AN EXPLANATION OF SOME TRUTHS Of the carriage of things about this great WORK Frustra laboramus nisi laboris nostri Reipublicae cui omnia post Deum debemus ratio constet Pro captu Lectoris habent sua fata Libelli Published by Authority LONDON Printed in the Yeer 1645. TO THE READER Impartiall and judicious Reader HEre I give thee a short and true View or Description of the present state and condition of the Scots in relation to this great Cause of Church and State now in hand for which these last yeers there hath been and yet at this present is such fighting and fensing with strength and skill amongst us in these Dominions On the one side By the good party bestirring themselves by good and just actions in the Field and by right and wholsome advice in the Counsell to put forward and establish the Truth of Religion setled in a thorow Reformation in Doctrine and Discipline according to the Word of God and conform to the example of the best Reformed Neighbour-Churches as we are all sworn to by our solemn Covenant to lay aside all other tyes in this place for the glory of God with the eternall salvation of our immortall souls and to obtain a solid and firm Peace in the enjoying whereof we may lead a sober and quiet life serving God as we ought to do and be in comfort one to another On the other side By the adverse party not onely manifest and declared but also secret and counterfeited who first did begin this strife and still continues it acting by open Warfare and secret undermining what he can to hinder and put back this good Work of a thorow Reformation and in lieu of it to raise up and put on for faction and interest with the inventions of men cunningly devised and craftily disguised with the mask of Piety towards God and of good towards the People But of this thou shalt see more in the ensuing Discourse A SHORT VIEW OF The present condition of SCOTLAND THe Common Enemy by great slight and profound skill having brought us all in a manner insensibly and smoothly we hardly perceiving it to such a passe that we were all catched almost when we did think our selves freest For how many were there amongst us who thinking themselves sincere professors of the truely reformed Religion were altogether infected with errour and heresie by an unparallell'd cunning of the Enemies of the Truth in one way or other He then did judge it fit time as in all probability it was to dallie no more nor deal with us by undermining any further but in an open way to overthrow whatsoever should lie in his way in case of any opposition to his main designe which is to withdraw men from the Service of God and from true love one to another Now when he had cast his eyes up and down among us to see where it was fittest for him to begin this his great and open undertaking in the end he resolves to begin at Scotland where if he found compliance he had what he desired for they who were so far distant from him having once complied would not only invite others by their example to submit but also help him to go on with the work And in case the Scots should refuse being not able to resist long as he thought by reason of their weaknesse for counsell and action with means to support both they should be made an example of punishment to all others not to dare to refuse and against their will to serve unto the advancement of the designe So the Scots are gone too and compliance is required of them which almost had been obtained the most part of the spirits of the people being kept under by heavy pressures and the great ones inslaved by Court-interest but God in his Mercy to that Nation did stir up the spirits of divers of all ranks and degrees despiseable indeed in the eyes of the Enemy to stand in the gap with wisdom and resolution First In a fair way to decline and put off what was unjustly required of them by the Court acting for the Enemy of God and his people Next When no better could be they take Arms and stop the Enemies coming unto them upon which a Peace is made with them and their just demands are granted for the most part in words at least The Articles of Peace are no sooner agreed upon but resolution is taken by the Court to break them thus First There is a Plot set afoot to catch at Berwick the chief sticklers for the Truth Which Plot by Gods Providence is discovered and disappointed Then shortly thereafter at London the Articles are burned publikely the Scots Commissioners put in prison and a second expedition undertaken against them So the Scots Reformers were put to work again by a new undergoing of War which they perform as formerly with wisdom and resolution and with successe under Gods blessing For having in a very short time setled their own Countrey by subduing those who had then risen and stood out against them they come into England to seek out the Enemy who was bound for their Countrey unto whom they give a repulse and thereafter they come forward to New-castle from whence they send their Commissioners to treat with the King where all the time they stayed they behaved themselves with such temper and moderation that their sworn Enemies had nothing to say against their carriage The Scots incoming and abode at New-castle did embolden some of the English Nobility chief Gentry and Magistracy to petition the King openly and