for provisions are not the forces in the West driven to the same exigencies for want of pay yea some of late although they have been formerly with care lookt unto have abandoned their Colours and run away yet I am sure if the Scots Army had the fourth part of pay that the Westerne hath had this Summer they would render ten for one for any thing that should be taken from the people of this they have given evidence enough by their former carriage in this Kingdome moreover they have frequently and earnestly solicited for pay to fit them for action and keepe them from being troublesome to the people and since they speake of liberty I pray you if the Scots had not come in where had the liberty been and where had the Parliament been siting for judgeing of the liberty of the people Is it not knowne to all that the Parliament is Assembled at the occasion of the in-coming of the Scots then the Court Plots against the Parliament were disappointed by reason of the being of the Scots Army in England Thirdly the Scots being solicited by the Court upon great promises to side with it against the Parliament not onely refused to doe it as most base but also gave notice of it to the Parliament with assuranee of their service Lastly if the Scots had not come in when they came where had the liberty of the Parliament and people been ere now After all this some malicious men studying to advance their worldly condition and private ends by confusion in the Church and disorder in the State doe what they can to give a distaste to Parliament City and Country of the Scots but in vaine for as sure as the malicious calumnies of Papists and Prelates with their adherents hath come to nothing and their devices fallen upon their owne heads so without doubt ere it be long these enemies to the setling of the Church of God with their wickednesse and pride will fall to the ground notwithstanding all their cunning and craft for nothing can subsist but truth and honesty A Collection of divers Papers given in to the two Houses of Parliament by the Commissioners of Scotland THe sense of the goodnesse of God in the late victory granted to the Forces of the Parliament the experience of all ages wherein the greatest and most sudden victories have through security or negligence so far miscarried that they have proved either hurtfull or unprofitable and the desires we have that this present victory may be thankfully and wisely improved to the honour of God and the publike good have constrained us humbly to offer our thoughts and desires about this matter of so great weight and consequence that by this honorable Committee they may be represented to the honourable Houses of Parliament First we desire that unto the publike and solemn thanks giving already offered unto God there may succeed a publike and reall testimony of thankfulnesse in the speedy setling of Religion and the House of God wherein his glory and honour is neerely concerned no monument or Trophee of victory can be so pleasant in his sight nothing will more confirme and incourage all good Christians at home and comfort and satisfie all the Protestant Churches abroad no means will be more effectuall for setling of unstable minds for curing and preventing of Sects Schismes and Heres es and for stopping the mouthes and shaming the faces of such as have not been ashamed to say That the Parliament in policy pretendeth religion but doth not really intend it and thereby draw many Disciples after them Secondly least victories run continually in a vicissitude as they have at some times done formerly which is not onely a signe but a means of the continuance of this unnaturall warre we desire that presently while the iron is hot and before the Enemy gather strength againe course may be taken by the joint Councels and forces of both Kingdomes for the speeedy vigorous and constant prosecuting of the war that by the blessing of God it may at last be brought to an end and nothing may be left undone which may be a meanes to deliver these Kingdomes from their present sad condition under the heavy hand of God Thirdly we humbly move and desire it may be considered whether the present condition of the Kings Army and the blessing of God upon the Parliaments forces both of them joyned make not an opportunity and such a season as is very desirable for renewing the desires of the Parliaments of both Kingdomes in the most convenient and conduceable way for a just and well grounded Peace Thus apprehending all occasions of demanding Peace it will appeare that although War be necessarily in our hand yet Peace is in our heart and that we follow not War as a trade or for it selfe but as a means of Peace If it shall please God to move the Kings heart to listen unto our just and necessary desires our troubles are at an end and we may sit downe in peace But if God shall so far desert the King that he will still prefer the pernitious and destructive suggestions of wicked men unto the Counsels of the Parliaments of both Kingdoms In that case we may say before God our owne consciences and the world that we have delivered our owne souls our Enemies