WE the Army of England, doe from the bottome of our Hearts, wish like Mer­cy and Truth, Light and Liberty, with our selves, from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Although we have no cause to doubt but that the Declaration of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, bearing Date the 26 of June, 1650. And Published, to manifest to the World the justice and necessity of sending their Army into Scotland, may satisfie all impartiall and uninterested men in all the Nations round about us, (the matters of Fact there­in contained being true, and the Conclusions made [Page 4]from thence, and the resolutions thereupon taken, a­greeable to the Principles of Religion, Nature and Nations) And therefore it may seem to some, if not improper, yet superfluous, for us their Army to say any more: Yet however, out of our tendernesse towards you, whom we look upon as our Brethren, and our desire to make a distinction & separation of you from the rest, as who through the cunning practises of some wicked, and designing men, byassed by particu­lar Interests, or for want of a true and right Infor­mation, and Representation of the great and won­derfull transactions wrought amongst us, and brought to passe, by the meer finger of our God, may possibly be scandalized at some late actions in England, and thereby be involved in that common cause, so much from Heaven declared against, by blasting all Per­sons and Parties that at any time, in the least, under what pretence or disguise soever ingaged therein, and so with them to become partakers of their miseries.

We have therefore thought sit to speak to some particulars, and that as in the presence of the Lord, (to whose grace, and in the dread of whose name we doe most humbly appeale, and who (should we come to a day of engagement, will be a sore witnes against us) if we utter these things in hypocrisie, and not out of bowels of love, to perswade the hearts and con­sciences of those that are godly in Scotland) that so [Page 5]they may be with drawne from partaking in the sinne and punishment of evill doers, or that, at least, we might exonerate our selves before God and Man, do Remonstrate as followeth.

And for as much as we beleeve many godly People in Scotland are not satisfied with the proceedings of this Nation concerning the death of the late King, the rejection of his Issue, the change of the Govern­ment, and severall actions conversant thereabout. Although it cannot be supposed that we shall in this Paper meet with all objections that may be made, (these very particulars alone requring more lines then we intend in the whole) Yet we briefly say, That we were engaged in a warre with the said King for the defence of our Religion and Liberties, and how many times Propositions for a safe and well-grounded peace were offered to him, and how often he refused to consent thereto, you well know, which accor­ding to humane accompt he might have closed with, had not the righteous God, who knoweth the deceit­full heart of man, and is the preserver of mankinde, ( [...]specially of his people) in his secret judgement, de­nied him a heart to ascent thereto. By which refu­sals he made it appeare, that nothing lesse would sa­ti [...]fie then to have it in his own power to destroy Re­ligion and Liberties, the subversion whereof he had so often attempted: That He was a man guilty of [Page 6]more innocent bloud in England, Ireland and Scot­land, even of those he ought to have preserved, as a Father his Children, then any of his predecessors, or we think then any History mentioneth, the guilt whereof he brought upon his Family by solemne ap­peales to God: That the Sonne did tread in the Fa­thers steps, and pursue his designes, destructive to Re­ligion and Liberty: That a Party in Parliament, false to God and to their trust, were willing and did en­deavour to betray the cause into the late Kings hands. That a remaining party desiring to be true to God and to the people that intrusted them, (out of integrity of heart, and fearing that the high displeasure of God would fall upon them if they had not done it) did bring to justice and cause to be exe­cuted, the said King; did reject the Person now with you, did lay aside the House of Lords (an estate not representing the people, nor trusted with their Li­berties, Yet at that time very forward to give up the Peoples Rights, and obstruct what might save them, and alwaies apt enough to joyne with Kingly Interest against the Peoples Liberties, whereof we wish you have not like sad experience) and did for the good of the people, resolve the Government in­to a Common-wealth: And having done all this, that they are not accomptable to any other Nation, is sufficient to say to you, except it be to excite you [Page 7]to rejoyce in this wonderfull work of God, and to be thankfull to him for so much deliverance as you have thereby, and leave the rest to the State of England, to whom it doth only and properly belong, who have manifested their regular proceedings therein, accor­ding to the true and equitable intent of the constitu­tion of England, and the Representors of the people in Parliament, in their severall and respective Decla­rations, if they be looked into, to which we referre you. Besides, it is worthy consideration with how many providences this Series of action hath been blest, which would require a Volume to recount.

