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.

The Council-General of the Indian and Afri∣can Company's Petition to his Majesty,

May it please Your Majesty,

WE your Majesty's most dutiful Subjects, The Council General of the Company of Scot∣land, Trading to Africa and the Indies, do in all humble duty beg leave to lay before your Majesty the present Condition of your our Affairs.

Your Majesty from an earnest desire of the flourishing of your Antient Kingdom, having been graciously pleased by the 32d Act of the 4th Ses∣sion, and by the 8th Act of the 5th Session of this current Parliament, and your Majesty's Let∣ters Patent under the Great Seal of this King∣dom following thereupon, to authorize the set∣ling of Plantations and Colonies in Asia, Africa, or America by the Natives of this Kingdom; and such others as should joyn with them; as in the said Acts of Parliament and Letters Patent is more part cularly express'd

We and our Constituents, Your Majesty's most Loyal Subjects did, upon the faith and encourage∣ment of the said Acts, and Letters Patent, enter into a Society, erect a Company of Trade, and with great Charge, and after many Difficulties settled a Plantation on the Northside of the Isthmus of Darien, a place precisely in the terms of the said Acts of Parliament and Letters Patent.

And being sensible, That as our Company had its Birth from your Majestys most Gracious Fa∣vour, so it could not subsist but by your Royal Protection; We did therefore in all humble man∣ner petition your Majesty's High Commissioner and the Estates of Parliament assembled the 19th of July 1698.

Upon which the Estates of Parliament did with great unanimity Address Your Majesty, That you would in your Royal Wisdom be pleased to take such Measures as might effectually vindicate the undoubted Rights and Privileges of the said Company, and support the Credit and Interest thereof.

That Session of Parliament ending before any Return could be had from your Majesty, Reports have been spread by the Enemies of our Settle∣ment, as if our Company had not your Majesty's Protection: And as an evidence thereof; That Proclamations have been issued out in your Ma∣jesty's Name by your Governours in all the American Plantations, not only to deprive our said Company and Colony of the friendly Assi∣stance, that might reasonably have been expected from our Neighbour Nation, but also strictly forbiding all your Majesty's Subjects or others within these Plantations to enter into any Traffick or Commerce with the said Colony; and that no Provisions, Arms, Ammunition, or other Necessa∣ries whatsoever should be transported, or carried to them either in their own Vessels or any other Ship or Vessel for their use, and that under the utmost Pains, Penalties and Forfeitures mention∣ed in the said Proclamations.

Which Proceedings we have but too much rea∣son to believe have been of fatal consequence to our Company and Colony, and consequently to the Interest of all your Majesty's good Subjects in this Kingdom. And we being fully persuaded, that nothing could be so conducible for the sup∣port of our said Company and Colony in our pre∣sent Circumstances, as some special Testimonies and Evidences of your Royal Protection.

We do therefore in all humility and earnestness beg of your Majesty's fartherly Care of our said Company in particular, and of the Nation in general, That your Majesty would be graciously pleased to take off the force and effect of these Proclamations which have been so prejudicial to us, and to signify your Royal Pleasure to the Gover∣nours of these your Plantations, that we may be supply'd in the common and ordinary way of Commerce. As also, That your Majesty may allow your Parliament to meet at the day ap∣pointed in November next, or as soon as possibly can be, that your Majesty may have the Advice and Assistance of the Great Council of this Na∣tion in such a weighty and general Concern, which we hope God will bless with an happy issue to his Glory, the Honour of your Majesty, the Credit of your Parliament, the Interest of the Nation, and the Good of our Company and Colony.

Sign'd at Edinburgh the 19th day of October 1699. in Name, Presence, and by Order of the said Council General

by,

May it please your Majesty,

Your Majesty's most Faithful, most Dutiful, most Humble, and most Obedient Subject and Ser∣vant, Sic Subscribitur, Belhaven, I. P. C. G.