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       Christian Reader,

May it please thee, at this time, to receive a free and true Discourse of sundry and main occurrences of businesses, here amongst us, tendred unto thee by a reall Friend, and faithfull Servant of thine, in the Lord; who makes it a good part of his earnest study, to enquire in all seriousnesse after the truth of those things, which thus busie us all in these miserable dayes of ours, everywhere; (what in thoughts, what in words, what in deeds, with the motives, occasions, reasons, and ends thereof) and this, truely, not to content his vain curiousity, and meerly to feed his empty brains with notions; as many read Books, and hearken after news; but, for the good of [ p.2a ] the Publike, unto the Service whereof, he freely and cheerfully devotes his pains and labours; and so with pleasure, he, in all freedom of heart, imparts unto others, of what he jugeth to be true, and conducing to the food of Church and State, without inequall partiality, or base siding with any faction, the great disease in these our evil dayes, of foolish and weak men: And the principall occasion of these our great and long sufferings, with the tedious delays, and many hinderances of carrying on the publike Work, by action in the Field, and Counsell at home, to the benefit of Church and State. This he doeth, without regard to the persons of any whosoever, having no intent to offend the least by cynicall mordacitie, nor mind to curry favour with the greatest, by insinuating flattery, being (by Gods great mercy towards him, unworthy worm) pretty free from the chief cause of those distempers ordinary to most men: For, on the one part, he knows no man who hath so far wronged him, in his own particular, as to move him unto anger or wrath against the [ p.2b ] person of any; and he hath ever thought it contrary to good Christianity, and dissonant from morall honesty, to inveigh scurrilously against mens persons, as Pamphleteers do now adayes, for the most part.
        Wherefore, he speaketh of the failings in divers kindes and degrees (wherewith he is highly offended, and much scandalized) of men of all ranks and conditions in both Kingdoms, without designation of their persons by name: Yea, he is so far from naming any man in particular, for his errors, that he makes mention but of a very few by name, and those with eloge and praise, wishing from his heart that he had just occasion to name all those to their advantage, at whose faults he points at.
       Further, he heartily blesseth God, who in his Fatherly care towards him hitherto, (and he hopes will do so to the end, being assured that he, who giveth the principall, will not deny the accessory, if he thinks it fit for his own Glory and our good) hath provided for him wherewith to sustain his nature, without great excesse or much want, [ p.3a ] and hath schooled him both by precept and practice, to live and be content of little, and so, not being so urged by a neer nipping necessity, or imaginary poverty, as to sell or betray the Truth for a morsell of Bread, nor so led away with the exorbitant desire of preferment or profit, as to cog in upon any terms by flattery, lying, and faining with those, in whose hands the distribution of such things is amongst us for the present: He dare be bold to speak home to the Point, and tell down-right the truth of things, according to his best information, wherein the Church and State are so much concerned, not fearing to be crossed in his private interest, and put back from his hopes, by displeasing the gods, yet without giving just occasion of offence to any.
       Moreover, he preferreth the possessing of himself with calm and freedom of spirit, having his little viaticum, such as it is, simple and coarse, to the glistering slavery, with toiling and moiling of ambitious and covetous ones, to whatsoever hight with lustre and fair shew they attain unto, in the eyes of the World, and opinion [ p.3b ] of men, knowing that it is dear bought, with losse of time, and often of credit and conscience, and to be nothing but a meer shadow, which in a moment vanisheth.
       To the performance of this usefull and necessary Duty, he conceiveth himself bound in conscience, before God and man, for these respects and reasons:
       First, Everyone of us all, in our severall ranks and stations, ought, so far as in us lyeth, advance the Glory of God, and hinder whatsoever is contrary to it, or against it; for, he is the Lord our God: Then being bound to the hearty Love of our Neighbour, we ought with earnestnesse procure his true good, and hinder him from receiving evil, or committing sin whereby evil may come upon him, since he is flesh of our flesh, and bones of our bones: This is inculcate in the Scripture over and over again; Yea, we are bidden rebuke our Brother, or Neighbour, plainly, when he sinneth, in any kinde: otherwise we are said to be haters of him; namely, we are to hinder him from walking about with lyes among the people, and from conspiring [ p.4a ] with the wicked. Read Levit. 19. 16, 17.
       Next, The Church whereof we are Children, and the Countrey whereof we are Members, requireth and expecteth of us all, that with our whole power and might, we procure, in all uprightnesse and singlenesse of heart, their true good, and stop whatsoever appears to be against the same, either in word or deed; thoughts being onely known to God. To this duty unto Church and State, we are not onely bound at one time, by a generall tye; but we iterate and renew this bond upon us really, although perhaps not so solemnly, from time to time, as we receive benefits by or from them, according to the ordinary practice of us all.
       Thirdly, Are we not all obliged by our late Nationall Covenant, and sworn to advance the setling of the Church-Reformation, according to the Word of God, and conforme to the best Reformed Churches, and to the setling of a solid Peace to the good of the People, by putting forward the Service, and opposing the open and declared Enemy, with the crafty Malig- [ p.4b ] nants, of whatsoever kinde, secretly undermining us in the pursuance of this our good Cause, by cabales, factions, lyes, devises, and plots, and with whatsoever else the wicked heart of man full of wyles for his own & his Neighbours ruine. All these tyes and bonds are shaken off and broken by the most part of us, either through negligent lazinesse, and remisse slacknesse, not minding them, and not having before our eyes as we ought the least part of this our duty; or thorugh base connivence and treacherous compliance to the wicked courses of the Enemies against the Cause we say we do maintain, I am sure at least we ought to maintain, or by open and professed Apostasie, we have joyned our hearts and affection with the Common Enemy, who so actively by all means opposeth this Cause of God, and persecuteth his people for it; for by-ends making our accompt, howsoever the World goe's, we will do our turn.
       This is done both in Scotland and England, not by a few, but by many; not by little and small ones, but by some of the [ p.5a ] Chief & Leaders of the rest; not by stopping things through humane infirmity and weaknesse, upon mistake, and ignorance; but with study and an high hand upon malice.
        Here we shall say a word or two of the carriage of those two Nations, in the going on with the Work of the Lord, for the setling of the Church, and quiet of his People. We shall begin at those of Scotland, who some few yeers ago were lifted up with praises among men, for their faithfull minding and following earnestly this great Work of God, all by-ends laid aside, for which God blessed them from Heaven, and made them be called happy among men; for they had their hearts desire in the businesse, and their Enemies were subdued by them: But now, alas, too many of them leaving off their former integrity and sincerity to the Cause of God, and their Love unto him, following the devices and desires of their own corrupt hearts, in pride, coveteousnesse, and factions, notwithstanding the earnest and pressing admonitions, both in private and publike, of the Prophets and Ministers of God, they conti- [ p.5b ] nue in their evil courses, preposterously minding themselves, and their worldly foolish interest of ambition and avarice, more then God, and the Cause of his Church and People. For this, God (as it were by an essay to try these men if they would, laying aside their crooked wayes, mind him and his Service heartily and sincerly) sends amonst them an handfull of contemptible, profane, & wicked villains for a rod; whom, at first, they despise and neglect; going on in their wonted wayes, while the holy Name of God is profaned by those Sons of Belial, a part of their Land is wasted, the poor People spoiled and slain, with all other barbarous usage; and so the number and power of those Slaves of Iniquity is growing, while they are plotting, caballing, and devising how to supplant another, and increase their several factions, the seed of dissension being sowed amongst them by the Enemy, to divide, and so more easily to compasse his ends upon them, which they would not and could not see, blinded with their corrupt passion. Then, God, to admonish them anew, suffers some [ p.6a ] of those, whom they had employed against the Sons of Rebellion, to betray their trust, and omit divers good occasions, in all appearance, to make havock of these off-scourings of men; yea, some to run over unto the Rogues in the hour of fight; and so, the Enemies of God and goodnesse, do advance their pernicious designe, and commit what mischief they list[?].
       Yet, all this will not do with those hard-hearted and stubburn men, still employing and busying their thoughts how to bear down one another; yea, some there were amonst them, who were not sorry in their hearts, of the progresse that those despicable villains made in the Countrey against the Service of the Common Cause, conceiving it did help to the setting up of their faction. But, since the affronts and blows received at divers times from those contemptible Rascals, did not move those ingrate Children to lay aside their extravagances, and mind God and his Work with their whole heart, God sends a Pestilence amongst them, in their Towns and Cities, namely, in their Chief City, [ p.6b ] the place of their delights; which rageth with such fury, that hardly the like hath been heard of in that Land; to try if at last those men would leave off, some of them, their slacknesse and remissenesse in pursuing the Service of the Cause of Gods Church and People; others, their conniving and complying with his Enemies, and others, their helping of those villains with means and advice, in opposing the Cause of God, and oppressing his People. But, they remain obdured, like Children of disobedience, in their perverse wayes. So, at length, God in his wrath, for these ingrate Childrens sake, delivers up the Land, in a manner, to the hands of their wicked Enemies, making it, for a time, which he hath shortened in his Mercy, as far to be scorned and misprised, for their not heartily minding him and his Service, as it had been before esteemed and extolled for its adhering to him, and doing his Service faithfully. Yea, some of the chief men of the Land, who had been cried up for Valour and Wisdom, are constrained to flie away, and have their lives for a prey.
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       So God, who from the beginning of all those unhappy disturbances, till this last time, had made Scotland a Mirrour of his Mercy, in testimony of its faithfulnesse, adhering unto him; makes it an example of his Justice, for those mens back-sliding from him, and so, for some Achans and Nabals, doth punish the whole Land.
       Thus, Judgement begins at the House of God: now let England look seriously to it; for the same very sins, which have been committed in Scotland, and for which it lately hath been punished in a high measure, by the heavy rod of a chastising and angry God, are now raigning in England, namely, ambition and avarice, with many more which have not been seen in Scotland : for example; heresies, errors, and Sects of all sorts, to the dishonour of God, and to the withdrawing of the People from his Truth, are connived at and countenanced by some of those who are in Authority. Of this sin Scotland is free.
       Then, there be some of power and credit, who are so far from furthering the Reformation of the Church (as they [p.7b] and we all are sworn to by the Covenant) that they hinder the same, not onely by secret undermining, and by hid Plots; but by a continued open profession against it. Of this also, by Gods mercy, Scotland is not so guilty.
