Judicial Proceeding, 10 December 1700, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Sixth day of Agust J^aj vii^c years

A1700/8/11

A1700/8/11¹

Letter

Letter from the King To his Commissioner and Councill anent the African and Indian Companys Colony in America

Follows the Tenor of his Majesties Letter which being read was ordered to be Recorded.
His Majesties most Gracious Letter, Directed To his Grace James Duke of Queensberry, His Majesties high Commissioner and the privy Councill of Scotland.
Sic Supra Scribitur William Rex
Right Trusty and Entirely beloved Cousin and Councellor Right Trusty and Right welbeloved Cousin and Councellor Right Trusty and welbeloved Cousins and Councellors, Right Trusty and welbeloved Councellors, and Trusty and wellbeloved Councellors. We greet yow well. We heartily wish, That the last meeting of Parliament, hade proveeded so as that the Kingdom, might have been made partakers of these advantages For which our Commissioner was so Fully Instructed, If It hade been possible for us, To have agreed to the Resolve offered To assert, The Right of the African Companys Colony in America, Tho That Method hade appeared to us more unnecessary yet we hade from the beginning Readily done it att the Earnest desyre of our ministers and for our peoples Satisfaction all other Considerations set apairt, But now That Things are much Changed wherin we are Truly Sorry for the Nations Loss, And we being most willing to grant what may be needfull for the Releiff and Ease of the Kingdom, and the Advancement of its wellfare in all its Concerns, We have Thought Fitt To declare this our good mind to be made Known to all our Loving Subjects, And for the Company’s Concernes We assure yow That we will be so Ready to Concurr with our Parliament, In Every Thing That Can be Reasonably Expected of us, for aiding and Supporting their Interests and Repairing their Losses, That our good Subjects shall have Just grounds to be Sensible of our hearty Inclinationes, To Advance the Wealth and prosperity of that our ancient Kingdom And as for Captain Pincartoun and the other prisoners in Spain, we have already and we hope Effectually Interposed for their Liberation. In the next place as we did Fully Instruct our Commissioner, so we are Still Resolved To pass all such Laws as shall be offered for the better Establishing the True Protestant Religion, and the Presbeterian Government of the Church, which yow att present Enjoy for the more Effectuall preventing The Growth of Popery Justly Feared for the Repressing of vice and Immorality, For the preserveing and Secureing the Liberty of mens persons, for the Encouradgeing and advancement of Trade, and Manucatories and Generally to give our assent to such other Laws, as shall be brought in For furder Clearing and Secureing mens civill Rights and properties, promoting the Administration of Justice, and Setleing the peace and Quiet of the Kingdom demanding nothing on our pairt, Save what shall be necessary To maintain That our ancient Kingdom, In so happy a Setlement against our and their Enemies, And This Declaration we are Confident will be satisfying to all good men, who will Certanly be Carefull, both of their own preservation and Interest and Honour of the Government, and not to Suffer themselves To be misled, nor to give any advantadge to Enemies, and ill designing persones Ready to Catch hold of Every opportunity as their practices do too manifestly Witness. Our necessary Absence hath occasioned the alte adjournments, But as soon as God Shall Bring us back, We are Firmly Resolved out Parliament shall meet, where we do again assure all our good Subjects, nothing Shall be wanting on our pairt, That may Contribute to their welfare and happiness, And this our Resolution and declaration, we allow yow to publish for the Satisfaction of all Concerned, So we bid yow heartily Farewell. Given at our Court at Loo The Twenty Six day of July 1700. And of our Reign the Twelfth year By his Majesties Command. Robert Pringle.