uch acts as they should frame for the better establishment of
the presbyterian discipline; for preventing the growth of popery,
suppressing vice and immorality, encouraging piety and virtue,
preserving and securing personal liberty, regulating and advancing
trade, retrieving the losses, and promoting the interest of their
African and Indian companies. He expressed his concern that he could not
assert the company's right of establishing a colony at Darien, without
disturbing the peace of Christendom, and entailing a ruinous war on that
his ancient kingdom. He recommended unanimity and despatch in raising
competent taxes for their own defence; and told them he had thought fit
to continue the duke of Queensberry in the office of high commissioner.
Notwithstanding this soothing address, the national resentment continued
to rage, and the parliament seemed altogether intractable. By this time
the company had received certain tidings of the entire surrender of
their settlement; and on the first day of the session, they represented
to parliament, that, for want of due protection abroad, some persons
had been encouraged to break in upon their privileges even at home. This
remonstrance was succeeded by another national address to the king, who
told them he could not take any further notice of that affair, since
the parliament was now assembled; and he had already made a declaration,
with which he hoped all his faithful subjects would be satisfied.
Nevertheless he found it absolutely necessary to practise other
expedients for allaying the ferment of that nation. His ministers and
their agents bestirred themselves so successfully, that the heats in
parliament were entirely cooled, and the outcry of the people subsided
into unavailing murmurs. The parliament resolved, that in consideration
of their great deliverance by his majesty, and as next, under God, their
safety and happiness wholly depended on his preservation and that of his
government, they would support both to the utmost of their power, and
maintain such forces as should be requisite for those ends. They passed
an act for keeping on foot three thousand men for two years, to be
maintained by a land-tax. Then the commissioner produced the king's
letter, desiring to have eleven hundred men on his own account to the
first day of June following; they forthwith complied with this request,
and were prorogued to the sixth of May. The supernumerary troops were
sent over to the state