been so kept off Field action All which hath not onely done prejudice to the publike Service but hath brought things to great hazard yea almost to the undoing of all But God in his mercy hath turned the balance no thank to your remissenesse wherein God sheweth although men will not do what they ought and can do for his Service upon I cannot tell what consideration he will do the work of men by no men When I think on John Knox and George Buchanan how freely they spoke and writ at all times and upon all occasions when the Church and State were concerned without fear of any man or Assembly whatsoever having nothing before their eyes but the glory of God and the good of his people They were weak and infirm men as we are all but their stout zeal to the publike was admirable and is ever to be remembred by us not onely to their praise but also to spur us up to imitate them in this heroike vertue For me I value the zeal and stoutnesse of these two Champions of the Truth more than all their other vertues howsoever eminent they were But you will say It is now another age and consequently another way of carriage of things is required It is true we live now in another age which is worse than that of these men Wherefore we must then strive with greater zeal and vertue to oppose the wickednesse of this time For although by a prudentiall preventing and declining by clear-seeing men many plots and devises of the wicked may be for a time shunned Yet there is no way to make the wicked leave or weary of resisting and oppressing goodnesse but by a vigorous and stout opposing of them Besides although the Cards be new we play with all yet it is the same very Game that our Fathers had in Scotland and our Neighbours had lately in our dayes in France Where and when nothing did prevaile or do good unto the Cause but resolution and zeal in carrying on the things not onely against the Common Enemy but also against the false Friends and they that walked then any other way betrayed the Cause and purchased unto themselves the title of silly inconsiderable men of whatsoever rank or degree they were To say nothing of the judgement of God that fell upon them and to this day hangs upon them and theirs I shun examples in this case for I love to reprove faults and spare mens persons Moreover since the Malignants every where are so busie running to and fro like so many Bees with great care and heat and so bold to forge and invent lyes by word and writing to abuse the World and so wrong treacherously the publike Service Why should not then faithfull men be diligent and stout in all freedom to make known the truth of things for the confirming of the well-affected and for stopping of the mouth of the wicked and so consequently for the better carrying on of the work now in hand Now being thus friendly and freely admonished by one who wisheth well to the Common Cause you now serve with his whole heart and unto your selves in particular in so far as you are faithfull and earnest zealous and stout in this Cause of God and his people laying aside all humane prudence which is not subservient to zeal and stoutnesse as well as to faithfulnesse and earnestnesse I hope you will take care to minde this slip by giving unto the publike a true and free relation of all things from time to time as the occasion shall require and in your meetings about Church and State to be stout and free for the advancing of the publike Service to the glory of God to the good of his people and to the contentment and satisfaction of well-affected men in despite of malignancy In the interim till you perform this duty give me leave in this place plainly and homely to put unto the view of the World the relation of some things of speciall note hardly well known to many at least taken notice of but by a few concerning the carriage of the Scots ever since the very first beginning of these unhappy troubles to this day the knowledge whereof will do good I am sure to the publike Service and will help to right in some measure men both faithfull and constant in the Work Yea the commemoration of these things although known I am perswaded will give content to all honest and well-meaning men unto whom the publike good is dearer than the interest of any particular man whatsoever with whom they ought to go along no further than the particular man goeth on with the publike of Church and State laying aside all other relation As for other men I value them no more than the open declared enemies who preferre the pleasure of one abused Prince under pretext of obligation they have to him unto the good of Church and State And thus I begin The Common Enemy having designe to bring these Dominions under spirituall and temporall slavery all things disposed for his ends according to his mind thinks fit for his purpose to begin this great work in Scotland promising unto himself to find least opposition there for reasons which hitherto by Gods mercy hath deceived him The Scots being pressed to receive the corrupt Liturgy to say nothing in this place of what was before put upon them fairly decline it by iterate supplications and humble remonstrances unto the King But nothing will do the turn they must receive the Prelats Master-Peece and Romes essay the Nove-Antic-Service-Book either by fair play or foul The Scots on the other side constant to their principles refuse to receive the Book for which they are published by the Prelats and the Court to be refractaries and rude fellows without God or Religion Which gave occasion to the Scots to make known not onely unto their own people at home but to all men abroad namely to their Brethren of England by a publike Declaration their condition how they were wronged the equity of their Cause their lawfull proceedings and their good intentions by this means their friends good will is confirmed unto them and their enemies designe in some measure is broken who did intend by lyes to steal from them the good affection of their friends Next The Scots being constrained to have recourse to the Sword for their just defence all other means tryed failing were back-bitten as mutinous taking Arms for poverty with intention to cast off the just Authority of their Native and lawfull Prince and to invade England for the spoile thereof To these most pernicious calumnies the Scots replyeth by another Declaration particularly addressed unto England whereby they made known the absolute necessity of their taking up Arms with their honest intentions therein All which they made good thereafter in due time by reall performance For so soon as they had occasion to shew their respect to the King they did it with all readinesse and submission and when they
wicked courses of the Enemies against the Cause we say we maintain I am sure at least we ought or by open and professed Apostasie we have joyned our hearts and affection with the Common Enemy who so actively by all means opposeth this Cause of God and persecuteth his people for it This is done both in Scotland and England not by a few but by many not by little and small ones but by the Chief and Leaders of the rest not by stopping things of humane infirmity and weaknesse but with study and an high hand Here we shall say a word or two of the carriage of those two Nations in the going on with the Work of the Lord for the setling of the Church and quiet of his People We shall begin at those of Scotland who some few yeers ago were lifted up with praises among men for their faithfull minding and following earnestly this great Work of God all by-ends laid aside for which God blessed them from Heaven and made them be called happy among men for they had their hearts desire in the businesse and their Enemies were subdued by them But now leaving off their former integrity and sincerity to the Cause of God and their Love unto him following the devices and desires of their own corrupt hearts in pride coveteousnesse and factions notwitstanding the earnest and pressing admonitions both in private and publike of the Prophets and Ministers of God they continue in their evil courses preposterously minding themselves and their worldly foolish interest of ambition and avarice more