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 of 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 of 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 that 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 winter 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
A COLLECTION Of divers Papers Presented unto the Houses of Parliament By the Commissioners of SCOTLAND since May last 1645. Published by Authority LONDON Printed by Moses Bell. 1645. Ingenuous and Courteous Reader HEre I present unto thee a Collection of some Papers of which I shall onely say that in them thou wilt finde Reason and Truth the publishing whereof I am perswaded in the first place will give content to men of judgement and integrity concerning divers things murmured and rumored every where almost against men so well deserving in the service of this Cause of God and of his people and consequently against the Cause it selfe for which they have and doe undergoe so much hardship toyling care and hazard c. in all these three Kingdomes not only in opposing the violence and plots of the open and declared enemy but also in declining and stopping the undermining devices of counterfeit friends and false brethren In the next place it will make false-hearted and by-ended men blush for shame if they have any as also the simpler ones acknowledge their owne sillynesse suffering themselves thus to be deluded and as it were led by the Nose by the specious lyes of crafty and deceitfull men but before thou goe to the reading of the papers themselves give me leave to detaine thee a little with these ensuing lines Of late many reproaches have been cast upon the Scots in the pursuance of the service in this common Cause namely for three things First on the one side the Malignants that is the enemies of Church and State adversaries to our solemne Covenant blame the Scots for pressing and urging the setling of the Church-Government to the end that all grosse Idolatry and Superstition with Tyrannie may be pulled downe as also all fanaticall errours and Heresies with confusion may be repressed in the Church and it preserved pure as the Spouse of Christ according to his holy Word and conforme to the practice of the first times and example of the best reformed Neighbour Churches as we are all bound by our solemne Oath on the other side divers men of zeale to the glory of God and good of his people blame the Scots that they are too white-lipp'd and doe not put home with vigour enough the setling of the Church as they are conceived to have done in their owne Country and so they are wish'd by these Zelots to make their stoutnesse more clearely appeare in this businesse of the Church for these well-meaning men are grieved from their heart to see the setling of the Church these five yeares in hand so slackly pursued yea in the latter times stopped by some of those who formerly did make a shew of an earnest affection for the setling of the same as aforesaid but now with an unparallel'd impudency doe publickly affirme that Religion was not the first and maine quarrell betwixt the Parliament and the common enemy against the Declaration of both Houses when they tooke Armes and against the Declaration of both Kingdomes joyntly and more particularly against the Nationall Covenant To this it is answered the Scots in conscience and duty to God and his people and particularly by solemne Oath are bound to put on the setling of the Church with all faithfulnesse and earnestnesse and yet they have to this day proceeded therein with all meekenesse longanimity and tendernesse studying to gaine by faire meanes those who are so backward to the setling of the Church if it were possible 2. The Scots on one side are blamed by those who are enemies to the setling of Government in the Church and good order in the State for expressing so seriously their desires of peace the Church being setled in truth and purity and the State secured with due Priviledges and lawfull liberty And on the other side divers blame the Scots for not pressing home enough the obtaining of Peace so much the rather that they are affraid to have a Peace both long in comming and uncertain when it is come except the Scots presse it and be engaged in it To this it is likewise answered the Scots have undertaken war not to make a Trade of it but to obtaine peace and the sconer the better for the stopping of the torrent of wickednesses of all kinds so openly and with so high a hand committed against God and the wrongs done unto his people in warre for they finde by woefull experience that the Sword is the heaviest of the three maine scourges wherewith God punisheth the children of men for their iniquities yet they conceive the thing is to be done with judgement and discretion for fear of surprisall and circumvention by the common enemy who studieth to undoe us by deceit in making an uncertaine peace if not prevented by wisedome since he failes in his plots and open violence by warre to destroy us 3. The Scots are blamed that their Army hath done nothing this Summer and hath laine heavily upon the people yea and put Taxes upon them to a huge and immence value if it went through the whole Country To this also it is answered If the Scots have done nothing I pray you where doth the fault lye for they have been ever willing and ready with us when we will have the Plough to goe first we give meate both to man and beast next we furnish the Plough with all instruments as sock culter c. fit for the worke then let it be knowne with what and in what measure the Scots have been furnished for any