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
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
very dangerous after so many attempts of evil doing by the Enemy to retire them from England not as yet well setled and to cashiere their Army remitting the event of things to God resolve to return home and dismisse their Army and so make known unto all the World their Candour and Integrity and to take away all jealousies both from the King and from England which they do according to promise not failing in the least circumstance yea not of the day Well the King having gained this point to send home the Scots and to make them lay down their Arms resolveth to follow them into Scotland and to trie once more to draw them to his designe no perswasion being able to stay or to stop his voyage he goeth in haste from London and overtaketh the Scots as their were upon their removall from New-castle for Scotland He vieweth their Army by the way and talketh with the Prime Officers thereof He giveth Order to some of the good Physicians about him to feel the pulse of the Scots softly but they found the Scots pulse did not beat as they could have wished He goeth on in his journey into Scotland whither he is no sooner arrived but he puts another designe afoot premeditated with many more before for it is the custome of the wise Court to have at one and the same time divers undertakings in designe of which it is a very hard matter it one or other do not take effect Yea they have found but too true to our wofull experience that many have taken effect and that not of the lesser ones wherefore the Court will never cease to devise and invent enterprises The Plot then set afoot by the K. in Scotland was to make a considerable Party there for his ends and to make the businesse more facile he resolveth to make sure the Chief men of Scotland who were likely either to stop the designe or not further it But this Plot is also discovered and so it failed The next recourse was to the Irish Papists his good Friends unto whom from Scotland a Commission is dispatched under the Great Seal which Seal was at that instant time in the Kings own custody of that Kingdom to hasten according to former agreement the raising of the Irish in Arms who no sooner receive this new Order but they break out and at the first beginning of their Rebellion declared that they had no ill will against any Scots in Ireland for they were afraid of the Scots going over to the help of their Countrey-men and so they would be stopped to go on with their Work but their spleen was against these English Protestants who were Friends to that wicked Parliament in England so untoward to the good King and so adverse to their Catholike Cause This Declaration of the Irish did not although in favour of their Country-men hinder the Scots to offer their present Service for the repressing of the Rebellion before things grew worse The King fairly refuseth the offer and answering with verball thanks said that he neither could nor would do any thing in the businesse without the advice and assistance of the Parliament now a foot in England whereunto he was to repaire in all haste So he leaveth Scotland saying that every day he stayed there was the losse of a County to him He cometh to London a little before Christmas the Rebellion having begun in Ireland in October But he goe's very seldom to the Parliament and when he goeth thither he sayeth nothing concerning the Irish Rebellion till by importunity he was constrained to it and then what he said was little cold and ambiguous And when the Scots by their Commissioners who had followed him from Scotland hither did offer again a considerable help of ten thousand men things were so carried both in the Counsell and in the Parliament by the corrupt and ignorant Party then that the Scots were delayed from day to day by one shift or other for a long space before that conditions could be agreed upon with them for the sending of their help unto Ireland And it was a longer time after the agreement before things could be furnished unto them for their Voyage By those means the Rebels had ado with lesse opposition and consequently with lesse difficulty carried on their barbarous Work of spoiling burning and massacring innocent people of all rank and condition without regard to sex or age The Scots are no sooner gone to Ireland but they assist their Friends with such affection and successe that after some skirmishes and renconters with the Rebels the North Countrey of Ireland whereunto their help was particularly assigned became pretty well cleared of the Rebels although much wasted and and spoiled by them In this course hath the Scots continued to this day constantly opposing these bloody wretches notwithstanding the change that hath fallen in the South part of that Kingdom by the treachery of those whom the Parliament employed and trusted to Then when the King made a Cessation with these barbarous Cannibals the Scots resolutely declared against it and have manfully opposed it to this day Without which opposition of the Scots it had been received every where in Ireland and the Rebels then having nothing to do at home had come hither in Bands and Troups into this Island Thus did and still doth the Scots pursue their Point notwithstanding all the hardship they have suffered and yet suffer in the Service partly by reason of the great troubles here of the Parliament not being able to supply their Friends as they would and as they need partly by the negligence and unfaithfulnesse of those who have been employed by the Parliament and intrusted to have a care of supplying this need which hath been so great that the Scots Army in Ireland had absolutely starved for cold and hunger if they had not been helped from Scotland in a high measure To return unto England The misled King having left the Parliament accompanied or at least followed by numbers of men of divers degrees Traytors to God and to their Countrey namely by those double Traytors who were Members of the Houses of Parliament for they not onely have been dishonest and unfaithfull to the Church and State whereof they are born Members and Children but they have betray'd the trust wherewith they were trusted in both By the assistance of which he sets his designe on foot to make open War against the Parliament although under a hid notion to destroy it all other Devices and Plots contrived by him and his having failed as we have seen Upon this the Scots in their respect to the King love unto their Brethren in England and above all in their affection to the Cause of the Church of God send Commissioners unto the King and from him to the Parliament as the occasion should serve They found the King at York where he was pulling his Sword out of its sheath with all his might and shaping it in all haste
