THe occasion of this meeting is to repre­sent to the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of this Kingdome, the con­dition of the affaires of Scotland, which at this time is verie sad, in respect that those bloodie Rebels who came from Ireland (whom this Kingdome by the large Treatie are obliged to represse) and their treacherous Confederates and Malignants, who have conspired against the Covenant and League betwixt the two Kingdomes; have so much prevailed in Mischiefe, especially in that un­happie late rancounter with our Forces at Kilsyth, where the Rebels being upon their march Southward, and (according to our best intelligence) to joyne with the King, whom they did expect in Scotland, or [Page 2] to breake through our borders into England, and to come with their Armie into this Kingdome, and our Armie being then very weake by reason of their for­mer losses and conflicts, wherein most part of our Forces were cut off, did rayse some Countrie Forces, and brought them along with them, and (out of their zeale, to the good and safetie of both Kingdomes) did pursue them with more forwardnesse and haste then good speed or successe; for the Enemie having placed themselves in a ground of advantage, betwixt sleepe Mountaines on the one hand, and Woods and Bogs on the other, possessing the best ground, wherein a la­tent place they were all drawn up in battell; our For­ces advanced up to them, and the ground being very strait, & the Enemie lurking in a place where they were not perceived till our Forces were close at them, and none of ours being drawne up, nor put in order but onely the Regiment that marched in the Van, the Enemie did fall upon them with their whole Horse & Foot, and after fighting with that first Regiment (who did fight verie valiantly till opprest with the multitude of the Enemies whole Forces) they were most part cut off, and the rest broken: the few Horse we had retreated disorderly, breaking through their owne Foot, and all being in disorder the Enemie pre­vailed, and routed our Forces with great execution, giving quarter to no [...]e.

After this sad blow, we having no other Armie, not reserve of Forces on the Fields, some Townes neere the Enemie, wherein there be many Malignants ready to welcome them, and others out of feare were glad to capitulate with the Enemie, and submit themselves to their mercie, upon such conditions as they could obtaine.

[Page 3] The deportment of the Enemie since, is by all craft and crueltie to strengthen and recruit their Armie, wherein they leave no meanes unessayed that po­licie or violence can effect; they offer Peace and pro­tection, Immunitie from all Excise, Assessements, raysed for the entertainment of our Armies in Scot­land, England, and Ireland, and the ratifying of the former Covenant of Scotland, to all that shall joyn with them or lye Neutrall; and (as they tearme it) returne to their loyaltie and obedience to the King, and shall renounce the mutuall League and Covenant with England; and such as will not, are threatned with Fire and Sword, which in divers places they put to execution most cruelly: And Montrosse, as the Kings Lieutenant-Generall, Issues forth Commissions to Popish and Malignant Lords, and other, to Array the Countrie for the King.

Papists & divers Malignants, who before were with them in their hearts, but durst not appeare, are now a­vowdly joyn'd with them; others out of fear to preserve themselves, their wives & children from destruction of the Sword & Fire, are fled, & some take protections from them: the Enemie is roaring and tryumphing in the heart of the Kingdome, and is now possest of the Houses, Lands, and Estates of many Noblemen, Gen­tlemen, and others of the best affected in the King­dome, to whom nothing is left but Families without maintenance, honour without means to support it, & who are under all the grievous Calamities of Warre, and under the mercie of a most cruell and bloodie Enemie, not having (when I came from that King­dome) any Armie in the Fields to oppose them. And in the meane time the Angell of God is striking our [Page 4] Cities, especially Edenbrough, the chiefe Citie of that Kingdome, with the Plague of Pestilence so fearefully, as there is no living there, nor any Commerce, Trade, nor exchange of Money, which encreases our difficul­ties to maintaine a Warre, & a Parliament is indicted by Montrosse, to establish all these iniquities by a Law.

In this our extremitie, we were forced to have our recourse to our Armies in England and Ireland, to crave their aid; and for that end I am sent hither to the Honourable Houses of Parliament, to represent to them and this Honourable Meeting the necessitie of calling our Armie, for the reliefe and safetie of their Native Countrey, and that the partie who was neerest them, under the conduct of Lieutenant Gene­rall David Lesly, might with all possible speed march into Scotland, to whom the Committee did earnestly write for that effect: this was the readiest remedie which did fall within the compasse of their present consideration; they desire, and are confident, to finde the Honourable Houses approbation thereof, there being no hope of assistance from our Armie in Ire­land.

Their next desire to the Honourable Houses is, that the Warres in Scotland against these bloudie Re­bels, may be carryed on by the joynt Counsels and assistance of both Kingdomes, against the common enemies of both Nations, and the Cause wherein wee are so deepely engaged, the Warre and our Enemies being still the same, and the place of our Warre onely changed; and if the King or his forces breake into Scotland that proportionable forces from the Parlia­ment may closely follow them.

No man hath conscience or honestie, but he will [Page 5] remember the solemne League and Covenant, the Treatie, and the Declarations of both Kingdomes, which are the strongest bonds betwixt God and man, and betwixt man and man, and Nation and Nation, before the world: no man hath true zeale to Religion, that will shrinke for such adversitie and opposition, as hath beene ordinarie in the like worke, and hath beene obvious to us since our first undertaking, but hath been alwayes overcome by the assistance of God: no man hath prudence, will hope for a powerfull and prosperous Warre, or any firme or true peace, but in the conjunction of both Kingdomes.

How great then would the sinne and shame be, if either Nation, against so manifold Obligations whereby we stand obliged before God and the world, should desert other in this Cause?

How great advantage would it be to our common Enemie, who ha's still followed that Machiavilian Maxime, Divide & impera, to get us divided, and the greatest favour either Nation could expect in the end is, but to be the last that shall be devoured?

As in the time of your greatest distresse and lowest ebbe, when Scotland enjoyed peace and quietnesse, they did from their sympathie of your sufferings forsake their owne peace for your aid, apprehending also your mine and servitude might be a fore-runner of theirs; so if this Kingdome shall withdraw, or be wanting in their assistance to us, in the day of our distresse, brought upon us for imbarking with them, and wee perish in it; will it not usher in and hasten upon you that same ruine, intended from the beginning by our common enemie? And if the godly and honest partie in that Kingdome perish for want of assistance, you [Page 6] may certainely expect as great an Armie from the [...] for your destruction, as came formerly for your pre­servation; which God forbid.

But from our Brethren of England, and the Honorable Houses of Parliament, who are the true Pilots, set at the Helme in so great a storme, we expect better and greater things, that their whole authoritie, power and meanes will in this exigent be aiding to us: And it is the firme resolution of that Kingdome, by Gods grace, never to forsake this, but against all opposition, with courage and constancie to live and die with you in this Cause; and although all the world should for­sake us, so long as there is one drop of bloud in our veines, we resolve never to relinquish this Worke, but to put our confidence in the justnesse of the Cause, and in the invincible power of God, whose Cause it is, till it please him by a prosperous Warre, or happy Peace (which we still desire may by all good meanes be sought after) to put an end to our troubles, trust­ing he will strengthen us and send deliverance to his people: But if either Nation draw back their hand, or deale trecherously in it, their judgement and doome will be harder then I desire to pronounce.