will be convinced that peace is our desires our friends will extend themselves to the maintenance of a necessary war and the Armies of both Kingdomes will doe duty with the greater resolution and courage when they see no other remedy which may be a means upon this side to bring the war to a speedy and happy conclusion These our motions desires we humbly present to be seriously considered by the wisdome of the honourable Houses that the Lord Chancellor of Scotland being now about his journey into that Kingdome may be acquainted with their resolutions and may make the same knowne unto the Scottish Army in this Kingdome and to the Parliament of Scotland that all matters whether of Peace or Warre may still proceed with the consent of both Kingdomes 20 June 1645. By command of the Commissioners for the Parliament of Scotland John Cheisley HAving now seen and perused the divers Letters and Papers of great importance mentioned in the Answer of the honourable Houses of Parliament to our paper of the twentieth of June which may give light to the future proceedings of both Kingdoms having also observed the good successe of the Parliaments Forces since that time whereby the King and his Armies are brought to a much lower condition which in Divine Providence may be a further preparation to an happy Peace and having reason from what we have learned in time past to apprehend that men will not be at rest but still be dealing under hand and tampering for a Peace of their own making and for their owne private ends to the great prejudice of the Publike the further alienating of the Kings heart from a safe and
well grounded Peace and the delaying of the intentions of both Kingdomes We do in all earnestnesse desire upon the grounds and considerations presented in our former paper to know rhe minde and resolution of both Houses in a matter of so great consequence as is the renewing of the desires and propositions of Peace in such wanner as shall be thought fit that we may make the same knowne to the Parliament of Scotland now sitting which may expect no lesse from our trust and diligence 28 July 1645. By command of the Commissioners for the Parliament of Scotland John Cheisley THe pressing necessities of the Scottish Army doe inforce us to represent by your Lordships and these Gentlemen to the honourable Houses of Parliament that notwithstanding the whole foure moneths of the Ordinance be long since expired there is but a very small and inconsiderable proportion of money assessed upon the severall Counties for entertainment of that Army as yet come in to the Committee of Gold-Smiths Hall for repayment of the months pay advanced by the City of London and for satisfying the necessities of that Army which is reduced to that extremity in the present service wherein they are ingaged that without Pease Apples and greene Wheat they gather from the ground they are not able to subsist some of the Counties as Lincolne and Rutland desire to be excused and pretend their inability to afford any proportion of the Money assessed upon them for that Army and little or none comes in from the rest of the Counties It is above a twelve moneth since a moneths pay was ordered by the House to be paid to the Scottish Army out of the Fines and Compositions for Delinquents Estates immediatly after the Battell of Longmarston a good proportion whereof is yet due the payment of which is obstructed by severall Orders procured from the House for payment of Moneys for other uses out of those Fines and compositions Our earnest desire to the honourable House is That some speedy and effectuall course be taken for bringing in of the moneys due by the Counties for the foure Moneths past that the Ordinance may speedily be renewed that the House will be pleased to appoint the Committee of Gold-Smiths Hall first to pay the remainder of that moneths Pay voted after the Battell of Longmarston out of the Fines and Compositions for Delinquents Estates notwithstanding any subsequent Orders and that the Committee of Gold-Smiths Hall may be enabled for the speedy payment thereof and other incident charges that the House would call for their reports concerning those Fines wherein they can proceed no further without the approbation of the Houses 7 August 1645. By command of the Commissioners for the Parliament of Scotland Joh. Cheisley HAving received from your Lordships some Votes of the honourable Houses concerning the Propositions of Peace and after some conference thereupon being desired by your Lordships to give our answer in writing we hereby present our thoughts and offer it to your Lorships consideration whether it were not fit to shun all occasions of delay in sending the Propositions of Peace to the King least thereby we neglect the improvement of so seasonable an opportunity of obtaining Peace as we have expressed in our former papers That to this end we are most ready presently to concurre with the honourable Houses for sending to his Majesty the Propositions either all or some as they have been already agreed upon in the Parliaments of both Kingdomes for matter and manner That untill