Lurking-holes and desert those who had trusted to them And after all this there was a Scotish Army in Ireland which was now well trained and disciplined consisting of ten thousand men who were for the most part at the Covenanters devotion and these would be instantly brought over there being no way to stop their Passage and it was not to be imagined that any Body of an Army could be raised in Scotland able to resist that Force Upon these Reasons it was that he not only disswaded the Queen from consenting to a present Breach but resisted it as long as was possible yet he undertook for none but himself of which he put the Queen frequently in mind and the utmost of his expectation was to drive off Matters for that Year And in this both my Lord Traquair and Mr. Murray concurred with him and desired the whole Matter might be laid before His Majesty that his Pleasure might be made known about it but after a few days waiting on the Queen the Marquis returned back to Scotland The Scotish Commissioners continued all this while at Oxford The Commissioners at Oxford get their last Answer giving in Papers and receiving Answers but advancing nothing and the last Answer they got from His Majesty the 19th of April containing both the Substance of their Papers and of His Majesties former Answers will give a clear account of the Grounds on which His Majesty went The Paper follows IT is acknowledged by His Majesty that if any one of the Articles of Treaty had been broken or violated as His Majesty doth not so much as see pretended or any Debate or Difference had risen thereupon about which there is now no Dispute the Commissioners had then been not only warranted but obliged to have laboured to prevent all Troubles and Divisions which might arise by such a Breach to the disturbance of tâ—e Common Peace and to remove and compose all such Differences according to such Power as was granted to them but till His Majesty be satisfied that Authority by some Law is given to the Commissioners for Conserving the Articles of Treaty to represent His Majesties Native Kingdom of Scotland in this Offer of Mediating for a desired and blessed Pacification here His Majesty cannot see how the pious dutiful provident or charitable Concernment of that Kingdom in the Calamities of this or their Sympathy and sense of the Troubles of their Head and fellow-Subjects can interess the Commissioners any more than any other of His good Subjects of that Kingdom to bestir themselves in Matters of that kind or why any such Endeavours should be by any much less universally expected from them so far is he from seeing that any undeclinable Necessity constrained them to it And since the express words of the Act of Pacification it self are that the Power of the Commission shall be restrained to the Articles of Peace concluded in the Treaty His Majesty cannot but wonder whence they can pretend any Obligation or Authority to meddle with or press him concerning any such Articles as are not included but still left dependent how important soever they suppose them to be even to the Common Peace And it giving them only liberty to convene to that effect among themselves or with the Commissioners chosen by His Majesty with consent of the Parliament of England and restraining them in all their Proceedings to the Power granted to them in manner aforesaid and no otherwise as clearly intending to restrain all Power that might be pretended to by any Inserences Analogies or Consequences how manifest soever they might appear and requiring them to consist of the number of Twelve and not giving them Power to delegate a smaller number His Majesty cannot consent That that number the Laws allow not that is Three should address themselves to those the Law hath not appointed them this is Both Housâ—s not only concerning that which the Law intrusted not to them as a Pacification here but even concerning that from which the Law expresly restrains them that is one of the Articles of the Treaty no way concluded or agreed on but expresly reserved by the Parliament to be considered in due time that is in their own time concerning Church-Government the intermixture of which with the Civil State as His Majesty still conceives to be very great and of very high Concernment and not to be understood by the Commissioners who have not the knowledge of the Laws and Policy of this Kingdom so His Majesty is confident notwithstanding the Declaration and Bill abolishing the Order of Bishops that if they well knew how generally any thing of that kind was opposed whilst the Houses continued full and how the Major part of Both Houses were absent at the passing of that Declaration and Bill in so much that His Majesty is credibly informed that there were not above five Lords present when the Bill past and what violent and tumultuous Assemblies had occasioned so great and unusual Absence they would be confident as he is that in a full and peaceable Convention of Parliament Both Houses will appear to be of the same opinion with His Majesty in this Particular and to have in that the same thoughts of the Law and Policy of this Kingdom His Majesties care that the deluge of the Troubles of this Kingdom affect not that with the danger of the like is very visible to all the World His Majesty out of His great desire of continuing tâ—em in Peace and Tranquillity not desiring any assistance from them even for His Own Preservation And whoever doth desire any Commotion there to assist their Rebellious and Invasive Armes here will He hopes be lookt upon as the Troublers of Peace and as Incendiaries labouring to lay foundations of perpetual Hostility betwixt the Two Kingdoms And then for ought His Majesty can see there will be no cause to expect any Commotions there and such Dangers will rather prove imaginary than real though the Conservatours of the Treaty contain themselves within their legal and proper Bounds His Majesty wonders that since His approbation of their Mediation was desired when His Safe-conduct was asked and the first was not given when the latter was that it should not have been easily seen by these Proceedings of His Majesties that as He never granted the first as seeing no Authority they had for such a Mediation so He only at last granted the other as being contented to hear what they could say to Him upon that Point either as private persons or to give Him better satisfaction than He could give Himself what Right they could pretend to any Publick Capacity of that kind but having heard all they have offered and not finding any thing that warrants them in this in any special manner above His Majesties other Subjects His Majesty cannot with reason admit of any private Persons whatsoever into such a Publick Capacity nor with His Own Dignity and that of this Nation can allow His Subjects of another
steps their Progenitors went in or had departed from them therefore I told the Duke and Dutchess of Hamilton that now are that if I might have the favour and trust of perusing such Papers as remained in their hands I should do my endeavours to make the best use of them I could upon which they were pleased to send them all to me The Collection was great and in as great disorder yet by a little care I brought them into some Order and found I had very authentical and full Materials for a greater Work than I had at first designed but having read many scandalous Pamphlets that had charged these Dukes in divers particulars with an equal degree of Injustice and Malice I found it necessary to enquire as far as their Papers could carry me into the Truth of these Reports which forced me to be more particular than had been otherwise needful And yet I hope the Reader shall have no great cause to complain of my tediousness but that he shall find an Entertainment through the whole Work that shall not be unpleasant to him I have opened the Intrigues and Counsels of those Times as clearly as I could This some that perused the Work have censured much as a disclosing the Secrets of Government and because in some places errours of Government are neither concealed nor palliaâ—ed some advised me to pass these over and not insist on them but with this I could-by no means comply for I know no good that History does the World so much as the making Posterity the wiser both by shewing the Faults of Ministers that raised the Discontents and the Follies and Madness of those who put all in confusion to get Grievances redressed For the Iealousies that were conceived either from the ill opinion of Ministers or the consciousness of their own Guilt made the Fomenters of those Troubles think that neither Concessions nor Pardons were a sufficient Security but that assoon as the Country and Government was settled what they had done would be remembred and punished and did drive the Faction much further than it seems they intended at first All this I wrote with the more Assurance after I had presumed to tell His Majesty that since I was writing of the late Times I sound it necessary to set down some Errours that were committed even by some of the Ministers of the King his Blessed Father and I could give no true account of matters if these were not likewise related upon which His Majesty most graciously told me That such things were unavoidable in a History and therefore He allowed me to tell the Truth freely Vpâ—â— so gracious a Permission I was the more emboldened to lay open things clearly and to trace the Troubles of Scotland to their first Beginnings It is true there were some things that had much influence on Peoples Minds of which I have given no Account having found no Papers in this Collection to direct me in them and these were the whole Progress of the Design for thâ— Resumption of the Tithes into the Crown and the restoring them to the Church with all the steps that were made in it which was so nice a point and had so much of the subtilties of Law in it that I did not think fit to meddle with it especially it not lying before me in these Papers nor having any Relation to the Concerns of these two Brothers The other was the Proceeding in Parliament Anno 1633 when His late Majesty was Crowned with the Petition that was afterwards drawn for which the Lord Balmerino was tried and found Guilty and had Sentence of Death passed on him Then did the Party begin to be more united and secret Engagements were given either to rescue him by Force or to revenge his Death upon which the Earl of Traquair procured a Pardon for him but from that time the date of the Confederacy of that Party is to be reckoned and though it lay quiet for some years yet it was still fermenting which made it burst forth upon the Crisis that afterwards appeared They were also much encouraged to all that followed by the Informations they had of the Malecontents in England for a Gentleman of Quality of the English Nation who was afterwards a great Parliament-man went and lived some time in Scotland before the Troubles broke out and represented to the men that had then greatest Interest there that the business of the Ship-mony and the Habeas Corpus with divers other things of which there was much noise made afterwards had so irritated the greatest part of the English Nation that if they made sure work at home they needed fear nothing from England And of this the Duke of Hamilton who had lived so many years in England could not be ignorant for so great a disease in the Body Politick as a Civil War does not break out on a sudden but there go before it many Symptomes which are well discerned by men of Iudgment and Fore-sight the matter must be brought to the nature of Tinder or Gun-powder before a Spark can set it on Fire And it was the Prospect he had of what was like to follow in England if once a War begun that made him employ all his Endeavours to carry the King to as full Concessions as he could possibly obtain This to such as do not reflect on the State of England at that time may perhaps appear mean or Malice may give it a worse Character But as no sort of provocation will justifie any man though of the clearest Courage that will go and fight with a Sword loose in the hilt but he must be concluded rash and inconsiderate so the Duke knowing the disjoynted condition of England and apprehending that by all appearance the War would be unsuccessful and that the Demands of the Faction would then grow higher did as became a Wise and Faithful Minister in trying all the ways he could think of to settle Matters before there should be any Breach since the keeping the Kingdom in quiet though upon terms which had been hard to the King and derogatory to His Authority was much to be preferred to a War that was like to prove fatal to the King and Kingdoms For all that while the Affection of the English to the Party in Scotland did discover it self in many high Expressions which others could not but see and the King sadly but too late felt afterwards for Princes most commonly see such things last of all their People their pretending Flatterers who are in truth their greatest Enemies keeping up such Advertisements from them as long as can be as if one out of fear to awaken his Master should let him sleep when his House is on fire till it were scarce possible for him either to quench or escape the Flames All these things concurred to set on the hot Zealots to begin the Troubles that ended so tragically in the Murder of the King and Slavery of the Nations And therefore nothing seems more
