thinges wich wee haue remonstrated to you, as the onlie causes of the
sade thinges that are vpone the kingdome, or that wee thinke ourselues
not guilty or accessorey to the drawing one and procuring thesse bitter
thinges that are wpone ws. The Lord knowes that wee are so far from
suche thoughts, that althoughe your Lops: wer innocent of all thesse
transgressions, wee ar conuinced that in ws ther is als muche guiltines
as makes ws feare it is the worse with the Lords people, that wee are
amongest them, and with His worke, that our handes are aboute it; in
the sense quherof, as wee haue desyred to humble ourselues, so wee
purposse to take new occasions for a free acknouledgement of our sins,
and to be humbled for them, and to renew our ingagements to the Lord to
be more reall and sincere in persewing all the endes of the Couenant,
and dewties therin conteind, accordinng to our vocation.
Nather wold wee haue your Lops: to thinke that in our free dealling
with you, wee haue beine led with the spirit of bitternes, or desyre
to discouer your nakednes to the world, or to strengthen the hands
of the adwersaries. He quho knoweth our hartes, knoweth that wee
desyre to carrey ourselues respectiuely and deutifully to the publicke
judicatories, and to tender ther authoritie and crydit as our liues;
nor is it in our heartes to prowoke your Lops: to wnlawfull courses,
bot earnistly to desyre you to awoyde them; nor haue wee the least
deseinge to follow the foottstepes of the sectarian partie, and change
the fundamentall gouerniment of this kingdome, by king and parliament,
or aney lewelling way, as wee heir some wold calumniat falsly our
honest intentions. The Lord, befor quhom all thinges are naked,
manifestly knowes wee detest and abhorre suche coursses; onlie we hold
ourselues bound humblie to hold suche the corruptions of persons in the
gouerniment, and desyre to be more tender of the guide of the causse
and kingdome, than of aney persone quhatsomeuer; and to chusse rather
to displeasse men, then to incurre Gods wrathe, throughe our conniuence
at ther corrupte wayes in ther places of power. Zet wee shall freelie
tell your Lops: quhence this hath proceided, wee being persuaded,
in our consciences, of the vnrighteous dealling of thosse quho haue
inwaded and wasted our land, and troden doune the pretious ordinances
of Jesus Christe, and shed the blood of his saintes; and the necessity
of the lamenting people of God, calleth ws to the wtermost adwenturing
aganist the enimey; being also sensible of our auen conditione and
disproportionable thoughtes for attempting of aney thing, except wee be
mightilie helped, assistit and countenanced by the Lord. Bot aboue all
thinges, being affrayed of sin and wrathe, least that should meitt with
ws, now quhen wee are resolued, according ta our capacitey, and as God
shall giue ws opportunity, in his strenth to wenture our liues aganist
the enimey; and not knowing wither some of ws, ore aney of ws, shall
see your Lops: in the face, or heireafter haue aney occasione to speike
for the discharge of our consciences, wee haue therfor, and for our
auen exoneratione thought it necessarey to leaue this testimoney [of]
our sincere detestation of thesse sinns, and of our desyre to be found
free of them, if the Lord shall suffer aney of ws to perishe in our
deutie, and to lay thesse thinges at your dore, as in the presence of
the Lord, quho can onlie make you and ws repent and reforme our wayes.
Declaring to your Lops: that wee shall desyre you wnfaniedly to mourne
for thesse sins, and that ther are ingagements one your heartes befor
God, if he shall lenthen our dayes, and take pleasure in ws, to make
ws aney wayes instruments of His worke, and for His peoples good and
saftie, that wee shall, to the wttermost of our power, endewor to gett
thesse thinges remedied according to our places and callinges.
22 Octobris, 1650.—Producit by Sʳ George Maxwoll, and red in presence
of the Comittee of Estaites at Stirlinge.
* * * * *
4 Nov: 1650.—The 4 of Nowember the northerne rebelles layed doune
armes, and accepted of the acte of indemnitie, by a trettey with L.
Generall Dauid Lesley at Strathbolgie.
The L. Generall being at Aberdeine, in his returne southe, after the
northerne armeyes laying doune armes; he wes wisited by Mr Androw
Cants, elder and zounger, ministers of Aberdein, quho, amongest
maney other discoursses, told the L. Generall that wee could not in
conscience asist the King to recouer his croune of England; bot he
thoughte one kingdome might serue him werey weill, and one croune was
aneuche for aney one man; one kingdome being sufficient for one to
reuell and gouerne. A number of suche discoursses wer wented to him,
bothe by the father and the sone, to the same purpois. The L. Generall
told this to the minister of Newbrughe, Mr Laurence Oliphant, and to
the L. of Ferney and Londors, one Monday the 11 of this instant of
Nouember.
