might have undone the Kings Army and consequently invaded England if they had pleased and that with small opposition instead of doing wrong to any English they supplied the wants of those who were come against them with Victuals which then did abound in the Scots Army but was very short in the Kings having the flower of the Kings Army in their power I mean the party that went to Dunslaw they suffered it to return back in safety and used it with all civility notwithstanding these chosen ones had come against promise and without cause to destroy them and to invade the Countrey Thereafter the Peace being made the Scots according to the agreement went quietly home and laid down their Arms as was promised Then the Plot the abused King and his good Counsell had at Berwick to draw the Chief men of Scotland to him for to destroy them and the breach of the Parlement the burning in London of the Articles of agreement made at the borders and many other like things did not move the Scots to recede in any measure from their dutifull respects to the King nor from their love to the English Nation neither the imprisonment of their Commissioners against the Law of Nations and the safe-conduct granted unto them upon publike Faith nor the great Forces prepared against them by Sea and by Land nor the many lyes spred against them through all England nor the Prelatical excommunication so canonically spewed out against them in all the Churches and Chappels of England All these things I say did not make them give the least expression of disrespect to the King nor disaffection to the English Upon this the Scots published a Declaration anew unto the World whereby they made known unto all how hardly they were dealt with all for not onely the things stipulated with them were not kept to them but also more and greater wrongs than formerly were done to them Yea a second expedition of War undertaken to destroy them and to fill up all more lyes of no lesse importance than the conquering of England made and spred abroad of them with other thunderbolts of the Prelaticall censure shot against them Also they make known by this Declaration their Christian resolution and just enterprise with their good intentions in taking Arms again for their own defence and the Cause which they maintain And by it assureth their Brethren of England although they were resolved to come into their Countrey to seek out their Enemies who were there gathering against them and not to suffer these wicked ones to come unto them and so make their own Countrey the Seat of the unhappy War Yet they had not the least thought to do any hurt to any body in England except to their professed Enemies So far were they from having the least thought of making a conquest And that when they had brought their Enemies to reason they would go home in Peace All which was thereafter performed by the Scots to the full For first being entred into England and having rencountred one party of their Enemies and routed it when it was in their power to pursue the Victory they stayed at New-castle till things were agreed upon betwixt the King and them This incoming of the Scots gave occasion and liberty to divers of the Nobles of England of whom some since have betray'd the Cause of God of his people what by open Warfare and what by clandestine undermining to desire of the King a Parliament for the good of the Kingdom The King then durst not refuse their demand by reason of the Scots more then the continuance of it which he granted likewise therafter for the same Cause Then the King finding that the Parliament did not onely crosse but quite spoile his designes be plots with his Army which he had raised against the Scots to come and destroy the said Parliament and to take the spoile of London for their reward But the businesse being discovered faileth besides they durst not undertake howsoever they had promised for fear of the Scots who then were so neer The King continuing in his wonted courses after a little pause tryes the Scots if they will do the deed and offers unto them for recompense not onely the spoile of London but also the foure Counties next adjacent unto their Countrey to be adjoyned hereafter to it with Jewels of great value in pawn for performance if onely they would be engaged into the businesse All these great offers could not make the Scots willing to give their consent in any kinde to this wickednesse For they not onely rejected the Kings offers but also giveth notice of the Plot to the Parliament and to the City of London that they might make their best use of it So you may see how that the Scots under God are the cause of the Assembling of the Parliament of the continuance of it being assembled and of the preservation of it from totall destruction and ruine The King seeing that he was stopped by the Scots first in their own Countrey next in England to carry on his great designe takes the Irish Papists by the hand rather then be alwayes disappointed and they willingly undertake to levie Armes for his Service that is for the Romish Cause the Kings designe being subservient to the Romish Cause although he abused thinks otherwayes and beleeves that Rome serveth to his purpose But to begin the Work they must make sure all the Protestants and if they cannot otherwayes by Murthering and Massacring them for they knew them according to the Principles of Religion and State to be forward either for the Covenanters of Scotland or for the troublesome Parliament of England if not for both But the Irish neither would nor durst enter to any open Action so long as the Scots Army in England was afoot therefore by all means it must be sent home and cashiered and to facilitate the businesse the Court-Parasites Instruments of Iniquity with their Emissaries must raise and spread abroad jealousies of the Scots among the people of the Countrey and City namely in and about the Houses of Parliament who having not before their eyes the reall Honesty and Integrity of the Scots known by so many faithfull and loyall expressions and not keeping in their mind the many good offices done to them by the Scots giveth in sillinesse of mind ear and place to the crafty tales and apprehensions invented by the Agents of the Common Enemy to bring them to confusion and trouble So the Plot taketh by the silly ones and is set forward by the hid Malignan's Yea in a word it is managed with such addresse and successe that the Scots must go home and till they had done it there could be no quiet but increase of jealousies The Scots although they were not acquainted with the hight of mischief that was intended against the Church and State in these Dominions by the Common Enemy nor with the wayes of it yet albeit they thought it
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
King and Parliament and the whole Nation to be beholden for this unto a Neighbour-State or Prince then unto the Kings own Subjects not so good as others in many respects As this Discourse was invented and spewed up and down by Malignants so it was received by the simpler sort not knowing the interest of States lesse wherein the true Honour of Princes States and Nations consisteth Yet they might have considered that it is better to take up things quietly at home then to trouble the Neighbours with our affaires The Scots Commissioners after some Moneths abode at Court seeing they could do no good with the abused King desire him to dismisse them which he did put off from day to day till at last he was written to by the State of Scotland that if he sent not home in safety the Commissioners betwixt such and such a day they would hold it as an open breach of the Peace and that they would provide for businesses accordingly Upon this the Commissioners loden with fair but conditionall promises from the King who yet would not anger them of Love and Care of that his Native Kingdom so that they would be quiet for he could not stop his mouth to say unto them that if they would not stirre he could easily compasse his ends in England take their leave at Court and go home At their arrivall they find a number in the South-West of their Countrey of Papists and other Malignants men of broken for tunes risen to disturbe the Peace of the Kingdom by Order from the King notwithstanding his fair words which commotion was presently quashed through Gods Mercy by the diligence and forwardnesse of the good Gentry and Nobility in those parts who did rise like one man against these Sons of Belial As the Scots Commissioners retired home the Houses of Parliament of England were made acquainted how that their good intentions were frustrated themselves hardly used for a long time but at last with difficulty had gotten home Now the State of Scotland seeing the Common Enemy come to the hight that nothing will satisfie him but totall subversion of Church and State in these Dominions onely they perhaps might be kept for the last although in intention they had been the first jugeth it not enough for their interest in the Common Cause to keep an Army in Ireland but also to be upon their guard at home that they might stop any enterprise the Common Enemy should undertake against them to have any progresse in their Countrey if they did not altogether prevent it and to help their Brethren in England with their Sword since all other means so often tryed were disappointed by the malice of the Enemies And so much the rather were they moved to this that the Enemy was prevailing almost without let for by that time he was Master not onely of the Field but also of all the strong hold in the North except Hull alone with a numbrous and victorious Army of Horse and Foot domineering and spoiling every where likewise the West being almost altogether gone by the losse of Excester the defeat given to the Parliaments Forces at the Vyses and the base surrendring of Bristol Banbury c. the Enemy did think to carry all before him ready to enter into the Associated Counties yea to come to the Gates of London which they had done in all appearance without the let of that Noble and never enough praised exploit of the Earl of Essex of relieving of Glocester almost at the last extremity although valiantly defended by that brave Governour Massey in despite of the proude Enemy and thereafter in beating of him at Newbery While the Parliament was thus low many faint-harted yea Members of the two Houses ran away to the Enemy and others did withdraw studying to their eternall shame to make their Peace more plausibly with the Enemy and not to run over to him at discretion as others had done But when things are thus almost in despaire then it is thought fit time to have recourse to the Scots and to call them for help The Parliament to try if they could do the businesse themselves without troubling the Scots was wisdom for what need you call for aid and trouble your Neighbours when you can do the businesse alone but not to call for help till things be too low it is very dangerous say those who dive more deeply in affaires of this nature But the reason why the Scots were so long a calling in for help was not that the English were not willing to trouble their Brethren the Scots for why should they think of troubling the Scots since their Fathers had been so ready to help Scotland in its distresse then Generous hearts will as freely receive a courtesie as they do one otherwayes they were proud and self-conceited But the true cause say they who know the mysteries of the time first was that the Sectaries prevailing with the Rulers of affaires did so keep them from medling with the Scots whom they knew to be no lesse adversaries to Schismes and Sects then to Popery and Prelacy Next there were some who yet