designe to end the Work they were there for and seeing the Enemy his marching unto them upon David Lesley his going into Scotland send unto their Friends at London for a help of some Horse to be neer by them as in Glocester-shire in case of need they not having Horse enough to encounter the Enemy and to serve the Army to bring in the provision which they were constrained to do with strong hold in the Enemies Countrey having ever since their march Southward struggled with great difficulties for necessary provisions yea for divers dayes they have been without bread But they could obtain no Horse howsoever some were very willing to grant their just desire Things being thus it is put to a Counsell of War whither they should storm the Town or no some that were most forward gave their voice for the storm others voiced It was fit to save the Army whole considering how the posture of affaires was then at home and since some of their Friends for whom they had undergone so much were backward to assist them in their great extremity they thought it the safest course to raise the Siege and return Northward to help their Countrey and so the plurality of voices carried it and Northward they went As the Scots were upon their march in York-shire news comes to them that David Lesley had given a great overthrow to the Enemy in Scotland yet they went after this they are desired by the Parliament to come back and besiege Newark and not to stay there in the North Countrey for fear of burdening that Countrey so much already wasted as was given out The Parliaments desire is not answered so hastily as was expected which hath given occasion to some to irritate and do what lieth in them to make ill blood and not to stay for an answer nor receive any reasonable one without reall performance of what was required whereunto the Scots are most willing but by reason they have so few Horse with them they conceive it is not safe to venture their Foot when the Enemies Forces are onely in Horse and chiefly because they knew that the Enemy was to send a considerable party into Scotland hoping to make a great faction there by the help of his Friends by the way and so joyn with the Enemy there and the Malignants in the North of England were to rise with the open Enemy And so it proved indeed for the Enemy sends from Newark a great party of Horse commanded by Langdale and Digby They were meet withall by the York-shire Forces commanded by Poyntz and Rossiter who dealt so roughly with them that they were routed divers killed and many taken with a great part of their baggage yet they rally again and go on in their journey to invade Scotland Before they were at the borders they were a thousand strong Generall Lesley having notice of their designe sends a party under the command of Vandruske with expresse order to fight with the Enemy wheresoever he found him Vandruske followeth so actively the Enemy that he thinks to get into Scotland before him and send him back again but he misseth him and the Enemy going another way enters into Scotland where there were divers parties ordered to wait for him and fight with him one from David Leslâ—â— was sent another of the Earl of Balclough the third and the least of all not exceeding three hundred Horse under the command of Sir John Brown who seeing the Enemy in Scotland could not have patience till his Friends joyned with him but by an hardy attempt with his three hundred men fals upon the Enemy who was a thousand strong as we have said before routs him killeth him a hundred of his men upon the place takes two hundred of them with bag and baggage divers were drowned All this did Sir John Brown with the losse of about thirty or fourty men then he pursued the Enemy seeking him up and down and at last upon the third day after the fight he assisted with his Friends meets with the remainder of the routed Enemy then about five hundred strong where he took all with little shedding of blood onely some few who were extraordinarily well horsed did escape among whom were Digby and Langdale with these good Patriotes and good Christians the Earls of Nidsdale Maxwell and Carnewath-Dazâ—l When by treachery at divers encounters the Enemy did prevaile against the Forces of the good party in Scotland some of the superficiall Brethren about Westminster-Hall jearing and gibing could say That the Scots could not and durst not fight in their own Countrey which at this time they find untrue for the Scots have shewn since that they both can and dare fight not onely one to one but one against two contrary to the Proverb Ne Hercules contra duos yea one against three Let the glory be to God who is pleased to own his own Cause and honour despiseable men to be instruments in this his Work to the confusion and shame of the Haughtie The Enemy had so laid down this Plot of invading Scotland that he promised unto himself without fear an issue according to his mind for he thought having once entred in Scotland by the Papists Atheists and Libertins for Sectaries there are none to make up in the lower Countrey a great party and so joyning with the Enemy now afoot in the hills who is gathering what he can and hath already betwixt three and four thousand men although divided amongst themselves as we are informed he did think no lesse then in a very short time to subdue all Scotland and presently thereafter to come into England Those who have read the intercepted Letters can tell much stuffe to this purpose but he that compteth without his host compteth twice The rumour of this designe was so great in Scotland that the good party thought fit to draw a good part of their Horse Southward and to make sure the chief and most commodious passages to hinder the conjunctions of the intestine Enemy and the invaders so David Lesley lay with one party at Glasgo upon Clyde and Middleton with another at Alloway neer Sterlin upon Forth Yea to see this enterprise repressed is the chief reason why the Scots Army in the North of England did not come so soon Southward to Newark as was desired wch just and lawfull delay of the Scots for a time by factious and malicious men although they knew very well the reasons and the cause thereof is published as a deniall and so it hath been beleeved by the simpler sort and laid hold on as argent contant present count it is not enough for the malicious and factious ones not considering that the good party in Scotland hath made the Parliaments quarrell its own in joyning with it in Covenant for the pursuance of the Cause it took Arms from the very first beginning that is for the Truth of Religion all things whatsoever yea Liberty and Priviledge being subservient unto it as