and passed the River Sala pressing the Marquis to pass with him so afraid was he of Papenheim but the Marquis sent Sir Iacob Ashley to view the Pass who told him it was so good that he might safely march away in a quarter of an hours warning in spite of Papenheim and his Army upon which he would not stir Meanwhile Papenheim advanced with his Army but is relieved by Papenheim which he gave out to be ten or twelve thousand though it was onely 4700 men but to make the fame of it greater the Purveyors who went before him made provision for near thrice so many his men were drawn out of Garrisons and brought up in all haste and if Bannier had not been stiff it had been easie to have fought him and the least foil given him had made Magdeburg their own Papenheim getting to Magdeburg and finding that it could not be kept who leaves it marched away with the Garrison and every thing worth carrying with them but when he came out of the Town the Marquis and he fac'd one another in a Plain betwixt Kalbe and Saltsa and the Marquis though very much weaker than he yet had a great mind to have engaged but Bannier would not think of it neither had Papenheim any mind to provoke them and so he marched away thus Duke Weimar's slowness and Bannier's carefulness lost them that occasion After Papenheim was gone the Marquis entred Magdeburg where he found they had left about 40 peece of Cannon and great store of Ammunition with plenty of Corns he staid there till the beginning of February that the King of Sweden ordered him to lie about Halberstadt but his Souldiers were ill-entertained and those he had levied in Germany were pressing for Pay which should have been advanced by the King of Sweden therefore in the middle of February he went to that King who received him with his former kindness and by other Letters from His Majesty he found he was still so happy as to retain the room he had in his Heart which appeared by the two following he found there from His Majesty James I Have received four Letters from you almost all together to wit of the 23th of September of the 8th and 14th of October and of the 11th of November this last being under Henry Vane's Cover which makes me not let this Post go without letting you know of the receipt of your Letters having little other thing to write to you at this time because I am taking two or three days to make a full Dispatch to you and Henry Vane that you may know the uttermost of what you may expect from hence assuring you that in all these Conditions you shall still find me to be Your loving Friend and Cousin CHARLES R. Whitehall 16 Decemb. 1631. James YOu know that I am lazie enough in writing being willing to find excuses to write short Letters therefore though I confess that at this time I have matter sufficient to fill a long Letter yet in earnest having commanded Henry Vane to acquaint you fully with all my resolutions it were needless to trouble my self with writing or you with reading a long Letter therefore I will onely say that you will find that I neither mean to forget or break my Promises to you and that you will not be unluckie if you have but as good fortune in all your actions as is wished to you by Your loving Friend and Cousin CHARLES R. Whitehall 31 Decemb. 1631. But there were great rubs in the Treaty with England the main thing pressed by the Ambassadour was that the King of Sweden should give the Marquis an Army The King of Sweden proposeth unmeasurable terms to the King with which and the Forces and Moneys to be sent from England he should fall in on the Palatinat But the King of Sweden proposed unreasonable Conditions demanding greater Assistance from the King of Bohemia than the whole Palatinat could have given in its most flourishing Condition and some Cities of the Palatinat to be put into his hands till the Wars were ended with many other hard Conditions almost as severe as these which had been proposed by the Emperour so that the Marquis did clearly perceive Gustavus was beginning to reckon on all Germany as his Conquest and that he was to give what Laws he pleased in it Thus the Ambassadour and he were in very ill terms but he continued to use the Marquis with great civility yet he still declined to give him a Commission to levy a new Army neither would he pay him those Summes of Money he had laid out in his Service and his Chancellour said to him they knew very well he had spent none of his own Money having gotten 100000 l. from his Master He answered though that were true he and his Master were to reckon but that must not be set to their Accompt In April the Marquis desired that some order should be taken with the remainders of his Army till he got a new one for their number at that time could onely have made him a Colonel but not a General so they were reduced into two Regiments The Marquis's Army is reduced to two Regiments the one of English and the other of Scots the English were commanded by Colonel Bellandin since made Lord Bellandin and the Scots by Colonel Hamilton and they were put in Duke Weimar's Army The Marquis sent over Sir Iacob Ashley to give the King accounts of what passed who was quickly dispatched back with the following Letter James YOu did very well to acknowledge to the Chancellour of Swede his allegation concerning the 100000 l. that he supposed you had from me for His Masters Service and so much as you did reply to him thereupon was good but methinks you might have addeâ— that that would more plainly have shewed him his error which is That if his Master would not accompt to you for what I gave you yet if he will take notice of it that way it were reason not onely that he shâ—uld thank me for it but also suffer me to put it on his accompt in part of that Assistance I am to give him but if he will as he ought stand to his bargain with you then he must leave you and me to reckon together having nâ—thing to do to enquire particularly what passes betwixt us I need write little more to you at this time the trust and sufficiency of this Bearer making it needless onely to recommend him to you as you did to me and to tell you freely that you had done better in my mind if you had reserved to him the English Regiment when your Army was reduced This I write merely of my self on my word for no body knows that I do this and I never heard any blame you for it and for Jacob Ashley himself he is so far from censuring of you that you need wish to be no better than he calls you and he solicits your business
such Petitions wherein the Bishops were not designed as they ought to have been but were called either pretended Bishops or late Ministers of the Places where they served before their Promotion were rejected and some Signatures being offered in Exchequer wherein they were so designed Traquair took them and tore them to pieces Of all this the Covenanters complained as if Justice were denied but it was told them that if they went to force the Session it would be High Treason and that they would never yield to them But the four Covenanting Lords of the Session having passed Petitions wherein the Bishops were so called these were stopt at the Signet The Covenanters made also great Complaints to the Council of some persons who had written to England of their Designs to invade it of which they protested themselves innocent and craved liberty to pursue their Slanderers but that was laid aside only a Letter was written about it to the King Yet all at least most of the Council what through fear what through inclination went along with the Covenanters and such as stood firm to their Duty were forced to fly into England The Covenanters made sure work of all the Shires They become Masters of all Scotland onely in Tweddale Traquair resisted them a little and got their Meetings to be deserted for two or three Diets but that was all he could doe In Teviotdale the Earl of Roxburgh kept all right and begun to levy men as well as others but he was faintly followed The Marquis of Douglass was not able to doe His Majesty that Service his Illustrious Ancestours had done the former Kings for himself was a Papist and so not followed by the Friends and Dependers of that Noble Family so that all the Marquis could doe was to go and wait upon His Majesty and offer his House of Tentallon to be made use of as the King pleased But the Covenanters seized both it and his House of Douglass and thus all on the South of Tay was lost without stroke of Sword But in Angus the Earls of Airly and Southesk made more vigorous resistance to the Attempts of the Covenanters and were able to have made that Country good for the King but could not withstand the Force came upon them from other Places They all armed and Earl Airly stood out to the Pacification but Southesk was fitter for a Council than a Camp and seeing inevitable Ruine to follow since the Kings Preparations went on so slowly he struck sail and came to Edinburgh Huntley gave them more trouble for my Lord of Montrose and Kinghorn with some others coming to hold a Committee at Turreff in that County he gathered so many together and came so near them that they were forced to disperse themselves yet he kept up his Commission of Lieutenantry acting onely in the quality of a Peer and Councellour But they resolved since they could doe nothing against him with the men of that Shire to bring a Body from other Places to ruine him The want which pinched the Covenanters most at first was of good Officers and this made General Lesley who at that time had acquired much Fame in the Wars of Germany get an earnest Invitation sent him from the Earl of Rothes in the name of the Covenanteâ—s to come home to command their Forces upon which he did quit his Employment there and came to Scotland with many other Commanders He was chosen their General and undertook the Service with much Joy And this was the Posture and Preparations of Scotland which I draw from the Letters that are yet extant written to the Marquis from the Lords of Traquair Huntley Airly and Roxburgh Mean-while the King went on making all the haste with his Levies and Preparations that was possible in which none acted his part with more Fidelity and better Dispatch than the Earl of Northumberland who was Admiral and discharged what was committed to him so well that nothing was defective that concerned the Fleet. But the Marquis found the Hearts of many of the English Nobility both backward and cold and in particular he assured the King that he saw much Heartiness was not to be expected from some of the general Officers which the King apprehending The King emits his Declaration of the Reasons of the War trusted them as little as was possible About the middle of March the King published a Declaration of the Reasons of his Expedition against Scotland which was followed by a larger one commonly called the Large Declaration or Manifesto penned by Balcanqual and revised by His Majesty in which a full account was given of the rise and progress of the Combustions of Scotland of which no more shall be said it being so commonly known save that from the account hath been given it will appear how unjustly that Book was charged to be full of Lies and Calumnies The Covenanters begin the War The News of this coming to Scotland set all a-flaming whereupon they first sent in Papers and Letters through all England and to the Court vindicating themselves with high Protestations that they designed not the Invasion of England as had bâ—en misrepresented and therefore they expected no Hostility from thâ—m to whom they neither did nor intended hurt These Letters were said not to be ill-received even by some at Court who were in the highest Trust. The Covenanters also resolved to take the start of the King and so on the 23th of March General Lesley with some Companies went to the Castle of Edinburgh and petarded the Gates and set Ladders to the Walls and carried it no resistance being made from those within It is true much could not be made but that could not wipe off their stain who yielded that impregnable and important Place so faintly The occasion of their negligence was that a Gentlewoman of good Quality was sent in under pretence of visiting the Captain of the Castle to keep him in discourse she dined with him and engaged him to play at Cards so that they were about his ears before he was apprehensive of danger Dumbriton run the same fate it being surrendred by Sir William Stewart whose only excuse was that at his coming down the former year he found the whole Garrison Covenanters that he durst not turn them off nor take on new Souldiers without a powerful assistance and so finding them resolved both to deliver him and the Castle up he could do nothing alone besides that he was unprovided of every thing that was necessary for a Siege The next day after the Castle of Edinburgh was seized the Covenanters went to the Session to force the Lords to take the Covenantâ— but most of them refused it then they seized on the Privy-Seal aâ—d thought to have got the Great Seal which the Marquis had committed to the keeping of an honest Servant Mr. Iohn Hamilton by their endeavours to prevail with him for it but he refused to part with it except with his Life and so