kept still a bit of a Bishop in their Belly although by both Houses declared to be not onely unusefull in Church and State but also enemies to both Howsoever these considerations must be laid aside for a time and in such extremity the Scots must be called to help yea some of those who are said to be the greatest sticklers for Sectaries must at last be employed in their calling in which was long of coming after it was resolved upon by the shifts of the Enemies of Church and State The Scots notwithstanding all that had been signified unto them concerning the favouring of Sectaries by the Parliament and of their retaining somewhat of the old leaven of Prelacy seeing that their help was altogether needfull to save the Church and State of England from ruine heartily received the call being already resolved beforehand upon the Point and undertaketh with a Christian and manly resolution to engage themselves in a seen danger and to undergo the hazard but for Christ and his people no hazard is to be regarded to help their afflicted Brethren Yet with this precaution that the Parliament should sincerly joyn with them in the setling of the Church as they were heartily willing to assist them against the Common Enemy This condition was granted unto the Scots by the Commissioners from the Parliament of England and to this end it was agreed upon at the desire of the Scots that there should be one Covenant and League made betwixt both Kingdoms and sworn to for the setling of the Church according to the Word of God and conform to the best Reformed Churches and by name to the Church of Scotland with the just Liberty of the people and against all opposition whatsoever But because the English Commissioners would not take upon them to draw up and to make the Covenant there in Scotland
they desired that there might be Commissioners sent from Scotland unto the Parliament of England for the drawing up of the said Covenant and so was done for the Scots Commissioners assisting the Covenant after divers debates was made and thereafter subsigned sworn first by the Houses Synode and the Scots Commissioners and then by the people and sent unto Scotland where it was received subsigned and sworn by the convention of States and then by the people with all in testimony of their true meaning the Houses of Parliament desireth the Commissioners of Scotland to assist in the Synode in their deliberations and conclusions concerning the Church The Covenant is no sooner taken but the King leaveth off to accuse the Parliament of continuing Schismes and Sects and thereafter tells us that he will have care of tender consciences and this to make faction and division as we have seen since While things were thus managing at London about the Covenant the English Commissioners in Scotland are agreed with the Scots concerning the Army they were to send into England the Articles of agreement being drawn up and consented to by both parties Commissions were given for twenty thousand men who with all the haste possible were gathered together and then immediatly set forth so in January they march when it was both great frost and snow and entering into England with small opposition come as far in as Tyne the Countrey much burdened before was either all wasted and utterly spoiled by the Enemy hearing the Scots coming with a great number of men great power so they could likely find nothing in that Countrey but what by strength of Arm they could pull out of the hands of the Enemy Thus did the Scots fight for a while with their Enemies to wit with a multitude of men well armed with evil weather in the most intemperate time of the year and with want of Victuals which was the worst of all and truely it had gone hard with them if it had not been for the provisions sent to them from home which came but by difficile and uncertain carriage by Sea by reason of the storms which fell out then Yet these resolute men were still gaining ground upon the Enemy in number of men as great as they at least and far exceeding them in Horse till at last they passed the River Tyne haveing so wearied and harrassed the Enemy with continuall skirmishs and onsets obliging him to lie without and keep so strait and constant guard and watch that in the end he was constrained to retire and give way to the constant for wardnesse of the Scots divers of his men leaving him for wearinesse and want others falling sick and numbers being killed at divers rencounters at one namely there was eight hundred of them slain at Bauden For all this while the Scots were thus fighting with these three Enemies above-named for the Common Cause expressed in the Covenant some men at London and that not of the meaner sort did not stick to whisper in the ear one to another that the Scots did not carry themselves neither as military men nor as men of courage this was the lesse regarded that it was made by those who against their will did give way to their calling in The Scots did so take up the Enemy in the North about New-castle and Duresme that Sir Thomas Fairfax assisted by Sir John Meldrum took the Field again having for a long time been confined to Hull and tries Fortune he begins at Selby which he manfully assaults and happily takes Then those who had not been well pleased at the coming in of the Scots did begin to say Now since Selby was taken in the Scots might retire they could do the work without them but this discourse did not take by many The Enemy hearing the news of this brave exploit fearing for York least Sir Thomas should carry it run as fast as they could towards that City The Scots as soon as they hear of the Enemies removall go after him on his heels taking some of his men and bagage and follow him unto the Gates of York Upon this My Lord Fairfax and Sir Thomas joyn with the Scots who send to the Earl of Manchester for his help to besiege York the Town being of such circuit that the Scots alone having left of their men in Sunderland and other places taken by them from the Enemy neer New-castle were not able to compasse it with such circumlineation as was needfull and keep the Fields so full of adversaries yea not with the help that My Lord Fairfax brought unto them Manchester joyns with the Scots There were some here that were against Manchesters going North-ward to the Scots not caring how much work the Scots had and how little successe A little hereafter to be short while the Forces of Manchester and Fairfax joined with the Scots are about the siege of York unanimously there is one who goe's from hence to sow some dissention betwixt the Generals Lesley Fairfax and Manchester which designe is disappointed by Gods Mercy then there is another set a foot by others to wit by the Sectaries which although it did not rise to a breach yet it did come to a distaste and dislike for the Sectaries under Manchester his command seeing that the way of the Scots was set absolutely against their intentions concerning the Church-businesses as mainly did appear by the pressing of Church-government by the Scots in the Synod and their oppositions of Sects think themselves that since they were come to some strength they must not rely so much upon the Scots now being able to stand upon their legs with their own Force and do somewhat to eclipse the Scots whom they had so far extolled formerly which while they were weak and in dislike with the people for the miscarriage of things say those who pretend to know the main passages of businesses now at the siege of York they begin to shew themselves who had been under a cloud and by some notable action think to make the world take notice of them so a party of them without order of their General enter in the Town of York thinking to carry all before them but not acquainting their friends of their designe they could not be seconded and so were repulsed with great lose and became wiser thereafter then to undertake any thing more in this kinde wherein they did shew that when they did think it time for them to do they would depend upon no order and so neglecting Military Discipline bring all to confusion This fault was excused for once by ignorance After some moneths siege the united Forces before York hearing of Prince Rupert his coming towards them send a party of both Nations into the Town of Manchester to secure the place and to busie the Enemy in his way towards them till they had advanced their work at York The Enemy taking no notice of that place and passing through with his daily increasing Army
their Armies compleat to their mind of their own men So the Scots were employed in chief and prime places of command on both sides hence divers men indifferent not as yet engaged by affection to either party conceiving that neither party could have known how to manage or go on with the War without the Scots Commanders wished them many miles beyond Sâ—n To the King went and took Service of him not onely divers who had been Malignants from the first beginning but also some superficiall Covenanters who not diving in businesses did make small scrupule to serve the King in this War it not being against the Letter of their Covenant as they conceived for the King protesting from day to day that he would stand firm to the true Religion and maintain it his intention in taking up Arms being onely to represse some factinus persons who had affronted him and the Parliament not then making it so clear to every one by their expressions that the main quarell the adversary had was the subversion of Religion made some not to discern things so clearly as otherwayes they had done if things had been more plainly set down To the Service of Parliament come divers in good affection being perswaded that the quarrell of England was one and the same with that in Scotland howsoever by the cunning of the adversary disguised and although not then so cleared by the Parliament as was need The Enemy seeing that sundry Scots Officers and Commanders were undertaking Service under the Parliament by his Emissaries up and down doeth what he can to draw them on his side or at least to make them keep off from serving the Parliament In this he did prevaile with some who will have their just reward in due time Then after the War began and some Fieldactions being done the Enemy perceiving how that divers Scots Officers had carried themselves gallantly in the Service of the Parliament returns again to his former courses and deales by his Instruments and Agents here to corrupt and debauche those men of Command upon whom the eyes of many were the Agents of the Enemy go craftily to work to compasse their ends upon those men for first by cunning insinuations they enter in privacy with them Next they make them fair promises with specious words of the Kings good intentions towards the publike good of both Church and State and of the esteem he had of their worth and deserts Then those good Agents for the Enemy under-hand cause give distaste to the Scots Officers by neglecting of them and otherwayes yea by some Boutefeux there were of them quarelled in Westminster-Hall with reproch that they took the Meat out of the English months who could manage and pursue the War as well atleast as they If this quarell had not been timely taken up by the Wisdom of the Parliament it had grown to a great hight according to the designe and desire of the Enemy This crafty dealing of the adversary by his Agents did prevaile so far that some of the Scots Officers not so touched with the interest of the good Cause as they ought to have been nor as they outwardly professed left off the Service of the Parliament for a time upon I know not what foolish excuse and thereafter upon a change fell to the Work again Next there were others