A Letter from Rotterdam, touching the Scotch Affairs, since November, 1650.  
SIR, Since my Arrival here, it hath been my good hap to gain a clear confirmation of the truth of that Assertion, that it never was in the intentions of the Presbyterian Scots to have Charles the 2. for their King, and that you may also be confirmed in the Assurance thereof, I shall presume to offer to your more serious consideration this short view of some of their Actions since November last.  
As first, the strange rendition of the Castle of Edinburgh, the strongest hold in all the Kingdom; whether out of cowardice or covetousness, I dispute not; sure I am out of no necessity, the stores of Provisions, Arms, and Ammunition (if Relations be true) being almost incredible. Then the many secret Plots and Designs they have put in practice, for the more cleanly betraying into the Enemy's hand, the Town and Castle of Sterling, and Burnt Eland, those two principal Keys or fastnesses of Fife and Stragherne, all which God in mercy hath hitherto frustrated, to the Enemies disheartening, and the Actor's confusion. I shall not need to mention how hearty the Presbyterian entertained Ker and Stragherns' Declaration, with those in the West of Scotland, though founded upon Independent Principles, and purporting little less than renunciation of Monarchy: Or what cunning tricks they used for putting off the King's Coronation, ambitious still to keep the Reins of Government in their own hands, and curb His Sacred Majesty in His Exercise of his Regal Power, by enslaving Him to the unreasonable Articles he was forced to condescend unto at Breda? Or how violently they opposed all Agreement with the Royal Party, openly protesting against it, and secretly fomenting Divisions amongst them, till through God's blessing, in despite of all their Machinations, Loyalty prevailed, and increased so fast, as in a short space to overpower those Machiavellian Kirk-lings; whose guilt of conscience, hourly pursued with just fears, affrighted them quickly to decline His Majesty's Mercy and Goodness, and seek for shelter and protection from the Enemies of their King and Country. As for particulars I refer you to the weekly Newes-Bookes; he that will but waste so much time and pains as to peruse those Pamphlets, may soon observe all these, and many more, and more mischievous Presbyterian Practices, than here are related.  
But not to insist on such perty proofs; a more convincing Argument we have in that right Presbyterian, and (without offence to so Sacred a Solemnity be it spoken) sordid manner of Crowning their King on New-Years Day, 1650. For whether we look upon it in any of those Circumstances of Time, Place, Persons, or Ceremonies, the Presbyterian baseness is most clearly to be discerned thereby.  
As for the Time, the Nobility, Gentry, and Commons of that Kingdom, having long groaned under the cruel oppressions of Kirke and State-Committees, were ready to shake off that Iron Yoke, and recover again their Ancient Laws and Liberties, under the Golden and Gentle Sceptre of Monarchy, wherein their Forefathers for many generations had happily enjoyed so great Peace and plenty; this the Presbyterian perceiving, for fear lest the Royal Party should grow strong enough to set the Crown on the King's Head without them, they resolve to do it themselves, making this advantage of the time, still to ensnare His Sacred Majesty with the bonds of the Covenant, and limit His Royal Prerogative, ere the Nobility and Gentry could have free access to Court, or the Army come to a General Rendezvous.  
The Place: the most Profane and Sacrilegious place in all Christendom, a dining Chamber, (not Consecrated Chapel) where the Belly is the only God that is worshipped: To show the Presbyterians that are so stiff in observing of difference of Time, the Sanctifying of the Sabbath, etc. make no difference of places, but a Barn, a Stable, or a Dining Room, is a place good enough for their Solemn Assemblies.  
Then the most Sacrilegious Place: 'Tis confessed, the Abbey and Church of Schone hath been famous all the World over, aswell for the Marble Chair, wherein the Kings of Scotland Anciently had their Crowns set on their Heads; as for the Monuments and Tombs of those Pious Princes, whose Sacred Dust was there religiously preserved; but since Sacrilege entered the World under the cloak of Reformation, that Abbey hath been dissolved, and out of the Ruins of that Beauteous Church, was erected this Palace of Schone, the Walls built with the Stones of that Church and Abbey, the Chimney-pieces and Pavements framed out of the Marble Tombs and Grave Stones of those dead Kings. This His Majesty's Father (of Blessed Memory) perceiving when he was invited to a Feast by the Nobleman that is owner of that house, He refused to eat and drink in so Sacrilegious a place: Yet this was picked out by the Presbyterian for the solemnising Charles the Seconds Coronation, as if betimes they would season him with that cursed thirst after things dedicated to Holy Uses, and invest the Crown with the spoils of the Church's Patrimony, which his Blessed Father so much abhorred, 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●ap. 4.  that himself professed he had rather live of the Church's Alms, as some of his Predecessors had done, then violently take the bread out of Bishops and Ministers mouths; and by such Sacrilegious Rapines, as the Covenanting Presbyters gaped after, bring a brand and curse upon His Posterity by robbing God and his Church of what the bounty of His Ancestors had enriched it withal, for encouragement of Learning and Religion.  