Letters from all Hands both from Ministers and Noblemen Many of these Letters with the Copies of his Answers are yet extant and run in a strain very far from any thing of Friendship or Correspondence indeed they look liker Challenges than Letters of Civility The Covenanters desired a Safe Conduct for such as they should send to him to treat with him but he answered he was the Kings Commissioner and so would give no Conduct for any of his Subjects coming to wait upon him And after a days Advisement they sent the Lord Lindsay the Marquis his Brother-in-law aboard with a Petition of the former strain who told the Marquis that they would lay down their Lives sooner than pass from what they had done that their Army consisted of 25000 Men they knew the Kings Cavalry was better than theirs but their Infantry exceeded his far After some Discourse had passed all before Witnesses the Marquis dismissed him In the mean while all Trade was stopt and every Vessel that belonged to Scotland was seized onely such as took an Oath for adhering to the King against the present Rebellion in Scotland were let go according to His Majesties Orders One Vessel was taken which was of more Importance having in her about twenty Officers who were coming home from Germany upon Lesley's Invitation All these the Marquis sent to Berwick He sent also a free Advice to the King informing him of all he knew of their Strength and that besides the Army which was marching to the Borders there were about 20000 Men lying on both sides of the Frith so that his being there made a powerful Diversion He besought His Majesty not to hazard on a Battel the success whereof was always dubious but more than commonly so in this case where the one side was desperate and the other but half cordial He told His Majesty how much he feared his Foot might be too weak wherefore he desired His Majesty to consider if he would call for two of His Regiments since all the three were not sufficient for him to land with them and march into the Country and one was enough to burn the Coast which was all he could doe and for that he was resolved not to fail in it as soon as he had Orders adding that in a Fortnight he would doe all that could be done that way after which he thought it would be fittest that he went Northward and landed His Regiments there which must be supplied another way if His Majesty called for any of them where some good might be done But as for Treating he desired His Majesty would imploy others in it if that were to be done for he confessed his Spirit was so irritated against them that he desired neither to see nor meddle with them onely he told His Majesty that the Covenanters had addressed both their Letters and Petitions to some English Lords which he thought they should have brought to His Majesty unopened and given no other Answers but such as His Majesty ordered On the 26th of May he received the following Letter from His Majesty Hamilton RVmours come here so thick of the great Forces that the Rebels mean very shortly to bring down upon me that I thought it necessary to advertise you that you may be ready at the first Advertisement to land at the Holy-Island wind and weather serving yet not to come from where you are untill I send you word except you shall find it necessary by your own intelligence and so I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle 22 May 1639. POSTSCRIPT I leave it to your Consideration if it be not fit to leave some 300 Men in Inchcolm though it should be fit that you should come away with the rest of the Landmen And the day following Sir Henry Vane wrote to him to send two of his Regiments to Holy-Island The King calls for two Regiments from the Marquis to which Letter the King added with his own Pen I have seen and approved this C. R. Upon this Order the two Regiments commanded by Morton and Harecoat were accordingly dispatched away immediately and did land at Berwick on the 29th of May. About this time the Covenanters sent a new Message to the Marquis the account whereof shall be given from a Paper written by Sir Henry Devick who was particularly trusted by His Majesty at this time and was a Witness to the Conference The Paper follows THE whole Discourse so far as I can remember of it may be reduced to these Heads A Conference betwixt some Covenanters and the Marquis Their Invitation of your Excellence to go in person to His Majesty to present their Desires and to mediate for an Accommodation To this your Excellence answered First that having full Power from His Majesty to treat and conclude of all things concerning that Business you held it unnecessary to go to him Secondly your Excellence thought it unfit you having so great a Charge here which required your presence and they having propounded nothing that could give sufficient occasion to such a Voyage to undertake it Thirdly that if the distance from His Majesty were thought by them to be a hindrance to the Treaty they might address themselves to His Majesty by such of the Nobility as were about him who was not distant above threescore and twelve miles from the Leaguer They replied that things would be more facilitated by your Excellence's being there wishing that as you had a part in the beginning of these Affairs you might have the Honour to put an end to them Your Excellence returned that the Lords Traquair and Roxburgh who were now with His Majesty were imployed in them before you which they acknowledged but wished it had never been confessing that they were spoiled before you had the managing of them Concerning a Cessation of Acts of Hostility both by Sea and upon the Frontiers where they complained of divers Insolencies committed by the Horse-troops of His Majesty your Excellence answered That in what concerned the first you â—ad committed none since your coming hither true it was you had stayed and taken many Barques and Boats but some of them you had dismissed without touching any thing that they had in them and these from whom you did take to supply your uses you had paid them for it that this day you had sent to Burnt-Island and would doe so to other Places to offer them full permission of Trade provided they would swear not to carry Arms against His Majesty and take the Oath of Fidelity and for the Fishermen you required no Oath As for the otâ—er namely some pretended Insolences upon the Frontiers you knâ—w of none and believed not any and if tâ—ere was any it was their fault by their deferring to return to their Obedience to His Majesty and when they made Instance in some particulars your Excellence did cut them short and said That it was an unfit thing and nothing conducible to make an end of Business
Petitions and true Informations of my Innocency and Loyalty but doth notwithstanding thereof harbour any opinion of my Disloyalty or casting off my dutiful Obedience and Subjection to His Majesty or offering Subjection to any other King or Potentate in the World I am content to undergo the most exact Trial which is agreeable to the Laws of that Kingdom by which onely I ought to be judged rather than lie under such a heavy Imputation which to me who am conscious of my own Innocency and of my most tender and humble Duty towards His Majesty is more grievous than my Sufferings which can onely prejudice and hurt me and my private Estate but can no ways conduce for advancing of His Majesties Service but rather be a hinderance to the Accommodation of Affairs whereas my Liberty or lawful Trial will serve for the Illustration of His Majesties Iustice to the World and will make His Subjects without fear of danger to tender their humble Suits and Remonstrances at the Throne of His Royal Iustice. An. 1639. Upon this the Marquis pressed the King much for my Lord Lowdon's Enlargement since the Covenanters made great noise with it in all their Complaints The Marquis treats with him by the Kings Order and pretended that they durst send up no more Commissioners and therefore they sent their Acts in the Packet He did also shew His Majesty that he knew by the Lieutenant of the Tower that Lowdon was very fearful wherefore he desired permission from the King to try what this Fear could draw from him and to see if his Enlargement with the hopes of a Noble Reward could engage him to the Kings Service which if obtained might prove of great advantage since the Irritations he had received would make his Advices less suspected in Scotland His Majesty approving this he treated with Lowdon and found him abundantly pliant and so on the 26th of Iune he agreed with him on these Terms which he got under Lowdon's Hand in two Papers yet extant THE Lord Lowdon doth promise to contribute his faithful and uttermost Endeavours for His Majesties Service and furthering of a happy Peace and shall with all possible diligence and care go about the same and shall labour that His Majesties Subjects of Scotland may in all humility petition that His Majesty may be Graciously pleased to authorize a Commissioner with full Power from His Majesty to establish the Religion and Liberty of that His Majesties Native and Ancient Kingdom according to the Articles of Pacification and that by a new Convening or Session of the Parliament without cohesion or dependence on what hath been done by themselves without His Majesties Presence or of a Commissioner to represent His Majesties Royal Person and Power That if there be not an Army already convened in Scotland in a Body he shall endeavour that they shall not convene nor come together during the time of Treaty in hope of Accommodation and if they be already convened in a Body before his return he will labour that they may dissolve and return to their several Shires or dispose so of them that they remain not in one Body as may best evince that they intend not to come into England but may carry themselves in that respective way as may best testifie their Duty to His Majesty and their Desires of Peace That if General Ruthwen shall happen to become their Prisoner they may as a testimony of their desire to shun every thing which may provoke His Majesties displeasure preserve him and that the Lord Lowdon will shew how far he is engaged for his Safety That when Affairs shall be brought to a Treaty in Parliament and that His Majesty shall be Graciously pleased to settle the Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom according to the Articles of Pacification he will endeavour that the Kings Authority shall not be entrenched upon nor diminished that they may give a real demonstration to the World how tender and careful they are that His Majesties Royal Power may be preserved both in Church and State That what is done or imparted to the Lord Lowdon concerning His Majesties Pleasure shall be kept secret and not revealed to any here further than His Majesty shall think expedient That the Lord Lowdon shall as soon as conveniently he can return an account of his Diligence There was given with this another Paper which follows An. 1640 Memorandum of what passed betwixt the Marquis of Hamilton and me 26 Iune 1640. BEcause no great matters can be well effectuated without Trust Fidelity and Secrecy therefore it is