Letter, 8 March 1703, Edinburgh

Act, 28 December 1703, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Eight day of March Jaj viic and thrie years, Called Extraordinar

A1703/3/81

Letter

Letter by the Lord Chancelor To The Duke of Queensbery Secretary anent a Tumult at Glasgow

Followes the Letter Signed by the Chancelor, and direct to the Duke of Queensbery Secretary of State
My Lord.
Wee are much Surprized and heartily Sory that wee have the Occasion to give yow this accompt of a Tumult hapned yesterday at Glasgow which wee send to your Grace2 3 to be Laid before her Majestie with the Letters therto relateing When My Lord Chancelor came to this place he spock to the provest of Glasgow to make particular inquirie of the disorders that had hapned ther on the accompt of a Meetting keept by one of the Episcopall Clergie on the 30 of 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 better order Should be fore therafter keept at that place; But their being a report of Stirrs Like to happen again upon the account That some of the Episcopall Clergy intended to take the benefitt of her Majesties Letter and to Sett up meettings in that place, My Lord Chancelor did wryt to the provest very earnestly as your Lordship will See by the Copie of his Letter That all possible care Should be taken for preventing of mobbs and Tumults as intolerable in any cace 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 hapened their a very violent mobb and Tumult; Wher by Sir John Bells house (wher one 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 window’s were brock The dore forced by great hamers; and all put in that Confussion; That when the Magistrates came and hade also called for the assistance of the Regiment ther quartered; All that the Magistrates and Souldiers could doe was only to bring the people out and conduct them home in Safety from the violence offered as your Grace will understand more particularly from the other Letters herewith sent; My Lord this being ane atrocious and insufferable violence; Wee have given the orders necessar both for punishing the actors and accessories; and preventing the Like in time comeing as your Grace will perceive by the Copie of our Letters sent to the Magistrates, And wee are farder 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 hapened 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 outmost care and Zeall on all occasiones for mantaineing her Majesties Authority and preserveing the peace of the kingdome. This by order and in presence of her Majesties privy Councill Is Signified to your Grace by Your Graces Most humble Servant Sic Subscribitur Seafeild

Att Edinburgh The Eight day of March Jaj viic and thrie years, Called Extraordinar

A1703/3/81

Letter

Letter by the Lord Chancelor To The Duke of Queensbery Secretary anent a Tumult at Glasgow

Followes the Letter Signed by the Chancelor, and direct to the Duke of Queensbery Secretary of State
My Lord.
Wee are much Surprized and heartily Sory that wee have the Occasion to give yow this accompt of a Tumult hapned yesterday at Glasgow which wee send to your Grace2 3 to be Laid before her Majestie with the Letters therto relateing When My Lord Chancelor came to this place he spock to the provest of Glasgow to make particular inquirie of the disorders that had hapned ther on the accompt of a Meetting keept by one of the Episcopall Clergie on the 30 of 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 better order Should be fore therafter keept at that place; But their being a report of Stirrs Like to happen again upon the account That some of the Episcopall Clergy intended to take the benefitt of her Majesties Letter and to Sett up meettings in that place, My Lord Chancelor did wryt to the provest very earnestly as your Lordship will See by the Copie of his Letter That all possible care Should be taken for preventing of mobbs and Tumults as intolerable in any cace 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 hapened their a very violent mobb and Tumult; Wher by Sir John Bells house (wher one 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 window’s were brock The dore forced by great hamers; and all put in that Confussion; That when the Magistrates came and hade also called for the assistance of the Regiment ther quartered; All that the Magistrates and Souldiers could doe was only to bring the people out and conduct them home in Safety from the violence offered as your Grace will understand more particularly from the other Letters herewith sent; My Lord this being ane atrocious and insufferable violence; Wee have given the orders necessar both for punishing the actors and accessories; and preventing the Like in time comeing as your Grace will perceive by the Copie of our Letters sent to the Magistrates, And wee are farder 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 hapened 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 outmost care and Zeall on all occasiones for mantaineing her Majesties Authority and preserveing the peace of the kingdome. This by order and in presence of her Majesties privy Councill Is Signified to your Grace by Your Graces Most humble Servant Sic Subscribitur Seafeild

1. NRS, PC1/52, 519-21.

2. Insertion.

3. The word ‘Lordship’ has been scored out at this point of the MS.

1. NRS, PC1/52, 519-21.

2. Insertion.

3. The word ‘Lordship’ has been scored out at this point of the MS.