undertaking yea in downe-right tearmes they have been so dealt withall that it seemeth there hath been a set designe to keepe them from doing and to make them odious to the people yet they have not been idle notwithstanding their wants for the sending of the King twice South-ward and the breaking his Northerne design is as advantagious to the main service of the common Cause as any thing hath been done any where this yeare all wise and judicious men doe acknowledge and confesse this To lay aside divers other particulars done by the Scots this yeare but as for the Taxes or Assesments said to be against the liberty of the people it is answered that first they are moderate and reach no further then the places nearest unto their quarters not going through the whole Country as some doe seeme to intimate in their letters then if it be against the liberty of the people without Ordinance from Authority to lay Assesments upon the Country it is against the nature of men to live upon nothing or starve till Order from Authority come Againe I pray you whether or not is it more convenient for the people that moderate Assesments should be laid upon them then that the Souldier driven by necessity should take at discretion Further whether or not is it better for keeping an Army of foot for the good of the people to have a set Taxe paid and appointed in a place then to run up and downe at all times
of soules this feare will vanish Nor can there be any other remedy of so many feares and jelousies but the setting up of the government it selfe which by the power of God accompanying his owne Ordinance will prove a comfort to the godly a meanes to winne many to Christ and a matter of rejoycing to all who have been instruments of so good a worke especially to the honourable houses of Parliament whom we therefore earnestly desire against all obloquies and impediments by their authority to establish it that it may in reality speake for it selfe above any verball expressions of ours and when we see Religion so far promoted we may the more cheerfully proceed in the common cause as knowing that wee have not been beating the ayre Our other renewed desire is concerning peace which of all things next to truth is most desireable for attaining whereof we conceive two things to be necessary One is that seeing by Gods good providence the Scottish Army is not yet necessitated to goe for Scotland but may remain in this Kingdome a solid course may be taken according to the Treaty for their necessary maintenance that they be encouraged to act their part and be kept from such other waies as have been and must be uncomfortable to themselves and hurtfull to their brethren here whereupon much discontent ariseth on both sides and by joynt counsels may be directed and set in such a way for prosecuting of the warre as may be most effectuall and beneficiall for this and consequently of both Kingdomes The other thing which wee conceive to be necessary is that Propositions of peace be speedily dispatcht to His Majesty This wee have pressed divers times before and have waited for the results of the consideration of the businesse by the house of Commons conforme to their Order of the 18 of August but till this time wee have not heard what progresse they have made Our opportunity herein is not greater then our Commission is urgent and our Commandements frequent to take all occasions for speeding the setlement of truth and peace the ends which have engaged us to this warre Of late when our Kingdome in the wonderfull providence of God was brought low wee were altogether silent lest our desire should have appeared to proceed rather from impatience under the sence of our sufferings then from our sincerity and zeale of the publique peace But now when the mighty hand of God hath wrought a notable deliverance for Scotland and hath blessed the Armies of this Kingdome with marvellous successe by which meanes the King having no considerable strength to relie upon in Scotland or England may be humbled and his heart prepared for hearkening to peace wee conceive the motion to be more seasonable and doe hope it will be more successefull then ever before and what the Lord will doe hereafter when opportunities have not been taken hold of wee doe not know nor is it for us to conjecture but so much wee may in certainty foresee that if the King shall grant such Propositions as may be the foundation of a safe and firme peace wee have that which ought to be the common desire of all the three Kingdomes in the most easie way And if which God forbid his heart shall be still averse our advantage is great having besides the approbation of God and the eternall peace of our owne soules the testimony of the world and the conviction of our enemies together with the stronger resolution when we are at out wits end to follow the war and thereby within a short time through the blessing of God to obtaine our peace Concerning the Kingdome of Scotland the reports of others and their owne speculations of the miseries of war in forraine parts are felt of them and verified of late in their lamentable experience as the want of ordinary Courts and courses of justice the decay of commerce and trade by Sea and Land to the impoverishing of the Kingdome and making of thousands of families to beg who hardly can finde supply from the richer sort because their revenues are not payd them the plunder and devastation of the Souldiers the assesments pressures and unnecessary burdens laid upon the Subjects for intertaining the warre above that which they are able to beare the great effusion of