fit that we swear Fidelity and Secrecy to others and that I shall faithfully contribute my best Endeavours for performance of what I undertake and that my Lord Marquis doe the like to me Our desires and designs do tend mainly for Preservation of Religion Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom the Kings Honour and of His Royal Authority and for establishing of a happy Peace and preventing of Wars and we are to advise and resolve upon such ways and means as may best conduce for these ends If after using of our utmost Endeavours it be not Gods will that we may be so happy as to obtain such a Peace in haste as may content the King and satisfie his Subjects till differences draw to a greater height and beginning of Wars to resolve what is fit to be done in case of such an Extremity for attaining a wished Peace and to condescend what course we shall take for keeping of Correspondence If my Endeavours and Service which doubtless will put me to a great deal of expence and pains shall prove useful for His Majesties Service and Honour and the Good of the Kingdom which are inseparable the Marquis will intercede really and imploy his best Endeavours with the King to acknowledge and recompence the Lord Lowdon 's Travels and Service in such manner as a Gracious King and Master should doe to a diligent and faithful Servant Upon this Lowdon was enlarged next day Lowdon is enlarged and permitted to go down to Scotland but those who did not know the Secret of this thought the King had weakened himself much by letting go an Hostage of such importance and this gave new Suspicions of the Marquis his Tamperings with the Covenanters His Majesty commanded the Earl of Lanerick to write by the Lord Lowdon the following Answer to the Letter sent up by the Lords of Scotland with the Acts they had lately passed My Lords BY my former of the Date the 23th of June Lanerick 's Answer to the Committee in Scotland His Majesty was pleased to promise by me to let you know within few days His further Pleasure concerning those Proceedings and Desires of the Noblemen and Barons and Burgesses which you sent me to be presented to His Majesty whereupon he hath now commanded me to tell you that the not proroguing of the Parliament in a Legal and Formal way was not for want of clear
passed over with some Troops and they were encountred by three Troops commanded by Wilmot whom after a little Dispute they routed their Officers were taken Prisoners and some were killed And after this the whole Body of the English Army that lay there marched to Newcastle which consisted of 2000 Horse and 9000 Foot the Disorder among them was the greater The English Forces are routed and flie at Newburn because the Lord Conway who Commanded had gone that day from the Camp to Dine at a place about a miles distance called Stella The Scots continued passing till it was late and lay in the Fields all night next day they marched towards New-Castle and were beginning to be in some strait for they had driven as many Cattle out of Scotland with them as served hitherto for their Provision and were resolved to take nothing in England but for payment which would have been a vast charge to them They purposed therefore to summon New-Castle and in case it yielded not to threaten to burn all the Coaleries which lay on the South-side though they designed not the executing of that for fear of making the Rupture beyond remedy But as they were marching doubtful what Course to take they met a Scotchman who had been a prisoner at Durham he told them how that morning by six a Clock all the English Forces had marched throw Durham in great haste whereupon they went forward and found New-Castle open to them and there they took up their Quarters and found great Magazins of Provision which the King had laid in for his Army and by those they maintained their Army a great while This Loss and Affront went very near the Kings Heart who begun to fear this years Success as much as he had done the last After this the Lords of the Covenant wrote the following Letter to the Earl of Lanerick by one Cathcart Noble Lord AS we have ever professed and declared as well by our Words as Actions that the Grounds of our Desires are and ever shall be the redress of Wrongs and reparations of our Losses and that we will never leave off in all humility to Supplicate His Majesty for the same so this hath moved us now being come this length yet again humbly â—o Petition His Majesty to take our Case to Consideration and grant our Desires We are debarred from sending or carrying our Supplications in the ordinary way which makes us have our Address to your Lordship Intreating your Lordship in our Names to present this our Petition herein inclosed to His Majesty and in all humility to beg an Answer thereunto to be sent with the Bearer to us who shall ever endeavour to approve our selves His Majesties Loyal Subjects and most unwilling to shed any Christian Blood far less the English whereof we have given very good prooff by our bygone Carriage to every one who hath with Violence opposed us yea even to those who entred in Blood with us and were taken Prisoners whom we have let go with Meat and Money notwithstanding that all those of ours who did but deboar'd from their Quarters are miserably massacred by these whom we can tearm no otherwise than Cut-throats Our behaviour to these in New-Castle can witness our Intention which is to live at peace with all and rather to suffer then to offend We bought all with our money and they have extortioned us to the triple value the Panick fear made most of them leave the Town and stop their own Trade but we have studied to solve their doubts As all our Actions shall ever tend to that which is Iust and Right so we could wish they were interpreted to a true sense and whatever may be the event of business we hope the blame shall not lie upon Your Lordships affectionate Friends to serve you Signed Rothes Cassilis Dumferline Lindsay Lowdon Napier Tho. Hope W. Richarton J. Swith P. Hepburn D. Hoom Keir Ja. Sword J. Rutherford Leager beside New-Castle 2d September 1640. POSTSCRIPT We intreat Your Lordship to let the Bearer have a Pass for his safe Return to us The Petition inclosed was presented by him to His Majesty which follows To the Kings Most Excellent MAJESTY The Humble Petition of the Commissioners of the late Parliament and others of His Majesties Loyal Subjects of the Kingdom of Scotland They Petition the King Humbly Sheweth THat Whereas after our many Sufferings the time past extreme necessity hath constrained us for our Relief and obtaining our Humble and Iust Desires to come into England where according to our Intentions formerly declared we have in all our Iourney lived upon our own Means and Victuals and Goods brought a long with us and neither troubling the Peace of the Kingdom nor harming any of Your Majesties Subjects of whatsoever quality in their Persons or Goods but have carried our selves in a most peaceable manner till we were pressed by strength of Arms to put such Forces out of the way as did without our deserving and as some of them have at the point of death confessed against their own Consciences opposed our peaceable passage at New-burn on Tine and have brought their Blood upon their own Heads against our purposes and desires expressed in our Letters sent unto them at New-Castle for preventing the like or greater Inconveniences And that we may without further opposition come into Your Majesties Presence for obtaining from Your Majesties Iustice and Goodness satisfaction to our just Demands we Your Majesties most Humble and Loyal Subjects do still insist in that submiss way of Petitioning which we have keeped since the beginning and from which no provocation of Your Majesties Enemies and ours no adversity that we have before sustained nor prosperous success can befall us shall be able to divert our minds Most humbly intreating That Your Majesty would in the depth of Your Royal Wisdom consider at last our pressing Grievances provide for the Repairing of our wrongs and losses and with the advice and consent of the Estates of the Kingdom of England convened in Parliament settle a firm and durable Peace against all Invasion by Sea or Land that we may with chearfulness of heart pay unto Your Majesty as our Native King all Duty and Obedience that can be expected from Loyal Subjects and that against the many and great Evils which at this time threaten both Kingdoms whereat all Your Majesties good and loving Subjects tremble to think and which we beseech God Almighty in mercy timeously to avert Your Majesties Throne may be established in the midst of us in Religion and Righteousness and Your Majesties Gracious Answer we humbly desire and earnestly wait for The King having considered their Petition commanded my Lord Lanerick to write the following Answer Dated at His Majesties Court at York the 5th of September 1640. His Majesties Answer HIS Majesty hath seen and considered this Petition and is Graciously pleased to return this Answer by me that he finds it in such general terms
Peers advised a Settlement with Scotland and a Parliament in England Strafford's Advice was more severe and the Marquis pressed a Pacification But though their Opinions varied yet their Friendship continued since both had the same designs for the Kings Honour and Service A recruit of Money which was beginning to run low was not to be hoped without a Parliament and their late experience told on how uneasie terms that was to be had Earl Lowdon also assured the Marquis by his Letters that the Covenanters were well armed well commanded and very resolute nor did they doubt of a strong Party in England and therefore shewed how dangerous it would prove to His Majesties Affairs if a Treaty should not presently follow The Marquis little regarding how ill these Counsels would be represented by others used all his Industry to prevail with the King for a Pacification on any terms since none could be so bad as the hazard the King was like to run if matters continued so broken for it was now apparent how faintly His Majesties Forces did serve him and with how much resolution the Scotish Armies proceeded neither were they without fears in their own Army and that many of the Peers and People of England would have assisted the Scots if matters had run to extremities A Breach betwixt the Marquis and the Earl of Montrose But at that time a passage fell out which drew after it a tract of great Troubles on the Marquis The Earl of Montrose had in Iuly that year procured a Meeting of some Noblemen at Cumbermwald the Earl of Wigtons house where there was a Bond signed by them of adherence to one another in pursuance of the Covenant and from New-Castle he continued to keep Correspondence with His Majesty notwithstanding an Act that had passed in the Committee that none should under pain of Death write any Letters to the Court but such as were seen and allowed of by at least three of the Committee But this Correspondence of my Lord Montrose came to the knowledge of the Covenanters and there were ill Instruments who suggested that this Advertisement must have been given by the Marquis which being too easily believed occasioned a Breach betwixt them that could never be made up And Sanderson hath had the Impudence not only to fasten this on him but as if there had not been Imputation enough in it he adds that the Marquis had in the night picked His Majesties Pockets for his Letters Indeed he needed not take such Courses had he been capable of that Treachery for the Kings Confidence in him was such that he delivered all the Letters he had from Scotland to his keeping and if he had designed such a thing upon Montrose it was in his Power to have done it long before for in October and December of the former year Montrose had writ much in the same strain to the King which Letters the King gave him and are yet extant but were never heard off till now that the Writer gives this account of them But the way how that Letter was discovered was this the Covenanters sent Sir Iames Mercer to York with their Letters to my Lord Lanerick of September the 14 th with whom my Lord Montrose sent his Servant with Letters to some of his Friends at Court and these Letters had been shown to the Committee but as he sealed them up he put within one to Sir Richard Grahame a Letter to the King which had not been seen and Sir Richard opening his Letter carelesly the inclosed to the King dropt out whereupon Sir Iames Mercer being near him stooped down in civility to take up the Letter and read the Direction