The Persons and solemnities likewise were suitable: No Bishop to anoint him, and pronounce the benediction at the setting the Crown on his Head, nor Nobleman to present the Regalia; though for these thousand years the like precedent never was known in Scotland; where the Nobility ever counted it an Ensign of Honour and loyalty to attend their King's Coronation, and behold his sacred Person inaugurated with all due solemnities: his Anointing and benediction to be performed by a Bishop, as in all other parts of the Christian world, Kings have been ever since Christianity prevailed over the Thrones of Princes; not without a sacred pattern of samuel's Anointing Saul and David by Gods own appointment. And in the Age bypast this Ceremony was thought so Religiously necessary, that John Knox with his contemporary Presbyters (I am sure no friends to needles Ceremonies) sent purposely for the Bishop of Aberdeen (who had received his Consecration from the Pope) to Anoint King James, even in his Cradle, that his Coronation might not be defective in such a Ceremony, whose name and Authority they abused, not only to oppose, but to imprison Queen Mary his mother, and force her to resign up the Crown into her Sons hands, that so themselves (the prevailing Faction) might Rule and Reign as Kings during his minority. Thus whilst it serves their own ends, the Presbyter is stiff for this Ceremony in the Grandfather's days, but now as regardless of it in the Grandchild: Charles the 2. is to be Crowned without any such Royal or Religious Ceremony; upon design doubtless, as well to divest him of that Jus Sanguinis, that hereditary right of Succession, which doth immortallize Princes here on Earth, and make their Names and Office (like his whose Vicegerents they are, and whose Image they bear) eternal to all generations: as also to render him the people's Creature and servant, as if his Crown and dignity had been the people's gift, and not his own by Birthright; as if his Power had been derivative from his Subjects, and not God's Ordinance, and as natural over them, as a Fathers over his children: in a word, that his first Title might be Carolus Electione Populi: not Carolus Dei Gratia. For this purpose they had prepared three Lay-Kirk-men, and three Kirk-Lay-men to perform the Office of the Bishop; my meaning is, three Presbyters of their own Brooding under their Classes, not of Episcopal Ordination; and three Ruling Elders; these last acting their parts in a double capacity: for first they stand for Representers of the People, and Commissioners of the Representative Body, the Parliament; and next for Assisting Elders of the Kirke.  
Thus Presbytery, which was ever good at deposing and usurping upon Kings, hath at last (and may it prove the last) set the Crown on their King's Head, more in mockery (if without an ill Omen I may borrow that fimilitude, as the Soldiers Crowned our Saviour a little before his Crucifixion;) than out of any true intention: For the Crown they put upon his Head, though it were of gold, yet was it debased by the Covenant, and robbed of the choicest Flowers wherewith it was wont to be adorned, His Royal Praerogatives, those individual and unforfeitable Ensigns of Sovereignty.  
The Sword they gave him, though it had a specious outside, yet it seemed rather of Wood than Steel, the Edge being blunted, by taking from him the Militia, and depriving him of the power of the Sword, either for offence, by doing justice upon malefactors, or for defence against Foreign Invasion, or homebred Rebellion.  
Lastly, the Sceptre they put into his hand was but a Mock-Scepter, being divested of the Supreme Power, which is the very Essence, or Formalis ratio of Majesty; for by the Articles of Breda they had reserved that Power to themselves, tying him up to act nothing without or contrary to the advice of Parliament and Assembly; nor to deny his Assent to any thing that should be represented by them, or resolved on in their Committees of Kirke and State.  
