MERCURIUS SCOTICUS Giving the World to ground upon this evident truth Videlicet That the Scotish Rebels the Presbyter or Kirck-faction Never intended that CHARLES the second should be their King Published to underceive the Cozoned Covenanters of the three Nations meerely drawne into Blood and Ruine by the Iugling of Some ruling Iockeys Printed at Rotterdam by P. C. and are to be sold By GYSBERT van ROON Bookseller in the Draybridge-steegh in the English Bible 1650. WHen the news of Charles the firsts death came into Scotland the States-men who were invested with the government of that kingdome before by L. Gen. Cromwel and the English army in Octo. 1648. Duke Hamiltons army being defeated and betrayed three moneths before The Kings death seemed to them to be much grieved for those Estates pretended to be as forward to revenge it as any And least it should appear to the people that they with L. Gen. Cromwell had complotted his death at my Lady Humnes her house in the suburbs of Edenbrough they complaine against the Independants of England or murthering the King but the furious Kirkmen which could not so well dissemble in their Kirkprayers and preachments in plain tearmes told their credulous ignorant easie auditors that he deserved to die having been a hinderer of Reformation I and had shed much blood of the Saints He fiery Sir Iohn blamed the Independant for doing it without the house of Lords did not disclaim the act as unjust or contrary to the laws of God and man as an unchristian as an inhumane and unheard of savage monstrous bloody act in their answer to L. Gen. Cromwells declaration to the equal scarlet Scots in Scotland Iuly 20. 1650. These states of that nation never without a cloake for their designes proclaimed Charles the second to make the world beleeve that they and the elder Iuncto in England were not united in hearts and councels and equally abominated Monarchy Yet so proclaimed they the king that no judicious man but might see they never intended to receive him to be their King what ere to gull the simple they pretended whereupon a royall party in the North betook themselves into the field finding he must not be their free Prince but in bonds for they heard him proclaimed King with this limitation that he should give such security to preserve Liberty Law and Religion as the Kirk and State should judge satisfactory that is he should give what ever the factious Rebels should aske of him before he should be admitted to enter the kingdome hereupon the Scottish Statesmen dispatch Commissioners unto him at the Isle of Iersey with such unreasonable propositions and demands as that his Majestie could not in honor or safety grant them In this treaty his Majesty disclaimed his Scotch friends who were in armes for him May 15. 1649 The Treaty being dissolved the Commissioners returne his Majesties negative answere to the State and Kirk of Scotland which was most acceptable to the Grandees of that rebellious crew for now they had some ground of quarrell His title to the Crowne was unquestionable his innocent age blamelesse O but now now they have what they fisht for his negative answer will afford them matter enough to declare against him as now concluding him one overruled by evill Counsell the old way of worming in an enemy into the Estate and Kirk whereupon they resolved at that instant to declare peremptorily against him and for a month continued in this resolution but upon further debates and second thoughts finding the greatest part of the kingdome loyall and ready to joyne with the Marques of Montrose if he came in with any considerable force they resolve once more to send to his Majesty before they would publish the declarations they had then provided judging it a farr better way to defeat the Marq. Montrose his designe in making his Majesty an absolute Monarch by a Treaty then opposing his Generall in the field this being subject to the chance of warre but the other safe and sure a subtle way and finding divers eminent persons that had power with the King to perswade him to desert Montrose and cast himself upon them and their faithfull godly party Upon this consideration Mr. George Windrum was sent to the Isle of Iersey to desire his Majesty would be pleased to appoint a convenient place and time for a second treaty which he according to the good meaning of his innocent royall heart did naming Breda and the 15 of March 1649. the place and time of meeting In the beginning of which second treaty his Majesty did stand to his former principles But at last some eminent persons prevailed with him to yeeld to the Scots demands to work which the Hamiltonian faction in the Court to my knowledge were also exceedingly assistant representing to his Majesty that the Marq. Montrose was not 200 foot strong in Orkney and that such an inconsiderable force could not be able to raise the countrey of Scotland and that for forrain aid from Princes there was no possibility of