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.

To which his Majesty was pleased to give the following Answer,

WILLIAM R.

RIght Trusty and Well-beloved,

We greet you well: Your Petition has been presented to us by our Secretaries, and we do very much regret the Loss which that our antient Kingdom and the Company has lately sustained: We will upon all Occasions protect and encourage the Trade of the Nation: And we will also take care, that the Sub∣jects of our Kingdom shall have the same free∣dom of Trade and Commerce with our English Plantations as ever they had formerly.

Our current Parliament is adjourn'd to the 5th day of March next, and we will order that the Parliament shall meet when we judge that the Good of the Nation does require it. And so we bid you heartily farewel. Given at our Court at Kensington the 2d day of November 1699. and of our Reign the 11th Year.

By his Majesty's Com∣mand, Sic Subscribitur, Seafield.

To our Right Trusty and well-beloved, The Council General of the Company of our Antient Kingdom of Scotland Trading to A∣frica and the Indies.