preparing should not be for matters of Religion which were all setled in the Assembly as they did alledge but for other civill differences in the Common-wealth and truly in all appearance the matters of the Kirk were setled in that Assembly with the consent of the Commissioner but that wise men began to doubt of the sincerity of the work when they found him by his after declarations and explanations digging â—â— posterne to escape and make way for his after denâ—all of what had been concluded And in these tearms the Parliament did begin and hath continued not to settle the affairs of the Kirk as was promised and was certainly expected by us but to bring in a precedent of servitude which neither we noâ— our Fathers were acquainted with and so it hath been broken off and adjourned by his Majesties own authority without consent of the â—states which is diâ—â—ctly against the â—aws and pracâ—isâ—s of this Kingdome and contrary to the Articles of agrâ—ement And although our predecessours took another course yet we came onely with supplications and prayers and to shew our invincible obedience unto his Majesty sent up our Commissioâ—ers to London who were rejected and never seen nor heard and yet hoping with this unexampled patience to overcome the malice of our adversaries we send up again our Commissioners with propâ—sitions that were so just as that they contained nothing but what was before granted unto us under his Majesties hand and seal nor could receive any denyall from a picus and just Prince as being all comprehended in this And which had been the summe and subject of all our supplications protestations informations declarations from the beginning namely that the Fundamentall Laws of the Kingdome which had been violated and the Religion which was manifestly infringed might in a free Assembly and Parliament be again confirmed and the unworthy authors legally questioned and which had been more expresly set down in the Articles of pacification that as there according to the tenor of the Articles of agreement all matters civill were to be judged by Parliaments and all Ecclesiasticall matters by the assemblies of the Kirk And that as the Assembly promised by his Majesty had been granted and had concluded the differences of the Kirk so his Majesty would not delay or deny the conclusion of the Parliament for ratifying the acts of this Assembly and settling other differences of the Common-wealth aâ— was fully agreed in that Treatie at the Kings Camp yet these propositions and desires being so necessarie and vitall unto this Kingdome could find no accesse unto the eares of the gracious King by reason of the powerfull diversion of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Deputie of Ireland who strengthened with the high and mighty Faction of Papists neare his Majesty onely side in all matters ofâ—spirituall and temporall affairs and makes the necessity of their service to his Majesty appear in being the only fit instruments under the pretext of vindicating his Majesties honour to oppresse both the just liberties of his free Subjects and the true reformed Religion in all his Kingdomes In which devilish designe we have great cause to say they are far advanced if the granting of a free Assembly and Parliament to us at this time which hath been the ground of all our just desires from the beginning and the conclusion of the Treatiâ— this last yeare as the onely mean to cure all the evills of Kirk and State and settle the peace and welfare of both Kingdomes Prove in the end as it appeareth this day like the Councel of Trent to the Christian Kirk which was appointed for reforming the abuse therof yet through the ambition and covetousnesse of Kirk-men and the miserable jealousies of the Princes of the time who minded more their private end and interest then the cause of Christ and his Kirk was found in effect the active engine and instrument to establish and settle the tyranny of the Pope and his Clergie wherfore the greater and more lively are our apprehensions of danger at this time that all these câ—ooked and crosse plots interchecking one another in denying a Parliament to us where it was promised upon the honour of a King and for the safety of two such Nations in granting it unto you where it was not expected for the reasons that all wise men cannot but remember and in forcing one upon Ireland where none is desired Giving out Commissions to destroy us before we can apprehend any other or new guiltinesse but that we have been constant suters for the conclusion of the Parliament and the fulfilling of the Articles of the treaty raising our Parliament contrary to the Laws and the expresse Articles of the agreement inforcing Garisons upon us that they might force us to a necessary denyall of such unreasonable demands and to a necessity to provide for our selves that all these we know are done and devised to pick a quarrel and to be the ground of a false and wyre drawn Remonstrance against us and now by the particular instigation of these men we named before a mighty army is preparing and an utter ruine threatned