Colonel GREY'S Portmanteau opened; His sealed, mis-directed, and returned LETTER discovered by a copy thereof, found among his other papers.  
Which is here Printed and published with some Queries and Animadversions thereupon.  
To deliver, from the dangers of their Cabals, such as are not acquainted with Scottish Methods and Mysteries.  
LONDON, Printed by William Dugard, by the Appointment of the Council of State, 1650.   

Colonel Grey's Portmanteau opened. His sealed, mis-directed, and returned Letter, discovered by a Copy thereof found among his other Papers.  
FOR that by a long Experience we have been taught that the Scots never want their Instruments among us, and even of the English Nation, to make advantage of every occurrence; And to represent all things (without respect to truth) to the advantage of those designs, to the promotion whereof, they have basely and degenerously given up themselves, whereby those, who have not leisure or opportunity to search into affairs, or to take a view of their whole design, looking upon things by parts, and those misrepresented, are in danger to be deceived, and drawn into actions of a nature that may be dangerous unto them: It will perhaps be held agreeable to the rules of charity that they who understand these designs should endeavour to undeceive those, who do not, and to prevent that guilt and danger in which their ignorance may involv them, and out of which the rules of Justice and good Government (especially in times of danger or just jealousy) ought not to suffer their good meaning to deliver them.  
And to this end, for that it cannot but be taken notice off, that a Messenger express, hath been lately sent from the Parliament of Scotland into England, bringing several Letters with him, whereof one was directed, For the Honourable William Lenthal Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons in England. And for that there is no man known in England to whom that title doth agree, and therefore the Letter could not be delivered; But may perhaps be represented by their Instruments for other than it is, and well-meaning people abused by it, as if it were of another tendency than it is;  
There being a Paper found among other Papers in the possession of the said Messenger, which had on the one side the Title aforesaid (written by the hand of Sir John Cheislie, which is here very well known) [Copy of the Parliaments Letter to the Speaker.] And within the same direction that was upon the sealed Letter directed as aforesaid, of the same Sir John Cheslies hand, as the direction of the Letter itself seems also to be. It is held necessary to publish the same in Print, that all may see, what stuff it is, and to make some Observations upon it, to preserv the well-meaning from mistakes, and to make them wary how they swallow whatever they propine, they being seldom guilty of much ingenuity, or truth; but offer boldly what they think may serve their turn. By which if they reach their end, 'tis their clear gain. But if the effect be a lie, as the means itself is, it never cost them a blush, that being the Index of such a quality as is mustered among the vices on the other side of tweed.  
And 'tis probable they put more confidence in the agency of their Messenger, and his infusions and negotiations with their party here (who may perhaps shortly burn their fingers with such traffic) then in what their Letter was like to effect, which they had reason to believ would never be opened, being so addressed as aforesaid, whom they had there first furnished with this open Copy, and no doubt had direction what to do with it, for the public cause of Scotland, though to avoid all further questions, the variousness of which might have drawn from him (against his will) somewhat of truth, and made a discovery of what it chiefly concerns them to conceal; He boldly denies he had any such Paper, and after 'twas showed him, with confidence affirms he knew nothing of it, or that he had any such Paper, which yet was found among Papers and Instructions which he denied not to be his in his Port-manteau. This Paper with his Comments on it, might have been sufficient to deceiv many that know no more than what their Deceivers tell them. For prevention whereof, a care was taken he should have no convers, but was defrayed, while he was here, and sent back unto the Lord General, with a Messenger to attend him; who no doubt will send him into Scotland with a very sufficient guard. And give such answer to the letter directed to him as will be agreeable to the Declaration of the Parliament.  
A Copy of the Parliament's Letter of SCOTLAND to the Speaker.  
SIR!  
