IR  
A REMONSTRANCE CONCERNING THE PRESENT TROUBLES FROM THE MEETING OF THE ESTAEES OF the kingdom of SCOTLAND, April 16. unto the Parliament of ENGLAND.  
Printed in the Year of God. 1640.   

A REMONSTRANCE CONCERNING THE PRESENT TROUBLES FROM THE MEETING OF THE ESTAEES OF the kingdom of SCOTLAND, April 16. unto the Parliament of ENGLAND.  
WHEN we look unto the Records of the ages past, to find out the greatest blessings that God hath bestowed on this I'll, wherein we live, we cannot but acknowledge, that next to the Christian Faith, the Union of the two kingdoms under one Head, doth by many degrees exceed all other that fall in the reckoning. Many practices and policies were set afoot by our Princes of old, to hasten this work: but all in vain did the plots of men strive to cross or prevent the council of God, who had reserved for us and our fathers that singular happiness, to see that Union begun neither by a breach of faith, nor by blood, but as the gift of God, to fall in our hands by the ordinary gate which the Princes right sets open unto all, and the general and common interest of both Nations did heartily receive and embrace. With what success this Union hath begun and continued to this day, the peace and plenty we have enjoyed all this time, can witness in part, whiles all the rest of Europe almost, round about us, hath been a Field of blood and desolation. What apprehension the enemies of our Religion had at our peaceable conjunction, and with what eye of jealousy the neighbour States did look upon us, and envy our happiness, the History of these times can bear record: but for the present, in regard of what hath passed these many years by-gone, and what we presently feel and fear, we may truly confess to our own guilt and great dishonour, that neither Scotland nor England unto this day hath righty understood or made use of this ra●●blessing of heaven, for increasing their respect abroad, or securing t●eir own safety at home; neither have the reformed Churches found tha●comfort and relief which they did expect from us in the day of t●eir distress, but on the contrary we have been made, even against ou●wills, a br●k●n reed, a rock of offence, and a shipwreck unto all that have fought unto us for shelter from the storm, and to ourselves the one Nation against the other, a rod of correction and jealousy, in the hands of a few wicked and ungodly men, men of sep●ration, who divide the King from his people, and the people ●●om their King; and who raise up brethren ag●in●t brethren● that they in the end might prey and make havoc of all. Amongst many that have been authors of these evils under which the two Kingdoms have for a long time groaned, and belike must either now or never be disburdened, none deserve so justly to be challenged in the first place as some amongst you who call themselves churchmen, but have left their station to become ignorant and unhappy Statesmen, who have made the Church and the Tenets thereof, an instrument of bondage to the Subject, of liberty to themselves, and of unjust usurpation to the Prince, whom we had reason to fear long ago by your example, and whom we find named as the chief instrument and object of your just fears of the change of Religion and government of Estate in the kingdom of England, in that grave and solemn Remonstrance that was made not many years ago, by the house of Commons to the King's Majesty, if that had stopped them any way, your pulpits and pamphlets can bear witness for them and the rest of their crew since that time, yea how constant they are to the●e wretched ends, their attempts upo● us, and that deep plot of ob●ruding the seeds of all Popish superstition and tyranny, upon our Kirk, in the books of Common Prayer, and Canons, will be a strong evidence for them how much they have deserved of Rome, to make that Kirk which had departed farthest from her to be fi●st in the return, and exemplar unto others and how much more they may yet deserve of them, and all the enemies of those tw● kingdoms, if they ●ffer for a sacrifice in a blo●die war, the Rel●g●on and Liberties of both the Nations, to appease the fury o● ther pres●n● disapp●intment, and prevent the shame of their de●e●ved ●all.  
Certai●ly the posterity will hardly believe as we who have ●ee● it cannot but wonder) how it hath come to pass, that the Subjects of Scotland (whose Union with Engl●●d this day is known to be of g●ea●●r fo●ce, ●or her assurance at home, and strength abroad, than all the alliances, pra●tises, policies, conques●s your P●inces have made from the begi●ni●g) ●hould have so long pe●itioned their native Prince r●sidi●g amongst you to do them J●stice wher●f he is debtor to his pe●ple, and to hear their just complaints against the us●rpa●ion of a ●ew men, who were undermining the p●o●ess●●●●ligion and government of the State, and to suffer them to live according to their Laws, and yet could never be hea●d nor answered in the poin● of their just desires, far less will they guess what hath been the ground of that merit and trust of one domineering Pr●lat in the affection of the Prince, that it should be more forcible to dissuade, than all the supplications and int●rc●ssions of so ancient and faithful a N●tion, who among all the kingdoms of Europ● have longest continued and main●ai●ed in one Line the honour of the royal Crown, together with the preservation of their own Liberties, should have power to move. Truly for ourselves when we call to mind what courage and co●stancie God hath given unto ●s since the beginning of these troubles, ●o stand for the maintenance of our Religion and Liberties, that we have not suffered ourselves to be drawn headlong unto the servit●de of soul●s and bodies, from which there had been no hope of Liberty for us or our po●●erity, and which in regard of ou● conjunction with you under one King, had been a violent prejudice, and of dangerous conse●uence for your Liberties when they come to be questioned in their own time and place, and on the other part when we remember what strange and violent ways were taken by our adversaries to keep from the Englis● Nation the knowledge of our affairs, and what unjust and false aspersions were laid upon all our ac●ions and intenti●ns● to provoke you to be actors of that re●●nge that was determined against us by the insolent advice of such● who now govern his majesty's counsels, and ●ettle their own ill acquired g●eatnes by the oppression of his obedient Subjects in their Religion and liberties in both kingdoms, we cannot but bl●sse God who armed u● with an invinsible pa●ience and resolution to es●hew for our part● 〈◊〉 the uttermost of our power any national breach: For ye may remember when co●trary to our expectation his Majesty by all the evil council of those men, did march towards us with an army, we neglected all courses which might advance our human safety, rather than start from any jot of our obedience, or give any seeming distaste to our dear Brethren of England, and rather adventured the ruin of our own country, then endangered theirs: Yea further, when we did with horror and amazement hear those unexampled Proclamations given out against a whole Nation, who were never tainted with the least thought of disobedience to their Prince his just commands, according to the rule of their laws, Notwithstanding of this great prov●cation, there was nothing to be heard amongst us but vows for his majesty's prosperity, and hearty desires from all to spend their blood for the increase of his estate, and service of his Crown, and who abhorred then to be reduced to that extremity, as to arm themselves for their own defence and preservation. It will scarcely be believed by Strangers, by what means two Nations so near together, and so straightly tied in all the bonds of goodwill and mutual respect, where