Chapter LXXIX: Appendix (3)

3. Wheras the sinns of couetousnes, oppression, and selue-seiking haue beine oftin reproued in your Lops: and are enumerated with the sins of this land, and confessed, and wowes takin one for awoyding thesse sins the tyme to come, the soleme acknouledgement and ingagement; zet wee conceaue, amongest other sins, for the iniquitie of your couetousnes the Lord hath beine wrothe, and hath smittin the land, and for your selue-seeking and studinng your auen intrest and endis; becausse that notwithstanding you and wee haue said to the Lord, and suorne, that denaying ourselues, and our auen thinges, and laying asyde all selue interest and endis, wee shall aboue all thinges seeike the honor of God and wealthe of his people, zet quho knoweth not that some of your Lops: hath made your pouer, places, and imployments, rather a matter of gaine and interist to yourselues, then of seeking the good of the causse, and the wealthe of the people. Wher is the denayell of yourselues, and of your auen thinges, wich was promissed to the Lord? Hath not your litle finger beine heauier then the loynes of the worthey reweler, quho wold not eat the bread of the gouernour, that he might easse the peoples burden? How few are ther amongest your Lops: quho will emptie themselues for the good of the causse?

For remedie quherof, wee beseiche als maney of you as hath greidily gained, and made aduantage of the publicke and of the poore of the land; and by the lewies, Kinges rewenewes, fynnes, borrowed moneyes, and wtherwayes of fingring soumes, haue drawin vnto yourselues and frinds that wich did belonge to the publicke wsse, that you wold cleane your hands of your dishonest gaine, at wiche the Lord will smytte his hands, and wich will be mouthe to consume your housses. Let the extortioner and oppressor, oppress no more; and lett it be leuked vpone as your Lops: deutey, impartially to bring all men to the accompte for the wast soumes that haue beine misapplayed, and knowen oppressors brought to condigne punishment.

4. Notwithstanding wee haue acknouledged our sin, in follouing, for the most pairt, the counsells of fleche and blood, and walking more by the rewells of policey then pietie, hearkening more unto men than vnto God; and albeit that wee haue solemlie engaged ourselues, that forsaiking the counsells of fleche and blood, wee should depend vpone the Lord, walke by the will of his worde, and hearkin to the voyce of his seruants; zet it is too manifest that the Lord is exceidinglie prowoked by the pollitick way quherin maney of you walk still, not only imping your priuat intrests and endis with thosse thinges that concerne the publicke good, bot maney tymes preferring them, and opposing or retarding Gods worke, till you may carry alonges with you your auen interests and deseinges. Wee beseiche your Lops: to lay to heart your publicke way of walking, and as befor the Lord to examine yourselues, wither your waye hath not beine full of carnall wisdom and policie, in the matters of bringing home the King, disposing of places of trust aboute him, and ordering the cheiffe conducte and cheiffe officers in your forcis. Let your auen hearts speake, wither the reuell by wich you haue walked in all thesse, hathe not beine to establishe yourselues, rather than the worke of God, or King and kingdome; and how some of you may haue ane grate and predominant intreest in all thesse, it is euident some of your Lops: haue not cared how few frindes the Lords worke had in thesse places of trust, if so be ze might haue maney frindes to espousse your intrests, and politicke wayes and endis.

5. Wee cannot forgett how some amongest your Lops: quho haue wowed to the Lord, in the day quhen the frinds of the causse wer low, and quhen some of your Lops: also wer brought werey low; that ze should trust and imploy, and cleaue to suche persons in the land as feared God, and wer treulie religious, and should neuer dewyde from thosse; zet for all that, some amongest you haue lookit vpone all ore most of thesse on quhome the pouer of godlines hath appeired, with ane eiuell and jelous eye, and haue not onlie neglected to countenance and encourage suche, bot rather haue randered them and ther actions odious and suspected. For wich thinges the wrath of God is gone oute, and is lyke to continew till your Lops: and wee shall learne to putt a difference betuix the pretious and vile, and to haue the power of godliness in grater estimatione.

Wee wold not haue your Lops: to thinke that wee looke vpone thesse thinges wich wee haue remonstrated to you, as the onlie causes of the sade thinges that are vpone the kingdome, or that wee thinke ourselues not guilty or accessorey to the drawing one and procuring thesse bitter thinges that are wpone ws. The Lord knowes that wee are so far from suche thoughts, that althoughe your Lops: wer innocent of all thesse transgressions, wee ar conuinced that in ws ther is als muche guiltines as makes ws feare it is the worse with the Lords people, that wee are amongest them, and with His worke, that our handes are aboute it; in the sense quherof, as wee haue desyred to humble ourselues, so wee purposse to take new occasions for a free acknouledgement of our sins, and to be humbled for them, and to renew our ingagements to the Lord to be more reall and sincere in persewing all the endes of the Couenant, and dewties therin conteind, accordinng to our vocation.

Nather wold wee haue your Lops: to thinke that in our free dealling with you, wee haue beine led with the spirit of bitternes, or desyre to discouer your nakednes to the world, or to strengthen the hands of the adwersaries. He quho knoweth our hartes, knoweth that wee desyre to carrey ourselues respectiuely and deutifully to the publicke judicatories, and to tender ther authoritie and crydit as our liues; nor is it in our heartes to prowoke your Lops: to wnlawfull courses, bot earnistly to desyre you to awoyde them; nor haue wee the least deseinge to follow the foottstepes of the sectarian partie, and change the fundamentall gouerniment of this kingdome, by king and parliament, or aney lewelling way, as wee heir some wold calumniat falsly our honest intentions. The Lord, befor quhom all thinges are naked, manifestly knowes wee detest and abhorre suche coursses; onlie we hold ourselues bound humblie to hold suche the corruptions of persons in the gouerniment, and desyre to be more tender of the guide of the causse and kingdome, than of aney persone quhatsomeuer; and to chusse rather to displeasse men, then to incurre Gods wrathe, throughe our conniuence at ther corrupte wayes in ther places of power. Zet wee shall freelie tell your Lops: quhence this hath proceided, wee being persuaded, in our consciences, of the vnrighteous dealling of thosse quho haue inwaded and wasted our land, and troden doune the pretious ordinances of Jesus Christe, and shed the blood of his saintes; and the necessity of the lamenting people of God, calleth ws to the wtermost adwenturing aganist the enimey; being also sensible of our auen conditione and disproportionable thoughtes for attempting of aney thing, except wee be mightilie helped, assistit and countenanced by the Lord. Bot aboue all thinges, being affrayed of sin and wrathe, least that should meitt with ws, now quhen wee are resolued, according ta our capacitey, and as God shall giue ws opportunity, in his strenth to wenture our liues aganist the enimey; and not knowing wither some of ws, ore aney of ws, shall see your Lops: in the face, or heireafter haue aney occasione to speike for the discharge of our consciences, wee haue therfor, and for our auen exoneratione thought it necessarey to leaue this testimoney [of] our sincere detestation of thesse sinns, and of our desyre to be found free of them, if the Lord shall suffer aney of ws to perishe in our deutie, and to lay thesse thinges at your dore, as in the presence of the Lord, quho can onlie make you and ws repent and reforme our wayes.