       Next, There be great oppressions, vexations, concussions, and injustices done unto the People, by divers in authority; of which sin I wish I could say, Scotland is free; as I have said of others: The cry of all these is very loud unto heaven, calling for vengeance. It may be that God, as he hath not begun so soon to shew his Mercy unto England as he did unto Scotland, will not send his Judgment upon it so speedily; yet, doubtlesse, without a serious Repentance and a true turning unto God, Judgement will come, and the longer it is a coming, the heavier it will be, and stay the longer.
       It is not the good Cause of Church and State that will do Englands turn, more than the Temple and the Law of old did save Judah from ruine, nor the same good Cause hath kept Scotland from punishment; the good Cause ill managed, by ne- [ p.8a ] gligence, ambition, avarice, faction, self-conceit, and other vices of that kinde, draweth vengeance upon those who have the managing of it, and makes the Cause to be in derision. Never good Cause hath been worse managed by the ignorance of some weak men, and by the malice of other wicked ones.
       At last, God will maintain his Cause (no thanks to thee) without thee, for he needs not thy help to do it; but, since he hath been pleased to make use of thee in the Service of this his Cause, he expects faithfulnesse and zeal to it from thee, free from worldly and humane interest: otherwayes vengeance is at thy door; for God, as he will not, in his Worship and Cult, have the linsey-wolsey of mens inventions intermingled with his pure and sacred Ordinances; so he will not, in managing the Service of his Cause and of his People, that men bring in the mixture or addition of their own interest; for God will have our work wholly for himself; and if we be faithfull in it, he will not forget to give us what we need to have for our selves; otherwayes he will not [ p.8b ] onely cast us off and our work, but will curse both it and us.
       Again I say, Let England take example at her Neighbour; yet God in his Judgement doeth remember his Mercy unto Scotland, and for his own Names sake will keep his promise unto his faithfull ones, who have ever been and are constant to his Cause, whereof he hath a great number of all ranks & conditions in that distressed Countrey, and will not suffer this proud insulting Enemy to domineer any longer thus over his poor people, far lesse to set up again his abominations, and profane the holy Name of our God any longer: he already hath begun to arise, and to threw his Enemies to the dust; for it is against him they fight, and for his sake they thus trouble, vex, and sorely oppresse his People. And although that most men in that Countrey, at this great last blow, were strucken with astonishment, yet many have continued with sincere resolution, and have taken courage to go on with the Service of the Cause of God, with their whole heart and strength, acknowledging Gods Justice in this his thus chastising the [ p.9a ] Land, and confessing heartily their sins by which they have so provoked God to anger, and are truely sorry, not so much for the sufferings they now lie under, as for the offending their good God, on whom they are resolved to rely, and in whom they will constantly trust, and to whom they will more neerly adhere then ever; let him deal with them as he pleaseth, they are the Servants, he is the Lord, and they are the Pot, he is the Potter, they are the Creatures, and he is the Creator, whose will is alwayes good, not onely in it self, but for us, if we be obedient and faithfull unto him, who also hath begun to dissipate his enemies, and to give comfort to his People by an unexpected and full Victory over these wicked ones, and so to lift up the head of his faithfull ones again in that distressed Land, in despite of their foes, and maugre those who wish them no good, and to the grief of those who scorned them in their low condition. To God be the praise, to whom I recommend thee: And so, to be short, I go to the Discourse.

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A short and true Relation

of divers passages of things, wherein the Scots are particularly concerned, from the first beginning of these troubles, to this day.

IT is not unknown to men of understanding; how that, many sinistrous reports, one after another, raised on the Scots (for their faithfulnesse and constancy to the Cause of Religion and Liberty, in these Dominons [lit.]) by Malignants, that is, by Atheists, Libertines, Papists, Prelatists and Sectaries of all kindes, officiating in their several wayes for the Common Enemy, and spred abroad by the contrivers thereof, with the help of their instruments, Agents, and Favourers; then received by the simpler sort, not knowing the truth of things, lesse the drift of the Malignants, in these calumnies; otherwayes well-meaning people, (for the truth is no sooner made known unto them, but they willingly lay hold on it; and being admonished of the pernicious designe of the adversaries, they do abhorre and detest both it and them;) hath done, and yet doeth / p.2 / great prejudice, according to the intent of the Enemy, unto the service now in hand, of the Common Cause of Church and State, these two inseparable twins, which both Kingdoms do now maintain, and intend to do unanimously with heart and hand, as they stand bound and united to lay aside all other and former tyes, by the Nationall Covenant, through the great Providence of God, in mercy to both, so that they prove faithfull and constant to this Cause of his and of his people, according to the said Covenant, against all opposition whatsoever, whether by declared and open war, or by clandestine and indirect undermining.
      Wherefore, after long forbearance with grief of mind, and compassion to see faithfull men and earnest in this Common Cause, so maliciously traduced, and, in them, the good Cause so much wronged; as likewise, so many well-affected men to the said Cause, so grosly abused by crafty lyes, and impudent untruths ; I have thought fit, for the good and service of the Common Cause, to the advancement whereof, every one is obliged to contribute according to what he hath, as he will answer one day to him, whose Cause first and principally it is, to undeceive many well-minded men, and to right, in some measure, those faithfull men to the Cause, who are so wickedly slandred, in giving unto the publike this true and short Discours; whereby the truth of divers things will be made more known, lyes in a kind repressed, and the service of the Common Cause somewhat furthered; at least it will not be so far kept back, as it hath hitherto been by these undermining courses.
      And the rather do I undertake this task, that those in a manner are silent, by whom most men do expect the clear truth of things of this kinde not so generally known, should be conveyed to all by a par- / p.3 / ticular publication of them in writing, to the end that this course of so maliciously lying against trusty men may be stopped, and the well meaning men no longer thus abused. But these, of whom men look for performance of this duty, going about the main work they are come hither for in all earnestnesse, and singlenesse of heart, with care and diligence, and not without a great deal of drudging to and fro, as faithful and trusty labourers, do take but little notice of this wicked practise of their and the cause its Enemies, by lyes, howsoever industriously devised, and cunningly set forth, as altogether below them, chosing rather that their own good carrige, with constant resolution, and faithfull endeavours, and that of their Country-men engaged with them in the same businesse, although in another way, in sincerity of heart, advancing the publike work now in hand, should speak for them both, then either a flourishing tongue, or a nimble pen.
      Here, although I value much the goodnesse of these men to relye rather upon their own & their Countreymens honesty and integrity, in and about the work, then upon the setting forth of any Declaration, by writing of their own and their friends faithfull proceedings, and fair carrying on of things, in the publike service: Yet, in this I cannot esteem their prudency; for, albeit native beauty ought not to be set forth by painting and patches, being compleat in it self; yet it must be kept free from spots and and dirt, and made seen unto all, under a modest and comely dressing, by which means it is more pleasing and better liked of every one.
      And although where there is no fault, no Apologie ought to be made, yet, to make the truth openly known, (when it is desguised) for the information of those who take things meerly upon trust; and to / p. 4 / stop the going on of wicked men with lyes, is not only an Act of Wisdom, but of Piety, yea, of Necessity, if men will not abandon the interest of a good cause to the malice of the Enemies thereof; and, as it is said by the wise man, Thou are not to answer a fool according to his folly, that is, in exorbitancy, &c. lest in so doing thou become like unto him; even so by the same wise man thou art ordained to answer a fool as is fit and convenient, for the repressing of his folly, lest he think himself wise, and so go on in his evil course, to the dishonour of God the Father of truth, and to the prejudice of both Church and State, who are to be directed by the truth. Surely, if ever at any time the lye and calumny of the fool (for so I call the calumniator, how cunningly soever he lyeth) is to be repressed with a fit answer, it is at this time, when there lieth so much at the stake in both Kingdoms, as Religion and Libertie, with whatsoever else is, or ought to be dear unto men.
      Now then, to answer unto the calumnies of those Malignants, & to make the simple truth known to all, is absolutely necessary at this occasion, to the end that not onely the lyer may find his craft to be folly, but also his wicked intent to be disappointed, which is no lesse then a breach betwixt the two Nations, and hath been such from the beginnings and consequently the ruine of both, now so united and joyned in the common interest of Church and State, that they must sink or swim together; for if they should once devide, as the one doubtlesse will be presently undone; so the end of the other will not be far off. Wherefore he that doth any evil office, to raise or increase jealousie betwixt them, under whatsoever pretext, is worse then any open Enemy, and what he intends to the publike, will come upon himself, that is, ruine, with disgrace.
      But, me thinks I hear you, whom I blame / p.5 / for silence in so necessary a case, and so needfull a time, say, We have not been wanting in this very thing you find fault with: For we have constantly and diligently communicated all things of any moment, freely and ingeniously, in all truth and simplenesse of heart, to some chief leading men, our particular good friends, upon whom we have relyed, from our first hither-coming, in all things concerning us and our Countrey-men, employed in the service, to the end that they should convey the truth of businesse, as in discretion they thought fit, and did see cause, for the publike good, and for the right of us their friends, to the Houses, and from thence to the publike.
      To this I answer, You have mistaken the right way, Sirs, for you should have made your addresses to the whole Parliament, or at least to the Committee appointed by the Parliament to hear you, consult with you, in a word, to deal or treat with you of all things, wherein you and they are jointly concerned; and not suffer your selves to be engrossed by some few, howsoever they be Prime men: and what do you know, if by thus suffering yourselves to be as it were led by them, hath not increased their credit? For men may say, that they have reason to follow those, by whom you of so much reputation of wisdom and resolution, are guided, &c. Further, should not you have thought, that particular men, howsoever they serve the publike, have ordinarily particular ends of ambition and avarice, which the publike cannot have? And although those your friends be free of these distempers, yet you are not assured of their constancy unto you; for many things fall out betwixt man and man, which makes them not onely fall from intimacy of one with another, but makes them adverse and opposite one to another of ten- / p.6 / times. And, although your friends be free of this infirmity: Are you wise men to relie upon others, for doing the things you should do your selves without a Procure? He that trusteth another to do a thing fitting for himself to do must expect to have the thing done, if at all done, neither so timely, nor so well, at least not so soon, not so to his mind, as is it falleth out often: of extraordinary occasions and occurrences, there is no certain rule.
     Next, I know, you will say, We have acquainted the Houses of Parliament to the full, with the truth of all things, by our severall papers given unto them at divers times, upon divers occasions, and we have made known unto the Synode what concerneth Church businesses, and so we think we have done enough in this.