freely for a Parliament to redresse all the disturbances in the Common-wealth both of Church and State The King although he had never intended to have any Parliament as was clear not onely by divers expressions of himself and of the Court but also by the managing of publike affairs is necessitated by reason of the Scots to grant a Parliament which he doth and since he could not refuse it his second thought is how to make it work for his purpose which he endeavoureth by causing to be chosen divers Members of the Commons so far as he was able to do what by his own private Orders what by the Court-dependers Nobles and others of credit but all will not do for some of those who were chosen by his procurement are rejected others do not answer according to his expectation Then he plots with the Army he had gathered against the Scots and by Papists to undo the Parliament but the Plot through fear of miscarriage the Scots being so neer is discovered and faileth After this the King hath his recourse to the Scots themselves if they would come forward and destroy the Parliament they should have the plunder of the City of London for their pains with the four next adjacent Counties for their inheritances besides store of money The Scots are so far from consenting to this base act that they reject it with disdain and
it is expressed first in generall terms in the Declaration at the giving the Commission to the Earl of Essex then more particularly in the Covenant This sheweth the forgetfulnesse of him who in a solemn Assembly was so unmindfull of the Truth as to aver that Religion was not the ground of the quarrell betwixt us and the Common Enemy at the first abusing the simpler ones and making use of the connivence of others yea he was put at work by some to say so at least he was applauded by them as the story runs This quarrell here in England hath cost the Scots a great deal of pains First In the Counsell both of Church and State Then In the Fields with the losse of many a gallant brave man which they think all well spent bestowed since God hath been pleased to make use of their endeavours to put forward in some measure his good Work in both Church and State and to represse the domineering of the Common Enemy who ever since the conjunction of the Scots with the State of England hath been declining if the thing be well considered with judgement although now and then he hath had some lucida intervalla as we have all seen As the Scots think their pains labours expences charges c. well bestowed so they complain not of the manifold reproaches and lyes that have been said and spred against them what by the open Enemy what by the false Friends nor of the hardship their Army hath endured to this day in the Field no more then of the small content of their Commissioners in the Counsell which all they passe and lay aside not as insensible and leprous men who have no feeling for in any other thing they are touchy enough but as being resolved to do all what they can and suffer what they are able for the Cause of God and of his people with grief of mind to see those whom at first they conceived certainly to be right and round in this businesse to have corners and by-wayes wherein they must acknowledge the shortnesse of their own judgement and confesse the infirmity of man But their great grief is at least should be that their Army hath not been timely nor duly furnish'd with conveniencies and necessaries to make it go on with action in the Field yea to see them kept back from doing as if it were plotted of purpose Then that their counsells in Church and State have not onely not prevailed but have been hid yea opposed and so hindered to yeeld their due fruit unto the Cause in hand as they intended Besides all these things in joyning with the Parliament in action and Counsell and coming in when it was below a stand they have not onely exposed themselves and their poor native Countrey to all kinde of perills and inconveniency but have drawn evil upon it More They have gone in the highest degree of contradiction to the King for they have not onely in down-right terms declared themselves opposite to his designe but have quite spoiled it which as he told them he would easily compasse in this Kingdom if they would be quiet and indeed he had brought his businesse to a pretty passe before the Scots came in Then their coming in into England and their going before into Ireland did empty their native Countrey much of men of Counsell and action So for England they left their own Countrey as if it were to be a prey unto the Malignants there who since not being kept under by the good party by reason of its weaknesse shew themselves to be in great number Next The indifferent and neutrals whereof there be but too many everywhere most men looking more to their convenience here upon Earth then to the Glory of God or to his Kingdom who had sided formerly with the good party bearing the sway but since seeing them absent for the most part helping their Friends and weakest at home begin to have other thoughts and fall in with the Malignants All this being perceived by the King who hath his thoughts full of revenge against the Covenanted Scots with England bethinks himself of all means possible to oppresse and destroy that poor Countrey of Scotland