and shall be ready to give our faithfull advice in what shall be required of us Wh. Your Excellence I am assured is fully satisfied of our affections and duty to your Self and to that cause in which we are all engaged and my Lords the Commissioners of Scotland will likewise I hope entertain no ill thoughts of us L. Gen. My Lord Chancellour of Scotland and the rest of the Commissioners of that Kingdom desired that you two by name might be consulted with upon this occasion and I shall desire my Lord Chancellour who is a much better Oratour than I am to acquaint you what the business is L. Chancellour Mr. Maynard and Mr. Whitelocke I can assure you of the great opinion both my brethren and my self have of your worth and abilities else we should not have desired this meeting with you and since it is his Excellencie's pleasure that I should acquaint you with the matter upon whilke your counsel is desired I shall obey his commands and briefly recite the business to you You ken vary wee le that General Lieutenant Cromwel is no friend of ours and since the advance of our Army into England he hath used all underhand and cunning means to take off from our honour and merit of this Kingdom an evil requital of all our hazards and services but so it is and we are nevertheless fully satisfied of the affections and gratitude of the gude people of this Nation in the general It is thought requisite for us and for the carrying on of the cause of the tway Kingdoms that this obstacle or remora may be removed out of the way whom we foresee will otherwise be no small impediment to us and the gude design we have undertaken He not onely is no friend to us and to the Government of our Church but he is also no well willer to his Excellence whom you and we all have cause to love and honour and if he be permitted to go on in his ways it may I fear indanger the whole business therefore we are to advise of some course to be taken for prevention of that mischief You ken vary wee le the accord 'twixt the twa Kingdoms and the union by the Solemn League and Covenant and if any be an Incendiary between the twa Nations how is he to be proceeded against now the matter is wherein we desire your opinions what you tak the meaning of this word Incendiary to be and whether Lieutenant General Cromwel be not sike an Incendiary as is meant thereby and whilke way wud be best to tak to proceed against him if he be proved to be sike an Incendiary and that will clepe his wings from soaring to the prejudice of our Cause Now you may ken that by our Law in Scotland we clepe him an Incendiary whay kindleth coals of contention and raiseth differences in the State to the publick dammage and he is tanquam publicus hostis patriae whether your Law be the same or not you ken best who are mickle learned therein and therefore with the favour of his Excellence we desire your judgments in these points L. Gen. My Lord Chancellour hath opened the business fully to you and we all desire your opinions therein Wh. I see none of this honourable Company is pleased to discourse further on these points perhaps expecting something to be said by us and therefore not to detain you longer I shall with submission to your Excellence and to these honourable Commissioners of Scotland declare humbly and freely my opinion upon those particulars which have been so clearly proposed and opened by my Lord Chancellour The sense of the word Incendiary is the same with us as his Lordship hath expressed to be by the Law of Scotland one that raiseth the fire of contention in a State that kindles the burning hot flames of contention and so it is taken in the accord of the two Kingdoms Whether Lieutenant General Cromwel be such an Incendiary between these two Kingdoms as is meant by this word cannot be known but by proofs of his particular words or actions tending to the kindling of this fire of contention betwixt the two Nations and raising of differences between us If it do not appear by proofs that he hath done this then he is not an Incendiary but if it can be made out by proofs that he hath done this then he is an Incendiary and to be proceeded against for it by the Parliament upon his being there accused for those things This I take for a ground that my Lord General and my Lords the Commissioners of Scotland being persons of so great honour and authority as you are must not appear in any business especially of an Accusation but such as you shall see before-band will be clearly made out and be brought to the effect intended Otherwise for such persons as you are to begin a business of this weight and not to have it so prepared before-hand as to be certain to carry it but to put it to a doubtfull trial in case it should not succeed as you expect but that you should be foiled in it it would reflect upon your great honour and wisedom Next as to the person of him who is to be accused as an Incendiary it will be fit in my humble opinion to consider his present condition and parts and interest wherein Mr. Maynard and my self by