to our Religion and Countrey Lest in regard of these premisses our silence in so necessary a time should argue a neglect of our duty to God and our King the safety and honour of our Conntrey the peace and â—elfare of both the Nations what so nearly trenches to the prejudice and hazard of all these cannot be longer forborne Therfore we professe before the Christian world and to our dear brethren of England especially the representative Body of the Kingdome now happily conveyned in both the Houses of Parliament whom it most concerns that we cannot otherwise judge and esteem but that all these Councels that have been given of late by these intemperat Counsellors who direct the course of all affaires do not onely proceed from such persons as to serve their own ends under colour of advancing his Majesties Prerogative doe weaken Royall power and bring the Kingdomes unto confusion but that they truly are first hammered in Spain and in the Conclave and put into the hand of their cunning Artisans among you who have ever been a viperous brood which with tooth and naile have assayed to rent the bowels of their own mother yea who never sooner learned to obey the Roman Church as their mother but assoon they acknowledged the Catholick King for their Father and their own King for an usurper if they think him to be an Heretickâ— So that we are perswaded that neither the invincible Armado of the eighty eight nor the Gun-powder plot nor any other Royall Navie from thence like unto that which came the other yeare upon your coast the which ye had the more reason to suspect that it came so unlooked for and at so unseasonable a time needs to be attempted any more for the ruine of this I le but onely â—hat they be carefull as we doubt not they are that the
did march towards us with an Armie we neglected all courses which might advance our humane safety rather then start from any jot of our obedience or give any seeming distaste to our deare Brethren of England and rather adventured the ruine of our own Countrey then indangered theirs Yea further when we did with horrour and amazement heare those unexampled Proclamations given out against a whole Nation who were never tainted with the least thought of disobedience to their Prince his just commands according to the rule of their Lawes Notwithstanding of this great provâ—cation there was nothing to be heard amongst us but vows for his Majesties prosperity and hearty desires from all to spend their bloud for the increase of his estate and service of his Crown and who abhorred then to be reduced to that extremity as to arme themselves for their own defence and preservation It will scarcely be beleeved by Strangers by what means two Nations so near together and so straitly tyed in all the bonds of goodwill and mutuall respect where there was so little cause of espousing these quarrells wherin none of the Nations were concerned or wronged by the other in their own proper rights should be brought to such a posture and near so dangerous a rupture that would not been easily to say no more pâ—eced up again in our dayes but it was the worke of God and it should be wonderfull in our eyes who in the carriage of all this great busines hath made every stoppe and â—etâ— casten in by the adversary a step of advancement to the furthering of his Cause as is well known and acknowledged by all whom God hath honoured to be the least instruments in this work who also made this a singular meane to testifie our loyaltie and the sincerity of our hearts where we presented our humble and just desires unto his Majesty and for the honour of the cause which we maintain and the tender regard to the credit of our own Prince although then armed against his own people and for the brotherly respect unto the Nobility and others of our neighbour Nation inâ—ending nothing we beleeve but to follow the King although really saâ—isfying the ambiâ—ion and bloud thirsâ—ing reveâ—ge of a miserable Prelat We laboured in the treatie to give all satisfaction on our part that could be required of most loyall Subjects and sensible of our Kings honour â—ourenemies being judges even to our own apparent disadvantage for we delivered all places into his Majesties hands which were desired in testimony of our obedience and although they might have been in our hands pledges of assurance for performance of these Articles that were agreed to be granted in the following Assembly and Parliament and now contrary to our expectation are turned for Engines of terrour and Fetters of slavery to frustrate us from obtayning the benefit of that capitulation Notwithstanding of all breach of promise we cannot but professe according to our tender respect to our Prince wherein we are inwardly gâ—ieved for the dishonour that is done to his Majesty by the bad instruments that are about him that neither we were then ever-reached nor do we yet repent upon our part for that great trust and confidence we reposed upon his Majesty for we did then remember that we were dealing with our Prince with whom as we should not strive for appurtenaces when the maine