there was so little cause of espousing these quarrels, wherein none of the Nations were concerned or wronged by the other in their own proper rights, should be brought to such a posture, and near so dangerous a rupture, that would not been easily (to say no more) p●eced up again in our days, but it was the work of God, and it should be wonderful in our eyes, who in the carriage of all this great business, hath made every stop and ●et● casten in by the adversary, a step of advancement, to the furthering of his Cause, as is well known and acknowledged by all whom God hath honoured to be the least instruments in this work, who also made this a singular mean to testify our loyalty, and the sincerity of our hearts, where we presented our humble and just desires unto his Majesty, and for the honour of the cause which we maintain, and the tender regard to the credit of our own Prince (although then armed against his own people) and for the brotherly respect unto the Nobility, and others of our neighbour Nation, in●ending nothing, we believe, but to follow the King, although really sa●isfying the ambi●ion and blood thirs●ing reve●ge of a miserable prelate. We laboured in the treaty to give all satisfaction on our part that could be required of most loyal Subjects, and sensible of our King's honour ●ourenemies being judges) even to our own apparent disadvantage, for we delivered all places into his majesty's hands, which were desired, in testimony of our obedience, and although they might have been in our hands, pledges of assurance for performance of these Articles that were agreed to be granted in the following Assembly and Parliament; and now contrary to our expectation are turned for Engines of terror, and Fetters of slavery to frustrate us from obtaining the benefit of that capitulation. Notwithstanding of all breach of promise we cannot but profess according to our tender respect to our Prince, wherein we are inwardly g●ieved for the dishonour that is done to his Majesty by the bad instruments that are about him, that neither we were then ever-reached, nor do we yet repent upon our part for that great trust and confidence we reposed upon his Majesty, for we did then remember that we were dealing with our Prince, with whom as we should not strive for appurtenaces, when the main was granted, so we might rest assured, that if he could not be brought in his own mind to judge aright how far he had been misled against us his own people, who had given such an ample testimony of our trust, and of the interest we should have in his favour above all other, but still continue to pursue any advantages to our prejudices: we did not otherwise think but when ever he had a mind to break, he could never want ill grounded pretence, to allege against us; and it was fittest for us rather to hazard the disadvantage, and commit the success to God what ever prejudice we should suffer; for if the word of a King which should be the Oracle of truth to his people, and the faith of promises and contracts under hand and seal, which is the groundwork of trust in all human society, and is sacred and inviolable amongst Infidels and Turks, may not justly challenge for us the performance of the Articles of the Treaty upon his majesty's part, then may we truly think that nothing we could have framed or desired then, would have been for our safety of any avail unto us, as nothing had done us good or succeeded according to our mind in all these things we have condescended unto (Whereunto we were not obliged by any duty or respect whatsoever, otherwise than that we might not be defrauded of the full and real performance of the Articles of agreement) but on the contrary it doth evidently appear by all that hath past, that there hath been no desire nor meaning of peace in the hearts and minds of our adversaries unto this day; for all the business of the capitulation hath been taken by them as a cloak to cover their more cunning and crafty designs, hoping thereby to weaken us in time by their wicked policy, whom they could not then overcome by open force: making us a ●how to dissolve all Forces on either side that they might lay the Foundation of a more durable war, by setting strong Garrisons on the Border, receiving the strong holds of the kingdom to be keeped after that condition they were in before these troubles began, and presently preparing them for nests of violence to the chief parts of the kingdom: Calling forth by his majesty's letters a great number of our chief men under weak pretences of business (when all the matters of the treaty had been ended with a few of that number) unto Barwick, and when some of them came, keeping matters in the clouds until the rest were come, and sending them back again like stales to bring in their fellows, and when this did not hold, laying then plots deep and a far off to entrap some of our principal men, as God hath wonderfully discovered since, and will more and more to the confusion of these who have been authors and abetters to such base assasinats. And which hath been the masterpiece of their ●ubtill device: suffering the Assembly to go on and determine all matters of the Kirk that had been in question. The Commissioner in the King's name consenting to all the Acts that passed, promising also to ratify them all in the Parliament that was presently to follow, plotting hereby that what they gave with the one hand, they would take away with the other, for this seeming of settling matters in the Assembly, and withholding the civil sanction of the Parliament for their being and existence in the commonwealth, as it would make them really of no effect, so it did gain a colour and pretext to that design they did most intend: that the next rupture, to which they were preparing, should not be for matters of Religion which were all settled in the Assembly, as they did allege, but for other civil differences in the commonwealth, and truly in all appearance the matters of the Kirk were settled in that Assembly, with the consent of the Commissioner, but that wise men began to doubt of the sincerity of the work, when they found him by his after declarations and explanations digging ●● postern to escape and make way, for his after den●all of what had been concluded. And in these terms the Parliament did begin, and hath continued not to settle the affairs of the Kirk as was promised, and was certainly expected by us: but to bring in a precedent of servitude (which neither we no● our Fathers were acquainted with) and so it hath been broken off and adjourned, by his majesty's own authority, without consent of the ●states, which is di●●ctly against the ●aws and prac●is●s of this kingdom, and contrary to the Articles of agr●ement: And although our predecessors took another course, yet we came only with supplications and prayers, and to show our invincible obedience unto his Majesty, sent up our commissioners to London, who were rejected, and never seen nor heard, and yet hoping with this unexampled patience to overcome the malice of our adversaries, we send up again our Commissioners with prop●sitions that were so just, as that they contained nothing but what was before granted unto us, under his majesty's hand and seal, nor could receive any denial from a picus and just Prince, as being all comprehended in this. And which had been the sum and subject of all our supplications, protestations, informations, declarations, from the beginning, namely, that the fundamental Laws of the kingdom, which had been violated, and the Religion which was manifestly infringed, might in a free Assembly and Parliament be again confirmed, and the unworthy authors legally questioned, and which had been more expressly set down in the Articles of pacification, that as there according to the tenor of the Articles of