CHAPTER II. 1685. object of his go vernment. The next important observation that occurs, and to which even they who are most determined to believe that this Prince had always Popery in view, and held on the primary every other consideration as subordinate to that primary object, must nevertheless subscribe, is, that the most confidential advisers, as well as the most furious supporters, of the measures we have related, were not Roman Catholicks. Lauderdale and Queensberry were both Protestants. There is no reason, therefore, to impute any of James's violence afterwards to the suggestions of his Catholick advisers, since he who had been engaged in the series of measures above related, with Protestant counsellors and coadjutors, had surely nothing to learn from Papists, (whether priests, Jesuits, Scotland. or others,) in the science of tyranny. Lastly, from this on the state of The affairs of Scotland being in the state which we have described, it is no wonder that the King's letter was received with acclamations of applause, and that the parliament opened, not only with approbation of the government, but even with an enthusiastick zeal, to signalize their loyalty, as well by a perfect acquiescence Proceedings of liament. the Scotch Par April 28. CHAPTER 1685. 66 to the King's demands, as by the most fulsome expressions of adulation. "What Prince in Europe, or in the "whole world," said the Chancellor Perth, "was ever "like the late King, except his present Majesty, who had undergone every trial of prosperity and adversity, and "whose unwearied clemency was not among the least conspicuous of his virtues? To advance his honour and greatness, was the duty of all his subjects, and ought to "be the endeavour of their lives without reserve." The Parliament voted an address, scarcely less adulatory than the Chancellor's speech, 66 26 "MAY IT PLEASE YOUR SACRED MAJESTY, "Your Majesty's gracious and kind remembrance "of the services done by this, your ancient kingdom, "to the late King your brother, of ever glorious memory, shall rather raise in us ardent desires to exceed "whatever we have done formerly, than make us con"sider them as deserving the esteem your Majesty is pleased to express of them in your Letter to us, dated "the twenty-eighth of March. The death of that our "excellent Monarch is lamented by us to all the de66 grees of grief that are consistent with our great joy "for the succession of your Sacred Majesty, who has "not only continued, but secured the happiness, "which his wisdom, his justice, and clemency pro"cured to us and having the honour to be the first be II. 127 "Parliament which meets by your Royal Authority, of CHAPTER "which we are very sensible, your Majesty may "confident, that we will offer such laws as may best 66 66 66 secure your Majesty's sacred person, the royal fa"mily, and government, and be so exemplary loyal, "as to raise your honour and greatness to the utmost "of our power, which we shall ever esteem both our "duty and interest. Nor shall we leave any thing un"done for extirpating all fanaticism, but especially "those fanatical murtherers and assassins, and for detecting and punishing the late conspirators, whose pernicious and execrable designs did so much tend "to subvert your Majesty's government, and ruin us "and all your Majesty's faithful subjects. We can assure your Majesty, that the subjects of this your Majesty's ancient kingdom are so desirous to exceed "all their predecessors in extraordinary marks of affec❝tion and obedience to your Majesty, that, (God be praised,) the only way to be popular with us, is to be "eminently loyal. Your Majesty's care of us, when 66 66 66 you took us to be your special charge, your wisdom "in extinguishing the seeds of rebellion and faction "amongst us, your justice, which was so great, as to "be for ever exemplary, but above all, your Majesty's "free and cheerful securing to us our religion, when 66 you were the late King's, your Royal Brother's Com"missioner, now again renewed, when you are our So"vereign, are what your subjects here can never forget, 1685, CHAPTER II. 1695. Its tyrannical acts. " and therefore your Majesty may expect that we will "think your commands sacred as your person, and "that your inclination will prevent our debates; nor "did ever any who represented our Monarchs as their "Commissioners, (except your royal self,) meet with 66 66 greater respect, or more exact observance from a "Parliament, than the Duke of Queensberry, (whom your Majesty has so wisely chosen to represent you “in this, and of whose eminent loyalty, and great abi"lities in all his former employments, this nation hath seen so many proofs,) shall find from 66 66 May it please your Sacred Majesty, your Majesty's most humble, most faithful, and "most obedient subjects and servants, "PERTH, Cancell." Nor was this spirit of loyalty, (as it was then called,) of abject slavery, and unmanly subservience to the will of a despot, as it has been justly denominated by the more impartial judgment of posterity, confined to words only. Acts were passed to ratify all the late judgments, however illegal or iniquitous, to indemnify the privy council, judges, and all officers of the Crown, civil or military, for all the violences they had committed; to authorize the privy council to impose the test upon all ranks of people under such penalties as that board might think fit to impose; to extend the punishment of death, which had formerly attached upon the preachers at field conventicles only, to all their auditors, and likewise to the preachers at house conventicles; to subject to the penalties of treason, all persons who should give, or take the covenant, or write in defence thereof, or in any other way own it to be obligatory; and lastly, in a strain of tyranny, for which there was, it is believed, no precedent, and which certainly has never been surpassed, to enact, that all such persons as, being cited in cases of high treason, field or house conventicles, or church irregularities, should refuse to give testimony, should be liable to the punishment due by law to the criminals against whom they refused to be witnesses. It is true that an act was also passed, for confirming all former statutes in favour of the Protestant religion as then established, in their whole strength and tenour, as if they were particularly set down and expressed in the said act; but when we recollect the notions which Queensberry at that time entertained of the King's views, this proceeding forms no exception to the general system of servility which characterized both ministers and parliament. All matters in relation to revenue were of course settled in the manner most agreeable to his Majesty's wishes, and the recommendation of his Com missioner. S |