If Treaties be urged against us, It is easie to say by whom they were broken, and how eminently, even by the then full Authority of the Parliament of Scot­land, and the Invasion by Duke Hamilton, and yet that not the first breach neither. And if it be said, That hath been Protested against, and revoked since, we aske, doth that make up the breach, so as to chal­leng England still upon Agreements and Articles; you know, as to right it doth not, except you suppose that England made their bargaine, so, that Scotland might breake, and England remain bound, whereas it is a known Law of Nations, that in the breach of the League by the one Party, the other is no longer ob­liged.

If the Couenant be alleaged against us, this may [Page 8]be said by us with honesty and clearenesse, Religion having therein the first place, civill Liberties the next, the Kings Interest and consitution of Parliament the last, and these with subordination one to another, The Covenant tyed us to preserve Religion and Li­berty, as the ends of it, even when these were incon­sistent, with the preservation of the Kings Interest, and the frame of Parliament, because when the means and the end cannot both be enjoyed together, the end is to be preferred before the means. Now that there was a reall inconsistency between the end and the means, and that the lesser did fight against the greater, is your own judgment, who in a Book of yours called, A necessary and seasonable Testimony against Tole­ration, say thus of the two Houses, pag. 12. And doubt­lesse, the Lord is highly dis [...]leased with their procoedings in the Treaty at Newport, in reference to Religion, and Co­venant, concerning which they accepted of such Concessions from His Majesty, as being acquiessed in, were dangerous and destructive to both. Had we not then appeared against these Concessions, and likewise against those of both Houses who acquiesced in them, had not Re­ligion and Liberty both been destroyed? which now by the blessing of God are preserved. And if that action concerning the Parliament deserve a charge, yet least of all from your selves, who when you saw the Parliament which sent Duke Hamilton with an Army [Page 9]into England proceed in waves destructive to Religi­on and Libetty, you counte nanced▪ and acted with those that rose up for publique safety, though contra­ry to Acts of Parliament, and called a new one, exclu­ding whom you thought fit, all which was done by virtue and authority from the Committee of Estates then sitting at Edinburgh, which indeed was no Com­mittee (if you respect formalities) (the breach where­of you so often charge upon us) being constituted of such persons, as by Act of the foregoing Parliament, had not legall right to sit or act therein; they not having taken the Oath (for faithfull discharge of the trust reposed in them, in reference to the late En­gagement against England) injoyned by that Parlia­ment to be taken by every Member of the Commit­tee at his first sitting, or else to have no place or vote therein, as is fully set down in the Commission for the constituting of that Committee of Estates. We could more particularly set forth, how the Committee of Estates there sitting, according to the litterall sence of the aforementioned Commission, was broken, and driven away by that force raysed and acted by you, as aforesaid: but we spare, not seeking to justifie our actions by yours, but to shew, that you have done the same things, for presevation of Religion and Liber­ty, which you so highly charge as evill upon us. And therefore, we further desire you seriously to consider, That the inconsistency of our Religion and Liberties, [Page 10]with the Kings Interest and former constitution of Parliament; did not arise from our yealousies or pre­tences, but from the hardnesse of the Kings heart, and the backsliding of the greater part of those that were intrusted in the Parliament, by their acquiescing in those Concessions and endeavouring immediately to bring in the King upon them. We therefore reckon it no breach, but a Religious keeping of the Cove­nant according to the equitic thereof, when our Par­liament for Religion and Liberties sake, and the In­terest of the people, did remove the King and King­ship: As also we assert our selves Keepers of the Cove­nant, when the competition hath been between the forme and substance, if we have altered some formes of the Government in part, for the substance sake.

