SInce the arrivall of the last Post from the North, which intimated unto us the unhappy tydings of the great Conspiracy in the North of England, yet welcome Newes, in the timely discovery of it; we are further advertised, and it is likewise signified to the honourable houses of Parliament, by letters from very good hands, the dangerous proceedings of the Roy­alists in those Parts; wherein is made manifest, the in­veterate malice, and most bloody designes of the Ene­mies of England; For, having formerly been the chiefe Instruments of involving this Kingdome in bloud, by [Page 2]engaging a desperate warre against the VVorthies ther­of, have (since the happy sheathing of this devouring sword) again endeavoured to draw it, that so streames of bloud might issue forth, and run down the streets of our stately Townes and Cities: But God forbid, for Hee having by His omnipotent Power sheathed the sword, and composed the sad difference and distractions within this bleeding Kingdome, were now pleased to manger their Designes, and being to light the wicked Conspiracies and Intentions of the Enemies to Truth and Peace; as will manifestly appeare by this ensuing Relation.

The Royalists in the North of England, having for many weekes together laboured and endeavoured with his Majesty for the raising of Forces, and providing of Armes, and other Necessaries of warre, having attained their desires, began to pluck up their drooping Spirits, and to appear in a warlike maner, divers of them having obtained new Commission from his Majesty to raise Forces against the Parliament; and those which have bin in Armes against the Parliament for the King, flock thi­ther, and promises are made that they shall have consde­ration for the time they spend, till they become usefull, and can attain to the accomplishing of their Designes in agitation, by raising of an Army to oppose the Power and Strength of his Excellency sir Tho. Fairfax.

The Names of the chief Ringleaders which had re­ceived their Commissions from his Majesty, are, sir Marmaduke Darcy, sir Iordan Crosland, sir William Blackston, and many others: But now they begin to de­spaire by reason that their main supportance, and chie­fest aymes hath taken no effect, which was, the surpisall [Page 3]of the strong Holds and Garrisons in the North (now in possession of the Parliaments Forcces) the Names of which, together with the manner of the Scituation of them, I will faithfully communicate, as followeth:

First, that impregnable Hold the Castle of Ponte­fract, who endured more then a yeares siege by the Par­liaments Forces, under the Command of the right ho­nourable the Lord Fairfax; which place if it had beene again re-possess't by the enemy, (as was intended) would have cost many thousand mens lives, before the retaking of it.

But that which makes us most lament, it, that the concord and union of our distressed Kingdome should still be retarded and meet with opposition; for it is in­timated unto us, that for the surprisall of the sorenamed Garison, the Kings hand & seale was not onely shewed but that his Majesty had also granted severall Commis­sions to men of eminency, for the further prosecuting of the Design in agitation against the Parliament, as is before cited.

But if this Plot had taken effect, our renowned Par­liament had lost one of the chiefest Flowers in this little Garden; for, it is held to be one of the strongest Castles in Europe, having ten great Towres within it, and scitu­ated upon a high Rock, having but two Gates to enter in at, and the walls at least seven or eight yards in breadth, being free from Battery by any Canon.

If the enemy had become Masters of this Castle, they would have indangered most of the other Holds in the North, as Scarbrough, a place of great consequence, and scituated upon a a mighty high Rock, which if once be­ing repossest of again, would tend much to the preju­dice [Page 4]of this Kingdome, but especially to the Northerne Counties.

Also the Castle of Helmsley would have beene in great danger, by reason of the innumerable sort of Pa­pists and Malignants that are about it, it is a place of great concernment, having cost many mens lives in the reducing of it, and much bloud spilt in the attempting thereof.

His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax at his besieging of the said place received a terrible wound, being shot through the shoulder with a sling-bullet, weighing a­bout seven or eight pound, as he was viewing the ground for raising of his Batteries, and planting of his Ord­nance.

But to conclude, Skipton Castle, Knaresbrough Ca­stle, and Sandall Castle is supposed would bee also en­dagered, being places of great strength and consequence, especially the two first.