     But give me leave, Sirs, under favour, herein also you are hugely mistaken; you do well to communicate freely and carefully unto the Houses of Parliament all things, and to acquaint them with your proceedings, wherein they have common interest with you, for the publike service of Church and State, in these Dominions; I hope they do so with you, at least, they ought to do it, for the common good of both; otherwayes, the work wherein both Kingdoms are so ingaged, and you both are employed, will go but slowly and limpingly on. Yet this is not enough; for, first, the main passages of publike things done, and the chief reasons of the doing thereof, are to be made known to the whole Church and State, since the whole hath the chief interest in things common to all: although you are to communicate your counsels, deliberations, and conclusions of things to be done, for fear of miscarriage, onely to the Trustees of Church and State, as your selves are; yet I say again, what is de facto concerning all, must be made / p.7 / known to all; for the Trustees of the State and Church, are not Lords of them, as Kings and Popes pretend to be; but servants, as they avouch themselves, set on work by them, for the good of both, upon trust, which if they betray, they are double Traitors: First, they falsifie their truth to the State and Church, whereof they are Members and Children, and unto whom they owe all under God. Next, they betray the trust imposed upon them, for the good and benefit of both Church and State. Yea, the Houses of Parliament themselves, shew you the way how to carry your selves in this very particular ; for they not onely, for the satisfaction of the whole Kingdom, cause publish the things done by those whom they, as Trustees, have employed to carry on the service of the publike in the Fields; but also, they publish unto the Kingdom Declarations of their honest intentions, and fair proceedings, with Votes and Ordinances, for the good of Church and State: And I am sure, the Trustees of your Nation for your Church and State, have done so, from the beginning, in your particular troubles; and that, not onely to your own Countrey, but also to your neighbour, which hath done no harme, neither to the advancement of your affaires at home, nor to your reputation abroad.
     Although the Houses of Parliament rest satisfied in themselves of the honesty of your proceedings: Yet this giveth but small satisfaction unto the Kingdom.
  Yea, when you send in your papers to the Houses, it may happen that divers members are absent at the time, and so remain as ignorant of your affaires, as before the in-giving of the papers; for the Houses are so taken up with other thoughts and businesses, that they cannot acquaint the absens / p. 8 / with your own affaires; yea, some who are present in the Houses, at the reading of your papers, are carried of their attention unto you, by divers distractions, and so receive but small knowledge by them: Far lesse can the Houses take leasure to publish your affaires unto the world; yea, I know not if in rigour they are tyed to do it. Although I confesse, it would be a good turn for the publike, and a brotherly office, if they would take the pains to do, or cause do it: howsoever, I am sure, the Houses are not so obliged to this duty, as your selves are; neither although they were, can they do it so fully as you, not being so particularly acquainted with things.
      In a word, in duty you ought to make known unto the publike your own proceedings, and these of your Countrey-men, employed in the service of the Common Cause; that it may be made manifest what good you have done alone, either by counsell in the Houses, or by action in the Field; what you have been assistants in, and what you ever have been willing to do, and are still minded to do, providing you be not stopped; and if you have been stopped, let it be declared where the fault lieth, and not you bear the burden of other mens mistakes and errors.
      Next, is it not fit, that it be published what you have done for such vast summes of money raised upon the publike for your use, as is given out, and how much you have received of it: that if you have received all, you may make known what you have done for all; and if you have received more then your due, you are in conscience and honour to do the publike the service you are pay'd for beforehand: as likewise, if you have not received all which is raised for you, that it may be known how much of it is wanting, and enquiry may be made what is become / p.9 / of the rest; and so, if you make it appear unto the world, that there is much still due unto you of your pay, far above what you have received; then all honest people, being truely informed of things, will approve your faithfull and fair carriage, acknowledge your love and kindnesse, thank God for your help and assistance at such an exigence, and be heartily civill unto you, till God enable them to recompence you for your faithfull pains, according to your just deserts and their earnest desires; and so things will redound to your credit and advantage.
      You may know and feel all this, what I have been saying unto you, to be true, according to sense and reason, by one seule instance, to lay aside all others at this time.
      And it is this of the papers you gave into the Houses, about the latter end of May last, upon occasion of high murmurings against you, in and about the Houses, by information of Malignants, which gave abundant satisfaction to so many of both Houses, as either heard it them read (as is well known) or read them themselves with attention: But, others of the Houses, who are not acquainted with your papers, partly not hearing them, although present when perhaps they are delivered in, by reason of their other thoughts; partly being absent, at that time, remained still ignorant of your affaires, and possessed with calumnies against you: Far more the rest of the Kingdom.
      After some days, one Copy of these your papers having fallen, by chance, in the hands of a well-wisher to the Cause, and no enemy of yours, was published under the name of the Scots Manfest, without your knowledge, which hath done more despite to the Enemies of the Truth, than any thing you have done this long time, and more right unto you then you / p.10 / looked for, yea, nor your silence deserved; yet not so much as is needfull for you and your friends; for it did stop the mouths of the wicked calumniators, and inform many well-meaning men: and divers Members of the Houses there were, who had not heard of such a thing, before it was printed; to say nothing of the generality of the people, every where. Yea, I am told, it went beyond Sea, and there stopped the mouths of Malignants, and gained those who were indifferent, and confirmed your friends.
      But what, you will say, Must the hid things or Mysteries of State be divulged? No, I do not mean it, nor do I say it; For I leave the Mysteries of State to the Mystes thereof; Onely my simple meaning and honest desire is, that these things which are not, and ought to be, made known to all, be not kept in a mist by a mysterious prudency, but communicated to the publike; such are the things de facto, and of reason, wherein all are concerned: and these are the things I spike of.
      Besides, you must think, there be many men not particularly employed in the publike Service, who have both hearts and brains, to serve the Common Cause; but cannot do it, while all is thus kept in a cloud, as in the Romish Church, where the Mystes think all men idiots but themselves, and keep from the people the things of God.
      Then you will say, to tell plainly and openly, The Truth, perhaps, will not be pleasing to all, yea, perchance not to some of our fellow-Labourers. My advice is not, that you say or write any thing, in intention to displease the least of men, far lesse to displease these your Fellow-Labourers: But let Truth be said above all things, when the publike requires it for its service; / p.11 / and we our selves are bound upon our own credit to do it. Be angry who will; God keep me from neglect and contempt, for lying or suppressing the Truth; I fear not anger for any publishing of Truth: He that is not bold to publish the Truth, for timorousnesse, belyeth his own knowledge, and I dare say, betrayeth the Truth. You that are trusted with the carriage of things, in Truth, and for the Truth, are not onely bound to make known the truth of what you do and say, to the world, as it hath been said; but, further you are obliged in conscience, and the publike expects it of you, that you presse home the Truth with vigour & resolution, in all freedom, down-right, in all places, and at all occasions, where you meet for consultation, deliberation, debate, and conclusion of things concerning Church or State, in Politike and Ecclesiastike Assemblies; and in so doing, you will gain the price, having all honest men to ?stend to you; and will put such a terrour in Malignants, that their malice will be much abated.
      Surely, I am perswaded, had you been stouter in the Synode, these strong heads, and factious few ones, who hitherto have troubled the setling of Church affaires, and are likely to trouble the State, if it be not well looked to and neerly, had long ere now been quashed; and so, if you had not been so meal-mouthed with the sollicisme in reason, of the time and place, I humbly conceive you had not met with so many rubs in your publike meetings, nor had your wholsome counsels found such opposition, nor your men of war been so kept off Field action. All which hath not onely done prejudice to the publike Service; but hath brought things to great hazard, yea, almost to the undoing of all: But, God in his mercy hath turned the balance, no thank to your remissenesse, wherein God sheweth, although men will not do what they ought / p.12 / and can do for his Service, upon I cannot tell what consideration, he will do the work of men, by no men.
      When I think on John Knox, and George Buchanan, how freely they spoke and writ, at all times, and upon all occasions, when the Church and State were concerned, without fear of any man or Assembly whatsoever; having nothing before their eyes, but the glory of God, and the good of his people. They were weak and infirm men, as we are all; but their stout zeal to the publike was admirable, and is ever to be remembred by us; not onely to their praise, but also to spur us up to imitate them in this heroike vertue. For me, I value the zeal and stoutnesse of these two Champions of the Truth, more than all their other vertues, howsoever eminent they were.
      But, you will say, It is now another age, and consequently another way of carriage of things is required. It is true, we live now in another age, which is worse than that of these men: Wherefore, we must then strive with greater zeal and vertue, to oppose the wickednesse of this time; For although, by a prudentiall preventing and declining, by clear-seeing men, many plots and devises of the wicked, may be for a time shunned: Yet, there is no way to make the wicked leave or weary of resisting and oppressing goodnesse, but by a vigorous and stout opposing of them.
      Besides, although the Cards be new we play with all; yet it is the same very Game that our Fathers had in Scotland, and our Neighbours had lately, in our dayes, in France; Where and when nothing did prevaile, or do good unto the Cause, but resolution and zeal in carrying on the things, not onely against the Common Enemy; but also, against the / p.13 / false Freinds, and they that walked then any other way, betrayed the Cause, and purchased unto themselves the title of silly inconsiderable men, of whatsoever rank or degree they were.
      To say nothing of the judgement of God that fell upon them, and to this day hangs upon them and theirs. I shun examples in this case; for I love to reprove faults, and spare mens persons.
      Moreover, since the Malignants, every where, are so busie running to and fro, like so many Bees, with great care and heat, and so bold, to forge and invent lyes, by word and writing, to abuse the World, and so wrong treacherously the publike Service:
      Why should not then faithfull men be diligent and stout, in all freedom, to make known the truth of things, for the confirming of the well-affected, and for stopping of the mouth of the wicked, and so consequently, for the better carrying on of the work now in hand?
      Now, being thus friendly and freely admonished by one who wisheth well to the Common Cause you now serve, with his whole heart, and unto your selves in particular, in so far as you are faithfull and earnest, zealous and stout in this Cause of God and his people, laying aside all humane prudence, which is not subservient to zeal and stoutnesse, as well as to faithfulnesse and earnestnesse: I hope you will take care to minde this slip, by giving unto the publike a true and free relation of all things from time to time, as the occasion shall require; and in your meetings, about Church and State, to be ?stout and free, for the advancing of the publike Service to the glory of God, to the good of his people, and to the contentment and satisfaction of well-affected men, in despite of malignancy.