then God and the Cause of his Church and people For this God as it were by an essay to try them if they would laying aside their lewd by wayes mind him and his Service heartily and sincerly sends amongst them an hand-full of contemptible profane and wicked villains whom at first they despise and neglect but going on in their wonted wayes while the holy Name of God is profaned by those Sons of Belial a part of their Land is wasted the poor people spoiled and slain with all other barbarous usage and so these number and power of the Slaves of Iniquity growing they are plotting caballing and devising how to supplant another and increase their severall faction the seed of dissension being sowed amongst them by the Enemy to divide and so more easily compasse his ends upon them which they would not and could not see blinded with their corrupt passion Then God to admonish them anew suffers some of those whom they had employed against the Sons of Rebellion to betray their trust and omit divers good occasions in all appearance to make havock of these villains yea some to run over unto them in the hour of fight and so these Enemies of goodnesse to advance their pernicious designe do what they list Yet all this will not die with those hard-hearted and stubbling men still employing and busying their thoughts how to bear down one another yea some there were amongst them who were not sorry in their hearts of the progresse that those despisable villains made in the Countrey against the Service of the Common Cause conceiving it did help to the setting up of their faction But since the affronts and blows they received at divers times from those contemptible fellows did not move these ingrate Children God sends a Pestilence amongst them which rageth with such fury that hardly the like hath been heard of in that Land to try if at last they would leave their slacknes remissenes in pursuing the Service of the Cause of Gods Church and People their conniving and complying with his Enemies yea their helping those villains with means and advice in opposing the Cause of God and oppressing his People But they remain obdured like Children of disobedience in their perverse wayes So at length God in his wrath delivers them up to the hands of their wicked Enemies making them as far to be scorned and misprised for their not heartly minding him his Service as they had been before esteemed and extolled for their adhering to him and doing his Service faithfully Yea the Chief men of them who had been cried up for Valour and Wisdom are constrained to flie away and have their lives for a prey So God who from the beginning of all those unhappy disturbances till this last time had made Scotland a Mirrour of his Mercy in testimony of its faithfulnesse adhering unto him makes it an example of his Justice for its back sliding from him And thus Judgement begins at the House of God now let England look seriously to it for the same very sins which have been committed in Scotland and for which it now lieth under the heavy rod of a chastising and angry God are now raigning in England namely ambition and avarice with many more which have not been seen in Scotland example heresies errors and Sects of all sorts to the dishonour of God and to the withdrawing of the People from his Truth are connived at and countenanced by those who are in Authority Then there be some of power and credit who are so far from furthering the Reformation of the Church as they and we all are sworn to by the Covenant that they hinder the same not onely by secret undermining and by plots but by a continued open profession against it Next There be great oppressions vexations concussions and injustices done unto the People by divers in Authority the cry of all which is as loud if not louder unto Heaven then the cry of the sins of Scotland It may be that God as he hath not be gun so soon to shew his Mercy unto England as he did unto Scotland will not send his Judgement upon it so speedily yet doubtlesse without a serious Repentance and a true turning unto God Judgement will come and the longer it is a coming the heavier it will be It is not the good Cause of Church and State that will do Englands turn more then the Temple and the Law of old did save Judah from ruine nor the same good Cause hath kept Scotland from punishment the good Cause ill managed by negligence ambition avarice faction self-conceit and other vices of that kinde draweth vengeance upon those who have the managing of it and make the Cause to be in derision Never good Cause hath been worse managed by the ignorance of weak ones and the malice of other wicked At last God will maintain his Cause no thanks to thee without thee for he needs not thy help to do it but since he hath been pleased to make use of thee in the Service of this his Cause he expects faithfulnesse and zeal to it from thee free from worldly and humane interest Otherwayes vengeance is at thy door for God as he will not in his Worship and Cult have linsey-wolsey of mens inventions intermingled with his pure and sacred Ordinance so he will not in managing the Service of his Cause and of his People that men bring in
the mixture or addition of their own interest for God will have our work wholly for himself and if we be faithfull in it he will not forget to give us what we need to have for our selves otherwayes he will not onely cast us off and our work but will curse both it and us Again I say Let England take example at her Neighbour yet I am sure God in his Judgement will remember his Mercy unto Scotland and for his own Name sake will keep his promise unto his faithfull ones whereof he hath a great number of all ranks and conditions in that distressed Countrey and will not suffer this proud insulting Enemy to domineer thus ever his poor people far lesse set up again his abominations and profane his holy Name but God will arise and throw his Enemies to the dust for it is against him they fight and for his sake they thus trouble vex now oppresse his People And although that all men at this great last blow were struken with astonishment yet many take courage to go on with the Service of the Cause of God with their whole heart and strength acknowledging Gods Justice in this his thus chastising them and confessing heartily their sins by which they have so provoked God to anger and are truly sorry not so much for their sufferings they now lie under as for their offending their good God on whom they are resolved to rely and in whom they will constantly trust and to whom they will more neerly adhere then ever let him deal with them as he pleaseth they are the Servants he is the Lord they are the Pot he is the Porter they are the Creatures and he is the Creator whose will is alwayes good not onely it self but for us if we be obedient and faithfull unto him But I will hold thee here no longer So recommending thee to God I go to the Discourse it self A short and true Relation of divers passages of things wherein the Scots are particularly concerned from the first beginning of these troubles to this day IT is not unknown to men of understanding how that many sinistrous reports one after another raised of the Scots for their faithfulnesse constancy to the Cause of Religion and Liberty in these Dominons by Malignants that is by Atheists Libertines Papists Prelatists and Sectaries of all kindes officiating in their severall wayes for the Common Enemy and spred abroad by the contrivers thereof with the help of their instruments Agents and Favourers then received by the simpler sort not knowing the truth of things lesse the drift of the Malignants in these calumnies otherwayes well-meaning people for the truth is no sooner made known unto them but they willingly lay hold on it and being admonished of the pernicious designe of the adversaries they do abhorre and detest both it and them hath done and yet doeth great prejudice according to the intent of the Enemy unto the service now in hand of the Common Cause of Church and State these two inseparable twins which both Kingdoms do now maintain and intend to do unanimously with heart and hand as they stand bound and united to lay aside all