_Cromwells Letter to the Committee of Estaites, 9 Octobris, 1650._
My Lordis,
The grounds and endis of the armeyes entringe Scotland, haue beine
heirtofor oftin and cleirlie made knowen wnto you, and hou muche
wee haue desyred the same might be accomplished without blood; bot
according to quhat returns wee haue receauid, it is euident your
hearts had not that loue to ws, as wee can trewly say wee had towards
you: and wee are persuaded thosse difficulties in wich you haue
inwolued yourselues by espousinge your Kinges intrest, and taking
into your bosome that persone, in whom (notwithstanding quhat hath
or may be said to the contraire) that wich is really malignancey and
all malignants doe center, aganiste quhosse familey the Lord hath so
eminently withestood for blood guiltines, nor to be done away with
suche superficiall and formall shewes of repentance as are expressed
in his laite declaratione; and your strange preiudice aganist ws,
as men of hereticall opinions, (wich, throughe the grate goodnes of
God to ws, haue beine wniustlie charged vpone ws,) haue occasioned
your reiecting of thosse ouertours, wich, with a Christian affection,
wer offred to you befor aney blood was spilt, or your people had
suffred damnage by ws. The daylie sence wee haue of the calamitie
of warre laying vpone the poore people of this nation, and the sade
consequences of bloode and famine lykly to come vpone them; the
aduantages giuen to malignants, profaine and popeische partey by this
warre; and that reality of affection wich wee haue so often professed
to you, and concerning the treuthe of wiche wee haue so solemly
appealled, doeth againe constraine ws to send wnto you, to lett you
know, that if the contending for that persone be not by you preferred
to the peace and weillfair of your countrey, the blood of your
people, the loue of men of the same faith with you and wich is aboue
all, the honor of that God wee serue; then giue the staite of Ingland
that satisfaction and securitie for the peaceable and quyet liuing
by you, that may in justice be demandid from a nation giuing so iust
a ground to aske the same from thosse quho haue, as you, takin ther
enimey wnto ther bosome, whilst he was in hostility aganist them;
and it will be made good to you, that you may haue a lasting and
durable peace with them, and the wishe of a blissing vpone you in
all religious and ciuill thinges. If this be refussed by you, wee
are persuaded that God, quho hath borne his testimoney, will doe it
againe one the behalffe of ws his poore seruants, quho doe appeale to
him wither thesse desyres flow from sincerity of heart or not. I rest,
Your Lops: humble Seruant,
Lithgow, 9 Octob: 1650.
O. CROMWELL.
The backe of this Letter did beare this superscriptione:—For the
Rᵗ Honorable the Committee of Estaits of Scotland, at Stirling, or
elsquher.
* * * * *
14 Noᵇʳⁱˢ 1650.—A grate meitting this day of the Commissione of the
Kirke, at Stirling, They wreat to all the graue ministers of the
prouince of Fyffe, Perth, and Angus, to assist them.
19 Nov:—The Comittee of Estaits resolues to haue a conference with
some Ministers, for the compossing of that bussines anent the westerne
remonstrance.
22 Nov: 1650. Rege presente.—My Lord Chanceler makes a narratione to
the Committee of Estaits of the progresse of the Comittee of Conference
anent the vesterne remonstrance; of the bolde debaittes and small
resolution, more then to haue a publicke fast.
23 Nov: Saterday, 1650.—My L. Argyle, Balcarras, Louthean, and the
Kings Aduocat, spoke at large aganist the remonstrance of the west, as
the opiner vpe of a breache for tolleratione and subuersione of the
gouerniment, bothe ecclesiasticke and ciuill. Varrestone and Hombie
spoke muche to leassie the bussines. Hombie for the maner, Warrestone
for bothe maner and matter.
The Committee of Estaites ordaines all the members of the comittee
presently to giue ther declaratione, one ther honor and treuthe, that
they wer nather contriuer, carriers one, ore votters to the westerne
remonstrance, wich was done; all disclaming it. Varreston did grant
that he did see it, was at the voting of it, bot refussed to giue hes
wotte therin. He denayed that he wes accessorey to the contriuing of it
at first.
2 sent from the Comittee of Estaits to desyre the Comissione of the
Kirke not to depairt the toune this day, bot to meitt afternoone, in
respecte of the grate bussines in hand.
It was muche debaitit wither the remonstrance of the west should be
anssuered in generall or in particular; it went to wott, and wes
carried to be anssuered in generall; only Warestone, Robert Locart, and
Johne Jeffra, with Sʳ Rob: Adare, wotted to haue it altogither layed
assyde.
