THE DECLARATION Of Lieutenant-Generall CRUMWEL Concerning The Kingdom of Scotland, and his preſent Deſign and Engagement with the new levyed Forces, commanded by the Earl of Lanerick.
THe Lord Lanerick in the South of Scotland is very active in levying of new Forces for the King, who by Commiſſion from the Committee of Eſtates at Edenburgh, ſummons in all from the age of 16. to 60. requiring obedience from them2 for the aſſiſtance of Monro, regaining of their liberties, and redeeming of their Natives: but their appearance is but ſmall, the Lads refuſing to ingage againſt England, which cauſeth the Committe of Eſtates to give expreſſe Orders for an inforcement; yet all cannot prevail, the major part diſſerting their owne habitations, and flies to the Marquis of Argyle for ſhelter, whofe gallantry towards the Commonalty, induceth the whole Kingdom to adhere to him, and have now compleated three or four thouſand horſe and foot, for their ſafety and preſervation, to be commanded and conducted by the ſaid Marqueſse, being reſolved to oppoſe Mouro and his Army, and give a check to the Reſults of the Committee of Eſtates.
Lieut. Gen. David Leſley hath raiſed two thouſand old Soldiers, deſires a conjunction with the Marquis, who is now upon his march from the North towards the City of Edenburgh.
But Monro uſeth is utmoſt endeavour to obſtruct the ſame, and is now marching from the Confines of England, to ſecure the ſaid City, and Committee, being much diſturbed with new commotions and inſurrections.
They are purſued exceeding cloſe by Lieut. Generall Crumwell, and Major Gen. Lambert, who are reſolved to have reſtitution of all their plu•dered goods & cattell, which they have ſo barbarouſly ſeized on, and took from the Inhabitants in theſe parts, the Lieuten. Gen. having declared, That he is reſolved to hazard life, estate, and fortune, for the priviledge and liberty of the ſubject, and to preſerve the free-born people of this Kingdom from violence and oppreſſion, and therefore will give3 his utmoſt aſſiſtance, for the reſtoring of them to their just rights, and remanding back the Cattell which hath been taken from them, and ſent into Scotland; this gives great ſatisfaction to the Country people, who are ſo far taken with his declaratory expreſſions, that they have tendered theie ſervice in this preſent Expedition, proffering to adventure all that is near and dear unto them, for his aſſiſtance, which was well taken, and thanks returned for their late and preſent forwardneſs in ſhewing themſelves willing to promote ſo great a work, and to root our, and diſperſe the enemies of Religion, King, and Kingdom.
We hear that the Royall party in Cheſhire had lately a deſign to have ſurprized the City of Chester for the King, and to have put moſt of the Officers and ſoldiers to the ſword; but even in the very nick of time, they were diſcovered, and the grand Actors taken, and executed.
The like horrid and perſidious complottings have been fomented in ſeverall other parts of the Kindome, but by the providence of the great Jehovah ſtill fruſtrated.
Scarbrough holds out with great inſolency, the yong Gentleman Col. Bointon denies a ſurrender, having fair promiſes of relief from the Prince, ſome Forces are landed there, but no conſiderable party, not amounting to above three or four hundred. Colenell Bethell the Commander in chief againſt it, is reſolved to ſtorm.
The like preparations is making at Pomfra•t, the officers and others denying a ſurender, Ba•ceries are raiſing, and skaling ladders ſent for.
Newcaſtle14. Sept. 1648.
Other letters ſay as followeth.
4On Satterday laſt the ſaid Monro marched with his Army toward Morpeth, where he called a Councell of War, the reſults whereof was, to march back to the Coal-pits, and fire them all, to augment the price of Scotch-coal, and advance Navigation: but Sunday morning two Poſts came ſpeeding to have him come preſently back into Scotland, a good pretence for his running away, for the Presbyterian Miniſters had got hold of the civill Sword, made the renowned Marquis of Argyle Generall having an Army conſiſting of four thouſand Horſe and Foot, and much too hard for the new levyed Forces of the Lord Lanerick, moſt of them being totally routed and diſperſed, not ten being left in a Body.
Theſe meſſengers came from Crauford and Lanerick who are afraid of the Miniſters new ſword, more then of all their excommunications.
And yet have they proceeded to many notable decrees, to paſſe by others, one is, That in regard of the great defection to the Covenant throughout Scotland, they will not adminiſter the Sacrament of the ſupper for one year to come, repent who will, and as ſoon as they will.
This ill tydings ſaved our Coal-pits, and ſends the Scots the neereſt way over•weed, in ſuch haſte, that they had almoſt left their plunder behind them, had they not preferred it before life, and thus are the Lads ſhifted once more out of England towards Kelſey, leaving the confederate Engliſh by the way of Northam, to ſhift for themſelves.
They quartered in Banburg Hundred, and being thus3 deſerted, they repair to Barwick for ſafety, from the Parliaments Forces, whom they thought at their backs though above fifty miles from them.
But ths Governour Lieut. Col. Leſly tells them plainly he could not let them in, having no proviſions, from whence it was reported, and may come to it in time, that by directon of the Marquis of Argyle, upon his perill, he ſhould hold that place for the Parliament of England.
Col. Lawſon is gone with his feeble company towards Cockermouth Caſtle, and would be glad of quarter upon mercy.
In Northumberland many were plundered to great values, among others Sir Iohn Fenwicke, from whom was taken his beſt moveables, and many gallant horſes, his dammage is eſtimate at 2000 l. the Sheriff of Northumberland had his ſhare alſo, not meat for a Regiment left in all that County.
By Letters from Yarmouth it is advertized, that the populous Inhabitants after a long capitulation, they ſtill perſiſting not to have any ſouldiers come into them, and yet carried themſelves in a newtrall way, hath yeelded and given way to the income of ſome hundreds of Foot, and ſome Troops of Horſe, but not till Munday night, they ſtood ſo far out as to arm their men: the Generall was neceſſitated down, but before he came they had agreed
There will be ſome men put into Garriſons, its conceiv'd only in ſome Fort, that may command both town and Harbour, and its but neceſſary, conſidering the great danger of a forraign Army landing there,6 whoſe great threatnings may allar'm the whole Kingdom to a poſture of defence, and embrace thoſe who have been their ſafeguard and protection for theſe 7 or 8 years.
Letters further from the North ſay, that Monro is retreated from the Confines of England, but purſued by Lieu. Gen. Crumwell, who is reſolved to have reſtitution made to thoſe Engliſh that have ſuffered ſince the late invaſion. The Scottiſh Royaliſts leave no ways unattempted to raiſe additionall Forces for the King, and ſends fair Propoſals throughout the whole Kingdom for a compliance, but can no ways prevaile. Moſt of Sir Philip Muſgraves forces ars routed and ſcattered by the Lieutenant Generall, and above 200 taken priſoners.