and though they were Propositions of both kingdomes yet they were sent together in one body this doth not argue but that care was had by the Parliament that though the Propositions were sent in one body or paper yet there was a distinction and no confusion of interests we perfectly know that as it would be contrary to the Parliaments trust so is it against their jugdements and consciences to confound the interest of England with the interest of Scotland we trust they will never be sowred with the leven of Levelling but in the promotion of unity they will beware of the Doctrine of Community Secondly what if Propositions for peace were formerly drawne up together in one body must all other Propositions whatsoever which the Parliament of England will please to tender to the King be drawn up together in one body with Scotlands Propositions No it is time now to seperate all colour of interest of the kingdomes and not to suffer the least appearance or occasion of scruple that the Parliament of England did ever intend participation of interests with the kingdome of Scotland though Propositions of both kingdoms were formerly sent in one body of writing yet now their wisdomes may think fit not to administer so much as a paper advantage or the smallest ground of jealousie and mistake about their intentions concerning the intire preservation of the kingdoms distinct interests and therefore our obligations are the greater unto our Parliament for that they would not so much as grant a conference with you about this busines that the confusion of interests between England Scotland should never procure so much advantage as the grant of a Conference would administer unto it And had the principles of an unlimited prerogative power been as timously obviated and declared as your present principles of confounding interests are now by our Parliament it had as probably prevented the sad calamities and miserable consequences of our late wars as their present care we hope will doe if the fault be not your owne which if it happen as God forbid we make noe question but all English men of honour and interest and common ingenuity will joyn together as on man and so preserve the interest of their native Countrey distinct and whole as that all the guilded species and devout pretences of piety and love which shall be used by the deceitfull enemies of the kingdoms interest will never delude us nor i' th least divide us Your grand objection is the expres letter of the eight Article wherein it is provided that no cessation nor any pacification or agreement for peace whatsoever shal be made by either kingdome or the Army of either kingdome without the mutuall advice and consent of both kingdoms or their Committees in that behalf appointed c. First this eight Article you flourish about like the sword of Saul presuming it will not returne empty though it proves to you like the sword of Goliah serving only for your owne overthrow for who was the enemy with which no cessation nor any pacification or agreement for peace whatsoever should be made by either kingdome or the Armies of either kingdome without the mutuall advice and consent of both kingdomes or their Committees on that behalfe appointed was it not the King and his party if his party is supprest by conquest and no peace is made with them by compact then the only enemy that stands out can be no other but the King was not the Dutch Embassadour as you say sent hither to mediate between the King and Parliament as the chiefe parties at variance doe not all the expresses Proclamations and Declarations both from the King and from the Parl. relate to the differences between the King the Parl. the King and his People c. Did not the King proclaim the Parliament and the Army under them Rebels Traytors enemies c Did not the Parl. declare that the King had set up his Standard against his people and therby put his Parl. and kingdome out of his protection what can imaginably then be the meaning of this Article but that no cessation nor any pacification or agreement for peace whatsoever can be made with the King by either kingdom or the Armies of eithers kingdom without the mutuall advice and consent of both kingdoms or their Committees in that behalfe appointed hath the Parliament ever secretly or openly made any cessation pacification or agreement for peace whatsoever or in the least degree closely tamper'd with the King without the mutuall advice and consent of both kingdomes did they ever directly or indirectly by themselves or others invite him to their Army and upon his comming pretend to admire the wonderfull providence professing astonishment and amazement and that they were like men in a dream Did they ever accept of titles of honour either at New-castle or Isle of Wight exhibiting so much as the least jealousie unto our brethren of Scotland of any compliance much lesse agreement or pacification with the King without their mutuall advice and consent Have they broken their Articles of Treaty or your selves No let not such a stain and blot be found upon any English men of honour or interest much lesse upon the High Court of Parliament of England the representative body of the whole kingdom and we once more obtest you brethren Commissioners of Scotland by the jealousie and wrath of the most high God by all your professions and declarations by your soleme League and Covenant which you have made with God the Parl. and kingdome of England by the eight Article of the Treaty betwixt the Kingdoms by the dreadfull demerits of Covenant-breakers Treaty-breakers false brethren deceitfulnes of friendship dissimulation with God and men that you neither directly or indirectly secretly or openly make any cessation pacification or agreement for peace whatsoever with the King without the mutuall advice and consent of both Kingdoms And we desire Almighty God to blesse and prosper the Parliaments and Commissioners of both Kingdoms according to their faithfullnes in keeping Covenant on Treaties that it may please him to blesse them or either of them in their faithfull endeavours to execute judgement and justice upon great and small fulfilling the whole minde and wil of God without respect of persons among men that it would please him to keepe up the spirit of the honourable Lords Commons and Army of England without declining from their late resolutions in a steady constant and faithfull intention and purpose without feare or favour and that they may not start aside like a broken bow from their present righteous and just intentions and that it may please him to incline the hearts of all the people of the land to joyne with them to promote righteousnesse judgement and justice and to keepe the interests of both kingdoms in their proper distinctions without confusion to heare the cries and hasten the remedies of the many oppressions sorrowes and grievances of the kingdome and
severall alterations therein which were principally in matters that did concern the neare union of the Kingdomes Propositions were sent to the King long before the time you speak of so that surely the Parliament of England did endeavour the peace of the kingdome before our Scotch brethren put them upon it you would make us beleeve that you alone minde the peace safety of the Kingdome of England as if your own interest was forgotten and ours remembred pure love unmixed friendship if the Houses would not so suddenly concurre with you to send the Propositions again we do presume they had reason for it neither do we conceive that the Scotch Commissioners have cause of offence if the Houses did not presently act upon their first motion being not Commissioners to direct the Parliament of England if they thought fit to make severall alterations we think fit to acquiesce in their judgements having chosen them to judge for us neither can we presume their least neglect of those matters which do near concern the union of the Kingdomes though perhaps with reason enough their judgment and yours may not concurre in those things it is likely they were carefull to maintain a distinction and prevent a confusion of both Kingdomes interest they would avoid an occasion of your claming from the new Propositions something like a negative voyce and right of joynt consent with this Kingdome in all things in relation between the King and the Kingdomes of England and Ireland which heretofore you have taken from the Covenant and Treaty Brethren religion teacheth contentednesse and the doctrine of Community is reckoned in England among the novelties for which we beleeve there will be no tolleration It may be the two kingdomes may not think fit that though we are all of one language under one King in one Religion yea in one Covenant yet that we might be altogether one as was once the wish of one of your honest and honourable Commissioners would you not have the honour of the Kings of England preserved in their Royall Title to two Kingdomes of England and Scotland and not that two should become one although we heartily desire to be one with you one in religion one in affection and one in assistance yet let us remaine two Kingdomes though we hold parity of