THE
KINGS
Majesties
GRACIOUS
LETTER
To
His
Parliament
conveened
at
Edinburgh
,
the
twelfth
of
November
,
1673.
CHARLES
R.
MY
Lords
and
Gentlemen
,
At
the
opening
of
the
last
Session
of
this
Parliament
,
We
did
acquaint
you
how
,
and
upon
what
grounds
,
We
were
ingadged
in
a
very
just
and
necessary
Warre
against
the
States
Generall
of
the
United
Provinces
;
to
the
end
you
might
consider
your
own
security
,
as
well
as
Our
honor
and
interest
;
and
that
you
might
provide
fitting
remedies
against
all
accidents
that
might
befal
that
Kingdom
,
through
this
occasion
:
and
you
did
then
cheerfully
raise
such
a
summe
as
might
probably
provide
against
any
suddain
Invasion
or
intestine
Commotion
;
For
which
We
return
you
Our
hearty
thanks
.
And
seing
the
War
doth
still
continue
,
We
have
thought
fit
to
send
the
Duke
of
Lauderdale
Our
Commissioner
for
keeping
this
Session
of
Parliament
,
at
the
day
to
which
We
did
many
moneths
ago
adjourn
it
.
He
will
acquaint
you
how
We
have
,
by
Our
Ambassadors
at
Cologne
,
used
all
possible
endeavours
for
attaining
a
just
and
honourable
Peace
,
and
what
hath
been
the
insolence
and
stubbornness
of
Our
Enemies
,
who
have
never
yet
made
any
step
towards
Peace
;
So
that
We
are
necessitate
to
continue
the
War
for
Our
own
honour
,
the
maintenance
of
Our
just
rights
,
and
the
protection
of
all
Our
Subjects
;
wherein
We
nothing
doubt
the
hearty
concurrence
of
you
and
of
all
Our
Kingdoms
.
But
one
of
the
principal
reasons
of
keeping
this
Session
of
Parliament
,
is
,
to
the
end
effectual
courses
may
be
laid
down
for
curbing
and
punis●ing
the
insolent
Field-conventicles
and
other
seditious
practices
which
have
,
since
your
last
Session
,
too
much
abounded
.
You
are
Our
witnesses
what
Indulgences
We
have
given
,
and
with
what
lenity
We
have
used
such
dissenters
as
would
be
peaceable
,
and
bow
much
Our
favours
have
been
abused
.
You
have
made
many
good
Laws
,
but
still
they
have
failed
in
the
execution
against
the
contemners
of
the
Law
:
We
must
now
therefore
,
once
for
all
,
lay
down
such
solide
and
effectual
courses
,
as
the
whole
Kingdom
may
see
,
that
We
and
you
are
both
in
earnest
;
And
that
,
if
fairnesse
will
not
,
Force
must
compell
the
refractory
to
be
peaceable
and
obey
the
Law
.
We
have
had
frequent
experience
of
your
affection
to
Our
service
upon
several
occasions
,
and
therefore
We
are
confident
you
will
eminently
do
your
duty
in
this
which
doth
so
much
concern
Our
Authority
,
and
your
own
peace
and
quyetness
.
We
leave
the
wayes
and
means
to
your
own
wisdom
,
and
We
do
expect
that
you
will
lay
down
such
solide
grounds
,
and
take
such
effectual
wayes
,
as
may
put
an
end
to
those
disorders
,
and
evidence
to
the
world
that
Our
ancient
Kingdom
of
Scotland
is
at
quyet
,
and
united
to
Us
.
We
have
instructed
Our
Commissioner
fullie
in
this
,
and
all
things
relating
to
Our
service
and
your
advantage
;
and
he
can
well
inform
you
of
Our
constant
affection
to
,
and
care
of
,
all
the
concerns
of
that
Our
Kingdom
:
which
consideration
,
at
this
time
,
hath
made
us
dispence
with
him
here
,
when
his
service
was
so
useful
to
Us
.
We
need
not
again
repeat
that
which
We
have
so
often
said
of
his
great
sufferings
for
Us
,
and
great
services
that
he
hath
,
for
many
years
,
done
to
Us
;
And
therefore
you
shall
give
him
entire
trust
,
as
We
have
hitherto
done
in
all
things
;
Knowing
,
We
could
not
have
pitched
upon
any
that
is
more
faithful
to
Our
service
,
or
that
is
a
greater
lover
of
your
good
and
tranquillity
,
which
maketh
Us
not
doubt
a
happy
result
to
this
Session
.
And
so
We
bid
you
heartily
farewell
.
Given
at
Our
Court
,
at
Whytehall
the
16th
.
day
of
October
1673.
And
of
Our
Reign
the
25th
year
.
By
His
Majesties
Command
,
LAUDERDALE
.
His
Grace
The
Duke
of
LAUDERDALE
,
HIS
MAJESTIES
High
Commissioner
,
His
Speech
to
the
Parliament
,
the
twelfth
of
November
,
1673.
My
Lords
and
Gentlemen
,
LAst
time
I
had
the
honor
to
serve
the
King
in
this
Place
,
I
did
,
by
His
Majesties
command
,
acquaint
you
with
the
grounds
,
and
motives
of
His
ingaging
in
this
so
inavoydable
a
Warre
against
the
States
General
of
the
United
Provin●●●
For
securing
His
Kingdom
against
them
who
would
have
made
us
long
ere
now
have
felt
what
was
then
only
foreseen
,
if
by
Gods
good
Providence
and
the
Kings
Wisdome
this
Warre
had
not
beer
made
.