our constant attendance in the House of Commons are the more capable to give an account to your Lordships and for his interest in the Army some honourable persons here present his Excellencie's Officers are best able to inform your Lordships I take Lieutenant General Cromwel to be a Gentle-man of quick and subtle parts and one who hath especially of late gained no small interest in the House of Commons nor is he wanting of Friends in the House of Peers nor of Abilities in himself to manage his own part or defence to the best advantage If this be so my Lords it will be the more requisite to be well prepared against him before he be brought upon the Stage lest the issue of the business be not answerable to your expectations I have not yet heard any particulars mentioned by his Excellence nor by my Lord Chancellour or any other nor do I know any in my private observations which will amount to a clear proof of such matters as will satisfy the House of Commons in the case of Lieutenant General Cromwel and according to our Law and the course of proceedings in our Parliament that he is an Incendiary and to be punished accordingly However I apprehend it to be doubtfull and therefore cannot advise that at this time he should be accused for an Incendiary but rather that direction may be given to collect such particular passages relating to him by which your Lordships may judge whether they will amount to prove him an Incendiary or not And this being done that we may again wait on your Excellence if you please and
the Kings hand for diverting the Ships pretended for the relief of Rochel another for sending Ammunition to York in the beginning of the War the House ordered the Committee to Print such of them as they thought fit Divers Sheriffs passed Order for a Judge to go down upon the Commission of Oyer and Terminer to try the Mutineers in the Isle of Wight Order for a Collection for Bridge-north and no Collection to be but under the Great Seal Letters from the Isle of Wight informed That the King sent for the Governor Col. Hammond and asked him the reason why he had given order for dismissing his Majesties Servants and whether it stood with the Engagement to them who had so freely cast themselves upon him and with his Honour and Honesty That the Governor told the King That his Honour and Honesty were in the first place to them that imployed him and next that he thought the King could not but confess that he had done more as things stood for him than he himself could have expected Then the King asked him whether the Commissioners were privy to this Order He said no the King demanded of him by what Authority he did it he said by Authority of both Houses of Parliament and that he supposed his Majesty was not ignorant of the cause of his doing thus The King professed the contrary and the Governor replyed that he plainly saw his Majesty was acted by other Councels than stood with the good of this Kingdom The Garrison of Hull sent Letters of thanks to the General for continuing Col. Maleverer to be their Governonor 11. Sir Hardress Waller acquainted the House That the General had commanded seven Collonels of them with other Officers of Quality in the name of the Army to make their humble address to the House and they have presented their intentions in writing in that which is called a Declaration which shall either have name or life or be exposed to view according as it shall receive approbation and direction from the House It was to this Effect Reciting the high Violations of the Kingdoms Rights and Liberties and endeavour to swallow them up in the Power and Will of a King the necessity of the Parliaments vindicating the Kingdom and their tenderness towards the Kings person and Rights so as might be consistent with and not destructive to the great and more obliging interest of Religion and the Rights and Liberties and safety of the Kingdom and not otherwise That the Army have declared and endeavoured the same and several addresses have been made to the King for those ends and in the Parliaments last address to him they insisted only upon some few things so essential to the interest of the Kingdom that without betraying the safety of the Kingdom and themselves and all engaged with them and without denying that which God in the issue of this War hath been such a Testimony unto they could not go lower and those things granted they have offered to treat for all the rest That upon the Kings denyal of these things they can see no further Hopes of settlement or Security that way Therefore understanding that upon debate of that denyal added to so many others the House of Commons by several late Votes resolved not to make any further Address or Application to the King nor receive any from him nor to suffer either in others They do freely and unanimously declare for themselves and the Army that they are resolved through the Grace of God firmly to adhere with and stand by the Parliament in the things then Voted and in what shall be further necessary for prosecution