it hath been much worse with us for in stead of reforming we were deforming and in stead of renouncing returning to Rome apace But all this while England wanted not its honour in the eyes of God and good men For God favoured it with men eminent in learning able and earnest assertors of the Doctrine of the Gospel against the Champions of Rome Bellarmine and his Fellowes such were Whitaker Reynolds Iewel Fulke Perkings c. with more practicall Preachers and Writers and a greater measure of the Power of Godlines then other reformed Churches Thus we see Non omnis fert omnia tellus Scotland had its advantages and so had England that neither they without us nor wee without them might be made perfect but that we might contribute to the reformation of each other and both to our neighbours You will pardon this digression I returne After King Iames had outgrown his tutors hankered after Spaine and was come into England He went about to pull downe what was built in Scotland for matter of discipline and interrupted the Liberty of the Assemblies as at Perth more especially though his nature was to accomplish his designes rather by artifice then by violence King Charles succeeds him in his Crowne and intention but drives more furiously then his Father and ventures the overturning all and so am I come to the late troubles of Scotland about the yeare 1638. At which time both Kingdomes had Bishops but Scotland first cast them off to which they had these advantages First their naturall Antipathy against Episcopacy which is generally remarkable in that Nation Secondly the absence of the King who was not there to countenance them with his presence and support them with his interest and authority as here It is no small advantage to have an absent King A King prevents the Factions of an Aristocracy His absence takes away the Enormities of a Court and the advantages to Tyranny And as they had more advantage so had they more reason to begin They had a Service-book put upon them against Law more corrupt then ours which was established by a Law then in force Their worke was but to assert their Rights against innovation ours to inlarge our Reformation and adde something de novo which is a much harder and a more questionable worke But however it was very happie for them and us that they had such an opportunitie hearts to use it as they did in standing in the breach like to be made upon the Religion and Liberties of both Kingdomes To come yet nearer This dispute betwixt the King and his Party on the one side the Lords and Ministers of Scotland on the other growes to blowes and Armies are prepared on each hand How stood the affection of the Commonaltie of England in this Cause How backward were they to raise men to pay money the Souldiers that were raised in many places fell to pulling downe Altars breaking Images as a worke which pleased them better then to goe against Scotland in that Cause And whilst some were preparing to fight against them many were actually stirring and wrastling with God for them in prayers Such was the affection they bore to that Cause and Kingdome And when the Parliament was called to which God made the Scottish broyles an advantage though the affaires of England could not long have stood in that temper they were in how tender were they of contributing any thing to the warre against them and chose rather to adventure their own dissolution then a breach with them And when they were the second time conveened even to this present Parliament how readily did they gratifie their brethren with a competent sum called brotherly assistance to be paid by this Kingdome for the injuries done by a Faction in it And this carriage of the Parliament is acknowledged to be worthy and obliging by the Convention of the Estates of Scotland in their Declaration premitted at their Entrance So that hitherto wee were not behind-hand with them It remaines then that this great obligation must arise from the present conjunction But if we consider the grounds the termes and issue it may appeare not to be extraordinary As for the grounds if this Author in his 28. Pag. already mentioned be not authenticke let me alledge those that are sc. the Convention in the short Declaration premitted at their comming into this Kingdome in Ianuary 1643. Where beside and before the Law of Love requiring us to beare each others burthen you may finde a Law of Nature mentioned injoyning them to preserve themselves by preventing their neighbours ruine It is indeed a kindnesse for a man to helpe to quench a fire in his neighbours house though his own be next but if his house had not been so neare it may be the man had been further off So that it was not a sole respect to us that brought them for that is no Fiction though it be Poetry Tua res agitur paries cum proximus ardet So much for the Ground The termes were as betwixt Strangers and Mercenaries though we love and embrace the title of brethren as appeares by the Treaty wherein it is required and agreed that England be at the whole charge of paying this Army the termes