The original papers and letters, relating to the Scots Company, trading to Africa and the Indies from the memorial given in against their taking subscriptions at Hamburgh, by Paul Ricaut, His Majesty's resident there, to their last address sent up to His Majesty in December, 1699 : faithfully extracted from the Companies books.

An Address to his Majesty by the Parlia∣ment thereupon.

WE your Majesty's most loyal and faithful Subjects, The Noblemen, Barons, and Burgesses conveened in Parliament, humbly re∣present to your Majesty, That having consider∣ed a Representation made to us by the Council∣General of the Company Trading to Africa and the Indies: making mention of several Obstructi∣ons they have met with in the Prosecution of their Trade. particularly by a Memorial pre∣sented to the Senate of Hamburgh, by your Majesty's Residents in that City, tending to les∣sen the Credit of the Rights and Privileges granted to the said Company, by an Act of this present Parliament.

We therefore in all humble Duty lay before your Majesty, the whole Nation's Concern in this Matter, and we do most earnestly entreat, and most assuredly expect, That your Majesty will in your Royal Wisdom take such Measures as may effectually vindicate the undoubted Rights and Privileges of the said Company, and suppor the Credit and Interest thereof.

And as we are in Duty bound to return your Majesty most hearty Thanks, for the gracious Assurances your Majesty has been pleased to give us of all due Encouragement for promoting the Trade of this Kingdom: So we are thereby encourag'd

at present, humbly to recommend to more special Marks of your Royal Favour, the Concerns of the said Company, as that Branch of our Trade, in which we, and the Nation we represent have a more peculiar Interest.

Subscribed at Edinburgh, the 5th of August 1698. in Name, Presence, and by War∣rant of the Estates of Parliament.

Sic-Subscribitur, Seafield, I.P.D.P.