Holland towards the North of Scotland stor'd with all sorts of Provisions Arms and Ammunition many Volunteers and good store of Horses I had like to forgot one observation worth your noting that whilest the King was under the tuition of the Scots Presbutery they would not afford him the freedome to speak or write to any of his friends all Letters either sent by his Majestie or directed to him they intercepted and opened and the only use they made of his Royall Hand and Authoritie tended ever to his dishonour and ofttimes to the destruction of himselfe and his party in the three Kingdomes for proofe of this I shall call to witnesse his Proclamations publisht in August last his peremptory command for disbanding Middleton and his friends in the North his declaring that party in Ireland Traytors who fought daily against the State of England his revoking the Commissions granted to the Marquesse of Ormond Lord Inchequeen and many others of that Nation that were to act by Sea and Land and lastly his recalling all Commissions granted to divers of the English Nobilitie and Gentrie in order to some action and designs then plotted against the Kingdome of England all which is sufficient to shew the Presbyterian is no Changeling Kings must be their Subjects and they themselves Kings or else there is no living amongst them And that you may see how much the Kingdome of Scotland hath groan'd under the Rigidnesse of Presbytery I shall acquaint you with a few Grieveances which of late have been represented to the King and his Counsell by the Commons with an earnest desire and hope of redresse Grievances against the Scots Presbytery 1. Their Usurping a power over all secular and Military Affairs for if by the major part in Parliament a Law be enacted contrary to their mindes they presently excommunicate the Members for sitting and Voting in that Parliament for this very cause Duke Hamilton Earle of Lyndsay Earle of Dumfernling Lauderdaile and divers others of the Nobility were forc'd to doe pennance and if any man else yield obedience to such statute enacted without their approbation he is immediately brought to the Stoole of Repentance witnesse all those that levied Horse or money for the use of Duke Hamiltons Army or did serve under his command 2. Their taking cognizance of things done in another Kingdome and beyond Seas an honest man was forced to doe pennance for drinking in a womans house at Campheere in Zealand who had been Excommunicated formerly by the Presbytery of Aberdeen likewise many others have been Excommunicated and constrain'd to doe penance for bearing Armes in England under Duke Hamilton 3. Their defaming of Persons of Honour and other particular Persons in their Pulpits as also their publishing defamatory Declarations to the scandall of Religion and contempt of Monarchy 4. Their secret subornation of children and servants to accuse and betray their Parents and Masters for words spoken in their Bed-chambers and private houses there is scarce a considerable Family in all the Kingdome where they have not by one means or other set a spy upon them 5. Their wresting out of the hands of the Nobility and Gentry the Patronages of all Ecclesiasticall Livings whereby they have occasion'd great corruption and divisions among the Clergy insomuch that in some places Churches have lyen voyd without any Minister two or three years to the eternall prejudice of the peoples souls 6. Their cruell interdicting of Churches in one County Atholl by name 5 Churches were interdicted 3 years together no Minister suffered to Preach or pray amongst the people all that time nor to administer Sacraments whereby many children dyed unbaptised 7. Their usurping an Arbitrary power over the souls of men every Minister taking upon him to debar whom he please even the best man of the Parish from the Sacrament and their denying Baptisme to the Children of Malignants 8. Their covetous increasing their owne stipends in all Corporations procuring the State to lay an imposition of 3 d. Excise upon every Scotch pinte of Wine to be payd to the Minister of the Parish making every house to pay the 12. penny according to the utmost rack'd Rent which is 20 d. per pound Sir All the effect these grievances produced at that conjuncture of time was That the King and His Councell thought it not fit to make the breach wider or increase Divisions amongst His Subjects onely for the present the Clergy were commanded not to intermeddle in Civill or Military Affaires but to preach to the people obedience to His Majesties Authority and Unity and Peace one amongst another Yet in the opinion of wise men if things should settle that way the Presbytery of SCOTLAND would be refined and made conformable to these in HOLLAND For as your Reformers did in the beginning call for a Moderate Episcopacy so the whole cry of the Scots Nation is for a Moderate Presbytery which in time will end in JOHN KNOX his Government whose designe was to place Superintendents in every