VVEE are desired by the Committee of Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland residing with the Scotish Army, to communicate to the Honorable Houses the Letters and Papers herewith presented; wherein it will appear, how careful they have been in exhorting His Majesty to give satisfaction to the joynt desires of both Kingdoms, without medling in any Propositions of Peace; They have also renewed their desires for advice from hence, and do earnestly entreat, That Commissioners may be sent from both Houses to joyn with them, and to be witnesses of all their actions, wherein they endeavor nothing more, then that they may be such as may give equal satisfaction to both the Kingdoms.
We are further desired to acquaint their Lordships with the particulars of a Letter written by Colonel Poyntz to Lieut. Gen: David Lesly, wherein he doth require, That if he had any forces about Rippon, he retire them to some other place; And if he had appointed any more to come thither, that he recall his Orders; all which he advised him speedily to perform, as he would evidence to the world, that the intention of the coming of the Scotish Army into this Kingdom, was to pursue the common Enemy, and not to be troublesome or encroach upon their [Page 4]Friends. To which Lieut. General Lesly returned a civil Answer, shewing him, That his commands should be obeyed; and accordingly did forthwith withdraw his Forces from those parts, being desirous, according to the directions given unto him, to avoid all occasions of difference and contest: Upon consideration whereof, It is their earnest desire, That as directions are given by them to all the Officers of the Scotish Army, so the Honorable Houses would be pleased to give Order to the Commanders of their Forces in those parts to forbear all provoking expressions, speeches or actions, which may give just cause of offence. And for preventing all disorders and inconveniences, they do earnestly entreat, That Directions may be speedily sent to the Committee at York to appoint them Quarters, that a considerable Supply of Money may be sent unto them, now, after so much want, and so long suffering; which desires being so reasonable, and so often renewed, we are perswaded the Honorable Houses will take them into their serious consideration, and return a speedy and satisfactory Answer. We remain
For the Right Honorable, The Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore, to be communicated to both Houses Parliament.
THe Committee of Estates with the Scots Army, having received a Vote of the Honorable House of Commons▪ inclosed in a Letter from the Commissioners of both Houses, demanding the persons of Mr. John Ashburnham, and all others that came with the King into the Scots Army before Newark, to be delivered up; did seriously take into deliberation how they might return a satisfactory Answer to the Desire of the House of Commons, wherein they found themselves pressed with no small Difficulties arising from the consideration of the Vote, which did require Mr. John Ashburnham and others to be delivered up as Delinquents, upon this Narrative and Reason, That they came into the Scotish Army before Newark with His Majesty. There being no other cause of Delinquency made known unto the Committee of Estates, and no more being expressed concerning Mr. John Ashburnham then other persons who were Guides to His Majesty in his way thither: It did appear unto them, that they were no more obliged to deliver up Mr. John Ashburnham His Majesties ordinary Servant, and others, onely for their attending the King to the Scotish Army, then the Parliament of England should have been obliged in the like case to deliver up any Subject of Scotland for attending His Majesty if He had gone into Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army, or come to London. And it did very much weigh with their Lordshops, That the delivering up of these persons, meerly for their coming with His Majesty into the Scotish Army would import, That they did acknowledge it to be unlawful for themselves to receive [Page 6]His Majesty, coming unexpectedly without any invitation into their Army, sith he could not come without one Servant or other to attend Him. But if Mr. John Ashburnham or any other that came with His Majesty, had been Declared by the Parliament to be Incendiaries, Malignants or evil Instruments, by hindring the Reformation of Religion, dividing the King from His people, or one of the Kingdoms from another, or making any Factions or parties among the people, contrary to the Solemn League and Covenant, then it was their resolution, and they were ready therein to give satisfaction to the Honorable Houses. Upon these and other grounds they did desire to confer with the Commissioners of both Houses, to the end they might either give or receive satisfaction, and accordingly wrote unto them for this purpose, leaving unto them to appoint the place of meeting: It was also considered what should be done in the interim, till upon conference and mutual consultation with the Commissioners of Parliament the matter should be determined: And though for the coming of these persons with the King to the Scots Army (no other cause of offence being known, or crime objected against them) the Committee of Estates could not in Honor and Justice, nor without reflection upon themselves for receiving his Majesty, put a Restraint upon them; yet lest the busines should be divulged, & upon apprehension of the issue thereof any of them should make an escape, the Cō mittee thought fit, & did accordingly enjoyn secresie in the whole matter. While they were expecting an answer from the Commissioners of both Houses, [Page 7]they received Advertisement, That Five thousand Horse and Dragoons were upon their march Northward toward them, no Enemy being in those parts, and that two Messengers sent from us to them were intercepted and searched. Whereupon they judged it necessary, and did write to the Commissioners of Parliament to delay the intended meeting, till the army should come to a more convenient place, being unwilling that the Forces of the two Kingdoms should ingage upon a mistake; and so soon as they came to Borrowbrigs they renewed their desires to the Commissioners of Parliament for a Conference about this businesse, to which the Commissioners by reason of their other occasions, did not agree.