interests in things spirituall and desire to be one with you in Christ and one in the Spirit yet like united Israel Covenanted Israel of old in their dividing of the Land of Canaan among their Tribes let you and we rejoyce in our distinct portion love one another cleave together and be content let Tweed divide but nothing else Brethren may be brethren without community in each others Patrimonie Again you urge that it was agreed upon betwixt the Kingdomes that the same Propositions should be presented again to his Majestie at his comming to Holdenby the performance wherof being delayed by the Houses for divers moneths you did wair patiently yet upon a sudden they did appoint a peremptory day for sending the Propositions to his Majesty First you had notice of the day and were earnestly prest unto the thing and the cause of your delay your owne consciences can tell better than we whether it was not by way of designe yet neverthelesse before you charged the Parliament with delayes now you blame them for their haste why should brethren be so froward such relations inhebits wranglings Secondly did not both Parliaments agree that those very Propositions that were sent to Newcastle should againe be sent to the King If so what shew of reason can be imagined why you should not though upon the sudden concurre with the sending them since they could not be altered Brethren le ts have fair play above board Again in the same page you affirm thus that finding no successe in that way of sending Propositions to the King and insisting upon his positive answer thereunto without giving any reason for the justice of our desires or hearing any Proposition from his Majesty we did in November last propose to the Honourable Houses and with much earnestnesse desire that their might be a personall Treaty with his Majesty here at Lond. it being in all probability the best meanes to obtain a peace First whereas you appropriate the successelesnesse of sending Propositions to the King to your not giving reasons for the justice of yours desires we demand Did not one of your selves rally a whole army of arguments and reasons against the Kings refusall to signe the Propositions at Newcastle in a Rhetoricall speech before him to that purpose professing among many other motives that upon his Majesties refusing the Propositions both kingdomes will be constrained for their mutuall safety to agree and settle religion and peace without him And moreover there was added If your Majesty reject our faithfull advice and lose England by your wilfulnesse your Majesty will not be permitted to come and ruine Scotland Further pressing him thus We know no other remedy to save your Crown and Kingdomes than your Majesties assenting to the Propositions Yet now you are pleased to say that not any reason hath been given for the justice of your desires If your desires were not just why did you press him to grant them But secondly is the case thus indeed you were not alwayes of this opinion as you confesse page 6. Brethren let 's make a little use of this We see now what reason there is of a brotherly forbearance of varieties of judgment yea and of the same persons though changing their judgments over and over yea even in things civill much more religious being more enigmaticall than these by farre you were against the Kings personall treaty with the Parliament at London now you are for it Suppose the Parliament of England hath not yet attained to your new light beare with them a while till your reasons prevail You tell us that indeed heretofore his Maiesties presence might have bred divisions and continued our troubles and when his Maiesty desired to come hither from Oxford with freedom and safety it was thought unfit and denyed by the Houses and the Commissioners from Scotland but that argument now hath no force at all for the case of affaires the Kings condition and ours which were given for reasons in that answer to his Maibsty are quite altered from what they were then the King had Armies in the fields and Garrisons and strong holds to returne unto now he hath none of these Brethren were these all the reasons then given why you could not admit of a personall Treaty with his Majesty at London viz. because then the King had Armies in the field and Garrisons and strong holds to returne unto had it been our assertion as it is yours we should have feared that divine hand of Justice which met with Ananias and Saphira Acts 5. And that all might see your dealings herein we have here added your owne
his Majesties Message and the Parliaments Answer and stand amazed that such a profession of zeale for God should ever bee found in conjunction with such unfaithfulnesse amongst Brethren for thus stands the case The King having set up his Standard at Notingham set out severall Proclamations and Declarations whereby the Parliaments actions were declared treasonable and their persons Traytors did send a Message to his Houses of Parliament 25 August 1642. for a personall Treaty whereunto the two Houses of Parliament sent an answer which because it is short and pertinent to the present case is here set downe verbatim The answer of the Lords and Commons to his Majesties Message of the 25. of August 1642. May it please your Majesty THe Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled having received your Majesties Message of the 25. of August doe with much griefe resent the dangerous and distracted state of this Kingdome which we have by all meanes endeavoured to prevent both by our severall advices and petitions to your Majesty which have been not onely without successe but there hath followed that which no ill counsell in former time hath produced or any Age hath seene namely Those severall Proclamations and Declarations against both the Houses of Parliament whereby their Actions were declared treasonable and their Persons Traytors And thereupon your Majestie hath set up your Standard against them whereby you have put the two Houses of Parliament and in them this whole Kingdome out of your protections so that untill your Majestie shall recall those proclamations and Declarations whereby the Earle of Essex and both Houses of parliament and their adherents and assistants and such as have obeyed and executed their commands and directions according to their duties are declared Traytors or otherwise Delinquents And untill the Standard set up in pursuance of the said Proclamations be taken downe your Majestie hath put us into such a condition that whilst we so remaine we cannot by the fundamentall priviledges of Parliament the publique trust reposed in us or with the generall good and safety of this Kingdome give your Majestie any other answer to this Message John Brown Cler. Parliam H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com. This Answer of the parliament occasioned severall expresses mutually to passe betweene the King and the Parliament and amongst the rest this Answer to his Majesties Message of the 11th of Septemb. 1642. as appeared in the 586. and 587. pages of the booke of Declarations printed by Authority in which very Answer they doe professe themselves in no capacity to treat with the King whilst his Standard was up his Proclamations and Declarations unrecalled whereby the Parliament is charged with Treason and having humbly advised him what he should doe upon the performance whereof they invite him to his great Councell being the only meanes of a Treaty with hope of successe and in pursuance of that very resolution of theirs not to treat with his Majesty untill he had recalled his Proclamations and Declarations against his Parliament they have made that one of the foure Bills which were sent to be signed by his Majesty in order to a Treaty Now let Heaven and earth God and man judge of your unfaithfulnesse in the businesse in hand You tell the people that the Parliament was once for a personall Treaty with the King why should they now be against it and hide from the people the termes upon which they were for it have the Parliament forsook their primitive principles or your selves hath the King recall'd those Proclamations and Declarations yea or no hath hee given satisfaction for blood and security to the peace of the Kingdome yea or no If not would you have the Parliament betray their trust break their Covenant treat as Traytors doe the Parliament forsake their principales no Though Israel play the har lot yet let not Judah offend We know your objection the Parliament did admit of a Treaty since that time it is true but have you not read what David did in a case of necessity when hee was a hungry the shew-bread which at other times was unlawfull for him to eare was lawfull then The life of the Kingdome then in danger provoked the love of the Parliament to forget themselves to save the Nation but is the case now as it was then piety humanity will allow a man to treat yea begge for his life at the hand of his enemy in power to destroy him though the principles of either will not admit the like submission in another case Again though they did treat yet did they not forsake the principles of humanity or the rules of Justice rather then they