VVE Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses, and other Subscribers, your Majesty's most Dutiful Subjects of this your Antient Kingdom of Scotland, having formerly from an un­feigned Zeal to your Majesty's Service, and to the Good and Welfare of our Countrey Petition'd your Majesty for a Meeting of the Estates in Parliament, in order to Support, and Assist our Company Trading to Africa and the Indies, which the Parliament had, by their Unanimous Address to your Majesty of the 5th. of August 1698, declared to be their own and the whole Nation's peculiar Concern, And your Majesty having been graciously pleased to allow the Parliament to Meet on the 21th. of May last, whereby all your good Subjects could not but conceive suitable hopes of its happy issue, for the Honour and Interest of your Majesty and People, do now beg leave to express our deep Con­cern & Sorrow for the unexpected Adjournment thereof, without being permitted to do any thing towards the wish'd for end of its Meeting, And do in all humble manner concurr with the dutifull Address lately presented to your Majesty, from rhe Plurality of the Members of Parliament, Representing the Inconveniencies and prejudices arising to the pressing Concerns of the Nation, from that Adjournment, and to the Rights and Liberties of Parliament, from the manner of it: And it is our Unexpressible Regret, that your Majesty does seem to have been prevail'd upon by the Mis-representations of evil Councellours to issue out Proclamations▪ further Adjourning the Parliament, from time to time, whilst not only did our said Company stand extreme­ly in need of the Countenance Support and Protection promis'd to it by your Majesty in Parliament, and more especially upon the Misfortunes that have of late befallen it by the success of Enemies against its Colo­ny of Caledonia, but whilst also even the Nation it self did, and still does, remain under the pressure of such Grievances as can only be Redress'd in Parliament.

And to the end that your Majesty may have a just view thereof, we humbly beg leave to represent to your Majesty how indispensibly necessary it is, THAT the Protestant Religion be secured against the growth of Popery, Immorality and Profaneness; THAT the Freedom and Independency of this Antient Kingdom, and the Nation's Right and Title to Caledonia, as holding of your Majesty's Crown of Scotland, be Asserted and Supported; THAT the good inclinations of your Majesty and Successors Kings of Scotland be preserved from Foreign Influence, as well as from the Mis-representations and Pernicious Counsels of Unnatural Coun­trey-Men; THAT the frequency, and sitting of Parliaments be secured and ascertain'd, pursuant to the Claim of Right; THAT dangerous Influences upon the freedom of Parliaments, either by Gratuities, Pensions, or Farms of any branch of the Revenue, and the disposing of any part of the Revenue or annexed Property of the Crown, otherways than acccording to Law, for the necessary support of the Government, be prevented; THAT the publick Credit be restored, and an enquiry made into the Application of the Funds laid on, and ap­propriated by Parliament, for support of the Government and payment of the Army; THAT the Se­curity of the Nation, and Government, be settled in a duly regulated National Force, in stead of a standing Army, so burdensome to the Countrey, and dangerous to its Liberties; THAT the manner of applying the Se­curity, which we have by our Claim of Right, for the Personal freedom of the Subject, against long and Arbitrary Imprisonment, as well as against Pursutes upon old and obsolete Laws, be specially declared; THAT the Trade of this Nation be Encouraged & Advanced, by duly regulating its Export and Import, by discharg­ing prejudicial Branches thereof, by fixing the value of our current Money, by encouraging Manufactories, by imploying the Poor, and more especially by Countenancing and Assisting our said Company, in the Pro­secution of its lawful Undertakings; And THAT all such Articles of Grievances presented to your Majesty by the Estates of this Kingdom in the Year 1689 as have not yet been Redress'd, together with such other Grievan­ces as the Parliament shall, at the Meeting thereof, find the Nation aggrieved with, be Redress'd in Parlia­ment.

And your Majesty having by your Royal Letter, of the 24 of May 1689, been graciously pleased to declare, and give full assurance to our Representatives in that meeting of the Estates, which settled the Crown and Royal Dignity of this Realm on your Majesty, That we should always find your Majesty ready to Protect us, and to Assist the Estates in making such Laws, as might secure our Religion, Liberties and Properties, and prevent or Redress whatsoever might be justly grievous to us; That your Majesty would never believe that the true interest of your People and the Crown could be opposite; and that your Majesty would always account it your greatest Prerogative to assent to such Laws as might promote Truth, Peace, and Wealth in Your Kingdom. We do therefore reckon it our duty, humbly to desire and assuredly expect▪ that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to satisfy the longing desires, and earnest Expectations of your People, by allowing your Parliament to meet, as soon as possible; and when mett, to sit till they fully deliberate upon, and come to solid Resolutions in the great and weighty Concerns of the Nati­on, and grant such Instructions to your Commissioner, as may impower him to pass such Ac [...]s, as the great Council of the Nation shall think most conducive to the true Honour of your Majesty and Gove [...]ment, the welfare of this Realm, both as to its Religious and Civil Interest, and to the full quieting [...]e Minds of all your Majesty's good People▪