A Collection of divers Papers given in to the two Houſes of Parliament by the Commiſ­ſioners of Scotland.

THe ſenſe of the goodneſſe of God in the late vi­ctory granted to the Forces of the Parliament, the experience of all ages wherein the greateſt and moſt ſudden victories, have through ſecuri­ty or negligence ſo far miſcarried, that they have proved either hurtfull or unprofitable; and the deſires we have that this preſent victory may be thankfully and wiſely im­proved to the honour of God and the publike good; have con­ſtrained us humbly to offer our thoughts and deſires about this matter of ſo great weight and conſequence, that by this hono­rable Committee they may be repreſented to the honourable Houſes of Parliament.

Firſt we deſire, that unto the publike and ſolemn thanks gi­ving already offered unto God, there may ſucceed a publike and reall teſtimony of thankfulneſſe in the ſpeedy ſetling of Religion and the Houſe of God, wherein his glory and ho­nour is neerely concerned; no monument or Trophee of vi­ctory can be ſo pleaſant in his ſight; nothing will more con­firme and incourage all good Chriſtians at home, and comfort and ſatisfie all the Proteſtant Churches abroad; no means will be more effectuall for ſetling of unſtable minds, for curing and〈1 page duplicate〉1〈1 page duplicate〉2preventing of Sects, Schiſmes and Hereſ es, and for ſtopping the mouthes, and ſhaming the faces of ſuch as have not been aſhamed to ſay; That the Parliament in policy pretendeth re­ligion, but doth not really intend it, and thereby draw many Diſciples after them.

Secondly, leaſt victories run continually in a viciſſitude, as they have at ſome times done formerly, which is not onely a ſigne but a means of the continuance of this unnaturall warre; we deſire that preſently, while the iron is hot, and before the Enemy gather ſtrength againe, courſe may be taken by the joint Councels and forces of both Kingdomes, for the ſpeeedy vigorous and conſtant proſecuting of the war, that by the bleſ­ſing of God it may at laſt be brought to an end, and nothing may be left undone which may be a meanes to deliver theſe Kingdomes from their preſent ſad condition, under the heavy hand of God.

Thirdly, we humbly move and deſire it may be conſidered, whether the preſent condition of the Kings Army, and the bleſſing of God upon the Parliaments forces, both of them joyned, make not an opportunity and ſuch a ſeaſon as is very deſirable for renewing the deſires of the Parliaments of both Kingdomes, in the moſt convenient and conduceable way for a juſt and well grounded Peace. Thus apprehending all occaſi­ons of demanding Peace, it will appeare, that although War be neceſſarily in our hand, yet Peace is in our heart, and that we follow not War as a trade, or for it ſelfe, but as a means of Peace. If it ſhall pleaſe God to move the Kings heart to liſten unto our juſt and neceſſary deſires, our troubles are at an end, and we may ſit downe in peace: But if God ſhall ſo far deſert the King, that he will ſtill prefer the pernitious and deſtructive ſuggeſtions of wicked men, unto the Counſels of the Parlia­ments of both Kingdoms; In that caſe we may ſay before God, our owne conſciences and the world, that we have delivered our owne ſouls, our Enemies will be convinced that peace is3 our deſires, our friends will extend themſelves to the mainte­nance of a neceſſary war, and the Armies of both Kingdomes will doe duty with the greater reſolution and courage, when they ſee no other remedy, which may be a means upon this ſide to bring the war to a ſpeedy and happy concluſion.

Theſe our motions & deſires, we humbly preſent to be ſeri­ouſly conſidered by the wiſdome of the honourable Houſes, that the Lord Chancellor of Scotland, being now about his journey into that Kingdome, may be acquainted with their reſolutions, and may make the ſame knowne unto the Scot­tiſh Army in this Kingdome, and to the Parliament of Scot­land, that all matters, whether of Peace or Warre, may ſtill proceed with the conſent of both Kingdomes.

