A DEFENCE OF THE SCOTS Settlement at DARIEN WITH An Answer to the Spanish MEMORIAL against it AND ARGUMENTS to prove That it is the Interest of ENGLAND to join with the SCOTS and protect it To which is added A DESCRIPTION of the Countrey and a particular Account of the SCOTS Colony Printed in the Year M. DC XC IX TO THE KING'S Most Excellent Majesty SIR THE Interest you have in the flourishing of Your Antient Kingdom of Scotland whose Crown is transmitted to You by an Hundred and eleven of your Ancestors without ever having been on the Head of a Forraigner emboldens the Author to lay the following Sheets at your Majesties Feet The design of them is to vindicate the Settlement of the Scots in Darien and Your Majesties Justice in protecting them against the Oblique Aspersions which are cast upon it in the Spanish Memorial The Soveraignty of the Crown of Scotland hath alwise been held Sacred by our Ancestors who never were sparing of their Blood to defend it either from the Invasion of Foreigners or the mean Compliance of some few of our Princes that were unworthie to wear it and therefore were either totally excluded from it as the Family of Baliol or oblig'd to reassert its Right when rescu'd out of the Hands of their Enemies as happen'd to our William I. and James I. Providence having now plac'd it on the Head of Your Majesty whose Heroic Courage is known to all the World our Nation should be unjust to Your Character to expect any thing less than that our Crown which You receiv'd free and independent from Your Ancestors should be transmitted by You with greater Advantages than ever to Your Successors Therefore it is Great Sir that a privat Subject of your Antient Kingdom takes the holdness to vindicate the Soveraignty and Dignity of Your Crown as Kings of Scots and to put such as are Enemies to it in mind that when Edward I and II. of England invaded it the Scotish Nation did gallantly defend it advanced Robert Bruce to the Exclusion of Baliol the nearest Heir and acquainted the Princes of Christendom that they did so in defence of their Independency adding that they would expel Robert Bruce if he offered to betray their Liberty and would never subject their Crown to that of England whilst there were 100 Scots men alive This being the fundamental Constitution of our Government and the Condition on which that Prince and his Successors were admitted to Our Crown they can in no wise be look'd upon as Friends to your Majesties Dignitie as King of Scots who call in question what You enact in the Parliament of that Kingdom or that offer to traverse it by contrary Proclamations We are Your Majesties Subjects as well as our Neighbours and have an equal Right to share your Protection which its hop'd they will at last be convinc'd it is their Interest to agree to in relation to our American Settlement Your Majesty's Paternal Affection to the Kingdom of Scorland hath discover'd it self in many Instances nor is it to be desired or expected by our Nation that it should any way interfere with the like Care and Affection which is owing to our Brethren of England but there is no reason that they should enjoy a Freedom of Trade throughout the World and that we should be denied it â—…our Majesty in yoâ—…r Gracious Proposals os an Union gave sufficient Evidence of a Fatherly Concern for both Nations Thereforo as it hath pleased GOD to make You the Glorious Instrument of our Common Deliverance that He would also make you the happy Instrument of our Inseparable Union and after a long Reign here Crown You with Everlasting Glory hereafter is the sincere and ardent Prayer of Your Majesty's Loyal and Affectionate Subject Philo Caledon A DEFENCE of the Settlement of the SCOTS on the Isthmus of DARIEN in America With Arguments to prove That it is the Interest of England to join with them and to protect them in that Colony THE Heads propos'd to be insisted upon in the following Sheers arâ—… The Legality of the SCOTS Establishment The Advantage or Disadvantage that may redound from it to England Whether the Scots without the Assistance of the English may be able to maintain their footing in America and what may probably be the Consequences if the Scots should be oppos'd therein by the English and miscarry in the Undertaking The chief Objections against the Legality of their Establishment ariâ—…e from the Memorial delivered in against it to the King by the Ambassad or Extraordinary of Spain May 3 1699. O S as follows THE Under-Subscriber Ambassador Extraordinary from his Catholick Majestie finds himself oblig'd by express Orders to represent to your Majesty that the King his Master having receiv'd Information from different places and last of all from the Governor of Havana of the Inâ—…ult and Attempt of some Scots Ships equip'd with Men and other things requisit who design to settle themselves in his Majestres Soveraign Demains in America and particularly the Province of Darien His Majesty receiv'd those Advices with very much difcontent and looks upon the same as a Token of small Friendship and as a Rupture of the Alliance betwixt the two Crowns which his Majesty hath observed hitherto and alwayes observes very religiously and from which so many Advantages and profits hath resulted both to your Majesty and youâ—… Subjects as a Consequence of which good Correspondence his Majestie did not expect such sudden Insults and Attempts by your Majesties Subjects and that too in a time of Peace without pretext or any Cause in the very heart oâ—… his Demains All that the King desires is That this may be represented to your Majesty and that your Majesty may be