A LETTER from an honourable Gentleman in the Court, certifying the Examination of Mr. john Cheisly Esquire, Secretary to the Commissioners of Scotland, Who was taken and stayed at Newcastle, with his Answer to the many Interrogatories put unto him by the Governor and Major thereof, concerning Major General Massies going into Scotland, to raise an Army: And the Scots preparations to invade this Kingdom. With some other advertisements concerning Peace. Together with the certainty of the safe landing of Sir William Waller, Mr. Anthony Nicols, and other impeached Members, at the Brill in Holland.  
Printed in the Year, 1647.   

Sir:  
I Have received your Letter advertising the health and present condition of his Majesty, and the report of Major General Massies going into Scotland; as also the confinement of Mr. John Cheisty Esquire, at New castle, who being examined, as you writ, by the Major and Governor of that Town, I must confess I do much affect your expressions, That he behaved himself resolutely like a Gentleman, and expressed himself discreetly like a Secretary: and I do verily believe, that the Answer which he made to the Interrogatories to be very real and according to his conscience.  
1. That he knew not where Major General massy was, and had nothing to satisfy them whether he was in Scotland, or no.  
2. That as for his own particular, his Dispatch from London into Scotland, was in no relation to any design of Major General Masey, or to raise any new war, but to labour to the utmost of his abilities for the establishment of a true peace, and the preservation of a right understanding between the two Kingdoms.  
3. That as he had given already sufficient demonstrations to both Kingdoms of his integrity for five years together, so he could not but lament his present unhappiness to have his fidelity now suspected, and his endeavours so churlishly examined, which did promise to themselves a more fair construction.  
Sir, these indeed were honest expressions, in the which I do still observe and commend your candour, that you are careful to render to every one their due, and to continue your wont course, which is wisely to steer betwixt the two great factions in this Kingdom, the Whirlpool, and the Rock, without fear or danger of splitting against the one, or ingulphing within the other.  
But since you are pleased to put your command upon me, to give you my opinion, and what I conceive will be the event of these fid times, and whether the Scots will take up Arms, and what it is probable that Major General Massy, (if there) may perform in the Kingdom of Scotland, or if the mercy of God shall so dispose it, that there shall no sword be drawn betwixt the two Kingdoms, what may be the best means to reconcile the two different parties of this Kingdom, I will use my endeavour to satisfy you, beseeching you hereafter that you will put me upon more easy duties, and impute no more unto me, than I am well able to discharge.  
For the Scots invading this Kingdom with a new Army, (let their Pulpits press it never so much) I believe it is a thing at this present not to be feared. For unto the making of a war (it is a maxine in state) that there are required these two great sinews, Money, and Provisions; without which, men will fail, and war will fall of itself. For the first, you cannot be ignorant, that the Kingdom of Scotland is extremely necessitated: How many Letters of Invitation were sent unto them before they entered our Kingdom last, when the North was unplundred, and the Kingdom in a more plentiful condition to satisfy the appetite of the greedy soldiers then now it is: and yet the common soldiers would not then stir without three pound English, paid for advance to every man. Where is this money to be had there now? what a sum would this rise to amongst twenty thousand men, although no man was to have above the allowance of a common soldier? But suppose (which is impossible to be granted) that this money was to be had, and the soldier on his march, what encouragement would he send for the future, where would he look for recruits? their demeanour when they were here last, being so full of rapine and oppression, that the weaker sort of our Nation in the North (believe it Sir,) do tremble to hear of their coming again into this Kingdom, and the more manly and resolute party will stand on their guards, and lose their lives every man in his own defence, before they will be persuaded to re-admit them.  
Besides, they know very well, that there is a party in this Kingdom, that doth so strongly hate them, that if their Covenant should hang a little lower in our Churches, their very Dogs would go near to lift up their legs against it. And as they are destitute of money and encouragement, so they are in great distress for provision, and (God bless them) they do stand in as great a need of health as that: for besides want of health, the Pestilence raging in many of their chiefest Cities and Towns, it may appear in what distress they are for want of provision both for man and horse to sustain an Army; by the advance of Lieutenant General Lesley into the Highlanders, in the beginning of the last Spring, he being not able to march up against the Enemy, having relief neither for horse nor men. And where should they expect this relief if they should march into England? The people who already know their tempers and have suffered almost beyond expression, will on the first rumour of their advance, take all that they have with them, and drive all that they have before them, before they will be made a prey unto such guests again.  