and in the first place the Danes are invited to invade it unto whom are promised the Isles of Orkades for their pains their old pretension But as the Danes were preparing to come hither God sends them another work to do at home which was to defend themselves from their invaders to wit the Swedish with whom after a great strugling by Sea and by Land they have been constrained to make their peace almost upon any terms Yet we hear they are now making again themselves ready for War and against us as we are informed to try perhaps if they can make up their losses in some measure in one way or other upon us Again The King seeing the Scots siding with the Parliam of England sets afoot Plot upon Plot in the South part of Scotland but by Gods blessing they all fail being no sooner discovered but repressed and thrown in the dust More By Pyrates and men of War having Commission from the King the Scots Ships with goods and men are taken yea divers men are thrown overboord Their onely quarrell is the conjunction of the Scots with the Parliament of England in the Service of this Common Cause The losses the Scots have suffered by Sea since their sideing with the Parliament do exceed far the monethly allowance agreed upon for their Army although it were well and fully payed which they are far short of for since these eight moneths they have had but one moneths pay to wit about Thirty thousand pounds and these from the City of London Last of all The King bethinks himself since he is pleased to own all the undertakings of the Juncto although he be not alwayes one of the number it taking its authority from the Pope and the Roman-Catholike Princes abroad more then from him although he hath the name of all to send over out of Ireland some of those desperate Villains who at their first rising in Rebellion in Ireland did offer all kindnesse unto the Scots saying that they would not stir against them who take a fit opportunity of the good party of the Scots being absent out of their Countrey for the most part and they enter into Scotland by the Isles and the Hills finding a party of Malignants some whereof and the chief Traitors had been sent from the Court to manage the businesse who not only privatly do favour openly do side with them but make a number of disguised Villains betray the trust they had from the Countrey in places of power and command yea some in the time of action in the Field either slakly acting against the Enemy or flying from before him or running over to him at divers places and times So the Enemy increaseth his party in Scotland spoileth and destroyeth divers places of the Countrey
give notice of it to the Parliament with assurance of their affection and faithfulnesse Upon this the Scots are cryed up to be Parliaments Army by some and the Parliament to be for the Scots Then jealousies must be raised against the Scots That they would never remove nor go home This reproach is raised and spred abroad by the adversaries of Church and State and received by the simpler ones otherwayes well-meaning and well-disposed men So the Scots to take away all kinde of suspicion repaire home peaceably Then the King must follow them home to try conclusions First He essayeth again if the Scots Army could be corrupted for his designe But he loseth his pains Next He goeth on and being in Scotland he tryeth if he can make sure the chief opposers of the great designe as of some also who had not served him according to the trust he had given them therein This Plot also faileth By this time the Irish break forth in Rebellion burning and spoiling the Countrey and slaying the English Protestants there amongst them The Villains give out That they have nothing to say against the Scots their old Friends Brethren and neer Neighbours but against the Adherents to that wicked Parliament of England so displeasing to the good King This they did hoping that by these fair words and not doing harm at first to the Scots amongst them to make the Scots be quiet whom they knew would be very soon in readinesse to fall upon them if the King and Parliament of England would allow and desire it The Scots make offer of their Service unto the King while he is amongst them for repressing the Rebellion in Ireland He waves the businesse and puts it off with that he could do nothing without the Parliament of England and so he cometh to the Parliament where till he was constrained he said little or nothing of the Rebels at last he is made to make a Declaration against them and then course must be taken for repressing them The Scots continue to offer their assistance but with shifts they were put off by the Court and by some corrupt men fiding with the Court for a long time At last the Scots send an Army into Ireland willing to do their best but not being furnished with necessaries for the prosecution of the Service nor supplied in their wants they could not go on so earnestly and with such heartinesse as they themselves wished so after divers of them had starved and perished for want some return back to their own Countrey yet they leave there a considerable body under the conduct of Major Generall Monro which number had absolutely starved if it had not been supplied from Scotland who although it was not able to provide for that Army in such a