the Advice and upon the humble Petition of Our Privie Councell here in England and particularly by such Noblemen as were pretended by them to be witnesses to the same ordered to be damned by Proclamation and publikely burnt by the hand of the Hangman which was done accordingly Thirdly whereas it was promised that the Forces of that Our Kingdome of Scotland raised without Our warrant and against Our Selfe should be disbanded and dissolved within 48. hours after publication of Our said Declaration in their Camp they did neverthelesse for some time keep in body diverse Forces and have ever since held in pay almost all their Officers in manifest breach of those Articles contempt of Our Royall Authority contrary to the Lawes of that Our Kingdome and to the great danger of all Our Subjects who did give obedience to Our Commandements there which cleerely shewed their intention of putting themselves againe in armes against Us. Fourthly Whereas it was promised that Our Forts Castles and Amunitions should be restored so soone as We should send to receive them yet full restitution was not made accordingly And for the Fortification at Lieth which was with the rest remitted to Our pleasure it stands entirely as it did though We often commanded the demolishing thereof Fifthly It was promised there should be no Meetings Treatings Tables Consultations Convocations or Conventicles but such as are warranted by act of Parliament and yet We were pleased to give them warrant to meet for the space of one moneth to consult advise and resolve upon such affaires and businesse as concerned the reliefe of their mutuall burthens only Neverthelesse after that time expired which was on the twentieth day of July 1639. they did and doe still continue their unlawfull meetings and consultations upon matters of State both Ecclesiasticall and Civill contrary to the Laws and Acts of Parliament of that Our Kingdome and Our expresse warrant In which Conventicles they daily vex and trouble such of Our Subjects as doe not adhere to their rebellious Covenant and pretended assembly at Glasgow and the acts of the same Sixthly Whereas all Fortifications were to be remitted to Our pleasure to be demolished or continued and We having given commandement for the demolishing of them all raised and built without Our warrant no obedience is given to the same but they are still continued to the fostering of sedition among Our Subjects and the disturbance of the peace of that Our Kingdome Seventhly Whereas all Our good Subjects should have their liberties and goods restored to them yet such is the violence and furie of the people animated thereunto by the said Protestation scandalous papers spred and seditious Sermons preached as many of Our said Subjects are deterred from going to their owne dwelling and places of aboad and threatned with the losse of their lives in case they shall repaire to their own houses Eightly Whereas in Our Declaration before mentioned We did make knowne that We could not approve the late pretended generall Assembly at Glasgow for the reasons conteyned in Our former Proclamations yet contrary to that Our pleasure they daily presse Our Subjects to subscribe the approbation of the said pretended assembly and acts thereof and to sweare the same so that whereas We did expect to have found our Subjects setled in peace and quietnesse against Our repaire to Edinburgh We heard of nothing but new disorders meetings and molestations of Our Subjects well affected to Our service which as it doth evidently appeare by the insupportable insolencies committed as aforesaid upon the persons of Our High Treasurer the Earle of Kinnoul Our Justice Generall Sir Iames Hamilton and others Our Counsellours and good Subjects so doth it clearly evince that nothing was lesse intended then obedience to Our authoritie or performance of what was promised or is due to Us in right of Our Crowne and by the lawes of that Our Kingdome Ninthly Whereas We were pleased to grant a free Generall Assembly for setling and composing the divisions cunningly raised and fomented in the Church of that Our Kingdome expecting a faire choice of the Commissioners and such as might stand with the respect due to Our authoritie they did labour to pervert Our Subjects by anticipating their voices in making them sweare to and subscribe the acts of the pretended Assembly at Glasgow and making choise of such Commissioners and no others as adhered thereunto and by Oath were bound to maintaine the same and further deterred others whom We by Our Warrant did lawfully call to the next Assembly from repairing thereunto threatning them with the losse of their lives and what worse may be committed against their persons in manifest contempt of Our authority and derogation from the freedome of the said assembly Tenthly To divert all Our good Subjects from their due obedience to Us and to debauch them to their factious mutinies and disorders they brand all such as adhere to Us and have attended Our person with the vile aspersion of Traitors to God and their Countrey threatning to proceed against them with censures accordingly as though the due respect given by them to Us and their adhering to Us and