would betray their trust break their Covenants enslave our just liberty into the hands of tyranny They broke up the Treaty and resolving to sacrifice themselves in the Kingdomes service committed themselves to Gods providence who succeeded their desires acccordingly for Gods love courage and constancie in a good cause You tell us there are some things which properly concerne the Kingdom of England their rights Lawes and liberties But why do you stop there why do you not proceed in declaring your resolutions not to intermeddle with such things why do you notwithstanding this acknowledgment interpose in things concerning the Kingdome of England their rights lawes and liberties as in the disposall of the Kings person while remaining in this Kingdome in the 7th page of your papers concerning the Covenant and Treaty in the Kings negative voyce page the 18th of this Answer in the businesse of the Militia page the 20. in the disbanding of our Armies page 21. in conferring titles of honour page 22. the revenews of the Crown page 5 c. Nay why have you cast such glosses senses and interpretations upon the Covenant and Treaty which being granted confounds the interest of England with the Kingdome of Scotland for these are your words in the 5th and 6th pages of your papers concerning the Covenant and Treaty Vnlesse we lay aside the Covenant Treaties Declarations of both Kingdomes and three yeares conjunction in this warre neither the one Kingdome nor the other must now look back what they might have done SINGLY before-such a strict union But look forwards what is fittest to be done by both JOYNTLY for the common good of both c. And again pag. the 7. of these papers If the disposall of the Kings Person mentioned in the vote of both Houses be intented for the good peace and security of both Kinghomes then it should not be done without the mutuall advice and consent of both By the first of these expressions do not your argument stand thus If we must not lay aside the Covenant Treaties Declarations of both Kingdomes and three yeares conjunction in this warre neither the one Kingdome nor the other SINGLY but both JOYNTLY must heareafter act for the good of both But we must not lay aside the Covenant c. Therefore neither the one
Kingdome nor c. Thus you would argue us into a confusion of interests Againe by the other expression quoted from your papers page 7. doe you not argue thus Whatsoever is intended for the good peace and security of both Kingdomes must be done by the mutuall advice and consent of both Kingdomes But the disposing of the Kings person while in this Kingdome and upon the same ground the disposing of all the Militia Forts Castles Townes and Forces by Sea and Land all offices and places of Trust yea all our estates and interests are intended for the good peace and security of both Kingdomes Therefore these must be disposed of by the mutuall advice and consent of both Kingdomes Brethren confident we are you will sooner beate out English mens brains than force that argument into their heads surely God hath given us a better stocke of reason and humanity than thus to be charmed into bondage and slavery we have read your owne words declared by you 1641. viz. that neither by your Treaty with the English nor by seeking your peace to be established in PARLIAMENT nor any other action of yours you doe acknowledge ANY dependency upon them or make them Iudges to you or your Lawes or any thing that may import the smallest prejudice to your Liberties Are you so tender of the Mint and Cummin of Scotlands Liberties that you will not admit of the smallest prejudice thereof and shall the Parliament of England the grand Trustees of the Kingdomes Liberties dispence with the Great things of Englands interest betraying their trust and breaking their covenant yea and bringing upon them the guilt and cry of so much bloud as hath been shed in the just defence of the Kingdomes interest Brethren did you come to free us from slavery by others that you might enslave us to save us from rods that you might whip us with Scorpions to deliver us from the little finger of the King that we might feele the loynes of the Scot Doubtlesse brethren though we thankfully acknowledge that your help was seasonable in the day of our trouble which we hope we shall never forget yet were we not so profane as to contract the parting with our birthright for that Scottish pottage and therefore remember your promise page 4. That you woùld not stretch your selves beyond your line and that which is within the EXPRESSE condition of your solemne League and Covenant the duty of your Allegeance the Treaty and Declaration between the two Kingdomes And before we leave this we pray againe remember the word EXPRESSE and doe not presse us with an extorted sense for we shall never abide it In the next place you begin methodically to speak unto two heads First of the best and most probable meanes to procure a good agreement with the King for setting Religion and a lasting Peace And next of the Propositions which are to be the foundation of the peace and safety of both Kingdomes We shall not take upon us to speak unto every particular expression of yours wherein you seeme to reflect upon the Parliament our daily imploiments and busines of our callings not affording us those opportunities of knowing and understanding the severall transactions which it is very likely have passed between the Parliament and you and we doubt not but an answer to satisfaction will be given by that Honourable Assembly whom you have blemished by your writings and the publication thereof but such things which are of most plaine and obvious observation whereof there is plenty sufficient to take away those scandals which are cast upon the Parliament are these that we shall insist upon First then in your method you begin with that which you call The best and most probable meanes to procure a good agreement with the King for the setling Religion and a lasting peace and you say It is still your opinion and judgement that it must be by a personall Treaty with the King and that his Majesty for that end be invited to come to London with honour freedome and safety If you are of that opinion we pray you tell us what satisfaction for bloud and security as to peace you have received from his Majesty that this Kingdome if possibly may be of your opinion Have you concluded a peace with his Majesty without the Parliament of England Then have you broken your Treaty If you have not say so You know they are not of your opinion for a personall treaty but we would gladly weigh your reasons for it we can better beare your reasons then blowes you tender us your reasons by the halfe dozen Let us see your Position and your reasons your position is this The best way to procure a well-grounded Peace is by a personall treaty with the King at LONDON Here we are to consider first the thing a personall Treaty secondly the place at London We shall looke upon your reasons with reference to both First for the thing your first reason is The sending of Propositions without a Treaty hath been oftentimes assayed without successe and the new Propositions are lesse advantagious to the Crown than the former were 1. What if Propositions have been successelesse heretofore Doth it follow they will be so still English spirits to speake without vanitie are more noble and generous then to despaire because of repulse So many Garrisons had not been taken by some and so few by others if this Argument had prevailed with all as it hath with some 2. These foure Bills were so model'd as might have administred hopes of his Majesties concurrence being in order to a Treaty had you not anticipated by charging the new propositions to be lesse advantagious to the Crown than the former were and which we have cause to suspect hath made this last addresse to his Majesty through your means as successelesse as the former hath been contrary to the hopes and expectations of many And the truth is his Majesties answer and your lines doe so consimilate that a man would thinke that Sir John Cheisly was the Scribe to both Your next reason is this The Kings removall from the Parliament was the cause of the warre therefore his returne may be the means of peace 1. That may not follow especially as the case now stands when pretended friends change principles for self-ends and forgetting their solemne League and Covenant decline the Parliament and the Kingdoms interest and turn Royalists 2. Was not this reason as valid when you did concurre to send Propositions Your third reason is this In a personall Treaty the Commissioners of both Kingdomes may give reasons of their desires but Propositions without a Treaty may be esteemed impositions 1. We make no question but the Parliaments propositions carry their reasons in their foreheads and may be easily discerned by an English eye And doe not you know that the King of England is bound by his Oath to grant the just desires of his Parliament