County The Nobility and Gentry of that Kingdome as well as yours cannot endure to heare of the restoring of Episcopacy for feare their Sacrilegious Titles to the Churches Lands should once more be called in question As I was closing my Letter this certaine Intelligence I received That the Scots King having secured all the passes and landing places in FIFE and quelied the CLASSIS of STERLING who declared against Him and His Party is lately gone to suppresse the like Faction which the CLASSIS of ABERDEEN hath countenanced to the great prejudice and safety of that part of the Kingdome In His absence Duke HAMILTON commands the Southerne Army who endeavours dayly to try his friends in levying Forces in the West of SCOTLAND Here we expect some Scotch Nobleman as an Ambassader from the Scotch King for that Kingdome and the Report is the Lord GERARD hath a Commission sent him to bee His Embassador for the Kingdome of ENGLAND I have no more roome to write but onely to subscribe my selfe Your most humble servant From Rotterdam 10 1. March 1650.
A Letter from Rotterdam touching the Scotch Affaires since November 1650. SIR Since my Arrivall heere it hath beene my good hap to gaine a cleare confirmation of the truth of that Assertion that it never was in the intentions of the Presbyterian Scots to have Charles the 2. for their King and that you may also bee confirmed in the Assurance thereof I shall presume to offer to your more serious consideration this short view of some of their Actions since November last As first the strange rendition of the Castle of Edenborough the strongest hold in all the Kingdome whether out of cowardice or covetousnesse I dispute not sure I am out of no necessity the stores of Provisions Armes and Ammunition if Relations bee true being almost incredible Then the many secret Plots and Designes they have put in practice for the more cleanely betraying into the Enemies hand the Towne and Castle of Sterling and Burnt Eland those two principall Keies or fastnesses of Fife and Stragherne all which God in mercy hath hitherto frustrated to the Enemies disheartning and the Actors confusion I shall not neede to mention how heartily the Presbyterian entertained Ker and Stragherns Declaration with those in the West of Scotland though founded upon Independent Principles and purporting little lesse then renunciation of Monarchy Or what cunning tricks they used for putting off the Kings Coronation ambitious still to keepe the Reines of Government in their owne hands and curbe His Sacred Majesty in His Exercise of his Regall Power by enslaving Him to the unreasonable Articles hee was forced to condiscend unto at Breda Or how violently they opposed all Agreement with the Royall Party openly protesting against it and secretly fomenting Divisions amongst them till through Gods blessing in despite of all their Machinations Loyaltie prevailed and increased so fast as in a short space to overpower those Machivillian Kirk-lings whose guilt of conscience hourely pursued with just feares affrighted them quickly to decline His Majesties Mercy and Goodnesse and seeke for shelter and protection from the Enemies of their King and Countrie As for particulars I referre you to the weekely Newes-Bookes hee that will but waste so much time and paines as to peruse those Pamphlets may soone observe all these and many more and more mischievous Presbyterian Practices then heere are related But not to insist on such perty proofes a more convincing Argument wee have in that right Presbyterian and without offence to so Sacred a Solemnity bee it spoken sordid maner of Crowning their King on New-Years Day 1650. For whether wee looke upon it in any of those Circumstances of Time Place Persons or Ceremonies the Presbyterian basenesse is most clearely to be discerned thereby As for the Time the Nobility Gentry and Commons of that Kingdome having long groaned under the cruell oppressions of Kirke and State-Committees were ready to shake off that Iron Yoke and recover againe their Ancient Lawes and Liberties under the Golden and Gentle Scepter of Monarchy wherein their Forefathers for many generations had happily enjoyd so great Peace and plenty this the Presbyterian perceiving for feare lest the Royall Party should grow strong enough to set the Crowne on the Kings Head without them they resolve to doe it themselves making this advantage of the time still to ensnare His Sacred Majesty with the bonds of the Covenant and limit His Royal Prerogative ere the Nobility and Gentry could have free accesse to Court or the Army come to a Generall Randevouz The Place the most Prophane and Sacrilegious place in all Christendome a dining Chamber no Consecrated Chappell where the Belly is the onely God that is worshipped To shew the Presbyterians that are so stiffe in observing of difference of Time the Sanctifying of the Sabboth c. make no difference of places but a Barne a Stable or a Dining Roome is a place good enough for their Solemn Assemblies