was granted so we might rest assured that if he could not be brought in his own mind to judge aright how farre he had been misled against us his own people who had given such an ample testimony of our trust and of the interest we should have in his favour above all other but still continue to pursue any advantages to our prejudices we did not otherwise think but when ever he had a minde to breake he could never want ill grounded pretence to alledge against us and it was fittest for us rather to hazard the disadvantage and commit the successe to God what ever prejudice we should suffer for if the word of a King which should be the Oracle of truth to his people and the faith of promises and contracts under hand and seale which is the ground-work of trust in all humane society and is sacred and inviolable amongst Infidels and Turks may not justly challenge for us the performance of the Articles of the Treaty upon his Majesties part then may we truly think that nothing we could have framed or desired then would have been for our safety of any avail unto us as nothing had done us good or succeeded according to our minde in all these things we have condescended unto wherunto we were not oblidged by any duty or respect whatsoever otherwise then that we might not be defrauded of the full and reall performance of the Articles of agreement but on the contrary it doth evidently appeare by all that hath past that there hath been no desire nor meaning of peace in the hearts and minds of our adversaries unto this day for all the businesse of the capitulation hath been taken by them as a cloak to cover their more cunning and crafty designes hoping thereby to weaken us in time by their wicked policie whom they could not then overcome by open force making us a â—how to dissolve all Forces on either side that they might lay the Foundation of a more dureable warre by setting strong Garrisons on the Border receiving the strong holds of the Kingdome to be keeped after that condition they were in before these troubles began and presently preparing them for nests of violence to the chief parts of the Kingdome Calling forth by his Majesties letters a great number of our chief men under weak pretences of businesse when all the matters of the treaty had been ended with a few of that number unto Barwick and when some of them came keeping matters in the clouds untill the rest were come and sending them back again like stales to bring in their fellows and when this did not hold laying then plots deep and a farre off to entrap some of our principall men as God hath wonderfully discovered since and will more and more to the confusion of these who have been authors and abetters to such base assasinats And which hath been the master-piece of their â—ubtill device suffering the Assembly to goe on and determine all matters of the Kirk that had been in question The Commissioner in the Kings name consenting to all the Acts that passed promising also to ratifie them all in the Parliament that was presently to follow plotting hereby that what they gave with the one hand they would take away with the other for this seeming of setling matters in the Assembly and withholding the civill sanction of the Parliament for their being and existance in the Common-wealth as it would make them really of no effect so it did gain a colour and pretext to that designe they did most intend that the next rupture to which they were
divert in time our gracious King from runing headlong unto these violent courses which cannot but produce in the end lamentable effects both for Prince and People And since we have just cause of feare that what hath been begun without your consent will also be followed contrary to your advise although we think nothing more properly doth belong unto to the justice of that high Court then â—o provide that they who have been drawers of his Majesty tâ— this action so dangerous for himself and so desperate for the Kingdomes should not passe away unquestioned and unpunished And nothing could be further from our expectation then that the Councel of England should conclude a warre against us upon the relation of one man â—brought upon the stage of purpose to act that malicious part without your consentâ— wherby it is apparent that these our adversaries have come to that height of insolencie to let all the Subjects see that they have taken to themselves a liberty to throw down the Laws of the Kingdome and laid a necessity upon us his Majesties own people as it were to choose their leasure and attend untill they have power and come and worke our overthrow by Sea and Land and that without a warning going before So now we understand that a restraint is put upon our Commissioâ—ers Some of them being put in the hands of Sheriffes some of Justices of peace at London Contrary to our expectation for who expecting this would either have send or gone in that Commission Contrary to the Law of Nations for we are two diveâ—se Nations and Kingdomes and they were sent from a Parliament promised and called by his Majesty and warranted by his Majesty to repaire