AN EXPLANATION OF SOME TRUTHS Of the carriage of things about this great WORK Frustra laboramus nisi laboris nostri Reipublicae cui omnia post Deum debemus ratio constet Pro captu Lectoris habent sua fata Libelli Published by Authority LONDON Printed in the Yeer 1645. TO THE READER Impartiall and judicious Reader HEre I give thee a short and true View or Description of the present state and condition of the Scots in relation to this great Cause of Church and State now in hand for which these last yeers there hath been and yet at this present is such fighting and fensing with strength and skill amongst us in these Dominions On the one side By the good party bestirring themselves by good and just actions in the Field and by right and wholsome advice in the Counsell to put forward and establish the Truth of Religion setled in a thorow Reformation in Doctrine and Discipline according to the Word of God and conform to the example of the best Reformed Neighbour-Churches as we are all sworn to by our solemn Covenant to lay aside all other tyes in this place for the glory of God with the eternall salvation of our immortall souls and to obtain a solid and firm Peace in the enjoying whereof we may lead a sober and quiet life serving God as we ought to do and be in comfort one to another On the other side By the adverse party not onely manifest and declared but also secret and counterfeited who first did begin this strife and still continues it acting by open Warfare and secret undermining what he can to hinder and put back this good Work of a thorow Reformation and in lieu of it to raise up and put on for faction and interest with the inventions of men cunningly devised and craftily disguised with the mask of Piety towards God and of good towards the People But of this thou shalt see more in the ensuing Discourse A SHORT VIEW OF The present condition of SCOTLAND THe Common Enemy by great slight and profound skill having brought us all in a manner insensibly and smoothly we hardly perceiving it to such a passe that we were all catched almost when we did think our selves freest For how many were there amongst us who thinking themselves sincere professors of the truely reformed Religion were altogether infected with errour and heresie by an unparallell'd cunning of the Enemies of the Truth in one way or other He then did judge it fit time as in all probability it was to dallie no more nor deal with us by undermining any further but in an open way to overthrow whatsoever should lie in his way in case of any opposition to his main designe which is to withdraw men from the Service of God and from true love one to another Now when he had cast his eyes up and down among us to see where it was fittest for him to begin this his great and open undertaking in the end he resolves to begin at Scotland where if he found compliance he had what he desired for they who were so far distant from him having once complied would not only invite others by their example to submit but also help him to go on with the work And in case the Scots should refuse being not able to resist long as he thought by reason of their weaknesse for counsell and action with means to support both they should be made an example of punishment to all others not to dare to refuse and against their will to serve unto the advancement of the designe So the Scots are gone too and compliance is required of them which almost had been obtained the most part of the spirits of the people being kept under by heavy pressures and the great ones inslaved by Court-interest but God in his Mercy to that Nation did stir up the spirits of divers of all ranks and degrees despiseable indeed in the eyes of the Enemy to stand in the gap with wisdom and resolution First In a fair way to decline and put off what was unjustly required of them by the Court acting for the Enemy of God and his people Next When no better could be they take Arms and stop the Enemies coming unto them upon which a Peace is made with them and their just demands are granted for the most part in words at least The Articles of Peace are no sooner agreed upon but resolution is taken by the Court to break them thus First There is a Plot set afoot to catch at Berwick the chief sticklers for the Truth Which Plot by Gods Providence is discovered and disappointed Then shortly thereafter at London the Articles are burned publikely the Scots Commissioners put in prison and a second expedition undertaken against them So the Scots Reformers were put to work again by a new undergoing of War which they perform as formerly with wisdom and resolution and with successe under Gods blessing For having in a very short time setled their own Countrey by subduing those who had then risen and stood out against them they come into England to seek out the Enemy who was bound for their Countrey unto whom they give a repulse and thereafter they come forward to New-castle from whence they send their Commissioners to treat with the King where all the time they stayed they behaved themselves with such temper and moderation that their sworn Enemies had nothing to say against their carriage The Scots incoming and abode at New-castle did embolden some of the English Nobility chief Gentry and Magistracy to petition the King openly and freely for a Parliament to redresse all the disturbances in the Common-wealth both of Church and State The King although he had never intended to have any Parliament as was clear not onely by divers expressions of himself and of the Court but also by the managing of publike affairs is necessitated by reason of the Scots to grant a Parliament which he doth and since he could not refuse it his second thought is how to make it work for his purpose which he endeavoureth by causing to be chosen divers Members of the Commons so far as he was able to do what by his own private Orders what by the Court-dependers Nobles and others of credit but all will not do for some of those who were chosen by his procurement are rejected others do not answer according to his expectation Then he plots with the Army he had gathered against the Scots and by Papists to undo the Parliament but the Plot through fear of miscarriage the Scots being so neer is discovered and faileth After this the King hath his recourse to the Scots themselves if they would come forward and destroy the Parliament they should have the plunder of the City of London for their pains with the four next adjacent Counties for their inheritances besides store of money The Scots are so far from consenting to this base act that they reject it with disdain and