      In the interim, till you perform this duty, give / p.14 / me leave, in this place, plainly and ?homely to put unto the view of the World, the relation of some things of speciall note, hardly well known to many, at least taken notice of but by a few, concerning the carriage of the Scots ever since the very first beginning of these unhappy troubles to this day: the knowledge whereof, will do good, I am sure, to the publike Service, and will help to right, in some measure, men both faithfull and constant in the Work: Yea, the commemoration of these things, although known, I am perswaded, will give content to all honest and well-meaning men, unto whom the publike good is dearer than the interest of any particular man whatsoever, with whom they ought to go along no further than the particular man goeth on with the publike of Church and State, laying aside all other relation. As for other men, I value them no more than the open declared enemies, who preferre the pleasure of one abused Prince, under pretext of obligation they have to him, unto the good of Church and State.
      And thus I begin. The Common Enemy having designe to bring these Dominions under spirituall and temporall slavery, all things disposed for his ends, according to his mind; thinks fit for his purpose to begin this great work in Scotland, promising unto himself to find least opposition there, for reasons which hitherto, by Gods mercy, hath deceived him.
      The Scots being pressed to receive the corrupt Liturgy, (to say nothing in this place, of what was before put upon them) fairly decline it, by iterate supplications and humble remonstrances unto the King: But nothing will do the turn, they must receive the Prelats Master-Peece, and Romes essay, the Nove-Antic-Service-Book, either by fair play or foul.
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      The Scots, on the other side, constant to their principles, refuse to receive the Book; for which they are published by the Prelats and the Court, to be refractaries and rude fellows, without God or Religion. Which gave occasion to the Scots to make known, not onely unto their own people, at home; but, to all men abroad; namely, to their Brethren of England, by a publike Declaration, their condition, how they were wronged, the equity of their Cause, their lawfull proceedings, and their good intentions: by this means, their freinds good will is confirmed unto them, and their enemies designe, in some measure, is broken; who did intend, by lyes, to steal from them the good affection of their friends.
      Next, The Scots being constrained to have recourse to the Sword, for their just defence, all other means tryed failing, were back-bitten as mutinous, taking Arms for poverty, with intention to cast off the just Authority of their Native and lawfull Prince, and to invade England for the spoile thereof.
      To these most pernicious calumnies, the Scots replyeth by another Declaration, particularly addressed unto England; whereby, they made known the absolute necessity of their taking up Arms, with their honest intentions therein: All which, they made good thereafter, in due time, by reall performance.
      For, so soon as they had occasion to shew their respect to the King, they did it, with all readinesse and submission; and when they might have undone the Kings Army, and consequently invaded England, if they had pleased, and that with small opposition, instead of doing wrong to any English, they supplied the wants of those who were come against them, with Victuals, which then did abound in the Scots Army, but was very short in the Kings; & having the flower of the Kings Army in their power, / p.16 / I mean the party that went to Dunslaw; they suffered it to return back in safety, and used it with all civility, notwithstanding these chosen ones had come against promise, and without cause, to destroy them, and to invade the Countrey.
      Thereafter, the Peace being made, the Scots according to the agreement, went quietly home, and laid down their Arms, as was promised.
      Then the plot the abused King and his good Counsell had at Berwick, to draw the Chief men of Scotland to him, for to destroy them; and the breach of the Parlement; the burning in London of the Articles of agreement made at the borders, and many other like things, did not move the Scots, to recede in any measure from their dutifull respects to the King, nor from their love to the English Nation; neither the imprisonment of their Commissioners, against the Law of Nations, and the safe-conduct granted unto them upon publike Faith; nor the great Forces prepared against them, by Sea and by Land; nor the many lyes spred against them, through all England; nor the Prelatical excommunication so canonically spewed out against them, in all the Churches and Chappels of England: All these things, I say, did not make them give the least expression of disrespect to the King, nor disaffection to the English.
      Upon this, the Scots published a Declaration anew unto the World, whereby they made known unto all, how hardly they were dealt with all; for, not onely the things stipulated with them, were not kept to them; but also, more and greater wrongs than formerly, were done to them: Yea, a second expedition of War undertaken to destroy them; and to fill up all, more lyes of no lesse importance, than the conquering of England, made and spred abroad of them, with other thunder- / p.17 / bolts of the Prelaticall censure, shot against them: Also, they make known by this Declaration, their Christian resolution, and just enterprise, with their good intentions in taking Arms again, for their own defence, and the Cause which they maintain; And by it, assureth their Brethren of England, although they were resolved to come into their Countrey to seek out their Enemies, who were there gathering against them; and not to suffer these wicked ones to come unto them, and so make their own Countrey the Seat of the unhappy War: Yet, they had not the least thought to do any hurt to any body in England, except to their professed Enemies: So far were they from having the least thought of making a conquest. And that, when they had brought their Enemies to reason, they would go home in Peace.
      All which, was thereafter performed by the Scots to the full: For, first, being entred into England, and having rencountred one party of their Enemies, and routed it; when it was in their power to pursue the Victory, they stayed at New-castle till things were agreed upon, betwixt the King and them.
      This incoming of the Scots, gave occasion and liberty to divers of the Nobles of England, ( of whom, some since have betray'd the Cause of God, & of his people; what by open Warfare, and what by clandestine undermining:) to desire, of the King, a Parliament, for the good of the Kingdom. The King then durst not refute their demand, by reason of the Scots, more then the continuance of it, which he granted likewise thereafter, for the same Cause.
      Then the King, finding that the Parliament did not onely crosse, but quite spoile his designes, he plots with his Army, which he had raised against the Scots, to come and destroy the said Parliament, and to take the spoile of London, for their reward. But / p.18 / the businesse being discovered, faileth; besides, they durst not undertake, howsoever they had promised, for fear of the Scots, who then were so neer.
      The King continuing in his wonted courses, after a little pause, tryes the Scots if they will do the deed; and offers unto them for recompense, not onely the spoile of London, but also the foure Counties next adjacent unto their Countrey, to be adjoyned hereafter to it, with Jewels of great value in pawn for performance, if onely they would be engaged into the businesse.
      All these great offers, could not make the Scots willing to give their consent in any kinde to this wickednesse: For, they not onely rejected the Kings offers; but also, giveth notice of the Plot, to the Parliament, and to the City of London, that they might make their best use of it.
      So, you may see, how that the Scots, under God, are the cause of the Assembling of the Parliament, of the continuance of it, being assembled, and of the preservation of it, from totall destruction and ruine.
      The King, seeing that he was stopped by the Scots, first, in their own Countrey, next, in England, to carry on his great designe, takes the Irish Papists by the hand, rather then be alwayes disappointed; and they willingly undertake to levie Armes for his Service, that is, for the Romish Cause; the Kings designe being subservient to the Romish Cause, although he abused thinks otherwayes, and beleeves that Rome serveth to his purpose. But, to begin the Work, they must make sure all the Protestants; and, if they cannot otherwayes, by Murthering and Massacring them; for they knew them, according to the Principles of Religion and State, to be forward, either for the Covenanters of Scotland, or for the troublesome Par- / p.19 / liament of England, if not for both. But the Irish, neither would, nor durst enter to any open Action, so long as the Scots Army, in England, was afoot; therefore by all means, it must be sent home and cashiered: and to facilitate the businesse, the Court-Parasites, Instruments of Iniquity, with their Emissaries, must raise and spread abroad, jealousies of the Scots, among the people of the Countrey and City, namely in and about the Houses of Parliament; who having not before their eyes, the reall Honesty and Integrity of the Scots, known by so many faithfull and loyall expressions; and not keeping in their mind the many good offices done to them by the Scots; giveth, in sillinesse of mind, ear and place to the crafty tales and apprehensions, invented by the Agents of the Common Enemy, to bring them to confusion and trouble.
      So the Plot taketh by the silly ones, and is set forward by the hid Malignants. Yea, in a word, it is managed with such addresse and successe, that the Scots must go home; and till they had done it, there could be no quiet, but increase of jealousies.
      The Scots, although they were not acquainted with the hight of mischief that was intended against the Church and State in these Dominions, by the Common Enemy, nor with the wayes of it; yet, albeit they thought it very dangerous, after so many attempts of evil doing by the Enemy to retire them from England, not as yet well setled; and to cashiere their Army, remitting the event of things to God, resolve to return home, and dismisse their Army, and so make known unto all the World their Candour and Integrity, and to take away all jealousies, both from the King and from England; which they do according to promise, not failing in the least circumstance, yea, not of the day.
      Well, the King having gained this point, to send / p.20 / home the Scots, and to make them lay down their Arms, resolveth to follow them into Scotland, and to trie once more to draw them to his designe; no perswasion being able to stay or to stop his voyage: he goeth in haste from London, and overtaketh the Scots as their were upon their removall from New-castle for Scotland: He vieweth their Army by the way, and talketh with the Prime Officers thereof: He giveth Order to some of the good Physicians about him, to feel the pulse of the Scots softly, but they found the Scots pulse did not beat as they could have wished. He goeth on in his journey into Scotland, whither he is no sooner arrived, but he puts another designe afoot, premeditated with many more before: for, it is the custome of the wise Court, to have, at one and the same time, divers undertakings in designe, of which, it is a very hard matter, if one or other do not take effect. Yea, they have found but too true, to our wofull experiente, that many have taken effect, and that not of the lesser ones, wherefore the Court will never cease to devise and invent enterprises.
      The Plot then set afoot by the K. in Scotland, was to make a considerable Party there for his ends: and to make the businesse more facile, he resolveth to make sure the Chief men of Scotland, who were likely either to stop the designe, or not further it. But, this Plot is also discovered, and so it failed. The next recourse was to the Irish Papists, his good Friends, unto whom, from Scotland, a Commission is dispatched, under the Great Seal (which Seal was at that instant time, in the Kings own custody) of that Kingdom, to hasten, according to former agreement, the raising of the Irish in Arms; who no sooner receive this new Order, but they break out, and at the first beginning of their Rebellion, declared that they had no ill will against any Scots in Ireland, for they were / p.21 / afraid of the Scots going over to the help of their Countrey-men, and so they would be stopped to go on with their Work; but their spleen was against these English Protestants, who were Friends to that wicked Parliament in England, so untoward to the good King, and so adverse to their Catholic Cause.