THe Estaites of the Parliament of this Kingdom, remembering that they haid written one letter unto you upon the sixth of March 1649, By ane express with instructiones for their Commissioners then in Ingland, to be comunicate to you, which did much concern the good and peace of thes Kingdoms. And that they received one from you of the twantie third of May folloving, whairunto they returned their ansueyr upon the 26 of Juny 1649, and thairin took notice that they haid received no return to thairis of the 6th of March preceiding, naither have they to this day received any answer to the same, and having intelligence of the marching of your forcis towardis this Kingdom, and being certainly infermed that your ships have lately searched diveris, and seized upon some of the ships with the people and guides thairin, belonging to this Natione, and considering how contrary thes things are (whair their hes been no provocatione ur injury offered by the pairtie) to the Act of Pacificatione in the lairge Treaty, which requyre's That no ships sold stoup the Traide of the uther Kingdom, without consent of Parliament, declairing a breach of peace, and if any wrong be done, that upon complaint and Remonstrance maid to the Parliament, or to their Commissioneris, redress and reparatione sold be sought before it be accounted a breach of peace by the whole Kingdom: And if aither Parliament sold denunce War, that they sold give three months' warning: They have thairfor resolved to send, (as they do heirvith send unto you) authentic douplicattis of all thes four abovementionad Peapers: And to show you that they keip the same principels, and resolve still to walk according to the same reulls and grounds, & have no uther intentiones or resolutiones, in relatione to Peace or War, in thes Nationes, than they did express at large in thes Peaperis, as is most fully set down in their Letter of the sixth of March, and Instructiones sent therewith to their Commissioneris then in Ingland, whairin as they did then on their pairt both acknowledge yair obligatione, and declair their resolutione to observe the reul of remonstraiting, first the breaches of peace, of craving just reparatione, of using all fair meanis, of giving and preceiding warning of three monthiss before ane Engagement of thes Kingdoms in War; So they do now renew the same, and accordingly have renewed the Acts of Postor and Leavy, for putting the Forcis of this Kingdom unto a readiness, in case of any Invasione, which were maid the last yeir, when they wreet their forsaid Letter of the sixth of March; All which they do solemnly profess to be done by them in the sincerity of their hairtis, not out of any policy to catch advantagis, for any uther end or design guatsoever, but meirlie for their awen defence, which they do account abundantly sufficient to remove all ground of jealousies and mass-reportis of their intentiones, & to taken away all pretence of necessity of the marching of your Forcis, for the defence of the Borderis of Ingland; Whairfor on the the uther pairt, the Parliament being informed of ane resolutione in Ingland to send an Army to invade this Kingdom: They desire to knove from you whether thoss wha have the present power in England, do acknowledge themselviss obliged, or by their answer will oblige themseluis, and declair their resolutiones to observe the forsaid way and ardour upon their pairt to us; and plainly and clearly to declair unto us, whither their Forcis do march for defence, or offence, whether with intentiones for keeping only within the borderis of Ingland, or for cuming within ours: which way of procedor in cleiring each otheris, and dealing plainly, is not only agriabill to particular Treaties, and to the many ties, bondis and Declarationes past betwixt thes Kingdoms, but also to the Law of God, and practice of his people in his word, and to the common Law and practice ewin of heathen Nationes; much more of Christian Covenanted Kingdoms, and may prevent many evils and dangerus consequencis which may fall out, even beyond and contrary to the intentiones of Nationes, by their Armies lying near uther upon their borderis, although upon meirlie intended defence. Having thus cleired their intentiones, and desired to be cleired tutching yours  
They further desire, to let you know that as Jephtah and Israel sent the lyk message to the Amonites 2 judg. 12 and 27. So they rest confident that the Covenanted God of thes Kingdoms, who did taken ardour with those of this Natione, who unlawfully engaged against Ingland 1648 doth still leive and regne, and will bring shame and rwine upon quhatsoever party in aither of thes Nationes that shall without ane necessary cause, and cleir calling, and without observance of the rule and ardour aforesaid, of seeking first reparatione, and giving varning as aforesaid, shall offend and invade the uther Natione. They further desyr, That with this Bearer wha is sent express, ane answer may be returned to this, and to the enclosed peaperis formerly sent unto you, And that the subjectis of this Natione with their ships and guides may be presently released and dismissed. This is all that I have in command to represent to you from the Parliament of this Kingdom, and restis  
At Edinburgh 22 June 1650. Your humble servant  
For the Honourable William Lenthal Esquire, Speaker of the House of Comouns in Ingland.  
If the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland would as well have remembered what they had written, as that they had written, perhaps they would not either have written now, or at least not thus: If they would but reflect upon their letter of the 26 of June, which here they mention, they might find they had so declared an enmity therein, that there was little reason to have urged those Arguments which are contained in this.  