proportion as was needfull for a more earnest pursuance of the Service yet they kept them alive and encouraged them to go still on with the Work and although that Army there hath not done all what was expected of them yea not so much perchance as some men conceive they might have done yet one thing is acknowledged by all That this Army hath kept alive the Protestant-businesses in that Kingdom for without it the cessation and compliance with the Rebels had gone on through the whole Countrey unto the prejudice of the Common Cause and to the damage of these Kingdoms for the English Army sent thither being corrupted and drawn hither by the King the Protestant-Indwellers in Ireland had complyed being inclined to the Court for the most part But to return unto England The King having left London resolves to make War against the Parliament and being at Windsor he causeth to gather together some men to try what he could do in the businesse but he seeing his few gathered men to be dispersed by the Countrey finds for such an undertaking he must have a help from beyond Seas to this effect he sends the Queen unto Holland and he finds that he must go further off from London So after her departing he goeth to York where he sets afoot and lays all the devises he can to make War against the Parliament The Scots hearing of this presently send Commissioners to deal with him and to desire him to leave off the designe of making Civill War in England while the Protestants were thus massacred in Ireland He obstinatly rejects their remonstrance and sends them back not suffering them to come any further according to their order and mind which was to repair unto the Houses of Parliament and to deal with them for the taking away all mistakes betwixt the King and them The King having essayed all he could in York-shire to little purpose at last cometh Southward to Nottingham where seeing his bad successe in his undertaking he sends to the Parliament for agreement The businesse is slighted at least not so earnestly laid hold on as the Scots had done at far lesse ouverture by some chiefly who since have made known that they had more their own particular to heart then the publike good So the King continuing his designe of War with the few men he had then goes Westward where he gets more men and so with open force carrieth on the War The Winter following the Scots seeing the pursuance of the service of Ireland slacked yea in a kinde neglected and things come to a great hight in England with the losse of much blood already and spoile of a part of the Countrey resolve to send once again unto the King then at Oxford the same Commissioners that were sent to him at York with one or two more from the Church and State The King being moved for a passe to them refuseth it for a time but at last he grants it as they desired which was to repair freely to and fro betwixt him and the Parliament as the occasion should require Upon which the Scots Commissioners come to Oxford and tell their message to the King who slighteth them and useth them coldly and corsely After their abode for divers moneths to no purpose they give notice to those who had sent them that they could do no good with the King not so much as to have liberty to go unto the Parliament yea not to converse with the Commissioners from the Parliament then at Oxford At last they are sent for to go home The King not being willing at that time to give such an open occasion unto the Scots as to make them rise then in Arms sends their Commissiones home with generall and ambiguous words and tels them that if they would be quiet he would ere it were long have reason of the Parliament of England but if they should stir he would be put to it So they go home and give accompt of their voyage The K. perceiving partly by the Commissioners partly by his spies from the Countrey that since he would not be moved to agree with the Parliament the Scots were inclining to side with the Parliament in case of need
as wherein Justice is denied there Answer to the seventh Proposition That for the complaints that are or may be made of the Scottish Army to the Parliament the Committee do conceive it just That the complaints should be communicated to the Scots Commissioners as is desired And for the preventing of such complaints to the Parliament for the future That the Committee of both Kingdoms residing with the Scots Army endeavour the redresse of them if possible upon the place After all this upon complaints made on purpose The Scots must be sent back in all haste without any more ado without regard to what they have done what they are doing and what they may do for the publike Cause now in hand and without respect to the Treaty made betwixt the two Nations and to their mutuall ingagements And this went on so far by the artifice of the Independents that it was moved in publike by a great stickler of that Faction and a Venter of their Plots Thereafter The Independents have another thought which is to have the Garrisons taken in by the Scots from the Enemy in their possession namely Carlile and New-castle as places fit for their plantations from the one they do think to spread their seed into Scotland and send it over to Ireland with facility and from the other to have easie commerce with London Amsterdam