2. Were they not impositions as well when you did concurre to send propositions as when you did dissent The King may have some just desires to move for the Crowne and for himself as that be may have his Revenues c. 1. It is true the Crowne aod Revenues goe together in England however it is in Scotland neither doe we presume any propositions shall be sent by the Parliament in prejudice to the Crown or Crown-Revenues both being for the Kingdoms honour and safety 2. Was not this likewise as good a reason when you did concurre Your next reason A personall Treaty with the King is the best way to beget a mutuall confidence c. 1. That is as the Treaty may be managed and so may propositions as instructions be given 2. And was not this likewise as good a reason when you did concurre Your last reason is this we cannot expect his Majesty will grant in terminis whatsoever propositions shall be sent unto c. neither will the Houses of Parliament give full power to commissioners to make altrrations as they shall see cause He is to passe Bills in terminis why not propositions being matter for Bils Confident we are had he wrested the sword out of the Parliaments hands as it is wrested out of his hands they should have had such propositions as he would have judged fit for traitors it may be the axe in stead of the halter heading in stead of hanging for traitors hath he proclaimed them without recalling it to this day 2. Was not this also as valid when you did concurre as now it is Thus your weighty reasons for the thing A personall Treaty vanish into the aire Let us now examine your reasons for the place at London for there lies the emphasis of your motion and perhaps designe 1. Propositions have been often essayed without successe and therefore the personall Treaty must be at London 2. The Kings removall from London was the cause of the warre and his returne or presence may be a remedy Ergo the Treaty must be at London Thirdly in a personall Treaty things may be mutually debated for that is the summe of your reason Ergo the Treaty must be at London Fourthly the King may have some desires to move for the Crowne Ergo the Treaty must be at London Fifthly a personall Treaty is the best way for giving and receiving satisfaction Ergo the Treaty must be at London Sixthly it cannot be expected his Majesty will grant all the propositions neither will the Houses give full power to their Commissioners to make alterations as they see cause upon debate Ergo the Treaty must be at London Brethren we shall not so much prejudge the weaknesse of our countreymen as to shew them the difficiencie of these starved suggestions Englishmens eyes are in their heads and they need no spectacles to see mountaines only we would gladly know your meaning by the advantage of the Crown and motions of the Crown which ever and anon you hint out to us if our judgements faile us not as possibly they may for we are no Statesmen but as the late times have made us all enquire into State-cases we say if our judgements be right both the King and the Crown and all things belonging unto them as such are for the Kingdomes advantage and for no personall interest whatsoever in prejudice of that we have had many things which they call Aphorismes divulged amongst us as that THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE IS THE CHIEFEST LAW THE KING IS ABOVE EVERY PARTICULAR MAM BUT LESSE THAN THE WHOLE KINGDOME that THE KING IS THE KINGDOMES BUT THE KINGDOME IS NONE OF THE KINGS except with a distinction and twenty more such sayings which are our ordinary discourse and we thinke there is a great deale of equity justice and reason in them and a light to instruct us to give unto the Magistrates their due and to preserve our selves from tyranny and by these things were we rallied by the Parliament together to maintain the truth of these sayings and we have paid for our learning it hath cost us deare and we would not quickly forget all like dunces untill we are knockt into our former lessons your talking so much of the advantage of the Crown and motions for the Crown seems to us to interfier with these sayings Having exhibited your reasons such as they are for a personal Treaty you fall into invectives with the Parliament of England thus If they were esteemed enemies to the Parliament and peace of the kingdome who advised the King to withdraw from his Parliament what estimation will the world have of them who will not suffer him to returne to his Parliament when he offers to cast himselfe into their arms The plaine English whereof is this to insinuate into the people that the Parliament of England being against the Kings treating at London are the Kingdomes enemies and so to stirre up the people against their Parliament Is this like Commissioners of State Would you suffer such things in your owne Kingdome Is this according to your solemne League and Covenant Is this your brotherly love your zeale for the parliament of England and the interest thereof We say no more but better is a neighbour that is near than a brother that is farre off But secondly if the Parliament be the Kings enemy because they will not admit of a personal Treaty at London what were you when you refused the same things Doe not you give a just occasion for the Cavaliers to call you Enemies all-a-row Having dispatcht the first particular in your method viz. The readiest meanes for a lasting peace which you say is a personal Treaty with the King at London you fall to the second viz. The consideration of the propositions which are to be the foundation of peace and therein First to consider and remove the differences which you divide into three heads which are 1. Matters of Religion 2. The interest of the Crown 3. The union and joynt concernment of the Kingdomes First you begin with that of Religion and hint it in one of your biting parenthesis as a most flagitious neglect that it is put by the Parliament amongst the last of these new propositions 1. You know Brethren that that may be primum in extentione which is ultimum in executione we use to make our hedge before we plant our garden 2. Religion was not the first of those propositions which were sent to New-Castle with your consent as appeares in print but now you are more zealous than before 3. The best sort of English-men loves Religion in the bottome to have it in designe as well as pretence to make Religion the end and not the means unto their intentions 4. We have generally observed that the emptiest zelots are the greatest advocates for the circumstances of Religion time and order mighty matters in some mens eyes You commend the King
not understanding your wayes here we are Seekers And if the Lord in mercy doe not afford us more liberty and indulgence in the quiet enjoyments of our priviledges and interests in things Civill and Religious then for ought we see you would afford us we may be quickly reckoned amongst the new Sect of Shakers you would make us tremble under your hands from which condition Libera nos Domine Brethren such Sectaries in the sense delivered the Parliament may well desire to tollerate but your assertion of the Parliaments sinfull tolleration of the Sectaries of your Catalogue is a scandalous false an unbrotherly aspersion For have they not in terminis declared against the tollerating of Popery Masse Service book it is not the property of a brother to be the accuser of brethren That next Religion wherein you differ in judgment from the Propositions is concerning the interest and power of the Crowne being obliged by our solemne League and Covenant Allegeance and duty of Subjects not to diminish but to support the Kings just power and greatnesse You should have added In our severall places and callings a passage in the Covenant which ever and anone doth flye in your faces Next you come to the question Wherein the Kings Regall authority and just power doth consist and you answer it in the first place that it is chiefly in making enacting laws and upon this principle you document the Parliament of England about the Kings power in making laws c. What have you to do to busie your selves in such things which meerly concerns another Kingdome but since you thus take upon you confident we are beyond your commission we desire you in your next to declare faithfully the power of the King in making laws in the kingdome of Scotland how valid his negative voice is there But in the mean while why doe you professe Ignorantium facti juris alieni and yet interpose in the power of making laws in the Kingdome of England Brethren remember that golden passage in the covenant Our places and callings and doe not stretch your selves beyond your line It is not the property of wise men to bee medling Againe if the King hath a negative voice in making lawes hath he not the same in repealing lawes And if so farewell Presbytery and Directory In the next place you intermeddle with the Militia of the kingdome to that wee pray you hands of would we suffer you to feize upon that for ought we know the honour of Englishmen would bee quickly contained in the Court complement Your humble servants and the Catholick titles and tearms of Dominus dominantium and servus servorum would soon be divided between the Scot and the Englishman Englishmen are better soldiers than to part with their weapons and Militia of