Declaring to your Lops: that wee shall desyre you wnfaniedly to mourne for thesse sins, and that ther are ingagements one your heartes befor God, if he shall lenthen our dayes, and take pleasure in ws, to make ws aney wayes instruments of His worke, and for His peoples good and saftie, that wee shall, to the wttermost of our power, endewor to gett thesse thinges remedied according to our places and callinges.

22 Octobris, 1650.—Producit by Sʳ George Maxwoll, and red in presence of the Comittee of Estaites at Stirlinge.

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4 Nov: 1650.—The 4 of Nowember the northerne rebelles layed doune armes, and accepted of the acte of indemnitie, by a trettey with L. Generall Dauid Lesley at Strathbolgie.

The L. Generall being at Aberdeine, in his returne southe, after the northerne armeyes laying doune armes; he wes wisited by Mr Androw Cants, elder and zounger, ministers of Aberdein, quho, amongest maney other discoursses, told the L. Generall that wee could not in conscience asist the King to recouer his croune of England; bot he thoughte one kingdome might serue him werey weill, and one croune was aneuche for aney one man; one kingdome being sufficient for one to reuell and gouerne. A number of suche discoursses wer wented to him, bothe by the father and the sone, to the same purpois. The L. Generall told this to the minister of Newbrughe, Mr Laurence Oliphant, and to the L. of Ferney and Londors, one Monday the 11 of this instant of Nouember.

_Cromwells Letter to the Committee of Estaites, 9 Octobris, 1650._

My Lordis,

The grounds and endis of the armeyes entringe Scotland, haue beine
heirtofor oftin and cleirlie made knowen wnto you, and hou muche
wee haue desyred the same might be accomplished without blood; bot
according to quhat returns wee haue receauid, it is euident your
hearts had not that loue to ws, as wee can trewly say wee had towards
you: and wee are persuaded thosse difficulties in wich you haue
inwolued yourselues by espousinge your Kinges intrest, and taking
into your bosome that persone, in whom (notwithstanding quhat hath
or may be said to the contraire) that wich is really malignancey and
all malignants doe center, aganiste quhosse familey the Lord hath so
eminently withestood for blood guiltines, nor to be done away with
suche superficiall and formall shewes of repentance as are expressed
in his laite declaratione; and your strange preiudice aganist ws,
as men of hereticall opinions, (wich, throughe the grate goodnes of
God to ws, haue beine wniustlie charged vpone ws,) haue occasioned
your reiecting of thosse ouertours, wich, with a Christian affection,
wer offred to you befor aney blood was spilt, or your people had
suffred damnage by ws. The daylie sence wee haue of the calamitie
of warre laying vpone the poore people of this nation, and the sade
consequences of bloode and famine lykly to come vpone them; the
aduantages giuen to malignants, profaine and popeische partey by this
warre; and that reality of affection wich wee haue so often professed
to you, and concerning the treuthe of wiche wee haue so solemly
appealled, doeth againe constraine ws to send wnto you, to lett you
know, that if the contending for that persone be not by you preferred
to the peace and weillfair of your countrey, the blood of your
people, the loue of men of the same faith with you and wich is aboue
all, the honor of that God wee serue; then giue the staite of Ingland
that satisfaction and securitie for the peaceable and quyet liuing
by you, that may in justice be demandid from a nation giuing so iust
a ground to aske the same from thosse quho haue, as you, takin ther
enimey wnto ther bosome, whilst he was in hostility aganist them;
and it will be made good to you, that you may haue a lasting and
durable peace with them, and the wishe of a blissing vpone you in
all religious and ciuill thinges. If this be refussed by you, wee
are persuaded that God, quho hath borne his testimoney, will doe it
againe one the behalffe of ws his poore seruants, quho doe appeale to
him wither thesse desyres flow from sincerity of heart or not. I rest,

Your Lops: humble Seruant,
Lithgow, 9 Octob: 1650.

O. CROMWELL.

The backe of this Letter did beare this superscriptione:—For the Rᵗ Honorable the Committee of Estaits of Scotland, at Stirling, or elsquher.

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14 Noᵇʳⁱˢ 1650.—A grate meitting this day of the Commissione of the Kirke, at Stirling, They wreat to all the graue ministers of the prouince of Fyffe, Perth, and Angus, to assist them.

19 Nov:—The Comittee of Estaits resolues to haue a conference with some Ministers, for the compossing of that bussines anent the westerne remonstrance.

22 Nov: 1650. Rege presente.—My Lord Chanceler makes a narratione to the Committee of Estaits of the progresse of the Comittee of Conference anent the vesterne remonstrance; of the bolde debaittes and small resolution, more then to haue a publicke fast.

23 Nov: Saterday, 1650.—My L. Argyle, Balcarras, Louthean, and the Kings Aduocat, spoke at large aganist the remonstrance of the west, as the opiner vpe of a breache for tolleratione and subuersione of the gouerniment, bothe ecclesiasticke and ciuill. Varrestone and Hombie spoke muche to leassie the bussines. Hombie for the maner, Warrestone for bothe maner and matter.