Then the most Sacrilegious Place 'T is confessed the Abbey and Church of Schone hath beene famous all the World over aswell for the Marble Chaire wherein the Kings of Scotland Anciently had their Crownes set on their Heads as for the Monuments and Tombes of those Pious Princes whose Sacred Dust was there religiously preserved but since Sacriledge entred the World under the cloake of Reformation that Abbey hath been dissolved and out of the Ruines of that Beauteous Church was erected this Palace of Schone the Walls built with the Stones of that Church and Abbey the Chimney-pieces and Pavements framed out of the Marble Tombes and Grave Stones of those dead Kings This His Majesties Father of Blessed Memory perceiving when hee was invited to a Feast by the Nobleman that is owner of that house Hee refused to eate and drinke in so Sacrilegious a place Yet this was picked out by the Presbyterian for the solemnizing Charles the Seconds Coronation as if betimes they would season him with that cursed thirst after things dedicated to Holy Uses and invest the Crowne with the spoiles of the Churches Patrimony which his Blessed Father so much abhorred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—ap 4. that himselfe professed he had rather live of the Churches Almes as some of his Predecessors had done then violently take the bread out of Bishops and Ministers mouthes and by such Sacrilegious Rapines as the Covenanting Presbyters gaped after bring a brand and curse upon His Posterity by robbing God and his Church of what the bounty of His Ancestors had enriched it withall for encouragement of Learning and Religion The Persons and solemnities likewise were suitable No Bishop to annoint him and pronounce the benediction at the setting the Crowne on his Head nor Nobleman to present the Regalia though for these thousand yeares the like president never was known in Scotland where the Nobility ever counted it an Ensigne of Honour and loyaltie to attend their Kings Coronation and behold his sacred Person inaugurated with all due solemnities his Anointing and benediction to be performed by a Bishop as in all other parts of the Christian world Kings have been ever since Christianity prevaild over the Thrones of Princes not without a sacred pattern of Samuels Anoynting Saul and David by Gods own appointmeÌ„t And in the Age by-past this Ceremony was thought so Religiously necessary that John Knox with his contemporary Presbyters I am sure no friends to needles Ceremonies sent purposely for the Bishop of Aberdeen who had received his Consecration from the Pope to Annoint King James even in his Cradle that his Coronation might not be defective in such a Ceremony whose name and Authority they abus'd not only to oppose but to imprison Queen Mary his mother and force her to resigne up the Crowne into her Sons hands that so themselves the prevailing Faction might Rule and Raigne as Kings during his minority Thus whilest it serves their owne ends the Presbyter is stiffe for this Ceremony in the Grandfathers daies but now as regardlesse of it in the
Grandchild Charles the 2. is to bee Crown'd without any such Royall or Religious Ceremony upon designe doubtlesse as well to devest him of that Jus Sanguinis that hereditary right of Succession which doth immortallize Princes here on Earth and make their Names and Office like his whose Vicegerents they are and whose Image they beare eternall to all generations as also to render him the peoples Creature and servant as if his Crowne and dignity had been the peoples gift and not his owne by Birthright as if his Power had beene derivative from his Subjects and not Gods Ordinance and as naturall over them as a Fathers over his children in a word that his first Title might be Carolus Electione Populi not Carolus Dei Gratia For this purpose they had prepared three Lay-Kirk-men and three Kirk-Lay-men to performe the Office of the Bishop my meaning is three Presbyters of their own Brooding under their Classes not of Episcopall Ordination and three Ruling Elders these last acting their parts in a double capacity for first they stand for Representers of the People and Commissioners of the Representative Body the Parliament and next for Assisting Elders of the Kirke Thus Presbytery which was ever good at deposing and usurping upon Kings hath at last and may it prove the last set the Crowne on their Kings Head more in mockery if without an ill Omen I may borrow that fimilitude as the Souldiers Crown'd our Saviour a little before his Crucifixion than out of any true intention For the Crowne they put upon his Head though it were of gold yet was it debas'd by the Covenant and rob'd of the choicest Flowers wherewith it was wont to be adorn'd His Royall Praerogatives those individuall and unforfeitable Ensignes of Soveraignty The Sword they gave him though it had a specious outside yet it seem'd rather of Wood than Steele the Edge being blunted by taking from him the Militia and depriving him of