their assisting Us in their persons were Treason whereas by right of that Our Crown and the Acts of Parliament of that Our Kingdome all Our Subjects are to rise with Us and to assist Us with their bodies and goods and whosoever refuses or rises in Armes or rebellion against Us or commits any act of Hostility against Our Sacred Person are declared Traitors and are to incurre the paine of High Treason Lastly Their disobedience appeares in that unparallel'd contempt of Our Royall authority and shaking off all respect due to Sacred Majestie by their protesting that all members of the Colledge of Justice and all Our Lieges were not to attend the Session and that all Acts Decrees and Sentences therein past against any of them shall be nul void and ineffectuall contrary to Our expresse warrant for the downesitting thereof and to the heavie dammage of Our good Subjects who were thereby frustrated of Justice taking by this meanes Our Royall Power out of Our hand which alone belongeth to Us none but Our selfe being to command Our Subjects to attend the Session or to discharge their attendance as We in Our Princely wisdome and justice shall think fit Having laid these insolent and seditious foundations for a Parliament it could not in reason be expected but the structure to be raised thereupon must be full of disorder and confusion and indeed it prooved all of a piece for in all the progresse of the Parliament their actions and demands were full of undutifulnesse and disloyaltie denying to Us the most essentiall and inherent prerogatives of Our Crowne and striving by all meanes to change and alter the Constitutions of the Parliament and frame of Government as appeares by their first Act at and after the chusing of the Lords of the Articles where in a most insolent and peremptory way
world this satisfaction concerning them And first for the Coine It is a prerogative most peculiar to the Crowne and none can meddle with it but by Our consent without incurring the punishment of High Treason as it is in all Kingdomes In the second and third there lurketh a great deale of Malignity and Poyson and they are intended meerely against the English whom they would accompt strangers as appeares by the exception lately taken by those of Edinburgh to those English sent by Us to the Castles of Edinburgh and Downebarton This is a most dangerous and seditious practice to raise againe the partition wall betweene the two Nations and to divide them thereby to awaken those ancient Nationall animosities which have beene most happily laid asleep by the blessed union of the two Crownes And besides the great dishonour to the English that they should not be held worthy to enjoy any dignities or priviledges in Scotland as well as the Scots doe in England It is an injurie to themselves For it is most just that by the same rule the Post-nati of Scotland who are now admitted here to all Dignities Priviledges and Offices and doe enjoy them as freely as any English whatsoever should be likewise excluded from them for which most of their Countreymen here would give them little thankes But what Religion there can be in shewing themselves such Incendiaries We leave it to the world to judge To the fourth Some of themselves have obtained from Us the heritable Rights of Justiciary over a considerable part of that Our Kingdome and why Our power should be more limitted to others then to them We understand not To the fifth No man that is not a Traytor can deny that the source and fountaine of all honour is in Us and that it is a prime branch of Our Crowne to distribute honours Dignities and precedeneies to whom We please and besides the Chancellour of that Our Kingdome holds his place and precedency without any warrant or positive law but meerely from Our immediate and inherent power and therefore why not Our Treasurer and Privie Seale as well as He They further boldly demand the rescinding the Acts of Parliament concerning the Civill government namely the Act concerning the Judicatorie of the Exchequer the Act concerning Proxies the Act concerning confirmation of Ward-lands by which they would overthrow both Our Government and Revenew When We found them thus pertinaciously resolved to persist in these their insolent and unsufferable demands contrary to all Religion and Lawes though they so much pretend them both We signified Our pleasure to Our Commissioner the Earle of Traquair to this purpose That whereas it did evidently appeare unto Us that the aime of divers of Our Subjects was not now for Religion as they have alwayes pretended for it was manifest by the proceeding of Our said Commissioner how willing We had beene to give satisfaction both in Assembly and Parliament touching all such things as were promised by Us or sued for by them under that name of Religion And that We did perceive by many new strange Propositions that nothing would give them content but the alteration of the whole frame of the Government of that Kingdome and withall the totall overthrow of Royall Authority We held it must now be Our care and endeavour to prevent that which did so neerely concerne Us in safety and Honour and if thereupon we should immediately command the dissolving