The latter hath acquainted us that there are several Gold Mines within two Miles of our Settlement which he hath promis'd to shew us and he hath actually let us see several Samples of fine Gold This being the Substance of several Journals that were sent from our Colony in Darien upon their first Settlement there we hope it 's sufficient of it self to satisfie our Neighbours in England of the Justice of our Cause of the Equity of our Proceedings of the true Reason why the French are so much our Enemies in this matter of the greatness of the Providence that has put us in possession of that Post and that it is England's Interest to joyn with and protect us by which the Designs of the French against Europe in general and Great Britain in particular may be defeated and the English West-India Trade secur'd But since by the Proclamations before menâ—â—on'd our Ships may be in danger of being attack'd by other Nations as Pirates and our Colony discountenanc'd and oppos'd on that Account by the Natives there 's no reason that our Neighbours should think strange if we complain of that unkind usage and endeavour to lay before them what may probably be the Consequences of such Proceedings without being construed either to threaten or to wish that any such things should happen â—t being evident that by offering to admit the English as Joint-sharers in our Trade we entertain no Sentiments but what are friendly towards that Nation being satisfied that all those who wish well to the Protestant Religion and true Liberty are Enemies to any thing that may occasion a Breach of the Union and good Understanding betwixt us Yet it must be own'd that we have but too great reason to complain of the Hardships we suffer which it is in the power of England to remedy by complying with the gracious Proposals of Uniting the Nations repeated in Parliament by His Majesty who like a true Father of His Country has expos'd himself to the greatest of Dangers to procure the Welfare and Peace of His Subjects by which He has made an absolute Conquest of the Hearts of all good Men who are unanimous to join in the like Prayer for him that the Israelites of old put up for their Kings viz. That he may live for ever FINIS