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
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
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
papers to the Presse which the Printer intitles The Scots Manifest This being published opened the eyes of many men to see the truth of things which formerly had been kept in a cloud The publishing of this Manifest did much vex the Malignants but they then were more grieved to see it so well received and the truth therein contained so greedily laid hold on by the people whom they hitherto had so grosly abused by their malicious lyes Upon this these lye-inventers bethink themselves of another shift to cozen the World in this same businesse and they go this way to work seeing they could not hinder the printing of the Manifest they resolve to know whether or no the thing had been done by Order from the Commissioners who being enquired if they had caused print the Manifest they answered no and so it was for without their knowledge the thing was done because that those who had a care of the printing of it knew very well that the Commissioners going on in their ordinary course upon I know what prudentiall scrupulosity do make known nothing of that they acquaint the Houses with fearing to offend howsoever needfull to be opened for the publike Service and their own credit but if there be any thing to be said against them although without ground they must hear of it on the deaf-side of their ear and it must be in every bodies mouth Then the forgers and publishers of lyes gave out that the Manifest was a false and supposed thing since the Commissioners did not own it when as they onely did say that they had no hand in the printing of it although they ayouch the thing to be in it self most true Thus in this place I have set down a full relation of the publishing of the Manifest whereof I touched somewhat before upon another occasion to make more known unto the World with what cunning and crafty malice the Malignants of all kindes do oppose the truth upon all occasions and how they study to hide it from those whom it doth concern to the end they may feed them with lyes more easily the truth being kept from them After that the Commissioners had sent as we have said to the Army two severall dispatches the House of Commons think it fit likewise to send some of their number to the Scotish Army to see how things went in the said Army and to hasten it South-ward who met the Army about Rippon and come along with it no Nattingham where those Gentle-men leave the Army and come back to the Houses whom they acquainted with the truth of all things as namely of the good condition of the Army consisting in a fair number of brave Commanders and lusty Souldiers of their ability and readinesse to do Service Which relation as it did content and please honest men so it did gal and vexe the Malignants of all kindes But with what difficulties of want of provisions and of carriage the Army had to struggle with in this march and hath had formerly yea hath to this day for any thing I know except things be mended of late as now I hope they are or at least will be shortly is beyond expression partly through the neglect of some partly through the malice of others and that not of the meaner sort who make their study not onely to furnish no encouragement to these who are come for their help but also give them all the distaste they can to make them weary of the Service yea to make them do things by the Law of necessity to keep themselves from starving which otherwayes they would not and so make them odious to those for whose good they are come into this Countrey If this were done by an open Enemy yea by those who declare themselves to be indifferent it were to be in some kinde digested but it is done by those who would make men beleeve that they are not onely most addicted to the good Cause but also that they are advancers of the Service whereas they make onely the Cause serve for a cloke to their ambition and avarice in their heart caring for nothing howsoever they make a shew otherwayes but to compasse their own ends whereunto a shew of affection to the good Cause doth contribute namely where they have any credit But to leave off complaining of those who are neither faithfull nor honest to the Cause in thus useing the Scots I going on in my Discourse will say a word or two in this place to the clearing of three things whereof the first is concerning the moneys received by the Scots for their pay since their first undertaking either in Ireland or in England unto this day The next is how and what provisions they have had for their going on with the Service either here or in Ireland The third is of the disorders committed by the Scots in their Armies either in England or in Ireland First I assure you in the name of the Scots that their earnest desire is that all these things in particular be exactly tryed by the Law of Arms and in equity judged where the failings are and by whom and how to the end that every one may have his due of praise or of shame of thanks or of blame of recompense or of punishment of remembrance or of oblivion according as the cause shall require and the sooner this be done the better it will for the Service of the publike and the encouragement of honesty and the repressing of wickednesse In the mean time I will tell you in generall that what money is received by the Scots is far short of what they ought to have and that they could wish their Armies in England to say nothing of their Forces in Ireland had as much money for six weeks as the other Forces employed in the Service with them have in two weeks and this without jealousie or envie that others are lookâ—d and cared for yet there is no reason why they should be neglected since they are constantly following the publike Service with activity and faithfulnesse There is a great stir of sending money to them and far greater of raising it for them although they receive but a very small proportion in regard either of what is allowed for them and lesse of what is due unto them and least of all what is said to be levied for them Wherefore I say again they are most desirous of fair reckonings among Friends let the payment come when it may the most pressing necessity being supplied Next For provisions besides the smalnesse of them they come so slowly I must say again that when they are upon their march they are constrained to stay three dayes in one place against their will for one dayes provision and draughts can hardly be had for their march as it hath been in their march so it is in their abode witnesse their being ten dayes before Hereford not seeing bread but one day all the rest liying upon Beanes green Corn and
