Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n
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A46475
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His Majesties gracious letter to the Parliament of Scotland with the speeches of the Lord High Commissioner and the Lord High Chancellor : together with the Parliaments answer to His Majesties letter.
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England and Wales. Sovereign (1685-1688 : James II); James II, King of England, 1633-1701.; Scotland. Parliament.
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1685
(1685)
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Wing J195; ESTC R30362
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8,450
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10
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might have the opportunity of presenting Him with the first Fruits of the Service of His Parliaments and of becoming Exemples to His other Dominions is the greatest and what we should prize the most improving it as far as it will go When we consider what strange turns the extravagant Follies of some and the malicious devilish Contrivances of others among us have taken since the last Meeting of Parliament what Convulsions have Attacted the Body of this Nation and how vile a Ferment has raged in it to have our Advice called for by our Prince how to provide proper Remedies for it is the greatest Honour could be put upon us That we may do what in Duty we are bound in return let us lay aside all private Aims and Ends for how can we hope to serve His Majesty or promote the Interest of the Nation while our Eye is directed only towards our own particular and let us with the Frankness and Cheerfulness of honest SCOTS MEN. use all possible means for Uniting of the Nation and the driving from amongst us whoever will not joyn with us upon such Terms as may conduce to the Advancement of the Honour and Interest of our King and His Crown and the Well-being of this our Native Countrey which we should not suffer to be defiled and rendred contemptible to the whole World by entertaining so Venemous a Bastardly brood of villanous men as have of late to the reproach of Scotland and of Humane Nature it self maintained Principles and ventured upon Practices not to be named amongst any who have ever heard of a Government much less of Religion My Lords and Gentlemen You all know what a Conspiracy hath been entered into by ill men of both Kingdoms against the Sacred Lives of the late King and his present Majestie and who but incarnate Devils could think of attempting any thing against such precious Lives For what Prince in Eâ—rop or the whole World was ever like the late King except His Glorious Brother who now Reigns and to have cut off any of them had been barbarous to a degree of making us appear more abominable then any people ever were but for us to have lost both had been our utter ruine Yet against both was the design laid and had suceeded if that watchful Providence which hath often preserved the two Royal Brothers in so many difficulties had not defeated the success by an un-fore-seen accident and had it succeeded what Confusion what Cruelty what Blood what un-expressible Misery had overflowed these Kingdoms But besides this we have a new Sect sprung up amongst us from the dunghil the very dregs of the people who kill by pretended Inspiration and in stead of The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord have nothing in their mouths but The Word of God wresting that blessed conveyance of his Holy Will to us to justifie a practice suggested to them by him who was a Murtherer from the beginning who having modelled themselves into a Common-wealth whose Idol is that accursed paper the Covenant and whose only Rule is to have none at all have proceeded to declare themselves no longer His Majesties Subjects to forefeit all of us who have the honour to serve him in any considerable station and will be sure ere long to do so by this great and honourable Court It is how to rid our selves of these men and of all who incline to their Princâ—ples that we are to offer to His Majesty our Advice Concurrence and utmost Assiâ—ance These Monsters bring a publick reproach upon the Nation in the eyes of all 〈◊〉 Neighbours abroad while in their Gazets we are mentioned as acting the vilest Assassâ—nations and the horridest Villanies they render us unquiet and unsecure at homâ— they bring Reproach upon our Religion and are our great plague Let us for the sake of our Allegiance for His Majesties Honour for our Reputatioâ— abroad for the vindication of our Religion and for our own Peace and Tranquillity make haste to get our selves cured of it If this were once effectuated we might yet hope for quiet and in order to the making our quiet the more comfortable to us when once we are come to a Resolution abouâ— what relates to the publick peace and to the respect we owe to His Majesty we may have occasion of considering what Laws may be necessary towards the facilitating thâ— well-governing of our selves and Native Countrey both as to the regulating our Carriagâ— one towards another and the securing our Estates from any thing that may be unea 〈…〉 from the distribution of Justice between man and man as to the improving of our Trade and Commerce abroad and encouraging Industry and Frugality at home for in all these things His Majesties