HAving now ſeen and peruſed the divers Letters and Pa­pers of great importance, mentioned in the Anſwer of the honourable Houſes of Parliament, to our paper of the twentieth of June, which may give light to the future proceed­ings of both Kingdoms, having alſo obſerved the good ſucceſſe of the Parliaments Forces ſince that time, whereby the King and his Armies are brought to a much lower condition, which in Divine Providence may be a further preparation to an hap­py Peace; and having reaſon from what we have learned in time paſt, to apprehend, that men will not be at reſt, but ſtill be dealing under hand, and tampering for a Peace of their own making, and for their owne private ends, to the great preju­dice of the Publike, the further alienating of the Kings heart from a ſafe and well grounded Peace, and the delaying of the intentions of both Kingdomes; We do in all earneſtneſſe de­ſire,4 upon the grounds and conſiderations preſented in our former paper, to know rhe minde and reſolution of both Hou­ſes in a matter of ſo great conſequence, as is the renewing of the deſires and propoſitions of Peace, (in ſuch wanner as ſhall be thought fit,) that we may make the ſame knowne to the Parliament of Scotland now ſitting, which may expect no leſſe from our truſt and diligence.

THe preſſing neceſſities of the Scottiſh Army doe inforce us to repreſent by your Lordſhips and theſe Gentlemen, to the honourable Houſes of Parliament, that notwithſtand­ing the whole foure moneths of the Ordinance be long ſince expired, there is but a very ſmall and inconſiderable proporti­on of money aſſeſſed upon the ſeverall Counties for enter­tainment of that Army, as yet come in to the Committee of Gold-Smiths Hall, for repayment of the months pay advanced by the City of London, and for ſatisfying the neceſſities of that Army, which is reduced to that extremity in the preſent ſervice wherein they are ingaged, that without Peaſe, Apples and greene Wheat, they gather from the ground, they are not able to ſubſiſt; ſome of the Counties, as Lincolne and Rutland, deſire to be excuſed, and pretend their inability to afford any proportion of the Money aſſeſſed upon them for that Army, and little or none comes in from the reſt of the Counties. It is above a twelve moneth ſince a moneths pay was ordered by the Houſe to be paid to the Scottiſh Army out of the Fines and Compoſitions for Delinquents Eſtates, immediatly after the Battell of Longmarſton, a good proportion whereof is yet due, the payment of which is obſtructed by ſeverall Orders procured from the Houſe, for payment of Moneys for other5 uſes, out of thoſe Fines and compoſitions. Our earneſt deſire to the honourable Houſe is, That ſome ſpeedy and effectuall courſe be taken for bringing in of the moneys due by the Counties for the foure Moneths paſt, that the Ordinance may ſpeedily be renewed; that the Houſe will be pleaſed to ap­point the Committee of Gold-Smiths Hall, firſt to pay the re­mainder of that moneths Pay, voted after the Battell of Long­marſton, out of the Fines and Compoſitions for Delinquents Eſtates, notwithſtanding any ſubſequent Orders, and that the Committee of Gold-Smiths Hall may be enabled for the ſpee­dy payment thereof, and other incident charges, that the Houſe would call for their reports concerning thoſe Fines, wherein they can proceed no further without the approbation of the Houſes.

HAving received from your Lordſhips ſome Votes of the honourable Houſes concerning the Propoſitions of Peace, and after ſome conference thereupon, being deſired by your Lordſhips to give our anſwer in writing, we hereby pre­ſent our thoughts, and offer it to your Lorſhips conſideration, whether it were not fit to ſhun all occaſions of delay, in ſending the Propoſitions of Peace to the King, leaſt thereby we neg­lect the improvement of ſo ſeaſonable an opportunity of ob­taining Peace, as we have expreſſed in our former papers: That to this end we are moſt ready, preſently to concurre with the honourable Houſes, for ſending to his Majeſty the Propoſitions, either all, or ſome, as they have been already agreed upon in the Parliaments of both Kingdomes, for mat­ter and manner: That untill we underſtand what Propoſiti­ons are intended by the Votes of the Houſes, to be next ſent,6 we cannot give a cleare anſwer anent the manner. That if the Propoſitions preſented at Ʋxbridge, be underſtood with any other of thoſe already agreed upon by both Kingdoms, which upon mutuall debate ſhall be adjudged moſt neceſſary for the Peace of both Kingdoms to be now ſent, we ſhall be ready to concurre with the Honourable Houſes to deſire a poſitive anſwer thereof from His Majeſtie without any Treaty.