      This Declaration of the Irish, did not (although in favour of their Country-men) hinder the Scots to offer their present Service, for the repressing of the Rebellion before things grew worse; The King fairly refuseth the offer, and answering with verball thanks, said that he neither could, nor would do any thing in the businesse, without the advice and assistance of the Parliament, now afoot in England; whereunto he was to repaire in all haste. So he leaveth Scotland, saying that every day he stayed there, was the losse of a County to him. He cometh to London, a little before Christmas, the Rebellion having begun in Ireland in October: But he goe's very seldom to the Parliament, and when he goeth thither, he sayeth nothing concerning the Irish Rebellion, till by importunity he was constrained to it; and then what he said, was little, cold, and ambiguous. And when the Scots, by their Commissioners, who had followed him from Scotland hither, did offer again a considerable help of ten thousand men, things were so carried, both in the Counsell and in the Parliament, by the corrupt and ignorant Party then, that the Scots were delayed from day to day, by one shift or other, for a long space, before that conditions could be agreed upon with them, for the sending of their help unto Ireland. And it was a longer time after the agreement, before things could be furnished unto them, for their Voyage.
      By those means, the Rebels had ado with lesse opposition; and consequently, with lesse difficulty / p.22 / carried on their barbarous Work of spoiling, burning, and massacring innocent people of all rank and condition, without regard to sex or age.
      The Scots are no sooner gone to Ireland, but they assist their Friends with such affection and successe, that after some skirmishes and renconters with the Rebels, the North Countrey of Ireland, whereunto their help was particularly assigned, became pretty well cleared of the Rebels, although much wasted and spoiled by them.
      In this course, hath the Scots continued to this day, constantly opposing these bloody wretches, notwithstanding the change that hath fallen in the South part of that Kingdom, by the treachery of those whom the Parliament employed and trusted to. Then when the King made a Cessation with these barbarous Cannibals, the Scots resolutely declared against it, and have manfully opposed it to this day: Without which opposition of the Scots, it had been received every where in Ireland, and the Rebels then, having nothing to do at home, had come hither in Bands and Troups into this Island.
      Thus did and still doth the Scots pursue their Point, notwithstanding all the hardship they have suffered, and yet suffer in the Service, partly by reason of the great troubles here of the Parliament, not being able to supply their Friends, as they would, and as they need; partly by the negligence and unfaithfulnesse of those, who have been employed by the Parliament, and intrusted to have a care of supplying this need; which hath been so great, that the Scots Army in Ireland, had absolutely starved for cold and hunger, if they had not been helped from Scotland, in a high measure.
      To return unto England: The misled King having left the Parliament, accompanied, or at least followed / p.23 / by numbers of men of divers degrees, Traytors to God and to their Countrey; namely by those double Traytors, who were Members of the Houses of Parliament: for, they not onely have been dishonest and unfaithfull to the Church and State, whereof they are born Members and Children; but, they have betray'd the trust wherewith they were trusted in both. By the assistance of which, he sets his designe on foot, to make open War against the Parliament, (although under a hid notion) to destroy it; all other Devices and Plots, contrived by him and his, having failed as we have seen.
      Upon this, the Scots, in their respect to the King, love unto their Brethren in England, and above all, in their affection to the Cause of the Church of God, send Commissioners unto the King, and from him to the Parliament, as the occasion should serve. They found the King at York, where he was pulling his Sword out of its sheath, with all his might, and shaping it in all haste, which God in his Jugements hath suffered him to thrust in the bowels of so many thousands of his people, here, so unnaturally and barbarously; not onely afar off, by not stopping it, by connivence or by Commission to his Agents and Instruments, as in Ireland and Scotland; but being present in Person, and taking pleasure in doing of it in his own fight, and seeing of it done.
      In this place I do affirm, that there hath been more Christian Blood shed in these latter yeers, under the end of K. James and K. Charles Raigns, by their Commissions, Approbations, connivences, and not forbidding, what at home, and what abroad, all which upon the matter they might have stopped, if it had been their pleasure, then were in the time of the ten Roman Persecusions. God turn the Kings heart towards him first, otherwayes he will never turn it toward his people.
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      The Scots, as we were saying, send to him, to desire him to leave off the designe of embroiling himself and the people in a Civill War, in this Kingdom of England; withall, to offer him their dutifull Service of Mediation and Intercession, for the taking away of all mistakes, and smoothing of things in a fairway, betwixt him and the Parliament. The misled King resolved to go on in evil courses, not onely neglects the respective and hearty offer of the Scots; but sends them home, not suffering them to some unto the Parliament, according to their order and desire, which was to trye all fair means for the hindering of a War in England, and to stop the Massacres in Ireland.
      The King having thus dismissed the Scots, goe's to his Work, which, having overcome some rubs at the first, he carrieth on apace; for having gathered together considerable Forces at Shrewsbury, from thence with his Army he marches towards London, notwithstanding the Parliaments Army lay, as it were, in his way, who met with him at Edge-hill, and (contrary to his expectation) fights with him. He, after the Battel, having recollected the remnant of his men, although he had had the worse, continues his designe for London, and drew very neer unto it; but being, by strong hand, constrained to retire, he goeth to Oxford, where he hath kept his Court constantly ever since till this day.
      The Scots seeing the commotions increasing in England, and considering the chief Instruments of those evils, could not in conscience and honesty, sit quiet any longer, and neither say nor do, while the State and Church of their Brethren in England, were thus in so great troubles; send first a Commissioner from their Church unto the Parliament, to desire them, that as God, in his good Providence, had / p.25 / furnished them just occasion to cast out the Prelats from among them, not onely as unusefull Members of their Assembly; but also, as Enemies to all their just proceedings for the good of Church and State; so they would be pleased to thrust out these Tyrants and belly-gods from the Church, as main Instruments of all the disturbances, troubles, and miseries which are come, and of more, in all appearance, yet coming, if God in his mercy prevent them not.
      The Commissioner, after some debate, having obtained his demand, returneth homeward, and taking his way by the Court, then about Shrewsbury, made known to the King how he had sped in his errand, wherewith he had acquainted him before, as he was going to the Parliam. And he desireth the King to give his consent unto the casting of the Prelats out of the Church, as he had done to the purting them out of the Assembly of Parliament. To which the King did reply little or nothing; but he told the Commissioner, that he, and they who sent him, were hugely mistaken, if they did think that the Houses of Parliament doth intend any setled Reformation, namely, as in Scotland; for, said he, you see how they do not represse the Schismes and Sects of all kinds, which abound in and about London; yea, these evils are countenanced by some under-hand. Would to God that the Commissioner had had as just reason then, to answer unto the King, that he had been misinformed, and that an untruth had been told him concerning Sectaries, as he hath been mistaken in the intention of both Houses of Parliament, for the setleing Religion, according to the best way, as it expressed in the Nationall Covenant.
      Then, after that things, by degrees, had come to a great hight betwixt King and Parliament, much blood being shed, not onely in skirmishes and ren- / p.26 / counters, but also in pitched Battel, to wit, at Edge hill. The Scots not being able to forbear any further, to try once more by fair means, if it were possible, to stop the course of those miseries, too far already gone on, send word to the King, then at Oxford, and to the Parliament, of their good intentions; and demand a passe and safe-conduct from both, for Commissioners from them, to go unto both, and return home, as also to go to and fro betwixt them as cause should require. Of the Parliament, they had easily what they demanded, with thanks for their good will: But the King, not liking their offer, was loth to grant a passe; yet being put to it, he could not fairly deny, and so at length, after some reluctancy, he sends a passe as was desired, and safe-conduct to the Scots; which being received, they send their Commissioners straight to the King, unto whom they remonstrate home how that he had, by bad Counsell, cast himself in a Labyrinth of Evil, and the people of his Dominions; which, doubtless, would bring both him and them to utter ruine, if not timely stopped in Gods Mercy, by his Wisdom and good Counsell.
      The Commissioners, instead of any positive answer, receive nothing but doubs [ lit.], ambiguities, delays, and shifts, whereof nothing could be made, but that the misled King was resolved to his own and his peoples ruine.
      After a time, the Scots Commissioners told the King, that, according to their order and Instructions, they intended to go unto the Parliament; which they hoped he would think well of, and approve. But the King, notwithstanding the passe and safe-conduct he had granted them to that purpose, would not suffer them to go unto the Parliament; yea, they were not permitted to speak with the Commissioners from the Parliament, who were then sent / p. 27 / thither to the Court to treat when they were there. Such was the adversenesse of the Court to Peace, notwithstanding all the Kings Protestations.
      Further, the Scots Commissioners were so hardly used by the Court, namely, by the Prelaticall crew, that they could not in safety go openly and freely abroad.
      This is not all. At that time the Rulers of the Court send abroad their Agents, to tell everywhere, namely, in and about London, what indignity the Scots did offer, first unto the King, then unto the Parliament, and to the whole English Nation, by taking upon them (being but Subjects) to examine the differences betwixt the King and Parliament, to compose them, and to make a Peace; it being more honourable both for the King, and Parliament, and the whole nation, to be beholden for this unto a Neighbour-State or Prince, then unto the Kings own Subjects, not so good as others in many respects.
      As this Discourse was invented, and spewed up and down by Malignants, so it was received by the simpler sort, not knowing the interest of States, lesse, wherein the true Honour of Princes, States, and Nations consisteth: Yet, they might have considered, that it is better to take up things quietly at home, then to trouble the Neighbours with our affaires.
      The Scots Commissioners, after some Moneths [lit.] abode at Court, seeing they could do no good with the abused King, desire him to dismisse them, which he did put off from day to day, till at last he was written to by the State of Scotland, that if he sent not home in safety the Commissioners betwixt such and such a day, they would hold it as an open breach of the Peace, and that they would provide for businesses accordingly.
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      Upon this the Commissioners, loden with fair, but conditionall promises from the King (who yet would not anger them) of Love and Care of that his Native Kingdom, so that they would be quiet, (for he could not stop his mouth to say unto them, that if they would not stirre, he could easily compasse his ends in England) take their leave at Court, and go home. At their arrivall, they find a number, in the South-West of their Countrey, of Papists and other Malignants, men of broken fortunes, risen to disturb: the Peace of the Kingdom, by Order from the King, notwithstanding his fair words; which commotion was presently quashed, through Gods Mercy, by the diligence and forwardnesse of the good Gentry and Nobility in those parts, who did rise like one man against these Sons of Belial.
      As the Scots Commissioners retired home, the Houses of Parliament of England were made acquainted how that their good intentions were frustrated, themselves hardly used for a long time, but at last, with difficulty had gotten home.
