His Majesties LETTER TO His Parliament in Scotland, Assembled October 19. 1669.
Together with THE SPEECH OF His Grace the Earle of Lauderdale, HIS Majesties High-Commissioner.
AS ALSO, The Answer OF THE PARLIAMENT OF SCOTLAND TO His Majesties Gracious LETTER.
Published by His Majesties speciall Command.
In the SAVOY, Printed by Tho: Newcomb: AND Reprinted at Edinburgh, by Andrew Anderson, Anno 1669.
His Majesties LETTER TO His Parliament in SCOTLAND, Assembled October 19. 1669.
WE do often reflect, with thankfulnes & joy, upon the goodnesse of Almighty God, for restoring Ʋs to our Kingdoms, and them to their former Liberty, and Peace: and we acknowledge it a further instance of Gods goodnesse, that as he hath filled Our beart with kindness towards Our Subjects of that our Ancient Kingdom, and with a Constant Zeal to promote what We judge conducible to their welfare; so He hath blest Ʋs with returns from them of Love, Loyalty and ready Complyance with Our Pleasure on all Occasions, most sutable thereunto: of which our late Parliament hath given signal proofs, as wel as Our other good Subjects. And this gives Ʋs Confidence that the earnest desire We have to render this Island more happie then ever it was in times past, by setling amongst all Our good Subjects within the same, a mutuall affection that may endure to all [Page 2]Posterity, shall meet with a free Concurrence from you Our Parliment, whom We have called together chiefly for this end.
The bringing of these two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, to as close & strict an Ʋnion as is possible, is the means that We propose, for the effectuating thereof: which as it is the highest and noblest design We can have, for witnessing Our Royall Affection to them both, so the accomplishment of it will raise Our satisfaction, almost, as high as Our Wishes. For by the Ʋnion of the hearts & hands of our People, not only our Throne shall be strengthned, and they have Peace and Love setled amongst them for ever, but We shall have the Glory of Accomplishing what our Royall Grandfather King James of ever blessed Memory, attempted as the greatest thing he could devise, and wherein be, whowas a Competent Judge, placed the happiness of the Crown and Kingdoms, and wherein He meant to have gloried as the chiefest action of His Life.
We have fully instructed our Commissioner with our intentions as to this Subject, and concerning such other matters as seem to Ʋs to be usefull for the Constant peace and welfare of the Church and State in that our Kingdome. You are to give him full Credit, & he will acquaint us with all matters; and what is farther necessary for Ʋs to do, will be speedily performed. So we bid You heartily farewell.
THE SPEECH OF HIS GRACE THE Earle of Lauderdale, HIS MAJESTIES HIGH-COMMISSIONER For the Parliament OF SCOTLAND: Delivered in Parliament The Ninteenth day of October, 1669.
Published by His Majesties special Command.
In the SAVOY, Printed by Tho: Newcomb: AND Re-printed at Edinburgh, by Andrew Anderson, Anno 1669.
THE SPEECH OF HIS GRACE THE Earle of Lauderdale, His Majesties High-Commissioner For the PARLIAMENT OF SCOTLAND.