In all which, the Committee of Estates conceive that they have used their best endeavours to give satisfaction to the desire of the Honorable House of Commons, especially seeing upon the very first notice they had of Mr. Ashburnham and Mr. Hudson their endeavour to escape, they sent forth on all hands Orders to apprehend them, and such diligence was used, as Mr. Hudson was apprehended, and is now in Newcastle in the Custody of the Deputy Major: and as a worthy and Noble Lord, the Lord Balcarras lately come hither, hath by order of the Committee made known unto us, his Lordship and all the rest of that Honorable Committee can declare upon their Honor, That directly nor indirectly they were no wayes accessory to Mr. Ashburnhams escape, nor had any knowledge thereof, whatsoever may be suggested to the contrary. All which being considered, together with the Letters and Papers to be presented this day to the House from the Committee of both Kingdoms, We are confident that Honorable House will rest satisfied with their cariage in this particular, and with their other proceedings.
May 25. 1646.
If the sending of Supplies to the Scotish Army, and the giving order for their Quarters were a matter of small consequence, or could without very great prejudice suffer a delay, we would be very loath so frequently to trouble the Honorable Houses about that particular. But when we consider the exceeding great wants of that Army, and the insupportable burthen that lyes upon the Counties where they do now reside, by reason no moneys are paid to the army, wherewith they may discharge their quarters, from whence many dangerous inconveniences and sad evils must needs follow, as may appear by the Letters from the Committee at York, if not very speedily prevented: We do finde a necessity laid upon us still to importune the Honorable Houses for sending a considerable Supply of mony to that Army, and in the mean time to give order for their Quarters, that all differences which may arise between them and the Country, or the Parliamenrs Forces, may be avoided, and all fair correspondence may be mutually cherished and entertained. These things we have earnestly pressed at the Committee of both Kingdoms, And do now again renew to both Houses for our further exoneration; wherein, as we have used our best endeavors to prevent the evils that are like to ensue, so we cannot but promise to our selves, That the Honorable Houses will take the same into their wise consideration, and speedily return a satisfactory Answer to
VVEE have very frequently represented to the honorable Houses, the extreme necessities of the Scotish Army, and the dangerous effects which were like to follow, if some more effectual course be not taken for their necessary provisions, whereby the Counties might be eased, and they not burthensom to those places where they did or do Quarter. We have also earnestly desired, That such Complaints that were or should for the future be sent up hither concerning any Disorders in that Army, or abuses committed by any Person or Persons therein, might be made known unto us, or to the Committee of Estates upon the place, promising, that upon intimation given, and proof made of the Offence, the Offenders should be condignly and exemplarly punished.
As by these and all other possible means and wayes we have diligently and faithfully endeavored to prevent mis-understandings and differences between the Kingdoms; so from the conscience of the Solemn League and Covenant, and of the particular trust put upon us; from the sense of the pressing and still unremedied sufferings of our Army, our ears being also filled with the noise of Complaints and Informations come against them, which some do not only easily believe, and readily entertain, but with much Art spread and aggravate: And finally, That we may for our own exoneration in point of duty, leave no mean unessayed which may heal the present, and prevent all future Jealousies; We cannot choose at this season, but expresse [Page 10]that which lieth much upon our Spirits, and which being timely animadverted by the Wisdom of both Houses, may produce good effects to their and our comfort.