thereof and for setling and securing the Parliament and Kingdom without the King and against him or any other that shall hereafter partake with him This Declaration was twice read and the House Voted that they did approve of it and ordered that the thanks of the House be returned to the General and the Army for it A Petition from the Provincal Assembly of London referred to the Committee of Grievances and the Petitioners had thanks An Ordinance read and debated for Collecting twenty thousand pound a month for the Service of Ireland Order for ten pound to bury Captain Harris his Widow 12. The House gave thanks to some Merchants who had procured a Collection of Charity in the United Provinces of thirty one thousand two hundred and eighteen pound for the relief of Ireland Order for raising forty thousand pound forthwith for the Navy and thirty thousand pound more as soon as may be Order about sending some Divines to the Isle of Wight Letters from Vice-Admiral Rainsborough That he had appointed a guard of Ships for the Isle of Wight and for the Irish Coasts Order for five thousand pound for the Lord Brook's Son Both Houses passed an Ordinance for forty thousand pound to be raised out of the Earl of Worcesters Estate for the Service of Ireland Several Compositions passed 13. An Ordinance pass'd for repair of the Church of Taunton A Petition from the East-India Company referred and another from the Levant-Merchants Divers Compositions passed 14. Order that Delinquents be put out of the Line Upon Information of a new design of the Kings Party Orders for re-manding the Earl of Cleaveland to the Tower and for Sir Lewis Dives to be kept in safe Custody and for Mr. Sollicitor to prosecute him and Sir Jo. Stowel and Judge Jenkyns to Tryal the next Term and that the Lord Major and Justices do cause to be prosecuted at this Sessions the late Rioters in Fleet-street Order that the General take course for the safety of the Parliament And that he send some Horse and Foot to be Quartered within the Liberties of Westminster and to prevent inconvenience to the inhabitants That the Foot be Quartered in Whitehall and the Horse be Quartered in the Meuse 15. The Lords agreed to the Votes of the Commons That no more Addresses be made to the King and the Commons agreed with the Lords Preamble to those Votes and that they be Printed and published and that all who shall do contrary to those Votes shall be Sequestred Power to the Militia to imploy persons for the finding out and apprehending Delinquents who stay within the Lines Divers Compositions passed 16. Part of Col. Baxter's Regiment Quartered in White-Hall 17. Debate touching Sequestrations and against the Partiality of Committees Papers from the Scots Commissioners That they were speedily to return to Scotland and their desire of an answer of former Papers and what they shall return to the Parliament of Scotland and about the Arrears due to that Kingdom Orders for Money for Dover-Castle Some Delinquents committed who stayed in London contrary to the Ordinance and Order given by the House to the Regiments at White-Hall and the Meuse to apprehend and bring before a Justice of Peace such Papists and Malignants as they shall find in Town contrary to the Ordinance The House pass'd a
places of Judicature 6. Delivery up of Ships to the French 7. Mis-imployment of Three Subsidies and Three Fifteens They Ordered That the Duke on whom these Misdemeanours chiefly reflected should have Notice of the Intention of the House of Commons suddainly to resume the Debate of these things There served in this Parliament in the House of Commons many persons of Extraordinary Parts and Abilities whose Names are in the List of those times Mr. Clement Coke in his Speech in the House of Commons concerning Grievances said That it were better to dye by an Enemy than to suffer at home The Lords ready to comply with the Kings desires appointed a Committee to consider of the Safety and Defence of the Kingdom and Safeguard of the Seas The Committee advised one Fleet to be presently set out against the King of Spain and another to Guard our Coasts and Merchants this was sent to the House of Commons but not well resented by them The King sent a smart Letter to the Speaker pressing for present Supplies and promising Redress of Grievances presented in a dutiful and mannerly way and this was further urged by Sir Richard Weston To Know without further delay of time What Supply they would give unto the King To this the Commons returned a general Answer promising a Supply The King Replyed As to the Clause of presenting Grievances that they should apply themselves to Redress Grievances not to Inquire after them And said I will not allow any of my Servants to be questioned among you much less such as are of Eminent Place and near unto me I see you especially aim at the Duke I wonder who hath so altered your Affections towards him Then he mentions the Honour that the last Parliament of his Father Expressed to the Duke and labours to Excuse him and