their kingdom and suffer another nation to intermeddle with that We have not the patience to admit of a word of discourse of your medling with the Militia of England The next thing you complain of under the head of Commission and excesse is the standing of our Armies to that you tell us You thinke fit that neither King nor Parliament ought to keep up an Army in the field when the war is ended You give your judgement before it is demanded we think fit you should forbeare intermedling untill it appears within your vocation and calling according to the solemne League Covenant Brethren we do not interpose nor busie our selves about Your Army in Scotland or affairs particularly belonging unto that kingdome neither do we envie your mountains but are contented with our own vallies As for Our Army they are only Englands charge why should they bee the Commissioners of Scotlands trouble It is very true the charge of the Army is great but whether Needlesse as you tell us the judgement of our Pâ—rliament and not the Scotch Commissioners must determine for us a hand of mercy to our distressed kingdome did at first gather them a hand of power hath hitherto been with them and a hand of providence hath kept them together to preserve the interest of their native country intire whole from the violence of those that would be fingring therewith And though it be true that the sea is our Bulwark by Gods mercy from forrain enemies which are beyond it yet you know very well that our late wars have been fomented by our own natives for sometimes brethren prove unnaturall and Paul joynes his perills among false brethren with his perils at sea If you doe indeed condole the griefs of the people from the charges of our Army you will take heed that wee be not troubled with any from forrain parts for confident we are the whole kingdome will never abide it no though they should enter into a soleme League and Covenant that they would only help us to disband our Armies and ease the people of the oppressions therof You tel us If the Houses had according to your earnest desires of the 3 of March 1644. when they model'd their Army made choice of such officers as were known to be zealous of the reformation of Religion and of that uniformity with both kingdomes are obliged to promote and maintain c. and put in execution their severall declarations as that of the 20. of Sept. 1643. as also the 15. of Feb. 1644 ordering all Officers under Sir Thomas Fairfax to take the Covenant c. it would have prevented a world of inconveniencies and evils which have ensued upon the neglect thereof We judge ourselves to have cause to bind the sacrifice with cords to the hornes of the Altar and praise the name of the Lord for his wisdome and goodnes in modelling the Army even as he did though contrary to the advice of the Scotch Commissioners yet we plead not at all for any errour or evill of judgement or practice either of the Army or any therein 'T is true we heare of all religions in this Army and of no religion in another of error of judgement here of error of practice elsewhere of quartering upon the countrey by this Army of quartering the countrey by another of officers and soldiers that through scruple of conscience cannot tâ—ke the Covenant in this Army and of officers and soldiers that can both take the Covenant with hands lifted up to the most high God and yet strike hands with death and hell by cursing and swearing plundring and stealing in another Army It is no pleasure to us to dabble in the mire of another Army neither can we endure that the Scotch Commissioners should bespatter our Army If the Houses had according to your earnest desire the 3. of March 1644 when they model'd their Army made choice of such officers as were known to be zeâ—lous of the reformation of religion and of that uniformity which both kingdoms are obliged to promote and maintain that is if they had made choice of such Officers
as you would have preferred viz. zealous hardy men out of the north whose judgement about the Covenant and Treaty had concurred so as to introduce your nation to be one of the Estates of this kingdome to have a negative voyce in all things concerning our welfare who would have pleaded your co-intrest with the Parliament of England in the Militia of the kingdome disposall of places and offices of tâ—ust in all our particular and proper goods we are confident with you that it would have prevented a world of inconveniences upon the King and his party his Armies in the fields strong Holds and Garrisons which have ensued upon the neglect thereof The last thing you speak unto under this head is viz the interest of the Crowne that is touching the conferring titles of honour which you call the Flower of the Crown and wherewith Kings doe use to recompence the vertue and merits of their good subjects c. Did you not formerly consent to the making voyd of the Titles of honour confer'd by the great Seale after it was carried away from the Parliament have you better considered of the matter and changed your thoughts touching the vertues and merits of those who have assisted the King against the Parliament Is this your zeale against the common enemy of both Kingdoms according to the solemn league and Covenant Is this that just and condign pnnishment wherunto you engaged your selves to bring them what that might be rewarded for their helping the King against the Parliament as we heare your Secretary was as is supposed for his care and pains in this your writings against the Houses with titles of honour Having finished the particulars of the second head viz the interest of the Crown you fall upon the third the union and joynt interest of the kingdoms where you complain First That the Houses have omitted the Covenant in these Propositions We have given you an answer to that once and again you do so tosse the covenant that it 's thought you will quickly bring it out of date the word Covenant is your Shiboleth but we can both pronounce and nnderstand it as well as your selves Secondly you adde that the Houses have rejected all that concerns-unity and uniformity in matters of Religion It is but a temporary Suspension because of their former successesnes your own answer for your rejecting propositions pressing for a treaty contrary to your promise and not a rejection of those things Did they presume the religion of Scotland in the principles thereof to justifie your practices in abusing our Parliament as your Papers have done they would have reason enough to reject all that concerns unity and uniformity with you in matters of religion But confident we are as they have no reason so the least jealousie thereof is not within the confines of their thoughts Next you complaine of the omission of severall things even in heapes all which you summon up in this That generally throughout the Propositions all expressions of joynt interest are left out If by joynt interest you meane such a joynt interest as is according to the expresse letter of the solemn League and Covenant and treaties between the Kingdoms we cannot presume such an omission though there may be a prudentiall suspension at present of some particulars thereof though we know no such thing Secondly if by Joynt Interest you mean such a Joynt Interest as you would extort from the solemn League and Covenant and treaties between the Kingdomes as the sence thereof which was never intended nay abhor'd As that the Militia by sea and land in the Kingdoms of England Ireland the power of making peace and war with forraine States the Kings consent in the enacting of any law the conferring of great places of honour and trust making of Peers of Parliament conferring of titles of honour what revenue the King is to have in England Ireland and how to be disposed c. cannot be transacted and concluded upon without the joynt advice and confent of the kingdome of Scotland If such a kinde of sense meaning only of the solemn League Covenant and treaties between the kingdoms will serve your turn and the expres letter of these is too short for your satisfaction the Parliament of England have reason upon reason that generally throughout the propositions all expressions of joynt interest should be left out Yea if we may be understood in the observation of our due distance from and obliged duty to them we obtest them by all their vowes covenants promises by all their votes orders ordinances by all their declarations proclamations protestations by all our bloud blowes battles by all our vexations contributions and taxations by all our monies horse and plate by all our servants apprentizes and journey-men by all our wounds sores and scares by all the rents rapes and ruines by all the plunderings burnings and sackings by all our widdows fatherles and friendles by all our sayings doings and sufferings for our kingdomes interests by the sad effects of tyranny and slavery by the great trust committed to their charge by our confidence of their faithfulnes therein by the honour of English men by the stain of their posterity kindred and progeny by their principles of humanity justice and integrity by their great account at the last day that