at the taking in of Selby and as some had been against their incoming and thereafter some were employed before York to sow the seed of dissension betwixt the joyned Generals with their Forces and as some likewise were railing at the Scots while they were daily encountring and skirmishing with the Enemy After this another sort of men began to shew themselves unto the world seeing that by the help of the Scots they were made able to appear again who for their miscarriage of things durst not shew themselves and finding in themselves that they began to stand upon their own legs they feel the pulse of the Scots to try if they were plyable to their phantasies and opinions perceiving the Scots constant to their principles and firm unto their Covenant begin to care lesse for those who had raised them from the dust yea they begin to oppose the Scots and to make the relation short the Battel of York is fought and the Town taken In all such actions those new factious men to indear themselves unto the simple people by their Emissaries spred abroad that they did all but God knows they had little share in things After the businesse of York Manchester returns into the associated Counties Fairfax stayes in York-shire and the Scots return towards New-castle where they find a new supply of six thousand men under the command of the Earl of Calendar to represse the Enemy who had been for a while domineering thereabouts in that Countrey while the Scots Army was ingaged at York who having drawn neer make their approaches and lay a formall Siege about the Town which after some moneths pain they take by storm having tryed all means possible to keep things from extremity but it could not be yet their moderation was such after they had taken the said Town that it was admired by their Enemies While the Scots were thus busied about the Siege of New-castle they were ill spoken of by those new factious men who expressed tokens of sadnesse when they heard it was taken Then the Scots clear all the four Northern Counties except Carlile which of late they reduced by composition and so the Winter coming on they kept in their Winter-quarters As the Scots making the quarrell their own did send their Army to fight in the Field to help their Friends and Brethren by action so they send Commissioners both from Church and State to help with their counsell the carrying on of things in Church and State When the Commissioners come hither they promise unto themselves to find nothing ado but to go on with the Work unanimously for the good of Church and State against the Common Enemy But since they have found themselves hugely mistaken for where they thought to have most opposition they have found least and where they did look for none there have they found most First Some factious men in the Synod have stopped the conclusion of things there it is without example that so few men being convinced with Scripture reason antiquity and the example of the best reformed Churches so that they have nothing to reply yet in stuâ—â—urnesse they will not give over to disturb It is found true in those men which is remarked That the more mildly the adversaries of Peace and Truth be dealt withall the worse they are Then in the Counsell of State the Scots have a long time been crossed in a high measure by those who were against their incoming and thereafter still have been opposed by these men and their participants who are advers to the setling of the Church The former did oppose the Scots namely because they were not to approve their wayes in the managing the affaires of State and thereafter perhaps in the Church-government The second Because the Scots cannot give way to their phancies and faction in Church-businesse and consequently in the State but stand constantly to their principles and firm to the Covenant not regarding to either the one or the other with temper and moderation to give offence to no body if it were possible unto them The Spring drawing on the Scots presse to have necessaries for the Field After much delays things go to them in New-castle but in a very small proportion Howsoever they are no sooner ready but they dispose themselves for marching till then they were not idle but they were busied up and down to the setling the Northern Counties and they did send parties to and fro unto their Friends namely unto Sir William Brereton they sent a party of Horse by David Lesley who then made the Kings Forces turn back which at that time did intent to go through Lancashire for Scotland Thereafter as the Scots Army was moving and about to march Southward they have advice given them that the King being then towards Westchester was bound once more for Scotland to stop which the Army went with great difficulties and did so put themselves in his way who made him change his resolution and 〈◊〉 returned Southward again And at that time the Scots supplied their Friends which lay then before Carlile who were there altogether unprovided Thereafter they return Southward and although by agreement they were not to passe Trente yet in compliance to importunities they past and went Westward towards Worcester and cleared the Fields there so of the Enemy that he durst not appear before them Next Against their own Maxime which is to clear the Field and wait upon the Enemies motion that they may alwayes be in readinesse to hinder his courses pursue him to stop the clamours of some raised against them they lay down before Hereford which if they had been supplied with necessaries at first they had doubtlesse taken and when they had the things required for the Service in some measure the great rains hindered them to perform what they earnestly intended and whereunto they were prepared As they were thus ingaged about Hereford the King with all his Horse having made a great circuit goes Northward where by divers promises made unto him he did hope to do great things for his designe The Scots send their whole body of Horse some few excepted by David Lesley who by his diligence and activity gets North before the King and sends him back Southward once more and so breaks that designe At this nick of time cometh the news to David Lesley being then neer Trente upon his return South in pursuance of the Kings party and he is desired to go into Scotland without delay and help his own Countrey in distresse by an overthrow that the Enemy had given there to the Forces of the Countrey He thinks to go onely with a party into Scotland himself and send back the rest to the Army before Hereford but the whole Company hearing of the straigth of their native Countrey would needs go with him Of this he giveth notice to the Committee of both Kingdoms and to the Army before Hereford and so goes into Scotland The Army before Hereford having