acquainted that he is very sensible of such Hostilities and unjust Procedures against which his Majesty will take such Measures as he thinks convenient Given at London May â—… 1699. It were easie to make proper Remarks upon the Weakness Insolence and ingratitude of this Memorial but it is not worth while all the World knows what the Crown of Spain ows to his Majesty of Great Britain and therefore a more civil Application might reasonably have been expected to a Prince who hath not only saved the Netherlands but prevented his Catholick Majesty from being insulted on his Throne at Madrid But these things we pass over and come to the chief point in the Memorial which is That the Scots have posted themselves in the King of Spain ' s Demains in America contrary to the Allyance betwixt the two Crowns If this be proved to be â—…alse then the cause of the Complaint ceases and his Majesty of Great Britain hath reason to demand Satisfaction for the Affront offered thereby to his Justice and Soveraignty To prove the falshood of the Allegation That the Province of Darien is part of the King of Spains Demains It is positively denied by the SCOTS who challenge the Spaniards to prove their Right
to his Ancestors but if he dâ—…d not think it worth his while they might perhaps be inclin'd to make choâ—…e of another Soveraign or to that effect as recordâ—…d in the Conâ—…uation of Sâ—…r Richard Baker's History Another 〈◊〉 we had by that Union of the Crown was this That that unfortunate Prince being inspir'd with an Aversion to the Constitution of our Country by his Education in the Court of England he made an unnatural War upon us to bring us to a Conformity with England in Church-Matters We shall not here offer to debate which of the Churches was best constâ—…uted or most agreeable to the Scripture-Pattern It suffices for our Argument that we were injur'd in having a Forreign Model offered to be obtruded upon us which was â—…he Consâ—…quence of the Union of the Crowns and of having our King eâ—…ucated in another Nâ—…tion but that was not all another mischievous effect of the Union was this that whatever K. Charles had deserv'd at our hands â—…et out of natural Afâ—…ection Conscience and Honour we were oblig'd to do what we could to prevent his illegal Trial and Death and to defend his Sons Title which threw us into Convulsions at home occasion'd us the loss of several Armies and exposâ—…d our Nation afterwards to Ruine and Devaâ—…tation by our implacable Enemy the Usurper which together with the Ungrateful Retributions made us by the Government after the Restoration were enough to have wearied any Nation under Heavâ—…n but our selves of the Union of the Crowns Yet such was our Zâ—…al for the Protestant Intrest the Welfare of the Islâ—…nd and the Liberty of Europe that tho we had a 〈◊〉 opporâ—…ity of providing otherwise for our 〈◊〉 and the Advancement of ouâ—… Trade and of forming our selves into a Common wealth or or bringing England to our own terms yet we frankly and generously concurr'd with them to settlâ—… our Gâ—…vernment on the same Persons and in the same manner as they did theirs and all the Reward we had from them is that an Union of the Nations tho twice propos'd by his Majesty in Parliament hath been 〈◊〉 rejected our King questioned by Parliament of England â—…or an Act of his Parliament in Scotland which is a manifest Impeachment of our Soveraignty a Compliance with which excluded Baliol and his Heirs for ever from our Crown and to this they have added an opposition to our receiving foreign Subscriptions at Hamburgh and elsewhere refus'd us a Supply of Corn for our Money to relieve us in our Distress and discourag'd our Settlement aâ—… Darien by forbidding their Subjects to Trade with us there If these continued Slights and Injuries be not enough to make us weary of the Union of the Crowns let any Man judge To discover a little of the unreasonableness of this sort of Treatment we dare appeal to the calm thoughts of such of our Neighbours in England as prefer the Interest of the Publick to private Animosities and foolish ill-grounded Piques either as to Church or State whether at the time of the Revolution and before we declar'd our selves they would not have been willing to have assur'd themselves of our Friendship at the rare of uniting with us as one Nation Had we but demurr'd upon forâ—…eiting the late K. James or made but a Proffer of renewing our antient League with France and joining with that Crown to keep that Prince upon rhe Throne of Great-Britain they know we might have made what Terms we pleas'd with the late King Louis XIV on that condition and might have been restor'd to all the Honours and Privileges that our Ancestors enjoy'd in France which were almost equal to those of the Nâ—…tives and yet that gallant Nation thought it no disparagement to them however we be despis'd and uâ—…dervalued now by a certain Party in England Had we but seem'd to have made such Overtures the English must needs have foreseen that the natural Consequences of such a design iâ—… it had taken effect must have been these viz the late King's Adherents in England would certainly have join'd us and our Nation would have afforded them a safe retreat in case of any Disaster till they could have concerted Matters to the best advantage the late King would not have yielded himself such an easy Conquest nor disbanded his Army in such a manner as he did Ireland had certainly never revolted since every one knows that the Revolution was begun and in a great measure perfected there by the Scots of the North so that England must have become the Theatre