other and former tyes by the Nationall Covenant through the great Providence of God in mercy to both so that they prove faithfull and constant to this Cause of his and of his people according to the said Covenant against all opposition whatsoever whether by declared and open war or by clandestine and indirect undermining Wherefore after long forbearance with grief of mind and compassion to see faithfull men and earnest in this Common Cause so maliciously traduced and in them the good Cause so much wronged as likewise so many well-affected men to the said Cause so grosly abused by crafty lyes and impudent untruths I have thought fit for the good and service of the Common Cause to the advancement whereof every one is obliged to contribute according to what he hath as he will answer one day to him whose Cause first and principally it is to undeceive many well-minded men and to right in some measure those faithfull men to the Cause who are so wickedly slandred in giving unto the publike this true and short Discours whereby the truth of divers things will be made more known lyes in a kind repressed and the service of the Common Cause somewhat furthered at least it will not be so far kept back as it hath hitherto been by these undermining courses And the rather do I undertake this task that those in a manner are silent by whom most men do expect the clear truth of things of this kinde not so generally known should be conveyed to all by a particular publication of them in writing to the end that this course of so maliciously lying against trusty men may be stopped and the well meaning men no longer thus abused But these of whom men look for performance of this duty going about the main work they are come hither for in all earnestnesse and singlenesse of heart with care and diligence and not without a great deal of drudging to and from as faithfull and trusty labourers do take but little notice of this wicked practise of their and the cause its Enemies by lyes howsoever industriously devised and cunningly set forth as altogether below them chosing rather that their own good carriage with constant resolution and faithfull endeavours and that of their Country-men engaged with them in the same businesse although in another way in sincerity of heart advancing the publike work now in hand should speak for them both then either a flourishing tongue or a nimble pen Here although I value much the goodnesse of these men to relye rather upon their own their Countrey-mens honesty and integrity in and about the work then upon the setting forth of any Declaration by writing of their own and their friends faithfull proceedings and fair carrying on of things in the publike service Yet in this I cannot esteem their prudency for albeit native beauty ought not to be set forth by painting and patches being compleat in it self yet it must be kept free from spots and and dirt and made seen unto all under a modest and comely dressing by which means it is more pleasing and better liked of every one And although where there is no fault no Apologie ought to be made yet to make the truth openly known when it is desguised for the information of those who take things meerly upon trust and to stop the going on of wicked men with lyes is not only an Act of Wisdom but of Piety yea of Necessity if men will not abandon the interest of a good cause to the malice of the Enemies thereof and as it is said by the wise man Thou art not to answer a fool according to his folly that is in exorbitancy c. lest in so doing thou become like unto him even so by the same wise man thou art ordained to answer a fool
very dangerous after so many attempts of evil doing by the Enemy to retire them from England not as yet well setled and to cashiere their Army remitting the event of things to God resolve to return home and dismisse their Army and so make known unto all the World their Candour and Integrity and to take away all jealousies both from the King and from England which they do according to promise not failing in the least circumstance yea not of the day Well the King having gained this point to send home the Scots and to make them lay down their Arms resolveth to follow them into Scotland and to trie once more to draw them to his designe no perswasion being able to stay or to stop his voyage he goeth in haste from London and overtaketh the Scots as their were upon their removall from New-castle for Scotland He vieweth their Army by the way and talketh with the Prime Officers thereof He giveth Order to some of the good Physicians about him to feel the pulse of the Scots softly but they found the Scots pulse did not beat as they could have wished He goeth on in his journey into Scotland whither he is no sooner arrived but he puts another designe afoot premeditated with many more before for it is the custome of the wise Court to have at one and the same time divers undertakings in designe of which it is a very hard matter it one or other do not take effect Yea they have found but too true to our wofull experience that many have taken effect and that not of the lesser ones wherefore the Court will never cease to devise and invent enterprises The Plot then set afoot by the K. in Scotland was to make a considerable Party there for his ends and to make the businesse more facile he resolveth to make sure the Chief men of Scotland who were likely either to stop the designe or not further it But this Plot is also discovered and so it failed The next recourse was to the Irish Papists his good Friends unto whom from Scotland a Commission is dispatched under the Great Seal which Seal was at that instant time in the Kings own custody of that Kingdom to hasten according to former agreement the raising of the Irish in Arms who no sooner receive this new Order but they break out and at the first beginning of their Rebellion declared that they had no ill will against any Scots in Ireland for they were afraid of the Scots going over to the help of their Countrey-men and so they would be stopped to go on with their Work but their spleen was against these English Protestants who were Friends to that wicked Parliament in England so untoward to the good King and so adverse to their Catholike Cause This Declaration of the Irish did not although in favour of their Country-men hinder the Scots to offer their present Service for the repressing of the Rebellion before things grew worse The King fairly refuseth the offer and answering with verball thanks said that he neither could nor would do any thing in the businesse without the advice and assistance of the Parliament now a foot in England whereunto he was to repaire in all haste So he leaveth Scotland saying that every day he stayed there was the losse of a County to him He cometh to London a little before Christmas the Rebellion having begun in Ireland in October But he goe's very seldom to the Parliament and when he goeth thither he sayeth nothing concerning the Irish Rebellion till by importunity he was constrained to it and then what he said was little cold and ambiguous And when the Scots by their Commissioners who had followed him from Scotland hither did offer again a considerable help of ten thousand men things were so carried both in the Counsell and in the Parliament by the corrupt and ignorant Party then that the Scots were delayed from day to day by one shift or other for a long space before that conditions could be agreed upon with them for the sending of their help unto Ireland And it was a longer time after the agreement before things could be furnished unto them for their Voyage By those means the Rebels had ado with lesse opposition and consequently with lesse difficulty carried on their barbarous Work of spoiling burning and massacring innocent people of all rank and condition without regard to sex or age The Scots are no sooner gone to Ireland but they assist their Friends with such affection and successe that after some skirmishes and renconters with the Rebels the North Countrey of Ireland whereunto their help was particularly assigned became pretty well cleared of the Rebels although much wasted and and spoiled by them In