upon which they serve France and Holland and expected that this Kingdome be responsable for incident charges and losses What could be further asked And looke to the issue if God grant it when this Kingdome will be found to have afforded all the charge and most of the force for the preservation of England and Ireland directly and Scotland as really though by consequence for prius and posterius makes no great difference which was the case as this Author acknowledgeth Pag. 28. And thus have I given accompt of the true state as neare as I could learne it of the Obligations betwixt these two Kingdomes which afford this Result That wee should love one another As for the particular words which occasioned this discourse which are three times repeated in the Manifest sc. that the Scots were the cause of calling continuing preserving from ruine this present Parliament let me say thus much to them As for the calling it they were the occasion but not the cause As for the continuance of it this is the account Wee feeling the smart of broken Parliaments as also our debts and necessities calling for money it could not be borrowed but upon publique Faith this was not to be given but in Parliament whereupon a noble Gentleman Mr Pierrepont by name who was not then much acquainted with the Scots moved upon those grounds for an act of continuance of this Parliament and it passed As for the preservation of it from ruine this Clause following immediately upon the Authors discourse of the Scots refusing the Kings offers which he made them of the foure Northerne Counties c. if they would lend their hand to the Parliaments ruine induceth me to beleeve he meanes that not destruction for
right for my owne advantage And therefore though not without sense yet without feare of any danger that may spring from men impatient and mindfull of oppositions I enter upon the worke in which I shall observe this method First to give a true and short Narrative of the proceedings of the Scotch Army since they came into England wherein I shall endeavour to doe them all possible right And secondly make some Animadversions upon divers passages in Truths Manifest wherein though something may be said against the Manifest yet nothing against the Truth for we can doe nothing against the Truth THE NARRATIVE AFter that the Parliament of England had conflicted for the space of a yeare ' with the dangers and difficulties of this unhappy Warre God in his Wisdome and Justice not seeing fit to direct us to the right improvement of our owne strength they dispatch Commissioners to the Kingdome of Scotland to treat with them about the raising and bringing in an Army to their assistance against the combination of Papists Prelates and Malignants endeavouring to subvert Religion and Liberty The Commissioners being foure Members of the House of Commons accompanyed with two Reverend Divines of the Assembly went from London towards the latter end of Iuly 1643. and in the beginning of August came to Edenburgh where they were expected before they came and when they came welcome The Commissioners upon their coming addresse themselves to the convention of Estates then sitting as also to the generall Assembly that they would contribute their help so farre as they were concerned after few dayes a Covenant was propounded and agreed on by the Commissioners and a Committee appointed to consider of that businesse with them which was sent immediately into England for approbation and received it with little or no materiall alteration and was returned to Scotland in a short time and so was generally taken in both Kingdomes while this was in hand a Treaty also was offered and debated about bringing an Army for the assistance of the Parliament of England which was also mutually agreed betwixt the Kingdomes and is of late published After this foundation laid though the time of year was something unseasonable for building upon it being winter the Estates of Scotland having received 50000 l. of the 100000 l. mentioned in the Treaty bestowed their power and diligence in levying men so that about the middle of Ianuary an Army well cloathed and armed was brought to the Borders of England which they entred about the twentieth of that moneth at which time Lieutenant Generall Lesley passed over Barwick bridge with some Troopes of Horse for the Towne of Barwick by the care of the Commissioners of Parliament then in Scotland who sent one of their owne number for that purpose was happily made a Garrison for the Parliament and after that by Treaty betwixt the Kingdomes assigned to the Scots for a Magazine and retreat while there should be use of their Army in England A little after the entrance of those Horse and Foot that came in by the way of Barwick the Lieutenant Generall of Foot Baly passed the water at Kelsey by the advantage of a great Frost which bore the Ordnance and met the noble Generall the Earle of Leven about Alnwick The Enemy commanded by Sir Thomas Glenham made no opposition in Northumberland but retreated from the borders to Alnwick and so