give notice of it to the Parliament with assurance of their affection and faithfulnesse Upon this the Scots are cryed up to be Parliaments Army by some and the Parliament to be for the Scots Then jealousies must be raised against the Scots That they would never remove nor go home This reproach is raised and spred abroad by the adversaries of Church and State and received by the simpler ones otherwayes well-meaning and well-disposed men So the Scots to take away all kinde of suspicion repaire home peaceably Then the King must follow them home to try conclusions First He essayeth again if the Scots Army could be corrupted for his designe But he loseth his pains Next He goeth on and being in Scotland he tryeth if he can make sure the chief opposers of the great designe as of some also who had not served him according to the trust he had given them therein This Plot also faileth By this time the Irish break forth in Rebellion burning and spoiling the Countrey and slaying the English Protestants there amongst them The Villains give out That they have nothing to say against the Scots their old Friends Brethren and neer Neighbours but against the Adherents to that wicked Parliament of England so displeasing to the good King This they did hoping that by these fair words and not doing harm at first to the Scots amongst them to make the Scots be quiet whom they knew would be very soon in readinesse to fall upon them if the King and Parliament of England would allow and desire it The Scots make offer of their Service unto the King while he is amongst them for repressing the Rebellion in Ireland He waves the businesse and puts it off with that he could do nothing without the Parliament of England and so he cometh to the Parliament where till he was constrained he said little or nothing of the Rebels at last he is made to make a Declaration against them and then course must be taken for repressing them The Scots continue to offer their assistance but with shifts they were put off by the Court and by some corrupt men fiding with the Court for a long time At last the Scots send an Army into Ireland willing to do their best but not being furnished with necessaries for the prosecution of the Service nor supplied in their wants they could not go on so earnestly and with such heartinesse as they themselves wished so after divers of them had starved and perished for want some return back to their own Countrey yet they leave there a considerable body under the conduct of Major Generall Monro which number had absolutely starved if it had not been supplied from Scotland who although it was not able to provide for that Army in such a proportion as was needfull for a more earnest pursuance of the Service yet they kept them alive and encouraged them to go still on with the Work and although that Army there hath not done all what was expected of them yea not so much perchance as some men conceive they might have done yet one thing is acknowledged by all That this Army hath kept alive the Protestant-businesses in that Kingdom for without it the cessation and compliance with the Rebels had gone on through the whole Countrey unto the prejudice of the Common Cause and to the damage of these Kingdoms for the English Army sent thither being corrupted and drawn hither by the King the Protestant-Indwellers in Ireland had complyed being inclined to the Court for the most part But to return unto England The King having left London resolves to make War against the Parliament and being at Windsor he causeth to gather together some men to try what he could do in the businesse but he seeing his few gathered men to be dispersed by the Countrey finds for such an undertaking he must have a help from beyond Seas to this effect he sends the Queen unto Holland and he finds that he must go further off from London So after her departing he goeth to York where he sets afoot and lays all the devises he can to make War against the Parliament The Scots hearing of this presently send Commissioners to deal with him and to desire him to leave off the designe of making Civill War in England while the Protestants were thus massacred in Ireland He obstinatly rejects their remonstrance and sends them back not suffering them to come any further according to their order and mind which was to repair unto the Houses of Parliament and to deal with them for the taking away all mistakes betwixt the King and them The King having essayed all he could in York-shire to little purpose at last cometh Southward to Nottingham where seeing his bad successe in his undertaking he sends to the Parliament for agreement The businesse is slighted at least not so earnestly laid hold on as the Scots had done at far lesse ouverture by some chiefly who since have made known that they had more their own particular to heart then the publike good So the King continuing his designe of War with the few men he had then goes Westward where he gets more men and so with open force carrieth on the War The Winter following the Scots seeing the pursuance of the service of Ireland slacked yea in a kinde neglected and things come to a great hight in England with the losse of much blood already and spoile of a part of the Countrey resolve to send once again unto the King then at