this course hath the Scots continued to this day constantly opposing these bloody wretches notwithstanding the change that hath fallen in the South part of that Kingdom by the treachery of those whom the Parliament employed and trusted to Then when the King made a Cessation with these barbarous Cannibals the Scots resolutely declared against it and have manfully opposed it to this day Without which opposition of the Scots it had been received every where in Ireland and the Rebels then having nothing to do at home had come hither in Bands and Troups into this Island Thus did and still doth the Scots pursue their Point notwithstanding all the hardship they have suffered and yet suffer in the Service partly by reason of the great troubles here of the Parliament not being able to supply their Friends as they would and as they need partly by the negligence and unfaithfulnesse of those who have been employed by the Parliament and intrusted to have a care of supplying this need which hath been so great that the Scots Army in Ireland had absolutely starved for cold and hunger if they had not been helped from Scotland in a high measure To return unto England The misled King having left the Parliament accompanied or at least followed by numbers of men of divers degrees Traytors to God and to their Countrey namely by those double Traytors who were Members of the Houses of Parliament for they not onely have been dishonest and unfaithfull to the Church and State whereof they are born Members and Children but they have betray'd the trust wherewith they were trusted in both By the assistance of which he sets his designe on foot to make open War against the Parliament although under a hid notion to destroy it all other Devices and Plots contrived by him and his having failed as we have seen Upon this the Scots in their respect to the King love unto their Brethren in England and above all in their affection to the Cause of the Church of God send Commissioners unto the King and from him to the Parliament as the occasion should serve They found the King at York where he was pulling his Sword out of its sheath with all his might and shaping it in all haste
of Religion and Peace setled the fruits of our endeavours much wished and longed for by Nottingham 12 June 1645. Your Lordships most humble Servants LEVEN CALENDAR HAMILTON WE have heard how the Parliament of England sent Commissioners into Scotland to call in the Scots unto its help and to capitulate with them concerning their in-coming We have heard also how that Commissioners were sent from Scotland hither to be at the drawing up of the Covenant betwixt the two Nations who ever since have constantly assisted the Synod in the discussion of Church-affaires more according to agreement betwixt the Nations thereafter there was other Commissioners sent hither to share with the Parliament in the managing of State-businesses of Peace and War wherein now both Kingdoms are jointly ingaged To this effect the Houses of Parliament chuseth a certain number of Lords and Commons to treat of all things concerning Peace and War jointly with the Scots and so together they make up the Committee of both Kingdoms wherein the Scots have a negative voice and nothing is done or at least ought to be done without their knowledge and consent concerning Peace or War directly or indirectly all play under boord and clandestine dealing being forbidden to both equally upon the reason of the common interest of both Those who had been adverse unto the in-coming of the Scots to help the Parl. were much against the setting up of this Committee but at last after some debate the thing is done in spite of opposition So the Committee is set afoot for a certain time of some few Moneths by Ordinance of both Houses The time prefixed for the sitting of the Committee is no sooner expired but those same men with the aid of others whom they had stirred up to that purpose cast in difficulties and will by no means give consent for the continuance of this Committee so for some dayes it is broken up then earnest work there was to get it restablished again but all to small purpose till in the end there is found one Clause in the Ordinance for the setting it up at first which did serve for the restablishing of it maugre those who did oppose it Since that time it hath continued constantly to this day although not without vexation to some namely because the Committee could not sit without the Scots being present Now the Scots called and joined with the English to manage the affaires of the publike Service for the Common Cause of Church and State at first they did think that they were to have nothing or at least little ado but to put forward the publike Service with earnestnesse and vigour against the Common Enemy without any let here by any of their own party and so they resolve with themselves to be very modest and tender with all warinesse in their proceedings with their Brethren of England who had called them hither upon such assurance and were so kinde unto them in their expressions yea so carefull of them that they would have them to lodge neerer for their own convenience and that of their Friends going to visit them and so the Scots remove from the City where they had lodged in former time and are placed in Worcester-house where now they lodge Those who pretend to know more of the Mysteries of the World then other men tell us that the removing of the Scots from the City to Worcester-house was not so much the convenience of the Scots or of their Friends which was intended although so given out as their weaning from their old Friends in the City who formerly had been so usefull and so respective to them by a cunning forcasting of some men to wear them out of acquaintance and intimacie with the City being afraid not to carry on things so easily according to their intent if the Scots were constantly intime and familiar with the City Whatever the end of removing the Scots from the City was it is fallen out so that the Scots being at such a distance have not been able to cherish and nourish their former intimacie and old Friendship with the City as they are bound in gratitude carefully to do and as the publike Service requireth joint with their own advantage Thereafter the Scots finde a harder task then they had promised unto themselves in the beginning for besides the great and main work against the Common Enemy they find some few men here in the party whereunto they are joyned for the Service of the Common Cause of Religion and Liberty in all the three Kingdoms who do not onely shew them but small favour but also as far as can be without open breach crosse and oppose them and in them the publike Service First those who from the beginning did not approve of their in-coming for fear they should eclipse their lustre and diminish their power was cold and adverse to them Next some others of those who had most bestirred themselves and most appeared in the calling in of the Scots to help having done the work of their in-bringing lay down a new ground for the reparing the breach of their own credit which by the miscarriage of things namely in the West as we have said before had been much diminushed and by degrees make up their credit upon the decline of the others whereunto their earnestnesse for the Scots did much serve and the Scots intimacy with them for many gave willingly way unto them when they did see them so intime with the Scots whom they knew to have no by-ends and those men on the other side did endear themselves unto the Scots by sundry good offices for a time which they did unto them in things concerning their Forces in England Ireland employed in the Common Service and by their constant and frequent courting of the Scots they did so take them up that they alone almost were admitted to any privacy then some did laugh in their sleeve to see a few not so considerable before bear such a sway and the Scots led thus by the nose and others did complain saying Why should this be It was expected the Scots Commissioners should have been open and free to all honest men namely to those of worth yea they ought to have been so for the good of the publike Service and for their own credit not captiving themselves as it were to some few ones Further it was said that they should have pressed home businesses more stoutly and more freely then they did as they had done in former times in their own particular affaires when they had not so many professed and powerfull Friends letting nothing passe of that was clearly for the good of the publike By this complying complaisance the Scots Commissioners have given such advantage to those who for a time courted them most for their own ends as it seems for if it had been altogether for the publike the Scots remaining constant to their point and principles although with lesse vigour I confesse then I could