so far perswaded as to lay down their Commissions and go to the Enemy and serve him for a while and thereafter leaving him returned hither again The Scots Officers with the Enemy were in high esteem and in good respect among those they did serve till the State of Scotland joyned with the Parliament of England in action for the Common Cause from thence by little and little the Scots with the Enemy became so to be neglected and ill thought of that there were many of them constrained to go away and others have been taken and killed by this side so that for the present there be very few at least of any note with the Enemy On this side likewise the Scots Officers notwithstanding the State of Scotland was now interessed and joyned with the Parliament by degrees came to be littler regarded neglected and divers of them laid aside after that sundry of them had lost their lives fighting valiantly for the Cause others had loosed their blood and others suffered imprisonment at last the Moulders of the new Modell cashier at one dash above two hundred of them brave fellows who constantly had carried themselves with honesty and gallantry without giving them any satisfaction or at least very little for what is justly due unto them and had cost some of them very dear The reason given out against them was That it was to be feared they would not be so earnest and so forward as was required in this new frame Then those cashiered Scots Commanders having danced attendance a long time to small purpose in pursuance of their just demands constant to their grounds although they were thus harshly used they would not abandon the Service of the Common Cause so they resolve to go to the Forces of their Countrey-men and serve with them in the same Cause and sends some of them accompanied with a number of good fellows before towards the Scots Army till the rest were ready Those Scots who went away first towards their Countrey-men being upon their journey they chanced to be at and neer Leicester when the Enemy made his approches to that place The Scots in meer kindnesse and love to those who were engaged with them in the Common Cause without any Commission from the Parliament or from the Scots Generall stay and help their Friends and how manfully their carriage was in the assistance of their Brethren is so known that it will never be forgotten when there is any mention of Leicester-businesse In generall I will say this of them That if they had been seconded the Town of Leicester had not been taken by the Enemy but having expected assistance from those whom they came to help after divers had prodagalized their blood and that some were killed with the losse of their Liberty and of all they had they were constrained to yeeld to force not without being admired by the vainquors for their valour Thereafter those that were taken prisoners finding their opportunity lays hold on it at the first and they carry the businesse so that they not onely gaine their own freedom but make themselves Masters of those in whose hands they were If those things had been done by some other men all the Pamphlets about the City of London should have been full of them In this businesse albeit the Scots did expresse their kindnesse really to their Friends and made known their valour to all Yet here I must tell you they did not shew their prudence for if the Enemy had known them to have no Commission as they had none by Law of Arms he had given them no quarter On the one side the ignorance of the
would not side with him in this wicked designe if they were not opposite unto him and for receiving his Irish Rebels to do mischief to both Kingdoms as they pleased if they were not stopped And so since then he hath kept it till within these few dayes and it hath served for a seat and a passage for troubling both Kingdoms The Houses of Parliament on the other side a little latter possesse themselves of Berwick which the King did not regard so much as not so considerable for his purpose and also it was too much in the eyes of men to be seised upon by him at the first beginning When the Scots come into England at this time to help their Brethren who had been so kinde unto them in their troubles and whose Fathers had assisted their Fathers in the Cause of Reformation and Liberty by agreement betwixt the Parliament and them they had Berwick delivered up unto them for facilitating their entrie and advancing the Service they engaged themselves in and if Carlile had been in the power of the Parliament then it had been delivered unto the Scots without any more ado as freely as Berwick was for the very same reason Yea more if it had been required then it had been promised unto the Scots I do not mean of necessity but of meer consideration to the publike Cause Now the Northern Countrey of England through Gods Mercy being pretty well cleared by the help of the Scots of the open professed and declared Common Enemy it is thought fit first to block up and then to besiege Carlile The Scots undertake the businesse and to this purpose sent of their Army thither a party of both Horse and Foot under the command of a Generall Officer and he hath some Forces of the Countrey to assist and help him in the performance of the Service which the Scots did not so hardly presse as to storm the Town for sparing of blood which they are loth to shed if the businesse can be carried on otherwayes witnesse New-castle where they shunned to shed blood and being constrained to it they did shed as little as ever hath been seen upon such an occasion so they resolve to take the Town by want of necessary provisions Those of the Countrey who were joynt with the Scots in the Service were so far from helping them that by the treachery of their Leaders they did what they could not onely to hinder the businesse but also to wrong the Scots in what was in their power for when they were ordered to keep their own quarters strictly and suffer nothing to go unto the Enemy and if he fallied out of the Town to fall upon him they were so far from performing their Order that when it was in their power to hurt the Enemy they shot powder without bullets at him and privately they suffered provision to be carried unto him through their quarters yea by secret combination they agreed with the Enemy that if he would salley out and fall upon the Scots quarters they should yeeld no help unto them although they were joynt with them in the Service Which proceedings of the North Countrey-men by the knavery of their Commanders whereof the chief lately had been in open Rebellion against the Parliament under the Earl of New-castle being made known unto the Scots they had a neerer eye to their actions and oblige them thereafter to play fairer play Those false and deceitfull Leaders seeing themselves disappointed of their former intents by the care of the Scots go another way to work and perceiving by the vigilance of the Scots that the Town receiving no help from without must render it self underhand and not acquainting the Scots enter in a private Treaty with the Enemy and offer him great conditions This being also discovered by the Scots caused them summon the Town and offer to it reasonable conditions which the Enemy did accept although they were not so advantagous for him in all points as those offered by the others The reason why the Enemy did accept the Scots conditions and not the others was first He could not trust to any condition from those who were so wicked that they were not trusty to the party they professed themselves to be of and to their associates Next The Enemy seeing the chief man among those double ones to be but an inferior Officer and one who never had seen greater War then the plundering and spoiling of his own Countrey under the Earl of New castle with whom he had been a Lievtenant-Colonel at the most and now at this time prefered for some ends to be a Colonell Then there was no Committee there who could authorize him to capitulate or make good his capitulation where the Scots were for by agreement betwixt the Scots and the Parliament things of consequence in the War wherein the Scots had a hand were to be ordered by the Committee of both Kingdoms upon the place or with the Scots Army and that not being as there was none then by the Scots Generall his Order and so he ordained according to the first agreement Lievtenant Generall David Lesley to take in the Town upon such conditions as he should think fit for the good of the publike Service and put a Garison in it Those who came out of the Town were conducted unto Worcester who were but six score when they arrived thither the rest being fallen away in their march either upon consideration of the publike or of their own private interest Thus Carlile is put in obedience of the Parliament for the publike Service according to the first agreement And if the Scots had not followed the businesse in all appearance it either had still remained in the hands of open Enemies or at least had fallen in the hands of those Malignants who neither have respect to the credit of the Parliament nor regard to the good of the people for they dishonour the one and waste the other All the while that the Siege was before Carlile there was not onely a neglect but such a malice against the Scots who were at it that they had starved for want if the Scots Army had not sent a good part of the moneys that they had for their marching and taking the Field Thus is the publike served by the Countrey-Committees abusing the Authority they have from the Parliament After all this the Scots are cryed out upon by Malignants yea they write to the Houses against them as Enemies to the publike good to the Parliament and to the people of England notwithstanding that since the very first beginning of those troubles they have carried themselves faithfully honestly and kindly towards England in despite of all Enemies and particularly towards the Parliament who were the cause of assembling it continuing it and preserving it first from the great Plot made against next by actively upholding it when it was very low as it was at their in-coming The reason why the Scots have put a Garison of