Oxford the same Commissioners that were sent to him at York with one or two more from the Church and State The King being moved for a passe to them refuseth it for a time but at last he grants it as they desired which was to repair freely to and fro betwixt him and the Parliament as the occasion should require Upon which the Scots Commissioners come to Oxford and tell their message to the King who slighteth them and useth them coldly and corsely After their abode for divers moneths to no purpose they give notice to those who had sent them that they could do no good with the King not so much as to have liberty to go unto the Parliament yea not to converse with the Commissioners from the Parliament then at Oxford At last they are sent for to go home The King not being willing at that time to give such an open occasion unto the Scots as to make them rise then in Arms sends their Commissiones home with generall and ambiguous words and tels them that if they would be quiet he would ere it were long have reason of the Parliament of England but if they should stir he would be put to it So they go home and give accompt of their voyage The K. perceiving partly by the Commissioners partly by his spies from the Countrey that since he would not be moved to agree with the Parliament the Scots were inclining to side with the Parliament in case of need
it is expressed first in generall terms in the Declaration at the giving the Commission to the Earl of Essex then more particularly in the Covenant This sheweth the forgetfulnesse of him who in a solemn Assembly was so unmindfull of the Truth as to aver that Religion was not the ground of the quarrell betwixt us and the Common Enemy at the first abusing the simpler ones and making use of the connivence of others yea he was put at work by some to say so at least he was applauded by them as the story runs This quarrell here in England hath cost the Scots a great deal of pains First In the Counsell both of Church and State Then In the Fields with the losse of many a gallant brave man which they think all well spent bestowed since God hath been pleased to make use of their endeavours to put forward in some measure his good Work in both Church and State and to represse the domineering of the Common Enemy who ever since the conjunction of the Scots with the State of England hath been declining if the thing be well considered with judgement although now and then he hath had some lucida intervalla as we have all seen As the Scots think their pains labours expences charges c. well bestowed so they complain not of the manifold reproaches and lyes that have been said and spred against them what by the open Enemy what by the false Friends nor of the hardship their Army hath endured to this day in the Field no more then of the small content of their Commissioners in the Counsell which all they passe and lay aside not as insensible and leprous men who have no feeling for in any other thing they are touchy enough but as being resolved to do all what they can and suffer what they are able for the Cause of God and of his people with grief of mind to see those whom at first they conceived certainly to be right and round in this businesse to have corners and by-wayes wherein they must acknowledge the shortnesse of their own judgement and confesse the infirmity of man But their great grief is at least should be that their Army hath not been timely nor duly furnish'd with conveniencies and necessaries to make it go on with action in the Field yea to see them kept back from doing as if it were plotted of purpose Then that their counsells in Church and State have not onely not prevailed but have been hid yea opposed and so hindered to yeeld their due fruit unto the Cause in hand as they intended Besides all these things in joyning with the Parliament in action and Counsell and coming in when it was below a stand they have not onely exposed themselves and their poor native Countrey to all kinde of perills and inconveniency but have drawn evil upon it More They have gone in the highest degree of contradiction to the King for they have not onely in down-right terms declared themselves opposite to his designe but have quite spoiled it which as he told them he would easily compasse in this Kingdom if they would be quiet and indeed he had brought his businesse to a pretty passe before the Scots came in Then their coming in into England and their going before into Ireland did empty their native Countrey much of men of Counsell and action So for England they left their own Countrey as if it were to be a prey unto the Malignants there who since not being kept under by the good party by reason of its weaknesse shew themselves to be in great number Next The indifferent and neutrals whereof there be but too many everywhere most men looking more to their convenience here upon Earth then to the Glory of God or to his Kingdom who had sided formerly with the good party bearing the sway but since seeing them absent for the most part helping their Friends and weakest at home begin to have other thoughts and fall in with the Malignants All this being perceived by the King who hath his thoughts full of revenge against the Covenanted Scots with England bethinks himself of all means possible