The Committee of Estaites ordaines all the members of the comittee presently to giue ther declaratione, one ther honor and treuthe, that they wer nather contriuer, carriers one, ore votters to the westerne remonstrance, wich was done; all disclaming it. Varreston did grant that he did see it, was at the voting of it, bot refussed to giue hes wotte therin. He denayed that he wes accessorey to the contriuing of it at first.

2 sent from the Comittee of Estaits to desyre the Comissione of the Kirke not to depairt the toune this day, bot to meitt afternoone, in respecte of the grate bussines in hand.

It was muche debaitit wither the remonstrance of the west should be anssuered in generall or in particular; it went to wott, and wes carried to be anssuered in generall; only Warestone, Robert Locart, and Johne Jeffra, with Sʳ Rob: Adare, wotted to haue it altogither layed assyde.

The result of all this afternoones dispute aganist the remonstrance endit in this, that some wer sett apairt to draw vpe the heades of the acte condemnatorie of the said diuisiue, scandalous, and tresonable remonstrance.

A paquett of letters intercepted by the scoute master, of the enimies, directed to London, quherof 3 letters wer only read, concerning Straquhan and the presbyterians, &c.

The Committee of Estaits ordaines the saids letters to be communicat to the Commissione of the Kirke, especially shewing the grate plot aganist all the presbyterians in England, and how the same was hatchin in Scotland also.

Monday, 25 Nov: 1650. Acte ordaining the parliament to meitt to morrow the 26 of this instant, at ten houres; and a herauld ordaind to make publication heirof.

The Comittee of Estaits declaration aganist the vesterne remonstrance, presented by the sub-comittee, read, and after much debait, votted and past.

In the debait of the comittees declaratione, muche debait wes anent the words, scandalous, scandalous paper, and scandalous lybell.

Eglinton wold had called treasonable and scandalous paper and lybell, and brunt publickly by the hand of the hangman.

Carried, scandalous, with the word, conceaued, to goe befor.

Ther was that wold haue reffered all to the Com: of the Curdie, Register, Sʳ Ja: Hope, Sʳ Rob: Adare, Harden, Thesaurer depute, Busbie, Rob: Locart, Jo: Denholme, Gen: Comissarey.

Preiudiciall and destructiue to his Majesties gouernment, carried only, preiudiciall; destructiue delait.

It is werey diuisiue and holds out the seeds of diuisione, putt to wotte; carried, it holds out the seeds of diuisione of a dangerous consequence.

Exception votted, ther should be, of penners and contriuers of the said remonstrance, and of all suche that did adhere to it after it wes publicly declared aganist.

Marques of Argyle said, (after he had hard Sʳ James Hope say, that all the Comittee of Estaits wes doeing wes destructive to King and kingdome,) that Sʳ James, in all the carriage of this bussines, from the begining, both in parliament and comittee, wes not only a maine enimey to King and kingdome, bot a maine plotter and contriuer, assister and abaitter of all the mischeiffe that hes befallen the kingdome euer since.

It was muche vrged by the dissasenters from the Comittee of Estaits declaratione, to haue all the acte wotted in _cumulo_, after eurey branch had beine particularly wotted; wich was altogider refussed.

The Com: of Estaites sent the Marques of Argyle, Kings Aduocat, and James Suord, to the Commissione of the Kirke, with ther declaratione aganist the said remonstrance; and a paper quherin they accused Mr James Guthrie and Mr Patricke Gillespie as contriuers and abbators of all this diuisione in churche, armey, and stait.

The Comittee of Estaits sent the Lyone to the Commission of the Kirke, to impart to them the letters that wer intercepted going to England from Owens, Cromwells Secretary.

The Com: of Estaits sent the Kings Aduocat and James Suord to the Comissione of the Kirke, to desyre them to returne ther sence of the vesterne remonstrance to the parliament, in respecte that the committee was to rysse this night, and the parl: to sitt doune to morrow, to quhom lykwayes the said comittee was to communicat that same paper of ther sence of the said vesterne remonstrance; and desyred them that they wold be pleassed to ioyne with them to that effecte.

Perth, 28 Nouember 1650.—Ante Meridiem.—The Commissione of the Generall Assembley hauing receauid from the honorable Committee of Estaits, a paper declaring ther (Lo:) sence upon a paper giuen in to them, intitulated, (the Humble Remonstrance of the gentlemen, officers and ministers attending the forces in the west,) and desyring withall that the Commissioners of the Generall Assembley wold giue ther sence vpon the said remonstrance; therfor the commission hauing takin vnto ther consideratione the said remonstrance, doeth find and acknouledge therin to be conteined maney sade treuthes, in relation to the sinns charged vpone the King, his family, and the publick judicatories, wich also wee are resolued to hold out and presse vpone them, in a right and orderly way, togider with such other sinns as wee find by impartiall searche, and the helpe of the Lordes spirit vpon our indewors therin, that they may take with them, and be humbled befor the Lord, in the sence therof; wee doe find it our deutie to show, that in respecte ther seimes to be therin intrinsching vpone some conclusions and determinations of the Generall Assembley; and in respecte of inferences and aplications made therin, in relation to the King, his interest, and the exercisses of his power and gouerniment; and in regarrd of the ingagements wich, in the closse therof, they declare to be vpon ther hartes befor God, in relation to euidences for remeding the thinges conteind in it, wee are dissatisfied therwith, and that wee thinke it apte to breid diuision in kirke and kingdome, as wee doe finde alredey in pairte by experience, and that the enimey hathe takin aduantage therat; and becausse of the tender respects and loue we owe, and most cordially carrey to the gentrey, officers and our brethreinge of the ministrie, quho haue concurred in the said remonstrance, as being religious and godlie men, and suche as haue alwayes giuen prouffe of ther integritie, faithfullnes and constancie in the causse of God, and for interteinment of loue, vnity, and coniunction amongest the people of God, in acting according to ther calling and statione, aganist the publicke enimey; the breache of all wiche Sathan at this tyme is eagerly driuing at, and the enimey is greidily desyring and expecting. Wee doe resolue to forbeare a more particular examination of the said remonstrance, expecting that at the nixt dyet of this commissione, thesse worthey gentlemen, officers and brethrein will giue suche a declaration and explanation of ther intentions and meining, as may satisfie both kirke and state without aney furder inquyrie or debait thervpone.