doing Evil then to an Army above two hundred miles distant who notwithstanding their willingnesse and readinesse to march according to their calling Southward could get neither draughts nor absolutely necessary provisions for a march in such a proportion as was thought very reasonable The truth of this may appear what troubles Generall Lesley found at Rippon to get provisions and draughts and how he went to York to that effect but to very small purpose Let things be tryed and no longer thus carried in hugger-mugger to the prejudice of the publike Service We have heard how that and upon what occasion some of those who had been so intimate with the Scots Commissioners leave them neglect them and oppose them in their proceedings so far as they can in a smooth-way above board to say nothing of what is done under-hand So in this place you shall take notice how that on the other side there be divers of those who formerly had cared so little for the Scots that they neither favoured their in-coming nor thereafter had assisted them so willingly in their honest faithful endeavour for the advancement of the publike Service now at last bethinking themselves of their own error and how that without reason they had been jealous of the Scots they begin to go along with them more freely and earnestly in the publike Work then they had done heretofore which the Scots minding mainly the furthering of the Service of the Common Cause take kindly at their hands and welcome the expressions of their good affection to the Service with respective civilitie wishing from their heart that those who are now withdrawn from them would return unto their wonted correspondence in sincere and brotherly unanimity for carrying on the heavy and tedious Work now lying upon them all Upon this there is great murmuring against the Scots that they had quite left off honest and well-affected men and taken semi-Malignants by the hand who not onely had been slack and backward in the pursuance of the publike Service but adverse unto themselves in particular To all this the Scots do declare truely that as when they came hither at first they took no interest in any man more then they judged him in all appearance to interest himself heartily without by-ends in the Common Cause and as yet they do the same resolved to continue so unto the end constant to their first principles and if any men have withdrawn themselves from them not willing to go constantly along with them in this necessary course they are sorry for those of whose constancy they were in a kind assured and they declare to the World that they neither gave nor intend to give any just distaste in their particular to any But if men will snuff because they are not humeured in all things who can help it The Scots did think at their coming in to have nothing a do with children and women who must be humeured but with set and staid rationall men without any by-respects or private Fancies wholly constants to the Cause both of Church and State as we are all sworn by the Solemn Oath of the Nationall Covenant As for those who having cast off their former mistakes now go along with them more earnestly then formerly in the businesses they cannot but welcome them as all those who put to their helping-hand heartily in the least kinde to the great Work of God and of his people howsoever their carriage have been towards their persons for the publike they having no spleen nor grudge at any forget whatsoever hath been amisse towards them praying God to forgive that his Work may be carried on more cheerfully and unanimously and they are likewise disposed and enclined towards those who have left them off to go along with them so freely and so brotherly as at the first they will imbrace them cheerfully in carrying on the businesses of Church State with them This they declare not to captive men by cunning insinuation as factious ones do but to invite all men fairly to go on with the Work of Church and State according to the Covenant as they hope a blessing from Heaven if they be zealous and faithfull without equivocation and may expect judgement if they either faint or be not sincere Of this enough for this time Yet there is one thing I cannot passe and it is this There be hardly any divisions among these of this side of which the blame is not laid upon the Scots as if they had not had their jealousies one of another and grudges one against another by reason of particular interest and private opinion before the Scots did join with them when it is well known that the Scots assistance faithfull in the Counsell and active in the Field is not onely usefull and necessary for the opposing and repressing of the Common Enemy but also for keeping together those who otherwayes in a likelyhood would fall asunder and so the publike Service suffer at which the Enemy aimes Then I adde that the Enemy howsoever low he seems to be at this instant desires to have no better Game then that the Scots would retire and withdraw their helping hand from the Service for he that of nothing made a party so great as to carry all before it till he was repressed by the Scots would raise up his party again But in despite of the devil and all opposition whether clandestin or open the Scots will stand firm and faithfull for the carrying on of the Work of God and of his people After a certain time the States of both Kingdoms resolved to try yet again if they could reclaime and recall upon any reasonable terms the abused and misled Prince from his evil courses of undoing thē people and himself cause draw up certain Propositions by Common Counsell of both Nations which they send by Commissioners of both States to the King in whom they find nothing but shifts and delays So they return without effectuating any thing A while thereafter the infortunate Prince intending to make the simpler sort beleeve that he was defirous at last of a reall agreement sends hither Commissioners of whose honest meaning the people did least doubt but in the end they were found to be cajeolors to draw things towards a Treaty unto which the Scots declared themselves to be inclined the main businesses of Church and State being secured as willing to try all means possible upon all occasion to take up the differences in a fair way to save further effusion of Christian and Brothers blood and further ruine of those Countreys For this the Scots are cried out upon as evil men by inconsiderate persons set on by Malignants notwithstanding the Treaty goe's on but to small purpose the Kings Commissioners feeling the pulse of the Parliaments Commissioners did promise unto themselves upon what ground they know best or at least should know that they could carry all things to their mind if it were not for the rude and