to oppresse and destroy that poor Countrey of Scotland and in the first place the Danes are invited to invade it unto whom are promised the Isles of Orkades for their pains their old pretension But as the Danes were preparing to come hither God sends them another work to do at home which was to defend themselves from their invaders to wit the Swedish with whom after a great strugling by Sea and by Land they have been constrained to make their peace almost upon any terms Yet we hear they are now making again themselves ready for War and against us as we are informed to try perhaps if they can make up their losses in some measure in one way or other upon us Again The King seeing the Scots siding with the Parliam of England sets afoot Plot upon Plot in the South part of Scotland but by Gods blessing they all fail being no sooner discovered but repressed and thrown in the dust More By Pyrates and men of War having Commission from the King the Scots Ships with goods and men are taken yea divers men are thrown overboord Their onely quarrell is the conjunction of the Scots with the Parliament of England in the Service of this Common Cause The losses the Scots have suffered by Sea since their sideing with the Parliament do exceed far the monethly allowance agreed upon for their Army although it were well and fully payed which they are far short of for since these eight moneths they have had but one moneths pay to wit about Thirty thousand pounds and these from the City of London Last of all The King bethinks himself since he is pleased to own all the undertakings of the Juncto although he be not alwayes one of the number it taking its authority from the Pope and the Roman-Catholike Princes abroad more then from him although he hath the name of all to send over out of Ireland some of those desperate Villains who at their first rising in Rebellion in Ireland did offer all kindnesse unto the Scots saying that they would not stir against them who take a fit opportunity of the good party of the Scots being absent out of their Countrey for the most part and they enter into Scotland by the Isles and the Hills finding a party of Malignants some whereof and the chief Traitors had been sent from the Court to manage the businesse who not only privatly do favour openly do side with them but make a number of disguised Villains betray the trust they had from the Countrey in places of power and command yea some in the time of action in the Field either slakly acting against the Enemy or flying from before him or running over to him at divers places and times So the Enemy increaseth his party in Scotland spoileth and destroyeth divers places of the Countrey
designe to end the Work they were there for and seeing the Enemy his marching unto them upon David Lesley his going into Scotland send unto their Friends at London for a help of some Horse to be neer by them as in Glocester-shire in case of need they not having Horse enough to encounter the Enemy and to serve the Army to bring in the provision which they were constrained to do with strong hold in the Enemies Countrey having ever since their march Southward struggled with great difficulties for necessary provisions yea for divers dayes they have been without bread But they could obtain no Horse howsoever some were very willing to grant their just desire Things being thus it is put to a Counsell of War whither they should storm the Town or no some that were most forward gave their voice for the storm others voiced It was fit to save the Army whole considering how the posture of affaires was then at home and since some of their Friends for whom they had undergone so much were backward to assist them in their great extremity they thought it the safest course to raise the Siege and return Northward to help their Countrey and so the plurality of voices carried it and Northward they went As the Scots were upon their march in York-shire news comes to them that David Lesley had given a great overthrow to the Enemy in Scotland yet they went after this they are desired by the Parliament to come back and besiege Newark and not to stay there in the North Countrey for fear of burdening that Countrey so much already wasted as was given out The Parliaments desire is not answered so hastily as was expected which hath given occasion to some to irritate and do what lieth in them to make ill blood and not to stay for an answer nor receive any reasonable one without reall performance of what was required whereunto the Scots are most willing but by reason they have so few Horse with them they conceive it is not safe to venture their Foot when the Enemies Forces are onely in Horse and chiefly because they knew that the Enemy was to send a considerable party into Scotland hoping to make a great faction there by the help of his Friends by the way and so joyn with the Enemy there and the Malignants in the North of England were to rise with the open Enemy And so it proved indeed for the Enemy sends from Newark a great party of Horse commanded by Langdale and Digby They were meet withall by the York-shire Forces commanded by Poyntz and Rossiter who dealt so roughly with them that they were routed divers killed and many taken with a great part of their baggage yet they rally