A. C. mending to the Members to make fome progress in 1703. the Subfidies, with a promife that they fhould have time allowed them afterwards to go upon other Bufinefs. As to the first part he did acknowledge, that this was the 20th Day fince the Parliament Sate down. But, at the fame time, he did wonder to hear that Obtruded from those who had the Power of Adjourments, and who had allow'd the Houfe only Seven Sederunts in these twenty Days, and more efpecially confidering that the Sederunts had been fo very fhort, the Parliament having never met betore two,three or four in the Afternoon, contrary to the Method of all preceding Parliaments: By which means it might indeed prove true, what a Noble Peer pointed at, the fecond Day of this Parliament, as both Hurtful and Ridiculous, viz. That at this rate the Parliament fhould not Rife before the first of Auguft. As to the Promife, that the Members fhould have time allowed them afterwards to go upon other Bufinefs; he begg'd leave to fay, That there were very many fresh Inftances, which might fufficiently demonftrate how little regard was to be had to fuch Promifes, made by Gen: tlemen from the Throne. That he fhould mention but one in the Parliament 1700., where the most Solemn Promifes where made from the Throne in open Parliament. That after paffing the Subfidies, the Houfe fhould have all the time they could demand for other Matters; and yet no fooner was there an Act brought in, for Stating and Revifing the Publick Accounts (which was one of the chief Aims of that Parliament) but the Parliament was immediately Adjourn'd. Upon this the Commiffioner Said, That though that Gentleman who fpake laft, did not Name him, yet he found he pointed at him, for he had the Honour to Reprefent his late Majefty, as his Commiffioner at that time; but he defir'd it might be remembred, That that fame Parliament did fit three Weeks after the Subfidy was granted. To which the Member anfwer'd, That it was none of his Bufinefs or Design to point his Expreffions against any Man, and if his Expreffions did reflect upon her Majefty's Reprefentative, or any Body elfe, he was very forry for it, but what he had inftanced, was matter of Fact, and he would ftand to the Truth of

it. Another Member did fecond the Member who spoke Aa C. last, with another inftance of the Abrupt Adjournment 1703. of that Parliament, faying, That he had at the fimen time propofed fome Acts of Trade to the CommifGoner, and had his Promife, that upon his going into the Subfidies, there fhould be time allow'd for bringing in these Acts: But as is already reprefented, faid he, the Parliament was adjourned, and these Acts cut off, and thus the Nation hath been fed with Promifes, but they are ftill to wait for the Performances. Another Member faid, That it must still be freth in every Man's Memory, what Infults were made upon the Soveraignty and Independency of this Nation, in the matter of their late Trading Company, both before their Settlement in Darien by the the Legal Actings of the Scots Parliament, and by the Falfe and Scandalous Memorials given in by the English Refident at Hamburgh, molt falfly Reprefenting the Scots Company as private Perfons having no Authority. (Though at the fame time they were Cloath'd with the moft Solemn Authority of an Act of Parliament of their own Nation; Impowering them to enter into Society with any Foreigners whatsoever, who were at peace with them; In pursuance of which Act of Parliament They had the King's Patent under his Broad Seal.) As alfo by the faid Refidents ufing threatning and forcible Denunciations and Expreffions against the Hambughers, if they fhould enter into any Trading Society with them. And likewife after that Company was fettled in Darien; by their moft Barba rous and Inhumane Execution of fome Proclamations emitted against them. That whether these most Injurious Stretches were calculated realy for the fake of the English Intereft or Trade, (as was pretended) or rather for the fake of an Intereft altogether Foreign to this Ifland, it was not proper here to dif pute; but that it is very certain, that this Treatment, and fome other fuch, had rais'd an infuperable Jealoufie in the Scots Nation, which cannot fail, fome time or other, to break forth into Confequences Dangerous. to both Nations. And therefore he did Concur with thefe Noble and Worthy Members in promoting this Overture, from which he fhould expect, that fome fuch Laws fhould be enacted towards Regulating the

A. C. Adminiftration and Government at Home, as might 1703. deliver a Scots Prince and Miniftry from Foreign influence, and might thereby compose these hurtful Jealoufies, in all times coming, to the mutual Peace and Quiet of the whole Ilind. After a long debate, the State of the Question was mov'd-Go upon reading the Act of Supply, for the first time, or upon the Subject of the Marquefs of Tweeddale's Overture? It was urg'd by a Member, That feeing the Refolve was in general Terms. Therefore it would be more fatisfactory to the House. that those who promoted the Overture, fhould reduce it into particular Acts, and then the House wou'd be more capable to Judge, whether to proceed upon them, or upon the Supply. This was feconded by the Duke of Argyle, and immediately upon this, her Majefty's Advocate offer'd an Act, which he faid he hop'd would please all Parties. Against reading of this Act, it was urg'd, that no particular Act relative to the Overture ought to be read, until first the Overture was admitted by the House. After fome time spent in this Matter, it being very late, the debate was delay'd by confent, till next meeting of Parliament *