      Now, the State of Scotland seeing the Common Enemy come to the hight, that nothing will satisfie him, but totall subversion of Church and State in these Dominions; onely, they, perhaps, might be kept for the last, although in intention they had been the first; jugeth it not enough, for their interest in the Common Cause, to keep an Army in Ireland; but also to be upon their guard at home, that they might stop any enterprise the Common Enemy should undertake against them to have any progresse in their Countrey, if they did not altogether prevent it: and to help their Brethren in England with their Sword, since all other means so often tryed, were disappointed by the malice of the Enemies. And so much the rather were they moved to this, that the / p.29 / Enemy was prevailing almost without let, for by that time he was Master not onely of the Field, but also of all the strong hold in the North, except Hull alone, with a numbrous and victorious Army of Horse and Foot, domineering and spoiling every where : likewise the West being almost altogether gone by the losse of Excester, the defeat given to the Parliaments Forces at the Vyses, and the base surrendring of Bristol, Banbuy, &c. the Enemy did think to carry all before him, ready to enter into the Associated Counties, yea, to come to the Gates of London; which they had done in all appearance, without the let of that Noble and never enough praised exploit of the Earl of Essex, of relieving of Glocester, almost at the last extremity, although valiantly defended by that brave Governour Massey, in despite of the proude Enemy; and thereafter in beating of him at Newbery.
      While the Parliament was thus low, many faintharted, yea Members of the two Houses, ran away to the Enemy, and others did withdraw, studying, to their eternall shame, to make their Peace more plausibly with the Enemy, and not to run over to him at discretion as others had done.
      But when things are thus almost in despaire, then it is thought fit time to have recourse to the Scots, and to call them for help : The Parliament, to try if they could do the businesse themselves, without troubling the Scots, was wisdom: for what need you call for aid, and trouble your Neighbours, when you can do the businesse alone? but not to call for help till things be too low, it is very dangerous, say those who dive more deeply in affaires of this nature. But, the reason why the Scots were so long a calling in for help, was, not that the English were not willing to trouble their Brethren the Scots, for, / p.30 / why should they think of troubling the Scots, since their Fathers had been so ready to help Scotland, in its distresse then? Generous hearts will as freely receive a courtesie as they do one, otherwayes they were proud, and self-conceited : But, the true cause, (say they who know the mysteries of the time) first was, that the Sectaries, prevailing with the Rulers of affaires, did so keep them from medling with the Scots, whom they knew to be no lesse adversaries to Schismes and Sects, then to Popery and Prelacy: Next, there were some who yet kept still a bit of a Bishop in their Belly, although by both Houses declared to be not onely unusefull in Church and State, but also enemies to both.
      Howsoever, these considerations must be laid aside for a time, and in such extremity the Scots must be called to help; yea, some of those who are said to be the greatest sticklers for Sectaries, must at last be employed in their calling in; which was long of coming, after it was resolved upon, by the shifts of the Enemies of Church and State.
      The Scots, notwithstanding all that had been signified unto them, concerning the favouring of Sectaries by the Parliament, and of their retaining somewhat of the old leaven of Prelacy; seeing that their help was altogether needfull to save the Church and State of England from ruine; heartily received the call, being already resolved beforehand upon the Point, and undertaketh, with a Christian and manly resolution, to engage themselves in a seen danger, and to undergo the hazard (but, for Christ and his people no hazard is to be regarded) to help their afflicted Brethren: Yet, with this precaution, that the Parliament should sincerly joyn with them in the setling of the Church, as they were heartily willing to assert them against the Common Enemy.
/ p.31 /
      This condition was granted unto the Scots by the Commissioners from the Parliament of England; and to this end, it was agreed upon, at the desire of the Scots, that there should be one Covenant and league made betwixt both Kingdoms, and sworn to, for the setling of the Church according to the Word of God, and conform to the best Reformed Churches, and by name, to the Church of Scotland, with the just Liberty of the people, and against all opposition whatsoever. But, because the English Commissioners would not take upon them to draw up and to make the Covenant there in Scotland, they desired that there might be Commissioners sent from Scotland unto the Parliament of England, for the drawing up of the said Covenant, and so was done; for the Scots Commissioners assisting, the Covenant, after divers debates, was made, and thereafter subsigned, sworn first by the Houses, Synode, and the Scots Commissioners, and then by the people, and sent unto Scotland, where it was received, subsigned, and sworn by the convention of States, and then by the people : with all, in testimony of their true meaning, the Houses of Parliament desireth the Commissioners of Scotland to assist in the Synode, in their deliberations and conclusions concerning the Church.
      The Covenant is no sooner taken, but the King leaveth off to accuse the Parliament of continuing Schismes and Sects, and thereafter tells us, that he will have care of tender consciences, and this to make faction and division, as we have seen since.
      While things were thus managing at London, about the Covenant, the English Commissioners in Scotland, are agreed with the Scots, concerning the Army they were to send into England : The Articles of agreement being drawn up, and consented to by both / p.32 / parties; Commissions were given for twenty thousand men; who with all the haste possible, were gathered together, and then immediatly set forth : so in January they march, when it was both great frost and snow, and entering into England, with small opposition come as far in as Tyne: the Countrey, much burdened before, was either all wasted and utterly spoiled by the Enemy, hearing the Scots coming with a great number of men, & great power; so they could likely find nothing in that Countrey, but what by strength of Arm they could pull out of the hands of the Enemy. Thus did the Scots fight for a while with their Enemies, to wit, with a multitude of men well armed, with evil weather, in the most intemperate time of the yeer, and with want of Victuals, which was the worst of all: and truely, it had gone hard with them, if it had not been for the provisions sent to them from home, which came but by difficile and uncertain carriage by Sea, by reason of the storms which fell out then: Yet, these resolute men were still gaining ground upon the Enemy, in number of men as great as they, at least, and far exceeding them in Horse, till at last they passed the River Tyne, having so wearied and harrassed the Enemy with continuall skirmishs and onsets, obliging him to lie without, and keep so strait and constant guard and watch, that in the end he was constrained to retire, and give way to the constant forwardnesse of the Scots; divers of his men leaving him for wearinesse and want, others falling sick, and numbers being killed at divers rencounters; at one namely there was eight hundred of them slain at Bauden.
      For all this, while the Scots were thus fighting with these three Enemies above-named, for the Common Cause expressed in the Covenant, some men at London, and that not of the meaner sort, did not stick / p.33 / to whisper in the ear one to another, that the Scots did not carry themselves neither as military men, nor as men of courage: this was the lesse regarded, that it was made by those, who, against their will, did give way to their calling in.
      The Scots did so take up the Enemy in the North, about New-castle and Duresine [?], that Sir Thomas Fairfax, assisted by Sir John Meldrum, took the Field again, (having for a long time been confined to Hull,) and tryes Fortune: he begins at Selby, which he manfully assaults, and happily takes.
      Then those who had not been well pleased at the coming in of the Scots, did begin to say, Now since Selby was taken in, the Scots might retire, they could do the work without them; but this discourse did not take by many.
      The Enemy hearing the news of this brave exploit, fearing for York, left Sir Thomas should carry it, runs as fast as he could towards that City.
      The Scots, as soon as they hear of the Enemies removall, go after him on his heels, taking some of his men and baggage, and follow him unto the Gates of York. Upon this, My Lord Fairfax and Sir Thomas joyn with the Scots; who send to the Earl of Manchester for his help, to besiege York, the Town being of such circuit, that the Scots alone, having left of their men in Sunderland and other places taken by them from the Enemy, neer New-castle, were not able to compasse it with such a circumlineation as was needfull, and keep the Fields too, so full of adversaries; yea, not with the help that My Lord Fairfax brought unto them. Manchester joyns with the Scots. There were some here that were against Manchesters going North-ward to the Scots, not caring how much work the Scots had, and how little successe.
/ p.34 /
      A little hereafter, (to make stories short) while the Forces of Manchester and Fairfax, joyned with the Scots, are about the Siege of York, unanimously going on with the work; there is one who goe's from hence to sow the seed of dissention amongst those united Forces, namely, betwixt the Generals Lesley, Fairfax, and Manchester, since their conjunction could not be stopped, as it was aimed at: but, this designe is disappointed, under Gods mercy, by the wisdom of the Generals. After a while, by another party, the like designe is set afoot, to wit, by some of those who are opposite to the setled Government of the Church: although this designe did not, for the time, take so far, by the prudence of the same Generals, under Gods Providence, as to make a division; yet, it came to a kinde of distaste and dislike; for, those of that party beginning to see that the Scots way, concerning Church businesse, was absolutely against their mind, as mainly then began to be open to all by the pressing home in the Synod, by the Scots Commissioners there, the Church-Government to be setled, according (as it is sworn to in the Covenant) to the Word of God, the example of the primitive time, and of the best reformed Neighbour Church, by name of that of Scotland; and their putting on to represse all Sects and Schisms, to the end that blasphemies and all phanaticall dreams of foolish idle brains, might be kept under, at least, if not altogether chased away. Those of this party bethink themselves now, since they were come to some strength, they must not rely so much upon the Scots, being able to stand upon their own legs by their own Forces, as they had done when they were weak and in dislike with the people, for the miscarriage of things (say those who pretend to know the main passages of businesses:). Then, their next care was, how by degrees to eclipse the reputation of the Scots for their / p.35 / own esteem, as they had extoll'd them formerly so highly for their advantage; & this they have been doing by little and little, with a great deal of cunning, unto this day, and by that means have brought the businesse amongst us to the condition we are at for the present, having no setled Church at all.
      After some moneths Siege, the united Forces before York hearing of Prince Rupert his coming towards them, send a party of both Nations into the Town of Manchester to secure the place, and to busie the Enemy in his way towards them, till they had advanced their work at York: The Enemy seeing he could easily master that place, & passing through with his daily increasing Army, goe's on: as he was approaching, the united Forces send Scouts to know his march & his strength; upon whose relation, they leave the Siege and go to meet and fight him, thinking if they had dispatched his Forces, they would have lesse ado in the work they had stuck so long to: Upon misinformation, they take the wrong way to meet the Enemy; so he had, upon this mistake, free accesse to the Town.
      The united Forces, seeing their mischance, turn their course to stop the Enemies further coming Southward; he, puft up with the successe of gaining free accesse to the Town, resolves to follow the united Forces, and fight them, promising unto himself, that his good Fortune would continue; and if he had given a blow to their Forces, he would easily put an end to the designe in hand; for, the Scots being once routed, the main let and hinderance to the proceedings of the Court, would much diminish the reputation of the Paliaments party.
      On the other side, the united Forces perceiving the Enemies mind, turn head towards him, fight him, and, by Gods blessing, rout him; but, not without losse; for, notwithstanding all the care taken by the old and / p.36 / experimented Chief Commanders, first to put all in as good order as time and place could permit, and to keep things in order in time of Battel; the new raised Horses of York-shire, neglecting the command and example of their Noble and Gallant Leader, who in this occasion, as in all other, carried himself valorously; fall in disorder themselves, and turning towards those of their own side that were to second them, put many in such confusion, that they would take no notice of any Commander or Leader; yea, they carry some of their Leaders away with them by violence.
