The late King Iames His Letter to his Privy Council of Scotland, with their Answer, in reference to His Indulgence, containing His Absolute Power, without Reserve.
His Majesties Letter to His Honourable Privy Council of Scotland; together with their Answer. Edinburgh, February 24. 1687.
ON Thursday, the 17th Instant, His Majesties Gracious Letter to the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council of this Kingdom, was Read at the Board; After which their Lordships Unanimously Ordered, That His Majesties Royal Proclamation therein Enclosed, should be Published here the next day, which was accordingly performed with great Solemnity and Demonstrations of Joy. The Copies of which Gracious Letter, together with the Councils dutiful Answer to His Majesty thereupon, do here follow.
His Majesties Letter to His Privy Council of Scotland.
RIght Trusty and Right Well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor, Right Trusty and Right Well-beloved Counsellor, Right Trusty and Entirely-beloved Cousins and Counsellors, Right Trusty and Right Well-beloved Cousins and Counsellors, Right Trusty and Well-beloved Cousins and Counsellors, Right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellors, and Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellors, We Greet you well. Whereas by Our Letter of the 21st of August last past, We were graciously pleased to inform you of Our Designs in order to the Ease of Our Roman Catholick Subjects, unto which we had your Dutiful Answer in some days thereafter; We have now thought fit to Publish these Our Royal Intentions, and to give an Additional Ease to those of Tender Consciences, so to convince the World of Our Inclinations to Moderation, and to evidence that those of the Clergy who have been Regular, are Our most particular Care; though We have given some Ease to those Principles, We can with any Safety Trust: We have at the same time expressed Our highest Indignation against those Enemies of Christianity, as well as Government, and Humane Society, The Field Conventiclers, whom We recommend to you to Root out with all the Severities of Our Laws, and with the most vigorous Prosecution of Our Forces, it being equally Our, and Our Peopl's concern, to be rid of them. As for the other Particulars of Our Royal Proclamation here inclosed, We doubt not but they will appear to you most Just and Reasonable, as they do to Us, and that you will, in your respective Capacities Assert, and Defend Our Royal Rights and Prerogatives, which We are resolved to maintain in that Splendor and Greatness, which can only make them Safe for Us, Supports for Our Friends, and Terrors to Our Enemies. It is evident, We do not mean to encroach on the Consciences of any, and what We will not do, We are resolved not to suffer in others: And therefore it is Our Will and Pleasure, That these Our Commands be forth-with obeyed, and that in Order thereunto, this Our Proclamation be forth-with Printed and Published in the usual manner in such Cases accustomed; And if any shal be so bold as to shew any dislike of this Our Procedour, We desire to be informed thereof by you, To the end We may convince the World, that We are in Earnest, assuring all, That as We expect Obedience therein, and a Readiness from you, and all Our Judicatures to assert Our Rights, so it shall be Our Care on all Occasions, to shew Our Royal Favour to all of you in General, and to every one in Particular. For doing all these things, as well contained in this Our Letter, as in Our Proclamation aforesaid, These Presents shall be to you, and all others respectively, who may be therein any way concerned, a sufficient Warrant. and so We bid you Heartily Farewell.
The Answer of the Lords of the Council to His Majesties Letter.
YOur Majesties Commands are exactly Obeyed. Your Royal Proclamation is Printed and Published, by which Your Majesty hath given a further Evidence of your Favour and Goodness to all Your Subjects. And we are hopeful, that by Your Majesties extraordinary Acts of Mercy to some, who have been too ready on many Occasions to abuse the Clemency of Your Royal Predecessors, they will be at last convinced what they owe to so Gracious a King; And if any shal be still so obstinate as to make any wrong use of Your Majesties Goodness, We do unanimously assure Your Majesty, That we will maintain and assert Your Royal Prerogatives and Authority with the hazard of our Lives and Fortunes; And all of us shall in our several Capacities do our Utmost, that Your Government may be easie to all, whom Your Majesty thinks worthy of Your Protection.
We are very willing that Your Majesties Subjects who are Peaceable and Loyal, may be at Ease and Security, notwithstanding of their Profession and Private Worship, and do conceive that such of them as are or shall be employed by Your Majesty in Offices of Trust Civil or Military, are sufficiently secured by Your Majesties Authority and Commission for their exercing the same.
We return Your Majesty our most humble Thanks for giving Us Your Royal Word for maintaining the Church and our Religion, as it is now established by Law, and rest satisfied, believing Your Majesties Promise to be the best and greatest Security we can have. We are,
And His Majesties said Privy Council having Ordered, That the said Letter should afterwards be Signed by such of the Counsellors as were not then present; It was accordingly Signed at Westminster by the Earl of Morray, and the Earl of Melfort, Principal Secretaries of State for the said Kingdom, the Earl of Arran, the Earl of Drumlanrig, the Earl of Winton, the Earl of Seafort, the Earl of Ancrum, and the Earl of Dumbarton.