care will not fail us And my Lord Commissioner amongst his many other advantages is so well known to be a lover of his Countrey that we need not fear but that He will give his Concurrence in what He is allowed so freely to consent to My Lords and Gentlemen To encourage us to do all we can towards the service and the Honour of our Glorious Monarch let 〈◊〉 consider Him in all His Personal Advantages whether in what relates to War or Peace where has the World afforded such another One whose Natural Endowments have been improved by his great experience at home and abroad in Armies and Courts by the greatest tryals of the most differing kinds those of prosperity and success and of adversity and opposition of hazards and toyle and of Authority and Command in the strictest adhering to His Word such Temperance and Sobriety so indefatigable a diligence in Affairs so Undaunted a Courage upon all occasions and so unwearied a Clemency towards the most obstinate malicious Offenders Did ever Heroe compleat the Character so fully in overcoming bravely and shewing gentleness to the vanquished And I must say the Triumphs of His Patience are not His obscurest Glories nor is the forgiving of those whose virulent Tongues would have Tainted his Fame if their malice could have reached it what is least to be admired in him what Reputation other Princes have laboured for at the vast extent of Blood and Treasure and the putting of a constant constraint upon themselves sits so easie upon Him that what they would have He forces from the Consciences of his very Enemies by His Merit and it costs Him no more than to be Himself But this Theme is not for me I do Him wrong and while it may be at this very moment He is receiving the Acclamations of His good Subjects in the chief City of our Neighbour Nation at the great Solemnity of His Coronation there I am detracting from Him here by giving him too low a Character I shall onely add that He gave to Subjects the greatest example of Loyalty and Obedience while He was one Himself and now He is an example to all Kings in His Love His Clemency and Care towards his People Let us give Him the return of our Love our Fidelity and our Obedience And seeing He takes pleasure in nothing so much as in our felicity and prosperity let it be an additional tye upon us to advance His Honour and Greatness by all the endeavours of our Lives without reserve and with our whole Fortunes which under His protection we may if we please so peaceably and comfortably enjoy The Parliaments Answer to His Majesties Letter May it please your Sacred Majesty YOur Majesties gracious and kind remembrance of the Services done by this your ancient Kingdom to the late King your Brother of ever-Glorious Memory shall rather raise in us ardent desires to exceed whatever we have done formerly than make us consider them as deserving the Esteem your Majesty is pleased to express of them in your Letter to us dated the 28 th of March The death of that our excellent Monarch is lamented by us to all the degrees of Grief that are consistent with our great Joy for the Succession of your Sacred Majesty who has not onely continued but secured the Happiness which His Wisdom His Justice and Clemency procured to us And having the honour to be the first Parliament which meets by your Royal Authority of which we are very sensible your Majesty may be confident that we will offer such Laws as may best secure your Majesties Sacred Person the Royal Family and Government and be so exemplarily Loyal as to raise your Honour and Greatness to the utmost of our power which we shall ever esteem both our Duty and Interest Nor shall we leave any thing undone for extirpating all Fanaticsm but especially those Fanatical Murtherers and Assassins and for detecting and punishing the late Conspirators whose pernicious and execrable designs did so much tend to subvert your Majesties Government and ruine us and all your Majesties faithful Subjects We can assure your Majesty that the Subjects of this your Majesties ancient Kingdom are so desirous to exceed all their Predecessors in extraordinary marks of affection and Obedience to your Majesty that God be praised the onely way to be Popular with us is to be eminently Loyal Your Majesties care of us when you took us to be your special Charge your Wisdom in extinguishing the seeds of Rebellion and Faction amongst us your Justice which was so great as to be for ever exemplary But above all your Majesties free and cheerful securing to us our Religion when you were the late King your Royal Brother's Commissioner now again renewed when you are our Soveraign are what your Subjects here can never forget And therefore your Majesty may expect that we will think your Commands sacred as your Person and that your Inclination will prevent our Debates Nor did ever any who represented our Monarchs as their Commissioners except your Royal Self meet with greater Respect or more exact Observance from a Parliament than the Duke of Queensberry whom your Majesty has so wisely chosen to represent you in this and of whose eminent Loyalty and great Abilities in all his former Employments this Nation hath seen so many proofs shall find from May it please your Sacred Majesty Your Majesties most Humble most Faithful and most Obedient Subjects and Servants In name of the Parliament Sic Subscribitur PERTH Cancell I. P. D. Parl. At Edinburgh the 28th of April 1685.