namely the Lands of those who were most deeply ingaged with England above all the high Lands of the Marquesse of Argyle which they have totally depopulated and burnt as the Lands of his Friends some other parts they have so depauperate and wasted that in one County they have put many scores of good Families to meer mendicity What did most then grieve good men was to see not onely the good Work of Reformation at a stand and not likely to go on as they looked to it with carnall eyes but also the former abominations set up again and also to see the poor well-meaning people for fear abandoning the Truth and imputing unto the profession thereof the cause of their sufferings as many men do when they suffer for the Gospel Now albeit the losses be great and excessive which the Scots have had by Sea in regard to the extent of their Countrey yet their losses and damages by Land are a hundred times greater and more Further God suffered the wicked Enemy by the miscarriage of the chief Leaders and Directors of businesses to give a great overthrow to the good party of Scotland at which as the good party was much dejected the Enemy in his pride was highly puft up and he thought to carry all things before him mastering all but in a short time it pleased God to abate his pride by a great Victory against him God making use of David Lesley for that Service More As Digby and his associates going to the wicked Enemy in Scotland had first a good blow in his way thither and then was totally defeated at the second time when he thought himself as it was at his joyning with the Enemy in Scotland So doubtlesse under Gods Mercy ere it be long we shall hear that the wicked Enemy there having had already this great blow will have next his fatall and totall destruction Here let it be noted that among the papers taken from the Enemy when he had this great blow given him by David Lesley there were found instructions for the holding of a Parliament wherein all things setled in Church and State since the yeer 1639 were to be changed and altered the Covenant broken with the English Rebels so were they pleased to call all those who stand for the Parliament those who had been active for the Covenant to be furnished and deprived of aâ—l benefit and priviledge of a Patriote or native according to their severall ranks and stations All the sufferings and undergoings of the Scots for their joyning with the Parliam are so far neglected that not onely in their distresse they are not helped nor assisted as generosity had required after so much undergone for Friends at home and abroad making other mens quarrel their own and drawing evil upon themselves for their sake but divers who have received benefit in a high measure by their joyning and incoming have been glad heartily at their sufferings expressing now and then It was well they were beaten and when they were droven to the greatest pinch of necessity what by the prevailing Enemy what by the fault of their Leaders which lies heavily upon some at last having kept off to trouble or disquiet their Friends going constantly on with the Work so far as they were inabled and could do they required some help of Arms and of Money due unto them but what comfort they received more then a solemn Fast and private condolance of some Friends let them tell if they can Yea when they were thus low then they were most neglected and vilipended by some Was it not said by some of your prudentiall men That the Scots would undo both themselves and this Kingdom yet their wisdom and valour blessed with successe in their own affaires were not questioned before they were joyned with England in the businesse and if they had not come in England was undone at least a good part thereof Was is not said That they had buried their honour at Hereford Yet they have shewn since that they had both heart and hand to gain and to maintain honour Was it not told openly That they should be sent home as being troublesome to the Countrey and if they would not go with good will they must be killed by half-dozens Are not their Garisons and Places of retreat so long as they are in the Service of the Publike which they have reduced and brought into obedience with a great deal of pain losse and hazard demanded from them and spoken to be put in the hands of those who are not thought to be faithfull to the Cause we have all fought for to this day If this smell of piety and generosity let God and all the World judge Here I forbear to give answer to this onely I say It is done and let it undergo the censure of understanding and indifferent men without exception onely we shall see how this stands with the Publike Service and with the Treaty to deal so with Brethren and Friends who have put their breast betwixt their Brethren and the stroak of the Enemy and who did stand first in the gap against the Enemies Plot to teach their Brethren to be upon their guard and timely prevent the Enemies assault yea who under God have put their Brethren in posture of defence by occasioning the Assembly of Parliament and in protecting it by their stay here for a time lastly by rescuing it as it were from the jaws of Death and from the brink of perdition Now by neglecting vilifying crossing and opposing to dishearten Brethren who have been and are to this day so usefull unto the Service of the Common Cause cannot be but much prejudiciall to the happy end intended by us all to wit the setling of a true Reformation in Church and State If the Scots went not upon higher principles then those of human interest of phanaticall opinions of self-conceit and the like this usage of such Brethren could not but produce so bad effects as the hinderance of the end intended with the losse of all whatsoever hath been done employed and undergone thereabouts and the destruction of both Nations at last But blessed be God who hath given them wisdom and longanimity not to be so disturbed with the forenamed occasions of miscontent as either to be weary of the Work or to leave it off And to uphold them therein God yeelds the Scots the good will and assistance of divers well-affected men maugre all malice and malignity with the earnest desires and wishes of the people for compassing the first purposed and pursued end which is in few words the Glory of God and the safety of his people Now let us see how this carriage towards the Scots stands with the Treaty and Covenant made with them at their incoming Are not the Brethren of England with their Ships bound by the Treaty to guard the Coasts of Scotland by Sea to save it from forrain invasion and to secure the Scots in their trading by Sea But how