Enemy did hinder him to deal with the Scots being in his power according to the rigour of the Law of Arms On the other side their valour and kindnesse did prevaile little for thanks or recompense from those for whose Service they had undergone such hazard When the Framers of the new Modell cashiered the Scots Officers we have been speaking of they named four Generall Officers of the Scots to be kept in the new Army which some did for the good opinion they had of the worth and usefulnesse of those men for the Service Others did it lest the people should enquire why all the Scots at one time should be thus put out of Service whose faithfulnesse and forwardnesse was known being free of the guilt of the late miscarriage of things in the Fields Those few Officers although they were named to be kept in the new Modell they did conceive that they had tacitcly their Quienis est first by cashiering their Countrey-men who were known to be well deserving and faithfull men unto the Covenant which is the Rule of that we fight for and by naming them to inferior employments in this new Modell to what they had come to be prefered to by their own vertue Next by bringing in new men not acquainted with War in equall command with them and under them and some of these professed not to favour the Covenant unto which the Scots were resolved to stick to So they thought sit to take the course of their other Countrey-men and to lay down their Commissions for fear of further inconvenience namely if any mischance should fall out apprehending the blame should be cast upon them and then they could not expect true fellowship not obeying to Orders in the Service of those men who had another-mind then theirs which is expressed in the Covenant The disobedience thereafter of some in the new Modell to the expresse Ordinances of Parliament made this apprehension good Upon this there is a great cry given out against those few Scots who had abandonned the Service at such a time of need but never a word how that two hundred Scots had been put of the Service Here it may be asked Whether those few Scots were more in the wrong to the publike Service by laying down their Commissions serving still the same Cause with those who are constant to their principles with them then those who put off the Service at one time two hundred valiant and well deserving men I could have wished for my part that those few men had laid aside all consideration and apprehension howsoever just and continued in the Modell leaving the event of things to God Now it is said that God hath blessed the honesty and piety of some men extraordinarily in the new Army so that great things are done by it I acknowledge with a thankfull heart to God that he in his Mercy hath done great things of late by that Army but no thank to the honesty and piety of some men for I do not find piety more really in them to speak with modesty then in other men Howsoever their externall profession is let their carriage towards God and Man speak for them and not profession onely for profession oftentimes is a clock of knavery and faction Then howsoever God in his good Providence doth great things by weak and inconsiderable men yet I am certain it is the surest way to employ men of skill and of experience in any work we are going about and surely we cannot look for a good successe of any businesse whatsoever when we neglect to employ those whom God hath fitted with ability for the work if we can have such I know God is above all rule but this is the ordinary course both with God and among men the examples are so clear in all businesses among the Sons of men that it is idle to alleadge any onely I shall say that there is more of this choice of fit men to be remarked in the War then in any other thing among men as it hath been observed of old by judicious men Yet God in War more then in any thing else sheweth his over-ruling power and that he is above the ordinary course of things But to put God to shew here his over-ruling hand in a extraordinary way without need is a kinde of tempting of him for since he hath in his wise Dispensation ordained an ordinary course for doing of businesses to be used by men fitted by him for the work he promised tacitely his blessing thereunto providing alwayes that we rely more upon him then the second causes More in all this successe there was never more seen of God and lesse of men and those men who would make men beleeve that their honesty and piety shines above others have but small share in action for any thing I can yet hear A word more It was not without a mystery that so many gallant Officers of both Nations were cashiered under pretext of want of piety and honesty being free of any guilt of the former miscarriages and yet the ordinary Souldiers kept still in the Service whose piety is known to be lesse as men of little and small breeding and so of lesse knowledge of God and of themselves and consequently not so given to the practice of goodnesse and so abstract from evil having but small light they cannot do so well as others who have better breeding then they and upon mistake they may more easily be brought over to do what is amisse for themselves and for others yea for the publike Service of Church and State and so become a prey to abusers and deceivers Moreover there is a great stir about Carlile now in the hands of the Scots for the Service of the Parliament For the better understanding of things we shall take them at a further rise So long as these two Kingdoms were under two severall Princes Carlile and Berwick were two Garison-Towns upon the Frontiers but so soon as these Kingdoms did come unto one Princes hands those places were ordered to be forsaken and their fortifications rased and to be no more a partition-wall which was done accordingly and so they remained for many yeers till of late that is till the beginning of the first troubles of the Scots with the abused King who caused then repair those places in some kinde and put Garrisons in them Thereafter at the first pacification upon the Frontiers betwixt the King and the Scots those places were to be relinquished as they had been formerly By the Articles of agreement at the second pacification the same was confirmed and that by the Authority of this same Parliament now sitting gathered together continued and preserved by the help and aid of the Scots The King beginning his barbarous War against the Parliament makes Carlile sure which by degrees insensibly he furnisheth with a strong Garison Munition accordingly as a place fit for his purpose for vexing of the Scots upon occasion whom he did foresee
their own men in Carlile for a time is from the constitution of the present affaires in both Kingdoms for having found such knavery and wicked dealing by the chief men in the Northern Countreys they did not conceive it fit for the publike Service to put the place in the hands of those who already possessed with power by the unfaithfull Commissioners trusted by the Parliament with the ordering of things in those places do nothing but oppose the designe of the Parliament expressed in the Covenant and oppresse the people as is made known unto the Parliament by the Commissioners from those Countreys men of credit and worth who have done and suffered much for the Cause against the Common Enemy sent hither from many good people to complain against those wicked ones Enemies to God and to his people And when it shall be thought fit for the Common good of both Nations now so united it will with all cheerfulnesse be left by the Scots And to this the State of Scotland will willingly ingage it self by all the assurances can be require in reason The Common Enemy since he could not keep out Carlile in open War against the Parliament doth his next best to have it in the Malignants his Friends hands that at least indirectly he may do his work and since he failed of both those he striveth by his Emissaries and Agents to make it an Apple of discord betwixt the two united Nations but this will faile him also how cunningly soever he goe's about this designe for the Wisdom of both States is such that the mistake will be taken away shortly and that the State of England will see clearly the Scots in possessing themselves of Carlile and excluding those wicked ones above-mentioned have not onely done a good peece of Service to the publike and the Common Cause of both Kingdoms but also in particular to the well-affected people in those parts who are under the heavy pressure of those wicked ones and had been far more if they had more power whereunto the possession of Carlile were such an addition that it would make them double Tyrants and Brigants As the Common Enemy not onely by open War by Land but also by false undermining by his Agents and Instruments who partly are absolutely addicted to his wicked designe partly by interest of preferment and benefit