we understand what Propositions are intended by the Votes of the Houses to be next sent we cannot give a cleare answer anent the manner That if the Propositions presented at Vxbridge be understood with any other of those already agreed upon by both Kingdoms which upon mutuall debate shall be adjudged most necessary for the Peace of both Kingdoms to be now sent we shall be ready to concurre with the Honourable Houses to desire a positive answer thereof from His Majestie without any Treaty But in case any new Propositions of Peace be thereby understood or any materiall additions to or alterations of the former Propositions we shall be necessitated to send these to the Kingdome of Scotland to be there considered and approved as all the fotmer were and as it is evident that wee are not the cause of this delay so that no prejudice may thereby arise to the publike we desire in the interim that those already agreed upon by both Kingdoms which at the time were thought sufficient may be presented to His Majestie with all convenient speed Concerning the third Resolve of the Houses for presenting their desires by Bills to His Majesty If the meaning be to send the Propositions that are already agreed upon by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms seek the Kings Majesties positive answer thereunto and together therewith to present Bills conforme to those Propositions for the more legall securing of this Kingdome in the Kings grant of these Propositions although we think it more safe and convenient for both Kingdoms that the security of both should proceed hand in hand and simul semel be perfected and consummated yet if the Honourable Houses shall insist upon the sending such Bills with the Propositions we are so farre from giving any occasion of delay for which we are by some unjustly blamed that we will be ready to concurre the Kingdom of England securing us as they did in the large Treaty both in relation to the King and in relation to themselves as we are bound to doe the like to them And withall we desire that if these Bills be not ready the sending of the Propositions be not delayed the grant whereof by his Majesty will be an ingagement and make way for his assent to the Bills But if the meaning be to send Bills without sending the Propositions agreed upon by both Parliaments or without desiring the Kings Answer thereunto then we shall be necessitated to know the pleasure of the Parliament of Scotland concerning this new way before we can joyne in it and in the meane time desire the Honourable Houses to take into their serious consideration that the former way agreed upon by both Kingdoms is laid aside and that this new way of sending Bills without Propositions was not thought necessary in any former addresse to his Majesty for peace Neither was it proposed to us or communicated to the Parliament of Scotland which is now adjourned so that we cannot communicate the same unto them for the present That it is not in the power of any Commissioner from a Parliament to forme the Propositions in Bills or Acts of Parliament and to desire the Kings ratification thereof before such Bills or Acts be known and agreed upon by the Parliament it selfe that the way of the Propositions as they are conceived by both Parliaments is a joynt way uniting the Kingdoms in their desires tying the King to both in his Grants and obleiging both to see these
performed and preserved each in favour of the other and so doth double the security as both by way of Law and way of Covenant and agravates the violation of any Article as the violation of both Law and Covenant whereas the way of Bills without the Propositions is a more dividing way both of the desires of the Kingdoms of the Kings Answers thereunto and of their Obligations to see the same performed and therefore a disjunctive way was most earnestly pressed by the Kings Commissioners at Vxbridge as most conducible to their ends and preâ—â—diciall to ours and for that cause was opposed by the Commissioners of both Kingdoms That seeing the Parliament of Scotland is not presently siting â—nd did not know of this way and that we cannot have powâ—r to form Acts of Parliament this were to propose and desire the setling the peace of the one kingdome without setling of the other which as it were contrary to the Covenant and the Treaty so would it be made use of by our common adversaries to be the occasion of ruining the peace of both and therefore we rather desire that the way already agreed upon by both Kingdoms may be observed as that which will occasion both least delay and lesse danger especially seeing we are willing to crave a positive answer to the Propositions without any Treaty And for the way of security we desire that the way so solidly agreed upon by both Kingdoms for estâ—blishing of the large Treaty and inserted in the beginning and close of the Acts of Parliament of both Kingdoms in the yeare of God 1641. may be seriously considered as containing a three-fold security the one of ingrossing all the Propositions and passing them by way of a Law and Act of Parliament the other by way of