State tracts, being a farther collection of several choice treaties relating to the government from the year 1660 to 1689 : now published in a body, to shew the necessity, and clear the legality of the late revolution, and our present happy settlement, under the auspicious reign of their majesties, King William and Queen Mary.

His Highness the Prince of Orange's Speech to the Scots Lords and Gentlemen.

With their Advice, and his Highness's Answer. With a true Account of what past at their Meeting in the Council-Chamber at Whitehall, Janu∣ary 7th. 168••.

His Highness the Prince of Orange having caused Advertise such of the Scots Lords and Gentlemen as were in Town, met them in a Room at St. James's, upon Monday the Seventh of January, at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, and had this Speech to them.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

THE only Reason that induced me to undergo so great an Ʋndertaking, was, That I saw the Laws and Liberties of these Kingdoms overturned, and the Protestant Religion in Imminent Danger: And seeing you are here so many Noblemen and Gentlemen, I have called you together, that I may have your Advice, what is to be done for Securing the Protestant Religion, and Restoring your Laws and Liberties, according to my Declaration.

As soon as his Highness had retired, the Lords and Gentlemen went to the Council-Chamber at Whitehall; and having chosen the Duke of Hamilton their President, they fell a consulting, what Advice was fit to be given to his Highness in this Conjuncture: And after some hours Reasoning, they agreed upon the Materials of it, and appointed the Clerks, with such as were to assist them, to draw up in Writing, what the Meet∣ing thought expedient, to advise his Highness, and to bring it in to the Meeting the next in the Afternoon.

Tuesday, the Eighth Instant, the Writing was presented in the Meeting: And some time being spent in Reasoning about the fittest way of Coveening a General Meeting of the Estates of Scotland. At last the Meeting came to agree in their Opinion, and appointed the Advice to be writ clean over, according to the Amendments. But as they were about to part for that Dyet, the Earl of Arran proposed to them, as his Lordship's Advice, that they should move the Prince of Orange, to desire the King to return and call a Free Parliament, which would be the best way to secure the Protestant Religion and Property, and to heal all Breaches. This Proposal seemed to dissatisfie the whole Meeting, and the Duke of Hamilton their President, Father to the Earl; but they presently parted.

Wednesday, the Ninth of January, they met at three of the Clock in the same Room, and Sir Patrick Hume took notice of the Proposal made by the Earl of Arran, and de∣sired to know if there was any there that would second it: But none appearing to do it, he said, That what the Earl had proposed, was evidently opposite and inimicous to his Highness the Prince of Orange's Undertaking, his Declaration, and the good Intentions of preserving the Protestant Religion, and of Restoring their Laws

and Liberties exprest in it; and further, desired that the Meeting should declare this to be their Opinion of it. The Lord Cardross seconded Sir Patrick's Motion: It was answered by the Duke of Hamilton, President of the Meeting, That their Business was to prepare an Advice to be offered to the Prince; and the Advice being now ready to go to the Vote, there was no need that the Meeting should give their Sense of the Earl's Proposal, which neither before nor after Sir Patrick's Motion, any had pretend∣ed to own or second; so that it was fallen and out of doors; and that the Vote of the Meeting, upon the Advice brought in by their Order, would sufficiently declare their Opinion: This being seconded by the Earl of Sutherland, the Lord Cardross and Sir Patrick did acquiesce in it; and the Meeting Voted unanimously the Advice following.