body of men by thofe apprehenfions, and fo to engage them 1706. to perfift in their oppofition. To allay that heat, after the general " as are provided by the afore- being read, and dropped, the ་ ་ ' all perfons of Scotland, who mula was thus: 'I, A. B. do re may be liable to take the oath,vernment of the church, as fwear it in that fenfe only.' But, after fome debate, the vote being put for adding the faid claufe, it was carried in the negative. Then the third overture, for a clause to be added to the twenty-fecond article, mentioned in the minutes of the last fitting, was again read in thefe terms: And further it is a greed, that, fo long as that · part of the fecond act, Anno 25, cap. 20, appointing a facramental test, shall stand by law established: So help me, God.' But, after fome debate, this claufe was jected by a majority of thirtyfive voices. Then the twentythird article of union was read, and, on the 13th of January, an overture was given in, for adding a claufe thereto, in thefe words: With this exprefs prohibition, that none of the peers of Scotland fhall have perfonal protection within Scotland, for any debt ow ⚫ and continue in force in Eng-ing before the commence- ment of the union.' As alfo another overture, for adding a claufe, importing, 'That all the peers of that part of • Great-Britain, called Scotland, qualified according to law, fhould, after the union, have the right to fit covered in the house of peers of GreatBritain, notwithstanding that the right to give vote therein belongs only to the fixteen peers, who were fummoned in the manner appointed by ⚫ the preceding article. After 6 reafon 1706. general vote was carried for the union, before they entered on the confideration of the particular articles, an act was prepared Jan. 14. reafoning upon these two over- The next day, the twenty- read, was agreed to be added, and was accordingly fubjoined, and the article, thus amended, read over and approved; as was alfo the twenty-fifth article, without any oppofition. On the 15th of January, the draught of an act, ratifying and approving the treaty of union of the two kingdoms of Scotland and England, was given in, and offered to be read: Whereupon it was moved, that the parliament fhould first proceed to the conftitution of the manner of electing the reprefentatives for Scotland to the parliament of Great-Britain; and either now determine that matter, or appoint a day for that end. After debate the vote was ftated, Proceed to the ra⚫tification of the treaty of uni-. on, and act for fecurity of the proteftant religion and prefbyterian church govern Lyon king at arms, in relationment, or to the conftitution of the manner of erecting the reprefentatives of Scotland.' But, before voting, it was agreed, that, in cafe it fhould be carried to proceed to the ratification, the parliament would immediately after paffing the act of ratification, proceed to the conftitution of the manner. of electing the reprefentatives. for Scotland. Then the vote being put, it was carried to proceed to the ratification: After which, the draught of the act, ratifying, approving, and. at length narrating the articles, of union, as enlarged, explain-. ed, and amended, and the act of fecurity of the proteftant re ligion, prepared for fecuring the prefbyterian government: By which 1706. it was declared to be the only government of that church, unalterable in all fucceeding times, and the maintaining it was declared to be a fundamental and effential article and condition of the union; and this act was to be made a part of the act for the union, which, in the confequence of that, was to be ratified by another act of parliament in England. Thus those, who were the greatcft enemies to presbytery, of any in the nation, raifed the clamour of the danger that form of government would be in, if the union went on, to fuch a height, that by their means this act was carried, as far as any human law could go, for their fecurity: For, by this they had, not only all the fecurity that their own parliament could give them, but they were to have the faith and authority of the parliament of England, it being, in the stipulation, made an effential condition of the union: The carrying this matter fo far was done, in hopes that the parliament of England would never be brought to pass it. This act was paffed, and it gave an intite fatisfaction to those who were difpofed to receive any; but nothing could fatisfy men, who made use of this, only to inflame others. ligion, and prefbyterian churchgovernment, was read; and, after fome discourse, a firit reading was marked thereon. *The next day, the act was read a fecond time; and then the act for fecurity of the proteftant religion, and prefbyterian church-government, inferted in, and ratified by that act, was touched with the royal Scepter. Immediately after this, there was laid before the houfe a reprefentation and petition of the church of Scotland, importing, That being informed, that the parliament were paffing " an act of ratification of the articles of the treaty of union, declaring, that the parliament of England might provide for the fecurity of the Church of England, as they should think ⚫ expedient, to take place within the kingdom of England, and January 16. The not derogating from the fecurity provided for the church of Scotland: Which claufe feemed to them not only to be like a blank, put into the hands of the parliament of England, to exact what they fhould think fit, for fecuring the hierarchy and ceremonies of their church; but alto a 'confent, that it be an article