I
did
at
that
time
recommend
to
you
to
consider
His
honor
,
His
interest
and
your
own
security
,
(
which
are
certainly
most
inseparable
)
and
to
lay
down
such
reall
and
effectuall
wayes
,
That
the
Forces
of
this
Kingdom
might
be
supplyed
to
serve
His
Majesty
upon
occasions
,
to
be
a
terror
to
His
enemies
,
and
a
security
to
this
His
Kingdom
.
You
then
did
most
cheerfully
raise
such
a
Sum
as
might
probably
provide
against
any
Forraign
invasion
,
or
intestine
commotion
the
Enemy
could
raise
here
;
For
which
His
Majesty
does
again
return
you
His
hearty
thanks
.
He
hath
not
diverted
any
of
it
from
the
ends
for
which
it
was
granted
;
And
so
great
were
His
Navall
preparations
,
together
with
His
Landforces
,
this
last
Summer
,
That
He
had
great
reason
to
have
expected
a
just
and
reasonable
Peace
:
But
such
hath
been
the
insolent
stubbornness
of
His
Enemies
,
that
He
is
disappointed
of
that
hope
.
Therefore
He
did
command
me
to
keep
this
Session
of
Parliament
at
this
day
,
to
which
it
was
many
moneths
ago
adjourned
:
And
,
as
He
acquainted
you
with
the
motives
of
the
War
;
So
,
to
let
you
know
how
He
hath
used
all
means
possible
for
ending
it
,
The
Sweds
,
who
are
the
Mediators
,
proposed
a
Treaty
,
His
Majesty
accepted
it
,
and
offered
Dunkirk
as
the
most
convenient
place
for
all
that
were
concerned
in
the
War
to
Treat
in
:
But
the
Enemy
refused
it
,
though
His
Majesty
had
Treated
with
them
at
their
own
Town
of
Breda
,
during
the
last
War
.
The
Mediators
proposed
a
Cessation
of
Armes
before
any
ingagement
,
last
Summer
:
His
Majesty
agreed
to
it
;
but
the
Enemy
insolently
refused
it
also
:
And
the
King
accepted
of
the
City
of
Cologne
proposed
by
the
Enemy
for
the
Place
of
Treaty
.
Thither
He
sent
His
Plenipotentiaries
with
reasonable
proposalls
;
and
those
He
did
so
moderat
,
that
the
Mediators
declared
they
were
not
reasonably
to
be
refused
:
Yet
the
Enemy
have
been
so
very
averse
to
peace
,
that
they
would
never
declare
what
would
satisfie
them
,
nor
so
much
as
answer
any
proposall
made
by
the
Mediators
for
the
King
or
His
Allies
:
Nay
,
such
was
their
insolency
,
that
they
gave
in
Papers
stuffed
with
such
unhandsome
language
,
that
the
Mediators
were
ashamed
and
refused
to
shew
them
:
Therefore
the
King
is
forced
to
continue
the
War
,
for
His
own
honor
,
the
maintenance
of
His
just
Rights
,
and
the
protection
of
all
His
Subjects
:
Wherein
He
doubts
not
of
the
hearty
concurrence
of
this
and
of
all
His
Kingdoms
.
Another
main
reason
of
keeping
this
Session
of
Parliament
,
is
,
to
joyn
with
you
,
in
taking
such
effectuall
course
for
curbing
,
and
punishing
insolent
Field-conventicles
,
and
other
seditious
Practices
,
as
that
the
good
Laws
you
have
made
may
receive
due
obedience
,
and
that
Peace
and
Order
may
be
preserved
in
this
Kingdom
.
The
Wayes
and
Means
for
this
good
End
He
leaves
to
your
wisdome
,
not
doubting
of
the
same
care
and
affection
to
His
service
in
this
,
which
he
hath
found
all
along
from
you
.
And
whereas
the
malicious
tongues
of
the
disaffected
may
still
bespatter
His
Majesty
and
His
Government
with
slanders
and
false
suggestions
,
I
am
again
particularly
commanded
to
renew
to
you
the
fullest
assurance
of
His
Majesties
most
constant
continuance
in
His
firm
and
unalterable
resolutions
to
maintain
the
true
reformed
Protestant
Religion
,
and
the
Government
of
this
Church
by
Arch-Bishops
and
Bishops
against
Popery
and
Separation
.
And
I
am
fully
Authorized
to
all
such
further
Acts
as
you
shall
think
convenient
for
the
quieting
the
minds
of
peaceable
People
,
for
preventing
the
increase
of
Popery
or
Schisme
,
and
by
all
good
means
securing
the
true
reformed
Religion
and
the
Peace
of
this
Church
.
I
am
likewise
fully
impowered
to
give
His
Majesties
Royall
assent
to
such
good
Laws
as
you
shall
offer
,
for
increasing
of
Trade
,
the
improving
of
Manufacture
,
or
any
way
promoving
the
good
of
this
Kingdom
:
So
that
I
doubt
not
,
by
Gods
blessing
,
and
your
wisdom
,
of
as
happie
an
end
of
this
,
as
I
have
seen
in
former
Sessions
of
Parliament
.