As we are conscious to the sincerity of our own Intentions and Endeavors to preserve a firm Peace and Union between the Kingdoms, and to bring the War to a happy and speedy conclusion; so upon our certain knowledge we can say, That the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland, and in the intervals of Parliament the Committee of Estates at home and with the Army in this Kingdom, have proceeded and do proceed upon the same principles and toward the same ends, of which, so far as concerneth the Committee with the Army, the Commissioners of both Houses have often upon the place given ample testimony, which we doubt not they have done here also, as they freely declared they would do. Neither hath that Kingdom (to our best knowledge) failed in the performance of any Article of the Treaty with this Kingdom, which was to be performed on their part, although provocations have not been wanting, so that we are exceedingly amazed to hear such noise of a breach expected between the Kingdoms, which if it should fall forth (as the Lord forbid) we are confident it neither hath nor shall have any cause or rise from our Nation. And we are no lesse confident, That a curse from Heaven shall be upon those persons, who for their own ends and interests, coloured with false though specious pretences, are or shall be plotting and acting all that they can to hinder a Peace, and to [Page 11]continue a War, and when through Gods goodnesse the common Enemies of the Religion and just Liberties of both Kingdoms are in so great a measure broken, least this should make an end of the War, do, or shall apply themselves to sow discord amongst Brethren, to make divisive motions, and to create and encrease differences between the Kingdoms; and for that end, are extremely vigilant to catch, and actively to improve the smallest occasions taken sometimes from groundlesse and false Reports, sometimes from the miscarriages of some few private persons pinched with want and provoked with reproaches.
We shall heartily wish, That he in whose sight all things are naked and manifest, may discover and resist all secret Enemies of Truth and Peace, whoever they be; and we trust that God will so direct the Honorable Houses of Parliament, that they will never comply with, nor connive at the Counsels and wayes of any party, which for their own advantages would not spare to let in that flood of miseries upon this Island, which cannot but follow upon the engagement of the Kingdoms in a War.
We do also expect from the Justice and Wisdom of the Parliament, That the Brotherly way formerly used for a good correspondence between the Kingdoms, may be remembred and resumed, and particularly that according to the Vote of both Houses the 17. October, 1644. in reference to our Paper of the 14. Septem. 1644. What doubts or objections shall arise in either House, upon consideration of any thing propounded concerning the [Page 12]Scotish Armies in England or Ireland, the same be recommitted to a Committee of both Houses, that after Debate with us, and full understanding of our meaning, the results thereof may be reported.
If now the Honorable Houses are or shall be unsatisfied concerning any in the Scotish Army, we do faithfully promise and engage our selves in the Name of that Army, that real and speedy satisfaction shall be given when it shall be desired, and the Delinquents (when they shal be made known) severely punished; and if they be such as have served in Arms against the Parliament, shall be removed out of the Army: In which particular the Committee with the Army did lately give an evidence of their willingnesse upon occasion of a motion offered from some of themselves, to some of the Commissioners of the Parliament, that a Paper might be delivered to the Committee of Estates from the said Commissioners of Parliament, desiring such as had been in Arms against the Parliament, to be removed out of that Army. After which a Paper was delivered from the Commissioners of Parliament, proposing, that such Subjects of the Crown of England as have served the Enemy, and have not conformed to the Ordinance of Parliament, might be removed out of that Army. The Committee of Estates did return a most satisfactory answer, condescending heartily to the Proposition, and desiring from the said Commissioners a list of the Names of such persons, that they might instantly be discharged, Promising also that they themselves should diligently enquire after them, and make it appear how cordially they love [Page 13]and honor the Parliament of this Kingdom (all which is more fully expressed in the Papers themselves). Thereafter about the time of the removal of our Army from Newark, the Commissioners of Parliament, according to such Informations as they had, delivered in a List of the persons, wherein there were named divers of our Army upon a mistake, they being of the same name with some that had served against the Parliament, but themselves (to the perfect knowledge of the Committee) having never served against the Parliament, yea having come in with that Army at their entry into this Kingdom. And as to any others in that List, the Committee returned this answer, That according to the former ingagement in their answer of the 17. of April, such persons should be removed out of the Army.
