the Chevalier's invasion. lastly, being sensible that it is our duty to be always'on guard against the treasonable practices of these his Majesty's restless enemies, we do hereby bind and oblige ourselves, that though God in his mercy should disappoint our fears, yet this Associa tion should stand in full force, in case of any attempt which may hereafter be made by the said Pretender or his abettors against the person or government of his present Majesty, King GEORGE, or the Protestant succession in his Royal Family, and to make payment of what part of our subscription-money shall remain unexpended on this occasion, when demanded by the Commissioners. In witness whereof, these presents, concerted at Edinburgh, the first day of August, 1715, being the first day of the second year of the auspicious reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, are subscribed by, &c.. The other Association consisted of those who were willing and able to fight in such an excellent cause; but unable to take the field at their own charge, were to receive pay. The obligations they came under were, That upon the first notice of the Chevalier's landing in any part of Britain, or upon advice of any insurrection, or appearance of his friends and abettors at home, in a hostile manner, for the support and assistance of the Chevalier, they were to assemble and meet toge. ther with their best horses and furniture, whether for foot or horse service, according to their abilities; and to the best of their power to comply with, and obey such orders, as they should re⚫eive from the Government, for the supporting of Precautions taken for preventing his Majesty King George, his person and government, and in defence of our liberties, civil and sacred, against the Chevalier, and all his abettors, &c. The following is the circular letter which they published: Edinburgh, 1st August, 1715. SIR,-The certainty of a designed invasion, in favour of a Popish Pretender to the Crown, being no longer doubted of, and the danger thereby threatened, as well to his sacred Majesty King George, his person and government, as to all his good subjects, in their dearest and most valuable interests, being equally great, it comes to be the immediate duty of all who have any sincere regard to the true Protestant religion, and the civil rights and liberties of mankind, to shew a zealous concern for the preservation of these invaluable blessings, by exerting themselves to the utmost, in defence of his Majesty's just right and title to the Crown, and vigorously opposing all attempts that shall be made to disturb his government. For these ends, We, his Majesty's faithful subjects in and about this city, have, under the countenance of those in authority here, cheerfully and unanimously engaged ourselves in a bond of Association, to assist and support one another, in manner therein expressed: And being also sensible how proper it is to encourage and stimulate others to so necessary a duty, we have thought fit to send a copy of our foresaid Association to you, and many other parishes in Scotland, who, we hope, from the same motives contained in the preamble of our paper, will stir up themselves, in their several stations, to act with such resolution as becomes those who have their all at stake. The prize we contend for is Liberty; it is essential to our very happiness. For how can we possibly retain our civil and religious rights, if we tamely submit to the yoke, and part the Chevalier's invasion. with our Liberty? Will not life itself be a burden, if all that is dear to us, either as men or Christians, shall thus be lost, past all hopes of recovery? This consideration alone should rouse us from a fatal security, and our anxiety for Liberty should daily increase in proportion to our danger, which is visibly hastening upon us, by the secret and open attacks of the restless enemies of our peace and happiness. Is it not then seasonable and honest thoroughly to consider our circumstances, and to let our enemies know that we are on our guard? We do, therefore,' persuade ourselves, it will be the business of every honest man to look up with spirit, and do his utmost to maintain and defend our excellent Constitution both in Church and State, the sum of our present happy condition, which, by the blessing of God, nothing can make desperate, but our own sloth and cowardice. Has not our good and gracious God hitherto made signal appearances on our behalf? Have not our eyes seen the salvation he hath wrought for us, time after time. Can we, without horror, remember the unparalleled cruelties we met with, when a Popish interest and faction had the ascendant? Can we forget the remarkable deliverance God wrought for us, in breaking the yoke of their arbitrary and tyrannical government, by the great King William, in the late glorious Revolution? Can we have forgot the goodness of God, in defeating the last attempt of this nature, in such a manner, as left no ground to doubt, but that God did then appear on our side? Or shall we ever cease to remember the seasonable and surprizing interposition 1 Heaven, in bringing His present Majesty King George to the quiet and peaceable possession of the throne of these realms ; and this at a time when our fears were so great, that nothing but a solid persuasion of the Lord God, his concerning himself for his own interest, kept up our spirits, and made us hope for relief. Why should we then despond? the same hand is not now shortened, that it cannot save; the same God we trust in, No. IV. 2 F Precautions taken for preventing is both able and willing to rescue us from the imminent dangers that now threaten us, by the insurrection of a Jacobite faction, and the invasion of a Pretender to the Crown, who has been educated in all the maxims of Popish bigotry and French tyranny, and now comes against us with an army of Irish cut-throats, assisted (as we have no reason to doubt) by the grand enemy to the Reformed Interest in Europe, who hath imbrued his hands so much in Protestant blood. It is, therefore, earnestly recommended to you, to further so good and necessary a work, as you cannot but be convinced the above-mentioned Association must be at this time. Court the present opportunity, get all the honest hands to it you can, and then appoint your place of rendezvous, that you may be in a readiness to come together, when you hear of a landing. And let us have the satisfaction to know what happy progress you may make from time to time in this affair, addressing your Letters to the Secretary of our Society, who, by our order, subscribes this to you. In the mean time, let us all be much employed in fervent prayer to God, that the great Jehovah, Lord of Heaven and Earth, may prosper and succeed all our endeavours for the preservation of our peace, and the security of our holy religion and civil rights, and that this God may bless and preserve his most sacred Majesty, King George, in his royal person and government, and his Protestant issue, to latest posterity. And to conclude, 'Let us be of good courage, and play the men for our people, and the cities of our God, and the Lord do that which seemeth him good.' This Letter had a very happy effect. In a few days a considerable sum was subscribed in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other towns; and all ranks seemed eager to vie with each other in the Chevalier's invasion. evincing their loyalty. The treacherous designs of the Jacobite faction would have been frustrated by these and similar Associations, had they not been stopped by the suggestion, that their conduct might be deemed an invasion of the prerogative of the House of Commons, which alone can levy money for the service of the State. They addressed his Majesty, making, at the same time, a tender of their assistance. His Majesty expressed his satisfaction at their zealous endeavours to aid the Government, but, understanding that the Che, valier had desisted his preparations to invade so soon as he had heard of the precautionary measures for preventing it, he hoped their assistance would not be needed, A considerable number of the Gentlemen who had joined the Association, practised the military exercises in the College Hall, who were called The Associate Volunteers of Edinburgh, and amounted to 400 men. They subscribed the following bond: We, the Subscribers, do hereby mutually promise and engage ourselves, to stand by and assist one another, to the utmost of our power, in the support and defence of his Majesty, King GEORGE, our only rightful Sovereign, and of the Protestant Succession now happily established, against the Pretender, and all open and secret enemies; for the preservation and security of cur holy religion, civil liberties, and |