blood and the cutting off of many of the best affected with other sufferings of women and children which are grievous to remember And when by the calamities of a long lasting warre they are brought low and exhausted of men and meanes the danger of drawing in the barbarous Irish or some other forraine enemy to their utter undoing The difficulties and distresses of this Kingdome through the long continuance of this unnaturall warre are better knowne to the wisdome of the honourable Houses then to us Yet after so long residence upon publique imployments in this place we cannot be so voyd of the knowledge and sense of them as not to apprehend the danger of the like extremity at last unto our brethren of England Seeing therefore the Fields are now white to the Harvest both of perfecting the Reformation of Religion and of making a sure and well-grounded Peace and there be so strong inclinations and desires so many invitations and encouragements so fit preparations and sutable dispositions on all hands for so blessed a worke wee doe in all earnestnesse desire that the opportunity which can hardly be redeemed when once lost may be improved to the greatest advantage by the wisdome and zeale of the honourable Houses and doe expect their speedy answer that wee may be able to render an account to the Parliament of Scotland or to those that sent us and waite for it at our hands By command of the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland JOHN CHEISLEY September 1645. UPon the 26. of this instant your Lordships did communicate to us the resolutions of both Houses to which you desired a speedy answer and further acquainted us that the Papers by us lately given in were under consideration of the house and that wee shall receive their answer with all conveniency and upon the 27 your Lordships renewed the same desires Wee cannot give a positive answer to the desire of both Houses concerning the disposall of the Army because it is not in our power but we shall communicate their desires forthwith to the Committee with the Army and presse them with all the earnestnesse we can to which we expect they will be ready to give all just satisfaction so farre as the season of the yeere may admit and in the meane time wee desire a speedy answer to our Paper of the fourth of this instant and the other of the twelfth so farre as concernes Money Armes and Ammunition which is still as necessary for accomplishment of our desires as if the Army had marched into Scotland and the speedie proceeding thereof will be a great encouragement to that Army and furtherance to their undertakings It is well enough knowne to
the honourable Houses how farre that Armie hath been disappointed of provisions formerly having for instance received but one moneths pay these seven moneths past how much their proceedings have been retarded this Summer and some of their undertakings frustrate for want of necessary accommodation And we desire it may be considered what hinderance it may be to the publique service if for the future effectuall course shall not be taken for their entertainment and other necessaries It is agreed upon by the Treaty that 31000 li. should be monethly allowed and payed towards the maintenance of that Armie for reall performance whereof many Declarations have been made by the honourable Houses of Parliament before and since the entrie of that Army into this Kingdome and finding the monies arising out of the Assessments and Revenues of the Northerne Counties were not sufficient for maintenance thereof did in February last passe an Ordinance of Parliament for assessing 21000 pound monethly upon the severall Counties therein mentioned of all which there being now full seven moneths past there is onely come in to the Committee of Goldsmiths-hall about 12000 li. which together with 19000 li. yet to be brought in they are obliged to repay to the Citie of London for the moneths pay by them advanced so that there is no probability that any considerable proportion can for a long time be brought in to supply the necessities of that Army especially there being two other assessments which precede the assessments of the Scottish Army although the Treaty between the Kingdoms doth precede them all and ought to be observed as soone as any particular Ordinance and these assessments for other Armies are really executed and moneys thereupon collected by the Counties and brought in whereas the assesment for the Scottish Armie is almost wholly neglected is not executed by others and cannot be executed by us our very demanding the question being clamored against as intermedling with their estates Neither is it our desire in the least kind to intermeddle providing that it were remembred that not a written Ordinance but reall payment can satisfie the necessities of the Souldiers By the same Ordinance 20 February 1644. the Commissioners of Excise appointed by Ordinance of Parliament or their respective Deputies and Commissioners are ordained to pay 3000 li. monethly out of the whole Excise arising out of the six Northerne Counties And though the Excize is accounted and doth really prove to all others to be one of the best securities within the Kingdome yet all waies are taken to make it ineffectuall to that army so that there hath not been one hundred pound thereof received in all for these five moneths past the profits thereof being almost wholly anticipated and fore-stalled here in the South and applied to other uses and in all appearance shall still continue in that condition unlesse the honourable Houses give further order herein to