of the Parliament it were no more then justly might be expected from Us. Neverthelesse such was still Our tendernesse of their preservation and of the establishment of a perfect peace in that Our native Kingdome as We were pleased rather to prorogate the same and to heare such reasons as they could give for their demands Wherfore We commanded Our said Commissioner to prorogate the Parliament untill the 2. of June next ensuing and that since they had disputed it by Our authority only We holding it no way fitting that any assent of theirs but obedience should be had to that act which doth so properly belong to Us as their King and if they should presume to protest sit still and disobey this our Royall command Our further will and pleasure was that Our said Commissioner should discharge their so doing under paine of Treason But in case of their obedience and dissolving according to Our command then We did require Our said Commissioner to declare unto them that We would not only admit to Our presence such as they should send unto Us to represent their desires and the reasons of them but would likewise as We were always ready to do punctually perform whatsoever We did promise In the interim We commanded himselfe with all convenient speed to repaire hither and to bring with him all that had passed or had been demanded both in Assembly and Parliament that so we might not only be more perfectly inform'd of all proceedings but likewise consult with him and those of our Councel what course would be best for the preservation of Our honour and the happy accommodation of this busines This Our command being signified to the Parliament by Our Commissioner was not assented unto without a Protestation which they call a Declaration of the Parliament to this purpose That Whereas John Earle of Traquair His Majesties Commissioner honoured with a most ample Commission according to His Majesties Royall word having closed the Assembly and sitting in Parliament with them a very long time for debating and preparing such Articles as were to be represented in face of Parliament did now take upon him and that without the consent of the Estates and without any offence on their part who have endeavoured in all their proceedings to witnes their loyalty to the King and duty to His Grace as representing His Majesties sacred person to prorogate the Parliament upon a private warrant procured by sinister information against His Majesties publicke Patent under the Great Seale c. whereby hee heavily offends all His Majesties good Subjects and endeangers the peace of the whole kingdome for which he must be lyable to His Majesties animadversion and to the censure of the Parliment this being a new and unusuall way without president in this Kingdome contrary to His Majesties honour so farre engaged for present ratifying the Acts of the Kirke contrary to the lawes liberties and perpetuall practice of the Kingdome by which all continuations of Parliament once called convened and begun to sit have ever been made with expresse consent of the Estates as may be seen in the Reignes of sundry Princes c. Jac. 6. Qu. Mary Jac. 5. Jac. 4. Jac. 3. Jac. 2. Jac. 1. Therefore wee the Estates of Parliament c. are constrained in this extremitie to manifest and declare c. that as wee have not given the least cause or smallest occasion of this unexpected or unexemplified Prorogation so wee judge and know the same to be contrary to the constitution and practices of all
CHARLES BY THE GRACE OF GOD Kinge of England Scotland France and Ireland defendor of the faith etc HIS MAJESTIES Declaration CONCERNING His Proceedings with His Subjects of SCOTLAND Since the Pacification in the Camp neere Berwick LONDON Printed by R. Young His Majesties Printer for Scotland and R. Badger Printer to the Prince His Highnesse M.DC.XL C R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE By the King WE did make accompt that the Pacification which We were pleased to condescend unto the last yeare in the Campe neere Berwick and to grant to Our Subjects of Scotland even then when they were in the height of their rebellion and in the field in Armes against Us had given such demonstration to the world of Our inclination to peace and desire to spare the blood of Our people and to winne them to the obedience which they owe unto Us as that all misunderstandings had beene utterly taken away as they were on Our part and that such conditions as were then agreed upon should have beene really performed by them according to those bonds of Allegeance dutie and promise in which they stand obliged to Us. But We have since found to our unexpressible grief that Our Princely goodnesse and mildnesse in passing by that offence hath produced nothing but extreame ingratitude and insufferable insolencies against Our Government And farther by sundry libellous Pamphlets and most false and seditious discourses sent from Scotland and dispersed purposely in this Our Kingdome of England especially in our Citie of London that the cause of these disorders is sought to be shifted off from the Rebels in Scotland and most unjustly cast upon Us. Wherfore We hold Our selfe bound in that dutie which we owe to God and love to