The result of all this afternoones dispute aganist the remonstrance
endit in this, that some wer sett apairt to draw vpe the heades of the
acte condemnatorie of the said diuisiue, scandalous, and tresonable
remonstrance.
A paquett of letters intercepted by the scoute master, of the enimies,
directed to London, quherof 3 letters wer only read, concerning
Straquhan and the presbyterians, &c.
The Committee of Estaits ordaines the saids letters to be communicat
to the Commissione of the Kirke, especially shewing the grate plot
aganist all the presbyterians in England, and how the same was hatchin
in Scotland also.
Monday, 25 Nov: 1650. Acte ordaining the parliament to meitt to morrow
the 26 of this instant, at ten houres; and a herauld ordaind to make
publication heirof.
The Comittee of Estaits declaration aganist the vesterne remonstrance,
presented by the sub-comittee, read, and after much debait, votted and
past.
In the debait of the comittees declaratione, muche debait wes anent the
words, scandalous, scandalous paper, and scandalous lybell.
Eglinton wold had called treasonable and scandalous paper and lybell,
and brunt publickly by the hand of the hangman.
Carried, scandalous, with the word, conceaued, to goe befor.
Ther was that wold haue reffered all to the Com: of the Curdie,
Register, Sʳ Ja: Hope, Sʳ Rob: Adare, Harden, Thesaurer depute, Busbie,
Rob: Locart, Jo: Denholme, Gen: Comissarey.
Preiudiciall and destructiue to his Majesties gouernment, carried only,
preiudiciall; destructiue delait.
It is werey diuisiue and holds out the seeds of diuisione, putt to
wotte; carried, it holds out the seeds of diuisione of a dangerous
consequence.
Exception votted, ther should be, of penners and contriuers of the
said remonstrance, and of all suche that did adhere to it after it wes
publicly declared aganist.
Marques of Argyle said, (after he had hard Sʳ James Hope say, that
all the Comittee of Estaits wes doeing wes destructive to King and
kingdome,) that Sʳ James, in all the carriage of this bussines, from
the begining, both in parliament and comittee, wes not only a maine
enimey to King and kingdome, bot a maine plotter and contriuer,
assister and abaitter of all the mischeiffe that hes befallen the
kingdome euer since.
It was muche vrged by the dissasenters from the Comittee of Estaits
declaratione, to haue all the acte wotted in _cumulo_, after eurey
branch had beine particularly wotted; wich was altogider refussed.
The Com: of Estaites sent the Marques of Argyle, Kings Aduocat, and
James Suord, to the Commissione of the Kirke, with ther declaratione
aganist the said remonstrance; and a paper quherin they accused Mr
James Guthrie and Mr Patricke Gillespie as contriuers and abbators of
all this diuisione in churche, armey, and stait.
The Comittee of Estaits sent the Lyone to the Commission of the Kirke,
to impart to them the letters that wer intercepted going to England
from Owens, Cromwells Secretary.
The Com: of Estaits sent the Kings Aduocat and James Suord to the
Comissione of the Kirke, to desyre them to returne ther sence of the
vesterne remonstrance to the parliament, in respecte that the committee
was to rysse this night, and the parl: to sitt doune to morrow, to
quhom lykwayes the said comittee was to communicat that same paper of
ther sence of the said vesterne remonstrance; and desyred them that
they wold be pleassed to ioyne with them to that effecte.
Perth, 28 Nouember 1650.—Ante Meridiem.—The Commissione of the Generall
Assembley hauing receauid from the honorable Committee of Estaits,
a paper declaring ther (Lo:) sence upon a paper giuen in to them,
intitulated, (the Humble Remonstrance of the gentlemen, officers and
ministers attending the forces in the west,) and desyring withall that
the Commissioners of the Generall Assembley wold giue ther sence vpon
the said remonstrance; therfor the commission hauing takin vnto ther
consideratione the said remonstrance, doeth find and acknouledge therin
to be conteined maney sade treuthes, in relation to the sinns charged
vpone the King, his family, and the publick judicatories, wich also wee
are resolued to hold out and presse vpone them, in a right and orderly
way, togider with such other sinns as wee find by impartiall searche,
and the helpe of the Lordes spirit vpon our indewors therin, that they
may take with them, and be humbled befor the Lord, in the sence therof;
wee doe find it our deutie to show, that in respecte ther seimes to
be therin intrinsching vpone some conclusions and determinations of
the Generall Assembley; and in respecte of inferences and aplications
made therin, in relation to the King, his interest, and the exercisses
of his power and gouerniment; and in regarrd of the ingagements wich,
in the closse therof, they declare to be vpon ther hartes befor God,
in relation to euidences for remeding the thinges conteind in it,
wee are dissatisfied therwith, and that wee thinke it apte to breid
diuision in kirke and kingdome, as wee doe finde alredey in pairte
by experience, and that the enimey hathe takin aduantage therat; and
becausse of the tender respects and loue we owe, and most cordially
carrey to the gentrey, officers and our brethreinge of the ministrie,
quho haue concurred in the said remonstrance, as being religious and
godlie men, and suche as haue alwayes giuen prouffe of ther integritie,
faithfullnes and constancie in the causse of God, and for interteinment
of loue, vnity, and coniunction amongest the people of God, in acting
according to ther calling and statione, aganist the publicke enimey;
the breache of all wiche Sathan at this tyme is eagerly driuing at,
and the enimey is greidily desyring and expecting. Wee doe resolue
to forbeare a more particular examination of the said remonstrance,
expecting that at the nixt dyet of this commissione, thesse worthey
gentlemen, officers and brethrein will giue suche a declaration and
explanation of ther intentions and meining, as may satisfie both kirke
and state without aney furder inquyrie or debait thervpone.