of Religion and Peace setled the fruits of our endeavours much wished and longed for by Nottingham 12 June 1645. Your Lordships most humble Servants LEVEN CALENDAR HAMILTON WE have heard how the Parliament of England sent Commissioners into Scotland to call in the Scots unto its help and to capitulate with them concerning their in-coming We have heard also how that Commissioners were sent from Scotland hither to be at the drawing up of the Covenant betwixt the two Nations who ever since have constantly assisted the Synod in the discussion of Church-affaires more according to agreement betwixt the Nations thereafter there was other Commissioners sent hither to share with the Parliament in the managing of State-businesses of Peace and War wherein now both Kingdoms are jointly ingaged To this effect the Houses of Parliament chuseth a certain number of Lords and Commons to treat of all things concerning Peace and War jointly with the Scots and so together they make up the Committee of both Kingdoms wherein the Scots have a negative voice and nothing is done or at least ought to be done without their knowledge and consent concerning Peace or War directly or indirectly all play under boord and clandestine dealing being forbidden to both equally upon the reason of the common interest of both Those who had been adverse unto the in-coming of the Scots to help the Parl. were much against the setting up of this Committee but at last after some debate the thing is done in spite of opposition So the Committee is set afoot for a certain time of some few Moneths by Ordinance of both Houses The time prefixed for the sitting of the Committee is no sooner expired but those same men with the aid of others whom they had stirred up to that purpose cast in difficulties and will by no means give consent for the continuance of this Committee so for some dayes it is broken up then earnest work there was to get it restablished again but all to small purpose till in the end there is found one Clause in the Ordinance for the setting it up at first which did serve for the restablishing of it maugre those who did oppose it Since that time it hath continued constantly to this day although not without vexation to some namely because the Committee could not sit without the Scots being present Now the Scots called and joined with the English to manage the affaires of the publike Service for the Common Cause of Church and State at first they did think that they were to have nothing or at least little ado but to put forward the publike Service with earnestnesse and vigour against the Common Enemy without any let here by any of their own party and so they resolve with themselves to be very modest and tender with all warinesse in their proceedings with their Brethren of England who had called them hither upon such assurance and were so kinde unto them in their expressions yea so carefull of them that they would have them to lodge neerer for their own convenience and that of their Friends going to visit them and so the Scots remove from the City where they had lodged in former time and are placed in Worcester-house where now they lodge Those who pretend to know more of the Mysteries of the World then other men tell us that the removing of the Scots from the City to Worcester-house was not so much the convenience of the Scots or of their Friends which was intended although so given out as their weaning from their old Friends in the City who formerly had been so usefull and so respective to them by a cunning forcasting of some men to wear them out of acquaintance and intimacie with the City being afraid not to carry on things so easily according to their intent if the Scots were constantly intime and familiar with the City Whatever the end of removing the Scots from the City was it is fallen out so that the Scots being at such a distance have not been able to cherish and nourish their former intimacie and old Friendship with the City as they are bound in gratitude carefully to do and as the publike Service requireth joint with their own advantage Thereafter the Scots finde a harder task then they had promised unto themselves in the beginning for besides the great and main work against the Common Enemy they find some few men here in the party whereunto they are joyned for the Service of the Common Cause of Religion and Liberty in all the three Kingdoms who do not onely shew them but small favour but also as far as can be without open breach crosse and oppose them and in them the publike Service First those who from the beginning did not approve of their in-coming for fear they should eclipse their lustre and diminish their power was cold and adverse to them Next some others of those who had most bestirred themselves and most appeared in the calling in of the Scots to help having done the work of their in-bringing lay down a new ground for the reparing the breach of their own credit which by the miscarriage of things namely in the West as we have said before had been much diminushed and by degrees make up their credit upon the decline of the others whereunto their earnestnesse for the Scots did much serve and the Scots intimacy with them for many gave willingly way unto them when they did see them so intime with the Scots whom they knew to have no by-ends and those men on the other side did endear themselves unto the Scots by sundry good offices for a time which they did unto them in things concerning their Forces in England Ireland employed in the Common Service and by their constant and frequent courting of the Scots they did so take them up that they alone almost were admitted to any privacy then some did laugh in their sleeve to see a few not so considerable before bear such a sway and the Scots led thus by the nose and others did complain saying Why should this be It was expected the Scots Commissioners should have been open and free to all honest men namely to those of worth yea they ought to have been so for the good of the publike Service and for their own credit not captiving themselves as it were to some few ones Further it was said that they should have pressed home businesses more stoutly and more freely then they did as they had done in former times in their own particular affaires when they had not so many professed and powerfull Friends letting nothing passe of that was clearly for the good of the publike By this complying complaisance the Scots Commissioners have given such advantage to those who for a time courted them most for their own ends as it seems for if it had been altogether for the publike the Scots remaining constant to their point and principles although with lesse vigour I confesse then I could
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
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
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
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