the Kings Covenant and Oath to his people the third by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms giving their full assurance and making Publick Faith in name of both Kingdoms respectively for the true and faithfull observance thereof all which upon the Kings grant of the Propositions may be speedily dispatched and securely setled which is our chiefest desire for the good of both Kingdoms And it were earnestly to be wished in a matter of so tender a nature as the businesse of peace wherein the mutuall advise and câ—nsent of both Kingdoms is necessarily required that neither Kingdom should engage themselves without a previous debate especially in alteration of any thing formerly agreed on 14. Aug. 1645. By command of the Scottish Commissioners for the Parliament of Scotland Joh. Cheisley UPon severall occasions we have represented to the Houses of Parliament the extream wants and necessities of the Scottish Army and particularly of late in a paper of the seaventh of August to which we have received no answer It is fourteene moneths since a moneths pay was ordered by the House of Commons to be payed to the Scottish Army out of the Fines and compositions for delinquents Estates immediatly after the battle of Long-marston a great proportion whereof remaines yet due and cannot be paid by reason severall Orders are procured from the House in prejudice thereof for payment of monies for other uses out of those Fines and compositions It is about seaven moneths since the House of Parliament did passe an Ordinance assessing the severall Counties towards the entertainment of that Army of all which there is only come in to the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall about seaven or eight thousand pounds for repayment of the moneths pay advanced by the City of London which is all that Army received for these seaven moneths past and for the moneths pay Ordered by the House upon the fifteenth of August to be forthwith provided and furnished there is no appearance of the providing thereof till the House give further order The Houses of Parliament were also pleased to appoint two hundred pound per diem to be payed toward the maintenance of the Infantry of that Army which though it hath been assessed by the Commissioners of Parliament yet hath proved very in effectuall as the Commissioners themselves have certified to the House of Commons We doe therefore againe renew our former request to the Houses that they would be pleased to call for the Reports of the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall concerning those Fines and compositions to enable them for speedy payment of the remainder of that moneths pay Voted immediatly after the battle of Long-marston and to order no monies to be payed by that Committee out of those Fines and compositions till it shall be paid That the months pay Ordered by the House upon the fifteenth of August to be forthwith provided and sent to the Army may be accordingly furnished and that a more effectuall course be taken for bringing in the monies assessed upon the severall Counties for entertainment of that Army We are informed that the Houses of Parliament have now in consideration the sale of the delinquents Estates and therefore have thought fit to put the Honourable Houses in mind of the fifth Article of the Treaty between the Kingdoms wherein it is provided that the Scottish Army shall be payed by the Parliament of England out of the Estates of the Papists Prelats Malignants and their adherents or otherwise and since it is cleerly evident that all other waies for the maintenance of that Army have failed we desire that a stock of credit and security may be setled by Ordinance of Parliament out of the Lands and Estates of delinquents for payment of what is due to the Scottish Army and that the Lands and Estates of delinquents be ingaged for no other use till that Army receive satisfaction which is now most necessary in regard of the great distractions of the Kingdom of Scotland and we hope the Houses of Parliament will be the more ready to supply them that the only quarrell the enemy doth pretend against that Kingdom is the assistance given by them to the Parliament of England 4th September 1645. By Command of the Commissioners for the Parliament of Scotland John Cheisly IT hath pleased the Lord our God who worketh all things according to the counsell of his owne Will in his wise and and righteous Providence so to dispose at this time upon the affaires of the Kingdome of Scotland that they are upon the sudden brought to a more deplorable condition then could in any probability have been expected or the enemy himselfe in his pride could have presumed We speake not of the devouring Pestilence which in many parts of the Land especially in and about the chiefest City hath raged for a long time in many degrees above any thing that either our selves or our Predecessors have ever knowne and hath taken away many thousands of the people nor is it yet stayed This although it hath been a great advantage to the enemy and no small discouragement and hinderance to the opposing of his power we acknowledge to be a Plague from the more immediate hand of God against which
