of Forfar (because of the Minority of the Marquefs of Dowglafs) carrying the Crown, all uncovered; and on the Right and Left Three Macers with their Maces, bare-headed, and Footmantles, after them the Earl of Morton, bearing the Purfe, bare-headed; then his Grace the Duke of Queensberry, her Majesty's High Commiffioner, on Horfe-back, with Two Knights walking on each Side, Four Gentlemen-Uhers walking before his Horfe, and before them his Grace's Two Pages, and on the Right and Left Sixteen Foot-men, all in rich Liveries; after his Grace the Dukes and Marqueffes rode; and laft of all her Majefty's Troop of Guards: At the Entry of the ParliamentClofe, the Conftable and his Guards received the Members, and at the Door of the Houfe, the Earl-Marshal and his Guards: After the Lord High-Commiffioner was on the Throne, his Commiffion was read; after which her Majefty's Gracious Letter to the Parliament was prefented by my Lord Commiffioner, and read: His Grace in his Speech, to them among other things, took notice that the clofe Conjunction of the Two Monarchies, which in their Turns ' had defign'd to enflave Europe, and extirpate our Religion, made it juft and neceffary for her Majefty to be engaged in the War; and that her early Appearance gave Life and Vigor to the Confederacy, and particular Encouragement to the Proteftant Princes and States: That God had hitherto bleffed her Arms and her Allies with glorious Succefs, both by Sea and Land, fo that there was a Stop put to the Victories, and a Check given to the encroaching Power of France.

That it could not but be great Satisfaction to them, to be under the benign Government of a Proteftant Queen; that they enjoy'd the Comforts of Peace, and felt neither the Effects

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of Tyranny, nor the Disorders of War, in which fo many were involv'd: But that they ought not to be too fecure, and it were to tempt their Enemies to form Designs, or make Infults against them, if they faw them in no Condition of Defence. That all her Majefty proposes to them, was for themselves, without mingling any particular Concern of Her own; that it was to continue the Provifion for the Forces on the Establishment, and to furnish and repair the Forts and Garrisons, which was fo neceffary, that he could not doubt of their ready Compliance: And that their Chearfulness in it would be very acceptable to Her Majesty, obfervable to the World, and a great Evidence of their Loyalty and Affection, which would add much to the Value of what they offered.

"That the Decay and prefent low Condition of Trade, required their prudent and special Confideration; her Majesty on her Part, being willing to concurr with them in any thing that might contribute to encourage and restore it, either by making new Laws, or amending the prefent ones.

He concluded with faying, that he was very fenfible of the great Weight and DifС ficulties which had attended his Station, but that his Encouragement was from the Confidence he had of her Majefty's Goodness, in believing his Sincerity and Zeal for her Service, and that in her Royal Wisdom she was fo careful of her People, that he could not be charged with any thing that could be confructed to be againft the Intereft of the Kingdom, which gave him Affarance of their hearty Concurrence, and he should very faithfully report what Services were done by every Perfon to her Majefty and the Nation.

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His Grace encountred with almost Infuperable Prevents Difficulties in the Courfe of this Seffion, the the pafParliament being entirely bent upon the Act offing of Security, to which the Court of England was the Act of wholly averfe at that time; and therefore the Security. Lord High-Commiffioner, ufed the utmoft of his Dexterity to put it off; which could not but be perceived by fome of the difcerning Members of that wife Affembly, one of which after a handfom Harangue, verv artfully concluded his Speech with faying: They knew it was the undoubted Prerogative of her Majefty, that C no Act of that Houfe fhould have the force of a Law without her Royal Affent, and that as they were Confident, his Grace the HighCommiffioner was fufficiently inftructed, to give that Affent to every Act which should C be laid before him; fo more particularly to the Act for the fecurity of the Kingdom, an Act that preferved them from Anarchy; an Act that arm'd a Defenceless People; an A&t that had coft the Reprefentatives of that Kingdom, much time and labour to Frame, and the Nation a very great Expence; An Act that < had paft by a great Majority, and above all, an Act that contained a Caution of the highest Importance, for the Amendment of their Conftitution; that they did not prefume the other . day, immediately after the Act was Voted, to defire the Royal Affent; that they thought it a juft deference to the High-Commiftioner, not to mention it at that time: Neither would they now, but only that they might have an opportunity to reprefent to his Grace, that as he who gave readily, doubles the Gift, fo his Grace had now in his hands the most GloC rious and Honourable Occafion, that any Perfon of that Nation ever had, of making himfelf acceptable, and his memory for ever grateful to the People of that Kingdom; to

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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 firft 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,Commiffioners 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 to 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

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

There was a strong 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 Majesty's; wherein, among other menté 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 pleased 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 Witnesses 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 difter, wherein he 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 A&t in the prefent Seflion of Parliament, and therefore Ggz diffented