of it and he returning next day to the Scotish Camp told what he had seen to the General who in a Committee that sate that afternoon wherein it was my Lord Montrose's turn to preside said that the Gentleman they had sent must be examined concerning any Letters he carried to the Court and so he was called in and examined But Montrose understanding that his Correspondence with the King was discovered said that seeing others kept a Correspondence with the Court he knew not why he might not do it as well as they it was answered if others were guilty that did not excuse his fault but when that could be made out against any they were liable to the same Censure he had now incurred whereupon he was commanded to keep his Chamber and he called a great many of his Friends to him to try who would adhere to him whereupon the General bade the Earl of Calender who was then Lieutenant-General tell him that if he came not and submitted himself he would hold a Council of War upon him and proceed against him Capitally Upon this my Lord Montrose came and produced a Copy of the Letter he said he had written and craved pardon and so this Matter was passed over â—ut it was suspected that his Letter had been sent to the Covenanters by the Marquis whereas indeed they knew no more of his Letter but what they had from Sir Iames Mercer who read the Address of it and so they knew not what was in it but by the Copy he produced Yet this went current for the Marquis his Treachery though Sir Iames Mercer did often vouch the truth of this before many Witnesses and particularly particularly to Sanderson himself before Noble Witnesses who acknowledged his Mis-information and promised to expunge that in the next Edition of his Book though there are no grounds to fear the Woâ—ld will ever be troubled with another Edition of so ill a Book The Treaty at Rippon In the end of September a Treaty was agreed upon and His Majesty named the Marquis and my Lords of Traquair and Lanerick to be amongst the Commissioners who should Treat in His name But the Covenanters excepted against the Marquis and Traquair whom they intended to pursue as Incendiaries and therefore they could not Treat with them as for Lanerick they had nothing to fasten on him Upon this the King resolved to send none but English Lords conceiving it not fitting to send any Scotchman if the persons he had imployed as Commissioners were not of the number Rippon a little Town fifteen miles from York was appointed to be the place of Treaty instead of Northallertown and the King sent the English Lords thither appointing Traquair and Lanerick to wait upon them for giving them Information of Scotish Affairs but he kept the Marquis to wait upon Himself The Treaty begun at Rippon and after a few days by reason of the new Parliament the King had summoned against the beginning of November was removed to London The Covenanters Demands were the same with those contained in their Letter of the 8th of September about which they continued Treating till the Iune of the next year and so this year ended But here I shall insert a Paper all written with His Majesties hand which though it do not relate
Breach might follow betwixt him and his Native Kingdom but on the other hand he could not permit them to go both because of the Reasons he had alledged and the Fears he had of their engaging with the Parliament and chiefly that all his Councellours and Officers at Oxford were so far against it that he heard it was whispered amongst them that they would all forsake him if he gave them leave since they held themselves assured that the Design of their going was to bring an Army from Scotland wherefore he intreated Lindsay would serve him in that Particular which he undertook frankly though he added he had small hopes since he had already attempted as much as he could with no Success But as he left His Majesty he made a Visit in his way to his Lodgings where he met the Earl of Crawford who told him plainly That though the King should consent to their going to London thither should they never get for a great many were resolved to lie in their way and cut them all to pieces ere they were many miles from Oxford This he confirmed to him with many Oaths adding that as the King knew nothing of it so it would not be in his power to hinder it and out of kindness to my Lord Lindsay he advised him not to go though the Chancellour went With this Lindsay came to his Lodgings and shewed the Lord Chancellour the hazard not only their Lives would be in but of the irreparable Breach would follow upon it which being considered by them it was resolved they should pass from their Desires and crave the Kings Commands for Scotland since they would not offend him by the importunity of an unacceptable Mediation which they accordingly did to His Majesties great satisfaction And so they took leave the Chancellour with the other Commissioners going for Scotland only Lindsay returned to London Upon this His Majesty sent all the Scotish Lords then at Court to Scotland to serve him there who were the Earls of Morton Roxburgh Kinnoul Annandale Lanerick and Carnwath but before they could be dispatched he sent Mr. Murray to Scotland with an account of his opinion about the Services his Friends might do him there who came by York and brought from the Queen the following Letter to the Marquis in answer to what he had written to Her Majesty which though written in French as all Her private Letters were yet I shall set down translated in English that all may run more smoothly Cousin I Received your Letter with the assurances of the Continuance of your Aâ—fection of which I hold my self secure and make no doubt to see both the effects of it and of that which you promised me at your parting concerning my Lord of Argyle Will. Murray came yesterday from Oxford as for News from hence I refer you to Henry Jermine who will give you an account of them I shall only tell you that the Scotish Lords who were with the King are on their way for Scotland so likewise are the Commissioners that were with the King You will know from Will. Murray the Kings Answers to the Propositions which you made me at York I am very glad to know by Your Letter as likewise by what my Lord Montgomery hath told me the Protestations General Lesly makes concerning the Armies in Ireland and now when all the Kings Servants shall be together you must think of the means for preserving that Army for my part I know not what to say farther about it I am now upon my going to the King and hope to part hence within ten dayes If there be any thing that hath occurred of late I shall be glad to know it and that you will believe how much I am Your affectionate Cousin and Friend HENRIETA MARIA R. About the beginning of May Lowdon and the other Commissioners came down and a day after them came the Earl of Morton who told the Marquis They proceed to final Resolutions in Scotland that in a few days he should see the Earls of Roxburgh Kinnoul and Lanerick with the Kings Instructions but by reason of Kinnoul's Infirmity and Roxburgh's Age they moved slowly On the 21th of May the Iunto of the Church-party moved that there might be a Joynt-meeting of the Council and Conservatours of the Peace and Commissioners for Publick Burdens to consider of the present State of Affairs The Marquis and Morton resisted this all they could but they were over-ruled and so these Judicatories met to them it was proposed that considering the hazard the Nation was in by reason of Armies which were now levying in the North of England there was a necessity of putting the Kingdom in a posture of Defence which could not be done without a Convention of Estates or a Parliament wherefore it was moved that a Convention of Estates should be presently called The Marquis argued much against it shewing that this was to encroach upon the Kings Prerogative in the highest degree and so would be a direct Breach of the Peace with the King and against the Laws of the Land adding Was this all the Acknowledgment they gave the King for his late Gracious Concessions for this struck at the root of his Power In this he was seconded by my Lord Morton but most vigorously by Sir Thomas Hope the Kings Advocate who debated against it so fully from all the Laws and constant Practice of Scotland that no Answer could be alledged and indeed discharged his Duty so faithfully that the Marquis forgave him all former errors for that dayes Service But it was in vain to argue where the Resolution was taken on Interest more than Reason so it was carried that the Lord Chancellour should summon a Convention of Estates against the 22th of Iune A Convention of Estates is called This Resolution being taken they gave Advertisement of it to the King in the following Letter which all who Voted against it refused to sign Most Dread Sovereign THe extreme necessity of the Army sent from this Kingdom by Order from Your Majesty and the Parliament here against the Rebellion in Ireland the want of means for their necessary Supply through the not payment of the Arrears and Maintenance due to them by the Parliament of England the delay of the Payment of the Brotherly Assistance so necessary for the relief of the Common Burdens of this Kingdom by reason of the unhappy Distractions in England and the sense of the danger of Religion of Your Majesties Royal Person and of the Common Peace of Your Kingdoms have moved Your Majesties Privy Council the Commissioners for conserving the Peace and Common Burdens to joyn together in a Common Meeting for acquitting our selves in the Trust committed to us by Your Majesty and the Estates of Parliament and having found after long Debate and mature Deliberation that the Matters before-mentioned are of so Publick Concernment of so deep Importance and so great Weight that they cannot be determined by us in such a
most to conduce to Our Honour and the Good and Advancement of Our Service as you will answer for it to Vs at your peril and for your so doing these shall be your Warrant Given at Our Court at Oxford the 26th of September 1643. With these Publick Letters the King wrote to the Duke Hamilton HAving much to say and little time to write The Kings Letter to the Duke I have commanded this Trusty Bearer to supply the shortness of this Letter which though it be chiefly to give trust to what he shall say to you in my Name yet I cannot but assure you by my own Hand that no ill Offices have had the Power to lessen my Confidence in you or my Estimation of you for you shall find me Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Oxford 28th September 1643. The Lords whom the King trusted seeing no present help of Men The Kings Affairs in Scotland decline nor relief of Armes like to come from England were like men desperate and some moved desperate Propositions that according to what had been in some former cases practiced in Scotland there should be Orders given out requiring all to kill the chief Leaders of the Church-party where-ever they could find them setting Prices on their Heads and that with such Orders some of the Blanks should be filled up But the Duke opposed this strongly and said he would take it on him without an Instruction to assure them that he knew His Majesty would rather patiently suffer all things than consent to a Course so barbarous and unchristian As for the practices of some former ruder times these were to be no Precedents now Besides if this were done on the one side they might expect the same Orders would be presently issued out against them from the Comittee of Estates which would bring on an unheard-of Butchery and lay all their Throats open to their Servants whereupon it was laid aside only the Proposition with the Precedents is yet extant and they resolved to see what Force they could bring together under the pretence of their Attendants to the Countess of Roxburgh her Funeral which was to be in the beginning of November But there was some Difference about the Methods of carrying on their designs among these Lords and divers others who were called to their Consultations besides those who were particularly trusted by His Majesty Those whose Fortunes were broken were for brisker Courses and those whose Estates were intire and had the most followers thought it fitter to delay an open Breach as long as was possible This diversity of Opinion raised some Animosities and Jealousies among them so that they fell into a mutual distrust neither was Secrecy though not only enjoyned but sworn closely kept for all their Designs broke out and and yet some who were guilty of this were among the busiest