King of Danemark would fain have had his hand in the businesse but he hath found other things to do Yet after all this since we constantly pray for our King both in publike and in private if it were Gods will to reclaim him unto himself and then that we might have godly sober and quiet life under him I see no reason why we should not try upon all occasion to regain him leaving the event and successe to God as the favourable hearing of our prayers for the King to God his sacred will which not being declared unto us upon the point we demand it upon the condition of his good will and pleasure and not absolutely as the salvation of our souls concerning which he hath manifested his will in his word unto us Now in this place and at this time I know it will be expected to have somewhat said of the present condition of Scotland So to discharge this duty in some measure I give you this Discourse in few words and as neer the truth as I can being at such a distance not having so full intelligence which I pray you to take thus The Common Enemy seeing himself disappointed of effectuating to his mind his wicked designe by his enterprises of War and his failing Plots in Scotland then the Scots refusing in England to serve him in this designe as thereafter their helping the Protestants in Ireland and last of all their aiding England when they were very low against his bloody Agents finds if it had not been for the Scots he had not had such rubs and obstacles and so had gone more freely on with his work Wherefore since the Scots were the onely in a kinde hinderers of his compassing of his designe he thinks how to be revenged of them and to make them leave off this active opposing of him and his designe After many things proposed and tryed to small purpose at last it is resolved by the Court to send home the Malignant Lords to see what they can do whom according to orders go home submit to the State and take the Covenant Divers other Malignants who had been lurking in and about the Countrey do the same and so they make all their peace More there were other double minded Lords who hitherto had carried themselves so warily albeit they were known to be disaffected yet the Laws of the Land could not lay hold on them receiving a favourable interpretation by the help of their kinred Friends and Allies At this time a good part of the best affected men were employed abroad either in England or in Ireland what in action in the Field and what in Counsell and the military men who had been most stirring in their own last troubles were employed in either of these two places and some were gone to France to serve that King in his Wars The Countrey being thus emptied of men of Counsell and of businesse as also of men of War the Agents for the Common Enemy bethink themselves that they have fair occasion to do somewhat for the designe they in their heart affect and follow but to go more smoothly to work they must be employed in the service of the Countrey which being emptied as is said of honest and able men did admit them and was in a manner of necessity constrained to make use of them in the Counsell of State and in divers others Assemblies and in all Committees almost This point being gained resolution is taken to make a party of some stirring men to go into Scotland and the West Islands are designed to be the only fit place the chance being tryed so often before to no purpose because they were negligently kept the Lords and chief men of those parts being in England with divers of the prime men of the Countrey they pitch upon an Alexander Macdoneld nicnamed Kilkitterch that is to say Little theef an Epithet fit for a man who lives on spoile and prey This man as an outlaw had left Scotland and gone over to Ireland where he joyned with the Rebels and fought for them against the Protestants for a time and after some dislike he leaves them and joyns with the Scots and bringeth some few hundereds of such men as himself with him The Generall receives him and he serves the Scots against the Rebels for a while he tells the Generall that he had a great mind to have pardon for his former errors and make his peace with his native Countrey the Generall undertakes it but finds not the thing so easie to be done and so soon as he expected by reason as is given out of the naughtinesse of the man others say more truely there was a particular spleen that stopped it At this Macdoneld frets and goe's back again to the Irish Rebels who received him kindly partly by reason of his activity partly in regard of his new kinred with the Earl of Antrim To be short resolution being taken to send over into Scotland and that into the Isles choice is made of him who having chosen out from among the Rebels some few hundreds of desperate fellows what native Irish what Scots habituated in Ireland what Islanders and highlanders of his own humour and Friends goe's for Scotland and lands in the West among the Isles and hills where he finds but little if any opposition At his thus arrivall without any rub divers of his old acquaintance and outlawes with him repair unto him so he increaseth his number at the first the businesse was laught at But seeing the number did increase by those men it is thought fit to look after them He that had most interest was in England for the time who upon the news goe's home and takes Commission with divers other Noble Gentlemen to pursue the Enemy but the pursuit was with such slacknesse that the Enemy gains daily ground and his number increaseth By this time Montrosse who had secret correspondence with Macdoneld upon advice goe's privatly from the North of England where he had bestirred himself as in the South of Scotland but he had been repulsed by the English and Scots forces in those parts with few men incognito and joyns with Macdonald The two being joyned Montrosse declares himself Generall of the party and sheweth his Commission with many fair pretences to stand for the Covenant and to continue the Government of the Church as it is now setled and also to ease the people of the burthens laid upon them by some factious men This he promiseth assisted with Papists Atheists forsworn men and outlaws which he performeth much at the rate of him who set him a work spoiling burning and slaying men women and children in a word using all kinde of barbarous dealing where he could be Master yea divers were not spared upon their beds Then those Nobles and Gentlemen who had Commission from the States of Scotland go against the despicable Enemy and the first rencounter was about the bridge of Jerne where some betraying the Commission they
present in the Houses at the reading of your papers are carried of their attention unto you by divers distractions and so receive but small knowledge by them Far lesse can the Houses take leasure to publish your affaires unto the world yea I know not if in rigour they are tyed to do it Although I confesse it would be a good turn for the publike and a brotherly office if they would take the pains to do or cause do it howsoever I am sure the Houses are not so obliged to this duty as your selves are neither although they were can they do it so fully as you not being so particularly acquainted with things In a word in duty you ought to make known unto the publike your own proceedings and these of your Countrey-men employed in the service of the Common Cause that it may be made manifest what good you have done alone either by counsell in the Houses or by action in the Field what you have been assistants in and what you ever have been willing to do and are still minded to do providing you be not stopped and if you have been stopped let it be declared where the fault lieth and not you bear the burden of other mens mistakes and errors Next is it not fit that it be published what you have done for such vast summes of money raised upon the publike for your use as is given out and how much you have received of it that if you have received all you may make known what you have done for all and if you have received more then your due you are in conscience and honour to do the publike the service you are pay'd for beforehand as likewise if you have not received all which is raised for you that it may be known how much of it is wanting and enquiry may be made what is become of the rest and so if you make it appear unto the world that there is much still due unto you of your pay far above what you have received then all honest people being truely informed of things will approve your faithfull and fair carriage acknowledge your love and kindnesse thank God for your help and assistance at such an exigence and be heartily civill unto you till God enable them to recompence you for your faithfull pains according to your just deserts and their earnest desires and so things will redound to your credit and advantage You may know and feel all this what I have been saying unto you to be true according to sense and reason by one seule instance to lay aside all others at this time And it is this of the papers you gave into the Houses about the latter end of May last upon occasion of high murmurings against you in and about the Houses by information of Malignants which gave abundant satisfaction to so many of both Houses as either heard it them read as is well known or read them themselves with attention But others of the Houses who are not acquainted with your papers partly not hearing them although present when perhaps they are delivered in by reason of their other thoughts partly being absent at that time remained still ignorant of your affaires and possessed with calumnies against you Far more the rest of the Kingdom After some dayes one Copy of these your papers having fallen by chance in the hands of a well-wisher to the Cause and no enemy of yours was published under the name of the Scots Manifest without your knowledge which hath done more despite to the Enemies of the Truth than any thing you have done this long time and more right unto you then you looked for yea nor your silence deserved yet not so much as is needfull for you and your friends for it did stop the mouths of the wicked calumniators and inform many well-meaning men and divers Members of the Houses there were who had not heard of such a thing before it was printed to say nothing of the generality of the people every where Yea I am told it went beyond Sea and there stopped the mouths of Malignants and gained those who were indifferent and confirmed your friends But what you will say Must the hid things or Mysteries of State be divulged No I do not mean it nor do I say it For I leave the Mysteries of State to the Mystes thereof Onely my simple meaning and honest desire is that these things which are not and ought to be made known to all be not kept in a mist by a mysterious prudency but communicated to the publike such are the things de facto and of reason wherein all are concerned and these are the things I spake of Besides you must think there be many men not particularly employed in the publike Service who have both hearts and brains to serve the Common Cause but cannot do it while all is thus kept in a cloud as in the Romish Church where the Mystes think all men idiots but themselves and keep from the people the things of God Then you will say to tell plainly and openly The Truth perhaps will not be pleasing to all yea perchance not to some of our fellow-Labourers My advice is not that you say or write any thing in intention to displease the least of men far lesse to displease these your Fellow-Labourers But let Truth be said above all things when the publike requires it for its service and we our selves are bound upon our own credit to do it Be angry who will God keep me from neglect and contempt for lying or suppressing the Truth I fear not anger for any publishing of Truth He that is not bold to publish the Truth for timorousnesse belyeth his own knowledge and I dare say betrayeth the Truth You that are trusted with the carriage of things in Truth and for the Truth are not onely bound to make known the truth of what you do and say to the world as it hath been said but further you are obliged in conscience and the publike expects it of you that you presse home the Truth with vigour resolution in all freedom down-right in all places and at all occasions where you meet for consultation deliberation debate and conclusion of things concerning Church or State in Politike and Ecclesiastike Assemblies and in so doing you will gain the price having all honest men to stand to you and will put such a terrour in Malignants that their malice will be much abated Surely I am perswaded had you been stouter in the Synode these strong heads and factious few ones who hitherto have troubled the setling of Church-affaires and are likely to trouble the State if it be not well looked to and neerly had long ere now been quashed and so if you had not been so meal-mouthed with the sollicisme in reason of the time and place I humbly conceive you had not met with so many rubs in your publike meetings nor had your wholsome counsels found such opposition nor your men of war