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_Declaratione by the Kinges Maiestie and Committee of Estaites
concerninge the Westerne Remonstrance, 25 Nouember, 1650._

The Kings Maiestie and the Committee of Estaites, hauing takin into consideratione a paper presented to the said comittee at Stirling, vpone the 22 of October last, in name of the gentlemen, commanders, and ministers attending the westerne forces: and lykwayes ane petitione presented to the said committee at Perth, vpone the 19 of Nouember instant, desyring ane satisfactorie anssuer therwnto: Doe heirby declaire, that they haue alwayes beine, and are still willing, that all faults and miscarriages of aney, als weill in ther personall carriage, as in discharge of ther publicke trust, may be discouered, redressed and punished, according to the lawes of the kingdome; and that they find it ther dewtie to shew ther dislyke of maney thinges remonstratted and held fourthe in the said paper: Zet being desyrous to follow the wayes of gentlenes and lenitie, rather then to looke vpone the said paper with that stricke inquyrie, wich otherwayes might haue beine done, they have resolued only, in generall, to declair as followes; that they find the said paper, as it relattes to the parliament and ciuill judicatories, to be scandalous and iniurious to his Maiesties persone, and preiudiciall to his authoritie; and as it relattes to religione and churche judicatories, they are to desyre the Commissione of the Churche to giue ther sence therone; and that in regaird of the effecte that it hath alredey produced, and thosse that are lyke to follow thervpone, if not preuented, it holdes fourthe the seed of diuisions of ane dangerous consequence; and that it is dishonorable to the kingdome, in so far as it tends to ane breache of the treattie with his Maiestie at Breda, approuin in parliament and Generall Assembley; that it also strenthens the handes of the enimey, giuing him occasione to iustifie his vniust invasione, and the bloodshed and oppressione committed by him in this kingdome, and weakines the hands of maney honest men; and lykwayes that the said paper holds furthe in the closse of it, ane bonde of ane heighe and dangerous consequence; and albeit the said paper has been wickedly and subtily contriued by some, zet becausse diuersse honest, faithfull, and religious gentlemen, officers, ministers, and others of approuin fidelity and integrity in the causse, of quhom they doe not harbor the leaste thoughte to ther preiudice, haue beine insnared. Therfor the Kinges Maiestie, and committee forsaid, doe heirby declaire the said persones free frome aney imputatione vpone ther names, ore censure vpone ther persons or estaits; excepting heirfra all suche quho shall adhere to the said remonstrance, be ther persisting in prosecutting of quhat is therin contraire to the lawes of the kingdome. Perth, 25 of Nouember, 1650.

Reed and past be the Kings Maiestie, and Comittee of Estaits. _Sic subscribitur_,

W. HENDERSONE, Clk: Dom: Com:

Tuesday, 26 Nouembris. 1 dies parliamenti.—Carolus Rex. &c.—Lord Chanceler made a speache, shewing the present conditione of the kingdome, both concerning religion, King, and kingdome; the quality of the enimey that hath inwadit ws, and thesse his associatts, being a companey of wicked and perfidious, zea trecherous blasphemers; nixt he spoke of the deuties incumbent to the King; and nixt, of the dewties wich are requyred of eache member of the present parliament; and lastly, of the deutie that wes incumbent by the housse to the kingdome of Scotland, ther natiue countrey.

His Maiestie made a prettey shorte speiche, shewing of his grate thankfullnes to God for bringing him to this place, &c.; wich endit, the Lord Chanceler did declare, at the Kings comand, the trew forme and causses of his deperture from Perth, 4 Octobris, and of his Maiesties penetencey and sorrow for the same.

The King and parl: sends to the Comiss: of the Kirke, to desyre them to stay to giue adwysse in thinges concerning the good of religion, the peace and vnity of the kingdome. 2. That they will appoynt some to meitt with some from the parl: anent his Majesties coronation. 3. That ther may be a fast befor the coronatione, to craue the Lordes blissing to the actione. 4. To desyre them to poynt at the selue-seikes, auaratious, greidy and other sinns cryed out vpone in the pulpitts, and remonstrances; as also, they will shew quhat are the crooked wayes, and by quhom wssed in trettey.

The housse ordaines this day or to morrow to haue a conference with the Commissione of the Kirke.

The housse ordaines the Comittey for the Armey to be the Comittee for the Conference, to meitt with the Commissioners of the Generall Assembley.

_His Maᵗⁱᵉˢ Speich._

My Lords and Gentlemen,

It hath pleased Him quho reulethe the nations, and in quhosse handes are hearts of Kinges, by a werey singular prouidence, to bring me throughe a grate maney difficulties into this my ancient kingdome, and to this place, quher I may haue your adwysse in the grate matters that concerne the glorey of God, and the establishment of my throne, and that relat to the generall good and comon happines of thesse three couenanted kingdomes ouer wich he hath sett me. And treulie I cannot expresse the height of that ioy quherwith he hath filled my soule from this signall experiment of his kyndnesse, nor how stronge and feruent desyres he hath created in me to euidence my thankefulnesse by standing to rainge for him, and with ane humble and just subordination to him. That wich incresseth my hope and confidence that he will zet continew to deall gratiously with me, is, that he hath moued me to enter in couenant with his people, (a fauor no other King can claime,) and that he is inclyned me to a resolutione, by his assistance, to liue and dye with my people in defence of it. This is my resolutione, I professe it befor God and you, and in testimoney heirof, I desyre to renew it in your presence; and if it pleis God to lenthin my dayes, I houpe my actions shall demonstrat it. Bot I shall leaue the enlargement of this, and quhat farder I could say, to my Lord Chanceler, quhom I haue commandit to speike to you at grater lenthe, and lykwayes to informe you of my sense, not only of the folley, bot the sinfulnesse of my goinge frome this place, and the reasons of it.

Thursday, 28 Nov: 3 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—A message from the Com: of the Kirke anent a conference. Ordered to be at 3 in the afternoone in the session housse.