they doe preserve our rights lawes interest our priviledges liberties and immunities intire distinct and whole and that they neither sell them give them nor grant them nor yet suffer them to be sold given or granted by any compact Covenant or Treaty as we are most assured hitherto they have not to any Nation Kingdome or people and more particularly that in all their transactions between themselves and our Scotch brethreÌ„ they maintain the distinct interest of England without confounding it with the interest of Scotland and that in all their neighbourly friendly and brotherly Associations for the jojnt benefit of both Kingdomes they never associate in that which is their several distinct and particular rights Whereas you complain that formerly Propositions of both kingdoms were drawn up together in one body now for separating the interests of the kingdoms the Propositions for England are drawne up apart upon the observation whereof with other things you desired a conference and it would not be granted We reply First what mean you by one body mean you the Commissioners of both Kingdoms making that up one body or secondly the Parliament of England in conjunction with the Scotch Commissioners doubtles we cannot thinke that the Parliament of England and Scotch Commissioners were ever known yet to be one body we hope that never such a monster shall be seene in England neither can we imagine that the Commissioners of both kingdomes in one body were to draw up propositions for peace therefore mean you thirdly that this one body was not made up of men but of propositions
THE SCOTTISH Mist Dispel'd OR A cleare Reply to the prevaricating Answer of the Commissioners of the Kingdome of Scotland to both Houses of PARLIAMENT Upon the new Propositions for Peace And the foure Bills sent to his Majesty 1647. By an English COVENANTER LONDON Printed by M. S. for Henry Overton at the entring out of Lumbert-street into Popes-Head Alley 1648. THE SCOTTISH MIST DISPELD IT was a good saying of Solomon that he that walketh uprightly walketh surely but he that * perverteth his waies shall bee knowne Sincerity sits upon the lips of many but her competitresse keeps her out of the hearts of most Pretence of Piety in keeping Covenant was Absoloms policie to raise a warre what our Scotch brethren mean by their late papers intituled The answer of the Commissioners of the Kingdome of Scotland to both Houses of Parliament upon the new Propositions of Peace and the foure bills to be sent to his Majesty is as much our wonder as the papers themselves neither can we judge it any other than a designe to prepossesse the people of England with scandalous prejudices against their Parliament calculating their scriblings for the meridian of fooles which makes no observation of by-gone transactions but are presently charm'd into their Northern net by the guilded language of their devout chantings as if the kingdome of England like some of the Indies was a rich pleasant and golden Island but the inhabitants thereof men in statute but children in understanding ignorant of the value of their owne commodities willing to sell their English treasures and that upon trust for Scottish toyes receiving nothing in hand but two credulously presuming upon very faire and devout promises and a solemne Covenant that their trading with them will be all for their good in the latter end Brethren though the naucious vapours of a SCOTCH MIST be sum'd up into the braines of some of our weake brethren of our owne countrey rendering them a little light-headed and making them speake like Englishmen on the otherside Tweed yet are wee not infected therewith We have read your papers and shall let you know that we ken the difference between plaine juggling and plaine dealing and that others may see as well as our selves let impartiall ingenuity examine your papers and judge of the case In the first place you tell the Parliament of England by your scratching pen and the people in print with what patience you have in pursuance of the solemn League Covenant and Treaties betwixt the kingdomes used your best endeavours for the setling religion and a happie peace If you haue used your best endeavours to these ends it was in pursuance of the Covenant and so you were bound to it neverthelesse we thanke you for it being concern'd in it onely remember Solomons counsell Let another man praise thee and not thine owne mouth a stranger and not thine owne lips Prov. 27. 2. But what you meane by setling Religion is past our kenning if by religion you meane discipline for that 's all the religion some men mind then you know we have many Religions contended for amongst us we have the Kings religion and that is Episcopacy we have the Parliaments religion we meane in the sense delivered though wee are confident they do not place their religion in discipline and that is Presbitery we have the Scotch religion and to give its proper name that is Independencie for they call upon us like Oracles from heaven to heare them though they themselves will be Independent as to us Which of these religions have you used your endeavours to setle amongst us If any of you after Moses example have been taken up into the mount of God and have talked with our Lord and Master mouth to mouth and immediatlie received the law of Church Government from the hands of Christ written by his finger in Tables of stone and have Comission from him to charge the people to hearken to you upon pain of being cut off from the people we shall acknowledge your peculiar favour with the most high God and that you are the onely independent people of God in the world and that all Israel must hearken to God we repent of our former deafnes and shall henceforth submit to your judgments for conscience sake but if it hath never bin with you after this manner we have no cause to fear the guilt of Rebellion though we say to you as was said to Moses who made you rulers over us it is not our ambition to subject our selves to a rod of iron a golden Scepter will better please us your Scotch Independency is as distastfull to us as that in England or Amsterdam If you say it is the COVENANTED Religion according to the word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches we wait with patience and hearty prayers and hands lifted up to the most high God for the speedy-setling of that amongst us but assure your selves except you will impose your Scottish sense upon our English words intollerable slavery we resolve to be according to our solemne League and Covenant English Presbyterians and not Scotish Independents If your endeavours have been in truth for the setling not onely of Religion but a happy peace you will take heed of wrangling with your peaceable brethren we have no minde to fight nor yet to be beaten and therefore we obtest you your own words in your severall Letanies by the coniunction and parity that word stickes except with an English interpretation of interests by the treaty between the kingdomes by the solemne league and covenant by all your promises professions and declarations by the dreadfull threatnings of Gods judgments upon trucebreakers by the anatomizing of all your hearts at the great day by the just retribution of the righteous judge to every man according to his wayes by the everlasting seperation between the upright the hypocrite in the day of the Lord by the indeliable blot that will fall upon you and your posterity by the scandall of religion the just vindication of the dishonour of God by the prejudice of the Gospel by the grief of the godly by the intollerable consequences of the enemies blasphemie by the offence of the Jewes by the rejoycing of the Turks by the animation and encouraging of Antichrist by the cry of all the blood that hath been shed in the just defence of this kingdomes interest by all the bonds of truth and righteousnesse that you do not engage us in another warre You tell us in the front of your papers that Propositions were agreed on Anno. 1644 with advice and consent of the Parliaments of both kingdomes presented to his Majesty at Oxford by commissioners of both and treated upon at Uxbridge 1645. that you did earnestly and frequently presse the sending of these Propositions again to his Majesty wherein the Houses would not concurre with you but on the contrary after very long delay thought fit to make