On the 28th of May the debate was refumed touching the Competition betwixt the Subfidy, and the M. of Tweeddale's Overture. The Miniltry endeavour'd to wave the Debate, and to enter upon theConfideration of the remaining controverted Elections; but the Overture was infifted on, as being the Subject matter of the laft Days Debate, which had been by Confent

+ Before the next Meeting of Parliament, This Alt of the Advocates was themed to feveral People, and it was the fame in Subftance, with that At which was next Day prefented by the Duke of Argyle: Being an Act ratifying the Legality and Authority of the Parliament 1689. and Declaring it Treason to Impugn any of the Articles of the Claim of Right, by Word or Writing, &c. And here it is to be Noted, That feveral of the Church Party, who had hitherto ftood firm to the Commiffioner, did from this Day drop off from him, finding, That this Alt was brought in by his Friends, and with his Confent and Knowledge.

fent delay'd to this Day. After fome Debate the A. C. Marquefs of Athol, in Confequence of that Overture 1703. did offer an Act, for the Security of the Kingdom, in Cafe of her Majefty's Deceafe, which he defir'd to be read. It was objected against the reading of this Act, that no fingle Act in the Terms of the Overture could be offered, till firft the House should give their Opinion, whether they would enter into the general Refolve contain'd in the Overture or not. Therefore it was again infifted on, that the Series of Bunefs fhould be determin'd by entring into the Overture. After fome Debate, and fome angry warm Speeches, it was at length Fielded to, without a Vote, that the House should refolve, to determine the Series of the Bufinefs according to the Terms of the Overture. Whereupon the Marquefs of Athol clear'd the Preference to this Act of Security, feeing it had several been first offer'd: But before it was read, the Duke Acts offer'd of Argyle offer'd his Act, Ratifying the late Revolution, and read. and all the Acts following thereupon; Mr. Fletcher an A containing feveral Limitations upon the Succeffor, after the Death of her Majesty, and the Heirs of her Body. The Earl of Rothes, an Act, That after her Majefty's Death, and failing Heirs of her Body, no Perfon coming to the Crown of Scotland, being at the Same time King or Queen of England, should, as King or Queen of Scotland, have Power to make Peace or War, without the confent of Parliament; The Earl of Marchmont, an Act for fecuring the true Proteftant Religion, and Presbyterian Government; And Sir Patrick Fohnson, an Act allowing the Importation of all forts of Wines, and other Foreign Liquors: All which Acts 4t for a were plac'd and order'd to lye upon the Table.

Toleration.

On the first of June, an Act for a Toleration to all Proteftants, in the Exercife of Religious Worship, being read, a Reprefentation was offer'd against it, in the Name, and at the Appointment of the late general Affembly, containing in Subftance, 'That there Reprefen could be no juft ground to defire, or grant a Tole-tation aration to those of the Epifcopal Perfwafion, leeing gainst it. there was never in any Nation a Toleration allow'd, where there was no pretence of Confcience against Joint Communion; that here the People had no Scruple in their Confciences, against Communion and Worship with the legal Eftablifh'd Church,

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Church, and did generally wait on the publick Worship, where they were not reftranied by their 'Minifters, till by the Practifing of fome Perfons, they have in fome places divided of late. Neither 'could the Minifters of the Prelatick way pretend Confcience against Joint Communion and Worship with the Presbyterians, there being no finful Condition of Communion required of them, and it be'ing their Conftant and known Principles, That 'difference in Opinion, about Church Government, is not fufficient Reafon for Separation in Worship. That to grant a Toleration to that Party in the present Circumstances of this Church and Nation, moft unavoidably shake the Foundations of their prefent happy Conftitution, overthrow thofe Laws upon which it is fettled, needleffly disturb that Peace and Tranquility, which the Nation has enjoy'd fince the late Revolution, difquiet the Minds of her Majefty's beft Subjects, increase Animofities, 'Confufions, Difcord and Tumults, Weaken and 'Enervate Discipline, Open a Door both to uncurb'd 'Vice and Popery, as well as other Errors; Propagate and Cherifh Diffatisfaction to the Civil Government, and bring the Nation under the Danger of falling back into the fame or worse Miseries and Mischiefs, under which it groan'd, and from 'which it hath been mercifully deliver'd. All which, ' added they, is fo apparent, that we need not infift thereupon to fo Auguft and Judicious an Affembly, fince the known Principles and Practifes of the Party for whom the Toleration is fought, and the Infringments that will be made upon her Majefty's Claim of Right, and Inftrument of Government thereby, do fufficiently demonftrate the fame. "We do therefore moft humbly befeech, yea, we are 'bold in the Lord, and in the Name of the Church

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of God, in this Land, earneftly to Obteft your Grace, and most honourable Eftates, That no fuch 'Motion of any legal Toleration, to thofe of the Prelatical Principles may be entertain'd by the Parliament. Being perfwaded, that in the prefent Cafe and Circumftances of this Church and Nation, to Enact a Toleration for thofe of that Way, (which God of his Infinite Mercy avert) would be to Establish Iniquity by a Law, and would bring upon the

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