THE ANSWER Of the Estates of PARLIAMENT of the Kingdom of Scotland, to His Majesties most Gracious Letter direct to them.
WE Your Majesties most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects, the Lords and Commissioners of Shyres and Burrows, in Parliament Assembled, Do Return Your Majesty our most Hearty and Humble Thanks, for the Fatherly Care You are Pleased to express in Your Gracious Letter, of the Concerns of this Your antient Kingdom, particularly for giving us the Hopes, (which we with all Duty lay hold on,) that we shall have the Honour of Your Majesties Presence amongst us, as soon as that can be. We are fully perswaded, that as we owe all the Happiness of the State we are in, to Your Majesties coming into Britain, so we can only owe to Your Majesties being in Person amongst us, the Finishing and intire Settlement of it.
In the mean While, we humbly Acknowledge Your Majesties Goodness, in Calling us together so Seasonably, and with so Gracious a Confidence, even in Your Absence from Britain, when the putting of this Nation in a good Posture of Defence, is so necessary for the Security of it, and for quieting the Minds of all Your Majesties good Subjects, who cannot yet calmly reflect on the Posture it was in the last Spring, during the Apprehensions of an Invasion then. Sir, we hope Things will show, that nothing could have happened more for Your Majesties Service, and the good of Your People, and more Acceptable to all good Men, than the Meeting of Your Parliament at this time.
We are sensible of the good Choise, Your Majesty has made of the Duke of Hamiltoun to be Your Commissioner, whose Capacity, Faithfulness, and Zeal, in managing upon such Occasions, the common Interests of Your Majesty, and Your People, are from frequent and good Experience, well known to both: and we are resolved to concur with him, in doing what ever shall be found necessary to be done at this time, for securing the Peace and Quiet of this Kingdom, and for Calming or Removing those Differences about Church-matters, that Raise or Intertain Heats and Animosities amongst us, we doubt not but to fall on such Methods, as will Conduce to Peace and Union, and put an end to the vain Hopes, as well as the Practices of bad Men, whether at Home Or Abroad: and we shall endeavour to Conclude, with that Calmness and Dispatch Your Majesty Requires; a [...] we hope, by our Proceedings upon this and all other Occasions, to evidence to th [...] World, as we have hitherto done, how much we Your Majesties most Loyal Parliament are perswaded, that next to the Favour of God Almighty, the Safety and Happiness of this Kingdom, depends wholly upon the Stability of the present Settlement; and to convince all Men, how deeply sensible we are, of the great Duty we owe to Your Majesty as our Deliverer, as well as our Dread Soveraign.
Sir,
It remains, that we add our Prayers to God Almighty, to bless your Majesty and the
Queen, with a long and happy Reign, and in particular, to preserve Your Majesties
Person from the Accidents of War, and the Machinations of Your Enemies, and to continue
to prosper You in Your Endeavours, to deliver from Danger this Nation, and these
other parts of Europe, which You have saved from Ruine. Signed by Warrand, and in
Name of the Estates of Parliament, by
His Majesties Gracious RETURN TO VVILLIAM DUKE OF Hamilton, Their Majesties High Commissioner.
We have received a Letter from Our Parliament of that Our antient Kingdom, bearing date the One and Twentieth day of April last, and are well Satisfied with the Expressions of Loyalty and Duty to Us therein, which We Require you to signifie to them, with Our gracious Acceptance thereof. And as by the former Proofs We have had of your Fidelity, We are well assured of your utmost Application and Vigilancy, for Our Service, and the Publick Good, not only as Our Commissioner to Our Parliament, but likewise in your other Capacities and Employments, during Our Absence from Britain: So We are glade to find Our Parliament is no less convinced than We, of your Zeal and Fitness for the discharge of the Trusts reposed in you; and We doubt not but they will continue, as they have begun, to Concur with you, in doing what-ever shall be found necessary to be done in this Juncture (so far as time will Permit) for securing the Peace and Quiet of that Kingdom, not only in its Civil, but likewise in its Religious Concerns.
We likewise Desire our Parliament may be Acquainted with Our Satisfaction with their grateful Sense of Our tender Care and Concern for that Our antient Kingdom, which by you We do Assure them hath been, and still shall be such, that as hitherto We have left nothing Undone that might Contribute to the making of it Happy; So We shall never be a-weary of so good a Work. And Lastly, We Desire they may go on (as We doubt not but hitherto they have done) with that Calmness and Moderation which becomes, which will be no less pleasing to Us, then it will be for their own Advantage and R [...]putation, and which will indeed be a singular Mean to frustrate the [Page 4] vain Hopes, as well as elude the pernitious Practices, of bad Men, Our and their Enemies; And that upon the whole, their Mannagement may be such, as We shall have no reason to Repent of Our Calling them together at this time, but that every step of their Proceedings may contribute to make this a happy Session. And so We bid you heartily Farewel.
Given at Our Court at Breda, the Twelfth day of May 1693. And of Our Reign the Fifth year.
EDINBURGH, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to Their most Excellent Majesties, Anno DOM. 1693.