although they care but little for his ends in the Field or in the Counsell in the City or in the Countrey do what they can with all care and forecasting to stop the publike Service by many and many wayes this is known too well to be so little regarded Even so by Sea he steereth the same course for not onely by open War he doeth oppose the publike Work now in hand in taking and destroying all that he can but likewise he useth indirect means by the help of his Instruments for the hinderance of the Service of the Common Cause now in hand Hence it is that the Parliaments Ships not so vigorously opposing the Enemy and not giving timely assistance to their Friends interessed in the Cause so many of the Enemy his Ships without resistance go up and down so freely and that there are so many Ships Barks c. both English and Scots taken by the Enemies Further the Coasts of Scotland are not so carefully garded and kept as they were promised to be by agreement which hath given and giveth still a great advantage to the Enemy and hath done a great hurt to the Friends who are employed in the Cause against the Enemy and in them to the Service of the Cause These things have given occasion of complaints to many men bemoaning their own condition and how that the good of the people and the Service of the Common Cause are no more and better looked to yea some in grief of heart after their great sufferings hardly taken notice of by those of whom they expect some redresse say that not onely there is a great neglect but in appearance there is some secret connivence by those who should follow this Service But to another businesse It is known to every one almost how that for many and many dayes and meetings there hath been a great deal ado in the Synod with some few factious and phantasticall head-strong ones men without love to the Peace of the Church of God for the Government of the Church by Parochiall Presbyteries subaltern to Classicall and Classicall subaltern to Synodicall which all being after so many debates with Patience Goodnesse and Charity towards those men demonstrated evidently to be according to the Word of God wherein it is grounded conform to the practice of the Church planted and governed by the Apostles and their successors for above two hundred yeers after Christ and conform likewise to the best Reformed Churches now adayes But at length the thing is concluded upon by the Synod and approved by the Houses of Parliament maugre all opposition made by the disturbers of the Peace of the Church in the Synod and of the sticklers for them anywhere else Yet those restlesse spirits will not be quiet for they give out that they will perform at last the thing they have been so much urged to and for so long a time to wit they will give unto the Publike the Modell of Government they would be at to which they will stand to But those who have a shrewd ghesse at those men and at their wayes assure us that as they will not tell what they absolutely and positively professe nor what they would be at they will never give a set Modell of Government unto the Publike whereunto they mind to stand For whatsoever they do in opposition of the Government above named they cannot agree among themselves unto any one thing for so many heads so many wayes dissonant one from another according to the nature of untruth and errour which is uncertain and not constant to it self Yea there be some who say That those men will not settle upon any thing at all except it be upon continuing in phrenaticall Fancies and those of the most exacter sort amongst them are named Seekers not of God or his Truth and of Peace but of themselves and of novelties at the best which ever hath and will be troublesome to the Peace of the Church Truely as those factious ones by rejecting all dependancy and subalternation of inferior Presbytereis to superior in Church-government have acquired unto themselves the Name of Independents so if you cast your eyes upon the courses of those mens seeking of preferment and benefit they may justly all be called Seekers For there was never a generation among men so nimble and so active about preferment and benefit as those men are The Jesuites are far short of them howsoever cryed up through the world for this for they run up and down with care and cunning to lay hold on power and moneys wherin they have come to good speed by their crafty insinuations
had run to the Enemy others astonished fled away and others sell their lives at the dearest rate they were able to do so with a few he had the better of a great number The Enemy had another rencount a while thereafter by the same way and with the like successe After which his courage and number increased so that the people began to apprehend and fear him Upon this the States send more men to help and think fit to employ an old Officer to command in Chief against those Rebels who seeing this preparation made against them retire to the hills and seeing the Army of the Countrey could not stay altogether in one place but must be divided into divers squadrons the Enemy from the hills upon intelligence given him by Malignants of the Countrey in the Army falls now and then upon Gentlemens houses Villages and Towns which he spoiles and makes a prey of and sometimes falls upon one quarter or other of the States Forces where although he found even honest men that fought most valiantly against him and killed many of his men yet by the treason of some Commanders or others for the most part he hath come off with advantage and now within these few dayes he hath had the greatest with a handfull of men He never to this day could make up at one time three thousand men when the Countreys forces were together neer twice thrice yea four times his number Although God be the Lord of Hosts and it is he that giveth wisdom and resolution for Victories yet since men have a hand in this businesse we cannot but enquire if the men employed in the work have done their part according to their trust and abilities wherewith God hath inabled them I know that it is ordinary with people who rise little higher then to men when there is any good successe obtained by any to adore him and when things go amisse to lay the fault upon man yea perhaps upon the same man whom they had a little before adored Yet here although I cannot say positively there hath been a continued treachery in the carriage of things by divers of the Officers namely by him that did command in Chief there be shrewd presumptions to guesse that there is a great deal of knavery as First The great complaints of the honest and true Commanders who being neerest could see best and judge best of fair play or foul Next The posture of the Countrey when this party entred into the Land Then The correspondence the Enemy hath with some of high note and employment in the Countrey with the favour and connivence of others Further By the open treason of those who have run unto him although employed against the Enemy yea there be who have run unto him in the Field when they should have fought against him More The assurance that the Malignants had of Victory long before it came at home in the Countrey here in England and beyond Sea To this exigence with the now unsuffering barbarous Enemy and of false brethren have honest men brought themselves to and the poor Countrey who had carried on their own businesse with such resolution and wisdom had kept under them the sons of Belial and children of falsehood and lyes that they durst not grumble but submit quietly for their kindnesse to their Neighbours among whom they have dispersed themselves for their Service and for overplus they are payed with ingratitude neglects yea calumnies and affronts for their pains by many of these people for whom they have drawn all this upon them and for whom daily they hazard and lose their lives when they might all this while have sat at home quietly but they hope that the same God who set them first about his Work for all this will inable them in mercy to be stedfast to his Cause for which they now so much suffer will at last free them from trouble and end the businesse to his own glory and the good of his people in