concludes I would you would hasten for my Supply or else it will be worse for your selves for if any Evil happen I think I shall be the last that shall feel it This was suspected to be the Advice of the Popish Councellors to cause a Breach betwixt the King and his Parliament who thereupon mentioned the Duke as the chief Cause of all Publick Miscarriages and Dr. Turner a Physitian propounded his Quaeries to that purpose Upon the Opinions of Sir Thomas Wentworth Noy Selden and others the House Voted That Common Fame is a good Ground of Proceedings for that House The King sent a Message to the Commons by Sir Richard Weston That he took Notice of the Seditious Speech of Mr. Coke and of Dr. Turners Articles against the Duke of Bucks but indeed against the Honour and Government of the King and of his Father That he cannot suffer an inquiry on the meanest of his Servants much less against one so near him and wonders at the foolish impudence of any Man that can think he should be drawn to offer such a Sacrifice much unworthy the Greatness of a King and Master of such a Servant He desireth the Justice of the House against the Delinquents That he be not constrained to use his Regal Power and Authority to Right himself against these two Persons Dr. Turner Explained himself and said That to Accuse upon Common Fame was warranted by the Imperial Laws and by the Cannons of the Church That this House in the time of Henry the Sixth did upon Common Fame Accuse the Duke of Suffolk And that Sir Richard Weston himself did present the Common Vndertakers upon particular Fame The next Day Dr. Turner wrote a Letter to the Speaker to excuse his not attending the House by reason of Sickness and submitting to their Judgments but not acknowledging any fault Sr. John Elliot made a bold and sharp Speech against the Duke and present Grievances yet in the midst of those Agitations The Commons remembred the Kings Necessities and Voted to grant Three Subsidies and Three Fifteens Upon a Message from the King both Houses Attended him at Whitehall Where he gave the Lords thanks and showed the Commons their Errors and referred particulars to the Lord Keeper who in a plain speech assured the Commons That after the great Affairs setled and satisfaction to the Kings Demands he would hear and answer their just Grievances Tells them That his Majesty excepts to the not punishing of Coke and Turner he praiseth the Duke and his Merit from King and Parliament and declares the Kings Pleasure that they proceed no further in the inquiry touching the Duke And saith That the Supply Voted is not suitable to the Ingagements requires a further Supply and their Resolution thereof by a Day else they are not to Sit longer nor will the King expect a Supply this way Then the King spake again and mentioned Mr. Coke and said It was better for a King to be Invaded and almost Destroyed by a Forreign Power than to be despised by his own Subjects And bids them remember That the Calling Sitting and Dissolving of Parliaments was in his Power Being informed That the House of Commons ordered their Doors to be shut whilst they Debated hereof and that they misunderstood some passages in his Speech and in the Lord Keepers The King ordered the Duke at a Conference of both Houses to Explain it Which being done the duke gave them an Account of the business in Spain and indeavours to vindicate himself in that and all his Negotiations both at home and abroad since his being at Oxford and that he did nothing in single Councels excuseth his not going with the Fleet his Master commanding him into the Low-Countries to Treat with the King of Sweden of Denmark and the States Then the Lord Conway made a large Vindication of the Duke in the Publick Transactions The Lords Petitioned the King against the Precedency chalenged by the Scotch and Irish Nobles To which the King Answered That he would take order therein The Lord Conway wrote a Second Letter to the Earl of Bristol by the Kings Command to Know Whether he would choose to sit still without being questioned for any Errors in his Negotiation in Spain and injoy the benefit of the late Pardon or else would wave the Pardon and put himself upon a Legal Tryal Bristol in Answer would not wave the Pardon nor justifie himself against the King and so makes a doubtful Answer Then he Petitions the Lords for his right of Peerage to have a Writ to attend the House and that after two years restraint he may be brought to his Tryal in Parliament The Lords Pray the King That Bristol and other Lords whose Writs are stopped may have their Writs and they had them and the Duke showed the Lords a Letter from the King to Bristol charging him That when the King came first into Spain Bristol advised him to change his Religion and that he prejudiced the Business of the Palatinate Bristol by Petition to the Lords acquaints them That he had received his Writ to attend the Parliament but withal a Letter