which God in his Jugements hath suffered him to thrust in the bowels of so many thousands of his people here so unnaturally and barbarously not onely afar off by not stopping it by connivence or by Commission to his Agents and Instruments as in Ireland and Scotland but being present in Person and taking pleasure in doing of it in his own sight and seeing of it done In this place I do affirm that there hath been more Christian Blood shed in these latter yeers under the end of K. James and K. Charles Raigns by their Commissions Approbations connivences and not-forbidding what at home and what abroad all which upon the matter they might have stopped if it had been their pleasure then were in the time of the ten Roman Persecutions God turn the Kings heart towards him first otherwayes he will never turn it toward his people The Scots as we were saying send to him to desire him to leave off the designe of embroiling himself and the people in a Civill War in this Kingdom of England withall to offer him their dutifull Service of Mediation and Intercession for the taking away of all mistakes and smoothing of things in a fair way betwixt him and the Parliament The misled King resolved to go on in evil courses not onely neglects the respective and hearty offer of the Scots but sends them home not suffering them to come unto the Parliament according to their order and desire which was to trye all fair means for the hindering of a War in England and to stop the Massacres in Ireland The King having thus dismissed the Scots goe's to his Work which having overcome some rubs at the first he carrieth on apace for having gathered together considerable Forces at Shrewsbury from thence with his Army he marches towards London notwithstanding the Parliaments-Army lay as it were in his way who met with him at Edge-hill and contrary to his expectation fights with him He after the Battel having recollected the remnant of his men although he had had the worse continues his designe for London and drew very neer unto it but being by strong hand constrained to retire he goeth to Oxford where he hath kept his Court constantly ever since till this day The Scots seeing the commotions increasing in England and considering the chief Instruments of those evils could not in conscience and honesty sit quiet any longer and neither say nor do while the State and Church of their Brethren in England were thus in so great troubles send first a Commissioner from their Church unto the Parliament to desire them that as God in his good Providence had furnished them just occasion to cast out the Prelats from among them not onely as unusefull Members of their Assembly but also as Enemies to all their just proceedings for the good of Church and State so they would be pleased to thrust out these Tyrants and belly-gods from the Church as main Instruments of all the disturbances troubles and miseries which are come and of more in all appearance yet coming if God in his mercy prevent them not The Commissioner after some debate having obtained his demand returneth homeward and taking his way by the Court then about Shrewsbury made known to the King how he had sped in his errand wherewith he had acquainted him before as he was going to the Parliam And he desireth the King to give his consent unto the casting of the Prelats out of the Church as he had done to the putting them out of the Assembly of Parliament To which the King did reply little or nothing but he told the Commissioner that he and they who sent him were hugely mistaken if they did think that the Houses of Parliament doth intend any setled Reformation namely as in Scotland for said he you see how they do not represse the Schismes and Sects of all kinds which abound in and about London yea these evils are countenanced by some under-hand Would to God that the Commissioner had had as just reason then to answer unto the King that he had been misinformed and that an untruth had been told him concerning Sectaries as he hath been mistaken in the intention of both Houses of Parliament for the setleing Religion according to the best way as it expressed in the Nationall Covenant Then after that things by degrees had come to a great hight betwixt King and Parliament much blood being shed not onely in skirmishes and rencounters but also in pitched Battel to wit at Edge hill The Scots not being able to forbear any further to try once more by fair means if it were possible to stop the course of those miseries too far already gone on send word to the King then at Oxford and to the Parliament of their good intentions and demand a passe and safe-conduct from both for Commissioners from them to go unto both and return home as also to go to and fro betwixt them as cause should require Of the Parliament they had easily what they demanded with thanks for their good will But the King not liking their offer was loth to grant a passe yet being put to it he could not fairly deny and so at length after some reluctancy he sends a passe as was desired and safe-conduct to the Scots which being received they send their Commissioners straight to the King unto whom they remonstrate home how that he had by bad Counsell cast himself in a Labyrinth of Evil and the people of his Dominions which doubtlesse would bring both him and them to utter ruine if not timely stopped in Gods Mercy by his Wisdom and good Counsell The Commissioners instead of any positive answer receive nothing but doubs ambiguities delays and shifts whereof nothing could be made but that the misled King was resolved to his own and his peoples ruine After a time the Scots Commissioners told the King that according to their Order and Instructions they intended to go unto the Parliament which they hoped he would think well of and approve But the King notwithstanding the passe and safe-conduct he had granted them to that purpose would not suffer them to go unto the Parliament yea they were not permitted to speak with the Commissioners from the Parliament who were then sent thither to the Court to treat when they were there Such was the adversenesse of the Court to Peace notwithstanding all the Kings Protestations Further the Scots Commissioners were so hardly used by the Court namely by the Prelaticall crew that they could not in safety go openly and freely abroad This is not all At that time the Rulers of the Court send abroad their Agents to tell every where namely in and about London what indignity the Scots did offer first unto the King then unto the Parliament and to the whole English Nation by taking upon them being but Subjects to examine the disterences betwixt the King and Parliament to compose them and to make a Peace it being more honourable both for the
goeth on as he was approching the united Forces send Scouts to know his march and his strength upon whose relation they leave the siege and go to meet and fight him thinking if they had dispatched his Forces they would have lesse add in the work they had stook so long to Upon misinformation they take the wrong way to meet the Enemy so he had upon this mistake free accesse to the Town The united Forces seeing their mischance turn their course to stop the Enemies further coming South-ward he puft up with the successe of gaining free accesse to the Town resolves to follow the united Forces and fight them promising unto himself that his good Fortune would continue and if he had given a blow to their Forces he would easily put an end to the designe in hand for the Scots being once routed the main let and hinderance to the proceedings of the Court would much diminush the Reputation of the Parliaments party On the other side the united Forces perceiving the Enemies mind turn head towards him fight with him with Gods blessing and rout him but not without losse for notwithstanding all the care taken by the old and experimented Chief Commanders first to put all in as good order as time and place could permit and to keep things in order in time of Battel the new raised Horses of York-shire neglecting the command and example of their Noble and Gallant Leader who in this occasion as in all other carried himself valorously fall in disorder themselves and turning towards these of their own side that were to second them put many in such confusion that they would take no notice of any Commander or Leader yea they carrie some away with them by violence In this Battel divers gallant men of both Nations had an honourable share of the Victory but none I hear of without disparagement to any did appear so much in action that day with gallantry as David Lesley Here the Sectaries to indear themselves to the people attribute unto themselves the honour of the day and stick not to call their Champion The Savour of the three Kingdoms when God knows he that they extoll so much did not appear at all in the heat of the businesse having received at the first a little scar kept off till the worst was past After the Victory and the Town of York taken in the Generalls write to the Houses of Parliament to give thanks to God and in token of their thankfulnesse to setle the businesse of the Church and trye once more if it were possible to reconcile differences with the King in a peaceable way Things being setled at York by common consent the Scots go to New-castle to besiege it as the fittest service they could do for the publike then neer the place they joyn with the Earl Calender his Forces who had come from Scotland to represse the raging Enemy about New-castle while Lesley was at York with his Army the Scots drawing neer New-castle Calender and David Lesley with six men more went to view the place from which there issued two Troops of Horse which the eight men routed having charged twice through them The Scots for a long time endeavoured to take in the Town by fair means but at last through the obstinacy of those who were within they were constrained to storm it and so carried it Those very men who at the Battell neer York were put in disorder and fled with others gave the assault and took New-castle Thus the Scots being Masters of the Town wrong no man woman nor child takes a mediocre composition for the spoile in a word they carry themselves with such moderation that the Enemies who had been in Arms against them were constrained to speak well of them Few dayes after the taking of New-castle the Castle of Tinmouth is taken by the Scots The Winter by this time beginning after so hard employment of the last Winter and so toyling a Somerwork as the siege of York and the Battell besides divers skirmishes and rencounters with the Enemy then the long siege of New-castle and at last the storming of it they resolve to put their men in Garrisons During the siege of New-castle many calumnies was raised against the Scots and spewed abroad by Malignants and received here by the simpler sort As the taking of New-castle was the most important peece of service of that kinde that could be done to the Kingdom of England namely to the City of London so it did rejoyce all honest men but on the other side the Malignants of all kindes were sorry at the doing of it but more sorry that it was done by those who are so constantly opposite to their courses The Scots are not sooner peaceable Masters of New-castle but the trade is renewed again betwixt it and London to the comfort of the poor of London who were starving for want of fire and to the benefit of the richer sort The Coales above and under ground were rated disposed on in equity to the best use of the publike not wronging the particular according to the advice and by the Order of the Committee of both Kingdoms then residing in the North as the Commissioners appointed by the Parliament can be witnesses to whose consciences I appeale if all this be not true And the English prifoners taken by the Scots have been disposed on according to the will of the Houses of Parliament as soon as it was possible to be done by Military Order Now the Scots after the taking of New-castle although they were free of the open opposition of the Common Enemy for a time yet they were molested vexed crossed and traduced by the Malignants Agents to the Enemy in the Northern parts besides those in and about London Here you must know that those of the Northern Countreys of England have been constantly given to superstition as men neglected in their instruction or of purpose detained in ignorance by the Prelats fore-castingby that means to make them the furer for their designe And so the King himself at two severall times did find them ready for his designe The Earl of New-castle thereafter did find them likewise ready to follow him So what by breeding and what by latter yeers custome they are for the most part in that Country Malignants Next the heavy pressures of Souldiers for so many yeers with the barrennesse of the soile the Seots now coming upon them made them clamotous things not going according to their mind For first not liking the Cause next being already so spent they were very sensible of the least thing could be demanded of them joint the malice of some of the chief men in the Countrey made the people murmure at first them rise up in Arms but blessed be God the insurrection was soon calmed Further those who are employed by the Parliament to manage the affaires of these Countreys have put all the power in the hands of these who are wicked Malignants being either professed