Ordered to be proponed at the conference, as a thing most fitt for the peace of the kingdome, to haue presently a Generall Assembley called.

Friday, 29 Nov: 4 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—A report made by the L. Chanceler to the housse, from the Conference with the Church, anent 2 soleme fasts; one for the contempt of the gospell, ane other for the sins of the King, his familey, and nobility; and the coronatione to be immediatly therafter.

Acte ordaining his Maiestie to be crounid at Scone, upon Vedinsday, the first of Januarij nixt; and this acte to be proclaimed at the crosse of Perthe, by Lyone K. of Armes.

Saterday, 30 Nov: 5 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—7 or 8 from the Com: of the Kirke presented to the King and parliament a remonstrance and petition, containing some admonitions to the nobility anent ther bypast miscarriages, as also aganist imploing malignants, contrarey the publicke resolutions of churche and stait; as also aganist the acte of indemnitie, and not naming them rebells and punishing them. That all malignants and ill affected persons be remoued from the courte. That the Kings housse may with speed be effectually purged. That coueteousnesse, auarice, pryde, selue-seikeing, compliance with ennimes, be confessed and repented offe.

A petitione from the ministers of Lothean, Hadington, Lithgow, &c., shewing the pitfull condition of thesse places; how that heresies did begin to grow amongest them, and of ther grate necessities; desyring the Comiss: of the Kirke wold in ther names and behalffe petitione the Kings Maiestie and parlia: for some redresse and speedie helpe.

Nixt the said com: show the parl: that the 2 ministers impeached by them of the Com; of Estaits, Mr Ja: Guthrie, minister of Stirling, and Mr Patricke Gillespie, minister of Glasgow, the one by word opinly, and the other by wreat, haue disclamed quhat was alledged aganist them, as far contrarey to ther intentions.

Then was read, being presented by the com: from the Commissioners of the Generall Assembley, ther sense of the westerne remonstrance, wich was read in the housse.

A petitione from the prissoners that are Irish, Scotts, and now prissoners at Newcastell, and wer takin at Dumbar, to the Generall Assembley or ther Comissione, presented by the kirk to the housse, and read.

The housse ordaines the Lord Chanceler to giue thesse from the Com: of the Kirk thankes, and to shew them that they take it werey weill, and with all desyre them to condiscend in particular vpone perssons and faults, wich in ther remonstrance they named maney sade treuthes; and this the Lord Chanceler was comandit to intreat them to goe seriously about the same; and did thank them also for ther good correspondence in so neidfull a tyme, and that the housse (being convened for that effecte) wold looke to thesse deuties God had called them heir for, and the countrey expected at ther hands; and that the King and parl: wold returne them ther anssuer in wreatt to ther papers, hauing appoynted a comittee to consider them, wich particularly should receaue ther particular anssuers in dew and conuenient tyme.

Monday, 2d December. 6 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—Alcheyes bill, wpone the recomendation of the Com: of the Kirke, to be reponed, (in respecte his accessione to the late wnlawfull ingagement) to acte in defence of his countrey aganist the enimey:—Granted, _nullo contradicente_.

The Com: of Dumbartans bill read, seiking a comissione for putting of some Vitches to execution upon the confessions:—Granted.

Vedinsday, 4 Decembris. 8 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—Vpone the Marques Argyles motione, it is ordred, that ane afternoone be sett apairte for anssuering the remonstrance and petitione of the kirke, giuen in the 4 day of the parl: and for considering the same.

That a letter be wrettin to the Moderator of the G. Assembley, that he wold call a meitting of the Commissione of the Kirke, against Vedinsday cum eight dayes, to meitt at Perth, to giue ther adwysse anent takin in and excluding of persons from defence of ther countrey, approuen; and the housse wretts a letter to the Moderator for that effecte, to be directed from the King and parl: and seigned by the L. President of the parl: as also, that the Moderator wold adwertisse all the ministers of the nearest synods and presbeteries to assist with ther presence; and if they cannot adwertisse them to be tymously present, that the doing of it be no retardment to the commissions meitting at the day desyred.

George, Earle of Linlithgow, is this day admitted to the housse, and his incapability by his accessione to the vnlawfull engagement takin offe; he hauing produced 2 actes in his fauors, one of the Com: of the Kirkes, ane other of the Com: of Estaites.

William, Lord Cranston, vpone his bill and the Com: of the Kirkes recommendation, is lykwayes admitted to the housse, and his incapability takin offe; and he reponed to his former integrity.

Thursday, 5 December, 9 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—Wpone the reiding of the Earle of Lauderdaills bill, the housse, one his humble petitione, repells his acte of banishment.

Mem: This eiuning, candells being lighted in the housse, a grate stock oule muttit one the tope of the croune, wich, with the suord and scepter, lay one a table ouer aganist the throne.

Friday, 6 Decembris, 10 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—A letter from the Moderator of the Generall Assembley, 5 Nouembris, shewing that ther can be no meitting of the Comissione of the Kirke befor ther appointed tyme, viz. 23 of this mounthe.

After the reiding of this letter, the housse ordred that presently a sharpe letter be wrettin to the Moderator, shewing that they wold keepe Thursday, wtherwayes the parl: wold be forced to acte without ther desyred adwysse and concurrence; wtherwayes the world might see that they had failled to concurre with the parl: to succor ther countrey in tyme of hir distresse and gratest neid.

Ordered that particular letters be wrettin to all the neir adioyning ministers to keepe the meitting at Perth one Thursday nixt, for releiffe of the distressed countrey, calling for present helpe at ther handes; wich, if they faill, then they must goe one to doe that wich God, ther countrey, and eurey good man requyres at ther hand.

Tuesday, 10 Decembris, 13 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—Ordred that the seuerall bodies meitt at 3 in the afternoone, to consider of the remonstrance giuen in by the Commissioners of the General Assemb: and also how farre incapacities that disables men may be takin offe, and men admitted to fight for defence of the countrey aganist the comon enimey; and to treat anent the prewious adwysses concerning England, and for this effecte to haue a conference with the Commissioners of the General Assembly at 9 houres to morrow.