truth not to suffer Our honour to be thus betrayed and vilified by faction and rebellion but to vindicate it from all calumnie and clamour by giving hereby a cleare and just accompt to all the world of Our proceeding with Our Subjects of that Our Kingdome and of the most materiall and remarkable occurrents since that Pacification that so all those that are not partiall or will not wilfully shut their eyes against the truth may judge who they are that have beene the disturbers and infractors of the peace and that under the maske and visour of Religion seek to undermine and subvert all Monarchicall and civill Government Which accompt followes thus After We had beene some time in the Campe neere Berwicke and that Our Subjects of Scotland had encamped with their Armie in view of Ours upon an overture from them We were contented to condescend to the receiving of a Petition in which it is expressed that they falling downe at Our feet did most humbly supplicate Vs to appoint some of this Our Kingdome of England to heare by some of them their humble desires Which We having granted and severall meetings by those of both Kingdomes having been held at all which Our self to shew Our hearty and earnest desire to meet Our subjects in a peacable way were contented to be present much beyond their own expectation as they have since acknowledged and We are sure exceedingly beyond their merit at the last those of Scotland were commanded to make their demands in writing in which after they had presented their desires of which one was That the acts of the late assembly at Glasgow holden by Our Indiction might be ratified in the ensuing Parliament they professe It is their griefe that We should have beene provoked to wrath against them Our most humble and loving Subjects and that it shall be their delight upon Our gracious assurance of the preservation of their Religion and Lawes to give example to others of all civill and temporall obedience which can be required or expected of loyall subjects Whereupon We letting them know that for the better clearing of particulars We expected from them the grounds reasons of their desires but that We would not surprise them and therefore gave them time to come prepared with their grounds in writing The Lord Lowdon said Their desires were onely to enjoy their Religion and Liberties according to the Ecclesiasticall and Civill Lawes of the Kingdome and in clearing particulars they would not insist upon any that were not such This We willed him to set downe in writing under his hand which he did in these words Memorandum that our desires are onely the enjoying of our Religion and Liberties according to the Ecclesiasticall and Civill Lawes of His Majesties Kingdome To cleare by sufficient Grounds that the particulars which we humbly crave are such and shall not insist to crave any point which is not so warranted And that we humbly offer all civill and temporall obedience to Your Majesty which can be required or expected of loyall subjects Signed Lowdon To which We answered That if their desires were onely the enjoying of their Religion and Liberties according to the Ecclesiasticall and Civill Lawes of Our Kingdome of Scotland We do not onely agree to the same but shall alwayes protect them to the uttermost of Our power And if they shall not insist upon any thing but that which is so warranted We will most willingly and readily condescend unto it so that in the meane time they pay unto Vs that civill and temporall obedience which can be justly required and expected of loyall subjects This being the ground of the agreement on both sides We were pleased to proceed to a finall determination of this businesse which was brought to a conclusion upon the 17. of June 1639 And Our Declaration of that date conformable to these grounds was thereupon made which was not onely accepted by those that came in the name of all those of the Covenant but most humble thankes were given to Us by them for Our gracious answer vouchsafed to their Petition in the said Declaration which was fully agreed upon together with sundry Articles by all parties The Pacification thus concluded the Articles on both sides were to be performed accordingly Those on Our part were in the Declaration following We having considered the papers and humble petitions presented to Vs by those of Our subjects of Scotland who were admitted to attend Our pleasure in the Camp and after a full bearing by Our Selfe of all that they could say or alledge thereupon having communicated the same to Our Councell of both Kingdomes there present upon mature deliberation with their unanimous advice We have thought fit to give this just and gracious answer That though We cannot condescend to ratifie and approve the acts of the pretended Generall Assembly at Glasgow for many grave and weighty considerations which have happened both before and since much importing the Honour and Security of that true Monarchicall Government lineally descended upon Vs from so many of Our Ancestors yet such is Our gracious pleasure that notwithstanding the many disorders committed of late We are pleased not onely to confirm and make good whatsoever our Commissioner hath