* * * * *
_Declaratione by the Kinges Maiestie and Committee of Estaites
concerninge the Westerne Remonstrance, 25 Nouember, 1650._
The Kings Maiestie and the Committee of Estaites, hauing takin into
consideratione a paper presented to the said comittee at Stirling,
vpone the 22 of October last, in name of the gentlemen, commanders, and
ministers attending the westerne forces: and lykwayes ane petitione
presented to the said committee at Perth, vpone the 19 of Nouember
instant, desyring ane satisfactorie anssuer therwnto: Doe heirby
declaire, that they haue alwayes beine, and are still willing, that all
faults and miscarriages of aney, als weill in ther personall carriage,
as in discharge of ther publicke trust, may be discouered, redressed
and punished, according to the lawes of the kingdome; and that they
find it ther dewtie to shew ther dislyke of maney thinges remonstratted
and held fourthe in the said paper: Zet being desyrous to follow the
wayes of gentlenes and lenitie, rather then to looke vpone the said
paper with that stricke inquyrie, wich otherwayes might haue beine
done, they have resolued only, in generall, to declair as followes;
that they find the said paper, as it relattes to the parliament and
ciuill judicatories, to be scandalous and iniurious to his Maiesties
persone, and preiudiciall to his authoritie; and as it relattes to
religione and churche judicatories, they are to desyre the Commissione
of the Churche to giue ther sence therone; and that in regaird of
the effecte that it hath alredey produced, and thosse that are lyke
to follow thervpone, if not preuented, it holdes fourthe the seed of
diuisions of ane dangerous consequence; and that it is dishonorable
to the kingdome, in so far as it tends to ane breache of the treattie
with his Maiestie at Breda, approuin in parliament and Generall
Assembley; that it also strenthens the handes of the enimey, giuing
him occasione to iustifie his vniust invasione, and the bloodshed and
oppressione committed by him in this kingdome, and weakines the hands
of maney honest men; and lykwayes that the said paper holds furthe in
the closse of it, ane bonde of ane heighe and dangerous consequence;
and albeit the said paper has been wickedly and subtily contriued by
some, zet becausse diuersse honest, faithfull, and religious gentlemen,
officers, ministers, and others of approuin fidelity and integrity
in the causse, of quhom they doe not harbor the leaste thoughte to
ther preiudice, haue beine insnared. Therfor the Kinges Maiestie, and
committee forsaid, doe heirby declaire the said persones free frome
aney imputatione vpone ther names, ore censure vpone ther persons or
estaits; excepting heirfra all suche quho shall adhere to the said
remonstrance, be ther persisting in prosecutting of quhat is therin
contraire to the lawes of the kingdome. Perth, 25 of Nouember, 1650.
Reed and past be the Kings Maiestie, and Comittee of Estaits. _Sic
subscribitur_,
W. HENDERSONE, Clk: Dom: Com:
Tuesday, 26 Nouembris. 1 dies parliamenti.—Carolus Rex. &c.—Lord
Chanceler made a speache, shewing the present conditione of the
kingdome, both concerning religion, King, and kingdome; the quality of
the enimey that hath inwadit ws, and thesse his associatts, being a
companey of wicked and perfidious, zea trecherous blasphemers; nixt he
spoke of the deuties incumbent to the King; and nixt, of the dewties
wich are requyred of eache member of the present parliament; and
lastly, of the deutie that wes incumbent by the housse to the kingdome
of Scotland, ther natiue countrey.