You we●e pleased to hint in your Letter, that there were some of quality in Newcastle, who would be ready to entertain them: Sir, the disposure of such a Town as Newcastle, doth not lie at the pleasure of two or three Merchants, besides it is garrisoned by such soldiers, as (I believe) will not on easy conditions surrender it to the Scots. You may add to this that Colonel Lambert is not idle in the North, but is watchful to discover all their designs, and to observe all their motions, and were they resolved to re-invade this Kingdom, there is no doubt, but that with a powerful Army, he would meet them half way to give them entertainment.  
But Sir, there is one thing more than all this, which is, the pleasure of the King which you writ me word would certainly countermand them in the march, or if they should advance into this Kingdom, they are like to pass under the notion of Traitors. Is it likely, Sir, that a Nation so provident as the Scots, who pretend nothing more than Allegiance to their King, would adventure themselves in a war, for which, they shall be sure to be proclaimed Traitors? Is it probable that a Nation so poor as the Scots, should adventure to lose that little which they have, to purchase a certain and perpetual poverty, and to inherit nothing but the wind, and their own melancholy? Is it possible that a Nation so hungry as the Scots, should forsake their meals, and their oaten cakes at home, to endure a wilful famine abroad? Besides the valour and resolution of the English is well known unto the Scots, and is it likely that they will adventure their fortunes, their food, their limbs, their lives, to embrace a grave, or (which is worse than that) the infamy of a shameful flight? Religion is made a pretence for all wars, but I could never yet find that it did ever thrive by any; Schisms and Heresies are never more fruitful than when the sword is drawn.  
But you will object, that the Scots do expect many abettors, and have much assistance promised them from the Presbyterian party in the Kingdom; it is not doubted, but where will those recruits appear? Hath not Sir Tho. Fairefax taken the possession of the Tower of London, and all the Magazines of the City, so that if a Musket should be unfixed, or a Pike broken, I cannot direct them for the present where to relieve themselves; nay, are not all the most considerable places in the Kingdom garrisoned by his Army? They must be surely more than desperate that will adventure themselves in this Kingdom without money, without provision, without encouragements, without reserves or recruits, or a place of security to retire unto.  
As concerning Major General Massey, I do conceive that you have not stated the question aright, for I believe, it is not to be propounded whether Major General massy would be in the Head of the Scotch Army, or no, for the defence of the Covenant, or the Presbyterian party; but whether Major General massy would adventure in the service to bring an Army from Scotland into England, if his Majesty should cause him to be proclaimed Traitor that should undertake it; Certainly not: There is no question but the obligation of his Allegiance would put him into a tamer posture. And for my part, if he be in that Kingdom, (as truly Sir, I do much doubt it, and can give many reasons for it) I do believe that he would rather endure the melancholy of a man that endured a willing banishment for a while, then incur the sentence and the infamy of a Traitor for ever.  
Concerning your desire to be satisfied, what is the best expedient to reconcile the two different parties in the Kingdom: Truly Sir, I would I were as well able to give counsel for the performing of it, as I should receive a most hearty and undissembling joy to see it performed; I would do very well (as you writ) that some good course might be found for the taking away the unagreeable names of Presbyterian and Independent, and that no more they might be heard amongst us; but that we might be all of one affection as well as of one Nation; but as long as the practice holds, I believe that the names will continue. Sir what do you think (as it hath been observed in this City of London) that as one King is sometimes free of one Company of the City, and sometimes one King of another, as one King may be free of the Company of the Merchant Tailors and another of the Mercers, not that one of them is a Woollen Draper, or the other a Mercer, but to keep the Companies even and entire, and to suppress all envy, f●ction, and pride of spirit, which otherwise might grow upon them? so what if his Majesty should seem inclined to the Independent party, and the Prince to the Presbyterian, not that his Majesty is an Independent, or the Prince a Presbyterian? but so to temper by policy, and to poise both parties that a mutual confidence and reconcilement may be had, and by degrees so to qualify and suppress them, that at length which may be the work of less than seven years) as well their names as practice may be lost, and the Protestant Religion flourish in its native beauty: How happy would it be that free Parliaments should enjoy their known Privileges, and the Kingdom smile again in peace, safety, and happiness the end of all their travels?  
Sir I have something more to annex, but I am abruptly called away, which I must beseech you to excuse, and with all my rudeness, that I have already so unmannerly tormented you with the length of this Letter, which I hope will be the easier pardoned because it was in a desire to content you, which shallbe the constant endeavour of him, who is,  
SIR, Your thrice humble and thrice affectionate servant, I. ●.  
Sir, As I had made an end of writing this, there came to my hands a certain advertisement confirmed by several Letters from beyond the Seas, that the impeached Members are safely landed at the Bril in Holland; neither is Sir William Waller or any of them taken prisoners, as it was reported.  
FINIS.