Proclamation, 30 May 1702, Edinburgh

Procedure, 24 December 1702, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Threttie day of May Jaj viic and two years

A1702/5/141

Proclamation

Proclamation Declareing Warr against France and Spain

Proclamation Declareing Warr against France and Spain Read voted and approven and ordained to be published and Recorded; which accordingly was this day published over the Cross; at the Castle-gate and Peer and Shoar of Leith By the Lord Lyon himself. Sir Gilbert Eliot giveing the words. Of the which proclamation the tenor followes.
Anne by the Grace of God Queen of Great Brittain France and Ireland defender of the faith to our Lovits Our Lyon King at armes his bretheren heraulds, Macers of our privy Councill; pursevants, messengers at armes; Our Shirrifs in that part Conjunctllie and Severallie Specially Constitute Greeting Forasmuchas The preservation of the Liberties and Ballance of Europe; haveing obleidged our late Royall brother King William of ever Glorious Memory; to enter into Solemn treaties of Allyance with the Emperour of Germany; The States Generall of the Unitted Provinces and other princes and potentats for reduceing the exorbitant power of France; And for their muttuall defence against the French Kings Unjust usurpationes and encroachments He haveing taken possession of the greatest part of the Spanish Dominions by his armes and haveing also Seized the Spanish West Indies; and the most Important ports in Spain by his fleets; and Exerciseing ane absolute authority over all the Spanish Monarchy every wher designeing to ruine the Liberties of Europe, And to obstruct the freedome of Navigation and Commerce; And in place of giveing that Satisfaction which in Justice might have been expected; He has also put on us and our dominions the greatest affront and indignity in takeing upon him to Declair and oun the pretended Prince of Wales as King of Scotland England and Ireland and has also influenced Spain to Concurr with him in this indignity For which causes, Wee have in prosecution of the forsaid treaties with our allies Declared warr in all our other Dominions against France and Spain; And wee Considering That by ane express article of the forsaid treaties; Wee are oblidged to Declair warr against France and Spain; in this, as in all our other dominions; And that the Subjects of this our ancient kingdome of Scotland are equally concerned in the comon intrest of Europe And they haveing fully expressed in their Loyall adresses to our Late Royall brother; their Just resentments of the injurious proceedings of the French King in his ouning the pretended Prince of Wales as king of these our dominions and being Sincible That our Said Subjects have Mett with Severall obstructiones in their trade from France and that ther were Severall hostilities and violences Committed by the Spaniards in time of peace against them and wee relying upon the help and assistance of almighty God in So good a Cause and upon the Loyaltie and affection of our Subjects Therfore Wee with the advice of the Lords of our privy Councill Publish Declare and denunce Warr against the French King and Spain dominions therto belonging and all their Subjects by Sea and Land Requyreing and Commanding the Commander in Cheif of our forces, Goverours of our forts; Castles and Garisones; and all other our officers and Souldiers under therin; and all our other Subjects to doe and execute all acts of Hostilitie by Sea and land against the Subjects of France and Spaine, in prosecutione of this Warr; And Strictly prohibiting all the Subjects of this our kingdome to hold any Corrospondence or Communication with those of France and Spain; Nevertheless Declareing That Such of the Said Subjects as have left their Native Countrey and doe reside here, Liveing dutifully and not Corosponding with her Majesties enemies they Shall be secure in Lives Liberties, and fortunes, under her Majestie and the Shelter of her Lawes. Our Will is Herefore And wee Charge yow Strictly and Command that incontinent these our letters seen yee pass to the Marcat cross of Edinburgh and to the gate of the Castle therof and to the peer and Shoar of Leith and other places needfull, and their make publict proclamation of the premisses That all our Leidges May know that wee are in Warr with France and Spain and Ordain these presents to be printed Sic Subscribitur.2