But in caſe any new Propoſitions of Peace be thereby un­derſtood, or any materiall additions to, or alterations of the former Propoſitions, we ſhall be neceſſitated to ſend theſe to the Kingdome of Scotland, to be there conſidered and ap­proved, as all the fotmer were; and as it is evident that wee are not the cauſe of this delay, ſo that no prejudice may thereby ariſe to the publike, we deſire in the interim that thoſe already agreed upon by both Kingdoms (which at the time were thought ſufficient) may be preſented to His Ma­jeſtie with all convenient ſpeed. Concerning the third Re­ſolve of the Houſes for preſenting their deſires by Bills to His Majeſty; If the meaning be to ſend the Propoſitions that are already agreed upon by the Parliaments of both Kingdoms, & ſeek the Kings Majeſties poſitive anſwer thereunto; and to­gether therewith to preſent Bills conforme to thoſe Propo­ſitions, for the more legall ſecuring of this Kingdome in the Kings grant of theſe Propoſitions, although we think it more ſafe and convenient for both Kingdoms, that the ſecurity of both ſhould proceed hand in hand, and ſimul & ſemel, be perfected and conſummated, yet if the Honourable Houſes ſhall inſiſt upon the ſending ſuch Bills with the Propoſitions, we are ſo farre from giving any occaſion of delay (for which we are by ſome unjuſtly blamed) that we will be ready to concurre, the Kingdom of England ſecuring us, as they did in the large Treaty, both in relation to the King, and in relation7 to themſelves, as we are bound to doe the like to them. And withall we deſire, that if theſe Bills be not ready, the ſending of the Propoſitions be not delayed, the grant whereof by his Majeſty will be an ingagement, and make way for his aſſent to the Bills. But if the meaning be to ſend Bills without ſending the Propoſitions agreed upon by both Parliaments, or with­out deſiring the Kings Anſwer thereunto, then we ſhall be neceſſitated to know the pleaſure of the Parliament of Scot­land, concerning this new way before we can joyne in it, and in the meane time deſire the Honourable Houſes to take into their ſerious conſideration, that the former way agreed upon by both Kingdoms is laid aſide, and that this new way of ſending Bills without Propoſitions was not thought neceſſary in any former addreſſe to his Majeſty for peace. Neither was it propoſed to us, or communicated to the Parliament of Scot­land which is now adjourned, ſo that we cannot communicate the ſame unto them for the preſent. That it is not in the po­wer of any Commiſſioner from a Parliament to forme the Propoſitions in Bills, or Acts of Parliament, and to deſire the Kings ratification thereof, before ſuch Bills or Acts be known and agreed upon by the Parliament it ſelfe; that the way of the Propoſitions as they are conceived by both Parliaments is a joynt way, uniting the Kingdoms in their deſires, tying the King to both in his Grants, and obleiging both to ſee theſe performed and preſerved, each in favour of the other, and ſo doth double the ſecurity, as both by way of Law, and way of Covenant, and agravates the violation of any Article, as the violation of both Law and Covenant, whereas the way of Bills without the Propoſitions is a more dividing way, both of the deſires of the Kingdoms, of the Kings Anſwers thereunto, and of their Obligations to ſee the ſame performed; and therefore a disjunctive way was moſt earneſtly preſſed by the Kings Commiſſioners at Ʋxbridge, as moſt conducible to8 their ends, and pre••diciall to ours, and for that cauſe was op­poſed by the Commiſſioners of both Kingdoms.