agreement, all matters civil were to be judged by Parliaments, and all ecclesiastical matters by the assemblies of the Kirk: And that as the Assembly promised by his Majesty had been granted and had concluded the differences of the Kirk, so his Majesty would not delay or deny the conclusion of the Parliament, for ratifying the acts of this Assembly, and settling other differences of the commonwealth, a● was fully agreed in that treaty at the King's Camp, yet these propositions and desires being so necessary and vital unto this kingdom could find no access unto the ears of the gracious King, by reason of the powerful diversion of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and deputy of Ireland, who (strengthened with the high and mighty Faction of Papists near his Majesty) only side in all matters of●spirituall and temporal affairs, and makes the necessity of their service to his Majesty appear in being the only fit instruments (under the pretext of vindicating his majesty's honour) to oppress both the just liberties of his free Subjects, and the true reformed Religion in all his kingdoms. In which devilish design, we have great cause to say they are far advanced, if the granting of a free Assembly and Parliament to us at this time, which hath been the ground of all our just desires from the beginning, and the conclusion of the Treati● this last year, as the only mean to cure all the evils of Kirk and State, and settle the peace and welfare of both kingdoms, Prove in the end, as it appeareth this day, like the council of Trent to the Christian Kirk, which was appointed for reforming, the abuse thereof, yet through the ambition and covetousness of Kirk-men and the miserable jealousies of the Princes of the time, who minded more their private end and interest then the cause of Christ and his Kirk, was found in effect the active engine and instrument to establish and settle the tyranny of the Pope and his clergy: wherefore the greater and more lively are our apprehensions of danger at this time, that all these c●ooked and cross plots, interchecking one another, in denying a Parliament to us, where it was promised upon the honour of a King, and for the safety of two such Nations, in granting it unto you, where it was not expected, for the reasons that all wise men cannot but remember, and in forcing one upon Ireland, where none is desired: Giving out Commissions to destroy us before we can apprehend any other or new guiltiness, but that we have been constant suitors for the conclusion of the Parliament, and the fulfilling of the Articles of the treaty, raising our Parliament contrary to the Laws, and the express Articles of the agreement; enforcing garrisons upon us, that they might force us to a necessary denial of such unreasonable demands, and to a necessity to provide for ourselves: that all these, we know, are done and devised to pick a quarrel, and to be the ground of a false and wire drawn Remonstrance against us, and now by the particular instigation of these men we named before, a mighty army is preparing, and an utter ruin threatened to our Religion and country. Lest in regard of these premises, our silence in so necessary a time should argue a neglect of our duty to God and our King, the safety and honour of our country, the peace and ●elfare of both the Nations, what so nearly trenches to the prejudice and hazard of all these, cannot be longer forborn; therefore we profess before the Christian world, and to our dear brethren of England, especially the representative Body of the kingdom, now happily conveyned in both the Houses of Parliament, whom it most concerns, that we cannot otherwise judge and esteem, but that all these counsels that have been given of late by these intemperate Counsellors, who direct the course of all affairs, do not only proceed from such persons as to serve their own ends under colour of advancing his majesty's Prerogative, do weaken royal power, and bring the kingdoms unto confusion, but that they truly are first hammered in Spain and in the Conclave, and put into the hand of their cunning Artisans among you, who have ever been a viperous brood, which with tooth and nail, have assayed to rent the bowels of their own mother, yea who never sooner learned to obey the Roman Church as their mother, but as soon they acknowledged the Catholic King for their Father, and their own King for an usurper, if they think him to be an Heretick● So that we are persuaded that neither the invincible Armado of the eighty eight, nor the gunpowder plot, nor any other royal navy from thence, like unto that which came the other year upon your coast, (the which ye had the more reason to suspect that it came so unlooked for and at so unseasonable a time) needs to be attempted any more for the ruin of this I'll, but only ●hat they be careful (as we doubt not they are) that the fire of this civil war which hath been so long smoking may be once kindled, and that they be ready underhand to add fuel to the flame, wherein they will not be wanting, especially where every thing is so near that can furnish matter, and all is far off that can help to extinguish the same, when it is once begun, yea, which is worse for us all, when it is apparent, that it cannot be settled without great hazard even of them that may seem to overcome in the end: And although that we may justly suspect that this calling of you together at this time by their suggestion, who have raised this fire of civil discord in this famous Isle without your consent or advice, be rather to persuade you to bring oil then water to quench the flame, so that in the heat of these broils you may be induced to contribute to the overthrow of your best friends, while they avenge themselves of their enemies: Notwithstanding of this, we hope that it will not be displeasant unto all good men in these honourable Assemblies of both houses, that we with great joy of heart and freedom of spirit profess and declare, as we do this day, that all our obligations and mutual assurances of love and brothterly kindness are so nearly twisted and joined together with you in all duties toward God and Man, Prince and People, that we cannot but have the same friends and foes, either in the defence of our common safety against foreign foes, or in the maintenance of our several rights against inward and homebred underminers who are more dangerous, except we would depart from the only firm rule of our own safety and preservation. And therefore since in regard of the situation of this whole Isle, and the Union under one Head, we are all, as it were, one house, if it fall we shall be all buried in the ruins, we are all embarked in one ship, if it perish or split upon the rocks of division, hardly can we escape: Suffer us to re●oyce with you in the midst of this storm, for this first sunshine of comfort and good hope that we see you who are the true Pilots, brought to the helm: And give us leave to conjure you for the interest we have in the common adventure of these rich goods, our peace, our liberties, our Religion, which are all in one hold, that ye abandon not the ship of the commonwealth in this tempest, although it did belong to you to have been called when the season was more calm, and yet let it be the true ground of your comfor● and encouragement, that when the sky was clear, you have forewarned our great Master, of the clouds that were gathering, and although the winds were invisible then to most, yet to many of your house of Commons, and others also of all ranks: they that did blow then to gather these clouds together, were well known, and from what coast they came, and many humble desires and earnest suits have been made by you to his gracious Majesty, that he would not abandon his own and the kingdom's safety, unto the pleasure of men in a