Ordaines thesse that are appoynted to conferre wt h the Commissioners of the Generall Ass: to adwertisse them of the tyme and place of ther meitting.

Fryday, 13 Decembris. 14 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—The remonstrance and petition giuen in by the Commissioners of the Generall Assembley to the parliament, with the report from the bodey of the noblemen, and the suplications from Tuedall and Louthean, redde in parliament.

Saterday, the 14 day of December. 15 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—The Kings Maiestie and parliament ordaines the Earle of Cassiles, the Lord Clerckingtone, and Johne Jeffray, to acquant the Commissioners of the Generall Assembley, that some coursse may be takin with suche persons as haue ioynned and complayed with the sectaries.

Remitts to the Comittee of Ouertours, with the Kings Maiesties Aduocat, to thinke vpon soume coursse to be takin with thosse quho haue, or shall joyne or complay with the sectaries; with pouer to examine wittness, and to report ther proceidings to the parliament.

Tuesday, 17 of December. Dies 17 parliamenti.—Rege presente.—The Lord Montgomeries bill, and his brother James, ther bills, one the Com: of the General Assemblies recommendatione, declared capable of publicke imployment, and all actes of restraints aganist them repealled.

[30 December.]—It is declared by the King and parliament, that [no] one hes pouer to come out for defence of the countrey, bot suche as are qualified according to the former acte declaratorey; the acte of classes standing still in vigor aganist them, more then in defence of ther countrey, and hauing accesse to his Majesties personne, &c.

Ordred that the Comittee for anssuering the Churches Remonstrance confer with the Comissione of the Generall Assembley, anent his Maiesties othe of coronatione, as also of that of the people.

* * * * *

1650.

_Excerpts from “A Diary of Public Transactions and other Occurrences,
chiefly in Scotland, from January 1650, to June 1667, by John Nicoll.”_

[February.]—It hes bene schawin befoir, in the last yeiris relatioun of the commoun effaires and observatiouns of that yeir[434] how that James Grahame, sumtyme Erle of Montrois, did give out a lairge prented Declaratioun and paper, quhairwith he chargeth his awin natioun with hatching a rebellioun in this Kingdome, with promoting the lyke in England, and with the sale and murthour of thair awin native King, and robbing his sone of all rycht, and other horride crymes. To the quhilk Declaratioun thair wes are learned exquisite Ansuer maid by the Committee of the Estaites of the Parliament of Scotland, and by the Commissioneris of the Generall Assemblie, in vindicatioun of thair proceidinges from the aspersioun of that scandalous pamphlet; quhilk answer, gevin out by the Kirk and Stait, wes solemplie proclamit and publeist at the Mercat Croce of Edinburgh, by ane Maisser and sound of many trumpettis. At the publisching quhairof ane scaffold was erectit, with ane fyre thairon, set up in a chimnay, quhairat the commoun hangman of Edinburgh and toun officeris did stand in thair ordiner apperrell usit at such a bussines; and thair, efter reiding of this ansuer of the Kirk and Stait fullie and at lenth, and eftir sounding of four trumpettis on the Croce, the hangman threw that the said James Grahame his Declaratioun in the midst of the fyre, set thair on a scaffold upone the eist syde of the Croce, as worthy of no les, being publisched by that excommunicat traitour James Grahame, under the tytell of A Declaratioun of James Marques of Montros, &c. This done 9 Feb., 1650. This answer may be read at lenth in prent, gevin out both by the Committee of Estait and Commissioneris of the Generall Assemblie.

The Commissioneris of the Generall Assembly sat heir, in Edinburgh, at this tyme, quhairat Mr Johnne Sterling, minister at Bara, wes chosin minister at Edinburgh, upone the 15th of Februar, anno foirsaid. At that tyme also, Mr Thomas Garven was chosin minister at Edinburgh.

16 Feb. Mr David Dik, by the Commissioneris of the Generall Assemblie wes chosin professor of divinitie in the college of Edinburgh, ane learned man, and a great licht in the Church of Scotland.

17 Feb. Ane act of the Commissioun of the Generall Assemblie wes red in all the churches of Edinburgh, dischargeing promiscuous dansing.

* * * * *

Much faiset and scheitting at this tyme wes daylie detectit by the Lordis of Sessioun; for quhilk thair wes daylie hanging, skurging, nailling of luggis, and binding of pepill to the Trone, and booring of tounges; so that it was ane fatall yeir for fals notaris and witnessis, as daylie experience did witnes. And as for adulterie, fornicatioun, incest, bigamie, and uther uncleanes and filthynes, it did nevir abound moir nor at this tyme....

At this tyme, also, my Lord Lyntoun wes excommunicat and wardit [put in prison] for taking in mariage the Lord Seytounes relict, dochter to the lait Marques of Huntlie, scho being excommunicat for poprie.

Lykewyse, upone Sonday the 24 Februar, the Erle of Kynnoull, Mr James Stewart, [George] Drummond, sone to the Laird of Balloch, and Capitane Hall, wer all excommunicat for incuming to Orknay, and troubling that cuntrey in a hostile maner. Quhairof intimation wes also maid in all the Kirkis of Edinburgh, upone Sonday the tent of Marche, 1650.

_Eodem die._—Intimatioun wes lykewyse maid that the Erle of Abircorne wes excommunicat for poprie....

It is to be rememberit that in the monethis of Marche and Apryll, 1646, the Directorie for Godis Service began. In steid of evening and morning prayeris, the ministeris taking to thair consideratioun that the not reiding and exponing of the Scriptures at the old accustumat tyme of prayer, was the occasioun of much drinking at that seasoun quhen these prayeris and chaptures wer usuallie red, thairfoir, and to prevent that sin, it wes concludit, in the begynning of Marche, 1650, that all the dayis of the week a lectorie sould be red and exponit in Edinburgh be everie minister thair _per vices;_ quhilk accordinglie wes put in practize, and so began this holie and hevinlie exercise upone Monday the 18 day of Marche, 1650.

At the same tyme, for eschewing and doun bearing of sin and filthines in Edinburgh, it was actit, that no woman sould vent or rin wyne or aill in the tavernis of Edinburgh, bot allanerlie men servandis and boyes; quhilk Act wes red and publictlie intimat in all the Kirkis of Edinburgh, that all such as haid these commoditeis to sell sould prepare men servandis and boyes for that use agane Whitsounday nixt thaireftir following....