to Morpeth and then to New-Castle where the Earl of New-Castle met him with more Forces so that the Scottish Army had a free passage to the workes and wals of New-Castle which they came to about the beginning of February At their approach after some slight Skirmishes of Horse there was an attempt made upon a strong Fort at the East-side of the Towne but without successe a little after it was thought fit to dispose the Army to some Quarters neare the Towne on the North-side of the River Tyne During the time of their lying there nothing of moment fell out but the fight at Corbridge where there was not much hurt done but the Scots had the worse losing some Prisoners and retreating yet not so hastily but they tooke Collonel Brandling in their returne who after that became a Proselyte this was all that passed on the North-side Tyne saving that the Castle of Warkworth was surrendred to the Marquesse of Argyle who marched by the way of the Sea with some Forces to the Army of which Castle he made one Captain Lysle Governour after some time spent on the North-side Trent the lying of the Army there was found uselesse and inconvenient and a resolution was taken towards the end of February to passe the Tyne leaving onely some Forces at Bedlington and Blythesnooke to secure that little Harbour being very convenient for Provisions The Enemy at the passing over Tyne made no opposition but were so kind as to let them march over Newbridge a very inconvenient passage had it beene disputed and so take possession of Sunderland a place which proved full of advantages to the Army afterwards in respect of provisions which were brought thither in great plenty from London and other places and exchanged for Coale During the aboade of the Army about Sunderland in the moneth of March ending the yeare 1643. they fortifyed Sunderland as well as the place was capable and tooke a strong Fort at Southshields over against Tynmouth Castle at the second attempt In the meane time the Enemies head Quarter was at Durham where were the Earle of New-Castle Lieutenant Generall King sir Charles Lucas lately come from the South with a supply of Horse and a very considerable Army they came and faced the Scots Army twice within two miles of Sunderland first on the South side then on the North-side the River Were At first we heard of nothing memorable but very cold nights in which the Scots Army had good advantage of the Kings and made good use of it for by keeping close to them many of the Enemies Horses were reported to be strayed and their souldiers courage cooled which was found true at their next appearance Shortly after when they drew up about Hilton and Bowdon at which time also the Scottish Army was drawn out against them but no ingagement of consequence each Army kept its advantage onely there was some slight skirmishing amongst the hedges where for ought I ever heard the number of the slaine was equall or little different but at last the Kings Army drew off and being discerned so to doe by the Scottish Armie they fell upon their Reare and tooke some Prisoners but killed very few not the tenth part of the number mentioned in Truths manifest and so they parted After this the Scottish Army not being well able to endure their straitnesse of Quarters tooke a resolution to march towards the Enemy and either fight with him or enlarge their Quarters about this my Lord Fairefax who had beene long confined to Hull tooke the field againe and with sir Thomas Fairfax a
settle a Reformation among them God forbid that I should be one of those ingrate children mentioned and cryed out on by this Author It is farre from my thought or purpose to deny or to diminish the kindnesse of our brethren whose help was desired and was seasonable but let us understand our selves and how the matter stands betwixt these two Kingdomes We are indebted to Scotland I wish an even reckning and long friendship but I am not yet of opinion we owe our selves to them and if the Author of the Manifest be consulted you shall find an intimation of some other Obligations then meere kindnesse unto us As for instance pag. 24. It is said that the Scots when they began to interesse themselves in this businesse they could not in Conscience and honesty sit quiet any longer and neither say nor doe but I take no advantage of this we are beholding to men for doing what in conscience and honesty they are bound though they should hurt themselves more in violating Conscience and honour then in suffering us to be violated To this you shall find a more externall ground added pag. 28. viz. Now the State of Scotland seeing the common Enemy come to that height that nothing will satisfie him but totall subversion of Church and State inthese Dominions onely they perhaps might be kept for the last though in intention they had been the first judge it not enough for their interest in the common cause to keepe an Army in Ireland but to bee upon their Guard at home and to help their Brethren in England with the Sword since all other meanes so often tryed were disappointed by the malice of the Enemies And this resolution is said to have been taken before Commissioners were sent from England to desire their assistance Pag. 30. So that you may observe the Enemy was a common Enemy the Cause a common Cause the danger to these Dominions the Scots like to suffer as deep though not so soone if they had sate still But give me leave paulo altius repetere and to consider the ancient mutuall tyes and later friendships betwixt these Kingdomes which may be a good meanes to continue and confirme their present correspondence So long as these Kingdomes were under divers especially popish Princes their condition was like that of Israel 2. Chron. 