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CHAPTER
II.

1685.

vernment.

While the legislature was doing its part, the executive government was not behind hand in pursuing the Cruelty of Go- system which had been so much commended. A refusal to abjure the Declaration in the terms prescribed, was every where considered as sufficient cause for immediate execution. In one part of the country, information having been received, that a corpse had been clandestinely buried, an enquiry took place: it was dug up, and found to be that of a person proscribed. Those who had interred him, were suspected, not of having murdered, but of having harboured him. For this crime, their house was destroyed; and the women and children of the family being driven out to wander as vagabonds, a young man belonging to it was executed by the order of Johnston of Westerraw. Against this murder even Graham himself is said to have remonstrated, but was content with protesting, that the blood was not upon his head; and not being able to persuade a Highland officer to execute the order of Johnston, ordered his own men to shoot the unhappy victim.* In another county, three females, one of sixty-three years of age, one of eighteen, and one of twelve, were charged with rebellion; and refusing to abjure the Declaration, were sentenced to be drowned. The last was let off, upon condition of her father's giving a bond for a hundred

* Woodrow, II. 507.

pounds. The elderly woman, who is represented as a person of eminent piety, bore her fate with the greatest constancy, nor does it appear that her death excited any strong sensations in the minds of her savage executioners. The girl of eighteen was more pitied; and after many entreaties, and having been once under water, was prevailed upon to utter some words, which might be fairly construed into blessing the King, a mode of obtaining pardon not unfrequent in cases where the persecutors were inclined to relent. Upon this it was thought she was safe; but the merciless barbarian who superintended this dreadful business, was not satisfied, and upon her refusing the abjuration, she was again plunged into the water, where she expired.* It is to be remarked, that being at Bothwell Bridge and Air's-moss were among the crimes stated in the indictment of all three, though, when the last of these affairs happened, one of the girls was only thirteen, and the other not eight years of age. At the time of the Bothwell Bridge business, they were still younger. To recite all the instances of cruelty which occurred, would be endless; but it may be necessary to remark, that no historical facts are better ascertained than the accounts of them which are to be found in Woodrow. In every instance where there has been an opportunity of comparing these accounts with

* Woodrow, 11. 506.

CHAPTER

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CHAPTER records, and other authentick monuments, they appear to be quite correct.

1685,

English Parliament. May 15.

The Scottish Parliament having thus set, as they had been required to do, an eminent example of what was then thought duty to the Crown, the King met his English Parliament, on the 19th of May, 1685, and opened it with the following speech:

"MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

"After it pleased Almighty God, to take to his mercy "the late King my dearest brother, and to bring me "to the peaceable possession of the throne of my an"cestors, I immediately resolved to call a Parliament,

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as the best means to settle every thing upon those "foundations, as may make my reign both easy and happy to you; towards which, I am disposed to con"tribute all that is fit for me to do.

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"What I said to my Privy Council, at my first com"ing there, I am desirous to renew to you; wherein I "fully declare my opinion concerning the principles of "the Church of England, whose members have showed

themselves so eminently loyal in the worst of times, "in defence of my father, and support of my brother, (of blessed memory,) that I will always take care to "defend and support it. I will make it my endeavour to

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preserve this government, both in church and state, as it is by law established: And as I will never de"part from the just rights and prerogatives of the Crown, so I will never invade any man's property; and 66 you may be sure, that having heretofore ventured my "life in the defence of this nation, I will still go as "far as any man in preserving it in all its just rights and "liberties.

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"And having given this assurance concerning the

care I will have of your religion and property, "which I have chose to do, in the same words which "I used at my first coming to the Crown, the better "to evidence to you, that I spoke them not by chance, "and consequently, that you may firmly rely upon a promise so solemnly made; I cannot doubt that "I shall fail of suitable returns from you, with all ima

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ginable duty and kindness on your part, and particu

larly to what relates to the settling of my revenue, "and continuing it, during my life, as it was in the "lifetime of my brother. I might use many arguments "to enforce this demand, for the benefit of trade, the

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support of the navy, the necessity of the Crown, and "the well being of the government itself, which I must "not suffer to be precarious. But I am confident, your

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own consideration of what is just and reasonable, will suggest to you whatsoever might be enlarged upon this 66 occasion.

CHAPTER

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CHAPTER
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some may

"There is one popular argument, which, I foresee, may be used against what I ask of you, from the "inclination men have for frequent parliaments: which think would be the best security, by feeding me from time to time, by such proportions as they shall think convenient: And this argument, it being the first time I speak to you from the Throne, "I will answer once for all, that this would be a very "improper method to take with me; and that the best

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way to engage me to meet you often, is always to use " me well.

"I expect therefore, that you will comply with me " in what I have desired, and that you will do it speedily; that it may be a short session, and that 'we may "meet again to all our satisfactions."

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MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

"I must acquaint you, that I have had news this morning from Scotland, that Argyle is landed in the "West Highlands, with the men he brought with him "from Holland: That there are two Declarations pub"lished; one in the name of all those in arms, the other "in his own. It would be too long for me to repeat "the substance of them; it is sufficient to tell you, I "am charged with usurpation and tyranny. The shorter

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