Upone the sevint day of Apryle, 1650, thair wes ane solempne Fast throw the haill kingdome of Scotland, as also with our Commissioneris in Holand sent to the Kinges Majestie. The reasones of the fast wes for the synnes of the land, and that it wald pleis the Lord to grant ane happy succes to the Scottis Commissioneris now at a treatie with his Majestie. This fast wes concludit by the Kirk and Stait to be solemlie keipit the said day both heir within this kingdome of Scotland, as lykwayis by our Scots Conimissioneris now at Breda in Holand, befoir thair going af this kingdome.

Ther wer also eikit to the causis of the Fast, the sin of Witchcraft abundant in the land, the incres of Malignantis and Sectareis, that the King may grant the just desyres of Kirk and Kingdome for stedfastnes to this land, and to these quho hes the charge of the effaires of the land for delyverie of the King from malignant counsells, for strenthening of these that suffer for his cause in England and Yreland, for suppleying the necessiteis of the pure, and much mor to this purpos, and all uther synnes mentionat in the last fast, solemplie keipit throw the haill Kirkis upone the last Sonday of August, 1649.

It war langsum to writt quhat outcryingis wer now aganes that noble erle James lait Erle of Montrois, and prented declarationes gevin out aganes him, and proclamationes, both by Parliament, thair Committees, and by the Assemblie of the Kirk.... Such wer the ordores of Parliament and Committee, and prohibitiones of the Kirkes, that nane durst speik in favouris of that nobleman for feir of censure and punischement.

* * * * *

[Nicol then states the case of a man named Bryson, who, when proclamation to the above effect was made at the Cross of Glasgow, “did cry out, and callit him als honest a nobleman as was in this kingdome,” upon which the magistrates “was forcit to tak and apprehend him, and careyed him to Edinburgh by ane gaird of the tounes officers, presented him to the Committee of Stait than sitting thair, quha, be thair ordour, wes cassin in to the theves hoill, quhairin he lay in great miserie by the space of many weekis.”]

* * * * *

At this tyme, and sindry yeiris befoir, many persones wer trublit for not subscryving the Covenant, and ministeris deposit for the same. Mr Gawin Stewart, minister of Dalmellingtoun not onlie deposit fra his ministrie, bot he debarrit _ab agendo_ in all his actiones and causis civill for recovery of his dettis.

Lykewayis James Macaulay, goldsmith, wes not onlie excommunicat for refuising to subscryve the Covenant, bot lykewayis at his death his corps dischargit to be bureyit in the churchyaird.

[After giving an account of the defeat of Montrose in his last expedition, on the 27th April this year, which it is unnecessary to insert, Nicoll thus proceeds:—]

It may be justlie said that the prayeris of the faithfull availleth much, for during the tyme that this excomunicat traitour remaned in the North, the faithfull servandis of God wer gevand up thair daylie prayeris for his confusioun, quhilk be this former relatioun, is manifest to haif bene hard and grantit; quhilk did moir evidentlie appeir thaireftir at this traitouris taking, for within foure dayis eftir this victorie, this bloodie traitour wes takin and apprehendit. Eftir he haid fled to the hillis, and remayned thair in great miserie and famyne, he come to ane hous and familie quhais Maister was callit MᶜCloyd, luiking for protectioun at his handis, being ane of his auld acquentance, and complyer with him in his former plottis and bloodie courses; bot this manis sone, callit Neill MᶜCloyd, fearing the danger of the lawis gif he sould conceale him, and heiring of the lairge prommesis of money to the reveillaris and apprehendaris of him, he was inducit thairby to seas upone him, and tak him prissoner in his awin hous, and randerit him to the commanderis of this airmey. All quhich being takin be the moist pairt of this kingdome to be a singular mercy, it pleasit the Commissioneris of the Kirk and Generall Assemblie to appoynt a solempne day of thankisgeving throw all this kingdome; quhilk wes obeyit and began heir in Lothiane, and keipit in all the kirkis of Edinburgh and about, upone the fyftene day of May 1650; at quhilk day and tyme, the new Psalme Buikis wer red and ordanit to be sung throw all the kingdome.

[Nicoll then gives an account of the treatment which Montrose received on his arrival as a prisoner at Edinburgh, of his condemnation to death, and of the incidents attending his execution; but his statements being substantially the same with those of Balfour, which are already given, it is unnecessary to repeat them.]

Heir followis, as is reportit, a wicked and ungodlie Declaratioun quhilk James Grahame causit all the ministeris of Orknay and Caithnes to subscryve and assent to, except ane Mr William Smith, ane of the ministeris in Cathnes.

“We, the Ministeris of the Presbytereis under subscryveris, considdering it convenient to us, and these of our calling, to give publict testimonie to the conscientiousnes and justice of his Majesteis service, now presentlie depending, for the gude example of utheris, and removing of quhatsomevir scruple from the myndes of all men, We willinglie frelie, and with candour declair, That we from our soules detest that continued Rebellioun, maliciouslie hatched, and wickedlie prosequute, aganes his late sacred Majestie of glorious memorie, and do from our hartis abhor his delyvering over in bondage and imprissonement, horride and execrable murthour, and all uther dampnable and malicious pretensis, execute aganes him be the wicked rebellious factioun of both kingdomes; the quhich we will not faill heireftir to preache to our pepill, and witnes every day of our calling, as als of our lauchfull acknawlegement, prayer and wisches of the happie establishment of his present Majestie unto all his just richtis; and particularlie, that it may pleis God to gif a blessing to his Excellence James Marques of Montrois, Capitane Generall to his Majestie in the kingdom of Scotland. All quhich we will faithfullie stand to and to the advancing thereof, without haiffing the least thocht or pretext in the contrare. So help us God.”

[Nicoll then details the banishment of the Earl of Callendar, and a number of other noblemen and gentlemen, for being concerned in the Engagement; the execution of General Hurry, John Spottiswood, Hay of Dalgatie, &c.; the arrival of the King; the great rejoicings, &c.]