Att Edinburgh the Threttie day of May Jaj viic and two years

A1702/5/141

Proclamation

Proclamation Declareing Warr against France and Spain

Proclamation Declareing Warr against France and Spain Read voted and approven and ordained to be published and Recorded; which accordingly was this day published over the Cross; at the Castle-gate and Peer and Shoar of Leith By the Lord Lyon himself. Sir Gilbert Eliot giveing the words. Of the which proclamation the tenor followes.
Anne by the Grace of God Queen of Great Brittain France and Ireland defender of the faith to our Lovits Our Lyon King at armes his bretheren heraulds, Macers of our privy Councill; pursevants, messengers at armes; Our Shirrifs in that part Conjunctllie and Severallie Specially Constitute Greeting Forasmuchas The preservation of the Liberties and Ballance of Europe; haveing obleidged our late Royall brother King William of ever Glorious Memory; to enter into Solemn treaties of Allyance with the Emperour of Germany; The States Generall of the Unitted Provinces and other princes and potentats for reduceing the exorbitant power of France; And for their muttuall defence against the French Kings Unjust usurpationes and encroachments He haveing taken possession of the greatest part of the Spanish Dominions by his armes and haveing also Seized the Spanish West Indies; and the most Important ports in Spain by his fleets; and Exerciseing ane absolute authority over all the Spanish Monarchy every wher designeing to ruine the Liberties of Europe, And to obstruct the freedome of Navigation and Commerce; And in place of giveing that Satisfaction which in Justice might have been expected; He has also put on us and our dominions the greatest affront and indignity in takeing upon him to Declair and oun the pretended Prince of Wales as King of Scotland England and Ireland and has also influenced Spain to Concurr with him in this indignity For which causes, Wee have in prosecution of the forsaid treaties with our allies Declared warr in all our other Dominions against France and Spain; And wee Considering That by ane express article of the forsaid treaties; Wee are oblidged to Declair warr against France and Spain; in this, as in all our other dominions; And that the Subjects of this our ancient kingdome of Scotland are equally concerned in the comon intrest of Europe And they haveing fully expressed in their Loyall adresses to our Late Royall brother; their Just resentments of the injurious proceedings of the French King in his ouning the pretended Prince of Wales as king of these our dominions and being Sincible That our Said Subjects have Mett with Severall obstructiones in their trade from France and that ther were Severall hostilities and violences Committed by the Spaniards in time of peace against them and wee relying upon the help and assistance of almighty God in So good a Cause and upon the Loyaltie and affection of our Subjects Therfore Wee with the advice of the Lords of our privy Councill Publish Declare and denunce Warr against the French King and Spain dominions therto belonging and all their Subjects by Sea and Land Requyreing and Commanding the Commander in Cheif of our forces, Goverours of our forts; Castles and Garisones; and all other our officers and Souldiers under therin; and all our other Subjects to doe and execute all acts of Hostilitie by Sea and land against the Subjects of France and Spaine, in prosecutione of this Warr; And Strictly prohibiting all the Subjects of this our kingdome to hold any Corrospondence or Communication with those of France and Spain; Nevertheless Declareing That Such of the Said Subjects as have left their Native Countrey and doe reside here, Liveing dutifully and not Corosponding with her Majesties enemies they Shall be secure in Lives Liberties, and fortunes, under her Majestie and the Shelter of her Lawes. Our Will is Herefore And wee Charge yow Strictly and Command that incontinent these our letters seen yee pass to the Marcat cross of Edinburgh and to the gate of the Castle therof and to the peer and Shoar of Leith and other places needfull, and their make publict proclamation of the premisses That all our Leidges May know that wee are in Warr with France and Spain and Ordain these presents to be printed Sic Subscribitur.2

1. NRS, PC1/52, 395-7.

2. A blank space has been left in the MS, suggesting subscribing councillors’ names were intended.

1. NRS, PC1/52, 395-7.

2. A blank space has been left in the MS, suggesting subscribing councillors’ names were intended.