gainst the propofed Union, as Moulded in the prin- A. C. ted Articles thereof. This we defire to be printed and kept in Record, ad futuram rei memoriam. 1706. After the Reading of the faid Letter and Declaration, a Draught of a Proclamation to be emitted by the Parliament, against all Tumultuary Meetings, and Convocation of the Leidges, was prefented and read; And after fome Difcourfe thereupon, it being objected, that it did not appear that there was a particular Information of any Tumultuary Meeting, or irregular Convocations, in the Shire of Lanerk, or at Glasgow, Her Majefty's High Commiffioner was thereupon pleafed to notify to the Parliament, that he had Information, not only from Glasgow and Dumfries, but alfo from feveral places in Lanerkfhire, of Tumultuary and Irregular Meetings of Men under Arms, and of their going out, and publishing their Defign of marching to disturb the Parliament. Therefore the Draught of the Procla-The Parlia mation was again read, and after reafoning there- ment apupon, and fome Amendments, a Vote was ftated, proves a Proclamaapprove of the Proclamation or not, and it was tion against carried approve, by three only Diffenting. Then Tumults. the Draught of an Act, fufpending the Effect of the Claufe in the Act of Security, for Arming and Exercising the Fenfible Men, paft in the fecond Seffion of this Parlia ment, and that during this Seffion of Parliament only, was read, and a firft reading order'd to be mark'd thereon. The next Day, being the last of November, the Act against faid Act was again read, approv'd, and touch'd Musters with the Scepter by the Lord High-Commiffioner, and Rendeunder the Title of A&t against all Mufters and Ren-vouzes past dezvoufes, during the prefent Seffion of Parliament; and Nov. 30. the fame was order'd to be forthwith printed and publifh'd, together with the Proclamation against Tumults. The fame Day, after the Reading of an Addrefs from the Burgh of yre, and another from the Town and Parish of Brunt-Island, against an Union, in the Terms of the Treaty, the feventh The 8th ArArticle was again Read, debated, and that part of ticle wholly it not approved before, pafs'd, by more than two approved.. A. C. thirds of the Houfe. The Printed Account of the 1706. Burning of the Articles of Union at Dumfries, before mentioned, being again read, it was referr'd to the Committee appointed for Examining the 6th Article of Union, to make Enquiry after the Printer and Publisher of that Scandalous Paper, which was order'd to be burnt by the Hands of the Common Hang-man. Then the 8th Article was again read, and referr'd to the faid Committee, whom all fuch Members as gave in any Overtures, or Claufes relating to the 6th Article of Union, were directed to attend the next Meeting. Tumult in That very Day the Parliament was taking vigo rous Measures to fupprefs tumultuous Affemblies, the Edinburgh Mobb, had the Infolence to come, in great Numbers, to the Parliament-Clofe, demanding with loud Out-cries, That the Treaty of Union be rejected. Hereupon the Duke of Argile, with great Refolution, went out of the Houfe in or der to appease the Riotous Multitude, of whom he ask'd, whether they knew who he was? They anfwer'd, they knew him no more as the Duke of Argile, but only as Earl of Greenwich, and as fuch er tirely in the Intereft of England: But that Illuftrious Peer, having with repeated Intreaties, perfwaded Appeafed them to give him the Hearing, his Grace fpoke to by the Duke them with fuch Calmnefs and Strength of Reason, of Argile, as qualified the Fury of the Boldeft, and work'd fo powerfully upon the reft, that fome of them cry'd out Long live the Duke of Argile, and Profperity to the Union. However, the Court being apprehenfive that Her Majefties Minifters, and the Well-affected, might be expofed to further Infults, fome Regiments of Horfe and Dragoons were order'd to march towards the North of England, to be in a Readinefs to enter Scotland, in cafe of any Rifing in that Kingdom: Which by the fteddy Conduct and Vigilance, of the Lord High Commiffioner, and the other Mi nifters, was happily prevented. It was the general Opinion, and, perhaps the firft Refolution of theCourt,that the Parliament of England fhould not fit till that of Scotland had finifh'd the Affair of the Union, but the fame being like to draw into length,and Her Majefty's Occafions not admitting of Delays, the Parliament of England, which on the 21ft of of November, had been further prorogued to the 3d A. C. of December, met that Day at Westminster, and the 1706. Queen being come to the Houfe of Peers, with the ufual Solemnity, and the Commons fent for up, Her The Parlia Majefty was pleas'd to deliver herfelf in thefe Words ment of to both Houfes: England My Lords and Gentlemen, Hope We are all Met together at this Time, 'with Hearts truly Thankful to Almighty 'God, for the Glorious Succeffes with which he 'has Bleffed Our Arms, and thofe of Our Allies, through the whole Courfe of this Year; and with ferious and fteady Refolutions, to profecute the Ad⚫vantages We have gain'd, till We reap the defired Fruit of them, in an Honourable and Durable Peace. "The Goodnefs of God has brought this happy Profpect fo much nearer to Us, that if We be not wanting to Our felves. We may, upon good Grounds, hope to fee fuch a Balance of Power Eftablifh'd in Europe, that it fhall no longer be at the Pleasure of one Prince, to difturb the Repofe, and endanger the Liberties of this part of the World. A juft confideration of the Prefent pofture of Affairs, of the Circumftances of Our Enemies, and the good Difpofition of Our Allies, muft needs 'excite an uncommon Zeal, and animate Us to exert Our Utmoft Endeavours at this Critical Con⚫ juncture. Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons, meets, Dec. 3. As I am fully perfwaded You are all of this Mind, fo I muft earneftly defire You to Grant Me Supplies fufficient for carrying on the War next "Year, in fo effectual a manner, that We may be able to improve every where the Advantages of this fuccefsful Campaign: And I affure You, I fhall make it My Bufinefs to fee all You give, apply'd to thofe Ends with the greatest Care and Management. My Lords and Gentleman, In purfuance of the Powers Vefted in Me by Act of Parliament, both in England and Scotland, I ⚫ appointed A. C. appointed Commiffioners to treat of an Union be tween the Two Kingdoms, and tho' this be a Work 1706 of fuch a Nature as cou'd not but be attended with great Difficulties, yet fuch has been the Application of the Commiffioners, that they have Concluded a Treaty which is, at this Time, before the Parliament of Scotland; and I hope the mutual Advantages of an entire Union of the Two Kingdoms will be found fo apparent, that it will not be long before I fhall have an Opportunity of Acquainting You with the Succefs which it has met with there. "Your Meeting at this time being later than u'fual, I cannot conclude without earnestly Recommending to you, to give as much Dispatch to the 'Publick Affairs as the Nature of them will Admit, it being of the greatest Confequence, that both Our 'Friends and our Enemies fhou'd be fully convinc'd of your Firmness and the Vigour of your Proceed⚫ings. This excellent Speech was receiv'd with uncommon Applaufe, both within and without Doors; The Com- and the Commons being return'd to their House, mons Vote made this unanimous Vote, of Thanks tulation. Refolved, That an Addrefs be presented to Her and Congra Majefty, to return the humble Thanks of this House "for Her Majesty's most gracious Speech from the Throne, to Congratulate Her Majefty upon the Glorious Victory obtain'd by Her Arms, and thofe 'of Her Allies, under the Command of the Duke of Marlborough at Ramillies, and the repeated Succeffes with which it hath pleafed God to blefs the Arms of Her Majefty, and Her Allies, beyond the Example of former Ages; And as Her Majefty's Allies have fhew'd their good Difpofition to advance the Common Caufe, to affure Her Majefty, that this Houfe will exert it felf to the utmoft, in giving fuch fpeedy and effectual Supplies to Her Majefty, as may enable Her to profecute the War with Vigour, and to improve the great Advantages of this Successful Campaign, fo as to obtain an Honourable Peace, that may be a lafting Security to the 'Dominions of her Majefty, and thofe of Her Allies, After After the Commons had appointed a Committee A. C. to draw up that Addrefs, and unanimoufly refolv'd 1706. to take Her Majefty's Speech into Confideration the next Day: They fet proper Days for the Sitting of the four Grand Committees for Religion, Grievances, Courts of Justice, and Trade. Then they appointed a Committee of Privileges and Elections, upon which occafion they made the following remarkable Votes. . . ، Votes about iftly. That no Peer of this Realm hath any Right Privileges to give his Vote in the Election for any Member and Electi to ferve in. Parliament. 2dly, That where the ons. 'Houfe fhall judge any Petition touching Elections to be Frivolous and Vexatious, the Houfe will order Satisfaction to be made to the Perfon petiti. on'd againft. 3dly, That in cafe it fhall appear any Perfon hath procured himself to be elected or returned as a Member of this Houfe, or endeavour'd fo to be, by Bribery or any other corrupt Practices, this Houfe will proceed with the utmost Severity against fuch Perfon. 4thly, That if it 'fhall appear any Perfon hath been Tampering with any Witneffes, in refpect of their Evidence to be given to this Houfe, or any Committee thereof, or directly or indirectly endeavour'd to deter or hinder any Perfon from appearing or giving Evidence, the fame is declar'd to be a High Crime and Mifdemeanor; and this Houfe will proceed with the utmost Severity against fuch Offenders. 5thly, That if it fhall appear any Perfon hath given falfe Evidence in any Cafe before the Houfe, or any Committee thereof, this Houfe will proceed with the utmoft Severity against fuch Offenders. 6thly, That for any Lord of Parliament, or any Lord Lieutenant of any County, to concern themfelves in the Elections of Members, to ferve for the Commons in Parliament, the fame is a high In'fringement of the Liberties and Privileges of the Commons of England, This done, the Commons past this unanimous Vote: < દ mong Vote That the Thanks of this Houfe be given to his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, for his Eminent The ComServices to her Majefty and this Kingdom, in the Thanks to Great and Glorious Victories and Succeffes obtain'd the Duke of over the common Enemy in the last Campaign. Maribo The rough. |