A COLLECTION Of divers Papers Presented unto the Houses of Parliament By the Commissioners of SCOTLAND since May last 1645. Published by Authority LONDON Printed by Moses Bell. 1645. Ingenuous and Courteous Reader HEre I present unto thee a Collection of some Papers of which I shall onely say that in them thou wilt finde Reason and Truth the publishing whereof I am perswaded in the first place will give content to men of judgement and integrity concerning divers things murmured and rumored every where almost against men so well deserving in the service of this Cause of God and of his people and consequently against the Cause it selfe for which they have and doe undergoe so much hardship toyling care and hazard c. in all these three Kingdomes not only in opposing the violence and plots of the open and declared enemy but also in declining and stopping the undermining devices of counterfeit friends and false brethren In the next place it will make false-hearted and by-ended men blush for shame if they have any as also the simpler ones acknowledge their owne sillynesse suffering themselves thus to be deluded and as it were led by the Nose by the specious lyes of crafty and deceitfull men but before thou goe to the reading of the papers themselves give me leave to detaine thee a little with these ensuing lines Of late many reproaches have been cast upon the Scots in the pursuance of the service in this common Cause namely for three things First on the one side the Malignants that is the enemies of Church and State adversaries to our solemne Covenant blame the Scots for pressing and urging the setling of the Church-Government to the end that all grosse Idolatry and Superstition with Tyrannie may be pulled downe as also all fanaticall errours and Heresies with confusion may be repressed in the Church and it preserved pure as the Spouse of Christ according to his holy Word and conforme to the practice of the first times and example of the best reformed Neighbour Churches as we are all bound by our solemne Oath on the other side divers men of zeale to the glory of God and good of his people blame the Scots that they are too white-lipp'd and doe not put home with vigour enough the setling of the Church as they are conceived to have done in their owne Country and so they are wish'd by these Zelots to make their stoutnesse more clearely appeare in this businesse of the Church for these well-meaning men are grieved from their heart to see the setling of the Church these five yeares in hand so slackly pursued yea in the latter times stopped by some of those who formerly did make a shew of an earnest affection for the setling of the same as aforesaid but now with an unparallel'd impudency doe publickly affirme that Religion was not the first and maine quarrell betwixt the Parliament and the common enemy against the Declaration of both Houses when they tooke Armes and against the Declaration of both Kingdomes joyntly and more particularly against the Nationall Covenant To this it is answered the Scots in conscience and duty to God and his people and particularly by solemne Oath are bound to put on the setling of the Church with all faithfulnesse and earnestnesse and yet they have to this day proceeded therein with all meekenesse longanimity and tendernesse studying to gaine by faire meanes those who are so backward to the setling of the Church if it were possible 2. The Scots on one side are blamed by those who are enemies to the setling of Government in the Church and good order in the State for expressing so seriously their desires of peace the Church being setled in truth and purity and the State secured with due Priviledges and lawfull liberty And on the other side divers blame the Scots for not pressing home enough the obtaining of Peace so much the rather that they are affraid to have a Peace both long in comming and uncertain when it is come except the Scots presse it and be engaged in it To this it is likewise answered the Scots have undertaken war not to make a Trade of it but to obtaine peace and the sconer the better for the stopping of the torrent of wickednesses of all kinds so openly and with so high a hand committed against God and the wrongs done unto his people in warre for they finde by woefull experience that the Sword is the heaviest of the three maine scourges wherewith God punisheth the children of men for their iniquities yet they conceive the thing is to be done with judgement and discretion for fear of surprisall and circumvention by the common enemy who studieth to undoe us by deceit in making an uncertaine peace if not prevented by wisedome since he failes in his plots and open violence by warre to destroy us 3. The Scots are blamed that their Army hath done nothing this Summer and hath laine heavily upon the people yea and put Taxes upon them to a huge and immence value if it went through the whole Country To this also it is answered If the Scots have done nothing I pray you where doth the fault lye for they have been ever willing