of War been lyable to an Invasion â—…rom France on all occasions would only have strengthned her Fetters by struggling with them and expos'd all the Patriots of her Religion and Liberty to Butchery and Destruction These must certainly have been the Consequences os our adhering to the late King and the English would have thought they had had a very good Bargain if they could have bought us off in that Case with uniting both the Kingdoms into one and granting us a joint Trade to their own Plantations whereas now they will not allow us to settle a Forreign Colony of our own and treat us as Forreigners in theirs To shew that this is not a mere Conjecture that has no other ground but a Vision of the Brain they may be pleased to consider the honourable Privileges granted US by their Ancestors and some of the greatest Princes that ever swayed their Scepter viz King Edward and William the Conqueror who by the Consent of the States in Parliament assembled enacted That the Scots should be accounted Denizâ—…ns of England and enjoy the same privileges with themselves because of their frequent Intermarriages with the English and that they did ever stand stoutly as one Man with them for the common Utility of the Crown and Kingdom against the Danes and Norwegians fought it most valiantly and unanimously against the common Enemy and bore the burden of most fierce Wars in the Kingdom This they will sind in a Book call'd Archaionomia translated from the Saxon by William Lambard and printed at London by Joâ—…n Day in 1568. It must be granted that the Reasons of such a grateful Retribution are redoubled now Intermarriages betwixt the two Nations are more frequent than ever the Union of the Kingdoms under one Crown for almost 100 years the generous Concurrence of the Scots in the last Revolution their loss of so many gallant Officers and brave Soldiers in the common Cause during the late War and the preservation of Ireland which hath been twice owing to ouâ—… Countreymen might reasonably entitle us to the same Priviledges now that our Ancestors were formerly allow'd by K. Edward and William the Conqueror We need not insist on another sort of Obligatiâ—…n that we have put upon England twice within this 60 years viz the delivering them from their Oppressions in the time of K. Charles I. the Anarchy of the Rump and several Models of Armies and Juntos by encouraging
to the said Province either by Inheritance Mâ—…rriage Donation Purchase Reversion Surrender or Conquest which being the only Titles by which they or any other People can claim a Right to those or any other Dominions if the Spaniards cannot make out their Right by those of any of those their Claim must of consequence be null and void It is evident that the Spaniards cannot pretend a Tittle to that Countrey by Inheritance Martiâ—… or the Donation of Prince and People and as to Conquest it would be ridiculous to alleadge it since the Dariens are in actual possession of their Liberty and were never subdued nor receiv'd â—…ny Spanish Governor or Garison amongst them Nay they were so far from it that Wafer Dampier and others that have wrote of that Countrey do all agree that they mortally hate the Spaniards were in War with them and that the Spaniards had no Commerce with those Indians nor command over them in all the North side of the Isthmus a little beyond Porto Bello Capt. Sharp in the Journal of his Expedition published in Capâ—… Hacke's Collection of Voyages gives an account that in 1680 he landed at Golden Island with 330 Men and being joyn'd by one of the Darien Princes whom they call'd Emperor and another to whom they gave the Tittle of King Golden Cap with some hundreds of their Men took Sancta Maria attempted Panama and made prize of several Spanish Ships which is the more remarkable because Capt. Sharp was afterwards tryed in England for Robbery and piracy on this very Account but acquitted because of his Commission from those Darien Princes which is a plain Demonstration that the Government of England did then look upon Darein to be no way subject to Spain whateveâ—… some who are Enemies to the SCOTS do now say against the Legality of their Settlement in that Country This same Expedition against the Spaniards by assistance of the Darien Indians is confirm'd by Mr. Dampier in his Introduction to his New Voyage round the World And the â—…p of Chiapa a Prelate of their own in his Relation of the Spanish Voyages anâ—… Cruelties in the West-Indies p 217. owns that the Spaniards had no Title to the Americans as their Subjects by right of Inheritance Purchase oâ—… Conquest We have likewise a large Account and a full Confirmation of the War and perpetual Enmity betwixt the Dariens and the Spaniards in the History of the Buccaneers of America Vol. 2. Part 4. wrote by Basil Ringrose who was one of their Company There he inâ—…orms us that the Indians of Darien and the Spaniards are commonly at War with one another and that the Buccaneers were invited into that Countrey and join'd by the Darien Princes Capt. Andreaâ—… Captain Antonio and the King of Darien who assisted thâ—…m in the taking of Sancta Maria auâ—… their Attempt upon â—…anama and the King whose Daughter the Spaniards had stole away promised to join the Buccaneers with 50000 Men. This is the more remarkable because those very Princes or their Successors are now in League with the Scots and have joyfully receiv'd them into their Countrey So that it is the strangest Imposition that can be put upon any Nation and one of the most audacious affronts that ever was put upon so Great a Prince as K William for the Spaniards to