Grievances of the Scottish Convention, April 13, 1689


A printed version of the text can be found on pages 63 to 65 of A Parliamentary History of the Glorious Revolution, by David Lewis Jones (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1988).


The Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland do represent that the Committee of Parliament called the Articles, is a great grievance to the nation, and that there ought to be no committees of Parliament but such as are freely chosen by the Estates to prepare motions and overtures that are first made in the house.

That the first act of Parliament, 1669, is inconsistent with the establishment of the church government now desired and ought to be abrogated.

That forfeitures in prejudice of vassals, creditors, and heirs of entail, are a great grievance.

That the obliging the lieges to depone upon crimes against delinquents otherwise than when they are adduced in special processes as witnesses is a great grievance.

That the assizes of error are a grievance, and that juries be considered by Parliament.

That the eighteenth act of Parliament, 1681, declaring a cumulative jurisdiction is a grievance.

That the commissariat courts as they are now constituted are a grievance.

That the twenty seventh act of Parliament, 1663, giving the King power to impose custom at pleasure upon foreign import and trade is a grievance and prejudicial to the trade of the nation.

That the not taking an effectual course to repress the depredations and robberies by the Highland clans is a grievance.

That the banishment by the Council of the greatest part of the advocates from Edinburgh without a process was a grievance.

That most of the laws enacted in the Parliament, anno 1685, are impious and intolerable grievances.

That the marriage of a King or Queen of this realm to a papist is dangerous to the Protestant religion and ought to be provided against.

That the levying or keeping on foot a standing army in time of peace without consent of Parliament is a grievance.

That all grievances relating to the manner and measure of the lieges their representation in Parliament be considered and redressed in the first Parliament.

That the grievances of the boroughs be considered and redressed in the first Parliament.


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© Noel S. McFerran 2000-2003.