to hunt after them a Party of the Enemies Horse fell suddenly upon them and took 64 of them Prisoners That Mr. White who formerly betrayed the Bogg of Allen to the Rebeils coming from them to Dublin was met with and killed by the Tories That the Lord Deputy Ireton came to the Siege of Catherlow and sent Collonel Axtel with 1100 Horse and Foot to Tecrohan That the Lady Fitz-Gerald whom the Souldiers called Col. Mary she defending Tecrohan wrote to her Husband for Supplyes else that she must be forced to surrender upon Conditions and that none in the Castle but one doth know her wants 22 Letters of much trouble in Scotland by reason of the Army of English Sectaries marching Northwards That one Whitford another of the Assacinates of Dr. Dorislaus was executed in Scotland as one of Montrosses Party 24 Letters that the King had left Holland and either was already or would shortly be in Scotland That a Holland Ship Loaden with goods for Edenburch was taken by the Parliaments ships and brought to Newcastle That the Scotch Levyes proceed apace and some Lords are questioned for having a hand in the Invasion of Montross 25 Orders touching the Forces marching Northwards and about Recruits for Ireland and for Widdows maintenance whose Husbands were slain in the Parliaments Service An Act passed for continuance of the Committee for the Army and Treasurers at War An Act passed for constituting M. G. Skippon Commander in chief of all the Forces in London and the Lines of Communication The Act touching Articles of War continued for six Months Debate of an Act for suppressing Raunters An humble Acknowledgment to the Parliament from the Gentlemen and well affected of South-Wales with thankfulness and Profession of their future duty and Obedience And the Speaker gave them the hearty Thanks of the Parliament The juncto of the Councel of State with whom Cromwel consulted having Intelligence of the Kings resolution for Scotland and of the Laws there made of Forces to assist him in his intended Invasion of England whereof they had more than ordinary assurance They thought it therefore not prudent to be behind hand with their Enemy nor to be put to an after Game to stay till they should first invade England but rather to carry the War from their native Country into Scotland As to the Objection that their invading Scotland would be contrary to the Covenant they were satisfyed that the Covenant was by the Scots broken and dissolved before and was not now binding betwixt the two Nations and the levying of Forces In Scotland and marchinng some of them to the Borders of England with the Hostile Acts done by them formerly were sufficient Grounds for the Parliament to provide for the Security of themselves and Countreymen the which could not be so effectually done as by carrying the War which they designed upon us unto their own Doors Upon these and many other weighty considerations it was resolved here That having a formed Army well provided and experienced they would march it forthwith into Scotland to prevent the Scots Marching iuto England and the Miseries accompanying their Forces to our Conutreymen The Ld. G. Fairfax being advised with herein seemed at first to like well of it but afterwards being hourly perswaded by the Presbyteriam Ministers and his own Lady who was a great Patroness of them he declared himself unsatisfyed that there was a just ground for the Parlament of England to send their Army to Invade Scotland But in case the Scots should invade England then he was forward to ingage against them in defence of his own Country The Councel of State fomewhat troubled at his Excellencies scruples appointed Cromwel Lambert Harrison St. John and Whitelock a Committee to confer hereupon with Fairfax and to endeavanr to satisfy him of the Justice and lawfulness of this undertaking The Committee met with the L. G. Fairfax and being shut up together in a room in Whitehall they went first to Prayer that God would direct them in this business and Cromwel began and most of the Committee prayed after which they discoursed to this effect Cromwel My Lord General we are commanded by the Councel of State to conferr with your Excellency touching the present design whereof you have heard some debate in the Councel of marching the Army under your Command into Scotland and because there seemed to be some hesitation in your self as to that Journey this Committee were appointed to endeavour to give your Excellency Satisfaction in any doubts of yours which may arise concerning that affair and the Grounds of that resolution of the Councel for the Journey into Scotland Lord General I am very glad of the Opportunity of conferring with this Committee where I find so many of my particular Friends as well as of the Commonwealth about this great business of our March into Scotland wherein I do acknowledge my self not fully satisfyed as to the grounds and justice of our Invasion upon our Brethren of Scotland and I shall be glad to receive satisfaction therein by you Lambert Will your Excellency be pleased to favour us with the particular Causes of your Dissatisfaction Lord General