granted and promised in Our Name but also We are farther graciously pleased to declare and assure that according to the Petitioners humble desires all matters Ecclesiasticall shall be determined by the Assemblies of the Kirke and matters Civill by the Parliament and other inferiour Iudicatories established by Law which Assembly accordingly shal be kept once a yeare or as shal be agreed upon at the Generall Assembly And for setling the generall distractions of that Our ancient Kingdome Our will and pleasure is that a free generall Assembly be kept at Edinburgh the sixt day of August next ensuing where We intend God willing to be personally present and for the Legall Indiction whereof We have given order and command to Our Counsell and thereafter a Parliament to be holden at Edinburgh the twentieth day of August next ensuing for ratifying of what shal be concluded in the said Assembly and setling such other things as may conduce to the peace and good of Our Native Kingdome and therein an Act of oblivion to be passed And whereas We are farther desired that Our Ships and Forces by land be recalled and all persons goods and ships restored and they made safe from invasion We are graciously pleased to declare That upon their disarming and disbanding of their forces dissolving and discharging all their pretended Tables and Conventicles and restoring unto us all our Castles Forts and Amunition of all sorts as likewise Our Royall Honours and to every one of Our good subjects their liberties lands houses goods and meanes whatsoever taken and detained from them since the late pretended Generall Assembly We will presently thereafter recall Our Fleet and retire Our land Forces and cause restitution to be made to all persons of their ships and goods detained and arrested since the aforesaid time whereby it may appeare that Our intention of taking up of armes was no way for invading of Our Native Kingdome or to innovate the Religion and Lawes but meerly for the maintaining and vindicating of Our Royall Authority And since that hereby it doth cleerely appeare that We neither have nor do intend any alteration in Religion or Lawes but that both shal be maintained by Vs in their full Integrity We expect the performance of that humble and dutifull obedience which becommeth loyall and dutifull subjects and as in their severall Petitions they have often professed And as We have just reason to believe that to our peaceable and well-affected subjects this will be satisfactory so We take God and the world to witnesse that whatsoever calamities shall ensue by Our necessitated suppressing of the Insolencies of such as shall continue in their disobedient courses is not occasioned by Vs but by their owne procurement These Conditions in this Declaration that referre to the time past have beene the most part of them already punctually complied with by Us that clause excepted in which We expresse We intended to have beene at the Generall Assembly at Edinburgh which yet being but an Intention We had assuredly performed but that We were diverted by the disorders committed by Our tumultuary Subjects in Edinburgh upon the persons of Our High Treasurer the Earle of Kinnoull Our Justice Generall Sir Iames Hamilton Counsellors of that Our Kingdome and diverse others Our good Subjects there which gave Us just cause to suspect that there could be no safety for Our Person among people inraged so immediately after Our clemency shewed to them in the Pacification But one of the greatest discouragements We had from going thither was the refusing of such Lords and others of that Nation whom We sent for to come to Us to Berwick by which disobedience they manifestly discovered their distrust of Us and it cannot be thought reasonable that We should trust Our Person with those that distrusted Us after so many arguments and assurances of Our goodnesse towards them The Articles of Pacification agreed upon were these The Forces of Scotland to be disbanded and dissolved within forty eight houres after the Publication of Our Declaration being agreed upon Our Castles Forts Amunitions of all sorts and Royall Honours to be delivered after the said Publication so soone as We should send to receive them Our Ships to depart presently after the delivery of the Castles with the first faire wind and in the meane time no interruption of Trade or Fishing We were graciously pleased to cause to be restored all persons goods and ships detained and arrested since the first of November then last past No Meetings Treatings Consultations or Convocations of any Our Lieges but such as are warranted by Act of Parliament All Fortifications to desist and no farther working therein and they to be remitted to Our Pleasure To restore to every one of Our good Subjects their liberties lands houses goods and meanes whatsoever taken or detained from them by whatsoever meanes since the aforesaid time On Tuesday the 18. of June those of Scotland came to Our Pavilion and there We signed the aforesaid Declaration and the Articles were signed by them who also signed another paper of submission to Us as followeth In the Camp 18. June 1639. In obedience to His Majesties Royall commands we shall upon Thursday