That letter of theirs they will not complain sure wanted an answer; for the Parliament gave one by a full Declaration published Julii 14. 1649. which is now again printed with their present Declaration, concerning the marching of their Army into Scotland. Where may be seen what that letter was, and what was said to it, which we have reason to believ was convincing (though no doubt they will not say 'twas satisfactory) for they never gave word of reply, no more than they have to several others: and especially they must be again remembered, that to this day there vows an answer to the Parliaments Declaration of the of November 1646. a thing they have been often told of, but never had the heart to meddle with it. For 'tis to be observed as the constant practice of that Nation, to affirm boldly, and impose in their writings impudently, without all respect or reverence to truth, that there by they may take and carry on, in their faction, such as either cannot or will not examine them being that sort of people, by whom they hope to do their work. But when their papers are answered, whether by a public or private hand, they never yet adventured upon a Reply. And there is not one of all their papers of consequence in all the controversies they have moved about civil things, as well those they printed, as those they have sent to the Parliament, but they have received answers which we have reason to judge full; for that they have never either taken exceptions to the insufficiency, nor replied; but have given up their further pretensions in silence.  
But whereas they seem to urge some wondrous salutiferous Epistle of the 6 of March, which they could never have answer to; and would seem to insinuate some rare prescriptions to be there, for the good and peace of those Kingdoms as they will needs call them, though one of them be now more happy then to own the name: and complain heavily as they have done heretofore, that they could never get answer to it; We must tell them, that Epistle is Apocryphal. It lies some where hid, and had sure the same fate their last had, to be never received. Certain it is, there is none such to be found among the Papers of the Parliament, and if it had come to hand, 'tis like enough to have had an answer, as well as any of the rest: 'tis ten to one now this matter is obsolete, and too old to be taken into consideration. The controversies now are gone beyond paper-conflicts, and will be determined by other Arguments. But that they may have some account of what is like to become of that Letter, We shall desire them to call to mind, That when their last Commissioners, whom they mention, were in England, they sent a paper to the Parliament the 14 of February, 1648, which is also printed with this last Declaration, as it was also with the former, the later part whereof who ever shall read, will conceiv it a paper fit to be given in by a Herald, than Commissioners; and accordingly received a short answer from the Parliament (there also printed) it not being capable of a longer. Upon the sending of which their paper, They very well knowing they had forfeited all privilege of public persons, and had by that their paper of defiance merited an other kind of Treatment than they found, they secretly and clandestinely withdrew themselves without taking public leave, as all public persons use to do, (hoping their paper would have produced effects proportionable to its natural tendency; and as affairs than stood, and as they by their secret infusions among the people had prepared them, might have wrought some alterations amongst us) and were about to ship themselves for Holland: But were again brought on shore, and sent with a guard to Scotland, to see whether the Kingdom of Scotland would own their miscarriage, or punish it. But the Parliament owned what they had done. And so whether their Commissioners had instructions for what they did needs not be enquired; for ex post facto the Parliament made itself thereby particeps criminis. But they being taken into the custody of the guard that carried them down upon the 6 or 7 of March, 1648. 'tis not possible those instructions mentioned, or that letter could come to their hands till they were upon their way homeward: By which mean 'tis very likely we lost the sight of that Letter so much valued by them: how ever no such thing is found exstant, and therefore no wonder if it had no answer. And sure now it will never have the honour of a public one; but if it could be found, it might perhaps be examined by a private hand, to see what stuff it brought into England, and to what purpose. But the letter saith they have intelligence our Army march toward that Kingdom, and that our ships have searched some of theirs, and seized persons and goods, etc. And that these things are contrary to the Act of Pacification, and the large Treaty, where there hath been no provocation, etc. 'Tis true, some of their ships have been searched and seized. What reason had they to expect other? do not they know they have been treating with the declared Enemy of this Commonwealth, whom they call their King? and do they not know, that having finished their Treaty with him, he was then every day expected there? and is since arrived? And can they think affairs here are so loosely managed, that we should not see what persons and provisions are carried in their ships, especially from Holland where their King then was? And 'tis ten to one if the Commanders of these ships had found him there, they would have seized upon him too, if the consideration, that 'tis the greatest mischief may well befall you, to let him come amongst you, had not advised the contrary. But they need not stick much at this, for they are like to have more of it. And before this be printed, the Army is like not to have marched only toward their Kingdom, but into it. And by that time the sound of their drums have awakened you out of your dream, and you have considered things being well awake; you will find that neither the one, nor the other, is either against the Act of Pacification, unless you could make your Parenthesis positive, which may be taken to be hypothetical. 'Tis true indeed there had been no provocation on your part, the thing had been under another consideration. But whether there hath been a provocation or not, is out of question to all, but your selus; however we expect you will say there hath not, because the Genius Loci leads you to affirm any thing. And if we had not been formerly sufficiently acquainted with this kind of stuff, it might have drawn forth some queries in an other dress than we shall now put them. We would ask you,  
1. What it is that you will call injury when you are on the inferring side? for where you are passive, no doubt you know well enough.  