and fundamental of the union: They therefore befought the high commiflioner and the eftates of parliament, that there be no fuch ticulation or confent for the establishment of that hierarchy and ceremonies, as they would not involve themfelves, and the Scots nation, in guilt, and as they confulted the peace and quiet of that nation both in church and flate." An act for the fecurity of the Y 2 prefby 340 1706. Tumults ces. The party, who opposed the union, finding the majority against them, ftudied to raise a storm without doors, to terAddreffes rify them. A fet of addreffes against the union were fent against the round all the countries, in which those, who oppofed it, bad union. any intereft. There came up many of these in the name of counties and boroughs, and at last from parishes. This made fome noise abroad, but was very little confidered there, when it was known, by whofe arts and practices they were procured. When this appeared to have little effect, pains were taken to animate the rabble to violent attempts, both at Edinburgh and at Glasgow. About two or three thou in Edin- fand commoners came in arms to Dumfries, and publicly burgh and burnt the articles of union, and affixed on the market-cross other pla- a declaration of their reafons for fo doing. Sir Patrick Johnston, lord provost of Edinburgh, had been one of the commiffioners, and had concurred heartily in the defign. A great multitude gathered about the house, and were forcing the doors, on defign, as was believed, to murder him; but guards came and difperfed them. Upon this attempt, the privy-council published a proclamation, the next day, against tumults, and gave orders for quartering the guards within the town. But, to fhew that this was not intended to overawe the parliament, the whole matter was laid before them, and the proceedings of the privy-council were approved. Although no perfon of diftinction appeared among the rioters, yet it was no difficult matter, to guefs from what quarter that disturbance came, fince, at the fame time, that they infulted the high-commiffioner, and other well-wishers to the union, they attended the duke of Hamilton with loud acclamations, as he paffed the streets to and from the parliament. However, no other confiderable attempt was made after this; but the body of the people fhewed to much fullennefs, that probably, had any perfon of authority once kindled the fire, they feemed to be of fuch combuftible matter, prefbyterian church-government which was oppofed by a counter-proteft from the duke of Hamilton, the act for ratifying and approving the treaty of union, &c. was approved by a majority of one hundred and ten voices, and touched with the royal Scepter. matter, that the union might have cast that nation into great 1706. convulfions (1). These things made great impreffions upon (1) The common people are faid to have been fo enraged, that they threatened to come up in a body to Edinburgh, and diffolve the parliament. But none fhewed more zeal on this occafion than the western shires, where a vast number of people, and chiefly the Cameronians, were willing to venture their all to oppofe the union; for which purpose they had feveral meetings, divided themselves into regiments, chofe their officers; provided themselves with horfes, arms, and ammunition; mentioned the restoration of the king, as the only means to fave their country; were so far reconciled to the northern parts, and epifcopal party (whom they formerly hated on account of their different principles in religion) that they were inclined to concert measures with them, and had appointed correfpondents in all places throughout the kingdom to ftrengthen and encourage their party, and to feel the pulfe of thofe members of parfiament, who were against the union. There was one Cunningham of Echet, who had been very forward in promoting the late revolution; but upon the peace of Ryfwick, the regiment, whereof he was major, being broke, he went to Darien, and, after the ruin of that enterprize, returning to Scot land, he lived privately and meanly at his country houfe. He had made frequent applications for an employment, but though new levies were made, upon the war breaking out a the gain, he could never obtain to be provided for in the army, which he afcribed to his having been employed by the Darien company, and at which he was not a little difgufted. As he waited for an opportunity to fhew his refentment, he was foon known to the western agents, and, being of the prefbyterian principles, intirely trufted by them. Having concerted measures with Mr. Brisbane of Bifhoptown, Mr. Cochrane of Kilmarnock, and Mr. Lockhart of Carnwath, three ftaunch cavaliers, who affured him, that the duke of Hamilton approved his defign of bringing up the Cameronians to disolve the parliament, and that the duke of Athol readily undertook to caufe his Highlanders to fecure the pafs of Stirling, to open a communication with the northern parts, major Cunningham took a progrefs through the western fhires, and, by his dextrous management, brought things to fuch a confiftency, that feven or eight thousand men, well armed, were ready to rendezvous at the town of Hamilton, in order to march forwards to Edinburgh under his command. But, a day or two before they were to meet, the duke of Hamilton, with out acquainting any of thofe who had concerted this defign, fent privately expreffes through the whole country, strictly requiring them to put it off till another time: fo that not above five hundred, more forward than the reft, came to the place appointed, Y 3 |