for mentioning Religion in the first place in his addresse to the Parliament and to charge the Parliament with profanesse for post-poning Religion But wherein doth the piety of the King so much consist is it in asserting the Episcopacy or the toleration of all sorts of Religions only prohibiting the Masse and the publishing of Atheisme and blasphemy or wherein else Is it true that the King whom your generall Assembly so deeply charged with guilt of the shedding the bloud of many thousands of his best Subjects hath passed through the valley of Bacha weeping and lamenting with ashes upon his head and sackcloth on his loines for his former wayes exhibiting his repentance as a doore of hope that his three Kingdomes will be happy in him notwithstanding all that is past have you heard that his heart is tender that it hath melted before the Lord for all his abhominations that he hath cut downe the groves broken the Altars destroyed the Images which were a provocation to the eye of Jealousie hath he given satisfaction for bloud and security for peace untill which you once professed you would never assent unto his comming to London to treat hath he recall'd his Declarations and Proclamations against his Subjects English and Scotch as Traitors and Rebels c is it thus indeed or * are you like men that dream as once you were that you applaud the King for his zeale for Religion putting the Reformation of that in the first of his proposals to the Parliament at the best and chiefest foundation of peace If the cause be thus deferre not our joy your very feet would be beautifull to us would you bring us these glad tidings it would be unto us as the resurrection from the dead but if you have no such newes to cheere us with all no such fruit from the tree of life to revive our hearts sicke through our hopes deferred what 's your meaning of this Royall applause do you thinke your consciencious Brethren Presbyterian or Independent will commend you for this Having done with the Order you now come to the materiall differences and alterations concerning Religion which you branch out into the Parliaments errour of omission and difficiency and into that of commission and excesse The first thing you complaine of under the head of omission is no lesse than the solemn League and Covenant and here you abound with your pathetick interogations to affect the hearts of those whose eyes are in their bowels whose understandings are drown'd swallowed up in their passions after this manner And shall the Covenant which is as solemne a vow as creatures on earth can make to God in Heaven c And againe shall the Covenant for the preservation of c. And againe like the Papists which holds up their Idolatrous Eucharist in the eyes of the people that they may fall down and worship it shall the Covenant which both Houses recommended to the Assembly of c Yet againe as if here lay all your baite to catch gudgins shall our mutuall and solemne League and Covenant subscribed by the Parliaments of both Kingdomes c Once more yet for if this Springe failes all our sport will be lost shall the Covenant even with those that tooke it to be already out of date c. To all which we reply First What if the Parliament thinke it â—â—â— fit to trouble His Majestie with pressing the Covenant in the Propositions for Peace was it not your owne reason * for the altering your judgements about sending Propositions will you not give the same allowance to others which you assume to your selves are you all for having will you give nothing Secondly If the Covenant be laid aside out of date deleted as your words are your perverting it hath beene the occasion of it did we promise to take the Covenant and after to submit to what sence thereof our Brethren of Scotland would please to impose upon us hath not the Covenant been so perverted that many Covenanters are ready to enter into a new Covenant against the sence that is put upon the old Brethren we haue taken the Covenant in a true proper plaine English sense as well as your selves and stand unto 〈…〉 Thirdly Whereas you 〈…〉 that the Covenant is brought in by the Parliament in the 7th qualification of the 14. Pâ—â—position only as a hooke to catch some into the notion of Delinquency we reply that if any 〈◊〉 on this side Tweed should have said the Covenant was made a hooke to catch men into Delinquency you would have marked him with an M. or an S. for a Malignant or Sectary we will not say the Covenant was first intended as a booke to catch men into the notion of Delinquency though you are so bold and peremptory to charge this upon our Parliament to their very teeth and that in the face of the Kingdome tempting their civility and patience above measure the like affronts we presume were never offered to any Nation by Commissioners of another State yet we wish it had not been used as a hooke to catch not a few but even the Parliament and Kingdome of England into a new designe by introducing another Nation to be one of the Estates of this Kingdome and to have a negative voice in all things concerning their welfare You tell the Parliament from their omission of the solemne League and Covenant to your very much wonder that they are so liberall in the matters of God and so tenacious in what concernes themselues Your zeale for the Covenant is your zeale for God that is your zeale to introduce your Nation to be one of the Estates of this Kingdome and to have a negative voyce in all things concerning our welfare Your zeale to intermeddle with the Militia of England with disbanding our Armies with conferring titles of honour with the revenue of the Crowne with all our goods by vertue of the solemne League and Covenant Is your zeale for the matters of God and the Parliaments care in their preservation of the pure and unmixt interests of this Kingdome according to their solemne League and Covenant without suffering you to intermeddle therewith is their prophane tenaciousnesse in that which concernes themselves See my zeale for the Lord was Iehu's tone when the tune of his heart plaid another game As for the King you are pleased to tell us Though His MAIESTY shall not come up to the full length of your desires yet WE must never depart from our Covenant It seemes you have a royall sence to bestow upon His Majestie but vae pauperibus woe to the poore they must abide the fire of this purgatory is it true here also no penny no Pater-noster Is there no allowance for tender consciences except it be of Kings and Princes You say your zeale for the Covenant doth not abate or diminish your loyalty and duty to the King though he cannot
that it might please him to incline the hearts of the honourable City of London and all the Inhabitants thereof to throw by all unhappy differences and jealousies whatsoever and to joyne together in the wayes of God and to give them light from his word and power from his spirit in a due and Gospel way to suppresse error heresie blasphemy and whatsoever is contrary to sound doctrin and to maintain in their several places and callings the undoubted interest of their native Kingdome for all which with simplicity and integrity of heart quaesumus audias nos Domine But to returne to answer our brethren If the King be not the only man with whom the peace is to be made what other adversary doth appeare at all and indeed you often tell us that now the war is ended pag. 10. Againe the war is ended pâ—g 21. There is no enemy to sight with Ibid. Againe the war is at an end and no visible enemy in the kingdome Againe now Armies are no more usefull Ibid. Then it will follow First that the Parliament hath not broken their Treaty in any Pacification or agreement with the enemy without you the peace being got by the sword and not by a Treaty therefore you ought to recant your charging them in this particular 2. If the war be ended we have no more to do with the Scotch Commissioners for we know no Covenant Treaty or Compact with them that they should intermeddle with us in the government of our kingdom nor we with theÌ„ in the government of theirs We thank you for your help for we shal remember our own duty to acknowledge you and leave it to your ingenuity to remember both our ancient and late respects unto you we have given you 200000. l. besides all other things we need not name them in part of payment 200000 pounds more we are to give you we pray your Christian and brotherly forbearance with us you shall find us honest and without guile in our dealings with you The next thing you complaine of is the omitting the proposition concerning the City of London c. The City of London to speak without vanity hath not come far short of the kingdom of Scotl. in their deserts from the Parl. of England And we make no questioÌ„ but upoÌ„ the faithâ—ul cotinuance of their due respects to the Parl. of Engl. and the interest thereof whereof we have hopes if but from this time God blesse their eares from the guilded rhetorick of pretended devot oÌ„ and deceitfull tongues that they do not neglect their owne interest the Parl. of Engl. will not forget their labour of love and their perseverance therein nor yet remember every character of humane frailty that hath been upon them the best Parliament hath had its spots as well as the best City Next you complain of the proposition for taking away the Court of Wards c. Hath not the King consented to that and is not this beyond your line Touching the Proposition for the sale and disposal of the lands of Deans Chapters You have some what to say which is only this That you have alwayes heard that those lands were reserved by the Houses for the maintenance of Ministers and the disposall of it otherwais would discourage faithfull Pastors and give occasion to the people where Minsters are wanting for lack of maintenance to follow after Sectaries and Tub preachers It seems you are very inquisitive about the disposall of lands in England we are not so dim sighted but we see and observe