News from Scotland: OR THE Reſult of the General Aſſembly of that Kingdom.
I Cannot expreſſe my thankfulneſs to you for your kind reſpects, eſpecially in ſending me theſe printed papers: As for news here, there is a great Meeting of the three Eſtates who have ſit theſe three weeks, began upon weighty and ſerious affairs, and are not likely to conclude any thing til the Parliament ſit down, which begins the firſt day of March next. Our Commiſſion of the Church, together4 with moſt of the Miniſtery, have openly oppoſed the levying of an Army ▪ Notwit•ſtanding there is•Sub-Commi••ee of the Eſtates called a Committee for dangers, appointed to prepare things in the moſt fair and plauſible way they can; but becauſe the ſaid Sub-Committee inclines to have an Army, there is great oppoſition to them by the godly and honeſt party, who profeſſe they have no quarrel againſt the Kingdom of ENGLAND, and wil labor to interpoſe their Medium and beſt advice for removing of Jealouſies, and keeping of Union betwixt the Kingdoms ▪ Although there be a ſpirit of ſtrong Mal••nancy on the contrary, yet we are〈◊〉God wil preſerve the Kingdoms from blood, and in his own time find a way how theſe Jars ſhal be removed: The reſult whereof wil be ſeen in wiſdom of this enſuing Parliament.
As for your Commiſſioners they are looked upon as very godly and faithful men, eſpecially by all thoſe who walk by the rule and make conſcience of their5 ways. There were ſome of our beſt men, both of the Eſtate and the Church, who at firſt meeting with Mr. Marſhal did look upon him as a bad inſtrument in theſe late diſtractions at London, but he as a wiſe and godly man doth labor to vindicate himſelf ▪ from thoſe aſperſions, and we hope before he return ſhal be as high in our thoughts as before; Only he hath not as yet got the liberty of a Pu•pit to cle••himſelf, which ere long, we are confident, ſhal be granted unto him; The other Miniſter Mr Errel, Prolocutor of your Aſſembly, who is likewiſe here, is looked upon as an Angel, and we hope wil be very inſtrumental for Union in ſpite of Malignancy. Your Commiſſioners are not all come, and therefore have not as yet received publick audience: The Earl of Stamford and Mr Stapleton, being as yet in Barwick, are expected upon Saturday next: There is much need of Prayer and Humiliation to prevent the Lords wrath, which is gone out againſt both Kingdoms;6 We had a Faſt upon Sonday laſt for that purpoſe; and all godly men ought very much to be on their knees to confeſs their own ſins and the ſins of the Land, that the Lord may avert his Judgments from u•, which is the prayer of Yours