that it should be sent.
CHARLES R.
Whitehall, 2 March,
1639 [40.]
* * * * *
1639 [40.]—March 8.
4. _Letter from the Earl of Pembroke to Rothes._[249]
MY GOOD LORD,
The Civilities and good Respects which I placed upon you, at the time
of my being in the Camp, you stile _Encouragements_, and insinuate them
as Reasons why you may expostulate with me. Your Premises I allow you,
but your Inference I return you again, as fuller of Sophistry and mean
Designs, than of Truth or Reason.
First, I never allowed your Defence lawfully undertaken, by other Arms
than by Petitions and Prayers unto your Master. I never found Loyalty
in your Covenant, nor Duty in your taking up Arms. I never affirmed
the Justice of your Cause; neither did I consider so much the Merit
thereof, as your unwarrantable and tumultuous disobedience therein
unto the King, with the Vexation and Disturbance it brought upon the
Nobility of this Kingdom. Neither was I in all this Commotion your
Advocate for other reasons, than suffering my self to become a Mediator
to his Majesty for your Peace and Forgiveness, moved thereunto by your
frequent Protestations of paying all Duty and Loyalty to your Master’s
Commands.
If from hence you haply gained from me an easier Credulity than
your mask’d Designs deserved at my hands, I know not why you should
obtrude on me an Alteration of my Opinion, or a withdrawing of my (but
conditional) Respects from you. Thus far an Answer to what concerns me.
And now, as a Counsellor of England, let me be bold to expostulate with
you upon that which follows in your Letters.
How cometh it to pass that you should upbraid us, or expect from us,
that we should not give credit to my Lord Traquair’s Relation; that
we did not mediate with the King to change his Resolution of sending
forth an Army; and that we did not deny the King Loans of Money for his
Service?
My Lord, These Enforcements perhaps as little become you, as it is
certainly unlawful and undutiful in the Subjects of England to dispute
it with their King. You may pretend Religion to be the sole Cause of
your Grievance; but we believe it a woful Religion here, that hath thus
devested itself of all Moral Duty and Civility. Nay, you go further,
you threaten and fear us with a Mischief that will not end in our days;
and boldly make it your own Act, to have declined it hitherto without
Obligation to the Kings Mercy at all. You tell us of Plenty, and Ease,
and Happiness for many years enjoyed, and wonder we should expose all
those to hazard for the pleasure of some few Prelates.
My Lord, These are Arguments for common People, and Men of broken
Fancies to feed upon; but such Suggestions will not find nor make a
Party here. Perhaps it may blow them into a Flame, whose Zeal already
hath burnt up their Duty and conscionable Allegiance unto their Master.
To be short, as I never had a Correspondency of Bussiness with your
Lordship, so your Letters have assured me it is dangerous to begin it.
Yet for the Peace of both the Churches and Kingdoms, I will adventure
to give you this Intelligence, That we have not (in our Council here)
proceeded against you without deliberation, a good Conscience, and a
just sense of Honour. Neither shall I, or any of us, be entreated or
feared by you, or any of you, for contributing our Assents or Fortunes
thereunto, but as our Master shall command us.
Lastly, Know you, my Lord of Rothes, that the return of my old
Friendship to you is to be expected, when I shall hear of your
Renovation. Be simple, my Lord Rothes, and not a Covenanter, and I
shall be the same.
P. & M.
Whitehall, March 8th,
1639 [40.]
1640.—[Date uncertain.]
5. _Letter from the Covenanters to the King of France._[250]
SIRE,
Vostre Majesté (estant l’asyle & sanctuaire des Princes & Estats
affligéz) nous avons trouvé necessaire d’envoyer ce Gentilhomme le
Sieur de Colvil, pour representer a V. M. la candeur & naiueté
tant de nos actions & procedures, que de nos intentions, lesquelles
nous desirons estre graveés & escrites à tout l’univers avec un
ray du Soleil, aussy bien qu’a V. M. Nous vous Supplions doncques
treshumblement (Sire) de luy adjouster foy & creance, & a tout ce qu’il
dira de nostre part, touchant nous & nos affairs; estans tresasseurés
(Sire) d’une assistance esgale a Vostre clemence accoustumeé cydevant,
& si souven monstrée a ceste Nation, laquelle ne cedera la gloire à
autre quelconque d’estre eternellement,
Sire, de V. M.,
Les treshumbles, & tresobeyssants, & tresaffectionés serviteurs,
Rothes, Montrose, Lesly, Marre,
Montgomery, Loudoun, Forrester.