to fasten it on the Duke But the Writer designs only an account of his Affairs without reflecting needlesly on others and therefore here he restrains his Pen. So quickly did their closest Secrets fly abroad that when the Duke was returning home from one of their Meetings a Covenanter Lord came from Edinburgh to meet him on his way and told him to a word all had past at their Meeting as that Lord informed the Writer On the 24th of October the Earl of Traquair went to Court A Message sent to Court by the Earl of Traquair whom the Lords that were trusted by the King had carried along with them in all their Counsels though his Name could not be in the Instructions by reason of the Act that was past against him at the former Parliament With him they sent the following Instructions containing the grounds and steps of their whole Procedure which is the fullest and clearest Dispatch was sent this year most of the other Messages being verbal and so will give great light to the rest It is desired it may be represented to His Majesty that now all He expected from our Affection and Industry here is performed this Summer being spent and he having received no other Prejudice from hence than what might rise from words which we did never pretend to prevent being no ways a Party in the Iudicatories To shew our readiness still to venture our Lives and Fortunes in His Majesties Service which we will make good not only by verbal Expressions but real Actions when we shall see the least probability of Success to His Affairs though to our Ruine To represent the Reasons that hitherto we have not been in Action which have been grounded First upon our Desire of Protracting time the chief thing we had Commission to study in which our Endeavours have not been fruitless Secondly that they not His Majesty should be the first Breakers both a pious just and popular Motive and thirdly our expectation of Supplies both of Men Arms Ammunition and Moneys which we were confident should have been provided for us and without which we never conceived our Strength to be considerable To represent that we would immediately draw our selves together into a Body being thereto authorized by His Majesty if we had the least hope of making it considerable and if we had any proportion of Arms or Ammunition a Place of surety for our Rendezvouz and of safety for a Retreat in case of a Misfortune having by divers Messages represented our Wants and pressed for Supplies with the securing of some Places now lost but still without Success without which many who would joyn with us in this Quarrel of serving His Majesty are unwilling to hazard and divers very considerable and most affectionate Noblemen and Gentlemen have declared that for that reason they cannot bring to that Meeting more than their Domestick Servants so that we justly fear we cannot draw together so considerable a Body as could resist much less offend our Enemies and likewise an impossibility for those and other Noblemen and Gentlemen being only so backed and lying at so great a distance one from another and from the Place which of necessity must be appointed for our Rendezvous to joyn with us And considering these necessities we cannot but be the more tender of going unto present Action seeing His Majesty hath so wisely commanded us to weigh the Consequences of angering before he be able to punish and the Prejudices which may thereby arise to His Service wherein we must proceed as we shall be answerable upon our Perils and therefore we dare not presume to advise the present Engaging of His Majesty by drawing our selves into a Body for many would oppose us seeing then we would be esteemed Rebels within this Kingdom that would be unwilling to go into England which probably cannot be done this Winter though we dare give no assurance thereof but do humbly advise that present Preparation be made for the worst and in discharge of our Consciences and Duties to His Majesty we cannot but represent our Fears of the great Disservices He may receive
to give a full and particular Answer to every Branch of them But the more He considers the nature of them together with the high Importance and variety contained therein not without some ambiguity as well in the several Propositions as also in comparing the one with the other so much the more He finds it necessary to desire the help of Explanation Debate and Conference concerning some of them as he touched in His Paper whereby His Vnderstanding may be informed in those things which as yet are not clear to Him His Reason may be more fully convinced and His Conscience so satisfied that without offence to either of them He may make such a particular distinct Answer as may best attain His Desires of satisfying them and though for the present His Majesty at this distance from His Two Houses wants the view of many necessary Papers and other Assistances yet at what disadvantage soever He will apply Himself to give all the satisfaction that is in His power desiring He may not be mis-interpreted in any thing He shall say or omit His Majesties Answer to the first Proposition is That upon His Majesties coming to London He will heartily joyn in all that shall concern the Honour of His two Kingdoms or the Assembly of Estates of Scotland or of the Commissioners or Deputies of either of them and particularly in those things which are desired in that Proposition upon confidence that all of them respectively with the same tenderness will look upon those things which concern His Majesties Honour Concerning all the Propositions touching Religion His Majesty says that He has often and solemnly professed His Opinion concerning Episcopacy to which He refers Himself yet considering the present Distractions about Religion which are so great and of that nature that Perswasion as well as Power must be used to restore that happy Tranquillity which the Church of England hath lately and miserably lost for certainly Violence and Persecution never was nor will be found a right way to settle mens Consciences His Majesty proposes that He will confirm the Presbyterian Government for Three Years being the time set down by the Two Houses that is to say that during the said time the Church be governed by Classical and Congregational Elderships National and Provincial Assemblies with their respective Subordinations with such Forbearance to those who through scruple of Conscience cannot in every thing practise according to the said Rules as may consist with the Rule of the Word of God and the Peace of the Kingdom and that the Office of Ruling-Elders the Power of Elderships to suspend from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ignorant and scandalous Persons be all settled by Act of Parliament for the aforesaid Term as also that the Directory be by the same way authorized for the same time so that His Majesty and His Houshold be not hindred from using that Form of Gods Service which they have formerly done and also that in the mean time and with all convenient speed a Committee be chosen of Both Houses to have a free Consultation and Debate with the Assembly â—f Divines being also willing the said Assembly shall be authorized to sit for the space of the said Three Years twenty more being added of His Majesties Nomination how the Church shall be settled and governed at the end of Three Years or sooner if Differences may be agreed Also it is to be understood that those Committees shall have no Power but of hearing debating and reporting the better to prepare all these Differences for the Determination of His Majesty and the Two Houses To the Seventh and Eighth Propositions His Majesty will consent To the Ninth Proposition His Majesty doubts not but to give good satisfaction when He shall be particularly informed how the said Penalties shall be levyed and disposed To the Tenth His Majesties Answer is That He is and hath been always willing to prevent the Practices of Papists and therefore is content to pass an Act of Parliament for that purpose as also that the Laws against them may be duely executed His Majesty will give His consent to the Act for the strict Observance of the Lords Day for the suppressing of Innovations and those concerning the Preaching of Gods Word and touching Non-residencies and Pluralities And His Majesty will be willing to pass such an Act or Acts as shall be requisite to raise Moneys for the payment and satisfaction of all Publick and past Debts expecting that His also will be therein included As to the Proposition concerning the Militia though His Majesty cannot consent to it in terminis as it is proposed because thereby as He conceives He wholly devests Himself of the Power of the Sword intrusted to Him by God and the Laws of the Land for the Protection and Government of His People and placeth the same in effect for ever in the Two Houses of Parliament thereby at once disinheriting His Posterity of that Right and Prerogative of the Crown which is absolutely necessary to the Kingly Office and so weakening Monarchy in this Kingdom that little more than the Name and Shadow of it will remain yet if it be only Security for the preservation of the Peace of this Kingdom after these unhappy Troubles and the due performance of all the Agreements that now are to be concluded which is desired which His Majesty always understood to be the case and hopes that â—erein He is not mistaken His Majesty will give abundant Satisfaction to which end He will consent by Act of Parliament That the whole Power of the Militia both by Sea and Land be in the Two Houses for the space of Ten Years and afterwards to return to its proper channel again as it was in the time of Queen Elizabeth and King James of blessed Memory And now His Majesty conjures His Two Houses of Parliament as they are English-men Christians and Lovers of Peace by the Duty which they owe to Him their King and by the bowels of Compassion which they have to their Fellow-Subjects that they will accept of these His Majesties Ofâ—ers whereby the joyful News of Peace may be again restored to this languishing Kingdom His Majesty will grant the same to the Kingdom of Scotland if it be desired touching the conservation of the Peace betwixt His two Kingdoms Touching Ireland His Majesty will give full satisfaction as to the managing of War and for Religion as in England Touching the mutual Declaration proposed to be established in both Kingdoms by Act of Parliament and the Qualifications Mollifications and Branches which follow in the Propositions His Majesty truly professes that He does not sufficiently understand divers things contained therein but this He sufficiently knows that a General Act of Oblivion is the best Bond of Peace and that after intestine Troubles the Wisdom of this and other Kingdoms hath usually and happily in all Ages granted general Pardons with none or very few Exceptions whereby the numerous Discontentments of