That ſeeing the Parliament of Scotland is not preſently ſit­ing,•nd did not know of this way, and that we cannot have pow•r to form Acts of Parliament, this were to propoſe, and deſire the ſetling the peace of the one kingdome without ſet­ling of the other; which as it were contrary to the Covenant, and the Treaty, ſo would it be made uſe of by our common adverſaries, to be the occaſion of ruining the peace of both; and therefore we rather deſire that the way already agreed upon by both Kingdoms may be obſerved, as that which will occaſion both leaſt delay, and leſſe danger, eſpecially ſeeing we are willing to crave a poſitive anſwer to the Propoſitions without any Treaty: And for the way of ſecurity, we deſire that the way ſo ſolidly agreed upon by both Kingdoms for eſt•bliſhing of the large Treaty, and inſerted in the beginning and cloſe of the Acts of Parliament of both Kingdoms in the yeare of God 1641. may be ſeriouſly conſidered, as contai­ning a three-fold ſecurity, the one of ingroſſing all the Pro­poſitions, and paſſing them by way of a Law, and Act of Par­liament; the other by way of the Kings Covenant, and Oath to his people; the third, by the Parliaments of both King­doms; giving their full aſſurance, and making Publick Faith in name of both Kingdoms reſpectively for the true and faithfull obſervance thereof; all which upon the Kings grant of the Propoſitions may be ſpeedily diſpatched; and ſecurely ſetled, which is our chiefeſt deſire for the good of both Kingdoms.

And it were earneſtly to be wiſhed in a matter of ſo tender a nature as the buſineſſe of peace, wherein the mutuall adviſe and c•nſent of both Kingdoms is neceſſarily required, that neither Kingdom ſhould engage themſelves without a previ­ous debate, eſpecially in alteration of any thing formerly a­greed on.

UPon ſeverall occaſions we have repreſented to the Hou­ſes of Parliament the extream wants and neceſſities of the Scottiſh Army, and particularly of late in a paper of the ſea­venth of Auguſt, to which we have received no anſwer.

It is fourteene moneths ſince a moneths pay was ordered by the Houſe of Commons to be payed to the Scottiſh Army out of the Fines, and compoſitions for delinquents Eſtates, imme­diatly after the battle of Long-marſton, a great proportion whereof remaines yet due, and cannot be paid by reaſon ſeve­rall Orders are procured from the Houſe in prejudice thereof, for payment of monies for other uſes out of thoſe Fines and compoſitions. It is about ſeaven moneths ſince the Houſe of Parliament did paſſe an Ordinance aſſeſſing the ſeverall Coun­ties towards the entertainment of that Army, of all which there is only come in to the Committee of Goldſmiths Hall a­bout ſeaven or eight thouſand pounds, for repayment of the moneths pay advanced by the City of London, which is all that Army received for theſe ſeaven moneths paſt; and for the moneths pay Ordered by the Houſe upon the fifteenth of Auguſt, to be forthwith provided and furniſhed, there is no appearance of the providing thereof till the Houſe give fur­ther order.

The Houſes of Parliament were alſo pleaſed to appoint two hundred pound per diem to be payed toward the maintenance of the Infantry of that Army, which though it hath been aſſeſ­ſed by the Commiſſioners of Parliament, yet hath proved very in effectuall, as the Commiſſioners themſelves have certified to the Houſe of Commons. We doe therefore againe renew our former requeſt to the Houſes, that they would be pleaſed to call for the Reports of the Committee of Goldſmiths Hall concerning thoſe Fines, and compoſitions, to enable them for10 ſpeedy payment of the remainder of that moneths pay Voted immediatly after the battle of Long-marſton, and to order no monies to be payed by that Committee out of thoſe Fines and compoſitions, till it ſhall be paid. That the months pay Orde­red by the Houſe upon the fifteenth of Auguſt to be forthwith provided and ſent to the Army, may be accordingly furniſhed; and that a more effectuall courſe be taken for bringing in the monies aſſeſſed upon the ſeverall Counties for entertainment of that Army.

We are informed that the Houſes of Parliament have now in conſideration the ſale of the delinquents Eſtates, and there­fore have thought fit to put the Honourable Houſes in mind of the fifth Article of the Treaty between the Kingdoms, wherein it is provided, that the Scottiſh Army ſhall be payed by the Parliament of England, out of the Eſtates of the Pa­piſts, Prelats, Malignants, and their adherents, or otherwiſe; and ſince it is cleerly evident, that all other waies for the maintenance of that Army have failed, we deſire that a ſtock of credit and ſecurity may be ſetled by Ordinance of Parlia­ment out of the Lands and Eſtates of delinquents, for pay­ment of what is due to the Scottiſh Army, and that the Lands and Eſtates of delinquents be ingaged for no other uſe, till that Army receive ſatisfaction, which is now moſt neceſſary in regard of the great diſtractions of the Kingdom of Scotland; and we hope the Houſes of Parliament will be the more ready to ſupply them, that the only quarrell the enemy doth pre­tend againſt that Kingdom is, the aſſiſtance given by them to the Parliament of England.