_Englished thus_:—
SIR,
Your Majesty being the Refuge and Sanctuary of afflicted Princes and
States, we have found it necessary to send this Gentleman Mr Colvil, to
represent unto your Majesty the candour and ingenuity, as well of our
Actions and Proceedings, as of our Intentions, which we desire to be
engraved and written to the whole World with a Beam of the Sun, as well
as to your Majesty. We, therefore, most humbly beseech you (Sir) to
give faith and credit to him, and to all that he shall say on our part,
touching us and our Affairs; being most assured (Sir) of an Assistance
equal to your wonted Clemency heretofore, and so often shewed to this
Nation, which will not yield the Glory to any other whatsoever, to be
eternally,
Sir,
Your Majesty’s most humble, most obedient, and most affectionate
Servants,
Rothes, Montrose, Lesly, Marre,
Montgomery, Loudoun, Forrester.
1640.—June 17.
6. _Letter from Committee of the Scottish Parliament to the Earl of
Lanerick._[251]
RIGHT HONOURABLE,
It is not unknown to your Lordship with what difficulties this Kingdom
hath wrastled this time past, in asserting their Religion and Liberties
against the dealings of bad Instruments with his Majesty to the
contrary. The means which they have used, have been no other but such
as they humbly petitioned and obtained from his Majesty—a free National
Assembly and Parliament. The Assembly went on in a fair way, and was
closed with the liking and full consent of his Majesties Commissioner;
but the Parliament Indicted by his Majesty was prorogated, till the
Reasons of the Demands of the Estates were rendered to his Majesty;
which having done by their Commissioners, they kept the second of June
(the day appointed by his Majesty) for the sitting of the Parliament;
and after diligent Enquiry, hearing nothing from his Majesty nor his
Commissioner, neither by their own Commissioners or any others sent
from his Majesty, which might hinder the Parliament to proceed to the
settling of their Religion and Liberties, after mature deliberation,
and long waiting for some signification of his Majesties pleasure,
they have all, with one consent, resolved upon certain Acts, which
they have adjudged to be most Necessary and Conducible for his
Majesties Honour and the peace of the Kingdom, so far endangered by
delayes; and have committed to us the Trust to shew you so much, and
withal to send a just Copy of the Acts, that by your Lordship (his
Majesties Principal Secretary of Scotland) they may be presented to
his Majesty. The Declaration prefixed to the particular Acts, and the
Petition in the End, contain so full expressions of the Warrants of
the Proceedings of the Estates, and of their humble continued desires,
that no word needs to be added by us. We do, therefore, in their name,
(according to the Trust committed to us,) desire your Lordship (all
other wayes of Information being stopt) with the Presenting of the Acts
of Parliament, to represent unto his Majesty against all suspicions,
suggestions, and tentations to the contrary, the constant love and
loyalty of this Kingdom unto his Majesties Royal Authority and Person,
as their Native King and kindly Monarch: And that they are seeking
nothing but the Establishing of their Religion and Liberties under his
Majesties Government, that they may still be a free Kingdom, to do
his Majesty all the honour and service that becometh humble Subjects;
that their Extremity is greater, through the Hostility and Violence
threatned by Arms, and already done to them in their Persons and Goods,
by Castles within and Ships without the Kingdom, than they can longer
endure: And that, as his Majesty loveth his own Honour and the Weal of
this his Antient Kingdom, speedy course may be taken for their relief
and quietness; and that if this their Faithful Remonstrance (to which,
as the Great Council of the Kingdom, they found themselves bound at
this time for their Exoneration) be passed over in silence, or answered
with delayes, they must prepare and provide for their own defence and
safety. We are very hopeful that your Lordship (as a good Patriot, and
according to the obligement of your place) will not be deficient in
that duty for your Native Countrey, and send us a speedy Answer, as we
shall in every duty be careful at all occasions to shew our selves.