As for the Presbyteriall, or any other Forme of Church Government, they are not by the Covenant to be imposed by force, yet we doe and are ready to imbrace so much, as doth, or shal be made appear to us to be according to the Word of God. Are we to be dealt withall as enemies, because we come not to your way? Is all Religion wrapt up in that, or any one Form? Doth that name, or thing, give the difference between those that are the Members of Christ, and those that are not? We think not so. We say, Faith working by love, is the true Charactor of a Christian; and, God is our Witnes, in whomsoever we see any thing of Christ [Page 11]to be, there we reckon our duty to love, writing forch more plentifull effusion of the Spirit of God to make all those Christians, who by the malice of the World are diversified, and by their own carnall mindednesse doe diversifie themselves by severall names of Re­proach, to be of one heart and one mind, worshipping God with oue consent. We are desirous that those who are for the Presbyteriall Government should have all freedom to enjoy it; and are perswaded, That if it be so much of God, as some affirme, if God be trusted with his own means, which is his Word powerfully and effectually Preached, without a too busie med­ling with, or engaging the Authorities of the World, it is able to accomplish his good pleasure upon the minds of men, to produce and establish his purposes in the World concerning the Government of his Church. And as for the Blasphemies and Heresies wherewith some Statists amongst you have laboured to brand us; We can say, That we doe own those sound Grounds and Principles of the Christian Reli­gion, Preached and held by the Generality of godly Ministers and Christians of these later times; abhor­ring from our hearts, and being ready to beare our witnesse against any detestable Blasphemies and He­resies lately broken out amongst us; we have already punished some amongst us for Blasphemy and are fur­ther ready to doe it; but how uningeniously we have [Page 12]been dealt with by some amongst you, and of our own Countrymen, in heaping Calumnies upon our heads, to render us vile and odious to our Brethren, yea and the whole world, we leave to God to judge, who will, [...]e trust, in due time, make these things manifest. But were Presbytery thus to be contested for, and that in upholding it, all Religion did, and would flourish; yet, how improbable it is, That the course taken by those in authority with you, will produce the things you desire (to say no more) let your own experiences [...] little minde you.

What pretenders were some Lords and other per­sons in the North of Ireland, whilest they mingled the Presbyterian with the Kingly Interest; and the Mi­nisters by their Preaching, seduced the people from their Obedience to England, under the same pretence; But no sooner had those persons got the power into their own hands, but they shook off the Ministers, by threatnings, causing some of them to quit the country, and in generall, discouraging the exercise of the Go­vernment there, declaring plainly by their actions, that it was but aide vice to draw on the Royall Interest; & those very Persons that did get power into their hands under those pretences; in mediately joyned with Owen Roe O Neale, and these bloody Irish Rebells upon the Kingly Interest It will not be unfit to mind you also, how the Nobility and some of the Ministers of Scot­land, [Page 13]Preaching, and crying up a War against England, under pretence of the Covenant, did thereby lay the foundation to Duke Hamiltons getting the command of that Army, who over numbring them in Parlia­ment, power, and friends, and by the advantage of Malignants, thrust all that you could call the good party, out of power and authority, himselfe getting the command of that Army into England, and lea­ving his Brother, and other Kindred in power in Scot­land; Thus upon the same Ground, and pretence, to carry on the Kingly Interest, have you been twice deceived, and now he is brought in among you, who hath turned every stone, and tryed all friends and. Allyes in Forraine parts, endeavoured com­motions at home by his wicked and malignant In­struments, commissioned Rupert, the French, and all that Pyraticall Generation, who doe spoil, take, plunder and destroy our ships, and trade at Sea, and all to the end he might destroy the people of God, and the peace of the three Nations. And now being by his Mother, and the Popi [...]h Interests abroad [...]ouncelled thereto, hath made a complyance with you, as his last refuge, who even whilest he was trea­ting with you, had his heart set upon Montrosse, and his accomplices (writing Letters, and sending parti­cular Orders wo kin) and upon his Popish Army in Ire­land, to whom he had given Commissions, and whom [Page 14]he still owned as his faithfull Subjects, not with stan­all the innocent blood by them shed; and would ne­ver be induced to comply, or close with the Covenant, and Presbytery, till utterly disappointed of all those his Malignant, and Popish hopes and confidences.

Is there not now just cause for all good men with you, to feare, that one so bred, so engaged, and inte­rested, and meerly in such a way comming in to you, doth but watch his opportnuity (to speak nothing of the weight of the blood of Saints under the altar, erying still for vengeance upon him, and that family) till by his influence upon your Army (which you know how composed) he may gaine his ends upon you; and how likewise the generality of the people of Scotland are affected, is not unworthy of your most serious consideration, nor of a friendly intimation from us.