      In this Battel, divers gallant men of both Nations had an honourable share of the Victory: but, none I hear of, without disparagement to any, did appear so much in action that day with gallantry, as David Lesley.
      Here, those of the party we spoke of a little before, to indear themselves to the people, attribute unto themselves the honour of the day, and stick not to call one of theirs The Savour of the three Kingdoms, when God knows, he that they then did extoll so much, did not appear at all in the heat of the businesse; having received at the first a little scar, kept off, till the worst was past. This had not been spoken of at all, if some idle men to gull the world had not given the honour of the day to those who had but little, or no share in it.
      After the Victory, and the Town of York taken in, the Generals write to the Houses of Parliament to give thanks to God; and, in token of their thankfulnesse, to settle the businesse of the Church, and try once more if it were possible to reconcile differences with the King, in a peaceable way.
      Things being setled at York, by common consent, the Scots go to New-castle to besiege it, as the fittest Service they could do for the publike then, neer the place they joyn with the Earl of Calender his / p.37 / Forces, who had come from Scotland to represse the raging Enemy about New-castle: while Gen. Lesley was at York with his Army, the Scots drawing neer New-castle, Calender and David Lesley, with six men more, went to view the place, from which there issued two Troops of Horse, which the eight men routed, having charged twice through them.
      The Scots for a long time endeavoured to take in the Town by fair means, but at last, through the obstinacy of those who were within, they were constrained to storm it, and so carried it.
      Those very men, who are the Battel neer York were put in disorder and fled, with others, gave the assault, and took New-castle.
Thus, the Scots being Masters of the Town, wrong no man, woman, nor child in their persons, take a mediocre composition for the spoile; in a word, they carry themselves with such moderation, that the Enemies who had been in Arms against them, were constrained to speak well of them.
      Few dayes after the taking of New-castle, the Castle of Tinmouth is taken by the Scots. The Winter by this time beginning, after so hard employment of the last Winter, and so toyling a Somer-work, as the Siege of York and the Battel, besides divers skirmishes and rencounters with the Enemy, then the long Siege of Newcastle, and at last the storming of it; they resolve to put their men in Garrisons.
      During the Siege of New-castle, many calumnies were raised against the Scots, & spewed abroad by Malignants, and received here by the simpler sort. As the taking of New-castle was the most important peece of service of kinde, that could be done for the time to the Kingdom of England, namely to the City of London; so it did rejoyce all honest men: but, on the other side, the Malignants of all kindes were sorry at the do- / p.38 / ing of it; but more sorry, that it was done by those, who are so constantly opposite to their courses.
      The Scots are not sooner peaceable Masters of New-castle, but the trade is renewed again betwixt it and London, to the comfort of the poor of London, who were starving for want of fire, & to the benefit of the richer sort. The Coales above and underground, were rated and disposed on in equity, to the best use of the publike, not wronging the particular, according to the advice and by the Order of the Committee of both Kingdoms, then residing in the North, as the Commissioners appointed by the Parliament can bear witnesse; to whose confciences I appeale, if all this be not true. And the English prisoners, take by the Scots, have been disposed on according to the will of both Houses of Parliament, as soon as it was possible to be done, by Military Order.
      Now the Scots, after the taking of New-castle, although they were free of the open opposition of the Common Enemy for a time, yet they were molested, vexed, crossed, and traduced by the Malignants, Agents to the Enemy, in the Northern parts, besides those in and about London.
      Here you must know, that those of the Northern Countreys of England, have been constantly given to superstition, as men neglected in their instruction, or of purpose detained in ignorance by the Prelats, forecasting that means to make them the surer for their designe; And so, the King himself, at two several times, did find them ready for this designe: The Earl of New-castle thereafter, did find them likewise ready to follow him: So, what by breeding, and what by latter yeers custome, they are for the most part in that Countrey Malignants. Next, the heavy pressures of Souldiers for so many yeers, with the barrennesse of the soile (the Scots now coming upon them) made them / p.39 / clamorous, things not going according to their mind; For, first, not liking the Cause; next, being already so spent, they were very sensible of the least thing could be demanded of them; joint the malice of some of the chief men in the Countrey, made the people murmure at first, then rise up in Arms; but, blessed be God, the insurrection was soon calmed.
      Further, some of those who are employed by the Parliament to manage the affaires of these Countreys, have put too much power in the hands of these who are wicked Malignants, being either professed Recusants, or at the best Prelatiques, sticking to the old Service-Book; yea, some of those who have been in actuall Rebellion against the State under the Earl of New-castle, who are of the Committees of these Countreys, now having the power in their hands, spoile the Countrey, and oppresse honest men, laying the blame of all upon the Scots, as hath been of late represented unto the House of Commons, by men without exception, deputed hither from those Countreys, in the name of many good men, to acquaint the Houses with the state of businesses there.
      The Malignants of the North Countreys carry their businesses so, that they find Favourers and Agents to excuse them, and to further their evil courses. Let this, what I say here, be throughly sifted out, and it will be found too true, to the prejudice of the good Cause. God help us, and amend us; for, what can we expect, when lyers and other wicked men find this favour and patronage?
      The Winter declining, the Scots dispose themselves for the Field-Service, so soon as the provisions demanded, in a very moderate proportion, could be had from hence; which went but late to them, by reason there was a time spent for obtaining the Ordinance from the Parliament; next, a time for making ready; / p.40 / thirdly, a time of sending of things. In the interim the Scots, although busied in keeping the ill-affected of the Countrey in obedience to the State, send parties now and then, upon occasion, as the publike Service required, for example, to Sir William Brereton, and to Scarborough, &c. at last, the Rendvous is assigned to the Army the 15 of Apprill : to this effect, they require the Committee of that Countrey to provide draughts against the day aforesaid; but, they could not have any in readinesse till the first day of May, at what time they marched to Rippon, with intention to come straight South-ward, according to the direction of the Committee of both Kingdoms, if they could have some few dayes provision (upon all hazards) and draughts. But, norwithstanding all their care and pains, they could obtain nothing but delays and incertainties, with promises onely of provision from night to night.
      If the Scots had had their reasonable demands for provisions and draughts, they had been neer the Enemy before he had done the evil he did at Leicester and elsewhere.
      While the Scots were at Rippon, it was resolved that David Lesley should go into Lancaster-shire with a party, and he was to have a thousand York-shire Horse to assist: but, what performance there was of this, God knows; for he had not the third of armed men, although a thousand was promised.
      By this time, the Scots are advertised that the Enemy was with a flying Army to passe through Lancaster-shire to Carlile, and from thence into Scotland: upon which advice, resolution is taken by the consent of the Committee, that the Scots should go into Lancaster-shire, and stop the Enemies passage North-ward. After a serious enquiry made, the onely way for them to go, is by all means through Westmerland: From Rippon, notwithstanding the roughnesse and difficulties of the / p.41 / Countrey, in four dayes they are upon the borders of Lancaster-shire with the whole Army; whether being arrived, they have intelligence of the Enemies turning back again South-ward; immediately they desire some small provisions for their Souldiers, and draughts, at the Committee of Westmerland and Cumberland: but the found them very slow and unwilling. Likewise, the Scots being so neer, they desired that their Forces before Carlile should be supplyed so far with Victuals, as to keep them from starving; wherein they were the more earnest, that they saw how slackly those who were with their Forces, followed the businesse: Doubtlesse, if they had then left Carlile, the Enemy had been supplyed, and had kept it to this day; which in all appearance was the desire of the Committees.
      After the Scots had ordained things the best they could concerning Carlile, they march South-ward in all haste, beyond ordinary course or rate; for, some dayes they marched above twenty miles: but after, they were constrained to stay in some places, one, two, and three dayes, for draughts.
      While the Scots were strugling with these difficulties, news are sent to the Parliement that the Scots were gone, no body knew whither, and that they spoiled all the Countrey: and this was not done by open and declared Enemies, but by some of those whom the Parliament trust in those Countreys with the managing of affaires; yea, by some who formerly did professe hearty Friendship unto the Scots: but the wheel of their own interest turning about, not onely have they delinquished the Scots; but also, have declared themselves point-blank opposite unto them, and this without any cause: so far prevaileth the private interest with men, who seems to be best.
      Then, great murmures rife, that the Scots would abandon their Brethren at such a necessary time, lea- / p.42 / ving all the burden of the War unto the Forces of the Parliament in the South. Thus were the Scots innocently traduced by Malignants.
      Upon this, the Scots Commissioners here, take occasion to sent a Gentle-man to the Army, to know the truth and veritie of things; and within a day or two thereafter, seeing the sinistrous reports increasing, sent two of their own number to be satisfied of all things more fully, and hasten their coming South.
      In the mean time, the Houses of Parliament presse to know what was become of the Scots, and why they had gone this unexpected way, and why, after so many earnest calls, they did not march South-ward, the good of the publike Service so requiring.
      Whereupon, the Scots Commissioners gave in two papers to the Houses, containing a plain and full relation of the naked truth and reason of things desired; the ignorance of which had, by the shifts of Malignants, officiating for the Common Enemy, occasioned a great murmure against the Scots up and down.
      Those papers gave such satisfaction to all those who heard them read, and gave attention to them, that nothing was to be replyed to the least circumstance mentioned in them; yea, not by those who had been most enclining to give credit to sinistrous reports. Yet, those papers were so little divulged, that divers of the House of Commons, who either had been absent when they were given in, or not attentive when they were read, did not know of any such things.
      Next, although the papers had given full content to the Houses, yet the slanders of Malignants not onely continued, but increased daily more and more against the Scots.
/ p.43 /
      After some few dayes, there falleth a Copy of these papers into the hands of one, which being shewed by him to some well-affected men, and lovers of the Common Cause, were thought fit by all means, for the publike good, to be published. As this was adoing, some Malignants get notice of it, and strive to stop it, by dealing with him who had the chief care of the businesse; but in vain, for he was resolved to go on with his designe: so, he giveth the papers to the Presse, which the Printer intitles The Scots Manifest: This being published, opened the eyes of many men, to see the truth of things which formerly had been kept in a cloud.
      The publishing of this Manifest, did much vex the Malignants; but, they were then more grieved to see it so well received, and the truth therein contained, so greedily laid hold on by the people, whom they hitherto had so grosly abused by their malicious lyes.