inclinations over England should prove too hard for them but Mr. Marshall Great Disorders in England who was sent back from the English Commissioners in Scotland comforted them the best he could giving them all assurance that the Designs there would meet with vigorous Opposition wherefore it was moved that some of the Forces might be presently sent down before the Army were drawn together who might hope for good Assistance in Scotland But he also told them that nothing would be so likely to divide them in Scotland as to declare for the Covenant and the Propositions sent to Newcastle and indeed this was much dreaded by the Duke and his Friends since there was nothing so popular in Scotland as that the Parliament and Army of England had fallen from the Covenant but they resolved though that were granted to accept of no Treaty till the Army were presently disbanded for which the former Years Transactions did furnish them with very good reasons Mr. Marshall did what he could to reconcile the Presbyterians and Independents in London and that they might not fall out about Religion it was Voted that the Kingdom should be first settled before Religion was fallen upon The City of London was generally well-affected to the Scotish Design though some studied to alienâ—te them from it by telling them that those in Scotland were in Correspondence with the Cavaliers in England The City was inconstant and the Citizens feared the Armies falling on them to plunder them so that they were easily over-awed and at that time the Agitators of the Army were upon the Fining of the City in a Million of English Mony A general Answer was returned to the Scotish Demands by the day they had prefixed with the Promise of a more particular one to follow shortly which was looked on as a Design to shift them off by Delays At this time the Two Houses were much lifted up with a Defeat given to Langhorn in Wales which was represented to be greater than indeed it was But to allay their Joy there came in Petitions from many Counties of England for a Personal Treaty with the King and for being disburdened of the Army one came from Essex which was subscribed by twenty four thousand Hands and eight thousand men came out of Surrey with their Petition upon whom the Souldiers fell barbarously and killed about Twenty of them wounding above an Hundred Next the Kentish men rose in a formidable number but it was more terrible that the Navy was staggering and many of the Captains of the Ships declared against their Proceedings This was sad News for London by reason of their Trade which was like to be blockt up And now Cromwel to please the City of London drew the Forces out of it and left the Militia of London in their own Hands only he got Skippon who was of their own Cabal made Major-General of their Trained Bands and there was no small Disorder in the Army the Agitators being for the most part Levellers and against Cromwel as was by some supposed With all this Tragical visage of things they at Wâ—stminster were not a little mortified A Fast at Westminster so they appointed a Day of Humiliation and when they were naming the reasons for the Fast one of the Members had a singular opinion that notwithstanding the Self-denying Ordinance they had past yet they had ingrossed all Places of Power and Profit to themselves by which Juggling God was mocked wherefore he moved that they might devest themselves of these but the rest were not of his mind And if three Sermons and a great many long Prayers would reconcile God to them they would be at the cost but were resolved to quit none of their Power nor Places All these Tumults in England as they had hindered the Two Houses from sending down their Forces to Scotland so they called aloud for hasty Relief from the Scotish Army which from all places was called for But the Oppositition the Clergy and their Party made had so fore-slowed their Levies that they could not overtake this fair opportunity but were forced to leave the poor People in England to be knockt down by the insulting Army The Parliament of Scotland re-assembled in Iune The Parliament adjourns and after few days Sitting and the emitting of new Declarations both for Scotland and England but of a milder strain than their former of April had been being now weary of their hopeless courting of the Clergy they adjourned for Two Years having chosen a Committee of Estates sure to their Designs and they were drawing their Army together with all possible diligence But the great matter now debated in Scotland was A present March is disswaded by some whether they should first make all sure at home or leave things in that disordered posture and make haste into England Lanerick was for taking order with the Opposite Party and the Lords that headed them before they stirred out of Scotland lest otherwise assoon as they were gone the Ministers might blow up the People into Sedition which would either force them to send back a part of their Army for curbing them or lose Scotland totally by their Tumults while their Army should be strugling with an uncertainty in England Besides they were neither well-furnished with Arms Ammunition nor Mony but had good Assurances of large Supplies from the Queen and Prince by Sir William Fleeming and the Prince though much disswaded by these who were both Enemies to the Scotish Nation in General and the Duke in particular continued still firm to his first Resolutions of going to them when all things were brought to that Posture that it were fit for him to hazard himself amongst them and therefore in the middle of Iune Sir William Fleeming was dispatched again from his Highness to Scotland with the following Letter directed For the Lord Duke Hamilton and the Earls of Lindsay Roxburgh Lauderdale Lanerick and Calender My Lords YOu will receive by Sir William Fleeming who is amply instructed the full account of My Intentions and he is not more particularly charged with any thing than to let you know the sense I have of Your Affections yet I thought fit to reserve unto My Self the assuring you that as I conceive I am not capable of being more obliged than I have been by you so I shall be most exactly just in the discharge of my Acknowledgments when it shall please God to make My Condition fit for it In the mean time I have nothing to say but to desire you to be intirely confident of it and that I am most truly My Lords Your Affectionate Friend CHARLES P. Sir William Bellandin met with more Opposition in Holland for Judgments were passed on the Scotish Proceedings from their Declarations and all he could say was not able to take off those Impressions so that no good was expected from Scotland The States of Holland had no great inclination to the Kings Party and the Prince of Orange
of the Nobility and Gentry went to the Cross and himself read the Kings Proclamation and caused the Major of the Town to proclaim it but God having designed to set his Majesty on the Throne of his Ancestors by his own Immediate Hand all hopes of supplies from Wales or other well-affected Places vanished Cromwell also followed the King from Scotland in great Marches having left General Monk since the famous Duke of Albemarle there with an Army to subdue the little strength that remained for maintaining his Majesties Interest in that Kingdom The day after Cromwel came before Worcester the King called a great Council of War to consider what was to be done where the Duke spoke first and after he had in as short terms as was possible opened the state of Affairs he said one of three things must be done Either they were to March out and fight to lie still and provide for a Siege or to March to London the other side of the Severn being then free He proposed the Difficulties of all these yet said one of them was to be done and desired that his Majesty might put it to the debate which of them was fittest None proposed a fourth Expedient But the Duke did afterwards suggest if the Marching into Wales might be adviseable but as they were in the debate before the half of the Council of War had delivered their opinions there came an Alarm to the door that dissolved the Meeting This was four days before the Fight the Enemy grew daily stronger and raised the whole Country to his Assistance and as the Kings small Army was utterly disproportioned to their Strength so the Courage of the Souldiers did daily abate and the Duke as he clearly foresaw the ruine of the Kings Affairs at that time and the Captivity of his Country that would follow so he desired not to out-live it The Duke apprehenns and prepares for Death which he plainly told to some of his more intimate Friends though for incouraging others he put on a great appearance of Cheerfulness on his looks but apprehending that his End drew nigh notwithstanding all the Attendance he was obliged to at Court and with the Army yet he set off large portions of his Time for reviewing his Life and fitting himself for Eternity and when his Imployment all day denied him the conveniency of such long and serious Retirements as that Work required he took it from his sleep in the night being more solicitous for rest to his Mind than to his Body And the night before the often fatal third of September which was the day of Worcester-Fight though he had stayed very late in the Court yet when he came to his Lodgings the apprehensions he had of what was before him kept him awake and serious as will appear from the following Paper which he wrote and was found in his Pockets when they were searched after his Death A Meditation on Death and a Prayer WHEN sadness for any Worldly Cross lies heavy upon thee remember thou art a Christian designed for the Inheritance of Iesus or if thou be an obstinate impenitent Sinner as sure as God is just thou must perish if this be thy Condition I cannot blame thee to be sad sad till thy heart-strings crack But then why art thou troubled for the loss of Friends Fortune or for any Worldly want what should a damned man do with any of these did ever any man upon the wrack afflict himself because his Mistress slighted him or call for the particulars of a Purchase upon the Gallows if thou dost really believe thou shalt be damned I do not say it will cure all other Sadness but certainly it will or ought to swallow it up And if thou believest thou shalt be saved consider how great is that Ioy how infinite is that Change how unspeakable is the Glory how excellent is the Recompence for all thy Sufferings in the World So let thy Condition be what it will compared to thy future possibility thou canst not feel the present smart of a cross Fortune to any great degree either because thou hast a far bigger Sorrow or a far bigger Ioy. Here thou art but a Stranger travelling to a Country where the Glories of a Kingdom are prepared for thee it is therefore a huge folly to be much afflicted because thou hast a less convenient Inn to Lodge in by the way Let us prepare our selves against Changes always expecting them that we be not surprized when they come O death how bitter art thou to a man that is at rest in his Possessions to the rich man who had promised himself ease and fulness for many years it was a sad Arrest that his Soul was surprized the first night But the Apostles who every day knockt at the Gate of Death and lookt upon it continually went to their Martyrdom in peace and evenness Anytus and Miletus may kill me but they cannot hurt me we are troubled on every side but not distressed perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed and who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good Consider that Afflictions are oft-times the occasions of great Temporal Advantages and we must not look upon them as they sit heavy us but as they serve some of Gods ends and the purposes of Vniversal Providence and when a Prince fights justly and yet unprosperously could he see the reasons for which God orders it he would find it unreasonable nay ill to have it otherwise If a man could have opened one of the Pages of Divine Counsel and seen the event of Joseph 's being sold to the Merchants of Midian he might with much reason have dried up the young mans Tears The case of Themistocles was not much unlike thâ—t of Joseph for being banished he likewise grew in favour with the Persian King and told his Wife he had perished unless he had perished God esteems it one of his Glories to bring good out of evil and therefore it were but reason we should leave God to govern his own World as he pleases and that we should patiently wait till the Change come and likewise not envy the Prosperity of the wicked Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him fret not thy self because of him who prospereth in his way because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass for evil doers shall be cut off but those that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the Earth Theramenes one of the Thirty Tyrants of Athens escaped when his house fell upon him but was shortly after put to Death by his Colleagues in the Tyranny The last great Trial is Death for which should we grieve of all griefs it is the most unreasonable for why should we grieve at that which is absolutely unavoidable and it is not so much to be cared for how long we live as how well we live for that Life is not best which is longest