Their willingnesse to execute Justice hath been manifested in the case of other offenders, as well as those who have been in Arms against the Parliament. Upon some Complaints against the Reformadoes that were in that Army, by Order of the Committee of Estates they were forthwith discharged and removed out of the Army. And upon some disorders committed by others, a Councel of War was called, and the persons guilty Condemned and Executed. It is true, the Commissioners of the two Houses delivered a Protestation against that way of proceeding by a Councel of War of the Officers of the same Regiment to whom the Delinquents did belong, but it was after the Councel of War had met, and the persons were sentenced. And concerning that way of procedure, we desire it may be considered, [Page 14]That it is the constant way of the Military Discipline of Scotland, as it is in Germany and many other places of the World, and which every Regiment claimeth as their proper priviledge. Some others have been lately put to death, and what more can be required at their hands.
As to the Complaints of the Countrey of their great burthens; It is no wonder, seeing one corner thereof sustaineth the burthen of the maintenance of that Army, when it should be equally laid upon the whole Kingdom: For remedy whereof, the Army and we in their Name, have with much importunity desired from the Parliament means to relieve them, as to supply themselves, and they are most willing to allow in their accompts, what they receive in their Quarters; and have often desired Commissioners to be sent down to concur with them to adjust the particulars: And if they knew of any other way to keep themselves from disbanding or starving, but by taking of Quarters in the Countrey when no Mois provided for them, they would most heartily embrace it.
When we shall know any other particular Complaints concerning disorders in that Army, we shall be ready to give speedy, just, and satisfactory answers: This we can say for the present, That although Warrants have been issued out to invite the Countrey to present their Complaints concerning disorders committed in our Army (the like not being-done concerning disorders amongst the English Forces) yet upon the knowledge and proof of any offence so complained of, Justice was done, which [Page 15]is the most that can be required; although likewise all the time our Amy was before Newark, our foot Soldiers had only peny half peny per diem in money and provisions, whereas the English Souldiers imployed in the same Service with them, had Eight pence per diem, and Twelve pence every third day when they did work. And although strict Disdipline and Justice against all abuses useth not to be expected from an Army which receiveth so little of their Pay, yet there hath been more strictnesse in punishing offenders in that Army, then amongst those who were much better paid. We desire not to asperse any, but only to vindicate the Reputation of our own Army, and to move the Honorable Houses to take some more real and effectual course for Supplying their wants, And that they may be pleased for preventing of further differences, and for the greater ease of the Countrey, to give Order to the Committee at York, for the Quartering of the English Forces and ours in the most convenient places, As likewise for sending to ours a considerable proportion of Money to discharge their Quarters and relieve their extreme necessities. It is not light but grievous to us to hear of any disorders at all committed by any person in that Army (how great soever the necessities be unto which they are redacted) or that our Army should be any longer burthensom to this Kingdom. And we do in the Name of that Kingdom and Army declare and assure, That as they came into this Kingdom upon an earnest invitation from both Houses of Parliament, and for the ends expressed in the Covenant and Treaty, and Declaration of both Kingdoms [Page 16](the close whereof doth expresse the resolution of both to have Truth and Peace setled upon a firm Foundation before their laying down of Arms) so their continuance neither is nor shall be made use of to the least encroachment upon the Government of this Kingdom, Nor to any other ends besides those expressed in the Covenant and Treaty: And how soon soever Religion and Peace shall be setled accordingly, our Army and Garrisons shall forthwith remove out of this Kingdom. And these things we shall wish may be speedily done, and that the Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace (which did for a very short time remain in our hands) may now after so long expectation, be sent to the King, that upon his Royal consent to the desires of His People for setling and securing of Religion and Peace, His Majesty may return to His Parliament here, all Armies may be disbanded, the heavy pressures of the Subjects ended, and the Kingdoms may remain in a firm Peace and Union to all Posterity, according to the Solemn League and Covenant.
3. June, 1646.