Recusants Sectaries of divers sorts or at the best Prelatiques sticking to the old Service-Book yea some of those who have been in actuall Rebellion against the State under the Earl of New-castle who are of the Committees of these Countreys now having the power in their hands spoile the Countrey and oppresse good men laying the blame of all upon the Scots as hath been of late represented unto the House of Commons by men without exception deputed hither from these Countreys in the name of many good men to acquaint the Houses with the state of businesses there The Malignants of the North Countreys carrie their businesses so that they find Favourers and Agents to excuse them and to further their evil courses Let this what I say here be throughly sifted out it will be found too true to the prejudice of the good Cause God help us and amend us for what can we expect when lyers and other wicked men find this favour and patronage The Winter declining the Scots dispose themselves for the Field-Service so soon as the provisions demanded in a very moderate proportion could be had from hence which went but late to them by reason there was a time spent for obtaining the Ordinance from the Parliament next a time for making ready thirdly a time of sending of things In the interim the Scots although busied in keeping the ill-affected of the Countrey in obedience to the State sends parties now and then upon occasion as the publike Service required for example to Sir William Brerâ—ton and to Scarbor ough c. at last the Rendivous is assigned to the Army the 15 of Aprill to this effect they require the Committee of that Countrey to provide draughts against the day aforesaid but they could not have any in readinesse till the first day of May at what time they marched to Rippon with intention to come straight South-ward according to the direction of the Committee of both Kingdoms if they could have some few dayes provision upon all hazards and draughts But notwithstanding all their care and pains they could obtain nothing but delays and incertainties with promises onely of provision from night to night If the Scots had had their reasonable demands for provisions and draughts they had been neer the Enemy before he had done the evil he did at Leicester and elsewhere While the Scots were at Rippon it was resolved that David Lesley should go into Lancaster-shire with a party and he was to have a thousand York-shire Horses to assist but what performance there was of this God knows for he had not the third of armed men although a thousand was promised By this time the Scots are advertised that the Enemy was with a flying Army to passe through Lancaster-shire to Carlile and from thence into Scotland upon which advice resolution is taken by the consent of the Committee that the Scots should go into Lancaster-shire and stop the Enemies passage Northward After a serious enquiry made the onely way for them to go is by all means through Westmer land From Rippon notwithstanding the roughnesse and difficulties of the Countrey in foure dayes they are upon the borders of Lancaster-shire with their whole Army whither being arrived they have intelligence of the Enemies turning back again South-ward immediately they desire some small provisions for their Souldiers and draughts at the Committee of Westmerland and Cumberland but they found them very slow and unwilling Likewise the Scots being so neer they desired that their Forces before Carlile should be supplyed so far with Victuals as to keep them from starving wherein they were the more earnest that they saw how slackly those who were with their Forces followed the businesse Doubtlesse if they had left then Carlile the Enemy had been supplyed and had kept it to this day which in all appearance was the desire of these Committees After the Scots had ordained things the best they could concerning Carlile they march South-ward in all haste beyond ordinary for some dayes they marched above twenty miles but after they were constrained to stay in some places one two and three dayes for draughts While the Scots were strugling with these difficulties news are sent to the Parliament that the Scots were gone no body knew where and that they spoiled all the Countrey and this was not done by open and declared Enemies but by those whom the Parliament trust in these Countries with the managing of affaires yea by some who formerly did professe hearty Friendship unto the Scots but the wheel of their own interest turning about not onely have they delinquished the Scots but also have declared themselves opposite unto them and this without any cause so far prevaileth private interest with men who seems to be best Then great murmures rise that the Scots would abandon their Brethren at such a necessary time leaveing all the burden of the War unto the Forces of the Parliament in the South Thus were the Scots innocently traduced by Malignants Upon this the Scots Commissioners here take occasion to sent a Gentle-man to the Army to know the truth and veritie of things and within a day or two thereafter seeing the sinistrous reports increaseing sent two of their own number to be satisfied of all things more fully and hasten their coming South In the mean time the Houses of Parliament presse to know what was become of the Scots and why they had gone this unexpected way and why after so many and earnest calls they did not march South-ward the good of the publike Service so requiring Whereupon the Scots Commissioners gave in two papers to the Houses containing a plain and full relation of the naked truth and reason of things desired the ignorance of which had by the shifts of Malignants officiating for the Common Enemy occasioned a great murmure against the Scots up and down These papers gave such satisfaction to all those who heard them read and gave attention to them that nothing was to be replied to the least circumstance mentioned in them yea not by those who had been most enclining to give credit to sinistrous repors Yet these papers were so little divulged that divers of the House of Commons who either had been absent when they were given in or not attentive when they were read did not know of any such thing Next although the papers had given full content to the Houses yet the slanders of Malignants not onely continued but increased daily more and more against the Scots After some few dayes there falleth a Copy of these papers into the hands of one which being shewed by him to some well-affected men and lovers of the Common Cause were thought sit by all means for the publike good to be published As this was adoing some Malignants get notice of it and strive to stop it by dealing with him who had the chief care of the businesse but in vain for he was resolved to go on with his designe so he giveth the
wish those men had not changed for ends which when they had obtained one after another did withdraw from the Scots and in a short time point-blank oppose them by whose help they chiefly had raised their hight of reputation and opinion among men The first and main occasion of mistake betwixt those men and the Scots was the Church-government When the Scots did engage themselves in this Common businesses they did stipulate with the English Commissioners then in Scotland that they should go heartily freely along with them in setling the Government and Discipline of the Church as it was thereafter sworn to by both Kingdoms in the National Covenant And when the Scots Commissioners came hither and entred into the Synod they found it had sat long and advanced but small businesses as for the Government they had not touched it at all which in all appearance was kept off by a slight of Prelatists and Sectaries to stop the setling of the Church according to the best way expressed thereafter in the Covenant The Scots seeing the losse of time and the evils which were likely to follow if there were no set Government in the Church presently moveth the Synod to fall to the Discipline and Government which they do and therein a great deal of pains is taken in setting out the Truth and refuting the errors of ignorants and oppositions of head-strong wilfull men who prefer the setting up of their own Chymerick fancies and Utopian dreams to the Peace of the Church wherefore I may justly say whatsoever gifts or endowments they have whether of preaching or of praying of languages or sciences since they want charity they have nothing for if they had the least grain of charity they would not thus disturb the Church I adde He that sacrificeth the Peace of the Church to the Idol of his own Imagination is as he who causeth his children passe through the fire to Moloch After much strugling things being brought neer a conclusion some of those upon whose Friendship the Scots had till then so much relyed did declare themselves to be altogether adverse to the Government the Scots were so desirous of whereat the Scots were much astonished First because the assurances given by those men unto them in the beginning of their engagement for furthering the Church-government intended next by reason of the Covenant whereby the Scots conceive us all to be bound unto the government of the Church according the Word of God and the best Reformed Church abroad and namely to the government of the Church of Scotland Ever since that day to this day those men having withdrawn their temporary affection from the Scots have opposed their counsells and crossed their proceedings in every thing wherein they are concerned as far as in them lieth And this they do not onely themselves but draw others for humane respects to side with them in so doing Yea some there be of this phantasticall opinion in this Kingdom who stick not to say that they will rather choose to joyn with Popery Prelacy and with whatsoever blasphemy or heresie then to submit to the government of the Church by Presbyterie such is the phrenesie of those mad men As those men we spoke of a little above were in what they could against the in-bringing of the Scots and thereafter did oppose the setting afoot and the continuance of the