c. and this is because the Scots hinder their Plots But let the World judge whether or no it is reasonable that the Scots return presently back into their Countrey and give over those Garrisons before the Work be ended that is Religion and Peace setled for which they have done and suffered so much abroad and at home in their zeal to the Cause and kindnesse to their Friends and leave all to the adversaries of the Covenant and whether or no they should have any place of retreat in case of need so long as they are about the Service And Is it to be thought that the Scots should return home re infecta they came hither for when they are constantly willing and in capacity to go usefully on with the Service to say nothing of the just thanks due unto them for what they have suffered and done in their love to the Cause and affection to their Friends What Must the Scots abandon the Garisons to the adversaries of the Reformation who have already some sticklers in New-castle who begin to broile and to trouble the People with their errours and phantasticall dreams leading to Faction and division Last The factious Independents in what truth we shall see it presently give out That it is by their wisdom purses and valour that things are brought to so good a passe and unto the happy condition we see them in for the ending of these troubles To this I answer Let no man sacrifice unto his own worth merit or action for it is a great sacriledge to take away from God his due who is all in all since in him we are and move not having either being or motion but by him originally and by his continued upholdig and assistance of us Then It is Idolatry to put any thing whatsoever in the lieu of God But let this passe for this time As for the wisdom purses and valour of the Independents Where were they before the Scots coming in Yea Where were they before the raising of the Siege of Oxford And to begin at their wisdom By a great deal of cunning they have stopped the setling of the Church to this day and consequently the setling of the Common-wealth The Church being as it were the soul and the State as the body of the Common-wealth except the Church that is the soul be in a good posture the Common-wealth cannot be well And for the State or politike part of the Common-wealth They are the cause of all the jarres jealousies and mistakes betwixt men of both Nations and betwixt divers in this one Nation yea betwixt City and Parliament Next By craft from the very beginning of this War the Independents have scrued themselves in imployment and got in to have a main hand in all businesses But by their wisdom they had brought things to such a passe that not onely they did lose their credit but they durst hardly appear in the streets for a time so odious were they become unto the People The incoming of the Scots did put life in them again for the People seeing that they were so earnest for the Scots whose successe and dexterity was known to all with their fidelity and honesty could not but give occasion to think better of the Independents then they had done formerly by reason of the miscarriage of things But these sweet Birds ingrate to their restaurators and unthankful to the People fall to their old tricks again to raise up their Faction against Church and State As the Scots by their assistance gave the Independents life when they were dead as it were and raised them from the dust unto consideration by their seasonable help so the late miscarriage of busine; sses by some then in power did furnish unto the Independents some means to thrust in businesses favour among the People All this while the Independents are getting themselves in all Committees and Counsells namely where money is a handling So by degrees they get benefit and power into their hands and then pleasure some whom they do affect and put nack others whom they do dislike By this means divers of all ranks to get their desires either of benefit or employment do side with them or to have their turn served for the present do cog in with them for a time As the Independents do dispose all things almost according to their mind in the Southern Forces by putting out those they do dislike and taking in those whom they think fit for their ends or at least who do not oppose them nor do take any notice of their tricks and devises So They do study in the North to keep the Scots idle being not fitted with accommodations for the Service yet earnest they are to call them Southward yea to make the weight of the main Service to lie upon them and then cry out against them That they do not go on as they were desired and that to irritate both Parliament and People Then As the new moulded Army was a setling many good occasions of doing businesses are let passe by the faults of the Independents whereunto advice was given namely by the Scots Commissioners and by other judicious men upon good intelligence for the easie compassing of things At last There must be a Siege at Oxford at such a time and in such a way How that Siege was undertaken according to the rules of wisdom the judicious understanding and indifferent men both at home and abroad can tell All this time the Independents in their wisdom are not onely busie to stop the setling of the Church in a true and through Reformation as by the Covenant