BY the Authority of the King, and His special Command you are here assembled in His high Court of Parliament. You have heard His royal Intentions under His own hand, with the chief Reasons of His calling you together. You have heard His most gracious Expressions of His kindnesse to His Subjects in this His ancient Kingdom, and His Confidence of You their Representatives; And I shall as shortly as I can acquaint you with what I have further in command from my Master to say in His Name at the opening of this His Parliament. And first I am to assure You of His Majesties constant [Page 4]and unalterable Zeal, for maintaining and defending the true Reformed Protestant Religion in this His Kingdom, for which he will constantly lay out His whole Power and Authority, as also for discouraging and punishing all Atheism and Profanities, and all that is contrary to true Religion and Godliness. I am further particularly commanded to assure You, That with no less Zeal and Constancie He will maintain and defend the antient Government by Archbishops and Bishops, as now it is happily settled, as a sure fence for the true Reformed Protestant Religion, A Government most suteable to Monarchy; and well may I call it Antient, for whoever will look into Antiquity shall find Episcopal Government hath continued in the whole Catholick Church both East and West, even from the most Primitive and Apostolick Times: I shal not insist on the sad Calamities and Confusions which the violent and rebellious endeavours to overturn this Government produced in this Kingdom; His Majesties gracious Act of Pardon and Oblivion forbids the ripping up those sores which His own Royal hand hath cured, and long may they be buried in Oblivion: Yet sure I am, the reflections on those dismal days ought to raise no less Zeal in the Parliament, and in all good Subjects for the maintaining of that Government as now it is happily settled: For, in his Majesties Name and by His special command I do assure You, He will imploy His utmost power in the maintenance of that Government, and will protect the persons of my Lords the Archbishops and Bishops, and of the Loyal, Orthodox and peaceable Clergy in the exercise of their functions: He will not endure those numerous and unlawfull Conventicles which tend to Sedition and Schism, which have been too frequent in some few Shires of this Kingdome: Good Laws have been made; and in prosecution of those Laws, the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council have shown their care for suppressing those seditious Assemblies; Yea, and of late His Majesty has graciously indulged the planting of some who were esteemed peaceable men, in vacant Churches (though they came not up to the rules establisht.) It will be expected that they walk worthy of so great a favour: But if after this removal of the very pretence of unlawful Conventicles any factious people shal in contempt of His Majesties Laws yea, & His indulence also, seditiously Assemble themselves under pretence of Religious Worship, His Majesty doth Require His Parliament, and all in Authority under Him vigorously to suppress such Meetings, and to bring the pretended Preachers, and the Ring-leaders of such unlawful Assemblies, to condign and exemplary punishment.
[Page 5] In the next Place, I am commanded to let you know, That I am sufficiently Instructed to give His Majesties Royal Assent to such Laws as shall be prepared in this Parliament, for the constant Peace and welfare of this Church, and of the Kingdom in all its Relations: But the chief Occasion of calling this Parliament, is the prosecution of that great & glorious Design of bringing His Kingdoms of Scotland and England to a stricter & nearer Union. This Design was begun by His Royal Grandfather of blessed Memory, who went so far on towards this great VVork, that in the first year of His Reign over Great Brittain, King James named Commissioners for this Kingdom, who by Act of Parliament were authorized to Treat and Consult with Commissioners for the Kingdom of England, concerning such an Union: And in pursuance of their Treaty, Acts were made for the Repealing of Hostile Laws, and the utter abolition of all memory of Hostility between the two Nations: And in the Seventh year of His Reign, it was, by the Judges of all the Courts of Westminster-Hall in England, solemnly adjudged, in the Case of the Post-nati, that those who after the Descent of the Crown of England to King James, were born in Scotland were no Aliens in England, and consequently were capable, not only of Land, but of all other Immunities, as if they had been born in England, so much was done in King James his time. And the occasions of His Majesties Resolutions to prosecute this great Work, were these Complaints having been made to His Majesty, That since the 25th day of March, in the Twelfth year of His Reign, new duties were imposed in England upon divers Commodities of the growth, production, and manufacture of Scotland, and incapacities laid upon the Subjects of Scotland: It pleased the King to appoint divers Meetings upon this Matter, though without Success: whereupon the late Parliament of this Kingdom imposed, in their third Session Ann. 1663. great Duties upon the Commodities of the growth, production, or manufacture of England, which by His Majesties Command were suspended, and have not been exacted, though the Duties in England still continue; and upon His Majesties recommendation to the Parliament of England, an act was lately made for setling freedom and intercourse of Trade between the two Kingdomes: Whereupon Commissioners were nominated and appointed by His Majesty for both Kingdoms to Treat upon that Affair, who had many Meetings, but produced no effect, unlesse it were a conviction of the Difficultie, if not impossibility of setling it in any other way, then by a nearer and more compleat Union of the two Kingdoms. His Majesty is fully perswaded that nothing can tend more to the good and security of both Nations, than such an Union. And finding that in His Royal Grandfathers [Page 6]time, so great an advance was made toward this Union, and that the continuance under the same Obedience for near 70 years, having begotten the same common Friends and common Enemies to; both Nations, and taken off a great part of those Difficulties, which at the first (notwithstanding the Union in Obedience to One Soveraign) stood in the way. His Majesty well hopes, that what is yet wanting to the perfecting of it, may be now accomplish'd, and therefore, in His Majesties Name, I do most heartily recommend this great work unto you; and I doubt not, but you will speedily send such an humble Answer to His Majesties most gracious Letter as may witnesse how well grounded that confidence is, which His Majesty hath expressed of you. This day the Parliament of England meets, and the King will both Himself and by His Lord Keeper make the like Proposals (as to the Union) unto both Houses: And I am confident, that Loyal Parliament, who have all along given such ample Testimonies of their Duty and Affection to His Majesty, will upon this Occasion make a suitable Return to His Proposals. What is farther to be proposed upon this Matter, shall be offered at your next dayes Meeting: and the King doubts not but that after the meeting of Commissioners for both Kingdoms, those things will be tendered to your consideration, in order to the Union, as shal tend to the Honour of His Majesty, and the common good of all His Subjects. These things I was commanded, before I came away from His Majesty to acquaint you with, and I have since, upon another Occasion, received an order in writing bearing date the 7th of this Moneth; by which I am again commanded, amply to declare His Majesties unchangeable Resolution to maintain Episcopal Government in the Church. So having begun and ended with this Declaration, I hope both the groundlesse Jealousies on the one hand, and the vain and idle hopes on the other shall be at an end.