Your Lordships humble Servants,
_Signed_, Balmerino,
Burghly,
Napier,
Thomas Hop,
John Murray,
John Hamilton,
George Dundas,
John Smith,
Ed. Egger,
Thomas Patterson,
Ja. Sword.
1640.—June 26.
7. _Terms of Agreement on which Lord Lowdoun was liberated from the
Tower of London_.[252]
I. The Lord Lowdon doth promise to contribute his faithful and
uttermost Endeavours for his Majesties Service, and furthering of a
happy Peace, and shall with all possible diligence and care go about
the same, and shall labour that His Majesties Subjects of Scotland may
in all humility petition, that His Majesty may be Graciously pleased to
authorize a Commissioner with full Power from His Majesty to establish
the Religion and Liberty of that His Majesties Native and Ancient
Kingdom according to the Articles of Pacification, and that by a new
Convening or Session of the Parliament, without cohesion or dependence
on what hath been done by themselves, without His Majesties Presence,
or of a Commissioner to represent His Majesties Royal Person and Power.
II. That if there be not an Army already convened in Scotland in a
Body, he shall endeavour that they shall not convene, nor come together
during the time of Treaty, in hope of Accommodation; and if they be
already convened in a Body before his return, he will labour that they
may dissolve and return to their several Shires, or dispose so of them,
that they remain not in one Body, as may best evince that they intend
not to come into England; but may carry themselves in that respective
way, as may best testifie their Duty to His Majesty, and their Desires
of Peace.
III. That if General Ruthwen shall happen to become their prisoner,
they may (as a testimony of their desire to shun every thing which may
provoke His Majesties displeasure) preserve him, and that the Lord
Lowdon will shew how far he is engaged for his Safety.
IV. That when Affairs shall be brought to a Treaty in Parliament, and
that His Majesty shall be Graciously pleased to settle the Religion and
Liberties of the Kingdom according to the Articles of Pacification, he
will endeavour that the Kings Authority shall not be entrenched upon,
nor diminished, that they may give a real demonstration to the World,
how tender and careful they are, that His Majesties Royal Power may be
preserved both in Church and State.
V. That what is done or imparted to the Lord Lowdon concerning His
Majesties Pleasure shall be kept secret, and not revealed to any here,
further than His Majesty shall think expedient.
That the Lord Lowdon shall (as soon an conveniently he can) return an
account of his Diligence.
[There was given with this another Paper, which follows.]
_Memorandum of what passed betwixt the Marquis of Hamilton and me_, 26
June 1640.
I. Because no great matters can be well effectuated without Trust,
Fidelity, and Secrecy; therefore it is fit that we swear Fidelity and
Secrecy to others, and that I shall faithfully contribute my best
Endeavours for performance of what I undertake; and that my Lord
Marquis doe the like to me.
II. Our desires and designs do tend mainly for Preservation of
Religion, Laws, and Liberties of the Kingdom, the Kings Honour, and
of His Royal Authority, and for establishing of a happy Peace, and
preventing of Wars; and we are to advise and resolve upon such ways and
means as may best conduce for these ends.
III. If (after using of our utmost Endeavours) it be not Gods will
that we may be so happy as to obtain such a Peace in haste, as may
content the King and satisfie his Subjects, till differences draw to
a greater height, and beginning of Wars, to resolve what is fit to be
done in case of such an Extremity, for attaining a wished Peace, and to
condescend what course we shall take for keeping of Correspondence.
If my Endeavours and Service (which doubtless will put me to a great
deal of expence and pains) shall prove useful for His Majesties Service
and Honour, and the Good of the Kingdom, which are inseparable, the
Marquis will intercede really, and imploy his best Endeavours with
the King, to acknowledge and recompence the Lord Lowdon’s Travels and
Service in such a manner as a Gracious King and Master should doe to a
diligent and faithful Servant.
1640.—June 27.