the Commissioners of Excize for paiment of that 3000 li. to the Scots Armie according to the intent of the Ordinance Concerning the Coale of Newcastle the price thereof hath been so much diminished and the trade thereby decreased that this last moneth the profits thereof have not amounted to above eight hundred pounds whereas they were estimated by your Lordships in a Paper of November 1644. to seven thousand pound per mensem for and towards the paiment of the 31000 li. monethly due to the Scottish Armie There was also 200 li. per diem lately appointed to be paid to the Infantrie of that Armie whereof they never received one penny to this houre as was certified to the house of Commons by their Commissioners in their Letters of August 31. The obstructions and failings in the waies appointed by the Houses for the entertainment of that Armie with divers others we have represented in our former Papers to which wee have never received any answer nor seen any effectuall course taken for redresse thereof And if the Houses shall be pleased to remove these obstructions supply the defects and take an effectuall course for their entertainment the Scottish Armie will be very farre from giving the least occasion to the Parliament to make any Declaration more concerning them nor other Armies within the Kingdome against laying of Taxes or raising of any contribution upon any Countie or part of the Kingdome or giving any cause of complaint to the Countrie And we are perswaded it is the earnest desire of that armie to evidence according to the ninth Article of the Treatie that their enterance into and continuance in England shall be made use of to no other ends then are expressed in the Covenant and Treatie But if no effectuall course shall be taken for their entertainment according to the Treaty and that it shall not be thought lawfull for them to provide for their necessary subsistence in the parts where they shall reside we leave it to the Houses of Parliament to judge whether it must not inevitably follow that they shall either starve or disband which we are confident is as farre from the intention of the Honourable Houses as it is against the Law of Nature the cause wherein and the Covenant and Treaty whereby that Army was ingaged These things out the conscience of our duty and sense of the trust put upon us we could not forbeare to expresse for our owne exoneration nor doe we represent them to expostulate for the time past but that a speedy and effectuall remedy may be taken by the Honourable Houses for the future whereby that Army may be enabled and rendred more active in advancing the publike service 29. Sept. 1645. By command of the Commissioners for the Kingdome of Scotland John Cheisley TO give a more positive answer to the desires of the Houses concerning the marching of the Scottish Army to besiege Newarke was not in our power nor within the bounds of our Commission But what was in our power for satisfying the desires of the Houses that we have done with all diligence for we did forthwith communicate the desires of the Houses to the Committee of the Parliament of Scotland residing with the Army and intrusted for their part with the power of disposing of the Army and with all earnestnesse did presse a speedy and satisfactory answer which we doe shortly expect because by Letters which we have received by this Post we understand there is a meeting of that Committee and of some of the generall Officers of that Army upon the borders with the Committee of Scotland and we are very hopefull the result of their consultations shall tend to the bettering the condition of that Army the advancing of the publike service and the satisfying the desires of both Houses of Parliament As it shall be our earnest desire and constant endeavours That the Scottish Army may be active in the prosecuting the Warre untill the peace of both Kingdoms be setled so we cannot but renue our desires to the Honourable Houses to take more to heart the necessities of that Army the removall of the obstructions and supply of the defects of the wayes appointed for their maintenance and we earnestly entreat for a speedy answer to the particulars represented by us in our former Papers concerning the Army and for setling of Religion and procuring the common Peace of both Kingdoms which were the maine causes and ends that engaged us in this Warre It may be equally considered by the Honourable Houses when now the Kingdome of Scotland out of the earnest desire upon the grounds contained in the Covenant and Treaty to procure the peace of this Kingdome have denied themselves and lost their owne peace and are obliged by Covenant Treaty and joynt Declaration of both Kingdoms never to lay downe Armes till the peace be setled To what straits the Kingdome of Scotland is brought if the Houses of Parliament being earnestly and frequently desired by that Kingdome shall delay to joyne in seeking a safe and well-grounded Peace upon termes already agreed upon by the joint consent of both Kingdoms and in the meane time shall not provide a sure way of entertainment for the Scotch Army and thereby enable them according to the Treaty to prosecute the Warre When this is laid to heart by the wisdome and brotherly affection of the Houses of Parliament we doe not doubt but in their justice and equity they will judge of our difficulties and desires as if they were their own and will determine and doe as in the like case they would expect from the Kingdom of Scotland 9. October 1645. By command of the Commissioners for the Parliament of Scotland John Cheisley FINIS