AS Religion, Liberty and Law are the dearest Concerns of mankind, so the deep sense of the extream Hazards these were exposed to, must produce suitable Returns from the Kingdom of Scotland to Your Majesty, whom in all Sincerity and Gratitude, we acknowledge to be under God, our great and seasonable Deliverer; and we heartily Congratulat, that as God has honoured Your Majesty to be an emi­nent Instrument for the preservation of His Truth, so he hath Rewarded Your Undertakings with Success, in the considerable Progress which You have made in Delivering us, and in preserving to us the Protestant Religion.

We return our most dutiful Thanks to Your Majesty, for Your accepting the Ad­ministration of publick Affairs, and Conveening the Estates of this Kingdom; and we shall with all convenient Diligence, take Your gracious Letter into our Con­sIderation, hoping shortly, by the blessing of God, to fall upon such Resolutions, as may be acceptable to Your Majesty, secure the Protestant Religion, and Esta­blish the Government, Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom upon solid Foundati­ons, most agreeable to the general Good and Inclination of the People.

As to the Proposal of the Union, we doubt not Your Majesty will so Dispose that Matter, that there may be an equal readiness in the Kingdom of England to ac­complish it, as one of the best means for securing the Happiness of these Nations, and setting a lasting Peace.

VVe have hitherto, and still shall endeavour to avoid Animosities or Prejudice, which might disturb our Councils, that as we design the publick Good, so it may be done with the general Concurrence and Approbation of the Nation: In the mean time, we desire the continuance of Your Majesties Care and Protection to­wards us in all our Concerns, whereof the kind Expressions in Your gracious Let­ter, have given us full assurance,