voyage full of dangerous and fearful straits, in the conduct of which, they had nothing but their own ambition and private gain, for compass and said. And who have thrust both Prince and people out of the safe harbour of the quiet calm unto this present storm, wherein they are to make profit of both our shipwreck, if in this strait it were not allowed to the meanest passenger to give warning of the imminent danger, we notwithstanding of our place and interest in your welfare might hold our peace: but since we have been in the first watch, and have endured the first and greatest torment of this storm, while you have been at rest; for your assurance that we cannot abandon you, or leave you alone one your turn, when you are so near to give trial of your courage and skill, you may perceive by what hath passed, that no Assembly nor Parliament, no rotten Cable, and slipping Anchor of Articles and agreement, whereunto we had fastened our hopes, can be any road and harbour of safety unto us, so long as both our enemies sit at the helm and govern all courses that are to be followed amongst you. Therefore before we come to advise what are in our judgement the most ●itting means ●or removing of the evils of us both, give us leave to touch in passing what we apprehend have been the concurrent causes to bring you by degrees from that height of ●appin●sse, wherein sometime ye were glorious in the sight of Europe, to this gulf of misery and abasement wherein ye have fallen, and drawn us by example and imita●i●n, that in this sad repres●n●ment, as in a dark shade, the glorious light of your appearing day may be more comfortable and refreshing unto us both, which is the hearty with and assured hope of your dear Brethren in Scotland, because of the sensible feeling of that great mercy of God upon themselves, who have been farther in the transgression, and at a lower ebb in mind and spirit than ye can well imagine before their troubles began; therefore, because our evils are not of yesterday, and could not have overflowd the face of this Isle on a sudden, let us search up unto the well head and period of time, whe●e and when they b●gan fi●st to spring and arise, when we left to fear others by reason of our Union then began we to have need to look for evil from ourselves: the sub●ile enemies of this Isle knowing that what was not to be attempted by open force, was to be u●dertaken and pursued by cunning and secret practices, took the advantage of the humours of men, following commonly the nature and the conditions of the times, did make the surfeits and ease of peace more dangerous to the life of the Estate, than the straits and hazards of war had been before, disposing the Subjects to ease and slavery, an inuring the Prince to follow their appetite and the rules of uncontrolled power: then began the public ways of honour and rep●tation to be un●requented: then the use of Parliaments which is the stay and strength of your Kingdom to be suspected, and so these eyes and ears of the Prince and People, the great council of the Land did make way piece and piece to the dark passages of the corner of a Cabinet, where flattery, malice, envy and partiality amongst few hands, disguises with ●alse appearances without control all that comes in their handling, and makes the people miserable, and the Prince infortunate, since they have gotten ●ooting, Parli●ments have been called not to ease the grievances of the Subject, but to supply the necessities of the Prince, and so whereas they should have helped to cur●, they have increased the diseases of the ESTATE: and because there can be no evil humour in the Body that can master your skill, if you please to apply fitting remedies, and what hav● been formerly in practice, therefore you are made to disagree amongst yourselves about the method of the cure, and when you begin to incline to an agreement your consultations are broken off, and so by these means the Common wealth languisheth without hope of relief, the Prince's mistakes and the people's grief and burdens do equally increase, and every breach of a Parliament begets a new grievance and malady to the people, so much the more dangerous and d●adly, that the Authors of these abuses) when you use not your courage and constancy to maintain that power and place which your Predecessors have put in your hands, and whereof the posterity will call you to account, as a right of entail and their proper inheritance which cannot be weakened in your hands without your eternal infamy, and their endless loss) begin to despise you, and take courage to undermine and blow up the foundation of your once well settled E●tate: bringing you in contempt with the people, for the guard of whose liberties you have so long continued, and in hatred with the Prince, for whose honour and safety it hath always been, that none about him should be more powerful, nor the Laws, and nearer him in place and affection, than you whose counsels could not be corrupted by ends: these are they who bringing you once to mind your own things, and to be careless of the public, have teached the Princes, that all the rights and liberties of the Subject, and the maintenance of them, are doales of grace, and gifts of mere favour proc●eding from the Prince and not the true birth right of the Subject● which they may truly challenge) which are to be continued or changed as their Princes shall think fit: who have teached Princes to use that maxim in a free kingdom to wrong ends: Parliaments are in their power to begin, continue, and break them off, as they find the fruit of them good or bad, so are they to have their being, or not to be at all, thus they have done what is in them to make the royal authority, which should be like a Sun beam shining for the comfort and light of others, turn to a Comet and blazing star, a matter of wonder and admiration for the time, and a prognostic of worse things to follow. Truly the prerogative of the Prince, which hath been keeped in veneration, and as a secret untouched amongst the wisest Princes and the best times; which is that which the Laws have given him above all private men, for the common safety of us all, and cannot be used to another end, but for our good, had not suffered so much in itself, and lost of its proper lustre, by the oft and common handling thereof, to the mani●e●● prejudice of the Subjects right, and the real weakening of the true royal power, had it not fall'n in some of your Clergies hand, who to the stain of the Kirk and the bane of the commonwealth, have subjected all men, and all Laws, to the appetite of the Prince, of whom they have the absolute rule, that so under that goodly visor of his royal power, they may accomplish at last that great design of the change of the Religion and government of the Estate which they have so long a●med at: whereof they cannot fail in this happy conjuncture, where all things promises them good success. A Prince enraged against his own native people, by their procurement, who will not be persuaded that they are good subjects to him, because they are avowed enemies to them, who have b●en the destroyers of their Religion, and the t●oubles of the peace of the Kirk, to whom it is necessary that he forget that he is their natural Prince, while he remembers that he is advanced to be the Monarch of the whole isle, and with whom of necessity he is obliged to continue in this quarrel, that under the pretext of their rebellion, he may have leisure to arm, and make the one kingdom a scourge to the other, while in the end they both become sl●ves, which if they refuse, he cannot eschew of force to bring in strangers, and use such other power as God hath put in his hands by the doctrine of these good divines, to the establishing of the boundless government whereat they aim, so by the joint