the power of the Sword either for offence by doing justice upon malefactors or for defence against Forreigne Invasion or home-bred Rebellion Lastly the Scepter they put into his hand was but a Mock-Scepter being divested of the Supreame Power which is the very Essence or Formalis ratio of Majestie for by the Articles of Breda they had reserved that Power to themselves tying him up to act nothing without or contrary to the advice of Parliament and Assembly nor to denie his Assent to any thing that should be represented by them or resolv'd on in their Committees of Kirke and State Thus had the Presbyterians muzled their Lion and at this first step into the Throne throwne down his Soveraign Majesties had not the great God by whom Kings reigne gratiously upheld his servant and in a short space restor'd him to that height of Honour and Dignitie which those Varlets sought to keep him from For soon after his Coronation the Nobilitie and Gentrie for many years having been oppress'd by severall Factions in their turns for the future to prevent all Faction and unite the whole Kingdome against the Common Enemy they resolve forthwith to restore His Majestie to all his just Praerogatives and no longer to suffer Committees either of Kirke or State to Lord it over them the jealousies of the two grand Factions of the Kingdome the Hamiltonian and Argylian gave life to this Resolution who not more ambitious of than envious at each others greatnesse chose rather than submit to the commands of their equalls or inferiours to set up the King and to yield obedience to one King rather than many Kings for which very cause The Beasts of the Forrest once made choyce of the Lyon for their King By this means in the month of January that glorious Sun began to mount higher and higher in the Zodiack of Majestie and Soveraigntie and quickly warm'd with its bright beams the hearts of his languishing Subjects into the love of Loyaltie and Regall Government for which they now praise God that had sent them a King under whose protection they might bee freed from the tyranny and oppression of their fellow subjects But about the 5. of February this glorious Sun appeared brighter and brighter when that free Parliament began to sit which ashamed longer to deprive their King of the libertie to use his Reason with a good Conscience admitted him to the power of his Negative Voice and put him into the possession of his just Rights whilst the Kirke Assembly at the same time met at St. Andrew perplex themselves with hot disputes touching His Majesties Authoritie in Ecclesiasticals and other private quarrels of their owne rather than endeavour to compose differences and submit to the Kings supreame power over all persons and in all Causes spirituall and temporall His Majestie not much minding their Disputes nor they carefull to tender their due respects to him till those contentions ended and that Assembly dissolv'd suddenly through the hot alarum given about this time by the English Forces who sent a strong party to crosse the Forth above Sterling whilest the maine Body fac'd Sterling it selfe and other parties were sent by Sea to make some attempt upon Burnt Eland and Fife-Nesse I shall not need to expresse the losses the Enemy sustain'd in those severall places Though your Mercury's whose brib'd breath dares publish naught but Victories conceale the particulars yet the Dutch Gazets talke of thousands of the English kil'd and of their disorderly Retreat and unseasonable mutiny of the Souldiery for want of pay and hard duty which begat a debate whether Fairfax his Counsell had not been more prudently follow'd rather to stand upon defence than invade a Countrey where they were to fight with two such potent Enemies as Hunger and Cold. Sir I can assure you the Scots since their Kings Coronation magnifie Gods providence in blessing them wonderfully beyond their deserts aswell in the discovery of some mens Treasons against his Majesties Person and the Treachery of others that sought to betray Sterling and Brunt Eland into the Enemies hand as also in repulsing Gen. Cromwels Forces which have endeavoured often and by sundry Stratagems to land men in Fife but chiefly for that great piece of providence by sending in unexpectedly to their relief 3 English Ships laden with provisions and Arms for the supply of the English Army and for the casting away of foure English Merchants Ships and their Convoy at the Towne of Are And further this you may take upon the assurance of an authentick witnes that the Scots King himself under his own hand very lately signified to his friends here that he is in no inconsiderable condition having already a very gallant Army of 36000. horse and Foot well appointed This news hath much encouraged the English Cavaliers in these parts and stir'd them up to furnish themselves with all necessaries fit for his Majesties service insomuch that about the end of February 12. sayle of Ships convoy'd by two men of War went from the Brill in