pretend a Right to Darien and accuse him of a Bâ—…each of the Peace because a Colony of his Subjects have settled themselves there when it is so well known to the World that the Crown of Spain has no manner of Title to that Province Then as to any Claim by virtue of Possession the Spaniards have noâ—… the least grâ—…und of Plea All they can alledge on this head is that they were once admitted by the consent of Capt. Diego another of the Darien Princes to work on some Golden Mines within 15 Leagues or thereabouts of the SCOTS Settlement But it is plain that this makes nothing for their purpose That Prince admitted them only as Labourers but not as Proprietors and when they broke the Conâ—…itions on which they were admitted viz to allow the Dariens such and such Shares of the Product they were expell'd again by forcâ—… and ever since that time the Dariens refuse to have any further dealings with the Spaniards who made themselves odious to them by their Treachery and Insolence So that Mr. Wafer tells us pag. 133. they allow a distinguishing Mark of Honour to him who has kill'd â—… Spaniard and pag. 179. that Lacenta one of the chief of the Darien Princes did in his converse with him express his Sense and Resentment of the havock made by the Spaniards in the West of America at their first coming thither It remains then that the Spaniards can lay no other claim to Darien but what they plead from the Pope's general Grant of America its being bounded by their Dominions and the Treaties with England which shall be considered in their Order To urge the Pope's Grant amongst Protestants is ridicolous and amongst Papists themselves but precarious but admâ—…tting it were sufficient to justifie their Title it is easie to prove that the Spaniards have forfâ—…ited all the Right that they can claim by virtue of that Grant The Church oâ—… Rome will not publickly own her power to grant a Right of Conquest but in order to propagate the Faith and not that neither except the Infidel Prince or People be guilty of a breach of Treaty So that the Pope's Grant with these Restrictions is so far from establishing the Title of the Spaniards that it plainly overthâ—…ows it That the Indians were committed to the Spaniards by Pope Alexander the VI. on condition that they should teach them the Christian Religion is proved by Don Bartholomew de las Casas Bishop of Chiâ—…pa iu his Account of the first Voyages and Discoveries made by the Spaniards in America and the Relation of their unparallel a Cruelties p. 165. and there he likewise owns that their acquitting themselves so ill of that Commission they ought to make Restitution of all they have taken from them under this pretâ—…xt And pag. 200 he charges them with breach of the Terms prescrib'd by the Apostolical Brief tho Queen Isabella to whom it was granted earnestly entreated them to keep exactly to it P. 218. he says that the Title of the King of Spain to the Indians is â—…ounded only on the Obligation he hâ—…d taken upoâ—… himselâ—… to instruct them in the true Faith as appears by the Apostolick Bâ—…ief which they wâ—…re so far from performing that instead of converting their Souâ—…s they destroyed their Bodies having in those early dayes viz In the time oâ—… the Emperor Chaâ—…les V. muâ—…dered above 40 Millions of them and â—…ook so little care to 〈◊〉 them in the Christian Religion that they perfectly obstâ—…ucted their Conversion and sold those very Idolâ—… that some of the poor people had 〈◊〉 away with abhorrence to oâ—…her of the Indians ibid p 194. which
together with â—…heir 〈◊〉 horrid 〈◊〉 câ—…eated an aversion in â—…hose poor Infidâ—…ls foâ—… Heaven it self according to the known Story of Hathwey an â—…ndian Prince ibid. p. 21. whâ—… being fast'ned to a Sâ—…ake by the Spaniards in oâ—…der to be burnt â—…or no other Crime but 〈◊〉 to defend himself and his â—…ubjects against their 〈◊〉 ask't a Friaâ—… that was discoursing to him of Heaven promising him Eternal Happinesâ—… there if he would believe and threatning him with Hell if he did not whether Heaven was opened to the Spaniards answer'd that it was to such of tâ—…em as were good replied immediatly that hâ—… would not go thither foâ—… fear of meeting such Cruel and wicked Company as they were but would much â—…ather chuse to go to Hell where he might be Deliver'd from the troublesome sight oâ—… such kind of People So that their forfeiture of all Right or Title to Darien by the Pope's Gâ—…ant if it were of any validity is plainly demonstrated Their next Plea is that Darien is bounded or inclosed by their Dominions Viz. by Portobello and Carthagena with â—…heir Territories on the Noâ—…th and Panama and Sancta Maria on the South To this it is Answered that Darien is bounded only by â—…he Sea on both sides without so much as a Spanish Fort or Garrison from Nombre de Dios to the Gulf of Darien on the North Sea or â—…rom the River of Chepo to the River of Congâ—… on the South Sea The Territories of the Spaniards confining on bo th end of the Isthmus are not unlimited but are restricted on both sides by the Dariens who as has been already said were never subject to Spain Nor is it any new thing in the World for independent Soveraignty s to ly 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 lye in the very bosome 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 Neighbour-hood of the Spaniards The English and French have both of 'em Plantations in Newfoundland The Dutch in time of Peace settled in Long Island in the middle of the English Plantations yet no War ensued upon it The English Plantations 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 