help of the Papist, who are a strong Faction amongst you of late, and of others, whom they call good Subjects, and are the greatest number, who while they are going on in any course to help themselves, cannot think they are accountable to God or Man for any wrong they are doing to others, these also concuring who are of great number and of no small force in any state, who are content to wear fetters themselves, so they may be of gold, and they have the making of them, or help thereunto for others, all these meeting together, they cannot miss to effectuate their designs, and these are they who look at this time to undo us, and hope assuredly to work you to their ends. And for this effect, as it appears, are ye called together after so many breaches and breaking up of Parliaments in England, whereby his Majesty had been deprived of the faithful counsels and free aids of his people heretofore, and the pressures and grievances of the Subjects daily more and more increased without hope of relief, that all men (who looked upon the train of affairs, and marked wha● undue courses had been taken of late, that there should be no need of their meeting, and how the number and height of offenders is increased, for whose safety it is not that Parliaments come in place and request again) may justly marvel to see this day, and in all likelihood conjecture that either this Parliament will prove the happiest that ever was in this Isle for the good and peace of the kingdoms, or else (which God forbid) will become the fatal engine and axletree in our enemy's hand, for the overthrow of Kirk and State, turning our doubts unto despairs, and our fears into a certainty of confu●ion. wherefore the more need have all good men who love the truth of Religion, the honour of the King, the safety of the kingdoms in so necessary and perilous a time to be instant with God by Fasting and Prayer● that as the beginning of your meeting together is the subject of all men's fears and hopes, good or bad, ●o the close may be in fruit and memory● the joy of the present age, and the blessing of posterity, whereof there is no small ground of hope at this time; For if that spirit of wisdom, courage, and true zeal for the good of Religion, and safety of King and kingdoms do but begin as in former time to appear in your counsels, who knoweth what recompense God is preparing for your often disappointments in that kind: the which we are moved the rather to believe and expect, that the powerful h●nd of God hath forcibly led them who have been the authors of your evils, and actors in the mischief intended against us; against their will to call for your assistance to oppress us: and su●ely we think that what Art can invent, and malice can do, will not be wanting (even amongst some of your number) to move the rest to consider aright of all the advantages of the time, and reconceal the differences that are amongst themselves and labour to seek the ease of your own burdens when you may have them at an easy rate with small expense and pains, to increase ours, and many specious pretences will be offe●ed, to hide the bad intentions of a few, and the ill consequences of their private designs against the public quiet of the kingdoms, but certainly a thick cloud of prejudices and misrepresenta●ions of all our businesses most assuredly be casten before your e●es, and great must that darkness be, before so wise, so advised a judicatory of all the choice wits in that kingdom condescend to that resolution which in effect carrieth with it, in furthering the overthrow of our Religion and Liberties, and in the burial thereof to begin and dig a Tomb for your own to follow, and to make the end of this Parliament a mean that there should never be need of any hereafter. But we expect (Right Honourable) better things of you, and such as belong properly to the happiness of this time, for the glory of God in the advancement of his truth, for the honour of the King in punishing of the wicked, for the welfare of the kingdoms, that in our Union they may be crushed, who in our division have builded their hopes, and made this war with your Brethren, the Trojan horse to bring in all these calamities, which a civil war will undoubted●y enforce upon this I'll, and we are certainly persuaded that the singular wisdom and justice of your Honou●able Court, which can have no other end in all their counsel, but the service of his Majesty, and the safety of his kingdoms (which cannot be separated in any consideration whatsoever) will judge otherwise of the state of our affairs, and afford us better measure than we have found as yet at the hands of these men, who as they have been the Authors of our evil, and of that corruption that was creeping in, in Kirk and State, so have both you and we suffered much more by them, and have greater reason to complain of the inconvenience and mischie● of the remedy that they have applied since, then of the disease itself: In vain do they think to cover their wicked designs with the bare pretext of their zeal and affection to his majesty's greatness and dignity, seeing it tends to the ruin and destruction of his faithful Subjects, whose riches is his treasure, whose quiet is his glory, whose hearts and affections are his strong garrisons that cannot be overcome, and whose pr●sperity is the happiness of his Crown, and miserable and wretched are the effects of that power, which produceth nothing but weakness to the Prince, and calamity to his Subjects, and in vain do we expect that God will bless in our age what he hath cursed in all ages before. Let us look unto the Records of former ages, and we shall ever find, that there is not any thing that doth so much move the wrath of God, as to see his worship and Churches profaned, and to fall into the hands of these who have sold themselves to the world, and are devouted to the temporal service of the Prince: where ever it hath been practised, it is a certain demonstration of the alteration and change of an Estate, and of their miseries and disgrace who abuse it licentiously, their affairs always declining even unto their end. We need not put you in mind of the stu●●es and hot contests of your best Princes, and of greatest spiri●● with your Archbishops at home, to keep down that Papac●● they claimed to themselves amongst you, and to suffer them to be Kings beside them, which could not be granted but at their discretion: they that looked to the dangers of this time, and who they are that be the Authors of this mischief intended, may easily perceive, that if all the Subjects of the two kingdoms could be moved to undergo that burden the Bishop of Canterbury and his followers would put upon us, and could be perswaded in Conscience, that we were bound to obey these spiritual Fathers in all their commands, we should soon see they would allege some other ground for their aspiring greatness, than the zeal of his majesty's service and honour, and the Princes that are to follow would find, that all their pains was for themselves, and to establish their own tyranny over Prince and People. Or, are there any so ignorant and wilfully blind to think, that all that spite and malice they carry to the Covenant of Scotland● is, because that it hath weakened the King's power, and made his majesty appear so in the sight of his enemies? If this were true, then would the Pope and the King of Spain give many millions that the like were in England and Ireland: they need not dissemble, we know where it pricks them, they see the hand of God in it against their unjust usurpation and worldly pomp, and they fear, that as they have found it a wall of brass to the Subjects of Scotland against the fury of their malice, when they could have no protection, neither in their Laws, nor in their Prince, in whose saving favour they may