how quick you are of hearing and diligent in harkning after matters of that nature The disposal of the lands of Deans Chapters otherwise theÌ„ for the maintenance of Ministers would discourage faithful Ministers Perhaps no more then the disposall of Bâ—shops lands have done which are security for monys for our brethren of Scotland and if the Dean and Chapters lands had been so disposed of we beleeve you would have given us no occasion to have spoken to this point it is the desire and longing of our very souls that some effectuall course might be speedily thought upon by the Parliament for the comfortable incouragment and maintenance of faithfull Pastors yea and their widows and children that they may be delivered from that snare of dependence upon the benevolence and charity of their dull hearers and sometimes vitious patrons and benefactors But we referre the matter wholly to the Parliament and heartily desire their most possible expedition in that good work But before we leave this we desire you tel us the original and meaning of that profound word Tub Preachers we have formerly presumed if it had its rice in England it was from some of those learned Ballad singers in dishonour of Pulpit preaching who were bred up in the University of Newgate Should English Commissioners in Scotland have made any mention in their addresses to their Parliament of the opprobrious tearms of Red-shanks or Blew-caps it had reflected no smal disparagement upon those that employed them Such light expressions to say no more we did never observe to proceed from Commissioners of State before neither do we beleeve that Commissioners of the Indies bred up in Wigwams did ever use such scurrilous terms in all their motions to the Magistrates at Bostonbay in new-New-England For the conclusion of all you see down most of your desires and tender them unto the Parliament If you have any desires concerning your own kingdome wherein the Parliament of England may gratifie you without prejudice to the proper interest of England you may do well to tender them but we shâ—ll not trouble you to mediate for us with our own Parliament we desire you brethren once more before we leave you that you would remember that peace preserving passage in the Covenant Our severall places and callings you are exâ—ream apt to forget it therefore are we so bold to put you in mind so often of it you have set downe most of your desires but not all keepe the rest within you perhaps it is better at least for us that your desires should bee in your Hearts then in your Hands As for your intermedling with the four Bils sent by the Houses unto the King we say no more but had you been mindful of the bounds and limits of our solemn league and covenant viz. our severall places and callings you had spared your paines in that busines and your fig. leaves to cover that nakednesse hath been totn from you by a better hand Here we had thought to have taken our leaves but before we part we have three or four Queries to propound unto you and one request to make wherein if you will satisfie us in your next it will be an addition to our former engagements First whether that your publishing to the people the transactions between the Parliament and your selves without the Parliaments consent nay contrary to their expresse commands
concerning printing and publishing yea with maligne reflection upon them be not contrary to the practise of all publique Ministers yea and directly repugnant to all principles of common justice and infinitely unworthy that profession of love friendship and brotherly respects which you have so solemnly made in the face of heaven and earth unto them Secondly tell us bona fide whether you think in your consciences for you pretend to be very religiously conscientious that the Parliament of England people therof did ever intend any such sense of the solemne League and Covenant either concerning the interest of the kingdom or government of the Church as you have endeavoured to extort from it in your severall papers or that they did intend when they took it any otherwise by it than the promotion of holinesse in the general though with difference of judgement about discipline and the uniting us together in our mutuall assistance against and the discovery of the common enemies of both kindomes Thirdly tell us bona fide whether you desire or rather would permit that the King should have the same power in Scotland the same negative voyce the same absolute command and authority every way as you would he should have in England especially if he should refuse to take away Episcopacy to establish Presbytery to recall those proclamations and declarations whereby you are declared traytors and rebels to give satisfaction and security to your kingdome yea or whether upon the performance of these things you would let him have such a power yea or no Fourthly whether you think in the secrets of your hearts it be agreeable to the principles of religion rules of equity justice and policy an acceptable sacrifice in the sight of Almighty God and comfortable for his people to advance the King in statu quo prius untill he hath according to the pious advice and Christian exhortation of the generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland viz. Fallen down at the Footstoole of the King of glory acknowledging his sinnes repented of them and made his peace with God in Jesus Christ whose blood is able to wash away his great sinnes And whether you thinke in your consciences he is a changed man yea or no Fifthly and lastly whether it would not be most agreeable to the will of God the declarations protestations promises and professions of love betwixt the two kingdoms the true intent of the solemne League and Covenant and most conducing to the glory of God and the mutuall support security safety and benefit of the two nations united together that you and we be true faithfull constant and single hearted each to other assisting each other according to Our severall places and callings in the preservation of each others Peculiar proper and distinct interest And whether it would not be as great a dishonour to God scandall to the Gospell scorne to Religion rejoycing of the wicked grieving of the godly gratifying the Devill and the affaires of his kingdome among Jewes Turks Infidels Papists Prelats and all sorts of prophane men that You and We should be at variance Should we not make our selves therby an abomination to the Lord a hissing to all nations a prey unto our enemies obnoxious to the wrath and curse of God and men and bring upon our selves swift destruction for the prevention whereof let us both bow our knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ night day that we being rooted and grounded in love may grow up together in Christ perfecting holinesse in the feare of the Lord and by all Christian forbearance and wisdome may keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace OUr request is onely this that you would either giue a Reply unto the Answer of the Commons assembled in Parliament to the Scotch Commissioners papers of the 20. and their letter of the 24. of October 1646. or else to cease any further to trouble Englands eares with what you call the sense and meaning of the solemne League and Covenant Treaties c. for if you doe you will but sow the winde and reap the whirlwinde for your paines Valete FINIS Pâ—ov. 10. 9 * â—â— turneth them upside down 2 Sam. 15 7. 8. Pag. 3. by figure but the first in order Reply Reply Vide the Answer of the Commons in Parliament to the Scotch Commissioners papers of the 2d of Octob 1646 pag. 1â— The Marquis of Aâ—giles speech to the grand Committee of both Houses Iune 25. 164â— page 4. Page 3. Reply ☞ Page 3. Reply See the Chancellor of Scotlands speech to the Kings Majesty at Newcastle Reply Page 6. Page 9th 2 Sam. 1. 20. Prov. 11. 3. Page 6. Reply Vid. the book of Declar pag. 580. Hosea 4. 15. At Vxbridg Page 4. Reply Page 5. Page 5. Reply 1 Reason Reply 2 Reason Repâ—y 3 Reason Reply 4 Reason Reply 5 Reason Reply 6 Reason 1 Reason 2 Reason Page 6. Reply Prov. 27. 10. Page 6. Reply Page 7. Reply Page 14. See the Remonstrance of the generall Assembly of the kirke of Scotland sent by the commission of both Kingdomes Iune 12. 1645. to Oxford See the Parl. answer to his Majesties message to two Letters the 26 and 29. of Decemb. 1646 Page 5. * See the Letter from the Commissioners of the Parl. of Scotl. to the Commissioners of the Parl. of Engl. concerning his Majesties comming to the Scotch Army May 5. 1646. Ibid. Reply * Page 3. See the Parl. answer to the Scotch papers of the 20. of Octob 1646. Page 9. Reply 2 Kin. 10. 16. Page 10. Ibid. Reply Page 17. Reply Ibid. Reply Lev. 22. 22. Ibid. Reply Page 11. Page 18. Reply Iam. 1. 21. Reply Pag. 17 18 Reply Pag. 19 20 Reply Page 21. Reply Page 22. Page 21. 2 Cor. 11. 26. Reply Reply Page 2â— Reply Reply Page 23. Reply See the Answer of the Commons to the Scotch Commissioners papers of the 20. and their letter of the 24. of Octob. 1646. page 11. Pag. 23. Reply Page 25. Reply Ibid Reply Ibid. Reply Page 25. Reply See Indepency of England c. lately set forth pa. 18 19.