Committee of both Kingdoms so those second men of late have grumbled yea to some of them words have escaped that it was a trouble for the Committee to have the Scots adjoints Yea it seems there was a designe to do busines without the Scots and that of great moment wherein the both Nations are concerned as may appear namely by naming and assembling of a sub-Committee without knowledge of the Scots Wherewith the Scots acquainted the Houses by their papers given in by them about the midle of May last Further the secret intelligence for the surprising and taking of Oxford at aneasie place then unfurnished with provisions given by one Patric Naper to a Sub-Committee of three whereof there was one of them a Scot is neglected notwithstanding the Scots did presse it much that the thing should be tryed they could not prevaile The excuse was that till the Army then a moulding was in a perfect frame they would undertake nothing More the Enemy is acquainted with the secret advice of the enterprise and that particularly who before had not taken notice of the weaknesse of the place named by the advice which the Enemy finding to be true repaires and strengthens All this then is known to be true by intercepted Letters which have not been communicated to the Scots Commissioners notwithstanding the Common Interest I am much mistaken if it was the Scot who discovered the advice to the Enemy Be it who will let him lay his hand to his heart and giving glory to God confesse his own wickednesse for at last it will be discovered to his shame I am perswaded When the Army was moulded according to the mind of some few men then Oxford must be besieged and the Enemy suffered to run up and down increase his Forces and spoile the Countrey yea to bring all to a great hazard Yet the new Army must lie before Oxford wherein there was not the men by third part requisite to such a Siege far lesse to take in the Town Yea those men who were there were not furnished with materials for the the Siege But many think there was no intention to take the Town by open Siege by those who were contrivers of the designe since they neglect to trye if it could be done by surprise secret enterprise All this while the chief Commander was most ready to act his part faithfully and gallantly as he hath done happily since From this Siege the Scots not onely do openly dissent but also did protest against it Yet when the thing was cried out upon not only at home but abroad by Forrainers who said That the Enemy was devouring the Flesh while the Parliaments Forces were gnawing the Bone they did not stick to say that fair dealing was not every where More the party of Horses which were ordained to follow the Enemy was recalled back against the advice of the Scots who having acquainted the Houses of Parliament with those passages should have made known to the whole World that after their own constant integrity simple sincerity more and more made known to all in these things and the faults of others sifted out and they not bearing the blame of other mens errors the Service of the publike might go the better on Further it was given out that the Scots notcoming South-ward was the occasion of all these disorders committed by the Enemy But let reason judge whether or not it was easier for an Army provided with all things for the Field and marching within very few miles of the Enemy to follow him disturbe him and stop him from increasing his Forces and
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
stiffe-necked Scots who were so firm to their principles and resolved rather to follow on the Work with honour and conscience although with hazard and danger then to yeeld to a base agreement to the prejudice of Church and State Upon this the Court-Commissioners cry out against the Scots as the onely hinderers of their ends and the stoppers of their designes first at home in their own Countrey next here both in the Fields and in the Counsell By this you may see if there were no other instance with whom and against whom the Scots have ado what was the carriage of the Scots Commissioners in the Treaty of both Church and States affaires let both parties freely tell if they did find in the least point of honesty faithfulnesse resolution prudence knowledge or respect amissing in them But the Treaty ends without any conclusion for good nothing being intended by the Court in it but to gaine time more more to abuse the people and so make the best advantage of businesses Things having been carried in the Field almost ever since the beginning of these Wars namely the last Summer not so well as they might have been for the advancement of the publike Service by the fault of some of those who were employed in the said Service whether it was want of skill want of care or want of sincerity and uprightnesse in pursuance of the businesse I will not in this place enquire lesse will I resolve but a fault there was and that a great one and much amisse Wherefore the Parliament upon just reason having tryed divers times to amend the errors of the Armies and correct what was wrong in them in a fair and smooth way but all to small purpose takes resolution to reform wholly the Armies and cast them in a new mould Whereof the Scots Commissioners heairng for their interest in the Common Cause think fit for them to remember the Parliament of two things principally upon the point whereof the first was That in the new mould wherein the Armies were to be cast care should be taken to make choice of men of experience and ability so far as was possible to do the better the duties of the Service for although now and then men ignorant of what they undertake may do perchance a thing well yet it stands that it should be so not with reason which must rule all actions The next was that diligent care should be taken for admitting none to employment in the Armies but such as were trusty and faithfull to the Cause now in hand as it is expressed in the Nationall Covenant wherefore it was desired that every one employed in testimony of his honesty and faithfulnesse to the Cause should take the Covenant publikely The Scots took occasion to give these advices to the Parliament upon information given them first that divers new men and of little or no experience were preferred by indirect means and were to be employed in places of command for by ends then that there were divers likewise named for preferment and employment who not onely were suspect to be enclining to Schismes and Sects but also professed Enemies to what is expressed in the Nationall Covenant concerning the Church and consequently to the Common Cause we are all sworn to These advices of the Scots although they were not so much regarded as was needfull yet they did produce this effect that divers men of known worth and experience were named to be kept in the new mould although many were put out and new men unknown for Military vertue put in their places Next after a great debate in the Houses it is ordained that all the Commanders should take the Covenant under pain of cashiering betwixt such and such a day But how this Order is observed I know not I doubt it is not so well as it should be As for the common Souldiers it was not to be pressed upon them which makes men admire not well knowing the reason of things how that the prisoners Souldiers taken of the Enemy should have the Oath tendred unto them in token of their embracing the Parliaments party and cause and these Souldiers of the Parliaments own side are not to be tyed to the Oath of the Nationall Covenant Further all suspected men brought before the Committees namely of examination have the Oath put to them which if they refuse they are censed Malignants yet the Parliaments Souldiers are to be free from the Oath if they please Yea many were astonished to hear that it was debated in the Houses whether those of the Armies should be put to the Oath of the Solemn League or no whereunto the Houses themselves are sworn to and for the maintenance of which we all now stand or at least we ought to stand being sworn to it The reason why some men are backward to take the Oath is that they are adverse to the Government of the Church by Presbytery which the Parliament is now a setling although the businesse do not go on so quickly as by many is wished by reason of so many rubs cast in by severall sorts of men partly through ignorance partly in opposition to the thing for reasons far others then those they hitherto have given out howsoever specious At this occasion it was spoken publikely by one who is a prime man among those who are adverse from the Government above-named of the Church that although in his judgement he did not approve Presbyteriall government in the Church yet he at all times would submit to whatsoever Church-government the Parliament should settle either by passive or active obedience To this is answered Whosoever sayeth that he will obey an Order or Law by passive obedience is already actively in disobedience Further to call obedience passive is as great an absurditie as to call black white for obedience is nothing at all but the act of obeying and to call an act passive is absurd action and passion being more different then black and white for they are Toto genere distant and black and white are under Unum genus not onely Summum of quality but also subaltern of colour Further all vertue consists in action so obedience being a vertue cannot be said to be passive that is in passion Wherefore he who first did invent the expression of passive obedience did not weigh what he said no more then those who since not considering the exact distinction of things have taken it up at the second hand and have made so generall use of it He who thinks that by his passion he giveth obedience unto the Law is mightily mistaken for suffering or passion is laid upon a man for his not obeying and to make him obey Example A man for debt is put in prison the emprisonment which the debtor suffers is not obedience to the Law but one means employed to bring him unto the obedience thereof that is unto the paying of the debt I know Divines speak much of the passive obedience
