A. C. 1702.

Prudence and Conduct, this Seffion of Parliament fhall be brought to fuch a happy Conclufion, as fhall flay the Foundation of that firm Union, and true understanding betwixt us and our People, as is neceffary, for the Happiness of both: And fo we bid you heartily farewel.

Given at our Court at St. James's the 15th day of
May, 1702. and of our Reign the First Year.

By her Majefty's Command.

Sic Subfcribitur,

SEAFIELD

The Duke The Queen's Letter being read, the Duke of Queensof Queensbury, her Majefty's high Commiffioner, addrelt him. bury's felf to the Aflembly, in these Words,

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His being our firft Meeting in Parliament, after the Lofs of our late glorious Sovereign,we cannot forbear to Condole his Death, with the most ⚫ tender and fincere Expreffions of Gratitude and Efteem: He was the great Deliverer of thefe Nations, the Defender of the Proteftant Intereft, and the Support of the general Liberty of Europe; you have lo often teftified your Senfe of his great Actions, by your dutiful Acknowledgements, that I need not infift, for while Religion and Liberty are of any Value, King William's Memory must be in perpetual 'Honour.

Nothing could repair this Lofs, and compose our Minds, but her Majefty's happy Acceffion to the 'Crown, who from her Infancy has given the most ' undeniable Proots of her Affection to the Proteftant 'Religion against the ftrongest and most infinuating "Temptations; and it is a great Blefling that we have 'a Queen with fuch Principles of the Royal Blood and Line of Scotland, and especially a Princefs who has been amongst us, and has a particular regard ⚫ for us.

The firft Acts of her Majefty's Government were ready and feafotiable Encouragements and Affiftance to Her Allies, in Profecution of the Treaties made by the late King, to unite and animate Europe a

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gainst the Exorbitant and Encroaching Power of A. C France to that her Majefty's Zeal for the true Re- 1702. ligion, her fteady and evident Purpose to profecute 'all her Meafures for advancing the Glory and Intereft of her Kingdoms, and for the defence and fecurity of her Allies, with what unparallelled Goodnels that appears in all her Refolutions and Actions, do promise us all happiness under her molt Aufpicious Reign.

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Her Majefty's Letter to the Parliament gives all her Subjects of this Kingdom the most defirable Af'furances of her firm refolution to protect our Religion, Liberty and Laws, and particularly the Presbyterian Government as now eftablished, and this her good Mind, her Majefty thought fit to fignifie by you to her People, knowing that this Loyal Parliament did establish our prefent happy Settlement, and hath ever fhewed a firm Zeal to maintain the fame, and by calling you together, her Majesty hath afforded you this early opportunity to Congratu ⚫late her Acceffion and Entry to the Royal Govern ment, and to make her Offers of Duty as are neceffary for the Support of her Authority, and your 'own Prefervation.

The prefent, juft, and neceffary War which her Majefty was obliged to declare in all her Dominions, in pursuance of the Treaties made by the late King, 'does require fufficient Supplies for the Maintenance ' of fuch Forces as are needful for the Security of 'the Government, and the publick Safety of the 'Nation.

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There is nothing can contribute more to the Intereft of the Proteftant Religion, and the Security of the prefent Conftitution of the Government, 'than an Union betwixt the two Kingdoms of Scot'land and England: It was amongst the laft Things recommended by the late King, and the firft propofed by her Majefty to the Parliament of England: You fee how concernedly her Majefty re'commends it to you, and you all know how far the Parliament of England hath advanced in this Matter, by impowering her Majefty to name Commif fioners to treat with fuch as fhall be impowered from this or any fubfequent Parliament of this Kingdom.

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The Earl of

'I can affure you from my proper Knowledge, that there appears at this time a greater Difpofition in the English Nation towards an Union, than could ever be discovered formerly, which is a very great "Encouragement; and I hope you will give them fuitable Returns.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

It has pleafed her Majefty to honour me with this 'high Truft to reprefent her Royal Perfon, as her 'Commiffioner. If her Commands had left place for my Excufes, I had reafon enough to decline 'fo weighty an Employment; but the Experience I have had of your kindness and regard for me, while I was formerly employed in this Trust, and my own fincere Intentions to ferve her Ma'jefty, and my Country to the utmost of my Power, are the Principal Encouragements I have in this Undertaking: Therefore I refolve to maintain her "Majefty'sAuthority, and answer that Confidence the has been pleased to repofe in me, with all Loyaland Firmness. And, I hope, from your Pruty dence and Zeal for the Government, that her Majefty fhall receive Satisfaction, and the Nation Ad

vantage.