8. _The Earl of Lanerick’s Answer to the Committee_.[253]
MY LORDS,
By my former of the date of the 23d of June, his Majesty was pleased
to promise by me, to let you know within few dayes his further
pleasure concerning those proceedings and desires of the Noblemen,
and Barons, and Burgesses, which you sent me to be presented to his
Majesty; whereupon he hath now commanded me to tell you, that the
Not Proroguing of the Parliament in a Legal and Formal way, was not
for want of clear Instructions, and of full and ample Power from his
Majesty, he having fully signified his pleasure to those whom he did
entrust with the executing thereof, not thinking it fit to employ other
Servants of greater Eminence, by reason of the disorders and Iniquities
of the times: and as forced by the importance of his other great and
weightie affairs, he was necessitated to Prorogue the Parliament for
some few dayes, so did he most really intend to perform, at the time
prefixed, whatsoever he had promised by the Act of Pacification; but
neither can the neglect of his servants, (if any be,) nor those other
Reasons alledged by the foresaid Noble-men, Barons, and Burgesses, in
their Declaration for their sitting, satisfie his Majesty for their
proceeding in a Parliamentary way; since, by the Duty and Allegiance
of Subjects, they are bound to acknowledge, in a most special manner,
his Transcendent Power in Parliaments. And if Subjects there do assume
the Power of making Laws, and rescinding those already made, what Act
can be done more Derogatory to that Regal Power and Authority we are
all sworn to maintain? Therefore his Majesty conceives, they cannot in
reason expect he can interpose his Royal Authority to these, or any
other Acts whatsoever, whereto neither he in his own real Person, nor
by his Commissioner, did assist. Yet such is his Majesties Clemency,
that when they shall take such an humble and dutiful way, as may
witness that they are as careful and tender of his Majesties Royal
Power, as they are desirous of his Approbation, then shall it be time
for them to expect such a Gracious and Just Answer, as may testifie
his Majesties Fatherly Compassion of that his Native Kingdom, and his
Pious and Princely care of performing whatsoever is necessary for
Establishing their Religion and Laws. So thus, having imparted unto you
all that was enjoyned me by his Majesty, I shall say no more from my
self, but I am
Your Lordships humble Servant,
LANERICK.
White-Hall, June 27, 1640.
1640.—July 7.
9. _Reply by the Committee to Lanerick_.[254]
MY LORD,
We received your Lordships Letter of the twenty seventh of June from
the Lord Lowdon, whose Relief out of Prison gives us occasion (before
we answer your Lordships Letter) to acknowledge the same as an Act
of his Majesties Royal Justice and Goodness, although the pretended
Cause of his Imprisonment was but a Malicious Calumny of the Enemies
of the Kings Honour and our Peace, forged to engage both his Majesties
Kingdoms in a National War. As we cannot but regret that any Neglect
of his Majesties Officers, or absence of his Commissioner, whose
presence we did both desire and expect, should hinder the interposing
his Royal Authority to these Acts of Parliament, which were found most
necessary for establishing Religion and the Peace of this Kingdom,
and which, according to the Acts of Pacification, his Majesty was
Graciously pleased to promise; so we have and shall still endeavour
to give demonstration of that tender respect we have of his Majesties
Honour and Royal Power. And whereas your Lordships Letter doth imply,
that we should take some other way for the more easie obtaining of
his Majesties Approbation, which also, by several reasons, hath been
most instantly pressed by the Lord Lowdon; yet we conceive that
Parliamentary way which was taken by the Estates convened by his
Majesties Special Warrant, to have been most Legal and Necessary,
and no wayes Derogatory to his Majesties Power in Parliament, nor
contrary to the Duty of good Subjects, who are warranted by the
Articles of Pacification under his Majesties hand, to Determine all
Civil Questions, Ratifie the Conclusions of the Assembly, and remove
the present Distractions of this Kingdom, as is more abundantly
demonstrated by their Declaration in Parliament hereabout; so that
we dare not take any other course, which may entrench upon their
Parliamentary Power or Proceedings, nor will we (being so few in number
appointed to stay here) presume of our selves, in a matter of so great
moment, to return a more full and particular Answer, till there be a
more frequent meeting of those appointed by Parliament, which will be
shortly; and then your Lordship shall be acquainted, that you may shew
his Majesty their resolutions and humble desires; and we shall remain
Your Lordships Affectionate Friends
and Servants,
_Signed_, Lindsay,
Balmerino,
Burghly,
Napier,
J. Murray,
G. Dunglass,
Ja. Sword,
J. Forbes,
Ed. Eggar.
Edinburgh, July 7, 1640.
1640.
10. _Principal Baillie’s Account of the Aberdeen Assembly, in a Letter
to the Rev. William Spang_.[255]