4% ^ Defence of the Scots 



tiorjj, or to perfwade to a Separation of the 

 Ciou^ns, but merely to fliew thofe of our 

 Neighbours, who ufe us fo unkindly^ that they 

 are bound in Gratitude, Duty and Intereft to 

 do otherwife, and particularly to fupport us in 

 our American Settlement, and not to lay bur 

 King under a necedity by their frovvard Hu- 

 mours in Parliament or otherwife, todifcou- 

 rage us in that Undertaking, as they have hi- 

 therto done, and continue ftill to do in their 

 American Colonies, by their Proclamations a- 

 gainft having any Commerce or Trade with 

 the Scots at Darien ; tho they be fettkd there 

 according to the Terms of hisown Patent, and 

 an Acl of Parliament in Scotland, 



We are notinfenHble that the prefent Jun- 

 £lure of Affairs obliges the Kingdom of fi;;^/^^ 

 to carry fair ^^ithSpain^ and may admit that 

 in part as an Apology for feme of that Oppo- 

 fition we have met with from them ; but the 

 queflioning our Aft of Parliament at firft, and 

 their hindering pur Subfcriptions 2ii Hamburgh 

 afterward, before ever they knew what our de- 

 fign was, make that Excufe of little weight : 

 but allowing it all the force they w'ould have it 

 to bear, it may be worth their while to con- 

 fider whether it be more their Intereft to incou- 

 ragt the Spaniards in an unjuft Oppofition to 

 our American Settlement, or to fupport the 

 Scots in maintaining their Right. It is certain 

 th2Xi\it Spaniards are in no conditi )n to break 

 with England'^ or if they fbould, it's in the 



power 