IT hath pleaſed the Lord our God, who worketh all things according to the counſell of his owne Will, in his wiſe and and righteous Providence ſo to diſpoſe at this time, upon the affaires of the Kingdome of Scotland; that they are upon the ſudden brought to a more deplorable condition then could in any probability have been expected, or the enemy himſelfe in his pride could have preſumed.

We ſpeake not of the devouring Peſtilence, which in ma­ny parts of the Land, eſpecially in and about the chiefeſt City, hath raged for a long time, in many degrees above any thing that either our ſelves or our Predeceſſors have ever knowne, and hath taken away many thouſands of the people, nor is it yet ſtayed: This (although it hath been a great ad­vantage to the enemy, and no ſmall diſcouragement and hinderance to the oppoſing of his power) we acknowledge to be a Plague from the more immediate hand of God, a­gainſt which there is no remedy from man, but the fervent prayers of the people of God, which we earneſtly deſire may be here continued, as they are piouſly begun, till the Lord be entreated for the Land.

Our deſire is to repreſent what the ſword of the enemy hath done, after many conflicts in divers places of the North of the Kingdome, whereby great numbers have fallen, and the enemy, deſpicable in the beginning, had encreaſed in ſtrength and boldneſſe; at laſt, in the very bowels of the Kingdome: He hath ſo farre prevailed, that not onely thou­ſands of the beſt affected have loſt their lives, and divers of them taken priſoners, but alſo our whole Army and Forces are put to the worſt and ſcattered. Such as were moſt zealous of the Covenant and Cauſe of God (having no Armies on foot to joyne with, nor Garriſoned Townes for places of12 refuge) are forced to fly for their lives, and to leave their ha­bitations, poſſeſſions, and all that they have in the world to the cruelty and ſpoile of the enemy. Many of the common ſort are drawne away by his flatteries and promiſes, by the Proclamations which he maketh, and the Declarations which he emitteth at his pleaſure, offering to them Protections to their perſons and eſtates, freedome and exemption from all the Taxes, Impoſitions, and burdnings, which they are preſ­ſed with for the maintenance and ſupply of their Armies in England, Jreland, and at home in their owne Country; toge­ther with the liberty of their Religion according to their Na­tionall Covenant, and all other liberties and priviledges for­merly eſtabliſhed with his Majeſties conſent, upon condition that they will renounce their Covenant with England, and take an Oath that they ſhall no more lift Armes againſt the King and His aſſiſtants. Some of place and power, who for­merly were either profeſſed enemies to Religion, or never tooke Religion to heart, have dealt falſly in the Covenant, and preſuming upon the ſucceſſe of the enemy, and waiting for ſuch a time as this is, have joyned with him againſt their Country. The moſt faithfull of the Miniſtery, by the princi­pall enemy, and by Malignants in their owne Congregations, are driven from their ſtations, and forced to ſeeke ſhelter for the ſaving of their lives, whereby the people left behind are laid open to all ſorts of tentations, and Religion it ſelfe is in no ſmall danger. As we are not willing to conceale or extenu­ate their miſery, in this day of the Lords viſitation, ſo are we not able ſufficiently to expreſſe them; the yoake of their tranſgreſſions is bound by his hand, they are wreathed and come up upon their neck, he hath made their ſtrength to fall, the Lord hath delivered them into their hands, from whom they are not able to riſe up.

In this their extreamity, the Committee of the Eſtates of13 the Kingdom, being for the preſent put out of all hope of any ſucceſſe from the Forces in Ireland, and knowing no o­ther meanes of help, found it neceſſary, unleſſe they would loſe the Kingdom, and lie ſtill under ſuch miſeries as are more intollerable then death; That the Scottiſh Army in Eng­land ſhould march Northward, to the end, that (if God in the meane time did provide no other way) they might come to their deliverance, and withall to implore the affection, counſell, and aſſiſtance of their Brethren in England; and therefore to ſend the Lord Chancellor for repreſenting their diſtreſſes and deſires to the Honourable Houſes.