and ready with us when we will have the Plough to goe first we give meate both to man and beast next we furnish the Plough with all instruments as sock culter c. fit for the worke then let it be knowne with what and in what measure the Scots have been furnished for any undertaking yea in downe-right tearmes they have been so dealt withall that it seemeth there hath been a set designe to keepe them from doing and to make them odious to the people yet they have not been idle notwithstanding their wants for the sending of the King twice South-ward and the breaking his Northerne design is as advantagious to the main service of the common Cause as any thing hath been done any where this yeare all wise and judicious men doe acknowledge and confesse this To lay aside divers other particulars done by the Scots this yeare but as for the Taxes or Assesments said to be against the liberty of the people it is answered that first they are moderate and reach no further then the places nearest unto their quarters not going through the whole Country as some doe seeme to intimate in their letters then if it be against the liberty of the people without Ordinance from Authority to lay Assesments upon the Country it is against the nature of men to live upon nothing or starve till Order from Authority come Againe I pray you whether or not is it more convenient for the people that moderate Assesments should be laid upon them then that the Souldier driven by necessity should take at discretion Further whether or not is it better for keeping an Army of foot for the good of the people to have a set Taxe paid and appointed in a place then to run up and downe at all times
Ireland upon grounds contained in the large Treaty and in the Propositions made by Commissioners sent from both Houses and particularly by the Ships which according to an Article of the late Treaty were to be employed for defence of the Coast of Scotland An Enemy neverthelesse from Ireland entred the Kingdome of Scotland having no other controversie nor pretending any other cause against them but their Treaty and Covenant with England and their assistance following thereupon and hath prevailed so farre as hath made this sad Remonstrance necessary at this time It is no matter of great difficulty unlesse wee will shut our eyes and hide from our selves our owne danger and threatned ruine to discerne and determine what is the great and maine designe of the Enemy now waxed proud and insolent by the afflictions which the Lord hath brought upon the Kingdome of Scotland When hee hath brought all there under his power a work which through the malignancy of some open and many formerly secret enemies now appearing and joyning with him through the sufferings calamities and hatred brought upon the best affected and such as have beene most active and instrumentall in this Cause and through the discontent and distemper of the multitude for the losse of their meanes and friends in this warre at home and abroad he presageth to be more easie and faesceable then what he hath already brought to passe His second expedition is against the Parliament of England which is not any uncertaine conjecture but his owne professed resolution and confidence And is too apparent that unlesse he be speedily suppressed he may through the concourse and combination of the Malignants of Scotland and of the Northerne Counties of England grow to a greater strength especially if he joyne with the King and his Forces which he is also very confident of then be afterward easily opposed and thereby may reduce these Kingdoms to a more miserable condition in respect both of Religion and Liberty beside all their intervening sufferings then they were in before the begining of this unhappy warre We know the cause is the same which it was at the first undertaking that the Godly in Scotland who loved it from the beginning and are resolved to live and die in it that the conjunction of the two Kingdomes which the enemy laboureth to divide and so to overcome is no lesse beneficiall to both then it was formerly conceived to be That the Popish and prelaticall faction in forraine parts as well as His Majesties Dominions upon the union of these Kingdomes are more strictly and powerfully combined then they have beene at other times That the Reformation of Religion the common interest of all the reformed Churches in Christendome groaning so long under the crosse is as much to be looked unto as ever and who knoweth but the Lord in his wisdome and justice is putting both their Kingdomes to a further tryall the one by suffering the other by doing that it may be known whether they have been seeking their owne peace and preservation or the honour of his name and the good of Religion We may without giving the least cause of offence in this conjuncture of time make use of the words of the Declaration of the Convention of Estates of the Kingdome of Scotland to the subjects there concerning their expedition into England for the assistance of their Brethren only changing the persons and if they were not extant in that Declaration we would have expessed our