Thus had the Presbyterians muzzled their Lion, and at this first step into the Throne, thrown down his Sovereign Majesties, had not the great God, by whom King's reign, graciously upheld his servant; and in a short space restored him to that height of Honour and Dignity, which those Varlets sought to keep him from: For soon after his Coronation, the Nobility and Gentry, for many years having been oppressed by several Factions in their turns, for the future to prevent all Faction, and unite the whole Kingdom against the Common Enemy, they resolve forthwith to restore His Majesty to all his just Praerogatives, and no longer to suffer Committees either of Kirke or State to Lord it over them: the jealousies of the two grand Factions of the Kingdom, the Hamiltonian, and Argylian gave life to this Resolution; who not more ambitious of, than envious at each others greatness, chose, rather than submit to the commands of their equals or inferiors, to set up the King, and to yield obedience to one King, rather than many Kings; for which very cause, The Beasts of the Forest once made choice of the Lion for their King.  
By this means in the month of January that glorious Sun began to mount higher and higher in the Zodiac of Majesty and Sovereignty; and quickly warmed with its bright beams, the hearts of his languishing Subjects into the love of Loyalty and Regal Government; for which they now praise God that had sent them a King, under whose protection they might be freed from the tyranny and oppression of their fellow subjects.  
But about the 5. of February this glorious Sun appeared brighter and brighter, when that free Parliament began to sit, which ashamed longer to deprive their King of the liberty to use his Reason with a good Conscience, admitted him to the power of his Negative Voice, and put him into the possession of his just Rights, whilst the Kirke Assembly at the same time met at St. Andrew perplex themselves with hot disputes touching His Majesty's Authority in Ecclesiasticals, and other private quarrels of their own, rather than endeavour to compose differences, and submit to the King's supreme power over all persons, and in all Causes spiritual and temporal; His Majesty not much minding their Disputes, nor they careful to tender their due respects to him, till those contentions ended, and that Assembly dissolved suddenly, through the hot alarm given about this time by the English Forces, who sent a strong party to cross the Forth above Sterling, whilst the main Body faced Sterling itself; and other parties were sent by Sea to make some attempt upon  Eland, and Fife-Nesse. I shall not need to express the losses the Enemy sustained in those several places: Though your Mercury's, whose bribed breath dares publish naught but Victories, conceal the particulars; yet the Dutch Gazettes talk of thousands of the English killed, and of their disorderly Retreat, and unseasonable mutiny of the Soldiery for want of pay, and hard duty, which begat a debate, whether Fairfax his Counsel had not been more prudently followed, rather to stand upon defence, than invade a Country where they were to fight with two such potent Enemies, as Hunger, and Cold.  
Sir, I can assure you, the Scots, since their King's Coronation, magnify God's providence, in blessing them wonderfully beyond their deserts, aswell in the discovery of some men's Treasons against his Majesty's Person, and the Treachery of others that sought to betray Sterling, and Brunt Eland into the Enemy's hand; as also in repulsing Gen. Cromwel's Forces, which have endeavoured often and by sundry Stratagems to land men in Fife▪ but chief for that great piece of providence, by sending in unexpectedly to their relief, 3 English Ships laden with provisions and Arms for the supply of the English Army; and for the casting away of four English Merchants Ships and their Convoy at the Town of Are; And further, this you may take upon the assurance of an authentic witness, that the Scots King himself, under his own hand very lately signified to his friends here, that he is in no inconsiderable condition, having already a very gallant Army of 36000. horse and Foot well appointed. This news hath much encouraged the English Cavaliers in these parts, and stirred them up to furnish themselves with all necessaries fit for his Majesty's service, insomuch that about the end of February 12. sail of Ships, convoyed by two men of War, went from the Brill in Holland towards the North of Scotland, stored with all sorts of Provisions, Arms and Ammunition, many Volunteers, and good store of Horses.  
I had like to forgot one observation worth your noting, that whilst the King was under the tuition of the Scots Presbutery, they would not afford him the freedom to speak or write to any of his friends; all Letters either sent by his Majesty or directed to him, they intercepted and opened: and the only use they made of his Royal Hand and Authority, tended ever to his dishonour, and ofttimes to the destruction of himself and his party in the three Kingdoms; for proof of this I shall call to witness his Proclamations published in August last; his peremptory command for disbanding Middleton and his friends in the North, his declaring that party in Ireland Traitors, who fought daily against the State of England; his revoking the Commissions granted to the marquis of Ormond, Lord Inchequeen, and many others of that Nation, that were to act by Sea and Land; and lastly, his recalling all Commissions granted to divers of the English Nobility and Gentry; in order to some action and designs then plotted against the Kingdom of England: all which is sufficient to show the Presbyterian is no Changeling; Kings must be their Subjects and they themselves Kings, or else there is no living amongst them. And that you may see how much the Kingdom of Scotland hath groaned under the Rigidness of Presbytery, I shall acquaint you with a few Grieveances, which of late have been represented to the King and his Counsel, by the Commons, with an earnest desire, and hope of redress.  