slakely this duty hath been performed the great losses and wofull sufferings of that poor Countrey can now tell of which inconveniencies and evils they had been free at least to this present if they had not joyned with their Friends in England I know it will be said When the Enemy had done with England his designe was with all his power to go into Scotland But human reason tells you That it is wisdom to put off an evil if we can for a time for he that hath time hath life as it is commonly said and the mean while God will provide some means or other to return the evil from his people And so human Policy would have taught the Scots to look to themselves and be quiet but their zeal to the Cause of God could not suffer them and for it they have undergone all this hardship who can and will deliver them in his appointed time And if those for whom they undergo this Service do not requite faithfully their kindnesse God will by some means or others not forget but recompense them according to the sincerity of their intentions But if any of the Scots as I doubt not but there be some who had or have some by-ends in this Work God will punish them for it and shew their vanity for mixing their own interest with his Service who requires the whole of man which is so known to the Enemy of God and of his people that he cares not what good a man do providing he can nourish in him any little evil being sure to catch him at last if he do continue in it Then the Brethren of England are bound not onely by reason to make the Scots no worse then they have found them that is then they were before their late conjunction for it stands against the Laws of all human Society and partnership that one party being preserved from totall ruine and reaping a seen benefit by the Society through the hazard and great losses of the other party not to make the party at least in the same condition he was before the Society far more is it against Justice to see the party undone and perish for us above all if we can afford him help or comfort least of all to rejoyce and make our own advantages of his losses who hath lost himself for us If the thing be so among particular Societies of men Why not so betwixt State and State who are nothing else but a Congregation of lesser Societies And if Justice is to be done by the lesser Why is not the greater far more tyed to it For the most part particular men are either punished or cried out upon as cheaters if they cozen or deceive their fellows And shall States escape free not onely from censure but be thought wise and prudent men for their deceits And shall circumvening in publike affaires be not onely not thought evil but esteemed as a vertue Hence cunning deceitfull man is called Politick and deceit is called Policy To such hight of wickednesse are we now come that vice must go under the name of vertue for Policy is the honest just and prudent carriage of publike affaires and not deceit and guile in them If it were onely to give sin a term lessening the shame of the crime it were to be born withall as for example to call stealing robbing and spoiling plundering as now adayes we do But to call vice vertue is intolerable Next We may see if this stands with the Treaty by this sole instance which is here inserted as it is in the first article And in case that notwithstanding the monethly sum of Thirty thousand pounds payed as aforesaid the States of Scotland shall have just cause to demand further satisfaction of their Brethren of England when the Peace of both Kingdoms is setled for their pains hazards and charges they have undergone they shall have due recompense made unto them by the Kingdom of England Now if the Scots for their pains hazards and charges be not payed of their monethly allowance How is the Treaty observed But the necessity of the times may excuse if there be not a full payment when there is willingnesse to perform if there were capacity But to give reproaches and injuries with threatning and to send men home with shame and without satisfaction who have done and undergone so much for thy good and to save thee from perdition is doubtlesse far from gratitude I pray thee What is it and how far is it from recompense Not to allow men to run home and quench the fire in their own house left having devoured the one it should destroy the other which it would do if it were not quenched in time Yea so long as the fire was but burning in one end of the house in respect of the ingagement it was in a manner little regarded but when it came to shake the very foundations of the building and deface it quite then it was full time to look to it And yet it cannot be approved by some because forsooth There was not a formall warning given as in decency was fit yet it was done with such order as could be expected upon such a nick of time But here it may be said What needs all this to speak of the Treaty Hath ever been any Treaty made betwixt two Nations or States but each have made their best advantage of it and ordinarily the Southern Nation hath been too cunning for the Northern as may be seen in all the Treaties betwixt Spaine and France Spaine hath outcunning'd France and so in the Treaties betwixt France and England France hath over-reached England and so of such others for the most part But as the Southern Nation hath over-reached the Northern by slight and cunning so the Northern oftentimes hath surpast by Field-action the other The reason of this is from the constitution of the body in the Northern people vile domineerers whereby they are inclined to do things rather by a strong hand then otherwise In the Southern people melancholy reigneth whereby they are inclined unto devises to compasse things with lesse force and hazard for where there is most wisdom there is least hazard The more North or South that a people be the more or lesse they have the one of the other But since the Treaty betwixt the Parliament of England and the State of Scotland runs upon other principles to wit of Religion this human over-reaching cunning or surprising is not and ought not to have any place but all is to be guided by conscience according to equity before God and as weare sworn to in our Covenant Wherefore now let us see how this agrees with the Covenant whereby we are all solemnly sworn to promote and advance the setling of a through Reformation in the Church according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Neighbour Churches and if these reproaches injuries and hard usage of the Scots who have contribute so much to bring