claim special interest, so it may prove by example dangerous to them elsewhere, and at once put an end to all these plots and designs they have to overthrow the reformed Religion: And this is the cause they charge it and us with many crimes, to plant the hatred of us and that cause in the hearts of others, which is already engraven in theirs, but we are assured the equity, justice, and wisdom of your Court will be far from thinking this a sufficient ground of quarrel betwixt the two Nations, because we demand to enjoy the benefit of our Laws, and the exercise of our Religion, if this be a cause that any of your Nation should come to assail us, or any part of the power of that kingdom should be employed to that use, you would not have taken it in ill part or think we have done you wrong, if the like course had been taken by us when there were any contests and dispute betwixt his majesty and you in your Parliaments for the rights of the Subject: But as we have always wished you good success unto your Pa●liaments, so can we not think that the pains we have taken to maintain our own rights, can be grievances unto you, or of evil example to weaken your estate, or move you to destroy us. Princes when they are misled by evil counsel, may easily begin war at thei● pleasure, but since the Subjects blood must determine the controversy, it were necessary that they who have so great a part of the hazard, should also know their quarrel. And since civil war and homebred division● as inward diseases are more hard to cure then these that are without, we are tied in all respects to seek to prevent them before thy come. And whereas by all that hath passed, we may perceive that these who are chief actors in these troubles, ●eek by all means to have us engaged, the more should our care be to preserve ourselves by their disappointment, and by a seasonable remedy, provide for the safety of ourselves and posterity. The readiest mean for the present that can come in our consideration in this, that as when the treaty of the Union was intended, but did not take effect, the two Parliaments did sit, and did appoint their Commissioners to treat thereanent (with express reservation of their own laws and Liberties) and to report their proceedings back again to them that sent them, so now when the two Nations are ready to be plunged in a bloody war, to the overthrow of the Liberties of both. Our soul's desires, that his Majesty would be pleased to appoint the like or any other mean whereby the Parliaments may sit freely, and without fear of force, and by their Commissioners appoint time and place, where by their scanning the equity or iniquity of our demands may be fully weighed, that we may no longer suffer by false and artificial relations, but they be noturly known as they are, and their fraud and hypocrisy discovered (if there be any) for we shun no trial which is not inconsistent with a free and independent kingdom, and which the kingdom of England would choose in the like case of the quarrelling of their Laws and liberties, the King being resident amongst us: for which end if his majesty's forces may be discharged, and his further Levies suspended, we will most gladly disband, and leave off any that we are preparing for our own necessary and just defence, which otherwise we cannot do without our own apparent ruin, neither can the Parliament sit with any security in either kingdom, if they see a Sword drawn ove● thei● heads, and this we know the Parliament of England in their wisdom will think very reasonable, and the least that can be granted, and will join with us in this pe●ition for their own clearing before God and the world, that they have not taken in hand to subdue us by arms, before they have convinced us and made known to all true Christians and honest men, for what cause, and upon how great reason.  
If this be denied us, as what may we not expect in this kind, but that the conduct of this affai●e will be answerable to the first undertaking: And as this plot hath been set on foot for the benefit of strangers, so it will be continued to the weakening of both the kingdoms the overthrow of our Religion, and civil liberties, to the uttermost of their power. So we (that the close of this discourse may bring in a short view all that hath been touched before) cannot but begin with this, that it is j●st with God to make us feel the sad e●fects of civil discord, who have not ma●e the right use of our long enjoyed peace, and that we suffer in the danger and hazard of the cure, who have so long by our tolerance and permission strengthened that ill humour, which is now ready to master the life both of Kirk and State. You are called together who are the great physicians of that State, it is not unfitting for the present occasion to put you in mind of an old t●le that belongeth unto your Art: Philotimus a Physician in Greece, made this answer to one who offered his finger to dress, by whose face, look and breath, he knew he had an Impostume in his Lungs, my friend (saith he) it is not fit time t● busy yourself about your nails: The time was not long since when the grea●est question was, whether the Bill of Tunnage and Poundage, or the Bill of the Subjects right should be first moved in your House; the times are far changed, the case much altered, before you judge of any matters now, or condemn others● you cannot but look whether yourselves be free, and what right you have: For if the maintenance of our Religion, and the Liberties of the kingdom, be a ground of a quarrel betwixt too Nations that are so nearly joined, and if it be judged so in that Honourable Court, we cannot see how you can condemn us and acquit yourselves; For it was your glory to be the faithful guardians of the Subjects right, it cannot but blemish your reputation to be sound now the overthrowers of your brethren's liber●ies. If all this motion of a war with Scotland were truly perceived to be a conception of Spain or Rome, we do not doubt but for your own interest you would be careful to stra●gle this monster in the very first birth; but if you take it for a ready mean to ●ase your own distressed estate, and that by wronging us you can better your condition. And although we know the cond●ct of your counsels had ever more honourable and honest grounds, yet let us take it as it may be propounded to you: can the benefit that is offered to you countervail your loss: We need not bring it nearer, the example is but of yeste●dy, and cannot be out of your sight. All the Provinces and Prince of France, envied the good estate of the Protestants, the priviledge● of their Chambers, and the ben●fit of the Edicts they enjoyed, every one did outrun a●other to contribute to their ●uine, and to endeer themselves by so doing, to these that had the managing of all these affairs; with what success, they know this day, and all that looks upon them, seeth what defence they have left themselves against the regiments of the guards. We writ not this as doubting your wisdom and circumspection in a business of this nature, that so near concerns yourselves, but since the malice of our adversaries hath prevailed so far upon our gracious King, that he forgets the affliction of his people, whiles he gives way unto their endless malice, who seeks by all means to cut asunder that knot of our obedience, whereby we are tied in Conscience of our duty to his Majesty, to the observance of the Laws: and which is the sure Foundation of his majesty's greatness, and the Union of the kingdoms, and which hath holden fast-against all the violence of time in so many ages past, and against the force of all adversaries whatsoever to the royal Crown, the which the more we labour to preserve, and fence, the more they seek to undo, and to put in the place thereof a chain of violence and force.  