Loggwood c. and remov'd and settled as they found Convenient K. Charles II in time of Peace granted a Patent to Mr. Cox to settle a Colonie 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 Mississipi 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 overturn'd by Common Practice the Law of Nations and their own Concessions in parallel Cases The next Plea 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 Ameriea 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 infeâ—…'d from those Treaties is that they were a mutuâ—…l security for the peaceable possession of what each Crown enjoy'd in that Countrey 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 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 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 People or Subjects of the other against the Articles of that Alliance or against common Right there shall not therefore be given Letters of Reprisal Marque or Countermarque by any of the Confederates until such time as Justice is follow'd in the ordinary Course of Law Yet the Spaniards without any such Procedure or offering in the least to prove their Title to Darien present a virulent and huffiâ—…g Memorial at the very first charging the King with want of Friendship and a Breach of Alliance and threatning to take such measures as they shall think meet when their sickly Monarchy has not yet had time to breath since rescu'd from the common danger wherein Europe was involv'd by the Arms of that very Prince whom they treat so ungratefully But this is not all for contrary to the express Words of that same Treaty they attack the Scots by Sea and Land who had done them no Injury but acquainted them that they came peaceably without any hostile design against them or any other People And were so generous as to reject the Motion of Capt. Andreas one of the Darien Princes and their Ally when he offered to make them Masters of Panama if they would but join him with 500 of their Men. The Spaniards have also contrary to the 10th and 11th Articles of the Treaty concluded at Madrid July 18 1670 concerning America detain'd the Scots and English Prisoners who were forc'd ashoar at Carthagena by Shipwrack tho all such practices be expresly provided against by the said Articles and they have also violated the 14th Article of that Treaty which forbids Reprisals except in case of denying or unreasonably delaying Justice From all which it is evident that the King of Great Britain has just reason to demand Satisfaction of the Spaniards sor attacking his Subjects contrary to Treaty and that the SCOTS being thus injuriously treated may very lawfully not only make Reprisals upon the Spaniards for themselves but join with the King of Darien in taking Sancta Maria Panama or any other place helonging to the Spaniards in that Countrey of which the Dariens are Natural Lords and the Spaniards Tyrannical Usurpers as is pleaded by the King of Darien himself and therefore he invited the English Buccaneers to assist him to retake it and by this Capt. Sawkins justified his proceedings in
a Letter to the Governor of Panama asserting that the King of Darien was true Lord of Panama and all the Countrey thereabouts and that they came to assist him History of Buccaneers Vol. 2. part 4. p. 32. And we have mentioned before that Capt. Sharp who was accused of Piracy for that same Expedition and succeeded Sawkins in his Command was acquitted in England because he had that Prince's Commission Having fully prov'd that the Spaniards have no Title in Darien it remains to be prov'd that the SCOTS have as good and just a Title to their Settlement there as any People in the World can have which may easily be demonstrated thus They were authorized by an Act of Parliament and the Kings Letters Patent to plant Colonies in Asia Africa or America upon Places not inhabited or any other Place by Consent of the Natives not possest by any European Prince or State Being provided with this Authority than which there cannot be a Greater or one more duly and honestly limited they equipp'd their Ships and landed on the North side of the Isthmus of Darien in November 1698. where the Spaniards as has been fully prov'd never had any possession and no other European Prince or State pretends any Claim to it Being arriv'd there they fairly obtained the Consent of the Princes and People of the Country and particularly of Captain Andreas who is the chief Man in that Tract And after a solemn Treaty and Alliance deliberatly made and wrote in Spanish because the said Prince understands that Language they peaceably enter upon their new Colony without either Force or Fraud So that they have religiously kept to the Conditions of the Act and Patent which is a plain demonstration hat they have a just and legal Title to their Settlement and a Right to the Protection of the Government against the Attempts of the Spaniards or any other People whatsoever The next Topick to be insisted upon is the Advantage or Disadvantage that may redound to England from this Settlement We shall begin with the Disadvantage which consists in the supposed Damage it may do to the Trade of England and that it may as is pretended occasion a Rupture between them and Spain To this we may easily reply that being a distinct and independent Nation we are not oblig'd to consult their Interest any further than they consult ours and that we have as much Reason to maintain this Colony because of the Advantage it may bring to our selves as they have to oppose it because of the Disadvantages that they fancy may arise from thence to England But withal we deny