2. What you will think to be a sufficient provocation?  
And 3. If you be awake, whether you have not indeed sufficiently provoked the Commonwealth of England by your late wicked invasions.  
4. Whether you can think the Act of Pacification and the Large Treaty (which you mention) or any Treaty at all between the Nations be in force, after the war begun by you, and this Nation invaded with a numerous Army?  
5. Whether you will deny there was any Invasion at all?  
6. Whether this Invasion was not made by decree of an Act of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland?  
7. Whether Acts of Parliament in Scotland do not bind and involv that Nation?  
8. What those provocations were, upon which your Kingdom of Scotland invaded England? and therein be very particular, that if you have not had, you may have an answer.  
9 Whether there were not Commissioners from England with your Parliament (even when you were levying that Army) for an amicable composure of all that might be in difference between those Nations.  
10. Whether those Commissioners were heard, or the matters wherein they were instructed put into debate?  
11. Whether the Treaties had any reservation of a privilege for you to break them, when, and as often as you pleas; and that we must be bound by them notwithstanding?  
12. Whether it was agreeable to the Treaties, that you should garrison and keep Barwick and Carlisle, Towns belonging to this Commonwealth, which we in conformity to the Treaty left ungarrisoned.  
13. Whether it were according to the Treaty and Covenant, that you should invade England with an Army?  
14. Whether had you first sought reparation and redress by any complaint to the Parliament here, or to their Commissioners with you?  
15. Whether you had denounced war, and given three month's warning before your Invasion?  
16. Whether you were not unanimously agreed upon an Invasion, but fell out among yourselus upon the point of Command, because it was carried by Hamilton, and might not be under the direction of the Kirk, that is, four or five of their leading Priests?  
17. Whether you think the two Nations have not been in a state of hostility ever since your Invasion?  
18. How long forbearance of seeking just reparation shall make it unlawful to seek it at all?  
19 Whether the Parliament of England hath not given you sufficient time to come to your selus, and offer that which must be had from you?  
20. Whether they have not used all means, and made all fair offers of an amicable composure, even since the Nations have stood in a state of hostility, and particularly by their Letter of 23 May 1649.  
21. And lastly, whether by your Letter of the 20 of june, 1649 you have not put things into an incapacity of determination by any other way then that of Arms.  
It might justly make those, that know you not, wonder to read your Letter; but to us there is nothing of that kind seems strange. There is no man almost in either Nation, that takes notice of affairs, but knows, that when we perceived you were gone off in your affections from the Parliament of England, for prevention of that evil they had cause enough to expect from you (seeing the Apostasy and corruption of your Commissioners here) sent their Commissioners to your Parliament into Scotland to compose all differences: but they were so far from effecting what was desired, and the end of their mission, that they could never bring any thing to a debate; But while they were still there, notwithstanding any offers they had or might have had to propose, a war was determined by their Parliament, and accordingly prosecuted to an Invasion, without either cause shown, or warning given, till Hamilton was entered into England: They garrisoned our frontier-Towns, and went on committing all manner of acts of hostility, till it pleased our good God, who hath ever owned and carried on our cause, to appear for us and make an handful of wearied men (who with very long marches had made haste to expose their lives for the service and safety of their Country) his Instruments to chastise the pride and perfidy of that numerous and insolent Enemy, who were wholly broken, and the greatest part of them utterly destroyed.  
