JAMES R.

Trusty and well beloved, wee greet you well, as we cannot doubt of the ready and dutifull assurance and expressions of Loyalty and obedience from our good subjects under your Government, since our accession to the Crown, so we shall at all times extend our Royall care and Protection to them in the preservation of their rights, and in the defence and security of their persons and Estates, which we think fitt that you signifie unto the inhabitants of our Colony, whereof you are Governour. As also that upon the meeting of our Parliament they have for the repairs of our navy, and for providing stores for our navy, and ord-nance and other important occasions chearfully and unanimously given and granted unto us an ayde and assistance to be raised and levied upon all Tobacco and Sugar to be imported into this our Kingdome, according to such rates, and duering such time, and in such manner and form as by the said act herewith sent you is more particularly set forth, which imposition, as it is not laid on the Planter or Merchant, but only on the Retailer, consumptioner or Shopkeeper, we are well assured will not be inconvenient or burthensome to our subjects in America. But that on the contrary it will be of great benefitt, credit and advantage to them, by the enabling us the better to defend and protect the navigation of this Kingdom, and the trade of our Plantations, which cannot butt be of great satisfaction and security to the inhabitants of that our Colony.

We have likewise thought fitt to acquaint you for the information of our subjects, under your Government, that the peace and quiett of our Kingdom of Scottland has received some disturbance from the Traiterous practices and rebellion of the late Earle of Argyle, by his landing in the west Highlands, with men and arms, but that it has pleased God to deliver that Traitor, and his rebellious followers into our hands, so that upon seizing his ships and arms and rnaterialls of warr, and defeating the multitude he had gathered together; he is now secured in our Castle of Edinburgh in order to his execution, whereby the peace of that Kingdom is perfectly reestablisht, and our forces there, ready and at leisure to receive and obey such orders as our service shall require elsewhere.

Wee are likewise pleased to inform you, that the late Duke of Monmouth, since attainted of Treason is in the same Traiterous and rebellions manner landed in the western parts of this kingdom, and with a number of men of the lowest degree, and many of them unarmed, has given disquiet to those parts, but by the care we have taken in sending thither a sufficient number of our standing forces, of horse, foot, and Dragoons, who are now in pursuit of him, we are expecting to hear of the totall defeat of that traitor and his accomplices, and we being at the same time perfectly assured of the constant and undoubted fidelity of the Nobility and Gentry, as well as of the militia of this kingdom, and having for the better confirmation of the peace and tranquility of our dominions, ordered such other new levys of horse, foot, and dragoons, as will be requisite. We cannot faile by the blessing of God, of a happy issue and success in our affairs. All which we have thought fitt to.intimate unto you for the prevent-ing any false rumours or reports, which might be spread amongst our subjects at that distance, by the malicious and traiterous insinuations of ill men, and so we bid you farewell,

Given at our Court, at White Hall, the 28th day of June, 1685, in the'first year of our Reigne. By his Majesties Command,

SUNDERLAND.