next the 20. of this Iune dismisse our Forces and immediately thereafter deliver His Majesties Castles c. and shall ever in all things carrie our selves like humble loyall and obedient subjects Signed Rothes Dumfermlin Lowdon Dowglas Alex. Henderson A. Iohnstoun Those of Scotland did likewise further promise and undertake that Our foresaid Declaration should be read and published in their Army which was accordingly done by Lyon King of Armes of Scotland on Thursday the 20. in the presence of the Earle of Morton Sir Edmund Verney and Sir Iohn Borough Our Commissioners sent thither to see the same performed How these Articles have beene performed on their part comes now to be considered and will appeare by that which followes First whereas We by the publication of the Articles of Pacification expected that due respect and acknowledgment of Our authority which might have witnessed their Loyalty and sense of their thankfulnesse for so great and royall favour We found on the contrary that at the very publishing of it in their Camp the same was met with a Protestation so scandalous and dishonourable to Our Government as Our Subjects were thereby rather encouraged in their former mutinous wayes than reduced to that obedience which they promised Secondly they delivered into the hands of some of Our English Nobility and spred among others a scandalous Paper intituled Some Conditions of His Majesties Treaty with His Subjects of Scotland before the English Nobility are set down here for remembrance Wherein are contained such untruths and seditious positions and so contrary to that which was concluded in the Articles of Pacification as thereby it did plainly appeare that however they pretended a desire of peace yet they intended nothing lesse This false and seditious paper comming to Our knowledge was after by
preceding Parliaments contrary to the liberties of this free and ancient Kingdome and very repugnant to His Majesties Royall intentions promise and gracious expressions in the Articles of the late Pacificà tion c. And wee doe further declare that any Prorogation made by the Commissioners Grace alone without consent of the Parliament by himselfe or any Commissioner in his name under the Quarter Seale or by the Lords of the Councell who have no power at all in matters of the Parliament during the sitting thereof shall be ineffectuall and of no force at all to hinder the lawfull proceedings of the Subjects and the doers thereof to be censurable in Parliament And further wee declare that the Commissioner his nomination of the Articles by himselfe his calling together those Articles and commanding them to sit continually and proceed notwithstanding their daily Protestations to the contrary his keeping frequent sessions of Councell and determining causes in Councell during the time of session in Parliament his calling downe and calling up of money during the session of Parliament without consent of the Estates of Parliament notwithstanding the Parliament had taken the money to their consideration and had purposed to have given their advice for a determination thereanent his frequent prorogating of the riding of the Parliament without consent of the Estates or mentioning in the Acts of Prorogation the consent of the Articles although it were done by their advice are contrary to the liberties of the Kingdome freedome and custome of Parliament and that they be no preparatives practiques nor prejudices in time comming against us or our successors But because we know that the eyes of the world are upon us that Declarations have been made and published against us c. that our proceedings may be made odious to such as know not the way how these commandements are procured from His Majestie nor how they are made knowne nor intimate to us and doe as little consider that wee are not private Subjects but a sitting Parliament or what nationall prejudices we have sustained in time past by mis-information and what is the present case of the Kingdome We therefore declare that whatsoever by the example of our predecessours in like cases of necessity by His Majesties Indiction and by the Articles of Pacification wee might doe lawfully in sitting still and which in this extreme necessity were justifiable not onely before so just a King but to the faces of our Adversaries yet out of our most reverend regard and humble desire to render not onely all reall demonstrations of civill obedience but to put farre from us all shew or appearance of what may give His Majestie the least discontent wee have resolved for the present onely to make remonstrance to His Majestie of the reason of our propositions and proceedings in this Parliament c. and in expectation of His Majesties gracious answer to these our humble Remonstrances some of each Estate having power from the whole body of the Parliament remaine still here at Edinburgh to attend the returne of His Majesties gracious answer to our humble and just demands and further to remonstrate our humble desires to His Majestie upon all occasions that hereby it may be made most manifest against all contradiction that it was never our intention to deny His Majestie any part of that civill and temporall