Concerning the ſpeedy march of the Scottiſh Army Northward for their reliefe, they ſuppoſed that Charity would move the Honourable Houſes and all charitable Chriſtians to conſider, that in time of extreme trouble, na­turall affection on both ſides, in calling for and in giving of help is unreſiſtable, and that there was no liberty left in ſuch a caſe, when both the publike, and every mans private were in hazard and well neere loſt, either for the Committee or for the Army, to conſult or to chuſe what to doe. That their Iuſtice would bring to their remembrance, that this Army (as is contained in the Treaty) was levied and came into England for the purſuance of the ends expreſſed in the Covenant, which were the ſafety of both Kingdomes, and their mutuall defence againſt the Popiſh, Prelaticall, and malignant party their adherents in both Kingdomes: and that they were to be employed where they were to be moſt uſefull for the common Cauſe, and for oppoſing the Ene­my where his power and the danger was greateſt. In this notion was their marching to the North, when the King went Northward, looked upon. And now when his Forces have ſo farre prevailed in Scotland, their marching thither is to be interpreted to no other ſenſe. They ſuppoſed alſo that14 the wiſdome of the Honourable Houſes would make them ſee, that this expedition might, by the bleſſing of God, not only be a meane of deliverance to Scotland, but alſo prevent the invading of England by a new Army; which, if Scotland bee altogether ſubdued, may certainly be expected. The timous prevention of ſuch an Invaſion may prove no leſſe ſerviceable for the good of the cauſe, and of the Kingdome of England, then the preſent oppoſition of any hoſtile Army within the Kingdome of England. As theſe neceſſary con­ſiderations have moved the Committee of the Eſtates of Scotland to deſire the marching of their Army Northward, ſo are they confident, that the Honourable Houſes will reſt ſatisfied therewith. And doe expect from them, and from all the well-affected in England, a brotherly compaſſion, and Chriſtian fellow-feeling in their bitter ſufferings, all ne­ceſſary aſſiſtance and ſeaſonable ſupply of Armes, Ammuni­tion, and money, and in due time ſuch Forces as may be ſpa­red, as through the encreaſe of their troubles their need ſhall call for and require them. It ſhall not be neceſſary to multiply arguments to this purpoſe: the wiſdome of the Parliament can call to remembrance the expreſſions in their owne Declaration of the 7 of November 1642, and in the Papers delivered in by their Commiſſioners in their names to the Convention of Eſtates in Scotland, Auguſt 12. 1643. Together with the Treaty and the ſolemne League and Co­venant. It will never be forgotten by our Brethren of Eng­land, that when our Countrey was in great quietneſſe, and the greateſt aſſurance that was poſſible was offered for our fu­ture ſecurity, wee chooſed, rather then to enjoy our owne peace without the peace of this Kingdome, upon the rea­ſons contained in the Declaration of the Kingdome of Scot­land, to come with an Army into England againſt all diſ­couragements that might ariſe, either from the ſtormy win­ter15 ſeaſon, or the power of a mighty Army in the North of this Kingdome ready to encounter us. What the endea­vours, the actions, and the ſucceſſe of that Army were, let the Enemy before that time prevalent, from his owne ſenſe give teſtimony. When the Kingdome of Scotland had laid forth their ſtrength for the recovery of Ireland, and the de­fence of England, and promiſed to themſelves ſecurity from forraigne invaſion, eſpecially from Ireland, upon grounds contained in the large Treaty, and in the Propoſitions made by Commiſſioners ſent from both Houſes, and particularly by the Ships, which according to an Article of the late Trea­ty, were to be employed for defence of the Coaſt of Scotland; An Enemy nevertheleſſe from Ireland entred the Kingdome of Scotland, having no other controverſie, nor pretending any other cauſe againſt them, but their Treaty and Covenant with England, and their aſſiſtance following thereupon, and hath prevailed ſo farre, as hath made this ſad Remonſtrance neceſſary at this time.