that it can be any damage to their Trade which from that part of the World consists chiefly in Sugar and Tobacco neither of which are yet to be found in New Caledonia But that which we look upon to be a compleat Answer to the Objection is this That they may be sharers with Us in the settlement if they please and by consequence Partners in the Profits and Trade and lay it under such Regulations as may prevent its endamaging the Commerce of England And whereas it is further objected That by the great Immunities and freedom granted to the SCOTS Company for so many Years we shall be able to undersell the English Company forestal their Markets and lessen his Majesties Customs we answer that this Objection is in a great measure obvâ—…ated since we do not now pretend to set up an East-India Trade but admitting it were true it will be to the general Advanâ—…age of the English Nation since the Buyers are always more than the Sellers It must certainly be better for the Kingdom in general that every one who has occasion for Muslâ—…n or Indian Silks c. should have so many shillings per Yard or peice in their Pockets than that some two or three Merchants should once in an Age get Money enough to make a Daughter or two a Countess or Dutchess Noâ—… can it be denied but it's better for England that Housekeepers in general should save that Money to buy Provisions for their Families which consumes our own Product than that a dozen of Merchants should be enabled by the extravagant prices of those commodities to keep their Coaches Add to this that the English if they please by joining with the SCOTS may have an equal share of all those Immunities and if there should be for some time a lessening of the King's Customs of which there is at present no manner of prospect it will be sufficiently made up in time to come by a large Addition if that Colony prospers so that the King's Bounty in that respect is but like the bestowing of charge to improve barren or waste Ground which will return with treble Interest to him or his Heirs There 's another Objection made against the SCOTS Company that by their Constitution such Ships as belong to them must break Buâ—…k â—…o 〈◊〉 but in Scotland whâ—…ch will diminish thâ—… number of English Ships and Seâ—…men and make Scotland the only Free Port of all these Commodities â—…o which it 's â—…eplyed That tho ouâ—… own Ships are obliged to break Bulk no where but at home they don't lay same Obligation upon others but allowing them a free Trade to Darien they may caâ—…ry their Goods where they please or upon fair Proposals there 's no doubt but the Parliament of Scotland will give â—…he English all possible Liberty as to that matter Then as to the hazaâ—…d of a Rupture with Spain we reply Thaâ—… the Spaniards are in no condition to break with England when they are not able to maintain themselves against the Insuâ—…ts of the French by Sea and Land and the only way to secure them in thâ—… British Interest is to have a powerful Colony in Darien which lying in the very Centre oâ—… their American Dominions and within reach of their Silver and Gold Mines will be an effectual Cuâ—…b upon them and not only prevent their own Hostâ—…lities but their joining at any time with our Enemies or if they do being Masters of their Money we shall speedily cut â—…e sinews of their War In the â—…ext place we uâ—…ge that it will be very much for the Inâ—…rest and Advantage of England to incourage and support us in â—…his Settlement 1. Because by this means the SCOTS will increase their shipping and come in time to have a Naval Force capable of assisting the English in the common Defence of the â—…sland in maintaining the Soveraignty of the Seas and convoying their Merchant Men in time of Waâ—… the necessity of which is obvious enough since they and the Duâ—…ch both have been scarce able to secure their Tâ—…ade maintain their Dominion in the Seas and defend themselves from the Invasions of the French during the last War Nor can the English always promise to themselves the Amity of the Dutch who are their Rivals in Trade and difâ—…er far enough from them both in Tâ—…mper and Interest there 's noâ—…hing
to cement them but the Life of our pâ—…esent Soveraign Whereas the SCOTS being united with the English under the same Government and inhabiting the same Island must of 〈◊〉 have the same interest as to Trade and to defend the Counâ—…y against all Forraign Invad ers as they constantly did in foâ—…mer times against Romans Danes Saxons and Normans 〈◊〉 thâ—…ir living then under a separat Prince and their frequent Wars with England Noâ—… is that brave Resistance which a few of them made to the Dutch at Chattam to be forgotten which did in a great measure repair the Honour of England and make amends â—…or the Ignominy and disgrace which that Attempt put upon the English Nation 2. As Scotland increases in shipping they will increase in Wealth and by consequence be able to bear a greater share of the Burden of any Foreign War which will save Men and Money to England and lighten their Taxes 3. The Success of the SCOâ—…S in their Americâ—…n Colony wâ—…ll be an additional strength to the English 〈◊〉 in the West-Indies as well as an Advancement of their Trade by consuming their product and giving them theirs in Exchange 4. The success of the Scots at Darien will be oâ—… great advantage to England for the more Monâ—…y the Scots acquire by their Trade the more they will spend in England which being the Seat of the Government must frequently be visited by their Nobility and Gentry who generally furnish theâ—…seves in England with their best Apparel Household 