I shall very freely do it and I think I need not make to you or to any that know me any Protestation of the continuance of my Duty and Affection to the Parliament and my readyness to serve them in any thing wherein my Conscience will give me leave Harrison There cannot be more desired nor expected from your Excellency Whitelock No Man can doubt of the Fidelity and Affection of your Excellency to the Service of the Commonwealth you have given ample Testimony thereof and it will be much for the advantage of their affairs if we may be able to give you satisfaction as I hope we shall touching the particular points wherein your doubts arise St. John I pray my Lord be pleased to acquaint us with your particular Objections against this Journey Lord General My Lords you will give me leave then withall freeness to say to you that I think it doubtful whether we have a just cause to make an Invasion upon Scotland With them we are joyned in the national League and Covenant and now for us contrary thereunto and without sufficient cause given us by them to enter into their Country with an Army and to make War upon them is that which I cannot see the justice of nor how we shall be able to justify the lawfulness of it before God or Men. Cromwel I confess My Lord that if they have given us no cause to invade them it will not be justifyable for us to do it and to make War upon them without a sufficient ground for it will be contrary to that which in Conscience we ought to do and displeasing both to God and good men But My Lord if they have invaded us as your Lordship knows they have done since the national Covenant and contrary
are more sensible of the money which oft makes the Case than of the Justice of the Cause which they never or seldom take to heart A general and great Grievance also Papal imposition of Titheâ— fitter for a Levitical or Romish Priesthood than for Ministers of the New-Testament to whom it proves either a snare or Scandal hardening of people and hindring the power and success of the Ministers Eating out part of the sweet and benefit of other mens Labours secretly impoverishing and discouraging the endeavour of the Husbandman They pray ease of these pressures That we may have justice given not bought Courts of Justice in all Counties so established and maintained at the publick Charge that all matters of meum tuum may be heard and determined free yet by a written Law Clerks of all Courts and Committees may do their Duties without wicked delays or taking any thing above their set Pension that Justice every where may come down like a mighty Stream free for the poorest to resort unto too strong for the richest to divert And that the hand of the Labourer may be strengthened to his work every man reaping what he Sows and not another Every one eating the Fruit of his own Vineyard with joy and gladness of Heart praising the Lord. And a more honourable way of maintenance ordered for the Ministry which easily might be effected The Parliament told the Petitioners that some of the Particulars mentioned in their Petition were already under the consideration of the House and gave the Petitioners thanks for their good Affections Letters That Collonel Venables went out with a Party 30 miles into the Enemies Countrey in Ireland and brought away 400 Cows That Galloway was upon Overtures of a Treaty That the Sheriffs in Scotland sent in their Deputies to the English Commissioners very slowly who ordered That they send in their Deputies by a day and sent for Argyle to come in to them 28. Letters That the Parliaments Forces landed in Orkney were civilly entertained by the Inhabitants That the Declaration of the Commissioners of England for nulling Kingly Power and Prerogative Courts of Justice was proclaimed at the Market-Cross of Dundee by beat of Drum and sound of Trumpet and the Magistrates of the Town attended all the time March 1651. 1. The Act of General Pardon and Oblivion was published with the Exceptions and Qualifications therein Letters That the Meetings with the English Commissioners at Dalkeith by the Deputies of the Shires were at an end That some of the Deputies especially from the Boroughs had two Commissions one signed to please the Ministers that nothing be done prejudicial to the Covenant the other full and ample to do all things conducible for the setling of the Nation That several of the Great ones are in much perplexity what to do and press their Tenants for a years Rent before-hand The English Commissioners made a further Declaration That whereas the Deputies of Shires and Boroughs have consented to the Proposals made to them from the Parliament of England The Commissioners declare That those Shires and Boroughs are taken into the special Protection of the Parliament of England and all Officers and Soldiers and others are commanded not to injure them but they are to have all favour and inconragement in the Union with the Common-wealth of England The Deputy-Governour published a Proclamation against Butchers ingrossing of Provisions