at the taking in of Selby and as some had been against their incoming and thereafter some were employed before York to sow the seed of dissension betwixt the joyned Generals with their Forces and as some likewise were railing at the Scots while they were daily encountring and skirmishing with the Enemy After this another sort of men began to shew themselves unto the world seeing that by the help of the Scots they were made able to appear again who for their miscarriage of things durst not shew themselves and finding in themselves that they began to stand upon their own legs they feel the pulse of the Scots to try if they were plyable to their phantasies and opinions perceiving the Scots constant to their principles and firm unto their Covenant begin to care lesse for those who had raised them from the dust yea they begin to oppose the Scots and to make the relation short the Battel of York is fought and the Town taken In all such actions those new factious men to indear themselves unto the simple people by their Emissaries spred abroad that they did all but God knows they had little share in things After the businesse of York Manchester returns into the associated Counties Fairfax stayes in York-shire and the Scots return towards New-castle where they find a new supply of six thousand men under the command of the Earl of Calendar to represse the Enemy who had been for a while domineering thereabouts in that Countrey while the Scots Army was ingaged at York who having drawn neer make their approaches and lay a formall Siege about the Town which after some moneths pain they take by storm having tryed all means possible to keep things from extremity but it could not be yet their moderation was such after they had taken the said Town that it was admired by their Enemies While the Scots were thus busied about the Siege of New-castle they were ill spoken of by those new factious men who expressed tokens of sadnesse when they heard it was taken Then the Scots clear all the four Northern Counties except Carlile which of late they reduced by composition and so the Winter coming on they kept in their Winter-quarters As the Scots making the quarrell their own did send their Army to fight in the Field to help their Friends and Brethren by action so they send Commissioners both from Church and State to help with their counsell the carrying on of things in Church and State When the Commissioners come hither they promise unto themselves to find nothing ado but to go on with the Work unanimously for the good of Church and State against the Common Enemy But since they have found themselves hugely mistaken for where they thought to have most opposition they have found least and where they did look for none there have they found most First Some factious men in the Synod have stopped the conclusion of things there it is without example that so few men being convinced with Scripture reason antiquity and the example of the best reformed Churches so that they have nothing to reply yet in stuâ—â—urnesse they will not give over to disturb It is found true in those men which is remarked That the more mildly the adversaries of Peace and Truth be dealt withall the worse they are Then in the Counsell of State the Scots have a long time been crossed in a high measure by those who were against their incoming and thereafter still have been opposed by these men and their participants who are advers to the setling of the Church The former did oppose the Scots namely because they were not to approve their wayes in the managing the affaires of State and thereafter perhaps in the Church-government The second Because the Scots cannot give way to their phancies and faction in Church-businesse and consequently in the State but stand constantly to their principles and firm to the Covenant not regarding to either the one or the other with temper and moderation to give offence to no body if it were possible unto them The Spring drawing on the Scots presse to have necessaries for the Field After much delays things go to them in New-castle but in a very small proportion Howsoever they are no sooner ready but they dispose themselves for marching till then they were not idle but they were busied up and down to the setling the Northern Counties and they did send parties to and fro unto their Friends namely unto Sir William Brereton they sent a party of Horse by David Lesley who then made the Kings Forces turn back which at that time did intent to go through Lancashire for Scotland Thereafter as the Scots Army was moving and about to march Southward they have advice given them that the King being then towards Westchester was bound once more for Scotland to stop which the Army went with great difficulties and did so put themselves in his way who made him change his resolution and 〈◊〉 returned Southward again And at that time the Scots supplied their Friends which lay then before Carlile who were there altogether unprovided Thereafter they return Southward and although by agreement they were not to passe Trente yet in compliance to importunities they past and went Westward towards Worcester and cleared the Fields there so of the Enemy that he durst not appear before them Next Against their own Maxime which is to clear the Field and wait upon the Enemies motion that they may alwayes be in readinesse to hinder his courses pursue him to stop the clamours of some raised against them they lay down before Hereford which if they had been supplied with necessaries at first they had doubtlesse taken and when they had the things required for the Service in some measure the great rains hindered them to perform what they earnestly intended and whereunto they were prepared As they were thus ingaged about Hereford the King with all his Horse having made a great circuit goes Northward where by divers promises made unto him he did hope to do great things for his designe The Scots send their whole body of Horse some few excepted by David Lesley who by his diligence and activity gets North before the King and sends him back Southward once more and so breaks that designe At this nick of time cometh the news to David Lesley being then neer Trente upon his return South in pursuance of the Kings party and he is desired to go into Scotland without delay and help his own Countrey in distresse by an overthrow that the Enemy had given there to the Forces of the Countrey He thinks to go onely with a party into Scotland himself and send back the rest to the Army before Hereford but the whole Company hearing of the straigth of their native Countrey would needs go with him Of this he giveth notice to the Committee of both Kingdoms and to the Army before Hereford and so goes into Scotland The Army before Hereford having
