Former Ages Never Heard of, Floating text 15
The Declaration of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly of Scotland, as followeth.
THe Commission: of the Generall Assembly considering, That there may be just ground of stumbling, from the Kings Majesties refusing to subscribe and emit the Declaration offered unto him by the Committee of Estates, and Commissioners of the Generall Assembly, concerning his former carriage, and resolutions for the future, in reference to the Cause of God, and the Enemies and Friends thereof: Doth therefore Declare, That this Kirk and Kingdome doe not owne nor espouse any Malignant Party, or Quarrell, or Interest, but that they fight meerly upon their former Grounds and Principles, and in defence of the Cause of God, and of the Kingdome, as they have done these twelve years past. And therefore as they doe disclaime the sin and guilt of the King and of his House; so they will not owne him, nor his interest, otherwise then with a subordination to God, and so far as he ownes and prosecutes the Cause of God, and disclaimes his, and his Fathers opposition to the work of God, and to the Coven, and likewise all the Enemies thereof. And that they will with convenient speed take into consideration the Papers lately sent unto then from Oliver Cromwel, and vindicate themselves from all the fa…shoods contained therein, especially in these things, wherein the Quarrell betwixt us and that party is mis-stated, as if we owned the late Kings proceedings, and were resolved to prosecute and maintaine his present Majesties interest, before and without acknowledgement of the sins of his House and former wayes, and satisfaction to Gods people in both Kingdomes.
West Kirk, Aug. 13 1650. A. Ker.
August 13. 1650.
THe Committee of Estates having seen and considered a Declaration of the Commission: of the Generall Assembly, anent the stating of the Quarrell, whereon the Army is to fight, Doe approve the same, and heartily concur therein.
Tho: Henderson.
The Lord Generalls Answer to the former, as followeth.
I Received yours of the thirteenth instant, with the Paper you mentioned therein inclosed, which I caused to be read in the presence of so many Officers as could well be gotten together, to which your Trumpet can witnesse, we returne you this Answer, by which I hope in the Lord it will appear, That we continue the same we have profest our selves to the honest people of Scotland, wishing to them as to our own souls, it being no part of our business to hinder any of them from worshiping God in that way they are satisfied in their Consciences by the Word of God they ought (though different from us) but shall therein be ready to perform what obligations lye upon us by the Covenant; but that under the pretence of the Covenant, mistaken and wrested from the most native intent and equity thereof, a King should be taken in by you, to be imposed upon us, and this called The Cause of God and the Kingdome, and this done upon the satisfaction of Gods people in both Nations, as is alleged, together with a disowning of Malignants, although he who is the head of them in whom all their hope of comfort lies, be received; who at this very instant hath a Popish pa…ty fighting for and under him in Ireland, hath Prince Rupert (a man who hath had his hand deep in the blood of many innocent men of England) now in the head of our Ships stoln from us upon a Malignant accompt; hath the French and Irish ships daily making depradations upon our Coasts: strong combinations by the Malignants in England, to raise Arms in our bowels, by vertue of his Commissions, who having of late issued out very many to that purpose, and how the interest you pretend you have received him upon, and the Malignant interest in the ends and consequences entring in this man, can be secured, we cannot discern; and how we should believe, that whilst known and notorious Malignants, fighting and plotting against us on the one hand, and the declaring for him on the other, should not be an espousing of a Malignant party, quarrell, or interest, but be a meer fighting upon former Grounds and Principles, and in defence of the Cause of God, and of the Kingdome, as hath been these twelve yeers last past (as ye s…y) for the security and satisfaction of Gods people in both Nations, or the opposing of which should render us enemies to the godly with you, we cannot well understand, especially considering, That all these Malignants take their confidence and encouragement from the late Transactions of your Kirk and State with your King; for as we have already said, so we tell you again, it is but satisfying security to those that employ us, and are concerned in that we seek, which we conceive will not be by a few formall and feigned submissions from a person who could not tell otherwise how to accomplish his Malignant ends, and therefore Councel'd to this complyance, by them who assisted his Father, and have hitherto acted him in his most evill Designes, and are now again by them set on foot; against wch, how you will be able, in the way you are in, to secure us or your selves, is (forasmuch as concerns our selves) our duty to looke after.
If the state of your quarrell be thus, upon which, as you say, you resolve to fight our Army, you will have opportunity to doe that, els what means our abode here? And if our hope be not in the Lord, it will be ill with us. We commit both you and our selves to him, who knowes the heart and tries the Reins, with whom are all our wayes, who is able to doe for us and you, above what we know, which we desire may be in much mercy to this poor people, and to the glory of his owne great Name.