Grievances against the Scots Presbytery.  
1. Their Usurping a power over all secular and Military Affairs; for if by the major part in Parliament a Law be enacted contrary to their minds, they presently excommunicate the Members for sitting and Voting in that Parliament: for this very cause Duke Hamilton, Earl of Lyndsay, Earl of Dumfernling, Lauderdaile, and divers others of the Nobility were forced to do penance: and if any man else yield obedience to such statute enacted without their approbation, he is immediately brought to the Stool of Repentance; witness all those that levied Horse or money for the use of Duke Hamiltons' Army, or did serve under his command.  
2. Their taking cognizance of things done in another Kingdom, and beyond Seas: an honest man was forced to do penance for drinking in a woman's house at Campher in Zealand, who had been Excommunicated formerly by the Presbytery of Aberdeen; likewise many others have been Excommunicated, and constrained to do penance for bearing Arms in England under Duke Hamilton.  
3. Their defaming of Persons of Honour, and other particular Persons in their Pulpits; as also their publishing defamatory Declarations, to the scandal of Religion, and contempt of Monarchy.  
4. Their secret subornation of children and servants to accuse and betray their Parents and Masters for words spoken in their Bedchambers and private houses; there is scarce a considerable Family in all the Kingdom, where they have not by one means or other set a spy upon them.  
5. Their wresting out of the hands of the Nobility and Gentry the Patronages of all Ecclesiastical Live, whereby they have occasioned great corruption and divisions among the Clergy, insomuch that in some places Churches have lain void without any Minister two or three years, to the eternal prejudice of the people's souls.  
6. Their cruel interdicting of Churches; in one County, Athol by name, 5 Churches were interdicted 3 years together, no Minister suffered to Preach or pray amongst the people all that time, nor to administer Sacraments, whereby many children died unbaptised.  
7. Their usurping an Arbitrary power over the souls of men, every Minister taking upon him to debar whom he please, even the best man of the Parish from the Sacrament, and their denying Baptism to the Children of Malignants.  
8. Their covetous increasing their own stipends, in all Corporations, procuring the State to lay an imposition of 3 d. Excise upon every Scotch pint of Wine to be paid to the Minister of the Parish, making every house to pay the 12. penny, according to the utmost racked Rent, which is 20 d. per pound.   
Sir, All the effect these grievances produced at that conjuncture of time, was, That the King and His Council thought it not fit to make the breach wider, or increase Divisions amongst His Subjects, only for the present the Clergy were commanded not to intermeddle in Civil or Military Affairs; but to preach to the people obedience to His Majesty's Authority, and Unity and Peace one amongst another: Yet in the opinion of wise men, if things should settle that way, the Presbytery of SCOTLAND would be refined and made conformable to these in HOLLAND: For as your Reformers did in the beginning call for a Moderate Episcopacy; so the whole cry of the Scots Nation is, for a Moderate Presbytery, which in time will end in JOHN KNOX his Government, whose design was to place Superintendents in every County: The Nobility and Gentry of that Kingdom, as well as yours, cannot endure to hear of the restoring of Episcopacy, for fear their Sacrilegious Titles to the Church's Lands should once more be called in question.  
As I was closing my Letter, this certain Intelligence I received, That the Scots King, having secured all the passes and landing places in FIFE, and quelied the CLASSIS of STERLING, who declared against Him and His Party, is lately gone to suppress the like Faction which the CLASSIS of ABERDEEN hath countenanced to the great prejudice and safety of that part of the Kingdom. In His absence Duke HAMILTON commands the Southern Army, who endeavours daily to try his friends in levying Forces in the West of SCOTLAND. Here we expect some Scotch Nobleman, as an Ambassader from the Scotch King for that Kingdom, and the Report is, the Lord GERARD hath a Commission sent him to be His Ambassador for the Kingdom of ENGLAND. I have no more room to write, but only to subscribe myself,  
Your most humble servant. From Rotterdam 10/1. March. 1650.