HIS MAJESTIES GRACIOUS LETTER TO THE PARLIAMENT OF SCOTLAND With The Speeches of the Lord High Commissioner and the Lord High Chancellor together with the Parliaments Answer to His MAJESTIES Letter Published by Authority HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE IR Printed by Thomas Newcomb in the Savoy And Re-printed at Edinburgh by the Heir of Andrew Anderson Printer to His most Sacred Majesty Anno DOM. 1685. His MAJESTIES Gracious Letter to the Parliament of Scotland with the Speeches of the Lord High Commissioner and Lord High Chancellor Together with the Parliaments Answer to His MAJESTIES Letter JAMES R. My Lords and Gentlemen THe many Experiences We have had of the Loyalty and Exâ—mplary Forwardness of that our Ancient Kingdom by their Representatives in Parliament Assembled in the Reign of our dearest and most entirely beloved Brother of ever Blessed Memory made us desirous to call you at this Time in the beginning of Our Reign to give you an opportunity not only of shewing your Duty to Us in the same manner but likewise of being Exemplary to others in your Demonstrations of Affection to Our Person and compliance with Our desires as you have most eminently been in Times past to a degree never to be forgotten by Us nor We hope to be contradicted by your future Practices That which We are at this Time to propose unto you is what is as necessary for your Safety as Our Service and what has a tendency more to secure your own Priviledges and Properties than the Aggrandising our Power and Authority though in it consists the greatest Security of your Rights and Interests these never having been in danger except when the Royal Power was brought too low to protect them which now We are resolved to maintain in its greatest Lustre to the end we may be the more enabled to Defend and Protect your Religion as Established by Law and your Rights and Properties which was Our Design in calling this Parliament against Phanatical Contrivances Murderers and Assassins who having no fear of God more than Honour for Us have brought you into such difficulties as only the Blessing of God upon the steddy Resolutions and Actings of Our said dearest Royal Brother and those employed by Him in Prosecution of the good and wholsome Laws by you heretofore offered could have saved you from the most horrid Confusions and Inevitable Ruin Nothing has been left unattempted by those wild and inhumane Traitors for endeavouring to overturn your Peace And therefore We have good Reason to hope that nothing will be wanting in you to secure your selves and Us from their outrages and violence in time coming and to take care that such Conspirators meet with their just deservings so as others may thereby be deterred from Courses so little agreeable to Religion or their Duty and Allegiance to Us. These things We considered to be of so great importance to Our Royal as well as the Universal interest of that Our Kingdom that We were fully resolved in Person to have proposed the needful Remedies to you but things having so fallen out as render this impossible for us We have now thought fit to send our Right Trusty and Right entirely beloved Cousin and Counsellour William Duke of Queensberry to be Our Commissioner amongst you of whose Abilities and Qualifications We have Reason to be fully satisfied and of whose Faithfulness to Us and Zeal for Our Interest we have had Signal Proofs in the Times of Our greatest difficulties Him We have fully intrusted in all Things Relating to Our Service and your own Prosperity and Happiness and therefore you are to give him intire Trust and Credit as you now see We have done From whose Prudence and your most Dutiful Affection to Us We have full Confidence of your entire Compliance and Assistance in all those Matters wherein he is instructed as aforesaid VVe do therefore not only recommend unto you that such things be done as are necessary in this Juncture for your own Peace and the support of Our Royal Interest both at home and abroad but also that you do them so speedily as may Evidence to the World that you are still in the same manner addicted to the Royal Interest of which we had so much Experience when amongst you that we cannot doubt of your full and ample Expressing the same on this occasion by which the great concern We have in you Our Ancient and Kindly People may still increase and you may transmit your Loyal Actions as Examples of Duty to your Posterity In full Confidence whereof We do assure you of Our Royal Favour and Protection in all your concerns And so We bid you Heartily Farewell Given at Our Court at Whitehall the 28 th day of March 1685. and of Our Reign the first Year By His Majesties Command DRVMMOND The Speech of the Lord High Commissioner My Lords and Gentlemen HIs Majesty has been pleased so fully and obligingly by the Letter you have now heard to intimate his Royal pleasure to you as what I am to say seems in a manner superfluous so I need not take up much of your time nor shall I do more than touch a few things as briefly as is possible And in the first place my Lords This being the day of His Majesties Coronation in our Neighbouring Kingdom you see he is no sooner placed on the Throne of his Royal Ancestors than he inclines to have your advice in what may import the good of his Service and Subjects here By which you ought not only to be convinced of the great confidence His Majesty has in the Loyalty of this his Ancient Kingdom and their good Example to his other Dominions but also how fully he makes good his Royal Word and Declaration to follow in his Reign the Example of his late Majesty of ever glorious Memory under whose Protection and Government we enjoyed so long Peace and Quiet I say my Lords as by calling you so soon His Majesty expresses great confidence in you and seems still mindful of the Zeal and Affection of the last Parliament for the Rights and Prerogative of the Crown so in a due return it is not to be doubted but you will upon this occasion not only exceed what has been formerly done but also comply with all that can be proposed for establishing His Majesties Greatness and your own Security and by this convince the World how sensible you are of the great honour His Majesty has allowed you of being the first Parliament of his Dominions to do so I am in the next place to tell you that His Majesty is very mindful of the Duty and Loyalty of this Kingdom to his late Majesty and himself when he was here amongst us And the better to compose the minds of his faithful Subjects I am allowed to assure you of his Princely Resolutions to protect and maintain the Religion and Government of this Church as they are now Established by Law and that he will take the Persons and