again and go on in their journey to invade Scotland Before they were at the borders they were a thousand strong Generall Lesley having notice of their designe sends a party under the command of Vandruske with expresse order to fight with the Enemy wheresoever he found him Vandruske followeth so actively the Enemy that he thinks to get into Scotland before him and send him back again but he misseth him and the Enemy going another way enters into Scotland where there were divers parties ordered to wait for him and fight with him one from David Leslâ—â— was sent another of the Earl of Balclough the third and the least of all not exceeding three hundred Horse under the command of Sir John Brown who seeing the Enemy in Scotland could not have patience till his Friends joyned with him but by an hardy attempt with his three hundred men fals upon the Enemy who was a thousand strong as we have said before routs him killeth him a hundred of his men upon the place takes two hundred of them with bag and baggage divers were drowned All this did Sir John Brown with the losse of about thirty or fourty men then he pursued the Enemy seeking him up and down and at last upon the third day after the fight he assisted with his Friends meets with the remainder of the routed Enemy then about five hundred strong where he took all with little shedding of blood onely some few who were extraordinarily well horsed did escape among whom were Digby and Langdale with these good Patriotes and good Christians the Earls of Nidsdale Maxwell and Carnewath-Dazâ—l When by treachery at divers encounters the Enemy did prevaile against the Forces of the good party in Scotland some of the superficiall Brethren about Westminster-Hall jearing and gibing could say That the Scots could not and durst not fight in their own Countrey which at this time they find untrue for the Scots have shewn since that they both can and dare fight not onely one to one but one against two contrary to the Proverb Ne Hercules contra duos yea one against three Let the glory be to God who is pleased to own his own Cause and honour despiseable men to be instruments in this his Work to the confusion and shame of the Haughtie The Enemy had so laid down this Plot of invading Scotland that he promised unto himself without fear an issue according to his mind for he thought having once entred in Scotland by the Papists Atheists and Libertins for Sectaries there are none to make up in the lower Countrey a great party and so joyning with the Enemy now afoot in the hills who is gathering what he can and hath already betwixt three and four thousand men although divided amongst themselves as we are informed he did think no lesse then in a very short time to subdue all Scotland and presently thereafter to come into England Those who have read the intercepted Letters can tell much stuffe to this purpose but he that compteth without his host compteth twice The rumour of this designe was so great in Scotland that the good party thought fit to draw a good part of their Horse Southward and to make sure the chief and most commodious passages to hinder the conjunctions of the intestine Enemy and the invaders so David Lesley lay with one party at Glasgo upon Clyde and Middleton with another at Alloway neer Sterlin upon Forth Yea to see this enterprise repressed is the chief reason why the Scots Army in the North of England did not come so soon Southward to Newark as was desired wch just and lawfull delay of the Scots for a time by factious and malicious men although they knew very well the reasons and the cause thereof is published as a deniall and so it hath been beleeved by the simpler sort and laid hold on as argent contant present count it is not enough for the malicious and factious ones not considering that the good party in Scotland hath made the Parliaments quarrell its own in joyning with it in Covenant for the pursuance of the Cause it took Arms from the very first beginning that is for the Truth of Religion all things whatsoever yea Liberty and Priviledge being subservient unto it as
against God so generally and so long a time now these five yeers since the Reformation is in hand As for the pressing of Peace by the Scots Is it not full time after so much blood shed devastation of the Countreys and such a deal of all kinde of wickednesse committed in the War to seek after a firm Peace lay hold upon any occasion to help us to it First Because it is the end we make War for not having intention to make a Trade of it Then If we beg for Peace at God Why should we not seek earnestly after it from man by all honest means Otherwise God will not grant our demands and will tell us that we are but hypocrites having a thing in our lips when our hearts are far from it As for standing for the King It is true we stand for him and respect him as we do on the other part stand for the Parliament the great Counsell of the Land as those whom God hath been pleased to set over us not fondly and feignedly idolizing worshipping them as gods on Earth impeccable one day as Parasites and Sycophants do and another day vilifying and rejecting them when our turn is not served by them but sincerly with reason for as we avouch him to be our Soveraign Magistrate so we acknowledge him all