Letter: royal, 21 May 1692, Edinburgh

Act, 29 December 1692, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Tuentie First day of Maij Jaj vjc and nyntie tuo years

A1692/5/1481

Letter: royal

Letter from the Counsell To The Queens majestie

A Letter from the Councill to the2 Queens majestie Giveing accompt of the Councills care for the security of this natione and putting the same in a posture of defence againest any Invasione or Insurrectione And of severall addresses from shyres and burghes to there majestyes read votted and approven and recomended to the Lord High Chancellour to transmitt the same by a fleeing pacquett to the secretarie of state with the originall Addresses and printed Coppies of proclamations Mentioned in the said Letter to be by the secretary Communicated to her Royall Majestie at her majestyes Conveniencie off the which Letter the tenor followes May it please your Majesty Upon the apprehensiones of ane Invasione signifyed to us at your majestyes Comand by mr Johnstoun secretarie of state wee have mett frequently and almost everie day and called together the wholl standing forces within this Kingdome (Except Colonell Hills regiment at Fort William out of which detachments are made to Innerness and all the other Castles and houses which are garisoned for keeping the Highlands in quyet) and brought them about Edinburgh, Intending next week to Encamp them not farr from thence, Wee are also putting the Kingdome in the best posture of defence we can as is more fully exprest in tuo proclamationes sent to the secretary And being Informed that severall preachers in meeting houses did not pray for the King and your majestie wee have Issued a proclamation sent to the secretarie Commanding the magistrats to make tryall thereof and have banished severalls of them out of the Citie of Edinburgh who would not give assureance to pray for the future wee have used all diligence possible to find out any designe, ill affected people might have hade for disturbing the peace and quyett of the Kingdome And finding that a Considerable Number of horses hade been bought up and brought in from England and upon seasing of some suspected persones not being able to make any great discovery wee have been necessitate to secure the horses and armes of papists and of such as were under baill for there appearance, in severall shyres and have ordered it to be done in more And have caused charge themselves and there baills to appear befor the Councill according as they are bound by there bonds Upon ane order from the King wee did seize my Lord Sieforth who haveing Escaped that very night from the guard out of his Lodgings we have retaken him and he is now in the castle of Edinburgh Closs prisoner, wee ordered the Earle of Pearth to reenter the Castle of Stirling and accordingly he is entered And have transmitted Naval Pain to the Castle of Blackness where he is to be Closs prisoner for some tyme. There hes been severall addresses to the King and your majesties presented to us from your Cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow and the toun of Paislay And from the shyres of Lanerk and Renfrew which we have transmitted to the secretary to be showen your majesty This being a full accompt of our actings wee hope it may be acceptable to your majestie with our sincere and heartie offers of our outmost endeavours upon this and all other occasions to serve the King and your majesty faithfully as is the duety of. Your majesties most humble most faithfull and most obedient subjects and servants sic subscribitur Tweeddale Cancel: Queensberrie Douglas Drumlanrig Linlithgow Lothian Forfar Breadalban Tarbatt Stair Beilhaven Archibald Murray Thomas Livingston William Lockhart Patrick Murrray

At Edinburgh 21 May 1692

A1692/5/1481

Letter: royal

Letter from the council to the queen’s majesty

A letter from the council to the queen’s majesty giving account of the council’s care for the security of this nation and putting the same in a posture of defence against any invasion or insurrection, and of several addresses from shires and burghs to their majesties, was read, voted and approved and recommended to the lord high chancellor to transmit the same by a flying packet to the secretary of state with the original addresses and printed copies of proclamations mentioned in the said letter to be communicated by the secretary to her royal majesty at her majesty’s convenience, of which letter the tenor follows: May it please your majesty, upon the apprehension of an invasion signified to us at your majesty’s command by Mr [James] Johnston, secretary of state, we have met frequently and almost every day and called together the whole standing forces within this kingdom (except Colonel Hill’s regiment at Fort William out of which detachments are made to Inverness and all the other castles and houses which are garrisoned for keeping the Highlands quiet) and brought them about Edinburgh, intending next week to encamp them not far from there; we are also putting the kingdom in the best posture of defence we can as is more fully expressed in two proclamations sent to the secretary, and being Informed that several preachers in meeting houses did not pray for the king and your majesty, we have issued a proclamation sent to the secretary commanding the magistrates to investigate and have banished several of them out of the city of Edinburgh who would not give assurance to pray for the future; we have used all diligence possible to find out any design ill-affected people might have had for disturbing the peace and quiet of the kingdom, and finding that a considerable number of horses had been bought up and brought in from England and upon seizing some suspected persons and not being able to make any great discovery, we have been necessitated to secure the horses and arms of Catholics and of such as were under bail for their appearance in several shires, and have ordered it to be done in more, and have charged them and their bails to appear before the council as they are bound by their bonds; upon an order from the king we did seize [Kenneth MacKenzie], Lord Seaforth who having escaped that very night from the guard out of his lodgings we have retaken and he is now in the Castle of Edinburgh a close prisoner; we ordered [James Drummond], earl of Perth to re-enter the Castle of Stirling and accordingly he has, and have transmitted Henry Neville Payne to the Castle of Blackness where he is to be a close prisoner for some time. There have been several addresses to the king and your majesties presented to us from your cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow and the town of Paisley and from the shires of Lanark and Renfrew which we have transmitted to the secretary to be shown to you. This being a full account of our actions we hope it may be acceptable to your majesty with our sincere and hearty offers of our utmost endeavour upon this and all other occasions to serve the king and your majesty faithfully as is the duty of your majesty’s most humble, most faithful and most obedient subjects and servants. Subscribed: Tweeddale Chancellor; Queensberry; Douglas; Drumlanrig; Linlithgow; Lothian; Forfar; Breadalbane; Tarbat; Stair; Belhaven; Archibald Murray; Thomas Livingston; William Lockhart; Patrick Murrray.

1. PC1/48, 218-19.

2. The words ‘Councill to the’ inserted above the line.

1. PC1/48, 218-19.