of Christ but this is of another condition and so it belongs to another place Besides he who offers unto the Houses his passive obedience endeavours what he can and pleads earnestly to be free from it as we have seen published by writing Then also it was said publikely by one that the main quarrell the Parliament stood for at first and thereafter did take up Arms for was not for Religion which is as much to say the main different betwixt the Parliament and the corrupt Court-Papists Prelatists Atheists and divers other instruments of iniquity who having sworn inimity to the Truth opposeth it with all their cunning and power not the Reformation of the Church but the freedom and Liberty of the Subject Which saying is injurious in my mind for to aver or publish that the Parliament did not from thē beginning intend a true Reformation of Religion is a great wrong done to the Wisdom of the Parliament for how can the Parliament be said or thought to be wise in God without it hath his fear before its eyes and how can the Parliament be said to have the fear of God before its eyes if it hath not care of the establishing the Truth of Religion and to represse the errors I cannot conceive for without the true Worship of God there can be no true fear of him then it is most false for from the first beginning did not the Parliament expresse that it namely intended a true Reformation by divers instances although now and then it hath been at a stand how to go through with it by reason of the lets that the Enemies of the Truth have cast in and cast still in to this day by open opposition and clandestine undermining witnesse the pulling down of the high Commission-Court the courbing of the Prelats tyranny the making silenced Ministers freely preach and so soon is the occasion offers it self is it not embraced to throw the Prelats out of the Church as Enemies to the Truth of God Then the calling of the Synod which things with divers more the Parliament had never done if it had not intended mainly the Reformation of the Church and of Religion I must confesse the businesses in the Synod did go on but very remisly before the Scots joyning by the Nationall Covenant with the Parliament who hath since pressed it somewhat more home and yet it goeth on but very slowly not so much by the open opposition of the professed Enemy as by the crafty infinuations of some phantasticall and factious men who having endeared themselves by some expression of good offices to the people have buzzed the Parliament in the ear they must not anger them for fear of losing so many good Friends who give themselves out to be in great number although if things were tryed it should be found that their number is far short of what is said of it and their affection to the publike lesse for I shall never beleeve that those who are for confusion in the Church are for the setled ordering of the State Further if the Parliament did not make Religion at first its main quarrell it stood for and took Arms for I pray you then when did the Parliament begin to make the Reformation of the Church its main quarrell at the joyning of the Scots by the Nationall Covenant perhaps you will say If so be when England hath a setled Reformation of the Church according to the Word of God the practice of the first ages and of the best Reformed Church now adayes it may thank their poor Friends distressed at this time for their sake I am assured he that sayeth that the Parliament did not intend mainly Reformation from the beginning careth but little for it himself Next he makes the main quarrell of the Parliament to be the freedom and Liberty of the Subject If under the notion of freedom and Liberty were understood first a free libr◠profession of the Truth in a setled Reformed Church as aforesaid it were well and in the second place the honest freedom and just Liberty in externall things Such is the freedom that the truely reformed Churches abroad have constantly sought for to this day who when they obtain the first they stand not so much upon the second But let us see a little what can be the meaning of the freedom and Liberty of the Subject without Religion Is it to be free from the vexation of Monopolies Projects Ship-moneys c. and of some exorbitant courses of Judicatory as of that of the Star-Chamber If in those alone and no other things better and more I beseech you what benefit hath the Subject by the freedom from the Court of the Star-chamber The people say The Committees of one City or County doeth more wrong in one yeer to the City or County then the Starchamber-Court did to the whole Kingdom in seven yeers if all things be well considered for it did reach but one man here and there but the Committees reach almost every man It is true the wounds of the Star-chamber were very sore deep but they were not so frequent and now then they were mollified by some moderation which divers Committees will not admit As for the freedom from Ship-money Monopolies Projects c. Vox populi sayeth there be more in taxes and contributions laid upon the people in one yeer now adayes then for many yeers in Ship-money c. Yea which is the worst this burden must continue God knows how long besides the way of levying it by the inferior Officers if the taxes are most grievous and the best affected men for the most part are most loaden such is the cry and complaint of the people through the City and County So if the Subject had not the gain of a Reformed setled Church and Religion he were in a worse case then formerly Next there is found but very little more just and honest Liberty for the Subject then before onely the Sectaries take greater licence then they were wont to do and phantasticall men to vent their idle imaginations and to abuse the simpler ones as likewise scurrilous fellows take upon them to say and write what they list against men All this is a meer licentiousnesse and libertinage tending to the trouble of the people and not to their good so far is it from the Liberty of honest and discret men who desireth and ought to live within the borns of good and wholsome constitutions both of Church and State What is said here of taxes is not to blame them for it is known ther must be tribute levied for the supporting of the burdens of the Common-Wealth namely in time of War for its good and benefit At the beginning of these Wars here in England betwixt the King and Parliament both parties did draw unto them so many of the Scots Officers as they could conveniently neither of them having in their own opinion such Commanders or at least in such number as to make
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
fitting in reason and conscience for the setling of Church and State as it hath been proposed unto him with a ripe deliberation after a serious debate and laying aside all evil Counsell where with he hath been so long misled come home to the Parliament the great Counsell of the Land This advice of the Scots as it is liked by the wiser and better sort of men who have mainly the publike Service before their eyes so by the hotter kinde of people who breath nothing but violence and extremity it is cryed out upon as prejudiciable unto the Common Cause and will give an advantage to the Enemies since the King is not to be reclaimed by fair means and will never yeeld to reason but upon meer necessity It is but too true I am assured and I must confesse there be but very small hopes of doing any good with the King or gaining any good upon him in that way for besides that nothing hath been gained by all the former Messages sent to him or by Treaties with him the violation of the Peace made twice with the Scots the many Plots both in Scotland and in England to undo all the bloody businesses in Ireland the last intercepted Letters wherein he expresseth his mind and the intelligence we have from all places abroad tells us sufficiently that he will continue still in this persecuting way of Church and State so long as he can hold out The reason of this his perseverance in those courses is clear to any rationall man and it is this There is a great designe now afoot in these Dominions which is to bring all to spirituall and temporall slavery and thraldom more then it was in the blindest times which will be kept up with all might and slight so long as is possible and the abused King who is the chief Agent in this businesse will be kept to it and not suffered to give over the work but go no so long as they who set him about it can furnish him with any encouragement by hopes counsell and intelligence moneys arms or by any other assistances whatsoever to keep life in the businesse Now if you will ask who be those who have set this great designe afoot and have engaged the King in it I will tell you Rome France and Spaine The Pope to have all under him at least as formerly The Spaniard and French first both in respect of the Holy Father as Christian and Catholike Sons then each of the two hath his own private interest besides The Spaniard by the means hopes for a number of good Friends here the work succeeding by reason of the common Catholicity and to have Ireland absolutely at his devotion to side with him upon such occasion as he shall require for it is every where remarked that the Popish of those Dominions have a double dose of Catholicon in their bellies and to be Spanish and as they are addicted to the tyranny of Rome over the inward man also they are affected to the tyranny of Spaine over the outward man so ingrate are they towards God and so unnaturall towards their own Countrey The French hath his particular interest in the work for since he could by no means get the King to side with him in opposing the Austrian and to help his neerest Allies and Confederates against his and their Enemies in spleen and revenge hath put many Irons in the fire to give work at home to undo himself and his people Next The French by the putting the King to work at home and by keeping him to it goe's on with his own work against the Austrian namely in Flanders wherein these Dominions have the most interest to look to by reason of the neernesse and the narrow Seas Then the French hath a further drift who when he hath any leasure from his Wars with the Austrian either by an accommodation or by an absolute Victory he may send hither a party to make the Hola with a vengeance little to the content of either Prince or people yea to seek by a strong hand that which the Norman offered to the then French King and he refused These are the shares and parts that Rome Spaine and France take in our troubles howsoever they give out otherwayes for prove of this to lay aside many things which might be here alleadged First for Rome I pray you put before your eyes the constant and neer commerce the corrupt Court and the wicked Clergie have had with Rome and have to this day with the Letters betwixt the King and the Pope and the sending Agents hence to Rome and from thence hither and a Nuntio into Ireland who is now so far as the neerer coasts of France in his way for Ireland Next for Spaine and its adherents in the Catholike Cause to say nothing of what is past in the kindling of the fire among us by severall underblowings I pray you to consider the Residents now of Castille Portugall of Venice Florence Lorraine c. what their carriage is how enclined to the Court and how adverse to the Parliament As for France The late Factotum of that Court did acknowledge it to be one of his Master-peeces to have kindled the fire in all those Dominions first in Scotland next in Ireland and last a little before his death in England whereabout he had above a dozen of Agents at one time acting their severall parts in this act here with us Those who have succeeded in his place carry on things his way very neer namely in what concerns us as may appear by the sending into Scotland to hinder the Scots joyning with the Parliament and by the continuall supplies which are sent from France to the Enemies in England Scotland and Ireland and the Residents of France their expressions in favour of the Enemies All this is done really albeit not avouched by publike Authority Notwithstanding that both Spanish and French give out they will keep fair with the States of both Kingdoms and indeed the commerce in some kinde is continued but they receive in their Sea-Towns Pyrates with the spoiles they take from both Nations who are now consederate in this Common Cause Then some others who at first although they had not perhaps put their hands to cast us in those troubles yet seeing us enclining thereunto have put them forward and have given help to our miseries Such are some of Holland who against the principles and grounds of their own State have by their late Ambassadour declared themselves to be enslaved to our corrupt Court for their own private interests and for that of him who namely set them awork When I spake of Holland Spaine France yea of Rome it self I do not mean the common people but of those who have chief hand in affaires and in Government for God knows the people of those Countreys are as innocent of any evil office done unto us now as our people were free from doing harm to the Protestants of France and Germany The
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