The prefent and neceffary War, contiued his Grace, which her Majefty has been oblig'd 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 fecurity of the Government, and the publick fafety of the Nation. That there was nothing could 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 Scotland and England; that it was amongst the last things recommended by the late King, and the first propos'd by her Majefty to the Parliament of England: They faw how concernedly her Majefty recommended it to them, and they all knew how far the Parliament of England had advanc'd in that Matter, by impowering her Majefty to name Commiflioners to treat with fuch as fhould be impower'd from that, or any fubfequent Parliament of that Kingdom. He affur'd them from his own Knowledge, that there appear'd at that time a greater Difpofition in the English Nation, towards an Union, than could ever be difcern'd formerly, which was a very great Incouragement; and he hop'd they would give them fuitable Returns. He concluded with faying, '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 Excules, I had reafon enough to decline fo weighty an Imployment; but the Experience I had of your Kindness and Regard for me, while I was formerly imploy'd in this Truft, and my own fincere Intentions to ferve her Majefty and my Country to the utmost of my Power, are the principal Incouragements I have in this undertaking; therefore I refolve to • maintain

.

maintain her Majeftv's Authority, and answer that Confidence the has been pleased to repofe in me, with all Firmnefs and Loyalty; and, I hope, from your Prudence and Zeal for the Government, that her Majefty fhall receive Satisfaction, and the Nation Advantage.

There was a ftrong Party in this Parliament, Oppofitiheaded by the Duke of Hamilton, that ar-on made gued ftrenuously against the Legality of the to the meeting of it, but the major part adhering Legality to her Majefty's Authority in Convening them, of this drew up and approved of a Letter, in anfwer Parlia to that of her Majefty's; wherein, among other ment things, they took it for a fingular Mark of her Royal Favour, and a very promifing Incouragement to all their Proceedings, that her Majefty had been pleafed to appoint James, Duke of Queensberry, to be her Commiffioner, to reprefent her Royal Perfon in that Seffion of Parliament: That they had been already Witneffes of his great Sufficiency, Faithfulness and Zeal in the difcharge of this high Trust; and they affured her Majefty, that next to her Royal Perfon, he was to them moft acceptable.

On the other hand, the diffenting Party having propos'd an Addrefs to be prefented to the Queen, to juftifie their own Proceedings,and fent it up by the Lord Blantyre: Her Majefty declined the receiving it, and refolving to adhere Queen's to the Parliament, Conven'd by her own Au- Letter to thority; the fignified as much to them by a Let- the dif ter, wherein the took notice, that fhe under-fenting ftood feveral Members of Parliament, after Party Prayers faid, and declining to wave the reading of her Commiffion, granted to James, Duke of Queensberry, reprefenting her Royal Perfon in that meeting of Parliament; did prefume to declare openly, that they did not conceive themselves warranted to Meet and Act in the prefent Seflion of Parliament, and therefore Ggz diffented

Duke's

Speech upon the Adjourn ment of the Par

liament.

diffented from any thing that should be done or acted therein; and thereupon did take Inftruments, and withdrew, and remov'd from their Attendance: She thought fit to fignifie to them her juft Refentment of their irregular and unufual Proceedings, and her Refolution to own and maintain the prefent Seffion of Parliament, and the Dignity and Authority of the fame, and of her High-Commiflioner thereto, against all Oppofers.

