A Compleat collection of papers in twelve parts relating to the great revolutions in England and Scotland from the time of the seven bishops petitioning K. James II. against the dispensing power, June 8. 1688. to the coronation of King William and Queen Mary, April 11. 1689.

His HIGHNESS the PRINCE of ORANGE his SPEECH to the Scots Lords and Gentlemen. VVith their Advice, and his Highness's Answer. VVith a True Account of what past at their Meeting in the Council-Chamber at Whitehal, January 7. 1688/9. His Highness the PRINCE of Orange having cau∣sed Advertise such of the Scots Lords and Gentle∣men 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 Eminent 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 Re∣storing your Laws and Liberties, according to my Decla∣ration.

As soon as his Highness had retired, the Lords and Gentle∣men went to the Council-Chamber at Whitehall; and having chosen the Duke of Hamilton their President, they fell a con∣sulting, what Advice was sit 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 Opi∣nion, and appointed the Advice to be writ clean over, accord∣ing to the Amendments. But as they were about to part for that Dyet, the Earl of Arran proposed to them, as his Lord∣ship's Advice, that they should move the Prince of Orange, to desire the King to return and call a Free-Parliament, which would the best way to Secure the Protestant Religion and Property, and to Heal all Breaches. This Proposal seemed to dissatisfy 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 desired to know if there was any there that would second it: But none ap∣pearing 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 In∣tentions of preserving the Protestant Religion, and of Re∣storing 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 Meet∣ing, That their Business was to prepare an Advice to be of∣fered 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 pretended to own or se∣cond;

so that it was fallen and out of doors; and that the Vote of the Meeting, upon the Advice brought in by their Or∣der, would sufficiently declare their Opinion: This being se∣conded by the Earl of Sutherland, the Lord Cardross, and Sir Patrick did acquiesce in it; and the Meeting voted unani∣mously the Advice following.

To His HIGHNESS the PRINCE of ORANGE.

WE the Lords and Gentlemen of the Kingdom of Scotland, Assembled at your Highness's desire, in this Extraordinary Conjunction, do give your Highness our humble and hearty Thanks for your Pi∣ous and Generous Undertaking, for Preserving of the Protestant Religion, and Restoring the Laws and Liber∣ties of these Kingdoms.

In order to the Attaining these Ends, our humble Ad∣vice and Desire is, That your Highness take upon You the Administration of all Affairs, both Civil and Military; the Disposal of the Publick Revenues and Fortresses of the Kingdom of Scotland, and the doing every Thing that is necessary for the Preservation of the Peace of the King∣dom, until a General Meeting of the States of the Nation, which we humbly desire your Highness to Call, to be holden at Edinburgh the Fourteenth day of March next, by your Letters or Proclamation, to be published at the Market-Crosses of Edinburgh, and other Head-Boroughs of the several Shires and Stewartries, as sufficient Intimation to All concerned, and according to the Custom of the King∣dom: And that the Publication of these your Letters or

Proclamation, be by the Sheriffs, or Stewart Clerks, for the Free-holders, who have the value of Lands, holden ac∣cording to Law, for making Elections; and by the Town-Clerks of the several Burroughs, for the meeting of the whole Burgesses of the respective Royal Burroughs, to make their Elections at least Fifteen Days before the Meeting of the Estates at Edinburgh; and the Respective Clerks to make Intimation thereof, at least Ten Days before the Meet∣ings for Elections: And that the whole Electors and Mem∣bers of the said Meeting at Edinburgh, qualified as above exprest, be Protestants, without any other Exception or Li∣mitation whatsoever; to Deliberate and Resolve what is to be done for securing the Protestant Religion, and Resto∣ring the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom, according to Your Highness's Declaration.

Dated at the Council-Cham∣ber in Whitehal the Tenth Day of January, 1689.

This Address being Subscribed by 30 Lords, and about 80 Gentlemen, was presented in their presence at St. James's, by the Duke of Hamilton their President, to his Highness the Prince of Orange, who thanked them for the Trust they reposed in him, and desired a Time to consider upon so weighty an Affair.

Upon the Fourteenth of January, his Highness the Prince of Orange met again with the Scots Lords and Gentlemen at St. James's; And spoke to them as follows.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

IN persuance of your Advice, I will, untill the Meeting of the States in March next, give such Orders concerning the Affairs of Scotland, as are necessary for the Calling of the said Meeting, for the Preserving of the Peace; the applying of the Publick Revenue to the most pressing Ʋses, and putting the Fortresses in the Hands of Persons, in whom the Nation can have a just Confidence: And I do fur∣ther

assure you, That you will always find me ready to concur with you in every Thing that may be found necessary for Securing the Protestant Religion, and Restoring the Laws and Liberties of the Nation.

The Earl of Crawfourd desired of his Highness, That him∣self, the Earl of Louthian, and others, come to Town since the Address was presented, might have an opportunity to sub∣scribe it; which was accordingly done: His Highness retired, and all shewed great Satisfaction with his Answer.