against God so generally and so long a time now these five yeers since the Reformation is in hand As for the pressing of Peace by the Scots Is it not full time after so much blood shed devastation of the Countreys and such a deal of all kinde of wickednesse committed in the War to seek after a firm Peace lay hold upon any occasion to help us to it First Because it is the end we make War for not having intention to make a Trade of it Then If we beg for Peace at God Why should we not seek earnestly after it from man by all honest means Otherwise God will not grant our demands and will tell us that we are but hypocrites having a thing in our lips when our hearts are far from it As for standing for the King It is true we stand for him and respect him as we do on the other part stand for the Parliament the great Counsell of the Land as those whom God hath been pleased to set over us not fondly and feignedly idolizing worshipping them as gods on Earth impeccable one day as Parasites and Sycophants do and another day vilifying and rejecting them when our turn is not served by them but sincerly with reason for as we avouch him to be our Soveraign Magistrate so we acknowledge him all those of the Counsel to be but infirm and weak men him misled miscarried for the most part by those who are about him deceiving him to his own and the peoples ruine and them also subject to mistake and errour So as we pray God for him to save and protect him from doing evil from receiving evil we freely admonish him both from Church and State of his errours and faults both before God and man This we do both in private and publike as the cause requires or occasion will permit and when necessity drives us to it we take Arms to oppose the evil courses he is insnared in and represse them alwayes with respect to his Office and Person which we acknowledge to be lawfull and him lawfull possessor thereof and no further we go then to stop him from doing evil if we cannot gain him to do good Then for faults although they be great we must not change till we see that we can do better We have abolished the Prelacy not so much for the abuses thereof as for the unlawfulnesse of it although of long continuance it being against the intention of God expressed in his Word howsoever wrested by the Prelats but for Royalty it is approved and ordained by God hath so continued with us that we can hardly leave it besides we find already such inconveniencies by not keeping it up in its due right and authority that we smart hugely for it and if it were altogether cast off we should be far worse witnesse the infinite disorders now adayes Now let the English ingenuously confesse That â—â—ey never have told the tenth part of the truth of things unto the King which he hath heard of from the Scots Hath the Parliament and Church of England spoke so home and acquainted him so freely with his errours as the Scots have done or would they have so withstood the evil courses he is cast in had the Scots not shewn them the way Then we must not cast off a good accustomed and lawfull office for the faults of a man who bears it yea in the exercise of it and that about main businesses for lawfull things are not to be rejected for the abuses but the abuses to be taken away and a reformation to be made otherwayes the most things and most necessary should be cast off for we offend almost in all things and abuse many things But it is said The King hath spoiled the three Kingdoms and endeavoured to overthrow the Liberties and Religion It is true but if he had not found Peers and Commons in the three Kingdoms to second the evil counsels suggested unto him he would never have attempted it for they caused him to set the work afoot and they laid down the wayes to go on with it and have served him in it Although that other kindes of government may be fit for other people sure I am Monarchie is best for us being regulated according to the Law of God and right reason with the Prerogative and the Priviledge subservient to the good of the people Then It is reproached unto the Scots That they are a poor weak people and not considerable Truely They do not hold themselves either potent or considerable in regard of greater Nations but such as they are God hath made them very helpfull to other Nations which think themselves very considerable For example Did they not turn the ballance in the affairs of France under Charles the seventh when things were very low with the French for at their going to help that King they found him so distressed and so under the power of his Enemy that he was constrained to keep himself at Bourges in Berry Hence he was called in derision King of Bourges But in a very short time they helped him so that he repossessed himself of his whole Dominions and repulsed the Enemy Now Have they not done more unto their Brethren of England Have they not made their quarrell their own exposing their lives and all that is dear unto men for them And by their help are not their Brethren come to have the face of affaires changed unto the better so far that not onely they are come to equall terms with the Enemy but they have brought him so low that in likelyhood he will not rise again so hastily Howsoever the Scots be inconsiderable in the eyes of some men yet God in his goodnesse hath considered them so far as to make them usefull instruments in this his great Work of opposing the Enemies of his Truth both open and declared and secret and undermining And ye see both parties of open and secret Enemies to the Truth of God have considered the Scots so far that each of them hath by all cunning pressed to have the Scots for and with them but the Enemies seeing they could not prevaile they have made their earnest study by devises and Plots underhand and by open violence and force to wit by an absolute and declared War as far as they can to destroy the good party in Scotland as the onely obstacle of hindering the one and the other Enemy to compasse their designes and to set up their by-ends Hence the good party in England considereth the Scots as their onely helpers for without their assistance they had all been undone before now and howsoever they are strong in appearence for the present if the Scots should retire and leave them it is conceived upon just grounds that they were to begin the play again As for despicability Howsoever the Scots be despised by some now adayes I am sure had it not been for these despised men many here who are at
