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The speech of his grace John [Hay], marquis of Tweeddale etc., her majesty's high commissioner to the parliament of Scotland, on Tuesday 11 July 1704.
My lords and gentlemen,
You have heard the queen's gracious letter. Her majesty therein expresses such a concern for the good and welfare of this nation, and gives such unquestionable proofs of it as prevents even your wishes. I do not in the least doubt but when you duly consider the import of this letter, you will be all of the same mind with me, that it is now in our power to make ourselves and our posterity happy.
Such indeed are her majesty's gracious condescensions that in order to obtain what is for our good, we need only propose it, provided you do it (as no doubt you will) with the regard and deference that are due to so gracious a sovereign, and that in your demands you keep within just and reasonable bounds, and ask nothing but what is in her majesty's power to grant.
If there be anything yet wanting for better securing our religion and the present church government as now by law established, or for the suppressing of vice and encouraging of virtue, if any grievances to be redressed and new laws found necessary (as I doubt not but there will) for rectifying of abuses crept into your constitution or administration of the government or any part of it, whether it be the policy or justice or for removing all encroachments upon the sovereignty or liberties of this nation, and the securing and preserving these entire and inviolable to ourselves and our posterity, I am fully empowered and instructed not only in all these matters to give you what reasonable satisfaction you can demand, but likewise in anything that may be proposed for improving learning, advancing trade and encouraging manufactories, so that in effect nothing has escaped her majesty's care that can in any way contribute to make you a flourishing and happy people, she reckoning the welfare, peace and prosperity of her subjects the only way to her own greatness and happiness.
And yet as if all this was too little, her majesty extends her care for you further in recommending to you, as you have heard, the settling of the succession in the Protestant line, and this her majesty recommends to you with all the earnestness she is capable of as that which is absolutely necessary for securing to yourselves and transmitting to your posterity, your religion and liberties or whatever else you have or can have that is valuable. Sure her majesty can have no concern in this but the interest of her people, which does so evidently require the settling of the succession and the settling of it at this time, that I hope no true Protestant and lover of his country will, when he has seriously thought on it, find just ground to oppose it.
Her majesty having thus done her part, and in a manner so good and generous and evidently impartial, it remains that we fail not to do ours by letting go this great opportunity which, if now lost, may possibly never be recovered, to deliver this nation from the inconveniences and hardships that it has lain under ever since the union of the crowns, and which of late have grown heavier upon it.
Her majesty has also recommended to you the supplies that are wanting for the purposes mentioned in her letter, which I need not repeat, for sure there are none here who are not convinced of the necessity of them and who will not heartily concur in giving of them, notwithstanding the low circumstances the country is in at present, especially seeing her majesty allows you to inquire into the misapplication of former funds given and appropriated by parliament and to take such course as may prevent the same for the future.
One thing more I have to add and that is concerning the business of the plot of which so great noise has been made in our neighbouring nation. Her majesty has allowed me to acquaint you that in due time the whole matter shall be laid before you, and that she has given the necessary orders for having both the persons that have been examined in England and the papers that relate to that affair sent here. Her majesty doubts not but your inquiries into this plot, or any other practices of the same nature, will end in your laying down solid measures for preventing them or the fatal consequences of them in time to come, and as to any questions or contests that may arise upon such inquiries amongst you, her majesty hopes that you will manage them with all the temper and moderation that the nature of the thing will allow.
My lords and gentlemen,
I have spoke long, contrary to my way and inclination, and therefore I shall only add in a word as to myself: that I am very aware of my unfitness for so great a trust, but since such is her majesty's pleasure, I'll do my best, and I shall esteem myself very happy if I can in any way contribute to bring matters to a settlement in this nation. It is a great encouragement to me, I must own it, that the present opportunity in a manner enables me to give at the same time the greatest proofs that I can ever hope to give of my duty to her majesty, my love to my country and my respect to parliaments, in particular to this honourable meeting.