His Maiestie made a prettey shorte speiche, shewing of his grate
thankfullnes to God for bringing him to this place, &c.; wich endit,
the Lord Chanceler did declare, at the Kings comand, the trew forme and
causses of his deperture from Perth, 4 Octobris, and of his Maiesties
penetencey and sorrow for the same.
The King and parl: sends to the Comiss: of the Kirke, to desyre them
to stay to giue adwysse in thinges concerning the good of religion,
the peace and vnity of the kingdome. 2. That they will appoynt some to
meitt with some from the parl: anent his Majesties coronation. 3. That
ther may be a fast befor the coronatione, to craue the Lordes blissing
to the actione. 4. To desyre them to poynt at the selue-seikes,
auaratious, greidy and other sinns cryed out vpone in the pulpitts, and
remonstrances; as also, they will shew quhat are the crooked wayes, and
by quhom wssed in trettey.
The housse ordaines this day or to morrow to haue a conference with the
Commissione of the Kirke.
The housse ordaines the Comittey for the Armey to be the Comittee
for the Conference, to meitt with the Commissioners of the Generall
Assembley.
_His Maᵗⁱᵉˢ Speich._
My Lords and Gentlemen,
It hath pleased Him quho reulethe the nations, and in quhosse handes
are hearts of Kinges, by a werey singular prouidence, to bring me
throughe a grate maney difficulties into this my ancient kingdome,
and to this place, quher I may haue your adwysse in the grate matters
that concerne the glorey of God, and the establishment of my throne,
and that relat to the generall good and comon happines of thesse three
couenanted kingdomes ouer wich he hath sett me. And treulie I cannot
expresse the height of that ioy quherwith he hath filled my soule from
this signall experiment of his kyndnesse, nor how stronge and feruent
desyres he hath created in me to euidence my thankefulnesse by standing
to rainge for him, and with ane humble and just subordination to him.
That wich incresseth my hope and confidence that he will zet continew
to deall gratiously with me, is, that he hath moued me to enter in
couenant with his people, (a fauor no other King can claime,) and that
he is inclyned me to a resolutione, by his assistance, to liue and dye
with my people in defence of it. This is my resolutione, I professe
it befor God and you, and in testimoney heirof, I desyre to renew it
in your presence; and if it pleis God to lenthin my dayes, I houpe
my actions shall demonstrat it. Bot I shall leaue the enlargement of
this, and quhat farder I could say, to my Lord Chanceler, quhom I haue
commandit to speike to you at grater lenthe, and lykwayes to informe
you of my sense, not only of the folley, bot the sinfulnesse of my
goinge frome this place, and the reasons of it.
Thursday, 28 Nov: 3 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—A message from
the Com: of the Kirke anent a conference. Ordered to be at 3 in the
afternoone in the session housse.
Ordered to be proponed at the conference, as a thing most fitt for the
peace of the kingdome, to haue presently a Generall Assembley called.
Friday, 29 Nov: 4 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—A report made by the
L. Chanceler to the housse, from the Conference with the Church, anent
2 soleme fasts; one for the contempt of the gospell, ane other for the
sins of the King, his familey, and nobility; and the coronatione to be
immediatly therafter.
Acte ordaining his Maiestie to be crounid at Scone, upon Vedinsday, the
first of Januarij nixt; and this acte to be proclaimed at the crosse of
Perthe, by Lyone K. of Armes.
Saterday, 30 Nov: 5 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—7 or 8 from the
Com: of the Kirke presented to the King and parliament a remonstrance
and petition, containing some admonitions to the nobility anent ther
bypast miscarriages, as also aganist imploing malignants, contrarey
the publicke resolutions of churche and stait; as also aganist the
acte of indemnitie, and not naming them rebells and punishing them.
That all malignants and ill affected persons be remoued from the
courte. That the Kings housse may with speed be effectually purged.
That coueteousnesse, auarice, pryde, selue-seikeing, compliance with
ennimes, be confessed and repented offe.
A petitione from the ministers of Lothean, Hadington, Lithgow, &c.,
shewing the pitfull condition of thesse places; how that heresies did
begin to grow amongest them, and of ther grate necessities; desyring
the Comiss: of the Kirke wold in ther names and behalffe petitione the
Kings Maiestie and parlia: for some redresse and speedie helpe.
Nixt the said com: show the parl: that the 2 ministers impeached by
them of the Com; of Estaits, Mr Ja: Guthrie, minister of Stirling, and
Mr Patricke Gillespie, minister of Glasgow, the one by word opinly, and
the other by wreat, haue disclamed quhat was alledged aganist them, as
far contrarey to ther intentions.