designe to end the Work they were there for and seeing the Enemy his marching unto them upon David Lesley his going into Scotland send unto their Friends at London for a help of some Horse to be neer by them as in Glocester-shire in case of need they not having Horse enough to encounter the Enemy and to serve the Army to bring in the provision which they were constrained to do with strong hold in the Enemies Countrey having ever since their march Southward struggled with great difficulties for necessary provisions yea for divers dayes they have been without bread But they could obtain no Horse howsoever some were very willing to grant their just desire Things being thus it is put to a Counsell of War whither they should storm the Town or no some that were most forward gave their voice for the storm others voiced It was fit to save the Army whole considering how the posture of affaires was then at home and since some of their Friends for whom they had undergone so much were backward to assist them in their great extremity they thought it the safest course to raise the Siege and return Northward to help their Countrey and so the plurality of voices carried it and Northward they went As the Scots were upon their march in York-shire news comes to them that David Lesley had given a great overthrow to the Enemy in Scotland yet they went after this they are desired by the Parliament to come back and besiege Newark and not to stay there in the North Countrey for fear of burdening that Countrey so much already wasted as was given out The Parliaments desire is not answered so hastily as was expected which hath given occasion to some to irritate and do what lieth in them to make ill blood and not to stay for an answer nor receive any reasonable one without reall performance of what was required whereunto the Scots are most willing but by reason they have so few Horse with them they conceive it is not safe to venture their Foot when the Enemies Forces are onely in Horse and chiefly because they knew that the Enemy was to send a considerable party into Scotland hoping to make a great faction there by the help of his Friends by the way and so joyn with the Enemy there and the Malignants in the North of England were to rise with the open Enemy And so it proved indeed for the Enemy sends from Newark a great party of Horse commanded by Langdale and Digby They were meet withall by the York-shire Forces commanded by Poyntz and Rossiter who dealt so roughly with them that they were routed divers killed and many taken with a great part of their baggage yet they rally again and go on in their journey to invade Scotland Before they were at the borders they were a thousand strong Generall Lesley having notice of their designe sends a party under the command of Vandruske with expresse order to fight with the Enemy wheresoever he found him Vandruske followeth so actively the Enemy that he thinks to get into Scotland before him and send him back again but he misseth him and the Enemy going another way enters into Scotland where there were divers parties ordered to wait for him and fight with him one from David Leslâ—â— was sent another of the Earl of Balclough the third and the least of all not exceeding three hundred Horse under the command of Sir John Brown who seeing the Enemy in Scotland could not have patience till his Friends joyned with him but by an hardy attempt with his three hundred men fals upon the Enemy who was a thousand strong as we have said before routs him killeth him a hundred of his men upon the place takes two hundred of them with bag and baggage divers were drowned All this did Sir John Brown with the losse of about thirty or fourty men then he pursued the Enemy seeking him up and down and at last upon the third day after the fight he assisted with his Friends meets with the remainder of the routed Enemy then about five hundred strong where he took all with little shedding of blood onely some few who were extraordinarily well horsed did escape among whom were Digby and Langdale with these good Patriotes and good Christians the Earls of Nidsdale Maxwell and Carnewath-Dazâ—l When by treachery at divers encounters the Enemy did prevaile against the Forces of the good party in Scotland some of the superficiall Brethren about Westminster-Hall jearing and gibing could say That the Scots could not and durst not fight in their own Countrey which at this time they find untrue for the Scots have shewn since that they both can and dare fight not onely one to one but one against two contrary to the Proverb Ne Hercules contra duos yea one against three Let the glory be to God who is pleased to own his own Cause and honour despiseable men to be instruments in this his Work to the confusion and shame of the Haughtie The Enemy had so laid down this Plot of invading Scotland that he promised unto himself without fear an issue according to his mind for he thought having once entred in Scotland by the Papists Atheists and Libertins for Sectaries there are none to make up in the lower Countrey a great party and so joyning with the Enemy now afoot in the hills who is gathering what he can and hath already betwixt three and four thousand men although divided amongst themselves as we are informed he did think no lesse then in a very short time to subdue all Scotland and presently thereafter to come into England Those who have read the intercepted Letters can tell much stuffe to this purpose but he that compteth without his host compteth twice The rumour of this designe was so great in Scotland that the good party thought fit to draw a good part of their Horse Southward and to make sure the chief and most commodious passages to hinder the conjunctions of the intestine Enemy and the invaders so David Lesley lay with one party at Glasgo upon Clyde and Middleton with another at Alloway neer Sterlin upon Forth Yea to see this enterprise repressed is the chief reason why the Scots Army in the North of England did not come so soon Southward to Newark as was desired wch just and lawfull delay of the Scots for a time by factious and malicious men although they knew very well the reasons and the cause thereof is published as a deniall and so it hath been beleeved by the simpler sort and laid hold on as argent contant present count it is not enough for the malicious and factious ones not considering that the good party in Scotland hath made the Parliaments quarrell its own in joyning with it in Covenant for the pursuance of the Cause it took Arms from the very first beginning that is for the Truth of Religion all things whatsoever yea Liberty and Priviledge being subservient unto it as