And having performed your desire in making your papers so publick as is before exprest, I desire you to doe the like, by letting the State, Kirk and Army have the knowledge hereof. To which end I have sent you inclosed two Copies, and rest
From the Camp at Pencland Hills, Aug. 14. 1650, Your humble Servant, O: CROMWEL.
The Victory at Gladsmore in Scotland, July 30, 31. 1650. M G. Montgomery slaine, 200 Arms taken, 80 Troopers, 500 wounded, 4 Colours, 15 Troops routed, 500 Font routed at Muscleburrough. The Victory at Dunbar, Aug. 30. 1650, 4000 killed, 10000 Prisoners, 2000 Horse, 290 Commission Officers, 15000 Arms, 200 Colours, 32 pieces of Ordnance. Of ours that ingaged 5000 Horse and Foot; their word, The Covenant, ours, The Lord of Hests.
Novemb. 1650. Insurrections in Norfolke, for which 24 were condemned, and 20 executed. Col. Ker routed and taken, and the Town of Ayre. Decemb. 25. The strong Castle of Edenburgh delivered up, 53 pieces of Ordnance, whereof 15 Iron, the … Braste, about 8000 Arms, with store of Ammunition and Provision.
Nov. 22. A Squadron of Ships Commanded by Gen. Blague, surprised a considerable part of the Portugal Brasit Fleet fraighted with Sugar, and sent them to England, and after pursued the revolted ships beyond Alligant, where they took 7 of Prince Ruperts Fieet, and pursued him to Thoulon one of the surthest Havens of France, having but two ships left. Jan. 30. 1650. A day of publick Thanksgiving in England, Wales, and Town of Berwick
Jan. 1. 1650. The Scots King was Crowned at Schone, he is General of the Army, D. Hamilton Lieut. Gen. of the Scotch Army, David Lesley M. G. Middleton L. G. of the Scotch Horse, and Massey M. G. of the English.
Jan. 4. 1650. The King of Spaine sent his Ambassador for the … knowledging of this State, whose Authority and Soveraignty reades in this Parl. of the Commonwealth of England, and to stablish a good friendship with it. The Portugal sent his Agent also to the like effect.
March 6. 1650. Sir Henry Hide Beheaded at the Exchange for receiving and acting by vertue of a Commission from Charls Stuart the Second, and King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, as his Agent to the Great Turk, with an intent to destroy the Trade of the Turky Company, and the Parl. interest, not onelyonly in Constantinople, but in Mitylene, Anatolia, & Smyrna, in which Conspiracies he was a Commissioner, and likewise to seize upon our Merchants Goods for the use of the King of Scotland, and procured audience of the Grand Visier, and raised great fears and uproars among the Merchants.
A Speech made by K. Charles ye. 2d. at his Coronation: i. January. 1650 I will by gods assistance bestow my life for your defence wishing to live no longer then that I may see this Kingdome flourish in happiness.
The Oath, I doe promise & vow in ye presence of ye eternall god yt I will maintaine ye true Kirk of god religion right preaching & administration of ye Sacraments now received & preached within this Realme in purity; And shall abolish & gain-stand all false Religions & sects contrary to ye same. And shall rule ye people comīted to my charge, according to ye will of god, and laudable laws & constitutions of ye Realme; causing justice & equity to be ministred without partiality.
Browne Bushelt, Beheaded under the Scaffold on Tower-hill, Mar. 29. 1651. for delivering up Scarborough.
June 2. 1651. The surrender of Scilly Islands.
June 24. Insurrection in Cardiganshire, 40 slaine, 60 prisoners taken.
July 29. Burnt Island surrendred.
The Scotch King invaded England with 16000 Hors and Foot, and a light Tran of Artillery, and, caused himselfe to be proclaimed K. of England, Scotland, and Ireland, in Lancashire.
August 23. Charls the First erected his Standard at Nottingham, and Charls the Second erected his Standard at Worcester, Aug. 22. 1651.
Sept 3. Old Lesley, Crawford, Linsey, Ogleby, with divers of quality, besides … taken that were making levies to raise the Siege at Dundee Aug. 2, 165…. St Johnston surrendred. Aug. 19. The Castle of Ste… surrendred … pieces of Ordnance, 27 faire brasse pieces, a great iron G…, 11 Leather Guns provision of Meal to serve 500 men about twelve months, 40 or 50 Barrels of Beef, 500 Armes, new Muskets and Pikes, 26 Barrels of powder, 20 or 30 Vessels of Claret Wine, and Strong waters, great store of Match and other Ammonition, Lantes Guns, a thousand Flats and other instruments of War of that nature, all the Records of Scotland, the Chaire and Cloath of State, the Sword, and other rich furniture of the Kings. Aug. 25. The totall rout and overthrow of the Earl of Darby in Lancashire, by Col. Robert Lilburne.