in force if they were revived and by His Majesties Authority appointed to be keeped at the ordinary times and if one at His Majesties first opportunity and so soon as may be conveniently should be indicted Kirkmen might be tried in their Life Office or Benefice and keeped in order without trouble to His Majesty and without offence to the People the present Evils might be speedily helped to His Majesties great honour and content and to the preservation of the Peace of the Kirk and these courses might be stopped afterwards and on the contrary while Kirkmen escape their due Censure and matters of the Worship of God are imposed without the consent of the free Assemblies of the Kirk they will ever be suspected to be unsound and corrupt as shunning to be tried by the Light to the continual entertaining of heart-burnings amongst the People and to the hindrance of that chearfulness of obedience which is due and from our Hearts we wish may be rendred to the Kings Majesty If according to the Law of Nature and Nations to the Custom of all other Kingdoms and the laudable example of His Majesties worthy Progenitors in the like cases of National Grievances or of Commotions and Fears of a whole body of a Kingdom His Majesty should be graciously pleased to call a Parliament for the timeous hearing and redressing of the just Grievances of the Subjects for removing of their common Fears and for renewing and establishing such Laws as in time coming may prevent the one and the other and may serve to the good of the Kirk and the Kingdom that the Peace of both might be firmly settled and mens minds now so awakened might be easily pacified and all our Tongues and Pens are not able to represent what would be the joyful Acclamations and hearty Wishes of so loyal and loving a People for His Majesties Happiness and how heartily bent all sorts would be found to bestow their Fortunes and Lives in His Majesties Service The more particular Notes of all things expedient for the well of the Kirk and Kingdom for His Majesties honour and satisfaction and for extinguishing of the present Combustion may be given in to be considered in the Assembly and Parliament Those Bishops who stayed in Scotland sent up also one Learmonth to the Archbishop of Saint Andrews then at London with their Complaints and Grievances which are also set down according to the Original ARTICLES of Information to Mr. Andrew Learmonth for my Lord Archbishop of Saint Andrews the Bishop of Ross c. and in their absence for my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace YOu shall show their Lordships How they have changed the Moderator of the Presbytery of Edinburgh The Complaints of the Clergy and are going on in changing all the Moderators in the Kingdom How they have abused Doctor Ogstone the ninth of May in Edinburgh Mr. George Hannay at Torphichen the sixth of May Doctor Lamond at Markinch the ninth of May Mr. Robert Edward at Kirkmichael whom Kilkerrin is forced to entertain at his own House That the Presbytery of Hadingtown have given Imposition of Hands to Mr. John Ker's Son to be his Collegue without the knowledge of the Bishop and likewise the Presbytery of Kircaldy to Mr. John Gillespy's Son to the Church of the Weemes and the Presbytery of Dumfrice to one Mr. John Wier to the Church of Morton within two miles of Drumlanerick and that they of Dumfermline have admitted Mr. Samuel Row a Minister banished from Ireland to be helper to Mr. Henry Mackgill and they of Air Mr. Robert Blair to be helper to Mr. William Annand and that the Town of Dumfrice have made choice of Mr. James Hamilton to be their Minister and the Town of Kirkudbright one Mr. John Macklennan all of them banished from Ireland and Mr. Samuel Rutherford is returned and settled in his Place and they intend to depose Mr. John Trotter Minister at Dirleuton and how they intended to use the Regents That the Council of Edinburgh have made choice of Mr. Alexander Henderson to be helper to Mr. Andrew Ramsay and intend to admit him without advice or consent of the Bishop That the Ministers of Edinburgh who have not subscribed the Covenant are daily reviled and cursed to their Faces and their Stipends are withheld and not payed and that all Ministers who have not subscribed are in the same case and condition with them That they hound out rascally Commons on men who have not subscribed the Covenant as Mr. Samuel Cockburn did one John Shaw at Leith That His Majesty would be pleased by his Letters to discharge the Bishop of Edinburgh to pay any Prebend-fee to those who have subscribed the Covenant as also by His Royal Letters to discharge the Lords of Session to grant any Process against the Bishop for their Fees That His Majesty would be pleased in the Articles of Agreement with the Nobility to see honest men who shall happen in this tumultuous time to be deposed from their Places restored and settled in them and others that are violently thrust in removed and that the wrongs done to them be repaired That if it shall happen His Majesty to take any violent course for repressing these Tumults and Disorders which God forbid that in that case their Lordships would be pleased to supplicate His Majesty that some speedy course may be taken for securing of the persons of these honest men who stand for God and His Majesty Signed Da. Edin Ja. Dumblanen Ja. Lismoren Ja. Hannay Da. Michell Da. Fletcher The King resolves to gain his Subjects by redressing their Grievances All these matters being considered though there were grounds enough to have provoked a less Gracious Prince to have proceeded against the Covenanters by the extreme course of Rigour and Authority and there were some who advised him to it yet such was his innate love to that His Ancient and Native Kingdom that he resolved to leave no mean unessayed before he should proceed to a Rupture with them He also well foresaw that it would not prove so easie a Work as some would have perswaded him the greatest part on the South of Tay being confederate and resolved to stand to their Defence at all hazards neither was England too well fixed in their obedience as the following Wars did sadly prove and so there were small grounds to expect any heartiness from them for such a Work and calls the Bishops to his Closet All this being weighed His Majesty called to His Closet the Archbishops of Canterbury and St. Andrews and the Bishops of Galloway Brechin and Ross the Marquis being there before they came and to all these the King declared the choice he had made and that he intended to send the Marquis to Scotland with the Character of High Commissioner for establishing the Peace of the Country and the good of the Church St. Andrews said he approved the Choice and hoped for good success My Lord of Canterbury
asked why His Majesty had called him the King said to be a Witness of what was done and because he had been before acquainted with the proceedings of that business he was also to be informed of what passed thereafter Then the Marquis desired to know what the Bishops expected he could doe they answered nothing but procure the Peace of the Country and good of the Church he desired they would contribute their assistance for reclaiming the Ministery who were once conformable and for the Ministers that were censured but were now stirring he should deal with them They answered their power was small at that time and their danger great and so inclined to stay still at London but that was overruled the Marquis undertaking that so far as in him lay he should stand betwixt them and danger The Archbishop of Canterbury said much and well on this head so it was agreed that they should go home Next the King expressed how necessary he conceived it was that every one of them should live in their own Diocese Canterbury seconded this and the Bishops acknowledged it was the best way Much was said concerning General Assemblies and that Ecclesiastical matters ought to have been introduced by them and the Marquis was ordered to give assurance that in all time coming nothing substantial should be introduced in the Church but by them Much debate passed about the Oath of admission of Ministers and it was concluded it should be no other than what was warranted by the Law and the Bishops were required to be sparing and moderate for the present both in urging that and the Ceremonies All this His Majesty concluded with his wishes for good success adding that the Marquis had been so far from seeking this Imployment that he had commanded him much against his will to undertakâ— the journey This was in the beginning of May and upon the 7th of May Letters were directed to Scotland giving notice of the Resolutions taken to the Nobility the Marquis wrote also to all his Friends and Dependers to meet him at Hadington the 5th of Iune The next thing that was taken into consideration was the drawing up of his Instructions A Commission in the ordinary form being first drawn there were two Proclamations signed by the King both which are extant the one written with the Earl of Traquair's hand the other by the Marquis the first whereof follows CHARLES R. CHARLES by the Grace of God King of Scotland England The Proclamation sent by the Marquis France and Ireland Defender of the Faith to our Lovits our Sheriffs in that part conjunctly and severally specially constitute Greeting Forsamiekle as We are not ignorant of the great Disorders which have happened of late within this Our ancient Kingdom of Scotland occasioned as is pretended upon the introduction of the Service-book Book of Canons and High Commission thereby fearing Innovations of Religion and Laws for satisfaction of which Fears We well hoped that the two Proclamations of the eleventh of December and nineteenth of February had been abundantly sufficient nevertheless finding that Disorders have daily so increased that a powerful rather than a persuasive way might have been justly expected from Vs yet We out of Our innate Indulgence to Our People grieving to see them run themselves so headlong into Ruine are graciously pleased to try if by a fair way We can reclaim them from their faults rather than let them perish in the same And therefore once for all We have thought fit to declare and hereby to assure all Our good People that We neither are were nor by the Grace of God ever shall be stained with Popish Superstition but by the contrary are resolved to maintain the true Protestant Christian Religion already professed within this Our ancient Kingdom And for further clearing of Scruples We do hereby assure all men that We will neither now nor hereafter press the practice of the aforesaid Canons and Service-book or any thing of that nature but in such a fair and legal way as shall satisfie all Our loving Subjects that We neither intend Innovation in Religion or Laws and for the High Commission We shall so rectifie it with the help of advice of Our Privy Council that it shall never impugn the Laws nor be a just Grievance to Our Loyal Subjects And as hereby it may appear how careful We are to satisfie the foresaid Fears how needless soever of Our good Subjects * So We do hold Our Selves obliged both in Conscience and Honour to hinder the course of that which may prejudge that Royal Authority which God has endued Vs with wherefore understanding that many of Our Subjects have run themselves into seditious and undutiful courses and willing to reduce them rather by a benign than forcible mean because We hope that most of them are drawn thereto blindly out of fear of Innovations are content hereby to declare and promise upon the Word of a King to pardon what is past and not to take notice of the by-gone faults no not so much as of those factious and seditious Bonds upon condition that they seek to Our Mercy by disclaiming the same and in testification of the true sense of their Misdemeanors that they deliver up or continuâ— with their best endeavours to procure the delivering up of the said Bonds into the hands of Our Council or such as Our Council shall appoint Declaring always likeas We by these presents do declare all these to be esteemed and reputed as Traitors in all time coming that shall not renounce and disclaim the said Bond or Bonds within after the publication hereof that is to say Whosoever will from henceforth be thought a good Subject and capable of Our Mercy must either deliver up the same in case he have it or concur with his best endeavours to the delâ—vering up thereof or at least must come to some of Our Privy Council or chief Officers in Burgh or Land and testifie to him that he renounces and disclaims the said Bonds Our Will is therefore and We charge you straitly and command that incontinent this Our Letteâ— seen c. C. R. The other Proclamation penned by the Marquis agrees with the former to the place that is marked * after which it follows thus Another Proclamation So We expect that their behaviour will be such as may give testimony of their Obedience and how sensible they are of Our Grace and Favour that thus pass over their Misdemeanours and by their future carriage make appear it was onely the fear of Innovations that caused those Disorders that have happened of late in this Our Kingdom which now cannot but by this Our Declaration be removed from the hearts of Our loving Subjects but on the contrary if we find not this performed with that chearfulness and alacrity that becomes good and obedient Subjects We declare and hold Our Self obliged in Honour and Conscience to make use of those forcible means which God hath armed Royal Authority with