      Upon this, these lye-inventers bethink themselves of another shift to cozen the World in this same businesse, and they go this way to work; seeing they could not hinder the printing of the Manifest, they resolve to know whether, or no, the thing had been done by Order from the Commissioners, who being enquired if they had caused print the Manifest, they answered, no; and so it was, for without their knowledge the thing was done; because that those who had a care of the printing of it, knew very well that the Commissioners, going on in their ordinary course, upon I know what prudentiall scrupulosity, do make known nothing of that they acquaint the Houses with, fearing to offend, howsoever needfull to be opened for the publike Service, and their own credit; but, if there be any thing to be said against them, although without ground, they must hear of / p.44 / it on the deaf-side of their ear, and it must be in every bodies mouth. Then the forgers and publishers of lyes gave out, that the Manifest was a false and supposed thing, since the Commissioners did not own it; when as they onely did say, that they had no hand in the printing ot it, although they avouch the thing to be in it self most true.
      Thus in this place I have set down a full relation of the publishing of the Manifest, whereof I touched somewhat before, upon another occasion, to make more known unto the World, with what cunning and crafty malice the Malignants of all kindes do oppose the truth upon all occasions, and how they study to hide it from those whom it doth concern, to the end they may feed them with lyes more easily, the truth being kept from them.
      After that the Commissioners had sent, as we have said, to the Army two severall dispatches, the House of Commons thinks fit likewise to send some of their number to the Scottish Army, to see how things went in the said Army, and to hasten it South-ward; who meet the Army about Rippon, and come along with it to Nottingham, where those Gentle-men leave the Army, and come back to the Houses, whom they acquainted with the truth of all things, as namely, of the good condition of the Army, consisting in a fair number of brave Commanders and lusty Souldiers, of their ability and readinesse to do Service. Which such a relation, as it did content and please honest men, so it did gall and vex the Malignants of all kindes. But, with what difficulties of want of provisions and of carriage the Army had to struggle with in this march, and hath had formerly, yea, hath to this day, for any thing I know, except things be mended of late, as now I hope they are, or at least will be shortly, is beyond expression, partly through the neglect of some, / p.45 / partly through the malice of others, (and that not of the meaner sort) who make their study, not onely to afford no encouragement to those who are come for their help; but also, give them all the distaste they can, to make them weary of the Service, yea, to make them do things by the Law of necessity to keep themselves from starving, which otherwayes they would not, and so make them odious to those for whose good they are come into this Countrey. If this were done by an open Enemy, yea, by those who declare themselves to be indifferent, it were to be in some kinde digested; but, it is done by some who would make men believe, that they are not onely most addicted to the good Cause; but also, that they are advancers of the Service, whereas they make onely the Cause serve for a cloke to their ambition and avarice, in their heart caring for nothing, howsoever they make a shew otherwayes, but to compasse their own ends, whereunto a shew of affection to the good Cause doth contribute, mainly, where they have any credit.
      But, to leave off complaining of those who are neither faithfull nor honest to the Cause, in thus useing the Scots, I (going on in my Discourse) will say a word or two, in this place, to the clearing of three things, whereof the first is concerning the moneys received by the Scots for their pay, since their first undertaking either in Ireland or in England unto this day.
      The next is, how and what provisions they have had for their going on with the Service, either here or in Ireland. The third is, of the disorders committed by the Scots in their Armies, either in England or in Ireland.
      First, I assure you in the name of the Scots, that their earnest desire is, that all these things in particular be exactly tryed by the Law of Arms, and in equity / p.46 / judged, where the failings are, and by whom and how, to the end that every one may have his due of praise or of shame, of thanks or of blame, of recompense or of punishment, of remembrance or of oblivion, according as the cause shall require: and the sooner this be done, the better it will be for the Service of the publike, and the encouragement of honesty, and the repressing of wickednesse.
      In the mean time I will tell you in generall, that what money is received by the Scots, is far short of what they ought to have, and that they could with their Armies in England (to say nothing of their Forces in Ireland) had as much money for six weeks, as the other Forces, employed in the Service with them, have in two weeks; and this without jealousie, or envie that others are looked and cared for; yet there is no reason why they should be neglected, since they are constantly following the publike Service with activity and faithfulnesse. There is a great stir of sending money to them, and far greater of raising it for them, although they receive but a very small proportion, in regard of what is allowed for them, and lesse of what is due unto them, and least of all, what is said to be levied for them; Wherefore, I say again, they are (at least should be) most desirous of fair reckonings among Friends; let the payment come when it may, the most pressing necessity being supplyed.
      Next, For provisions, besides the smalnesse of them, they come so slowly, I must say again, that when they are upon their march, they are constrained to stay three dayes in one place against their will, for one dayes provision, and draughts can hardly be had for their march: as it hath been in their march, so it is in their abode, witnesse their being ten dayes before Hereford, not seeing bread but one day, all the rest living upon Beanes, green Corn, / p.47 / and Fruits. In these they are so crossed, that it seems to be done expresly, for the disenabling them, so far as may be, to do the publike Service answerable to their own desire and readinesse, and to the expectation of the Kingdom.
      As for the disorders said to be done in the Army, as it is acknowledged that they are not Angels of Light, without feeling, being but poor infirme men, they cannot but all and do amisse, in many and many a thing; so they are not Cameleons to live upon the air; but are of such constitutions, that they must have more solid food of necessity for their subsistance, which now and then they cannot come by so orderly as should be. Yet I dare be bold to say, that the Scots Army is as well regulated, as most Armies are, without vanity be it said; and that exorbitancy or scandall is no sooner known, but it is censured and punished according to its degree, by Ecclesiasticall and Military Law; and that no complaint is made, but it is heard and answered, according to equity and reasen: Yea, Proclamations are made to incite every one that hath any complaint, to repaire unto the prime-Officers, or Counsell of War: Yet, let the Leaders do what they can, some slips will fall out among the Souldiers that are not allowable; and indeed the Commanders cannot be altogether so exact as otherwayes they would be with the Souldiers, since the pay is so slow, and so little of it at a time, and provisions so scarce and so hardly had; for, when the bellie is thus extreamly pinched, it were hard measure to beat the back.
      When the Scots Army came to Nottingham, the Generall sent a Letter subscribed by himself, and two more, unto the Committee of both Kingdoms, whereby, in few words, he tels how that the Scots employed in this Service of the Common Cause, / p.48 / have had, and have to this day, very harsh usage and hard measure in divers fashions, even from those who not onely by the Common Interest of both Nations, are bound to be their Friends and Brethren; but also, from those who formerly made a particular shew of Friendship unto them: Yet, notwithstanding all this, he declareth how that with hearty earnestnesse, they are in readinesse to go on faithfully and resolutely with the Work: But, judging that a view of the Letter it felt wold give satisfaction to many, I have thought fit to set down here a true Copy of it, furnished unto me by a Friend.

                          My Lords and Gentlemen,

THe continuance of a firme Union and good corresponednce [lit.] betwixt the Kingdoms, is so much in our thoughts and wishes, as that without it, we can expect no better then the weakning, yea, the undoing of this Common Cause, and the strengthening of the Common Enemies; and, although there be neither few nor small occasions and discouragements from the misrepresentation of our Actions, and misapprehensions of our intentions, from the cooling, if not changing, of that affection formerly expressed, both towards our selves, and towards divers of our Countrey-men, who have deserved well for their abilities and faithfulnesse in the publike; and from the usage and entertainment of this Army, which is neither to that which other Armies in this Kingdom do receive, nor according to the Treaty between the Kingdoms, nor at all certain, such as can avoid the hatred and discontent of the / p.49 / people, whose affections and good will we desire to carry along with us; yet, notwithstanding all these, and the like discouragements, our Actions have been, are, and shall be reall testimonies of our constant resolution to pursue actively the ends expressed in the Covenant, and to adventure our selves, and whatsoever is dearest to us, in this Cause; and that, as we had great reason to march into Westmerland, in regard of the Intelligence both then and since confirmed to us, so we have been as ready and willing to come South-ward, as we were desired by the honourable Houses of Parliament and by your Lordships: and we have marched with more speed, and lesse interruption, then is usuall in such cases; yea, our march had been more speedy, if we had not been stayed in some places, for want of draughts and provisions; and now we are, with the assistance of God Almighty, to undertake any Action which may be fittest for the Cause and safety of both Kingdoms. But, if (which God forbid) for want of the conjunction and assistance promised, or for want of necessary provisions, the publike work be retarded, or disappointed, we shall be blamelesse. And therefore we do recommand to your Lordships most serious deliberation, that some more effectuall and speedy course may be taken for necessary provisions to this Army, that both Officers and Souldiers may have in all orderly and constant way, not onely a part of their pay in Victuals, but, a part in money, for their other necessary uses and in case of our conjunction with any other Forces of this Kingdom, that then the provisions of this Army be no worse then of those other Forces: which things as they are just in themselves, so they are the rather desired, that this Army be not burthensome, nor hatefull to the Counties where we come, and that we may not be redacted to the unhappy necessity of not punishments wrong and disorders strictly, which as we have not onely forbidden by the strictest Edicts, but have exemplarly and severely punished, so shall we ever be / p.50 / ready upon complaint and proof of the fact, either to punish the same by death, or other condigne punishment, according to the quality of the offence.
      We further intreat and expect, that this War might be managed according to the Treaty by the Committees of both Kingdoms upon the place; and for that end, that a Quorum of the Commissioners, from the honourable Houses of Parliament, may be constantly with this Army; and that your Lordships may entertain charitable thoughts of our proceedings, confident that according to the knowledge which God hath given us in the matters of our profession, we shall improve all opportunities to the best advantage.
      We shall not need to put your Lordships in remembrance how necessary it is, that before the Armies of either or of both Kingdoms undertake the besieging of any Town, they first endeavour a totall dissipation of all the Forces which the Enemy hath in the Fields; and so much the rather, because, by the blessing of God, the dissipation shall be more easie, if the Armies of both Kingdoms be continually aiding and assisting each one to other, and that each act their part and attend the Enemies motions.
      What we have written to your Lordships, we desire it may be made known to both Houses of Parliament, and City of London. And above all, that your Lordships would with all earnestnesse presse the expediting of the Reformation of Religion, and uniformity in Church-government, together with the speedy prosecuting and ending of this War, that we may return home with the comfort of Religion, and Peace setled, the fruits of our endeavours, much wished and longed for, by

      Nottingham 12 June,
           1645.