to sell again in the Town of Lieth 2. An Act passed for the better discovery of Thieves and that the respective Sheriffs shall pay 10 l. to every one that shall apprehend such Thieves An offence of Collonel Gill in matter of doubling and reproaching the Parliament was confessed by him and his offence pardoned Report from the Committee of the Credentials and Oration of the Agent from the Hans Towns and particular Credentials from the Town of Hamburgh to the same Person the House referred to the Council of State to treat with the Agent and report to the House Report of the Transactions of the Council with the Ambassador of the King of Spain 3. The Committee for regulating the Law proceeded in that Business and had great Debates but little done in it 4. The Committee appointed by the Council of State to treat with the Agent of the Hans Towns attended that Business the Agent was a discreet sober Person and spake good Latin 5. A Petition to the Committee for regulating the Law for Fines upon Copyholds to be made certain c. Letters That the Deputies of the Shires and Boroughs to the Parliaments Commissioners come in very uncertain A Placart of the States of the United Provinces of their stopping Ships going out of their Harbours and their Intentions to set forth a strong Fleet the next Summer for their Fishing 6. The Adventures for Ireland made several Propositions to the Committee of Parliament and assented to their Proceedings and sent in 2 d. in the Pound for incident Charges 8. Advice touching the settlement of Affairs in Ireland 9. Papers from the Dutch Ambassadors Credentials to the Agent of the King of Denmark An Act for the better settlement of the Affairs of the Admiralty and Navy General Blake continued General of the Seas for Nine Months 10. Letters That notwithstanding the Parliaments Declaration yet the Kirk Judicatories proceed as formerly and are very high against the Parliament of England and their Army and Mr. Cant perswades his Auditory to prepare for Sufferings and presseth the Covenant and that when Parents bring their Children to be Baptized he causeth them to engage to bring them up in the Covenant A Letter written to the Lord of Drum by direction from the Presbytery of Aberdeen That they were resolved to excommunicate him unless he submit to them and rescind his Appeal He is exhorted to prevent this dreadful and direful Judgment That Presbytery is the Lords Ordinance 1 Tim. 4. 14. That Religious Swearing is not only lawful but commanded and practised by God himself The Lord Drum in his Answer to this Letter saith to the Moderator That he expected from their severity to be excommunicated summarily for his Appeal to Collonel Overton That he can neither in point of Conscience nor Honour grant the Conditions they require and yet that he doth humbly submit himself to Gods Will. That many others have spoken more freely than he against the usurped Tyrannical Power and Supremacy of your Presbyterian Inquisition to which they impute the cause of all these miseries which have befallen this Nation Yet none are persecuted by you but I and my Family whereby it is notoriously known that the only cause of your unparallel'd severity against me is my Appellation to Collonel Overton wherein I imitated St. Paul who did appeal from the Cruelty of the Pharisees to Caesar a civil Judge and no Christian Which I have the more reason to do seeing I found all your Questions to be matters of your own invention which yet
Gods Accompt that if he had not stept in the Disease had been mortal and destructive and what is all this Truly I must needs say a company of men still like Bryars and Thorns and worse if worse can be of another sort than those before mentioned to you have been and yet are endeavouring to put us into Blood and into Confusion more desperate and dangerous Confusion than England ever yet saw And I must say as when Gideon commanded his Son to fall upon Zeba and Zalmunna and slay them they thought it more noble to die by the hand of a Man than of a Stripling which shews there is some contentment in the hand by which a man falls so is it some satisfaction if a Common-wealth must perish that it perish by Men and not by the hands of persons differing little from Beasts That if it must needs suffer it should rather suffer from rich men than from poor men who as Solomon says when they oppress they leave nothing behind them but are as sweeping Rain Now such as these also are grown up under your shadow But it will be asked what have they done I hope though they pretend Commonwealths Interest they have had no encouragement from you but that as before rather taken it than that you have administred any Cause unto them for so doing from Delays from hopes that this Parliament would not settle from Pamphlets mentioning strange Votes and Resolves of yours which I hope did abuse you Thus you see what ever the Grounds were these have been the Effects And thus I have laid these things before you and others will be easily able to judge how far you