We beseech you therefore, right honourable and dear Brethren, now conv●ened in both houses of Parliament, that according to your place and s●ation, you will hear from ourselves the true representation of our pressing grievances, and becaus● a link of that chain cannot but approach you also, if it take hold on us: we entreat you to divert in time our gracious King from running headlong unto these violent courses, which cannot but produce in the end lamentable effects both for Prince and People. And since we have just cause of fear, that what hath been begun without your consent, will also be followed contrary to your advice, although we think nothing more properly doth belong unto to the justice of that high Court then ●o provide, that they who have been drawers of his Majesty t● this action, so dangerous for himself, and so desperate for the kingdoms should not pass away unquestioned and unpunished. And nothing could be further from our expectation then that the council of England should conclude a war against us, upon the relation of one man ●brought upon the stage of purpose to act that malicious part) without your consent● whereby it is apparent, that these our adversaries have come to that height of insolency, to let all the Subjects see that they have taken to themselves a liberty to throw down the Laws of the kingdom, and laid a necessity upon us his majesty's own people, as it were to choose their leisure and attend until they have power, and come and work our overthrow by Sea and Land, and that without a warning going before: So now we understand that a restraint is put upon our commissioners; Some of them being put in the hands of sheriffs, some of Justices of peace at London, Contrary to our expectation, for who expecting this would either have send or gone in that Commission: Contrary to the Law of Nations, for we are two dive●se Nations and kingdoms, and they were sent from a Parliament promised and called by his Majesty, and warranted by his Majesty, to repair to his presence, and to show the reasons of our demands. Contrary to the very foundation of our present Treaty, for a Committee was appointed legally by the authority of the Parliament, and neces●arily, for keeping correspondence with our Commissioners, and to receive from them his majesty's answers (that we wonder any man should be so absurd as to suggest to his Majesty, that it is an unlaw●ull or presumptuous Committee, or that they have taken upon them the gov●rnment of the Town of Edinburgh) And that for a long time past, no word or writ cometh from them, and we are put out of hope to hear from them hereafter● That we can neither know whether there was any want in their propositions and reasons, or whether there was any thing to be supplied by us for a ●ull satisfaction, and contrary to the deservings of our Commissioners: for nothing is pretended to have escaped them which might have deserved this captivity: And as for the present condition of safety of the Earl of Southesk, and Sir jews Stewart at Edinburgh, it can be no true ground there of, his Majesty being fully informed by their own Letters, how that harmless accident of their surprisal came on a sudden by the unexpected folly and rashness of the governor of the Castle, threatening presently upon their dispatch, to discharge all his Ordinance against the Town: And to ring (as he was pleased to speak) an uncouth peal of bells in their ears, and (we may truly add) by their own precipitation, and too great haste to speed themselves to the Ports for escaping the common danger: The multitude not without their own grounds, conceived that the arresting of them might be a defence to themselves, or at least a delay of the governor's fury. But no sooner were they arrested by the People, but they were rescued by order from the Magistrate, and courteously used by such of the nobility and gentry as were in the Town. Since that time no violence hath been done against them, but they have of their own accord, and for their own safety stayed in the Town, with such liberty as they think meet to use to repair to the Streets, Kirk, Gardens, or whither they will. And in what equity can a particular tumult of some ●ew Commons in one City, reflex upon the per●ons of the Commissioners sent from the whole Parliament o● the whole Nation.  
But at the writing hereof we are advertised, that the matter draweth a greater deep, and that the Lord Lowdoun is committed to the tower, not upon the shallow pretext of safety to any arrested here, but upon his own guiltiness, his hand and subscription being found at a Letter directed to the French King from certain Earls and Lords of Scotland, for imploring his assistance to their courses: This by our adversaries and such as had decreed our destruction before, is already exaggerate and raised to a mountain, not only to fall upon the Lord Lowdoun and others whose hands are found in it, but that all former friends and all indifferent persons may stumble at our Cause, as hereby evidenced to be nothing less forsooth than Religion: But the Honourable Houses of Parliament, who are acquainted with the designs and malice of our enemies, and to whom our innocency in times past cannot altogether be unknown, are more grave and wise then upon the hearing or seeing of such a Letter, to precipitate in judgement against us and our Nation before we be heard. For their satisfaction, and for vindicating ourselves, we are constrained against our hearts in this our Remonstrance, to remember and represent the words of that unexempled Proclamation given at York April 25. 1639. otherwise never to have been resented, but buried in silence, and in studied senselessness, and which we do not attribute to the Majesty of our King, but to the base cruelty of our barbarous enemies. The words are thus:  
We are forced to have r●course to a more ●harp and quick way to cure their obstinancy and rebellion by the sword of justice: And therefore in that case we do proclaim all such as shall reject this our free and grat●ous pardon, and does not return before the said eight days, to that civil and dutiful obedience to be from thenceforth open Rebels and traitors to us, our Crown and dignity, and declare all their lands and possessions, goods and gear to be forfeited to us, and our Crown, and that we shall dispose of their lands, possessions, goods and gear to our well deserving Subjects, Noblemen, Gentlemen, and others who shall adhere to us, & obey our just commands. And to this purpose we discharge all vassals and tenants to any rebels, from making paym●nt to them of any of their rents, duties, or casualties, and require them to keep the same in their hands, the one ha●f● whereof shall be kept for our use, the other half for themselves: promising also to the tenants of the said rebels, who shall leave their Mistress, and assist us to the maintenance of our authority, good terms of years in the estates they poss●sse, with the diminution of the third at least, if not more, of the duties they pay, as we shall find them to deserve by their good service and ready obedience to us: And to the vass●ls of such superiors as are rebels, that they shall become our immediate tenants and vassals, and hold their lands and poss●ssi●ns of us, and that for payment of the third part less duty than is contained in their present Charters, and they pr●sently pay to their superior, providing they adhere to us, and assist not their disloyal superiors, but leave them, and concur with us for maintenance of our authority And if the superior be loyal, and the vassals and tenants refuse this our Grace, and to adhere to us● or to concur with the said superior in our ser●ice, we declare it shall be leasume for the said superior to expel the said vassals and tenants thus rebellious, forth of their lands and possessions. And what shall access to us by the forfeiture of their lands and possesssions, we freely d●sp●ne and totally resign it to the loyal superior, promising to concur and assist him for effectuating hereof. And further we discharge all debtors who are addebted sums of money to any of the said rebels, to make payment to them of the sums of money addebted to them, or any part thereof: assuring our good Subjects, that they shall have retribution out of the same moneys as we shall find them to deserve: and so forth as followeth.  