It is formarlie recordit that, in these preceding yeiris, the prevailling pairteis of Sectareis in Ingland war verrie insolent, quha haid despysed religioun, and laid it in the dust, and haid tollerat many gros errouris, blasphemeis, and strange opiniounes in religioun, and haid mantened, allowed, and ventit the same in England, as the lyke hath not bene hard of in former generatiouns. And the Monarchy and the power of Parliamentis wes the auntient and long continued governament of that Kingdome, yit haif these men usurped above the Parliament, quhois servandis thai war; and, by oppin violence, haif drawn away many, and imprissoned sum of the memberis thairof; and haif not onlie takin away the Hous of Lordis, and destroyed the lait King, but also subverted Monarchy itself, and turned the fundatiounes upsyde doun; and labour to wreith the yok of thair oppressiounes upone thair bodyes and soules, quhairof that Ingadgement now in England is a publict testimonie.

This pairtie, eftir thai haif actit such thinges in England and Yreland, conceaving that thai can not be establisched and eat the fruit of thair awin devyces without contradictioun, als long as the Kirk of Scotland standis in thair way; thairfoir thai threaten us with a warr, drawing thair forces northward, and sending thame in in small pairteis toward the Border, that it may be the les decerned quhat thai do. And gif the Lord sall suffer thame to invaid this land, (as it is to be feared,) that the gangrene of thair errouris may tak hold upone sum ignorant and unstable myndis quho hath not resaved the love of the treuth, so we may luik for desolatioun and destructioun; thairfoir, and for many uther grave and wechtie ressones, the Estaites did levie ane airmy, and put this kingdome in a posture of defence. And the Commissioun of the Generall Assembie upone the 25 day of Junij 1650, did emit ane Seasonable Warning concerning the present dangeris and dewteis unto all the memberis of the Kirk....

At the approaching of this Englische airmy, many pepill heir in the eist pairtes and south wer overtakin with great feares, till the haill regimentis did convene. Mony also in Edinburgh, Leith, Linlithgow, Falkirk, and uther pairtes about, wer put in great perplexitie, quha removed thair best guidis over to the north syde of Forth.

The ministrie also, in thair severall places, wer not deficient to encurage the pepill, prommessing, in Godis name, a victorie over these erronyous and blasphemous pairteis in England, quha, aganes the Covenant and Solempne League, did unjustlie persew this Natioun; and farder, did freelie and franklie outreik ane regiment of hors, for defence of the same, upone thair awin charges and expensses, under the conduct of Colonell Strachane.

Upone the secound Weddinsday of Julij 1650, the Generall Assemblie met at Edinburgh, being the tent day of Julij, and dissolvit not till the 24 day of the same moneth.

22 July 1650, being ane Monday, the Inglische airmy, under the commandement of Generall Oliver Cromwell, croced the watter of Tweid and marched in to our Scottis bordouris to and about Aytoun; quhairof present advertisement wes gevin to our Committee of Stait, and thairupone followit ane strict Proclamatioun that all betuix 60 and 16 sould be in reddines the morne to marche, both horse and fute. The same day, the fute sodgeris lying heir for the tyme did cast ane trinsche fra the fute of the Cannogait to Leith, for halding out of the enymie, that thai sould not pass that way; bot that Edinburgh and Leith sould haif saif correspondence ane with the uther without interruptioun of the enymie.

23 Julij.—The College of Justice outreikit ane fute company of gallant youthes, notwithstanding they haid ane troup of horse on the feildis these twa yeiris bypast.

25 Julij 1650.—The Englische airmy lifted fra Aytoun and Halidounhill, without sound of trumpet or touk of drum, at eftir nune that day, and marched doun toward Cokburnespaith and Dumbar; thaireftir to Hadingtoun, and so to Mussilburgh, Figgetburne, Dudingstoun, Colingtoun, Braidis Craiges-haiffing thair trinches both at Mussilburgh, and alongis to Braid and westwart. And haiffing on sea fyftene sail, they resavit furth thair amunitioun and victuell furth of thair schipis without interruptioun, both at Dumbar, Mussilburgh, Fischerraw, and uther pairtes thairabout, and careyed all alongis with thame to thair airmy with ane convoy of hors and fute.

The Scottis airmy haiffing, efter few dayis, convenit heir upone the Linx of Leith to the number of fourtie thowsand men and above; the half of thame were sent bak, eftir a long space apoynted for purging of the airmy, to the discon[ten]tment of much pepill, and of gentillmen volunteris quha haid frielie cum in to feght for defence of the kingdome. The Scottis airmy being thus in purging daylie, upone the Linx of Leith, it pleasit the Kinges Majestie to cum doun frome Sterling, quhair he than wes, to the Linx of Leith, upone the Monday the 29 of Julij, 1650, quhair he saluted the airmy, being all rankit thair in a plesant posture, to the great joy of the King and contentment of the pepill.

Thaireftir, upone Friday the 2 of August 1650, the King come frome the Leager lying at Leith, to the toun of Edinburgh, ryding with his nobles and leaff-gaird up throw the Cannogait to the Castell of Edinburgh, quhair he wes saluted with a great number of cannoun schot.Thai rfra he come doun on fute throw Edinburgh, quhair he was feasted by the toun of Edinburgh in the Parliament Hous the said day; and thaireftir went doun to Leith, to ane ludgeing belonging to the Lord Balmerinoch, appoyntcd for his resait during his abyding at Leith; and thus haiffing remayned a certane space, veiwing the airmyes on both sydes, he went over the watter to Dumfermling, and to Falkland, and Pearth, for his recreatioun....

The enymie also advanced the lenth of Restalrig, and thair placed thair haill horse in and about the toun of Restalrig, his foote at that place callit Jokis Ludge, and his cannoun at the foote of Salisberrie Hill, within the park dyke; and twelf of his schips advanced to the Raid of Leith, and thrie utheris betuix Edinburgh and Dumbar; and thair, both be sea and land, played with thair cannoun aganes the Scottis Leaguer, lyand in Sant Leornardis Craiges; the Scottis airmy also schuting at thame: bot small skaith on ather syde.