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Unto his grace her majesties high commissioner and the right honourable the estates of parliament, the petition of John Henry Huguetan and Captain John Aitkine, his factor.
Humblie sheweth,
That being a native of France and Protestant, I retired from my countrey on account of the persecutione.
That being settled at Amsterdam befor the war, I entred in commerce with Mr Bernard, bankier for the court of France, and I, as many other bankiers there, furnished considerable sums for payeing of the French troops in Flanders.
That when this war broke out and the correspondence betwixt France and Holland was interrupted, I had considerable effects in France which I could not draw from thence to Holland, and I did therfor transport my self to Geneva, a neutrall place, but was engadged to pay the French armies in Flanders and Italy, and to advance very great sums to the French in Bavaria.
That when the sums furnished by me in specie amounted to many millions, the thesaury of France pretended not to pay my bills at the value of French money as it was current at the tyme of the advance, but at the tyme the same was after the cryeing up of the Lowis d'ors, from 12 lib. 10 to 15 lib., and in bills, having no ready payment, without consideration of interest for the delay, which in so great a sum made a very extraordinar difference.
That upon these and other reasons, I acquanted a minister of France that I could no longer serve unless justice were done me. Whereupon the envoy of France at Geneva did from Monsieur de Chamilard invite me to come to Paris where I should receive satisfactione in every particular and entreated me in the mean tyme to continue in the payeing of the armies.
That relyeing on these promises I did advance severall millions to the armies in Flanders and Italy and went to Paris, but being arrived there, in place of performance of what had been promised to me, I was put under guard and forced for obtaining my liberty to enter into such contracts and submitt to such conditions as were prescribed to me.
These and many other substantiall hardships put upon me were the cause of my flyeing with the perill of my life a few dayes befor I was to have been arrested of new, but my escape and the causes and effects of it have made such a noise and are so notour I have only touched it as short as I could.
That being now resolved to settle and follow trade, as I have done for about 30 years, I could find no place more lykelie where to improve my fortune than Scotland, by reason of its situatione and naturall advantages for trade, and I intend (God willing) to transport my self and my effects to this kingdome, which, after the experience I have had of the different subjects of commerce and manners of trading in most places of busines in the world, may not only prove ane advantage to me but to many others.
To this end it is necessary for me that I and my airs should be naturalized subjects of this kingdome, and the knowen circumstances of my affairs make it also needfull that I should have a protectione for my persone and estate against my creditors and pretended creditors for debts contracted before my last retreat out of France, which was in Aprile 1705 years, excepting such creditors and debts (if any be contracted) to the subjects of any of her majesties dominions, which I humblie propose not in any sort to prejudge my just and lawfull creditors, but to avoid the dilligence and disquiet to which I must be exposed on account of bills, notes, precepts and contracts extorted from me which circulat and may be industriously put in privat hands to persecute me. Nor should I have given your lordships this trouble (tho it be naturall for any state to protect against ane enemy) if my wrongs were not manifest, and if I did not judge it suteable to the justice and goodnes of the high court of parliament to releeve the distressed, at least so far that I may have a free breathing tyme to convince even my persecutors of the wrongs they have done me and to settle again my affairs, which, in such violent shocks as I have undergone, must needs have been disordered.
May it therfor pleas your grace and the high and honorable the estates of parliament by way of act to naturalize me and my heirs whatsomever subjects of this kingdome in the surest and best forme, and with all priviledges therto belonging; and also to grant protectione to my persone, goods and estate heretable and moveable against such creditors and the effect and diligence on such debts as have been contracted befor my said last retreat from France, which was in Aprile 1705 years, excepting such creditors and debts as have been contracted to any of the subjects of her majesties dominions.
John Aitkine
Edinburgh, December 12 1706
Her majesties high commissioner and the estates of parliament having heard this petition, they delay the consideration of what is therin represented till the first sederunt of parliament on privat business, to be then taken into consideration nixt after the act in favours of the burgh of Dundee.
Seafield, cancellar[ius], I.P.D. p[arliamenti]
Edinburgh, 4th January 1707
Her majesties high commissioner and the estates of parliament having again considered this petition, they, for the better enabling the petitioner to reestablish his affairs and satisfie his just debts, grant protection to his person for seven years. As also grant protection for the space forsaid to the petitioner's goods and estate heretable and movable against diligence at the instance of creditors for such debts as have been contracted before Aprile one thowsand seven hundered and fyve years, excepting such debts as have been contracted to any of the subjects of her majesties dominions, or such debts as have been originally contracted to the subjects of her majesties allies, or which shall be made appear by the creditors before the judge ordinar to have been transferred to them bona fide and for adequat onerous causes before the twelvt of December last, provyding allwise the petitioner reside within this kingdome during the time of the saids protections.
Seafield, cancellar[ius], I.P.D. p[arliamenti]