THE ANSWER OF THE Parliament of Scotland, TO His Majesties Gracious LETTER.
THe Goodness of God, in Restoring YOUR MAjESTY to Your Government, and thereby this your Antient Kingdome to its former Liberty and peace, Hath been, and wil ever, with all Humble Duty and Thankfulness, be Acknowledged, as the greatest Blessing we are Capable of in this World. And, the Many Singular and Renewed Testimonies this Kingdom hath since met with, of Your Fatherly Care, Kindness, and Zeal, to Promove its Welfare and Happiness in all its Concernes, have 7s;o engaged the Hearts and Affections of Your Subjects, That We can with confidence Assure Your Majesty of a Chearfull Concurrence from this Kingdom in Every Thing may Tend to Your Majesties Honour, or the Good of Your People.
We do, with the Like Duty and Thankfulness, Acknowledge Your Majesties Grace and Goodness, in Your desires to render this Island more happy then ever it was in former Times by Setling among Your good Subjects within the same, such a Mutual Affection, as may endure to all Posterity. And, since the Bringing of Your Two Kingdomes of Scotland and England to as Close and strict an Union as is possible, is the Mean Your Majesty Proposes: For Effectuating thereof, We shall be ready to Give Our Hearty-Concurrence therein: And in Order thereunto are willing that Commissioners be Appointed for this Kingdom, to Treat with such as shall be Employed for the Kingdom of England, upon the Grounds and Conditions of this Union: Reserving alwayes to the Parliament, Tu whom the Resolution of these Commissioners are to be Return [...]d, the Consideration thereof, and the Allowing or Disallowing of the same, as They shal judge fit. And, in Confidence of Your Majesties most Excellent [Page 8]Judgment, and Great Affection in all things Relating to the Happinesse of Your People, whereof this Kingdom hath already had so many Signal Proofs; We do Freely and Heartily offer to Your Majesty the Nomination of the Persons to Treat for this Kingdom, with the Appointing of their Number, Quorum, Time and Place of their Meeting: And, upon signification of Your Majesties Pleasure therein, We shall give such Commissions and Orders for Promoving of the Treaty, as (Reserving the Full Determination of all to the Parliament, as aforesaid) shall Witness Our Cheerful Complyance with Your Majesties Desires.
The Earl of Lauderdale, whom Your Majesty, to the great Satisfaction of Your People, and Interest of Your Service, has been pleased to Authorize as Your Commissioner, Hath, in Your Majesties Name Renewed to Us the Assurances of Your Majesties Care and Respect, to the good of this Your Antient Kingdom: For which We do Humbly Return to Your Majesty the Offer of Our Lives and Fortunes, for the advancement of Your Majesties Honor and Greatness, and maintenance of Your Royal Authority and Government: And in every thing shall be proposed by Him, We shall not only give Credit as to Your Commissioner, but also such Cheerfull and ready Obedience, as may Evidence to the World the Loyalty of Our Hearts: And in Testimony hereof, These Presents are by Warrant, and in Name of Your Parliament, Signed by