His Grace being thus fupported by her Majefty's Authority, went on vigorously in the Profecution of his Duty; but having propofed in Parliament to have the Succeffion of the Crown of Scotland, fettled on the Houfe of Hanover, as had been already done in England: Even thofe Members who continued to act in the House, tho' they agreed very well in other Points, could not at all in this, and the Party who oppofed the fettling of the Succeffion (which they alledg'd would be a Bar rather than an Incouragement to the intended Union of the two Nations) being willing to admit the diffenting Members to come into the House, to their Afliftance, which they actually attempted to do: My Lord High-Commiffioner feeing the ill Confequence of this Proceeding, wifely refolved, on the 30th of June, to adjourn the Parliament; but was firft pleas'd to tell them, that the Chearfulness and Unanimity of their Proceedings, in recognizing her Majefty's Royal Authority, fecuring the Proteftant Religion, and Presbyterian Government, and expediting the other Acts, which had been made for her Majesty's Service, and the Good and Safety of the Kingdom, would, he was perfwaded, be very acceptable to her Majefty, and fatisfying to all her good Subjects, and, he did affure them, was very obliging to him. But he was forry, when he was expecting they should have Parted

parted in the fame happy manner, a Proposal, which he had fome Grounds to think was laid afide, fhould be offered the other Day, to his furprize, as well as that of her Majefty's other Minifters, which occafion'd fome Debate and Difference in the Houfe: That his early engaging and firm adherence to the prefent Eftablishment was fo well known, that no Body could doubt of his Readinefs to enter into all Measures for her Majefty's Service, and fecuring their happy Settlement, according to the Claim of Right, and, he was confident, that they were of that Mind.

That fince then they were all perfectly the fame, as to their dutiful and faithful Adherence to her Majefty; and that the Claim of Right was their unalterable Security; he judg'd it fit for her Majefty's Service, and their own Intereft, to prevent further Contests and Debates among Perfons he knew to be fo entirely well affected to her Majefty, and for whom he bad all imaginable Honours, to difmifs that Seffion of Parliament. And after he had told them, they had had no particular Acts or Ratifications, that requir'd an Act of Salvo; he concluded with rendring them hearty Thanks, in her Majefty's Name, for the Loyalty they had teftified by their Publick Acts, which he should be careful to report to her Majefty; and should only recommend to them to let the Country know the gracious Affurances her Majefty had been pleased to give them, and to difpofe them to their Duty, to comply with her Majefty's Royal Intentions, for their own Welfare and Happiness.

His Grace having order'd the Lord Chancellor to prorogue the Parliament to the 18th of Auguft, he fet out for London; where, being Commif appointed by her Majefty, to be the first Com-foner for miffioner on the part of Scotland, for treating the Union

Gg 3

of

of an Union between both Nations, they met the first time at the Cockpit on the 22d of October; where the Lord Keeper, having made a Speech to them, the Duke of Queensberry anfwered him in a few Words, importing that the Union of the Two Kingdoms had been much defired, both before and fince their being under one Sovereign, and he hoped it was referved to her Majefty, for the glory of her Reign, to finish the defign which had been often attempted by her Royal Predeceffors.

The Preliminaries having been settled on both fides, the Duke of Queensberry proposed on the part of the Scots, that both Nations fhould be united in one Monarchy and one Parliament with a mutual Communication of Trade and Privileges, which was agreed to.

Ld. High But things not being yet ripe, for the accomCommiffi plishing of the intended Union, her Majefty hooner a 4tb noured the Duke a Second time, with Represime 1703 fenting her Perfon in the Parliament of Scotland,

which met at Edinburgh on the 6th of May 1703. The Ceremony of riding from her Majefty's Palace of Holyrood-Houfe, to the Parliament House, was perform'd with great Solemnity and in good Order, all the Members being on Horfe-back, and the Nobility in their Robes and rich Footmantles, in the following Method: Two Trumpets in their Coats and Banners, bear-headed; Two Purfuivants in the like Manner, the Commiffioners for Boroughs Two and Two, the Commiffioners for Shires Two and Two, the Officers of State (who are not Noblemen) Two and Two, the Lords or Barons Two and Two, the Viscounts Two and Two, the Earls Two and Two; Four Purfuivants Two and Two, and Six Heralds Two and Two, all in rich Coats; the Lion in his Coat, Collar and Footmantle, then rode in a Breaft the Earl of Marr carrying the Sword of State, the Ear!