are concerned And what have these men done they have also laboured to pervert where they could and as they could the honest meaning people of the Nation they have laboured to engage some in the Army and I doubt that not onely they but some others also very well known to You have helped in this work of debauching and dividing the Army they have they have I would be loth to say who where and how much more loth to say they where any of your own Number but I can say Endeavours have been to put the Army into a Distemper and to Feed that which is the worst humour in the Army which though it was not a mastering humour yet these took their advantage from delay of the Settlement and the Practices before mentioned and stopping the pay of the Army to run Vs into free Quarter and to bring us into the inconveniences most to be feared and avoided What if I am able to make it appear in Fact That some amongst you have run into the City of London to perswade to Petitions and Addresses to you for reversing your own Votes that you have passed Whether these practices were in favor of your Liberties or tended to beget hopes of Peace and Settlement from you and whether debauching the Army in England as is before expressed and starving it and putting it upon free Quarter and occasioning and necessitating the greatest part thereof in Scotland to march into England leaving the remainder thereof to have their Throats Cut there and kindling by the rest a fire in our own Bosoms were for the advantage of Affairs here Let the World judge This I tell you also that the Correspondency held with the Interest of Cavalleers by that Party of men called Levellers and who call themselves Common-wealths-men whose Declarations were framed to that purpose and ready to be published at the time of their Commonrising whereof We are possessed and for which We have the Confession of themselves now in Custody who confess also they built their hopes upon the assurance they had of the Parliaments not agreeing a Settlement Whether these humours have not nourished themselves under your Boughs is the subject of my present discourse and I think I say not amiss if I affirm it to be so And I must say it again That that which hath been their Advantage thus to raise Disturbance hath been by the loss of those Golden opportunities that God hath put into your hands for Settlement Judge you whether these things were thus or no when you first sat down I am sure things were not thus there was a very great Peace sedateness throughout these Nations and great expectations of a settlement which I remembred to you at the beginning of my Speech and hoped that you would have entered upon your business as you found it There was a Government in the possession of the People I say a Government in the possession of the People for many Moneths it hath now been exercised neer fifteen Moneths and if it were needful that I should tell you how it came into their Possession and how willingly they received it How all Law and Justice were distributed from it in every respect as to life liberty and estate How it was owned by God as being the Dispensation of his Providence after twelve years War and sealed and Witnessed unto by the People I should but repeat what I said in my last Speech made unto you in this place and therefore 〈◊〉 forbear When you were entred upon this Government raveling into it you know I took no notice what you were doing if you had gone upon that foot of Account To have made such good and wholsom Provisions for the good of the People of these Nation for the Settling of such matters in things of Religion as would have upheld and given Countenance to a Godly Ministry and yet would have given a just Liberty to Godly men of different Judgments men of the same Faith with them that you call the Orthodox Ministery in England as it is well known the Independents are and many under the Form of Baptism who are sound in the Faith only may perhaps be different in Judgment in some lâ—sser matters yet as true Christians both looking at Salvation only by faith in the Blood of Christ men professing the fear of God having recourse to the Name of God as to a strong Tower I say you might have had Opportunity to have setled Peace and Quietness amongst all professing Godliness and might have been instrumental if not to have healed the breaches yet to have kept the Godly of all Judgments from running one upon another and by keeping them from being over-run by a Common Enemy rendred them and these Nations both secure happy and well satisfied Are these things done or any thing towards them Is there not yet upon the Spirits of men a strange itch nothing will satisfie them unless they can put their finger upon their Brethrens Consciences to pinch them there To do this was no part of the Contest we had with the Common Adversary for Religion was not the thing at the first contested for but God brought it to that issue at last and gave it into Vs by way of Redundancy and at last it proved to be that which was most dear to us and