expecting it most of them being unable and much engaged in war and others having scare quenched the fire in their own dominions were not willing to involve themselves or subjects in a forrain warre which would require a dayly supply of men and mony from them They told him it would be encouragement to his friends abroad to be aiding and assisting to him if he were possessed of one of his kingdomes and that his yeelding to the Scots party would give great satisfaction to the Presbiterians of England and much hearten them and others to take up armes against the Rebels of England Upon these and other motives with the earnest solicitation of those persons his Majesty concludes an absolute agreement with the Scots Commissioners and sends a letter to the Marq. of Montrose commanding him to disband his forces and retire to Denmarke untill further order and that he should deliver up his armes and amunition to the Scots Commissioners or to the Sheriffe of the County wherein he was But before the Gentleman could come into Scotland the Marq. of Montrose was taken prisoner and most barbarously murthered by the Kirk and State for his loyalty and fidelity to the King Here judge you if Charles the first was not murthered and Charles the second wounded not in effigies or in picture but in the highest image and character that could represent Majesty in his Generall and Vice-roy Now all this while his Majesty is treating at Breda the Scots hold knowne correspondency with those of England Mr. Ansley being Agent at Edenbrough sending dayly provision to the garrisons of Barwick and Newcastle and soliciting them dayly for aid against the Marq. of Montrose but a week before the Marq. landed a Statesman wrote a letter to Sr. Arthur Hasselrig giving him a true account of their present condition Aprill 14. 1650 assuring him that the affaires of that kingdome were come to that height that the godly party
would be forced to fly to England very suddainly if that the English did not advance presently toward their borders During this treaty also likewise the Ministers did endeavour both by their prayers and preachments to make the royall Family odious to the people and to disgrace the loyall party affirming them to be more wicked and greater enemies to God and true Religion then the Sectaries or Independants of England and that they might with greater safety joyn with Independants then with the Malignant party that were honoured by the King but dishonorous of God and his true worship such and some of them were Mr. Hogge Lesley Mungalaw Iohn Sterling and Hamilton The States of Scotland being now free of all fear of being annoyed any more by the Kings party his Generall and Viceroy hanged and his body quartered they begin to assume their former resolutions and designe of having no King And to that end dispatch Mr. William Murray with letters and new instructions to their Commissioners requiring them forthwith to break off the Treaty and return because their proclaimed King had broken faith with them in sending the Marq. of Montrose to invade Scotland in the time of treaty wherein they highly and falsly abuse his Majesty for there was no cessation agreed on and that if they had made any agreement with their King to disclaim it in their name as having gone further then their Commission or Instructions led them or would warrant them And that they might have some colour of reason for this they send some Animadversions vpon their first instructions shewing their true meaning and intention in them which I may one day get and publish and that their Commissioners had missetaken their meaning in concluding and agreeing with the King They command Mr. Murray to present unto the King how much the kingdome of Scotland was enraged against him and how by common consent and the universall cry his Generall was executed that in him and his death he might see the affections of that people alienated from him and what his own fate might prove that he dyed excommunicate being denied absolution was quartered his head staked up and bowels buried under the gallows And that it might clearly appear he could not go for Scotland in safety they give him a list of fourteen Noblemen and Gentlemen that were banisht Scotland without whose personall presence his Majesty could not continue in the kingdome one day in safety And that these Machevills might have some shew of reason for disclaiming their King and draw the people to joyn with them in this their last designe against his Majesty they appoint two declarations to be penned one by the Kirk another by the State and that the penners of those declarations might be the better furnished with matter they examine their then prisoners of Montroses party concerning their Commissions granted to them to invade the kingdome interogating them what Princes his Majesty had solicited to that end and whether they ever heard his Majesty call them Rebels and Traitors and whether he did not