so underhand and secretly he sets a Plot afoot to give them work so at home that they should not think of going abroad The Commissioners are hardly arrived but there breaks out an undertaking by Malignants in the South part of Scotland under the favour of the Garrison of Carlile then in the Enemies hands and the Papists in the North part of England but by Gods blessing the businesse is quashed and order is taken for the securing of the Countrey from all intestine insurrections and forrain invasions withall to be in readinesse to help their Friends in England at a call So the Sommer goeth on in which the Kings party prevaileth so far that they master all England some few places reserved except the associated Counties about London and these in a very tottering condition with a great dejection of spirit Upon this exigence the major part of the Houses of Parliament thinks it fit time to desire the aid of the Scots they in all appearence being the onely men they could call to for help First By reason of their common interest in the Cause of Religion and Liberty with the people of England Next In respect of their neernesse and Neighbourhood Thirdly In respect of their bound duty to requite according to power the favours their Fathers formerly and they themselves lately had received from the good people of England in their own troubles Divers in both Houses were against the sending to the Scots chosing rather to undergo the extremity then to be beholding to their Friends After divers debates and delays at last it is resolved upon to send Commissioners into Scotland None of the Peers could be perswaded to go The Commons send their Commissioners Members of their House with power from the Peers to transact and agree for both Houses with the Scots by whom they are welcomed with heartinesse as they had been for a long time expected with devotion They come to treat and in a word The Scots tell the English Commissioners That since they desire their aid and help in opposing the Common Enemy in this Common Cause of Religion the subversion and change whereof is mainly intended by the Enemy all other things being but subservient to this designe as the Houses of Parliament did well and wisely declare in that Declaration they set forth when they were to take Arms for the Cause it were very fit that there should be a solemn Oath and Covenant drawn up and taken by both Nations to be stedfast to the Cause of Religion and settle it against all heresies and errours tyranny and confusion And so much the rather did the Scots move this that they had been told by the King ofter then once and by divers of high rank yea all the papers written by the Court against the Parliament did tell over and over again that the Parliament did not intend a setled Reformation in the Church notwithstanding that they had called a Synod The English Commissioners did reply unto the Scots That they could not but acknowledge that the thing was fit to be done yet they had not the power to do it by their Commission Upon this the English Commissioners send hither to the Parliam for that purpose As some of the said Commissioners did say this in simplenesse and sincerity of heart Others did what they could to delay and wave the Covenant if it were possible for they had no liking to it as we have seen since yet it was no time to reject the Scots so just desire So the Scots send Commissioners to the Parliament who together with some deputed from the Parliament draw up the Covenant and it is solemnly taken One of those who went unto Scotland from the Synod followed thither the Scots Commissioners and did what he could to obstruct the drawing up of the Covenant and to wave the taking of it yet he was constrained to take it with others of that mind for it was then not season to appear otherwayes The Covenant is no sooner taken but the Court changeth its language of the Parliaments intending nothing but Schisms and Sects and tels us That hereafter the King will have a care of tender consciences which was since he could not hinder the making and taking of the Covenant by both Kingdoms at least he will do his best to hinder divers particular men from taking it and from studying to keep it as that which is the most contrary to his designe The Scots Commissioners send the Covenant into Scotland where it is generally taken and thereafter according to agreement the Scots come into England for the help of their Brethren but it was the deep of the Winter to wit January before they could be ready So in frost and snow they come as far as Tyne finding but small opposition by men to that place their main enemies were evil weather and want being come to Tyne they find an Enemy with a Body of Horse and Foot exceeding them in number namely in Horse Master of all behind him to Trente except Hull and of all the Countrey about and strong holds After divers encounters and skirmishes the Scots passe the River in spite of the Enemy whom they make retire before them and also keep together and weary him so with hot Service and constant alarms that divers of his men fell sick with toiling and lying without in so hard a season At one encounter neer Durham they made 7 or 8 hundred fall to the ground of the Enemy his men Then they take Hartlepoole and other places upon the Sea from whence they had all their provisions from Scotland for a good while till at last some are sent to them from the South namely from the Citie As they were thus pressing the Enemy Sir Thomas Fairfax issueth out from Hull whereinto he had retired himself for a while being constrained to leave the Field assisted by Sir John Meldrum and fals upon Selby which he takes with valour and successe Upon the news hereof the Enemy runs to York the Scots follow upon the heels and take some of his men and baggage Presently the Lord Fairfax his Forces haveing come after his Son upon this successe and the Scots Forces joyn together neer York The Enemy fearing to be inclosed sends a party of his Horse Southward which is followed by a joint party of the Scots Fairfax his men as far as Trente then the followers return and resolution is taken to besiege York but the Scots having left some of their men in divers places that they had reduced had not men enough to besiege the Citie and keep the Fields in the Enemies Countrey notwithstanding the addition of Fairfax his Forces Wherefore they wrote to the Earl of Manchester to come and help with his Forces which he did willingly with all speed he could Then some there were who were against the joyning of Manchester and his Forces with the Scots and Fairfax as there had been lately some who would have them to go home