selves in another manner The Lord save you from the curse of Meroz who came not to helpe the Lord to helpe the Lord against the mighty when we looke upon the cause which Scotland maintaineth the Prayers Teares and Blood which they have powred forth and the insolencies and blasphemies of the Enemy we cannot doubt but enlargement and deliverance shall come unto Scotland but England hath reason to feare if upon so faire a call they sit still and hold their peace they shall perish by the hand of the same enemy and there shall be none to deliver them We have many grounds of assurance that this cloud shall passe over and after the Lord has proved and tryed the constancy of his servants the malignancy of hipocrites and the fellow feeling of our Brethren his face will againe shine upon us and his hand will raise us up and ruine our enemies Our desire and expectation is that in the day of our rejoycing our Brethren may rejoyce with us and be comforted in this testimony that they did not forsake us in the day of trouble Wee cannot deny that during the sitting of the Parliament and divers times before this Kingdome hath laid to heart the dangers of the Kingdome of Scotland nor can it be denied that the Kingdome of Scotland hath of late given abundant testimony of their affection and faithfulnesse to this Kingdome in departing the Kingdome in such a manner in the yeare 1641. which wee mention because of the many sinister suspitions and unjust calumnies vented to the contrary and by their comming againe to this Kingdome at such a time for such ends and against so many impediments If any discontents differences or jealosies have beene raised which were nothing strange because very ordinary and incident in time of War a time that useth to produce many and great difficulties wee desire they may be all mutuall forgiven and forgotten that the War be managed in Scotland as in England by the joynt counsells of both Kingdomes and that in every thing a right understanding and a strong mutuall confidence may be revived and renewed that either Kingdome may helpe the other in time of trouble as if they were but one Kingdome and that the Lord may delight to blesse the endeavours of both Sep. 1645. By command of the Committee for the Parliament of Scotland IOHN CHEISLEY VVHereas in answer to our paper of the date Iune 20. 1645. bearing our earnest desires of the setling of Religion and Peace in these Kingdomes and our other papers since to the same effect diverse votes of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled have beene communicated unto us which for so long a time have not been effectuall to produce the intended and so much desired ends We are upon many and very urgent causes constrained to renew our former desires and are very confident that the honourable houses judging of us in relation to the trust committed unto us as if wee were their own Commissioners in the like case And consider that our demands of establishing Truth Peace are not only agreeable unto but confident with their own maine intentions for which they have done and endured so much We shall not onely be free of the censure of importunity but shall have their approbation with such an answer as may give us satisfaction and put our minds to rest hereafter And first concerning Religion we blesse God and thankfully acknowledge the zeale and endeavours of the Parliament for what is already done in the
of soules this feare will vanish Nor can there be any other remedy of so many feares and jelousies but the setting up of the government it selfe which by the power of God accompanying his owne Ordinance will prove a comfort to the godly a meanes to winne many to Christ and a matter of rejoycing to all who have been instruments of so good a worke especially to the honourable houses of Parliament whom we therefore earnestly desire against all obloquies and impediments by their authority to establish it that it may in reality speake for it selfe above any verball expressions of ours and when we see Religion so far promoted we may the more cheerfully proceed in the common cause as knowing that wee have not been beating the ayre Our other renewed desire is concerning peace which of all things next to truth is most desireable for attaining whereof we conceive two things to be necessary One is that seeing by Gods good providence the Scottish Army is not yet necessitated to goe for Scotland but may remain in this Kingdome a solid course may be taken according to the Treaty for their necessary maintenance that they be encouraged to act their part and be kept from such other waies as have been and must be uncomfortable to themselves and hurtfull to their brethren here whereupon much discontent ariseth on both sides and by joynt counsels may be directed and set in such a way for prosecuting of the warre as may be most effectuall and beneficiall for this and consequently of both Kingdomes The other thing which wee conceive to be necessary is that Propositions of peace be speedily dispatcht to His Majesty This wee have pressed divers times before and have waited for the results of the