despite of all malignancy and opposition whatsoever for when God hath chastised his own for a time he will throw the scourge in the fire and shew them his great power in redeeming them from the hand of the wicked upon whom the tempest of the Lord goe's forth and the whole wind that hangeth over shall light upon their heads yea the fierce wrath of the Lord shall not return untill he have done and performed the intent of his heart upon his Enemies and the Lord will say unto Israel Thou People who hast escaped the Sword hast found Grace in the Wildernesse and I will go before thee to cause thee to rest for I have loved thee with an everlasting Love wherefore with Mercy have I drawn thee and I will make a new Covenant with thee thou hast broken the old which I made with thee when I brought thee out of Egypt and this shall be the new Covenant I will make with thee I will put my Law in thine inward parts and write it in thine heart and thou shalt be my People and I will be thy God Let us therefore wait upon the Lord with patience who will not faile in his promise if we return unto him with true repentance for our sins and with a serious resolution to stick constantly close unto him with our whole heart There hath been of late a great blustering of some secret under-hand dealings with the Common Enemy by some few men without the knowledge of the publike of which I have thought fit to say these few words and to understand the thing more at length we shall call to mind bow that the King this last Winter sends hither his cajeoling Commissioners who according to their Order did cajeole the Scots and the Independents but how far they prevailed then with the Independents by their cajeolerie I cannot tell but I am sure they did not gain of the Scots the least point of any thing yea not of any expression or thought of businesse which could be in any kinde interpreted to have an ill meaning in it against the Churches and States advantage in the three Kingdoms as the Scots have made appear in their constant fair carriage in all businesse of Church State maugre envie namely in the last Treaty where they did shew really what honesty and faithfulnesse they had in their heart as I have said before The Treaty being ended without any agreement the Court after a time sends one hither for although he gives out that he stole away yet he came with the knowledge of the Court and things being tryed really it may happily be found that he came hither by Order expresse with instructions who is a great cajeolor to use the Courts own words that is in plain language a meer cheater who hath vowed to cozen by his lyes This cajeolure as the former two endeavours first to cajeole the Scots but finding he had a cold coale to blow he leaveth off the designe with them
and makes his addresses unto the Independents but how he hath sped with them it is not as yet fully known things not being manifested but some fidling businesses there have been betwixt him and them whether or no by the whole Cabale or by some few of the prime of the faction it is uncertain First That there was some under-hand-dealing by them the intercepted Letters of Digby unto Leg give a shrewd proof of it Next The Papers found since in the cajeolors friends closet under the cajeolors own hand When these things are tryed to the full we hope the light of all will appear which all honest men wish it may be done exactly and speedily And till then mens minds will not be satisfied and they will hardly refrain to speak of these things howsoever it be taken for they conceive not onely by the opennesse of the time they are free from the thraldom of the corrupt Court but also since they have interest in the businesse and have hazarded all what they have or had for the publike Service they may expresse their thoughts freely of occurrences so it be with discretion sparing mens persons till things be cleared And sincerely I think no innocent man can be angry at this if any in conscience finds himself guilty in any kinde that he will do well to suffer it patiently for fear he suffer more if things go exactly on to a triall The light that happily may be found out of this will not be and cannot be by a mathematicall or metaphysicall demonstration yet by so certain proofes as the nature of the thing can suffer or require for businesses of this nature take probable Arguments for demonstration as we are taught by the Doctors of of the Politicks I know some have suffered for their free expression of these things yet I am confident it had been greater wisdom under favour to let go free speeches rather then to examine them too neerly namely when they proceed without malice or scurrility from honest men who in their zeal perhaps now and then may exceed the exact terms of moderation and this I am perswaded hath been the constant practice of wise men grounded upon this if the discourse be groundlesse it fals of it self If there be any ground by stirring and ripping up speeches things will appear openly which otherwayes in a short time would have been buried in oblivion I forbear instances as in all my discourse keeping my self to generalls although I could have furnished divers examples upon every point I have touched for albeit it be said He that speaks in generall of all and to all speak of none and to none yet every one may make use of what is said in generall and apply it unto himself for the good of the publike and of himself which I wish every one that reads this discourse may do in all singlenesse of heart as it is set forth by him in sincerity who hath no other end in it besides the glory of God the good of Church and State and the true advantage of every honest man without any wrong-meaning but an earnest desire that every one who is right and honest in this Cause without by-respects may continue so till the end and that those who have gone a wrong way may return into the true to the glory of God the advancement of his Cause and of his people with their own praise and benefit Before I conclude I will say this in truth There was never a People in any age who by Gods blessing did carry on the work of Reformation with more wisdom and resolution and successe then the Scots did in their own Countrey and no more compassionate of their Neighbours in distresse nor more forward to help them by action and counsell and to carry on the work of Reformation amongst them then the Scots have been and are to this hour So there was never a People so harshly used in divers kindes by some of those for whose good they have been and are so earnest If this coarse usage went no further then their own persons means and reputation they could passe it with silence and not so much as think of it laying it aside in Christian charity and brotherly love although they suffer much in all these by it since they have joyned with their Neighbours to help them But since by the neglecting opposing and in a word ill-dealing with the Scots the Service and work they are about is wronged stopped and delayed which is mainly and namely to help the setting forward the Reformation of the Church of God as it is expressed in the Nationall Covenant they cannot but take it heavily to heart for the Name of Gods sake Surely those factions ones who have used and at this time use thus their Brethren who have ventured yea lost themselves in a manner with all what is dear unto men for their sake and to do them 2 double good that is to help them out of trouble and to settle 3 true and through Reformation amongst them have much to answer not onely for their malice unthankfulnesse and ingratitude to those who have spent themselves for them but also for their stopping and hindering so far as in them lieth the good work of God and by that means give occasion of the continuance of these miseries wherein we are all now involved and almost overwhelmed God forgive these men and turn them truely unto him if it be his will otherwise let them have no power to hinder his good Cause And thus good Reader I have thought fit to give a little touch of divers main passages of these our troublesome businesses leaving a fuller Discourse of things to another time and another place FINIS