obedience which is due to all Kings from their Subjects and from us to our dread Soveraigne after a more especiall manner but meerly to preserve our Religion and Liberties of the Kingdome without which Religion cannot continue long in safety And if it shall happen which God forbid that after wee have made our Remonstrances and to the uttermost of our power and duty used all lawfull meanes for His Majesties Information that our malicious enemies who are not considerable shall by their suggestions and lyes prevaile against Informations and generall Declarations of a whole Kingdome we take God and men to witnesse that wee are free of the outrages and insolences that may be committed in the meane time and that it shall be to us no imputation that we are constrained to take such course as may best secure the Kirke and Kingdome from the extremity of confusion and misery Which Declaration above written wee the Estates of Parliament required the Clerke to insert in the records thereof and grant extracts thereof under his hand and subscription This Declaration was produced and read in the outer house of Parliament upon Decemb. 18. 1639. according whereunto the Nobility nominated and appointed the Earles of Lothian and Dalhouse the Lords Yester Balmerino Cranston and Naper The Barons nominated the Commissioners of the three Lothians Fife and Tweddell The Burroughes nominated the Commissioners of Edinburgh Linlithgow Sterline Hadington Dunbarre to attend at Edinburgh the returne of His Majesties gracious answer to their humble Remonstrances In this Protestation or Declaration though there be a specious shew and sundry professions of obedience to Us yet it is evident they have wounded Our Authority in the person of the Earle of Traquair Our Commissioner who did nothing in that Prorogation but by Our speciall commandement and therefore for that they cannot censure Him without reflection upon Us And besides it is positively affirmed that any Prorogation made by the Commissioner alone without consent of the Parliament shall be ineffectuall and of no force which necessarily implies that Wee have no power to prorogue whereas the contrary is most manifest truth And though upon Our command there was a shew of Prorogation yet they continued part of their Body at Edinburgh upon pretence of receiving Our answer to their Remonstrance which if it shall not be to their liking they conclude with a menacing Protestation that It shall be no imputation to them if they be constrained to take such course as may best secure the Kirke and Kingdome from the extremity of confusion and misery having first taken God and Men to witnesse that they will be free of all outrages and insolencies that may bee committed in the meane time then which nothing can be more boldly and insolently spoken After this these divided members of that distracted Parliamentary Body remaining thus at Edinburgh did send the Earle of Dumfermlin and the Lord Lowdon as their Deputies to make their Remonstrance to Us but because We understood that they came without warrant or licence from Our Commissioner and had not acquainted Him with what they were to propound unto Us We held this like the rest a great and insufferable disobedience and would not admit them to Our presence comming in this manner and so commanded them to returne without hearing them Then Our Commissioner came hither and made a report to Us of the state of Our affaires there with which We thought fit to acquaint the Lords of Our Councell of England as also with this carriage of the Parliament in Scotland and to advise with them what was to bee done for redresse of
exercised and trained and have assigned them a Rendezvous and a day to be in a readinesse to march They have made provisions of great quantities of Artillery Munition and Armes from forraine parts which they have ready in Magazine to make use of against Us their Soveraigne They have of themselves laid taxes and impositions of ten markes in every hundred upon all and every Our Subjects according to their severall Revenewes to bee levied upon their Estates for the maintenance of this Rebellion and this they have exacted with the greatest rigour tyranny that can be imagined howsoever they pretend the contribution to be voluntary They have caused to be framed and published as well in Manuscript as in Print sundry false seditious and scandalous Papers and Pamphlets concerning Our proceedings with them and amongst others one intituled An Information from the Estates of the Kingdome of Scotland to the Kingdome of England c. which having come to Our knowledge Wee caused it to bee read publikely at Our Councell Table and the Lords in detestation thereof became humble suitors to Us that it might be supprest by Proclamation and burnt by the hand of the Hangman which hath been done accordingly They have refused the Lord Estrick Governour of Our Castle at Edinburgh timber and other materialls necessary for reparation of the workes lately fallen downe there notwithstanding Our expresse commandement by Our Letters to them upon their Allegeance to furnish him They have committed sundry outrages and violences upon the persons of some of the Garrison at Edinburgh