Although before this time we had heard from our countrymen abroad, that other States, Princes and Nations did wonder much that their ears being filled with Informations against us, nothing had come from us to make known unto ●hem ou● cause, or our case and condition: yet s●ill hoping and patiently waiting for a gra●i●us answer to our many humbl●supplications, we did abstain. But our hopes being extingished by that unexpected Declaration, as we took our Swords in our hands at home for our just d●f●nce, so we were thinking to send some Informations and Petitions abroad, especially to the Frenc● King, wherein, we tr●st, no word hath escaped us, that can either procure the indignation of our own King, or will be found contrary to the duty and loyalty of good subjects. And that no less could have been said by any Nation, in so great extremity: yet this was but an imperfect motion, which died in the bud amongst ourselves, and never did rise to that ripeness to be seen of others. When we were so sore threatened, and when execu●ion was coming upon us by a terrible army, it must be laid to our charge as a fault inexpiable● and our commissioners punished for it, that we dared so much as to intend to cry to others to interceded for us, when our own supplications could not be heard: poor souls● we must be beat●n, and neither resist, nor complain●: It is therefore our earnest desire that every eye that seeth that innocent Letter, may with the same view look upon the Proclamation given out at that ●ime, and compare them together: And withal, we desire to be informed what we shall do in the like exigence now when Armies are coming against us, if it be not lawful for us both to cry to God and to men to help us, and to interceded with our King for us. That Letter was written before his majesty's coming to the Camp, and was not concealed by our Nobleme●, but made known to some of prime quality there: If there had been a purpose in the hearts of our enemies, that the Articles of pacification should have been observed, this Letter● although it had been sent and all other quarrels of this kind, had been by a law of oblivion forbidden to appear. It could not have been a ground of calling the subcribers to quarrel them after the pacification, but the wicked Sycophant and delator would have been found in the transgression, and made the sacrifice. And that there be no more doubt in the mind of any good man, we have here, upon our faith and honour, set down the very words of our instructions●ub●cribed at that time● and yet ex●ant● which were not given, but were to be given to the Carrier● and unto the which the Le●ter i●self doth refer:  
To represent the ●uncient● and strait league betwixt the two King●●mes of France, and Sco●land, often renewed, and 〈◊〉 invi●l●●l● kept, for many hundreth of years, whereby both Nations, have frequently upon the distress of the one found the benefit of that mutual amity, by ready succour and assistance of the other, which hath ●ver been crowned with success, and acknowledged by interchange of national kindness as the Chronicles of both kingdoms, and diverse public act● extant in the Records do testify.  
To show that our intentions are no ways against monarchial government, but that we are most loyally disposed toward our sacred sovereign, whose person and authority we will maintain with our lives and fortunes: But that all our desires reaches no further than the preservation of our Religion, and Liberty of Church and kingdom, established by the Laws and Constitu●ions thereof.  
That the calumnies vented against us by our enemies for their own ends make no impression, because they are most manifest untruths, maliciously forged to stir the envy and discontentment of neighbour Princes, Estates and Nations against us● whera● our whole thought●, words, actions and proceedings are most legal and loyal, as the bearer can particularly instruct and make clear at length.  
That seeing we have many times supplicat his Majesty, and have not prevailed, therefore to entreat the King of France, to intercede and meditate with our sovereign, to lay down his Armies, intended and raised against us, and to suffer this his ancient and native kingdom to enjoy her Religion, and Liberties, in peace and freedom under his majesty's authority, albeit we be not diffident of God's assistance whensoever we shall be necessitate to our own defence, which is approven both by the Law of God, Nature, and Nations.  
Our enemies, who catch all pretexts against us, may have enough here wherewith to please themselves. But when tha● grave and great council shall consider that the Letter was never sent, and nothing from France or at home shall ever be found that can prove the sending of it abroad, that it was intended upon the hearing of so harsh a Proclamation, and before the pacification, wherein it ought to have been buried, and that it was accompanied with such Instructions, as no●e but malice itself can censure: for no threats from England, non preparations in view, can cast us upon resolutions of entertaining foreign confoederations, in such sort as may set up a partition wall betwixt the two kingdoms; therefore we trust they shall find no more ground of pleasing our enemies, and of grieving us in this, then in our other proceedings, which we earnestly desire to be unpartially examined by them.  
Now against this high and extreme insolency of our adversaries, which swelleth every day to a greater bigness and exulceration, and is to break out imperiously at their pleasure. Although in obedience to the Law of God and nature, we be thinking upon our preparations for safety and defence, and ●or obtaining our often presented humble and just desires, yet nothing but extreme necessity which hath no Law, shall enforce us to go beyond the bounds of petition and d●f●nce, and when that extremities shall come (which God in his mercy to both kingdoms prevent) we trust our carriage shall refute the slanders and reproaches of our enemies: that we are not seeking ourselves and our own ends: but with the assistance o● all in England, who tender their own happiness and ours, to petiti●n his Majesty the more powerfully, for receiving right information, and for submitting both all differences, and all those wicked Counsellors, who have shaken the foundations of the Kirk, State, and the King's Throne, unto the judgement and censure of a free Par●iament, by which we hope the gospel of Christ shall be enlarged, both the kingdoms freed from danger, and our dread sovereign made more great and glorious, than any of his Predecessors, which, as it is the end, so it is the un●eigned Prayers o● us all.  
FINIS.