〈◊〉 Coaches and Horses c. besides the Money that the young Noblemen and Gentlemen spend in their passage through that Nation when they go come from their Travels These things occasion their laying out vast Summs of Money annually in the City of Lonâ—…n â—…hich being the Seat of the Government will as certainly draw Money from Scotland as the Sun draws Vapours after it 5. The success of the Scots in their Forreign Plaâ—…tation will not only ease England of a great number of their Pâ—…dlars so frequently 〈◊〉 of in 〈◊〉 by Country Corporations and 〈◊〉 but it will occasion the return home and prevent the going oâ—…t of vâ—…st numbers of their Youth who follow the 〈◊〉 sort of 〈◊〉 or betake themselves to the Sword in Denmark 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mâ—…ovy Germany Holland and 〈◊〉 By whâ—…ch meâ—…ns the Government of Great Britâ—…in may fuâ—…nish tâ—…ir Fâ—…ts and Armies at a much Cheaper and easier Rate than foâ—…merly and wâ—…th as good Mariners and Souldiers as any in the Worlâ—… 6. The Eâ—…glish by joining with the Scots and supporting their Colony at Dâ—…rien may have their Plate brought home in their own Bottoms and from their own Mines with which we are assured that Country abounds without being obliged to touch at Cadiz or any 〈◊〉 Port being lyable to the Vexatious Induâ—…os of Forreign Princes or in such hazard of being Intercepted as they many times were duâ—…ing the late War 7. The English may by joining with the Scots render themselves more Capable than ever of keeping the Ballance of Europe in their Hâ—…nds a Trust which Nature and Providence seems to have assign'd them since their Situation and Naval Force not only makâ—…s it propper for them but they have had an opportunity put into their hanâ—…s in lâ—…ttle above the Revolution of â—…ne Century of twice breakiâ—…g the Chaines of Europe when threatned with Slavery first by the Spaniards and then by the French This is so much the more evident that by being possess'd of Darien they will be able either to prevent the uniting the Spaniâ—…h and French Monarchies or if not so to render that Union so much the less dangerous when it will be in their power to sâ—…ize their 〈◊〉 aâ—… Dominions in the Indies without which that bulky Monaâ—…chy must fall by his own weight This is likewise of so mâ—…ch the greater importance that it may very probably ether 〈◊〉 a Religious War â—…owards which the Papists discover so muâ—…h 〈◊〉 or at least bring it to a 〈◊〉 Conclusion For we have as good Reason to look upon the Spanish Mines in the West-Indies to be Antichrist's Pouch by which he maintaines his War against the Church as the old Taborites had to call the Silver Mines in Bohemia by that Name It is ceâ—…tainly the surest Method of destroying Antichrist to seize his Purse for if he once be depriv'd of Judas's Bag he will quickly drop St. Peter's Keyâ—… It 's by the Charms of her Gold that the Babylonish Whore hath made the whole World to wonder after her and the Kings of the Earth to be Drunk with the Cup of her Fornication 8. By this means the English may be better able to prevent the ruin of their Trade in the Mediterranean and West-Indies if the French should possess themselves of the Kingdim of Spain and they will likewise be the better able to prevent their possessing themselves of the Netherlands which if once they should do and get Ports there capable of holding a Fleet they would also ruin thier Eâ—…stland Trade and put a period to the Liberties of Great Britain 9. It will effectually unite the Scots to England by an inseparable Tie if the English join us in this Undertaking Their Ancestors would have gladly purchased this Union at a much dearer rate but were alâ—…ise out bid by France and the want of which Union made the English not only an easie prey to their successive Conquerors but lost them all the large Provinces that they enjoy'd beyond sea which were their natural Barriers gave them a free Access to the Continent and made the English Name so glorious in the days of their Ancestors 10. It will be of general advantâ—…ge to the Protestaâ—…t Interest and contribute to the advancement of pure Christianity without any of the Romish sophistications which certainly ought to weigh much with all true Protestants and so much the more that the Pope and the Conclave of Rome have espoused the Quarrel of the Spaniards in this Affair as a Cause of Religion Doubtless the poor Americans will be more iâ—… clinable to embrace Christianity when they find the difference of the Morals and Doctrine betwixt Protestants and Papists and see â—…t the former treat tbem with Humanity and seek their Welfare both in Body and Soul whereas the Spaniards have render'd 〈◊〉 and the Religion â—…hey profess odious by the inhuman Cruelties and brutish Lusts wbich they have exercised upâ—…n so many Millions of the Natives This is so far from being a Calumny that an unexceptionable Author of their own Don Bâ—…tholomew de las casas Bishop of Chiapa fâ—…rmerly mentioned who was an Eye witness of their Cruelties gives an account that they had in his time destroyed above 40 Millions of the poor Indians tho they receiv'd them with the greatest kindness imaginable were ready to do 'em all the Friendly Offices that one man could desire of anoâ—…her and testified their great Inclination to have embrac'd the Christian Religion But the Spaniards