to his presence and to shew the reasons of our demands Contrary to the very foundation of our present Treaty for a Committee was appointed legally by the authority of the Parliament and necesâ—arily for keeping correspondence with our Commissioners and to receive from them his Majesties answers that we wonder any man should be so absurd as to suggest to his Majesty that it is an unlawâ—ull or presumptuous Committee or that they have taken upon them the govâ—rnment of the Town of Edinburgh And that for a long time past no word or writ commeth from them and we are put out of hope to heare from them hereafterâ— That we can neither know whether there was any want in their propositions and reasons or whether there was any thing to be supplyed by us for a â—ull satisfaction and contrary to the deservings of our Commissioners for nothing is pretended to have escaped them which might have deserved this captivitie And as for the present condition of safetie of the Earle of Southesk and Sir Lewes Stewart at Edinburgh it can be no true ground there of his Majesty being fully informed by their own Letters how that harmlesse accident of their surprizall came on a suddain by the unexpected follie and rashnesse of the Governour of the Castle threatning presently upon their dispatch to discharge all his Ordinance against the Town And to ring as he was pleased to speak an uncouth peale of bells in their eares and we may truly adde by their own precipitation and too great haste to speed themselves to the Ports for escaping the common danger The multitude not without their own grounds conceived that the arresting of them might be a defence to themselves or at least a delay of the Governours furie But no sooner were they arrested by the People but they were rescued by order from the Magistrate and courteously used by such of the Nobilitie and Gentrie as were in the Town Since that time no violence hath been done against them but they have of their own accord and for their own safetie stayed in the Town with such libertie as they think meet to use to repair to the Streets Kirk Gardens or whither they will And in what equity can a particular tumult of some â—ew Commons in one City reflex upon the perâ—ons of the Commissioners sent from the whole Parliament oâ— the whole Nation But at the writing hereof we are advertised that the matter draweth a greater deep and that the Lord Lowdoun is committed to the Towre not upon the shallow pretext of safety to any arrested here but upon his own guiltines his hand and subscription being found at a Letter directed to the French King from certain Earles and Lords of Scotland for imploring his assistance to their courses This by our adversaries and such as had decreed our destruction before is already exaggerat and raised to a mountaine not onely to fall upon the Lord Lowdoun and others whose hands are found in it but that all former friends and all indifferent persons may stumble at our Cause as hereby evidenced to be nothing lesse forsooth then Religion But the Honourable Houses of Parliament who are acquainted with the designes and malice of our enemies and to whom our innocencie in times past cannot altogether be unknown are more grave and wise then upon the hearing or seeing of such a Letter to precipitate in judgement against us and our Nation before we be heard For their satisfaction and for vindicating our-selves we are constrained against our hearts in this our Remonstrance to remember and represent the words of that unexempled Proclamation given at York April 25. 1639. otherwise never to have been resented but buried in silence and in studied senselesnes and which we doe not attribute to the Majesty of our King but to the base cruelty of our barbarous enemies The words are thus We are forced to have râ—course to a more â—harp and quick way to cure their obstinancy and rebellion by the sword of justice And therfore in that case we do proclaime all such as shall reject this our free and gratâ—ous pardon and does not return before the said eight dayes to that civill and dutifull obedience to be from thenceforth open Rebels and Traitours to us our Crown and dignity and declare all their lands and possessions goods and geir to be forfeited to us and our Crown and that we shall dispose of their lands possessions goods and geir to our wel deserving Subjects Noblemen Gentlemen and others who shal adhere to us obey our just commands And to this purpose we discharge all vassals and tennants to any rebels from making paymâ—nt to them of any of their rents duties or casualties and require them to keep the same in their hands the one haâ—fâ— whereof shall be kept for our use the other halfe for themselves promising also to the tennants of the said rebels who shall leave their Misters and assist us to the maintenance of our authority good tearms of yeares in the estates they possâ—sse with the dimunition of the third at least if not more of the duties they pay as we shall find them to deserve by their good service and ready obedience to us And to the vassâ—ls of such superiours as are rebels that