threaten to destroy Scotland with fire and sword in case they did not submit to him And whether they did not think his Majesty popishly affected and whether while he was in France he did not go to Masse These and the like intergatories were put to the prisoners in hope that through fear to displease them some of them would depose what might contribute to a charge against their innocent King And that the people might be the better perswaded for disclaiming their King their Ministers in ther Pulpits and Sermons told the people that his Majesty did now shew himself an Hawk of the right nest and that he would be more bloody then ever his father was or any of his Progenitors Mr. Lesly Mr. Hogge and others That it appeared clearly God had such a controversie with the royall Family as he had with Ahabs and that he hoped to live to see that Race out off Root and Branch In their prayers they made the King and his father of ever blessed memory guilty of all the blood that had been shed in the three kingdomes and prayed God that Charles the second might never come to sit upon his Throne untill he repented himself of granting Commissions to wicked men to shed the blood of Gods peculiar people But further these Rebels knowing that a baredeclaration would not maintain the quarrell against the King and his party they resolve to rew modell their army and to keep open correspondency with the State of England and to make a league offensive and defensive with them To this end they dispatch one Major Dicsn a known Independent to the State of England to let them know they had sent to their Commissioner Mr. Will. Murray to recall them and disclaim any agreement with him their proclaimed King Having thus cloathed their designe they dreame of a perpetuall enjoyment of their usurped power and of setling the peace of that State in such a way that the whole world should not be able to disturbe it But vain and foolish prove the counsels of men where God sits not president the wisedome of these Achitephels a months time findes turned into folly for before Mr. Murray could get into Holland his Majesty and the Scots Commissioners were fully agreed and his Majesty gone with them into Scotland and before the Parliament of Scotland knew his Majesty was landed the agreement which was made at Breda was ratified by both parties on Scotch ground and so fully confirmed that it was not possible in the State to question the Agreement The unexpected newes of his Majesties landing though it amazed the Statesmen and such as I will not name for some reasons untill my next yet was the hearts of all sorts of other people transported with unspeakeable joy insomuch as they received him as King and as another Moses sent of God to deliver them from their unjust and overtiring Taske masters which did not onely oppresse them in their estates by continued illegall taxes and impositions by free quarter and excise and in their persons by banishments and imprisonments but in their very soules forcing them to go on in and perpetrate their wicked courses against God and their King But upon his Majesties arrivall as if at present they felt ease by his presence from all these generall joy is expressed by fireing beacons and making bonefires three nights together and such like publications to the world of honouring their King with much studied joy and that it was in vaine now for the Scotch party to oppose the King or confine him to the castle of Dunnotter as some of them after his arrivall moved he might have been but his Majesties unexpected and sodain comming together with the peoples universall joy for an honourable reception of him Not onely prevented the plots of the rebellious party of Kirk and State against him but likewise it encreased the jealousie the English had of the Scots Presbitry
ground of stumbling from the Kings Majesty refusing to subscribe and emit the declaration offered unto him by the Committee of Estates and Commissioners of the generall Assembly concerning the firme carriage and resolution for the future in reference to the cause of God and the enemyes and friends thereof Doth hereby declare That the Kirke and Kingdome doe not owne or espouse any malignant party or quarrel or interest But that they fight meerely upon their former grounds and principals and in defence of the cause of God and the kingdome as they have done the twelve yeers past and therefore as they disclaim all the sinnes and guilt of the King and his house so they will not own him nor his interest otherwise then with a subordination to God and so far as he owns and prosecutes the cause of God and disclaimes his and his fathers opposition to the work of God and to the Covenant and likewise all the enemies thereof And that they will with all convenient speed take in consideration the papers sent to them from Oliver Cromwell and vindicate themselves from all the falshoods contained therein especially in those things wherein the quarrell betwixt