aim'd at the destruction and not at the Conversion of the Inâ—…ians and are avowedly charged with it by the said Bishop who in many places of his Book declâ—…res that â—…fter they had sent for the Chiefs of the Countries to meet them in an amicable manner which the poor â—…armless Creatures did without suspicion of any â—…d these merciless 〈◊〉 murdered them wholesale on purpose to make themselves terribâ—…e to them This was a Practice so inconsistent with Humanity that all the People of the World ought to have reâ—…ente â—… it as having mâ—…h more reason to declare the Spaniaâ—…ds 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 dâ—…ath the Indians were hereby quickly deliver'd from their Misery whereas they put mulâ—…itude of others to liâ—…ing deaths that they might â—…eel themselves die graduâ—…lly and yet this is not so intolâ—…ble neithâ—… as to the condiâ—…ion of those poor people thaâ—… had the misfortune to survive that Cruelty for the whole time of thâ—… Lives under that miserable Servitude iâ—… but Death prolonged or making his attacks upon 'em by intolerable Labor and continual hunger the most insupportable oâ—… all plagues these poor Creatures that â—…oil in the Mines and are imploy'd in Pearl fishing c. having no more Sustenance allowed them and that 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 soâ—…t thâ—…n is just enough to keep the Soul and Body together in order to prolong their Misery Then let any Mâ—…n who has buâ—… the least remains of Humaniâ—…y left him judge whether the Scoâ—…s could be criminal if â—…hey should have actuâ—…lly lâ—…nded upon a Spanish Settlâ—…ment â—…nd have seiz'd the same â—…n oâ—…der to deliâ—… their Brethren the Sons of Adam fâ—…om such hellish Seâ—…vitude â—…nd Oppression â—…s the above meâ—…tion'd Bâ—…shop describes and iâ—… any man thaâ—… has any Bowels of Compassioâ—… within him can sâ—…y thâ—…y could what shadow of Reason is there to bâ—…ame tâ—…e Scots foâ—…â—…recting a Colony where the Spaniards neveâ—… had any footing The neâ—…t thing to be consider'd is whether the Scots without the assistance of England may probably maintain their footing â—…here which thâ—…re's no doubt may very well be dâ—…termin'd in the affiâ—…mative 1. Becausâ—… the whole Kingdom of Scotland being morâ—… zealous for it and 〈◊〉 in it than they have been in any other 〈◊〉 for fourty or fifty yeâ—…rs past it is not to be doubted but tâ—…ey 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 Natiâ—…ns that are able to assist â—…hem with a Naval force 2. If they meâ—…t with no other Opposition but what the Spaniards are ablâ—… to make tâ—… them it will be â—…asie for the Nâ—…bility and Gentâ—…y and Royâ—…l Burroughs of Scotland to raise Money upoâ—… their Lands c. to increase their Stock for the American Trâ—…de and buy Ships of foâ—…ce to protect it Nay without that it 's but giving Commisâ—…ion to the Buccaneers â—…o become an Over-match for the Spaniards 3. Supposing the Frencâ—… should offer to join with the Spaniards aâ—…d assist them to drive the Scots from Darâ—…n a some â—…ay they have already proffered we are noâ—… to imagine that the Spanià rds will accept their Proffâ—…rs in this case when they 〈◊〉 â—…ed them as to â—…he dâ—…ving the Mâ—…rs from before Ceuta The Reâ—…sons are obvious They declin'd the accepting their Proffâ—…rs 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 Forreign Auxiliarys to do in such cases Then ceâ—…tainly they have much greater Reason to refuse their Proffers as to Darien America being of infinitly moâ—… 〈◊〉 to them than some African Towns and if once the French should get â—…ooting there it would be in vain for the Spanish Gâ—…andees any further to dispute tâ—…e succession of France to tâ—…eir Crown for they woâ—…ld immediatly seize upon their Mines anâ—… Treasures in the WestIndâ—…es without which the Spanish Monarchy is not able to support it self Oâ—… supposing that the King of Spain should live for many years and by consequenâ—…e keep the French out of possession yeâ—… having once got footing at Darien which they will certainly do iâ—… the Scots be expell'd by their assistance the Spaniards will quickly be convinc'd to their cost that they arâ—… more dâ—…ngerous 〈◊〉 thâ—…n thâ—… Scots not only because of their gâ—…ater power to do them moâ—…e mischief but because oâ—… their 〈◊〉 Temper which all Europe is sensible of and being of the samâ—… Râ—…ligion with the Spaniards and haviâ—…g of late years set up for the Champions of Popery they will by the Influence of the Clâ—…rgy bring all the Spanish settlements in America to a depenâ—…ence 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 â—…hose â—…hat consider the Tempeâ—… of the Popish Clergy and the Inâ—…olence of the Spanish Inquisitors who so daâ—…ingly reflected upon the late Allyance of Spain with Pâ—…otestant Princes and States tho absolutly necessaâ—…y to preserve that Nation srom being swallowed up by France Whereas the Scots being zealous Protestants and for that very Reason hateful to the Popish Clergy and Lâ—…ity they are under a moral Impossibility of having so much Influence to withdraw the American settlements from the Obedience of Spain and beâ—…es being under an Obligation by the Principles of their Religion and their fundamental Constitution not to invade the Property of an other the Spaniards have no Cause to tear 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 Countrey 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 proâ—…uce 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 when ever the King of Spain dies But admitting that the Spaniards should so far mistake their Interest as to accept of the Proffers of the French to expell the Scots it is not impossible for the latter to find other Allies than the English to assist them with a naval Force to maintain their Possession The Dutch are known to