that came out of the Castle to buy victualls They have begun to raise Workes and Fortifications against the said Castle thereby to blocke up that Our Royall Fort and to render it unusefull And they have fortified sundry other places in that Our Kingdome and particularly Inchgarrie where they have mounted divers Pieces of Ordnance They have lately imprisoned the Earle of Southeske one of Our Privie Councell and sundry others of qualitie for not adhering to them and for their fidelity to Us. And whereas Wee have upon sundry occasions signified Our pleasure to the Magistrates of Edinburgh for the performance of such things as have concerned Our service in stead of yeelding obedience they have made answer That they have delivered up the power of governing the Towne into the hands of the Committee of the pretended Tables by which they have not onely voluntarily disabled themselves to serve Us but have incurred the guilt of High Treason by conferring upon any that power of Government which they derive and hold from Us alone and cannot bee resigned to any other without Our speciall warrant and command But to fill up the measure of their Treasons they have endeavoured to settle Intelligences in parts beyond the Seas and practised to let in Forraine power into that Our Kingdome as Wee are able to make appeare under the hands of some of the chiefest of them as if the fire which by their owne Rebellions they have already kindled within the bowells of that State were not sufficient to consume it unlesse they added fuell to it from abroad And herein appeares first their malignity to Us their naturall Soveraigne in that they had rather prostitute themselves to a Forraine Government and that such as is different in Religion then yeeld conformity to Ours And then secondly Wee cannot but take notice that the interests and safety of Our Selfe and this Our Kingdome of England are highly concerned herein For if a Stranger once take footing in those Northerne parts it is not hard to judge how easily hee may bee invited by such guides as they and such an entrance as they will readily give him to draw neerer to this warmer Climate of the South and then how much the English Nation are likely to bee beholding to their Scottish Neighbours for such Inmates is left to every true English heart sadly to consider and in time to endeavour to prevent lest hee bee overtaken unawares by the mischiefe which threatens every one in particular and the whole Nation in generall and yet all this with them is Religion and Lawes But because the World shall see that Wee charge them not but upon very good and sure grounds Wee have thought fit to set downe here their owne Letter Of which We have given Our good Brother the French King accompt being confident hee will not assist any Rebells against Us. The Letter followes with this endorsement Au Roy which in France is alwaies understood from those Subjects onely to their naturall Prince SIRE Vostre Majesté estant l'asyle sanctuaire des Princes Estats affligéz nous avous trouv̄ necessaire d'envoyer ce Gentilhome le Sieur de Colvil pour representer a V.M. la candeur natueté tant de nos actions procedures que de nos intentions lesquelles nous desirons estre gravēes escrites à tout l'wuivers avec un ray du Soleil aussy bien qu' a V. M. Nous vous Supplions doncques treshumblement Sire de luy adjouster foy creance a tout ce qu'il dira de nostre part touchant nous nos affaires estans tresasseurés Sire d'une assistance esgale a Vostre clemence accoustumeé cydevant si souvent monstrée a ceste Nation laquelle ne cedera la gloire à autre quelconque d'estre eternellement Sire de V.M. Les treshumbles tresobeyssants tresaffectionnés serviteurs Rothes Montrose Leslie Mar. Montgomery Loudoun Forrester Englished thus SIR Your Majestie being the refuge and fanctuary of afflicted Princes and States wee have found it necessary to send this Gentleman M. Colvil to represent unto Your Majestie the candor and ingenuity as well of our actions and proceedings as of our intentions which we desire to be engraved and written to the whole World with a beame of the Sunne as well as to Your Majestie We therefore most humbly beseech You Sir to give faith and credit to him and to all that he shall say on our part touching us and our affaires being most assured Sir of an assistance equall to Your wonted clemencie heretofore and so often shewed to this Nation which will not yeeld the glorie to any other whatsoever to be eternally Sir Your Majesties most humble most obedient and most affectionate servants Rothes Montrose Lesly Mar. Montgomery Loudoun Forrester Now these affronts to Our Government dangers to Our State which have no relation at all to Religion Law but in the violation of them both have necessitated Us to put the forces of this Our Realme in order and Our Selfe into a condition to be able by Gods help to vindicate Our safety and honour against all those that under pretence of Religion and Law have already risen or shall rise up against Us and to preserve and keep in safety Our good and loyall Subjects and to take care that the gangrene bee cut off before it spread too farre to the endangering of this Our Kingdome of England