this time come to a great hight had been in little consideration and they whose valour and wisdom are so much questioned at this time surely in their own businesse they did shew themselves to have both to the admiration of their Neighbours and their valour and wisdom were never questioned till they were joyned with England and although they have shewn do shew daily both as much as men can do for the carrying on the Work wherein they are ingaged unto the content of all impartiall men although not to the mind of self-conceited phantasticall and by-ended ones who gave out That the Scots will destroy them and themselves Surely I am perswaded had the Scots framed their courses according to the desires altogether of some men they had long ere now both been destroyed and had they not so far complied with the humours of some men the Publike Service had been in a better estate in all probability In this I blame the wisdom of the Scots for otherwise they had not suffered their own Countrey thus to be spoiled in compliance to some when they might have helped it in time As for their means Although in the eyes of the superabondants they be not so considerable yet they were such that they lived well upon them and they could wish with all their hearts to have no more then they had when they joyned with England for the Service of this Common Cause And if they reproach the barrennesse of the soile in Scotland It is the fault of the Climate which lieth so Northerly and not of the people and the soile if it be not so fertile of fruits as hotter grounds yet it abounds in men of valour and wisdom as much as any Countrey whatsoever of its compasse And these despicable ones of old and of late have obtained Victories against great and considerable Enemies by valour Perhaps if the Scots were more enclined to husbandry or improving their ground and other things which nature affords them by the goodnesse of God they would be in a kinde more plentifull of conveniencies for the life of man then they are As to the Garison-Towns which the Scots have rescued from the Enemy for the good of this Church and State with hazard hardship and losse of divers brave men and which are still in the Scots hands for the publike Service it hath ministred one convenient occasion unto those factious ones to make a great deal ado yea to strive to bring things to a breach betwixt the two Kingdoms if it were possible and they have proceeded so far as to cause the Towns and Places to be demanded from the Scots betwixt such and such a day without any consideration unto equity Whether or no it is just that the Scots have some places of retreat so long as they are in the Service of the Common Cause wherein they are obliged by Common Interest and bound by Treaty to continue till the full setling of things in Church and State Next Without consideration if it be or not for the benefit of the Service now in hand that these Garison-Places should be left by the Scots since we have seen by divers passages and occurrences of affaires that it hath proved very usefull for the said Service that those places were in their hands for a time namely in the enterprise of Digby with his associates towards Scotland Then When we cast our eyes upon those who have an aim particularly at the having of those places we shall finde it to be fit for the Service of the Cause which we fight for that those Garison-Towns should remain with those who now have them for a time who are both constant and trusty to their true principles of the Covenant and the others altogether against the good of the said Service Yea It is most prejudiciable to the Cause we have now in hand to put those places in the hands of those who either side with the Common Enemy still in their affections as they have been serving him openly by their actions formerly or of those who underhand with cunning stop the setling of things amongst us as we are sworn to by the Covenant and so frustrate so far as in them lies the intention of it Further Those men who are so little faithfull to the Covenant cannot from their heart mind the good of the State or people more then they do the welfar of the Church As the Scots took Arms for the publike Service they neither pretended nor did intend to hold the places they have taken any longer then the said Service shall require for the setling of the ends of the Common Cause expressed in the Covenant no more then they did formerly witnesse their returning so quietly home and their refusall of those Seigneuries Towns and Counties adjacent from the King to joyn with him against the Parliament and that more then once Me thinks that after all this all rationall and unprejudiciall men should speak clearly for the Scots fair and honest intentions since they are entred into so solemn a League and Covenant for which they have undergone and do to this day undergo so much hardship hazards and losses Men may talk and babble yea devise tricks and fancies for a time but it is honesty and truth that holds out to the end and it stands with Gods Justice to make lyes and double dealings fall to the ground Before I conclude I will adde this short ensuing discourse First There hath been a great busling raised by those factious men who trouble both State and Church about the publishing of some papers given in to the Houses of Parliament by the Scots Commissioners Those men had prevailed so far with some of their Friends in authority as to make an exact scrutinie by whom these papers were first printed and by whose order as for the second impression they had nothing to say which the Commissioners caused to be made upon a nicety for some faults of the Printer committed in the first impression thinking themselves wronged namely because it was not corrected according to their mind and the thing to have been done without their expresse order but since it was done it could not be ret called Next Those factious men moved their Friends in authority to draw up a Declaration against the Scots for those papers with very tart expressions as we are informed but after riper deliberation the fume of anger being setled the thing was left off a time for they did clearly perceive that no Declaration satisfactory to the people could be made against the Scots or their papers since it could not be demonstrated that full satisfaction in reason had been given to the Scots upon their severall papers from time to time given in Now Let the Scots Commissioners confesse that they have failed by their silence in not making known unto the world from time to time the papers of greatest concernment which they have given in to the Houses and what satisfaction they have received upon
