Att Edinburgh The Eight day of March Jaj viic and thrie years, Called Extraordinar
A1703/3/9
A1703/3/91
Letter
Letter from the Chancelor To The Viscount of Tarbat Secretary of State anent a Tumult at Glasgow
Followes the Letter from the Chancelor direct to the Viscount of Tarbat Secretary.
My Lord
Wee are much Surprized and heartily Sory that wee have the Occasion to give yow this accompt of a Tumult hapened yesterday at Glasgow which wee Send to your Lordship to be Laid before her Majestie with the Letters therto relateing When my Lord Chancelor came to this place he spoke to the provest of Glasgow to make particular inquyrie of the disorders that had happened ther on the accompt of a meetting keept by one of the Episcopall Clergy on the 30 January Last, And the provest So Soon as he came to Glasgow Gave him the returne of his dilligence which is herewith sent Wherby it was hoped That letter order should be for therafter keept at that place But ther being a Report of Stirrs Like to happen againe upon the accompt that Some of the Episcopall Clergie intended to take the benefit of her Majesties Letter; and Sett up meettings in that place My Lord Chancelor did wryt to the provest very earnestly As 2 Yor Lordship will See by the Copie of his Letter That all possible care Should be taken for preventing of Mobbs and Tumults as intollerable in any caice and Such as would be punished with the greatest Severity; and this Letter the provest did timeously receive and Comunicat to the Toune Councill as he himself affirmes; But Notwithstanding therof; Wee are informed both by the provests Letter and a Letter from the Lord Kilmares Commanding officer of the Regiment their quartered; That on Sunday Last ther happened their a very violent Mobb and Tumult Wherby Sir John Bells house (wher on Mr Burges a Minister qualified to her Majesties Government was to preach) was Surrounded and when offered to be defended from that violence was Immediatly assaulted by a greater Tumult from all the kirks so that the windoues were brock; The door forced by great hamers and all put in that Confusion; That when the Magistrates came and he also called for the assistance of the Regiment there quartered; All that the magistrates and Souldiers could do was only to bring the people out and conduct them home in Safety from the violence offered as your Lordship will understand more particularly from the other Letters herewith Sent; My Lord this being ane attrocious and unsufferable violence Wee have given the orders necessar both for punishing the actors and accessories; And preventing the Like in time comeing As your Lordship will perceive by the Copie of our Letters Sent to the Magistrats And wee are furder resolved That if the provest who is expected here to morrow Shall not undertake to keep the peace of the place more forces (which wee have Ordered to be in readines) Shall be Commanded thither with all dilligence; This is the first Tumult (and wee hope shall be the Last) That hath happened in her Majesties Gracious reigne; And Therfore wee have thought fitt to transmitt this particular account of it That her Majestie may be assured of our outtmost care and Zeall on all occasiones for mantaineing her Majesties authority and preserveing the peace of the Kingdome; This 3 By warrand and in presence of her majesties privy Councill Is Signified to yor Lordship By yor Lordships most humble Servant Sic Subscribitur Seafeild.
1. NRS, PC1/52, 521-2.
2. The words ‘the sai’ have been scored out at this point in the MS.
3. The words ‘is Sign’ have been scored out at this point in the MS.
1. NRS, PC1/52, 521-2.
2. The words ‘the sai’ have been scored out at this point in the MS.
3. The words ‘is Sign’ have been scored out at this point in the MS.