This eloquent Speech was back'd by another made March by the Earl of Marchmout, Lord High Chancellor, which was as follows.

mont's

Speech.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

Had but too confidently hoped that I should never have occafion to speak from this Place to you under fuch Circumstances.

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This Kingdom has lately got fo fore a Wound in the Head, that it is impoffible but the whole Body, and every Member of it, muft have a deep Senfe,and be feelingly affected with it.

'GOD has called from us our great Deliverer, a "Good, a Wife, a Juft, and an Heroick King, to the Glory for which he was fitted; He went to Ful'nefs of Joy, and left us in a full Measure of Grief. 'Never did People ftand in a greater need than we of a powerful and cordial Confolation, and the mer ciful God has been pleased seasonably to give us the

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moft fuitable One that our Hearts could imagine or A. C.. wifh for, by fetting our Sovereign Queen ANNE, 1702. whofe Right it is upon the Throne; who has given

fo tull Proof, in the whole Courfe of her Life, of her Stablenefsin, and Fidelity to, the Proteftant Religion, as may evince us that there is a Bleffing from on High about Her.

Her Majesty's most Gracious Letter, and his Grace my Lord Commiflioner his Difcourfe upon it, are fo full and plain, that they need no Commentary or Illuftration; fo that there is little left for me to fay.

Only I would entreat you to call to Remembrance the great Dangers this Nation was in Fourteen Years ago, the great Deliverance it met with by the Hand of our late King of ever Glorious Memory; The great Benefits and Advantages which it has enjoy'd in the Thirteen Years of his Aufpicious Reign, by the Excellent Eftablishment of our Religion, Laws, and Liberties, upon the fure and folid Foundation.

"I entreat you likewife to confider, that Her Sa cred Majefty, now our Sovereign, gives us fo exprefs affurance of Her firm Refolution to maintain and protect us in the full Poffeffion of our Religion, Laws and Liberties, and of the Presbyterian Govern ment of the Church, as at present Establish'd; and that her Majefty will aim at nothing more than the preferving and fecuring to us the Enjoyment of the Advantages we got by our Deliverance from Popery and Arbitrary Power, and having our Ancient Right and Privileges reftored to us, that every one will rely upon it, and reft affured who is a fincere 'Proteftant, and duly affected with the Goodness and Favour of God, in ordering and accomplishing the happy Revolution.

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After the Royal Word given of a Perfon of fo'known Probity as her Majefty is, it may be thought unneceffery to add any thing, yet I mult fay it cannot be but a great fatisfaction to us to fee that the Intereft of her Majefty, and her People, are united to 'confirm her Majefty in her Wife and Glorious Refolution; And that Her Majefty adheres to the Alli · ances made by, and follows the Methods wherein her Majefty's Glorious Predeceffor was neceffarily engaged, for preferving the Liberties of Europe, for

fupport

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1702.

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fupporting the Proteftant Religion, for maintaining 'the Intereft of her own Kingdoms, and for refenting the Indignity offered against her Majefty and them by the French King, in his owning the Pretend. ed Prince of Wales as King of her Majefty's Dominions.

Another clear Evidence of her Majefty's Gracifous Intentions toward us, is, That she is fo difpo' fed to contribute her utmoft endeavours for accomplifhing an Union of her two Kingdoms in this Ifland, and confiders it as a thing neceffary for the Security 'and Happiness of them both.

I am confident when you have duly pondered her Majefty's Letter, and his Grace my Lord Commiflioner's Difcourfe, That all Doubtings, Jealoufies " and Animofities will fly away, and you will be dif pofed to receive Your Sovereign's Meffage with loving Hearts; and refolve to act and give a kind, dutiful and fuitable Return, by complying to all what her Majefty has propofed in all the parts of it, nothing being required by her Majesty of us, but what is evidently neceffary for our own Security and Happinefs.

Her Majesty having fo earneftly recommended to you the providing competent Supplies for maintaining fuch a number of Forces as may be neceffa'ry against the design of her and our Enemies, it is "certainly requifite that we effectually do it fo, as

her Majefty may be fupported to the utmost of the "Nation's Power, in profecuting the War in which 'her Majefty, her Kingdoms, and her Allies, are engaged.

If our Actings in this Juncture shall be fuch as her 'Majefty doth hope and expect, it will tend to our ever lafting Reputation; a Foundation will be laid of that firm Union and true Understanding between 'her Majefty, and her People, as will advance the happiness of both, and be of vaft advantage both to our Honour and to our Intereft; by engaging to us 'the Hearts and Good-Will of our Sovereign, and of our Neighbours in her Dominions.

The Parliament met again the 11th, and pro. ceeded to choose Committees for Security of the