But that which most awakens us is, That notwith­standing all this, and all the wrongs done to England, from Scotland, they refuse to doe us right; so that what wrongs soever we have, or shall sustain, must be without remedy, and we also without security for the future; as is sufficiently expostulated in the Par­liament of Englands Declaration afore mentioned, and the seeds laid of a perpetuall Warre, by taking our grand Enemy into your bosoms, and your Engage­ment to him, in the late Treaty with Him, to restore Him to the possession of England, and Ire­land; [Page 15]and therefore we call Heaven and Earth to wit­nesse, whether or no, we have not cause to defend our selves, by hindring the present power of Scotland, from taking their time and advantage to impose thus upon us: and whether they have now any just reason to wonder at the approach of an Army to their borders, and the taking some of their Ships by ours; yea, whe­ther our coming into Scotland with an Army, upon so clear a ground, be any other, then a just and necessary defence of our selves, for preservation of those rights and liberries, which divine providence hath through the expence of so much blood and treasure given us, and those amongst you have engaged, they will if they can wrest from us, Unlesse it must be taken for granted, That the Parliament of England ought to sit still, and be silent, whilest their ruine is contrived, their friends and brethren destroyed by Sea, and Land, whom in conscience and duty both before God and Man, they ought to preserve.

And now we come to speake to all those who are with in the [...]mpasse of the Title of this Declaration, That we undertake this businesse in the fear of God, with bowels full of love, vea, full of pitty to the Inhabitants of the Country; and if it shall please God to make Scotland sensible of the wrongs done to us, and to give to the Commonwealth of England a satisfying security against [...]ute injuries, we shall rejoyce. But if that may not be obtayned, we shall desire such as feare God, not to joyne or have to doe with [Page 16]those, who are the authors, & actors of so much evill and mischiefe against their neighbours. And we dare say, to the prayse of God, That that which moves us to this gre [...]t undertaking, is not any re­liance upon the arme of flesh, or being lifted up with the remem­brance of former successes, or the desire of accomplishing any de­signes of our own that we have fore-layd, but the full assusance we have that our cause is just, and righteous in the sight of God, looking at all precedent changes, and the successes that have pro­duced them, not as the work of the policy, or str [...]ngth of Man; but as the eminent actings of the providence and pover of God, to bring forth his good will and pleasure, concerning the things which he hath determined in the world. And we are con­fident, that as he hath hitherto gloriously appeared, so he will still, bearing witnesse to the righteousnesse of this cause, in great mercy and pitty of the infirmities and faylings, of us his poore creatures. And we doe most humbly implore his Divine Maje­sty to give a mercifull testimony, whether the actings of di­vers men amongst you have not proceeded from Wor [...]dly Inte­rests, together with the rancour and bitternesse of their Spirits, who we feare through envy at Instruments, have refused to ac­knowledge his hand and goodnesse in the accomplishment of these great changes; and whether ours have not come from the sinplicity of our and other his poor servants hearts, who, we trust, have desired (though in the middest of m [...]nifold weakenesses) to follow him in integrity, through difficult paths, having nothing but danger and ruine appearing to the flesh, and little to encourage us, saving those signall manifestations of his presence in those high acts of his providence, and the feare of his name, lest [...]e going before, we should not follow.

And this we can further adde, That nothing is so pred [...] ­ [...]nant within us (next to our duty to God, not to betray a cause, to which he hath so much witnest) as the love we ha [...]e towards those that feare God there, who may possibly suffer, [Page] [Page] [Page 17]through their own mistakes, or our disability to distinguish in a common calamity, of which Christian love, we hope, we gave some proofe and testimony, when we were last in Scot­land, with this Army; and were, by God, made instrumentall, to break the power of those, that then oppressed the Godly Party there, and were then ready at their desire, to doe every thing on their behalfe, which might put them into the seat of Authority and Power, whose consciences knows this is true, and for which, this late Act of Engagement to their new King, against England, is to good requitall, nor their beaping up­on us the reproach of a Sectarian Army, a Christian dealing; all which we doe with comfort commend to God, and can not­withstanding all this, say, by the Grace of God, We can for­give, and forget those things, and can, and doe desire of God, that the pre [...]ious in Scotland, may be seperated from the vile, which is the end of this our Paper. And to the truth of this, let the God of Heaven in his great mercy, pardoning our weakenesses, judge of us, when we come to meet our Enemies in the field; if through the perversenesse of any in Autho­r [...]ty with you, God shall please to order the decision of this controversie, by the Sword which we from our hearts, beseech the Lord to avert; and to give you the like Christian and Bro­therly affection towards us, which we, by Gods grace, beare towards you.