PEOPLE AND PARLIAMENT IN SCOTLAND, 1689-1702 Derek John Patrick A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of St Andrews 2002 Full metadata for this item is available in St Andrews Research Repository at: http://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/11061 This item is protected by original copyright People and Parliament in Scotland 1689 - 1702 Submitted by Derek John Patrick for the Degree of Ph.D. in the University of St. Andrews August 2002 Suppose I take a spurt, and mix Amang the wilds 0' Politics - Electors and elected - Where dogs at Court (sad sons 0' bitches!) Septennially a madness touches, Till all the land's infected ?o o Poems and Songs of Robert Bums, J. Barke (ed.), (London, 1960),321. Election Ballad at Close of Contest for Representing the Dumfries Burghs, 1790, Addressed to Robert Graham ofFintry. CONTENTS DECLARATION 11 ABBREVIATIONS 111 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VI ABSTRACT V11 INTRODUCTION 1 1 The European Context 1689 - 1702 9 2 The Scottish Nobility 1689 - 1702 60 3 Revolution in the Royal Burghs 1689 - 1697 86 4 The Shire Estate 1689 - 1697 156 5 The Origins of Opposition 1698 - 1700 195 6 The Evolution of Party Politics in Scotland 1700 - 1702 242 7 Legislation 1689 - 1702 295 8 Committee Procedure 1689 - 1702 336 CONCLUSION 379 APPENDICES 1 Noble Representation 1689 - 1702 385 2 Officers of State 1689 - 1702 396 3 Shire Representation 1689 - 1702 398 4 Burgh Representation 1689 - 1702 408 5 Court and Country 1700 - 1702 416 BIBLIOGRAPHY 435 DECLARATION (i) 1, Derek John Patrick, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approxi­ mately 110,000 words in length, has been written by me. that it is the re­ cord of work carried out by me and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. Date Signature of Candidate (ii) I was admitted as a research student in September 1997 and as a candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in August 2002; the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St. Andrews between 1997 and 2002. '\"b\o~ Date Signature of Candida (iii) I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Reso­ lution and Regulations appropriate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of St. Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. Date .~(1.I.!o..~L- Signature of Supervisor (iv) In submitting this thesis to the University of St. Andrews I understand that I am giving permission for it to be made available for use in accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time being in force. subject to any copyright vested in the work not being affected thereby. I also understand that the title and abstract will be published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any bona fide library or research worker. Date Signature of Candidate 11 ABBREVIATIONS Agnew, Sheriffs Sir A. Agnew, A History of the Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway, (Edinburgh, 1864). Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, Vols. IX - X, T. Thomson (ed.), (Edinburgh, 1822 - 1823). Balcarres Colin Lindsay, third earl of Balcarres, Memoirs Touch­ ing the Revolution in Scotland, 1688 - 1690, Lord Lindsay (ed.), (Bannatyne Club, 1841). Carstares SP State Papers and Letters Addressed to William Car­ stares, 1. McCormick (ed.), (Edinburgh, 1774). Company of Scotland G. P. Insh, The Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies, (London, 1931). Crossrig Sir David Hume of Crossrig, A Diary of the Proceed­ ings in the Parliament and Privy Council of Scotland, (Bannatyne Club, 1828). Fraser, Annandale Sir W. Fraser, The Annandale Family Book, II Vols., (Edinburgh, 1894). III Fraser, Melvilles Sir W. Fraser, The Melvilles. Earls of Melville. and the Leslies, Earls of Leven, III Vols., (Edinburgh, 1890). Fraser, Pollok Sir W. Fraser, Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok. II Vols., (Edinburgh, 1863). Haldanes Sir J. A. L. Haldane, The Haldanes of Gleneagles. (Ed­ inburgh, 1929). Holmes, Great Power G. Holmes, The Making of a Great Power, Late Stuart and Early Georgian Britain 1660 - 1722, (New York, 1993). Leven and Melville Papers Letters and State Papers Chiefly Addressed To George, Earl of Melville, 1689 - 1691. W. Leslie Melville (ed.), (Bannatyne Club, 1843). NAS National Archives of Scotland. Edinburgh. NLS National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh. Plumb, Political Stability J. H. Plumb, The Growth of Political Stability in Eng­ land 1675 -1725, (London, 1967). IV Proceedings An Account of the Proceedings of the Estates of Scot­ land, 1689 - 1690, II Vols., E. W. M. Balfour-Melville (ed.), (Scottish History Society, 1954 - 1955). Riley, King William P. W. 1. Riley, King William and the Scottish Politi­ cians, (Edinburgh, 1979). Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, Third Series. Seafield Seafield Correspondence From 1685 to 1708, 1. Grant (ed.), (Scottish History Society, 1912). Scottish Historical Review. Young, Commissioners M. D. Young (ed.), The Parliaments of Scotland, Burgh and Shire Commissioners, II Vols., (Edinburgh, 1992- 1993). v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Over the past four years I have benefited from the suppOli ofa number of people. Par­ ticular thanks go to my supervisor, Professor Keith Brown, who gave me the opportu­ nity to write this thesis, and proved a constant source of advice and encouragement. I am similarly indebted to my colleagues on the Scottish Parliament Project - Dr. Alan MacDonald, Dr. Roland Tanner, Dr. Pamela Ritchie, Dr. Gillian MacIntosh, Alison McQueen and especially Dr. Alastair Mann, who read various drafts of each chapter, making numerous helpful contributions. In addition, I am grateful to Dr. Roger Mason for his advice concerning later seventeenth-century political thought. The staff of the National Archives of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland and the University of St. Andrews Library deserve special mention, for their patience, guidance and assis­ tance over the past few years. Likewise, the administrative staff of St. Katharine's Lodge have efficiently dealt with my frequent queries without complaint. However, I owe the greatest debt to my family. My late grandmother, Helen Scott, was largely responsible for introducing me to Scottish history at an early age, an interest enthusi­ astically encouraged by my parents - Janet and Ian Patrick. From the beginning they have provided fmancial and emotional support, and without their immeasurable con­ tribution this thesis could not have been possible. VI ABSTRACT In Scotland the Revolution of 1688 - 1689 has received little academic attention - considered little more than an adjunct of events in England. Traditionally, the political elite have been seen as reluctant to rebel, the resulting Convention Parliament con­ taining few committed protagonists - the reaction of most determined by inherent conservatism and the overwhelming desire to preserve their own interest and status. Motivated essentially by self-interest and personal gain, the predominance of noble faction crippled Parliament - a constitutionally underdeveloped institution - which became nothing more than a platform for the rivalry and ambition of the landed elite. However, this interpretation is based on the dated notion that Scottish history can be considered as simply a protracted power struggle between a dominant territorial nobil­ ity and a weak monarch, intent on centralising authority. Nonetheless, the aim of the thesis is not to rewrite the political history of the Revolution or to chart the constitu­ tional development of Parliament - although both aspects form part of the general analysis. Instead, this is principally a thematic study of the membership of the Con-. vention Parliament and what they achieved, in terms of legislation and procedure. Taking into account the European context, including a thorough membership analysis, and revising the practical aspects of the Revolution settlement, it is possible to offer a fresh account of contemporary politics. Introducing the extensive contest that charac­ terised the general election of 1689, and the emergence and progress of court and country politics through 1698 - 1702, study reveals the continuing development of an inclusive party political system similar to that evident in England. In this respect, the objective of the thesis is to address the main themes associated with the Revolution and Convention Parliament, providing an alternative, more accurate interpretation of the Scottish Revolution experience. Vll INTRODUCTION The Scottish Revolution On 5 November 1688, William, Prince of Orange, Stadholder of the Dutch Republic and James VII's nephew and son-in-law, landed at Torbay in Devonshire, command- ing an invasion force in excess of 15,000 men that included a large emigre contingent of English and Scottish exiles. l On the invitation of the 'Inm10rtal Seven', William declared that the expedition was intended for no reason but to have a fiee and lawful Parliament assembled as soon as possible, to secure the Protestant religion, and main- tain the established laws, liberties and customs of England.2 There is no indication that he was determined to seize the throne - although it is likely that this was his in- tention - deliberately avoiding any overt reference to usurping his father-in-Iaw's au- thority - Orange propaganda questioning the legitimacy of the Catholic heir - Prince James Francis Edward - asserting Princess Mary's rightful place in the succession."' From the European perspective, the likelihood that a Roman Catholic Stewart dynasty would withdraw Britain from the beleaguered Protestant camp, disrupting the precari- ous balance of power, was a genuine concern for the Orange interest. Nonetheless, fate intervened causing William to reconsider his dynastic ambitions. James left Lon- don on 17 November, joining his forces at Salisbury two days later. However, crip- pled with indecision, internal dissension, defection and foul weather, the King re- I R.