August 28 1704†

[Preference of claimants; address amended and approved; speech made]

Prayers said, rolls called.

Minuts of the last sederunt read.

Ordered that the tuo Captain Drummonds have preference for their arrears, as is contained in the minuts of the date the tuentie third instant.

The address to be sent to her majestie read, and, after severall amendments made thereon, it was put to the vote approve or not, and carried approve.

After which her majesties high commissioner made a speech to the parliament as followes:

My lords and gentlemen,

Yow have now sitt long and I think you cannot complaine that yow have been cut short by frequent adjournments or short sederunts. In this time more might have been done; however, some good laws are past, and one in particular which gives sufficient evidence of the dispositione her majestie was in to have gratified yow in whatever was reasonable. I advertised yow latelie that yow had not much longer time to sit, and tho I cannot but say the time yow have had since has been usefullie imployed, yet if more dispatch had been made some of those good laws which are before yow might have past. But now I must tell yow that I am not allowed to give yow any more time, her majestie thinking a short recess necessarie at present, so it will not be long before yow have ane oportunitie of doeing what still remains fit to be done, for I can asure yow no disappoyntment that her majestie has met with will in the least alter her gracious dispositione towards this her ancient kingdom.

  1. NAS. Mar and Kellie GD124/10/434, 'Journal of what past in the parliament of Scotland, 1704' - James Douglas, duke of Hamilton attempted to bring in Anna Scott, duchess of Buccleuch's business, but this refused, seeing this was a day for public business. Two drafts of an address to the queen brought in. James Ogilvy, earl of Seafield, chancellor, still stated that it should be a letter, not an address. Long discussions on these two drafts. Account of John Hay, marquis of Tweeddale's adjourning speech. NAS. GD90/2/172, 'Diurnalls of the parliament of Scotland', by William Bennett of Grubbet, commissioner for Roxburghshire - Address to the queen read. Account of the marquis of Tweeddale's speech. Grubbet's opinion of session: many good acts passed. Puts down the bitter debates to those 'whose desyre it is to snarl at the throne as dogs bark at the moon'. Back
  2. NLS. A.115.a.1, Printed Minutes No.25, 1 or NAS. PA6/36,102, f.1. Back
[Parliament adjourned]

The lord chancellor, by order of her majesties high commissioner, adjourned the parliament till the seventh day of October nixt.

Seafield, cancellar[ius], I.P.D. p[arliamenti]

  1. NAS. Mar and Kellie GD124/10/434, 'Journal of what past in the parliament of Scotland, 1704' - James Douglas, duke of Hamilton attempted to bring in Anna Scott, duchess of Buccleuch's business, but this refused, seeing this was a day for public business. Two drafts of an address to the queen brought in. James Ogilvy, earl of Seafield, chancellor, still stated that it should be a letter, not an address. Long discussions on these two drafts. Account of John Hay, marquis of Tweeddale's adjourning speech. NAS. GD90/2/172, 'Diurnalls of the parliament of Scotland', by William Bennett of Grubbet, commissioner for Roxburghshire - Address to the queen read. Account of the marquis of Tweeddale's speech. Grubbet's opinion of session: many good acts passed. Puts down the bitter debates to those 'whose desyre it is to snarl at the throne as dogs bark at the moon'. Back
  2. NLS. A.115.a.1, Printed Minutes No.25, 1 or NAS. PA6/36,102, f.1. Back