It is no matter of great difficulty (unleſſe wee will ſhut our eyes, and hide from our ſelves our owne danger and threatned ruine) to diſcerne and determine what is the great and maine deſigne of the Enemy, now waxed proud and inſolent by the afflictions which the Lord hath brought upon the Kingdome of Scotland: When hee hath brought all there under his power, a work, which through the ma­lignancy of ſome open, and many formerly ſecret enemies, now appearing and joyning with him, through the ſufferings, calamities, and hatred brought upon the beſt affected, and ſuch as have beene moſt active and inſtrumentall in this Cauſe, and through the diſcontent and diſtemper of the multitude for the loſſe of their meanes and friends in this warre at home and abroad, he preſageth to be more eaſie and faeſceable, then what he hath already brought to paſſe. His ſecond expedition is againſt the Parliament of England,16 which is not any uncertaine conjecture, but his owne pro­feſſed reſolution and confidence; And is too apparent, that unleſſe he be ſpeedily ſuppreſſed, he may through the con­courſe and combination of the Malignants of Scotland, and of the Northerne Counties of England, grow to a greater ſtrength, eſpecially if he joyne with the King and his Forces, which he is alſo very confident of, then be afterward eaſily oppoſed, and thereby may reduce theſe Kingdoms to a more miſerable condition, in reſpect both of Religion and Liberty (beſide all their intervening ſufferings) then they were in before the begining of this unhappy warre.

We know the cauſe is the ſame which it was at the firſt undertaking, that the Godly in Scotland who loved it from the beginning, and are reſolved to live and die in it; that the conjunction of the two Kingdomes which the enemy labou­reth to divide, and ſo to overcome, is no leſſe beneficiall to both, then it was formerly conceived to be; That the Popiſh and prelaticall faction in forraine parts as well as His Ma­jeſties Dominions, upon the union of theſe Kingdomes, are more ſtrictly and powerfully combined then they have beene at other times; That the Reformation of Religion, the common intereſt of all the reformed Churches in Chriſten­dome, groaning ſo long under the croſſe is as much to be looked unto as ever, and who knoweth but the Lord in his wiſdome and juſtice is putting both their Kingdomes to a further tryall, the one by ſuffering the other by doing that it may be known, whether they have been ſeeking their owne peace and preſervation, or the honour of his name, and the good of Religion. We may without giving the leaſt cauſe of offence in this conjuncture of time make uſe of the words of the Declaration of the Convention of Eſtates of the King­dome of Scotland to the ſubjects there, concerning their expedition into England, for the aſſiſtance of their Brethren only changing the perſons, and if they were not extant in17 that Declaration we would have expeſſed our ſelves in ano­ther manner: The Lord ſave you from the curſe of Meroz, who came not to helpe the Lord, to helpe the Lord againſt the mighty, when we looke upon the cauſe which Scotland maintaineth, the Prayers, Teares and Blood which they have powred forth, and the inſolencies and blaſphemies of the Enemy, we cannot doubt but enlargement and deliverance ſhall come unto Scotland, but England hath reaſon to feare, if upon ſo faire a call they ſit ſtill, and hold their peace, they ſhall periſh by the hand of the ſame enemy, and there ſhall be none to deliver them. We have many grounds of aſſu­rance that this cloud ſhall paſſe over, and after the Lord has proved and tryed the conſtancy of his ſervants, the malig­nancy of hipocrites, and the fellow feeling of our Brethren, his face will againe ſhine upon us, and his hand will raiſe us up and ruine our enemies; Our deſire and expectation is that in the day of our rejoycing, our Brethren may rejoyce with us and be comforted in this teſtimony, that they did not for­ſake us in the day of trouble.

Wee cannot deny that during the ſitting of the Parlia­ment, and divers times before, this Kingdome hath laid to heart the dangers of the Kingdome of Scotland, nor can it be denied that the Kingdome of Scotland hath of late given a­bundant teſtimony of their affection and faithfulneſſe to this Kingdome, in departing the Kingdome in ſuch a manner, in the yeare 1641. which wee mention becauſe of the many ſi­niſter ſuſpitions and unjuſt calumnies vented to the contra­ry, and by their comming againe to this Kingdome at ſuch a time, for ſuch ends, and againſt ſo many impediments.