What provocation soëver they had for this Invasion, which they never yet told us of, we conceiv all indifferent men will believe here was provocation enough to have drawn out a present revenge, (which yet then was changed into a deep obligation, had it met with men of the least sent of gratitude) and remain still a sufficient cause to require reparation. And we verily believe there is no man that is master of common reason, or knows what belongs to civil transactions, or the rules of the common Law of Nations, but will without hesitation be bold to pronounce, That this Invasion hath dissolved all Leagues and Treaties, and left this Commonwealth as free from all obligations or stipulations to the Kingdom of Scotland, as they are free from any such with the Kingdom of China or japan. And therefore to very little purpose are those Treaties and Acts mentioned, that have no being anie where in rerum naturâ, unless only among the records of their guilt: where no doubt they will appear both to the Divine Justice and their own consciences, when God shall make inquisition for that innocent blood that they shed while they broke and dissolved them. Especially we may stand amazed at their impudence, that urge the being of them to us, which themselves most perfidiously broke without all or any provocation. And 'tis an impudence also like theirs, to say they send the Copies of the first mentioned papers, to let us see they keep still the same principles, and resolve still to walk according to the same rules and grounds, and have no other intentions or resolutions, either in respect of war or peace, then is there expressed: When as the Parliament of England have clearly told them in a former Declaration, that by their Act they have left no such rule in beieng, which yet they pass over, and dissemble with as deep a silence as if they knew nothing of it, or as if by some Lethean draught their memories were become abrasae tabulae, or by the power of some enchantment, or Narcotick potion they had been fast asleep, while that scene was upon the stage. By this you may see the Letter was not calculated for the Parliament, who (besides that they knew well they would not open it) they knew must resent with extreme indignation their impudence in believing they could so impose upon them. But 'twas fitted for the vulgar, and for their proselytes, who might perhaps be brought to think that we were still under those bands, and were about to break them, and to invade poor Scotland with an unjust war, in which there was nothing but abundance of candour, and a tender conscientiousness of the Treaties and Covenant.  
But they acknowledge their obligations by those rules, and their resolution not to invade without first using all fair means, and giving three month's warning. As to their acknowledgements, they should do better to bestow it upon their perfidy past, then use it to declare an opinion which they may as well change again as they have done before; and they may take it for their comfort, they do but sing to the deaf; we now know them too well to trust them any more under such simple assurances as shall be in their own power to break. As for their resolution not to invade without three month's warning, we shall give no thanks to their good nature for that production; the state of their affairs (which they are ever wont to be most ruled by) at this time require it; They know not yet what to make of their King, and they had need see first how they shall be able to manage him, and see which way he will incline, and whether he be like to prove an obedient son of the Kirk or not; if not, 'twill be dangerous to raise an Army for the invasion of England, lest he subdue the Kirk with it first. They see by their danger under Hamilton, that 'tis not safe to trust Arms where they are not sure of the Commanders. The Kirk finds they have had enough to do to manage their little Army there on foot this year to serve their turns; and they know the fortieth part of the Nation are not their devotiers, the rest perfect Cavies, as weary of their yoke for the burden, as all good men are of their hypocrisy for the grossness and formality: That if an Army be raised of the Cavies they are lost: That if their King should humour them, and get them to engage against England, an impression is not seasonable with them till winter, and so they may have time enough to declare when we think it time to leave the field. But then also, if they list so many of their part, and send them into England, how shall the Kirk be defended from their Malignant Party at home? They are in straits, and therefore troubled we are so forward; and would have us believ their act of posture and levy is only for their own defence; which yet being made since their last invasion, may argue there was then some little guilt awake that quickened their fear, that some account would be taken of them for former injuries; for otherwise their Country hath an intrinsecal fortification against all the Aggressions of ambition or avarice, and is as good a remedium of extended desire, as deformity is said to be of love. And this profession of their resolutions they think is abundantly sufficient to remove all ground of jealousy and misreports, and to take away all pretence of necessity of the marching of our forces to defend the borders of England. Indeed we cannot well be of their mind, we know not how soon the Lads may have a mind to be upon English ground, which if they once feel under their feet, they'll shift for themselves at our charge. And we wonder they should think we should now take their words, when they have so lately broken their Treaties. Besides, they know it no new thing for their Nation to do it (witness among many that signal one of james the fourth) though 'tis more than once they have paid dear for it, and may do now again before all accounts are adjusted.  
