Att Edinburgh the Tuenty Nynth day of November Jaj vjc and nyntie tuo years
A1692/11/57
A1692/11/57
Letter: royal
Letter from the King that he hes received the Councills tuo Letters and anent militia oath of alleadgeance and assureance persons gone to France, Highland Justiciarie, Naval Pain and others prisoners, ministers not praying, a Comissarie generall, stores and magazines, Captain of Clanronald muster of publict establishment or different way and Lord Bellinden
The Letter underwreitten from the Kings Majestie to the Councill being read wes ordered to be recorded whereof the tenor followes
Sic Suprascribitur William Rex
Right trustie and Right well beloved Cousine and Councillour Right trustie and Intirely beloved Cousignes and Councillours Right trustie and Right well beloved Cousines and Councillours Right trustie and well beloved Cousines and Councillours Right trustie and well beloved Councillours And trustie and well beloved Councillours wee Greet yow well Wee receaved your Congratulatorie Letter upon our safe arryveall and ordered our thanks to be sent to yow for the expressiones which yow gave us in it, of your duety and affectione to our persone and government Wee receaved in Flanders your Letter of the tuelth of August But delayed ansuering it, till now that wee have matters more fully before us, Wee are satisfyed that nothing can be done in the militia that will prove effectuall without ane act of parliament And as to the Schem of Fyve Thousand modelled men, wee cannot think that its practicable without more money then can be spared at present And as to the oath of alleadgeance and the assureance (which still wee order not to be separated) wee think more effectuall methods may be taken for bringing our subejcts to Complye with there duety in that matter, about which yow may expect our further pleasure In the mean whyle since the natione is not in any present danger wee allow yow to Let those that are in prisone upon that account out upon baill Yow shall quickly have further orders about those that have gone to France since the declaratione of warr And whom wee hear now yow have made to be denounced Wee are Convinced of the use and necessity of the Highland Justiciarie And have ordered the Commissione for it to be Revised and dispatched As for the prisoners It is our will That Naval Payne be sent to the Castle of Stirling And there keeped Closs prisoner That the Earle of Sieforth The Lord Frazer Mr Livingstoun and those other officers that were Concerned with him be all brought to there tryalls when our advocat arryves In the mean whyle wee requyre yow to order our sollicitor to use all diligence for secureing of witnesses and prepareing of evidence As to the Late Arch Bishop of Glasgow wee have made signify our pleasure Concerning him to the Chancellour As for ministers not praying as the Law requyres wee ordaine that the Lawes in this matter alswell as in all others be punctually executed This is all wee think necessarie to order In answer to yours at this tyme Wee think fitt also to give yow notice that wee are Resolved to put our army upon such a foot as that they shall have full pay To appoint a Commissarie Generall for preventing all abuses and Complaints about Localities And to have the best methods taken for satisfyeing the Countrey and our army in there arriers For all which wee shall give the necessarie orders to our Theasurie As Lykewayes for provydeing our stores and magazines with armes and what else shall be found necessarie wee being also resolved to show all favour to those of our Good subjects that behave themselves duetyfully and at the same tyme to make those that doe otherwayes examples of our Justice, Wee requyre yow to execute the Law In its full extent againest the Captain of Clanronald And wee have ordered our Theasurie to Impower Colonell Hill to suspend quartering upon those of the Highlanders that were Lately in rebellione provyded they now behave themselves duetyfully And that for all publict dues preceeding the year Jaj vjc and nyntie one There being assignements upon the dues of that year As to church matters which wee hear Gives ryse to heatts amongst yow It is our pleasure that the present Establishment (From which wee have no designe to recede) be mantained according to Law As to the ministers of a dissaffected way wee requyre yow to protect from all violences and prosecutiones those of them that have applyed and doe not fall under the qualificationes Contained in the act of parliament And for those that are not in possessione nor have not whereupon to subsist wee have given orders that the vacand stipends be brought in and parcelled out to them according to there necessityes and behaviour Wee requyre yow to Continow my Lord Ballantine in prisone. This is all that wee think fitt to order at present wee bidd yow heartily farewell Given at our Court at Kensingtoun the tuenty fourth day of November Jaj vjc and nyntie tuo years and of our reigne the fourth year By His Majesties Command Sic subscribitur J Johnstoun