those of the Counsel to be but infirm and weak men him misled miscarried for the most part by those who are about him deceiving him to his own and the peoples ruine and them also subject to mistake and errour So as we pray God for him to save and protect him from doing evil from receiving evil we freely admonish him both from Church and State of his errours and faults both before God and man This we do both in private and publike as the cause requires or occasion will permit and when necessity drives us to it we take Arms to oppose the evil courses he is insnared in and represse them alwayes with respect to his Office and Person which we acknowledge to be lawfull and him lawfull possessor thereof and no further we go then to stop him from doing evil if we cannot gain him to do good Then for faults although they be great we must not change till we see that we can do better We have abolished the Prelacy not so much for the abuses thereof as for the unlawfulnesse of it although of long continuance it being against the intention of God expressed in his Word howsoever wrested by the Prelats but for Royalty it is approved and ordained by God hath so continued with us that we can hardly leave it besides we find already such inconveniencies by not keeping it up in its due right and authority that we smart hugely for it and if it were altogether cast off we should be far worse witnesse the infinite disorders now adayes Now let the English ingenuously confesse That â—â—ey never have told the tenth part of the truth of things unto the King which he hath heard of from the Scots Hath the Parliament and Church of England spoke so home and acquainted him so freely with his errours as the Scots have done or would they have so withstood the evil courses he is cast in had the Scots not shewn them the way Then we must not cast off a good accustomed and lawfull office for the faults of a man who bears it yea in the exercise of it and that about main businesses for lawfull things are not to be rejected for the abuses but the abuses to be taken away and a reformation to be made otherwayes the most things and most necessary should be cast off for we offend almost in all things and abuse many things But it is said The King hath spoiled the three Kingdoms and endeavoured to overthrow the Liberties and Religion It is true but if he had not found Peers and Commons in the three Kingdoms to second the evil counsels suggested unto him he would never have attempted it for they caused him to set the work afoot and they laid down the wayes to go on with it and have served him in it Although that other kindes of government may be fit for other people sure I am Monarchie is best for us being regulated according to the Law of God and right reason with the Prerogative and the Priviledge subservient to the good of the people Then It is reproached unto the Scots That they are a poor weak people and not considerable Truely They do not hold themselves either potent or considerable in regard of greater Nations but such as they are God hath made them very helpfull to other Nations which think themselves very considerable For example Did they not turn the ballance in the affairs of France under Charles the seventh when things were very low with the French for at their going to help that King they found him so distressed and so under the power of his Enemy that he was constrained to keep himself at Bourges in Berry Hence he was called in derision King of Bourges But in a very short time they helped him so that he repossessed himself of his whole Dominions and repulsed the Enemy Now Have they not done more unto their Brethren of England Have they not made their quarrell their own exposing their lives and all that is dear unto men for them And by their help are not their Brethren come to have the face of affaires changed unto the better so far that not onely they are come to equall terms with the Enemy but they have brought him so low that in likelyhood he will not rise again so hastily Howsoever the Scots be inconsiderable in the eyes of some men yet God in his goodnesse hath considered them so far as to make them usefull instruments in this his great Work of opposing the Enemies of his Truth both open and declared and secret and undermining And ye see both parties of open and secret Enemies to the Truth of God have considered the Scots so far that each of them hath by all cunning pressed to have the Scots for and with them but the Enemies seeing they could not prevaile they have made their earnest study by devises and Plots underhand and by open violence and force to wit by an absolute and declared War as far as they can to destroy the good party in Scotland as the onely obstacle of hindering the one and the other Enemy to compasse their designes and to set up their by-ends Hence the good party in England considereth the Scots as their onely helpers for without their assistance they had all been undone before now and howsoever they are strong in appearence for the present if the Scots should retire and leave them it is conceived upon just grounds that they were to begin the play again As for despicability Howsoever the Scots be despised by some now adayes I am sure had it not been for these despised men many here who are at