us and that party is mistated that is if we owned the late Kings proceedings and were resolved to prosecute and maintain his present Majesties interest before and without acknowledgement of the sinnes of his house and former wayes to Gods people in both kingdomes A. Ker. The Committee of Estates having seen and considered a declaration of the Commissioners of the generall Assembly anent the stating of the quarrell wherein the army is to fight do approve the same and heartily concurre therein Tho. Hend Printed by Evan Tyler Printer to the Kings most excellent Majestie 1650. Further Collectives conducing to the proof of the purposed ground Since the Scotch Army was routed the Kirk have commanded a generall Fast and have in Print given these reasons to incite thereunto 1. For that we have sinned and finde the displeasure of the Lord upon us of this Nation in generall 2. For the sinnes of our Commissioners in bringing our King so soon contrary to the minde of the godly party 3. For our acceptance of him for our King before he had more sufficiently repented him of his by past sinnes 4. For not throughly purging the Army of the Malignants of the Nations 5. For our too much trusting to the Arme of flesh Consider these things and I shall onely offer two or three more for thee to ruminate at present Vize 1. Their moulding the grosse lump of their Scottish State according to the English Rebels present Plotforme 2. Their murthering his Maiesties Generall or executing them who appeared with him in Armes that had any spark of loyalty No cessation being agreed upon 3. Their depriving those Ministers that affected Monarchy hated independancy and antemonarchicall Sectaries 4. Their establishing their government of that kingdome these last yeeres to this very day in the hands of those who were enemies to Monarchie and engaged to destroy the royall Family having been so highly active in the late rebellion against Charles the first 5. Their entrusting the Army and Forts of that kingdome to this houre with none but the known Enemies of Monarchie Their not being in a posture of defence in their kingdome to receive the enemy at their not fortifying Leeth and other places 7. Their making no provision for the reception of the King by preparing any of his houses for him before he came 8. Being come the banishing his Majesties domestick servants 9. Their Ministers Mr. Iames Guthery Mr. Blair Mr. Rotherford c. impudently as falsly disgraceing and dishonouring his Majestie and his father of eternally blessed memory in their Court sermons or such like things to his face 10. Their not crowning his Majestie 11. Their not suffering his Majesty to abide in the Army or to call to his aid those whom he knew would not fear an enemy 12. Their not setting or suffering him to set up his Standard royall 13. Their daily setting forth most dishonourable Proclamations of their own in his sacred name And to look a little back for keeping correspondency with the English Rebels and entertaining Mr. Ansley as their Agent from England during the time the Commissioners were in tretay at Breda To all which adde Mr. Murrays commission and instructions to the Scots Commissioners at Breda to break off the Treaty and to disclaim any agreement with their King and now Mercurius Scotius appeals to the judgements of rationall men through the world whether he be from such premises false in his conclusion Vizt That the carrying Kirkmen and Committee of State in Scotland never intended their King should come into Scotland or themselves to engage in a war with the English upon his Interest In short that they never intended or do intend to have a King Salutes due c. SIr at present to satisfie you further of our publike affaires here this nation is divided and stands upon three Interests Collonel Straughan and Carr have one Army in the west of Scotland David Lesly and Argile abut Sterling and St. Iohnstons Major General Middleton and the Marq. of Huntly another in the North which last army hath made a new Covenant almost in the old language The loyall party in Athold have cut off a Regiment of David Leslys horse suprising them in their quarters by night Dr. Frozer contrived a conveyance of his Majesty from Argiles party to Clova in Angus but was betrayed in his designe by the treachery of some of them that carried him away and his Majesty forced back again The old plot onely the Sceane altered God prevent Aberdeen Octob. ult I thanke my friend for his intelligence much more for his Prayers and have some reason to joyn with him God grant it be not turnd upon the King he deserted us we are at large to desert him and the fate of Charles the second be not the same with the first The change of affaires may be strange upon this small action of Major Gen. Middleton Grant a uniting of these Interests and finde an expedient for the preserving Argiles person and securing his friends and I shall proclaim hopes for the abused King FINIS