All which (is very probable) would have heene at­tempted, if they had prospered in their first Designe; but being frustrated in that, and many of the Complot­ters apprehended, the rest despaire (as men out of hopes) betaking themselves to any corners or holes for sanctu­ary.

The rest of the Royailsts that have had formerly so many frequent meetings, and divers others of the Kings Officers and Souldiers, that lay hovering up and downe the Northern Parts, plundering and pillaging the coun­tries, dare not appear so publikely, nor appoint meetings as formerly.

So that it is hoped all their wicked stratagems and Conspiracies will soone bee frustrated, by reason of [Page 5]The confident expectations we have of a firm union betwixt the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, will (we hope) in a very short time remove all fears and jealousies (magure the malice of the adversary.) The receipt of the money is consent­ed unto; for so far are we from standing on punctillioes, or cir­cumstances, which might retard matters of greatest concern­ment, that it will appear to the world that we shall be most re­all in our performances; in pursuance whereof, the Scots shall receive the first 100000. l. at North-Otherton, and when they are marched out of Newcastle the other 100000. l. accepting of Hostages for the rendition of the rest of our Garisons, and their quitting the whole Kingdom.

I had almost forgot to intimate unto you, that the Scots Commissioners sent a Letter to the House, of the transactions of the treaty between them and our Commissioners, about the matters before recited, and are pleased to declare, that its far from their desire, that any differences or misunderstandings a­rise betwixt us. We hear that a faire conclusion will be made to the generall satisfaction of all good men, and the establish­ment of Peace betwixt the two Kingdomes. The money is speedily to be sent away, And his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax is to send a strong party of horse, consisting of 3000. for the safe conveighing of it to the North.

The Parliament have also been pleased to expresse them­selves, concerning the Covenant, as followeth:

We by the Covenant in the first Article which concerns Re­ligion are to endeavour in our severall Places and Callings.

In the second, which concerns the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Superstition, Heresie, Schism and prophanenesse, to en­deavour in like manner.

In the third, which concerns the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament, the Liberties of the Kingdoms, and the preservation and defence of the true Religion and liberties of the Kingdoms and the preservation and defence of the Kings person and au­thority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion & Liberties of the Kingdoms, to indeavour in our severall Ʋocati­ons.

The 4. which concerns Incendiaries they are to be brought [Page 6]to publike tryall, and receive condign punishment from the su­pream Judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively.

In the fifth concerning the continuing of the peace & un­on of the Kingdom of England and Scotland, We shall each out of us endeavour according to our Places and Interest.

In the sixth and last, concerning the assistance and defence of all those that enter into this Covenant. To indeavour according to our Places and Callings, to perform whatsoever we are oblie­ged to by the Covenant.

It seems strange to us, That England and Scotland being se­verall distinct Kingdoms, and by Covenant each one being to act in his severall Place, Ʋocation Call ng and Interest, that the Kingdom of Scotland should from the Covenant entitle them­selves to the right of exercising any joynt power in the King­dom of England the expresse words of the Covenant being di­rectly contrary to the exercise of any joynt power, which was several and distinct before the making this Covenant, and the joynt exercise of such power would break the Covenant; be­cause we are thereby obliged in our several Ʋocations, mutual­ly to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments, & the Liberties of the Kingdoms, and the exercise of such a joynt power, which doth give a negative voyce to another Nation, in the proceedings in the Kingdoms of England & Ireland would be a manifest breach of those priviledges and liberties: And whereas throughout your whole Papers this joynt interest is so much inforced from the Covenant, neither that word Ioyatly, nor any other expression which will bear that interpretation, is so much as mentioned in the Covenant; and the words, each one in his severall Vocation, Calling Place and Interest, which runs through the whole Covenant, and would have cleared the meaning of it are wholly left out by you and in all your re­citals of the Covenant, or arguments drawn from thence, there are no words to that effect.