15. 3. when it was without a true God without a teaching Priest and without Law At which time there was no peace to him that went out nor to him that came in but great vexations were upon all the Inhabitants of the Countries and Nation was destroyed of Nation and City of City The mutuall spoyles and losses of these neighbour Kingdomes being well considered by that wise Prince Henry the seventh he layes a probable foundation of conjunction in giving his eldest Daughter to the King of Scots whose posterity upon the failing of the issue of his Sonne Henry the eight might inherit both Kingdomes which hath since come to passe In the time of Edward the sixt it was thought fit by that Prince whose wisdome and vertue was beyond his yeares and his Councell to make the conjunction more sure and therefore agreed with the Kingdom of Scotland for a Match betwixt this young King and the Daughter of Iames the fifth afterward Queen of France and Scotland But the Polititians of those times in Scotland chose rather to marry their young Princesse to France then England it may be forecasting upon the faile of issue in Henry the eights children that it would be more for their advantage to have a Scottish-man or a French-man King of England then an English-man of Scotland though if I may speake it without offence I think they might have had more comfort in that young Prince Edward 6. had God continued his life and reigne then England hath had of the two Kings they have had from Scotland of whom Truths Manifest sayes That there hath been more Christian bloud shed in these latter yeares under the end of King Iames his and King Charles his Reignes 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 Romane Persecutions But although the English had received some dis-ingagement by the non-performance of that Match which was aggravated on both parts by a Fight at Musselborough field yet when the Scots were sore troubled and their Religion Liberty indangered by the said Queene returned from France into Scotland who called the French in to her assistance against her native Subjects the renowned Queene Elizabeth and her prudent Councell though this Kingdome had continuall warre with Spaine yet feared not to provoke the French by affording seasonable helpe to her distressed Neighbours sending to their reliefe 6000 men which were maintained at the charge of the Kingdome of England Which was then thankfully and justly called to minde by the Kingdome of Scotland when this last treaty was to be made So that if we breake off here the kindnesse rests not on our part But I shall as gladly proceed to repeate the good turnes done to this Kingdome as by it and rejoyce in the mutuall obligation And that I may not breake in too suddenly upon the late affaires of these Kingdomes give me leave as a manuduction thereto to give a briefe touch of the Method of Reformation in this Island and but a word for the body of the Story may be had elswhere It pleased God at the bringing of this Island out of Popery to honour Scotland with a more full departure from Romish Idolatry and Superstition for though England wholly renounced their Doctrine yet some dregges of discipline and superstitious Ceremonies remained The Scots had indeed some advantages that wee had not Their Queene was obnoxious their young King in his nonage they had some Nobles and Ministers zealous and well affected so that through Gods blessing they obtained a Reformation in that point though not with so little difficulty as should give them ground to expect it should be done here on a suddaine But as for England in Queene Elizabeths time shee had so much trouble for Holland with Spaine and in Ireland that her Councell thought not fit to adventure upon the trouble of an alteration in this point which they foresaw and wee finde to be great And besides many of our Reformers being Bishops could not so well understand the convenience of their own abolishment In King Iames his time though wee might have expected to have been better in regard he came from a reformed Kingdome yet it was far worse with us for he came with an innate bitternesse against Puritanes which was fomented by our English Bishops so that he became a great Persecutor of unconformity And according to the Proverb Seldome comes a better since the Reigne of this King especially since the preferment of the late Archbishop of Canterbury