consideration of the businesse by the house of Commons conforme to their Order of the 18 of August but till this time wee have not heard what progresse they have made Our opportunity herein is not greater then our Commission is urgent and our Commandements frequent to take all occasions for speeding the setlement of truth and peace the ends which have engaged us to this warre Of late when our Kingdome in the wonderfull providence of God was brought low wee were altogether silent lest our desire should have appeared to proceed rather from impatience under the sence of our sufferings then from our sincerity and zeale of the publique peace But now when the mighty hand of God hath wrought a notable deliverance for Scotland and hath blessed the Armies of this Kingdome with marvellous successe by which meanes the King having no considerable strength to relie upon in Scotland or England may be humbled and his heart prepared for hearkening to peace wee conceive the motion to be more seasonable and doe hope it will be more successefull then ever before and what the Lord will doe hereafter when opportunities have not been taken hold of wee doe not know nor is it for us to conjecture but so much wee may in certainty foresee that if the King shall grant such Propositions as may be the foundation of a safe and firme peace wee have that which ought to be the common desire of all the three Kingdomes in the most easie way And if which God forbid his heart shall be still averse our advantage is great having besides the approbation of God and the eternall peace of our owne soules the testimony of the world and the conviction of our enemies together with the stronger resolution when we are at out wits end to follow the war and thereby within a short time through the blessing of God to obtaine our peace Concerning the Kingdome of Scotland the reports of others and their owne speculations of the miseries of war in forraine parts are felt of them and verified of late in their lamentable experience as the want of ordinary Courts and courses of justice the decay of commerce and trade by Sea and Land to the impoverishing of the Kingdome and making of thousands of families to beg who hardly can finde supply from the richer sort because their revenues are not payd them the plunder and devastation of the Souldiers the assesments pressures and unnecessary burdens laid upon the Subjects for intertaining the warre above that which they are able to beare the great effusion of blood and the cutting off of many of the best affected with other sufferings of women and children which are grievous to remember And when by the calamities of a long lasting warre they are brought low and exhausted of men and meanes the danger of drawing in the barbarous Irish or some other forraine enemy to their utter undoing The difficulties and distresses of this Kingdome through the long continuance of this unnaturall warre are better knowne to the wisdome of the honourable Houses then to us Yet after so long residence upon publique imployments in this place we cannot be so voyd of the knowledge and sense of them as not to apprehend the danger of the like extremity at last unto our brethren of England Seeing therefore the Fields are now white to the Harvest both of perfecting the Reformation of Religion and of making a sure and well-grounded Peace and there be so strong inclinations and desires so many invitations and encouragements so fit preparations and sutable dispositions on all hands for so blessed a worke wee doe in all earnestnesse desire that the opportunity which can hardly be redeemed when once lost may be improved to the greatest advantage by the wisdome and zeale of the honourable Houses and doe expect their speedy answer that wee may be able to render an account to the Parliament of Scotland or to those that sent us and waite for it at our hands By command of the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland JOHN CHEISLEY September 1645. UPon the 26. of this instant your Lordships did communicate to us the resolutions of both Houses to which you desired a speedy answer and further acquainted us that the Papers by us lately given in were under consideration of the house and that wee shall receive their answer with all conveniency and upon the 27 your Lordships renewed the same desires Wee cannot give a positive answer to the desire of both Houses concerning the disposall of the Army because it is not in our power but we shall communicate their desires forthwith to the Committee with the Army and presse them with all the earnestnesse we can to which we expect they will be ready to give all just satisfaction so farre as the season of the yeere may admit and in the meane time wee desire a speedy answer to our Paper of the fourth of this instant and the other of the twelfth so farre as concernes Money Armes and Ammunition which is still as necessary for accomplishment of our desires as if the Army had marched into Scotland and the speedie proceeding thereof will be a great encouragement to that Army and furtherance to their undertakings It is well enough knowne to