as wherein Justice is denied there Answer to the seventh Proposition That for the complaints that are or may be made of the Scottish Army to the Parliament the Committee do conceive it just That the complaints should be communicated to the Scots Commissioners as is desired And for the preventing of such complaints to the Parliament for the future That the Committee of both Kingdoms residing with the Scots Army endeavour the redresse of them if possible upon the place After all this upon complaints made on purpose The Scots must be sent back in all haste without any more ado without regard to what they have done what they are doing and what they may do for the publike Cause now in hand and without respect to the Treaty made betwixt the two Nations and to their mutuall ingagements And this went on so far by the artifice of the Independents that it was moved in publike by a great stickler of that Faction and a Venter of their Plots Thereafter The Independents have another thought which is to have the Garrisons taken in by the Scots from the Enemy in their possession namely Carlile and New-castle as places fit for their plantations from the one they do think to spread their seed into Scotland and send it over to Ireland with facility and from the other to have easie commerce with London Amsterdam c. and this is because the Scots hinder their Plots But let the World judge whether or no it is reasonable that the Scots return presently back into their Countrey and give over those Garrisons before the Work be ended that is Religion and Peace setled for which they have done and suffered so much abroad and at home in their zeal to the Cause and kindnesse to their Friends and leave all to the adversaries of the Covenant and whether or no they should have any place of retreat in case of need so long as they are about the Service And Is it to be thought that the Scots should return home re infecta they came hither for when they are constantly willing and in capacity to go usefully on with the Service to say nothing of the just thanks due unto them for what they have suffered and done in their love to the Cause and affection to their Friends What Must the Scots abandon the Garisons to the adversaries of the Reformation who have already some sticklers in New-castle who begin to broile and to trouble the People with their errours and phantasticall dreams leading to Faction and division Last The factious Independents in what truth we shall see it presently give out That it is by their wisdom purses and valour that things are brought to so good a passe and unto the happy condition we see them in for the ending of these troubles To this I answer Let no man sacrifice unto his own worth merit or action for it is a great sacriledge to take away from God his due who is all in all since in him we are and move not having either being or motion but by him originally and by his continued upholdig and assistance of us Then It is Idolatry to put any thing whatsoever in the lieu of God But let this passe for this time As for the wisdom purses and valour of the Independents Where were they before the Scots coming in Yea Where were they before the raising of the Siege of Oxford And to begin at their wisdom By a great deal of cunning they have stopped the setling of the Church to this day and consequently the setling of the Common-wealth The Church being as it were the soul and the State as the body of the Common-wealth except the Church that is the soul be in a good posture the Common-wealth cannot be well And for the State or politike part of the Common-wealth They are the cause of all the jarres jealousies and mistakes betwixt men of both Nations and betwixt divers in this one Nation yea betwixt City and Parliament Next By craft from the very beginning of this War the Independents have scrued themselves in imployment and got in to have a main hand in all businesses But by their wisdom they had brought things to such a passe that not onely they did lose their credit but they durst hardly appear in the streets for a time so odious were they become unto the People The incoming of the Scots did put life in them again for the People seeing that they were so earnest for the Scots whose successe and dexterity was known to all with their fidelity and honesty could not but give occasion to think better of the Independents then they had done formerly by reason of the miscarriage of things But these sweet Birds ingrate to their restaurators and unthankful to the People fall to their old tricks again to raise up their Faction against Church and State As the Scots by their assistance gave the Independents life when they were dead as it were and raised them from the dust unto consideration by their seasonable help so the late miscarriage of busine; sses by some then in power did furnish unto the Independents some means to thrust in businesses favour among the People All this while the Independents are getting themselves in all Committees and Counsells namely where money is a handling So by degrees they get benefit and power into their hands and then pleasure some whom they do affect and put nack others whom they do dislike By this means divers of all ranks to get their desires either of benefit or employment do side with them or to have their turn served for the present do cog in with them for a time As the Independents do dispose all things almost according to their mind in the Southern Forces by putting out those they do dislike and taking in those whom they think fit for their ends or at least who do not oppose them nor do take any notice of their tricks and devises So They do study in the North to keep the Scots idle being not fitted with accommodations for the Service yet earnest they are to call them Southward yea to make the weight of the main Service to lie upon them and then cry out against them That they do not go on as they were desired and that to irritate both Parliament and People Then As the new moulded Army was a setling many good occasions of doing businesses are let passe by the faults of the Independents whereunto advice was given namely by the Scots Commissioners and by other judicious men upon good intelligence for the easie compassing of things At last There must be a Siege at Oxford at such a time and in such a way How that Siege was undertaken according to the rules of wisdom the judicious understanding and indifferent men both at home and abroad can tell All this time the Independents in their wisdom are not onely busie to stop the setling of the Church in a true and through Reformation as by the Covenant