At Edinburgh 29 November 1692
A1692/11/57
Letter: royal
Letter from the king that he has received the council’s two letters and concerning militia, oath of allegiance and assurance, persons gone to France, Highland justiciary, Naval Payne and others, prisoners, ministers not praying, a commissary general, stores and magazines, Captain of Clanranald, muster of public establishment or different way, and Lord Bellenden
The letter underwritten from the king’s majesty to the council being read, was ordered to be recorded, whereof the tenor follows:
Sic Suprascribitur William Rex
Right trusty and right well beloved cousin and councillor, right trusty and entirely beloved cousins and councillors, right trusty and right well beloved cousins and councillors, right trusty and well beloved cousins and councillors, right trusty and well beloved councillors, And trusty and well beloved councillors, wee greet yow well. We received your congratulatory letter upon our safe arrival, and ordered our thanks to be sent to you for the expressions which you gave us in it, of your duty and affection to our person and government. We received in Flanders your letter of 12 August, but delayed answering it till now that we have matters more fully before us. We are satisfied that nothing can be done in the militia that will prove effectual without an act of parliament, and as to the scheme of five thousand modelled men, we cannot think that it is practicable without more money then can be spared at present. And as to the oath of allegiance and the assurance (which still we order not to be separated), we think more effectual methods may be taken for bringing our subjects to comply with their duty in that matter, about which you may expect our further pleasure. In the meanwhile, since the nation is not in any present danger, we allow you to let those that are in prison upon that account out upon bail. You shall quickly have further orders about those that have gone to France since the declaration of war, and whom we hear now you have made to be denounced. We are convinced of the use and necessity of the Highland justiciary, and have ordered the commission for it to be revised and dispatched. As for the prisoners, it is our will that Naval Payne be sent to the castle of Stirling and there kept close prisoner, that [Kenneth Mackenzie] the earl of Seaforth, [Charles Fraser] the Lord Fraser, Mr Livingston, and those other officers that were concerned with him, be all brought to their trials when our advocate arrives. In the meanwhile, we require you to order our solicitor to use all diligence for securing of witnesses and preparing of evidence. As to the late archbishop of Glasgow, we have made signify our pleasure concerning him to the chancellor. As for ministers not praying as the law requires, we ordain that the laws in this matter, as well as in all others, be punctually executed. This is all we think necessary to order in answer to yours at this time. We think fit also to give you notice that we are resolved to put our army upon such a foot as that they shall have full pay, to appoint a commissary general for preventing all abuses and complaints about localities, and to have the best methods taken for satisfying the country and our army in their arrears. For all which we shall give the necessary orders to our treasury. As likewise for providing our stores and magazines with arms and what else shall be found necessary, we being also resolved to show all favour to those of our good subjects that behave themselves dutifully, and at the same time to make those that do otherwise examples of our justice, wee require you to execute the law in its full extent against [Allan MacDonald] the captain of Clanranald, and we have ordered our treasury to empower Colonel [John] Hill to suspend quartering upon those of the Highlanders that were lately in rebellion, provided they now behave themselves dutifully. And that for all public dues preceding the year 1691, there being assignments upon the dues of that year as to church matters, which we hear gives rise to heats amongst you, it is our pleasure that the present establishment (from which we have no design to recede) be maintained according to law. As to the ministers of a disaffected way, we require you to protect from all violence and prosecutions those of them that have applied and do not fall under the qualifications contained in the act of parliament. And for those that are not in possession, or have naught whereupon to subsist, we have given orders that the vacant stipends be brought in and parcelled out to them according to their necessities and behaviour. We require you to continue my Lord Bellenden in prison. This is all that we think fit to order at present. We bid you heartily farewell. Given at our court at Kensington 24 November 1692 and of our reign the fourth year. By his majesty’s command Sic subscribitur J Johnston.