But you would fain know whether those, who have the power in England, do acknowledge themselves obliged, or will oblige themselves etc. That which will be answer to this, there is no doubt but they will receiv before this can be printed, from the Lord General of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, in pursuance of the Declaration by them published: But for the expression, what needs this lisping? you must speak out before you get an answer to any question you will ask the General. Why those who now have the power, why not the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England? that is their declared style in which they will be addressed unto, and they will not bate you an hair of it. And what you mean by the power we know not; but you may take notice they have Authority as well as Power. Your own you can call a Parliament, and yet you might remember how it came to be one. You know how your former Parliament was beaten up after the defeat of Hamilton; and this now in being chosen while the other was, and that by the assistance of the English forces then in Scotland, who in stead of punishing your past perfidy, gave you the power you have, and left you in a possibility to be ingrateful; which for bringing so signally into act as you have done, they may return to chastise you for it. The Parliament of the Commonwealth of England is so, whether you acknowledge it or no, and you may choos whether you will or not; but if you have occasion to send any Letters or Messages that you will have received, you shall best consult your own business if you give a right address, they will otherwise speed as well as Colonel Grey and the Letters brought by him have done. There needs no further answer to your repeated quaeres about obligation, or proceeding after the Laws of Nations, to which you will receiv your answer at home. And the Parliament's Declaration hath said sufficient for the JUSTICE, NECESSITY, and ENDS of this Expedition; We shall only tell you again, because you stick so close to it, that the Nations are not covenanted, and there is no such thing in force. Neither that you need fear the inconveniences of the army's lying near one another upon the borders; for the English Army intent not to lie there, but to march into the bowels of your Country, and there take reparation, if it can be found, for all the spoils, plunders, and devastations by you made in England. And to make you understand how unthriving a course it is, be your necessities never so great, to take up, upon the account of Interest (without consulting justice) at so great disadvantage. Only, to close up all, we must tell you, we are not much edified with your apocryphal attribute of a [covenanted] God: And tell you that it is the mantle that hath vailed the grossest hypocrisy that ever the sun saw.  
'Tis true, the Divine Justice took order with them that unlawfully, as you say, invaded England in the year 1648. And you must take notice, that it was the Kingdom of Scotland by the Authority of their Parliament, that invaded us. And you should do well to consider, what reparation the Kingdom of Scotland hath made to this Commonwealth for the injuries and wrongs done by them; or whether you think your national guilt be sufficiently expiated by exposing some particulars to the shame of your penitential Stool, or that the Commonwealth of England value's that hypocritical foolery at so high a rate, as to accept it for the price of blood, or to account it a balancing reparation for all those plunderings and devastations by them committed and made in England; or that you can, upon coming out of that Stool, so wipe your mouths, as you may truly say there remain's upon you neither guilt nor blemish of that wickedness: Or whether you think you can be able to impose upon the Divine Omniscience, and satisfy his justice with a few good words. You might do well to examine, whether the Lord may not yet have a controversy against you for that unanimous resolution of the Invasion of England, which is very well known, was never called into question among you upon the point of lawfulness, till the Kirk began to see that it would be carried on, and managed by persons who were not much devoted to their Interest. And they shall do well for a further discovery of their own deceit to ask themselves, whether they have not had since that some thoughts toward another Invasion of this Nation, in case their King should prove to their mind, and they should judge him worthy their engaging for him. Be not deceived, God is not mocked; consider under whose Eyes you are, and speak your hearts, because God see's them. We do acknowledge with an humble and reverential sens, that the same Lord doth still live and reign, and rejoice that he doth so; and are confident he will discover and bring to shame and punishment too all those that hypocritically think to veil themselves from his Allseeing Eyes with a few formalities of expressions. And as the justice of our Caus is so clearly evidenced by the Parliaments Declaration, that none but themselves will believ we offend; so with confidence we expect the blessing of God upon us in this Expedition, which we have not undertaken till after the use and offer of all other means, and a long expectation to see if at last they would take effect, and their rejection of them, have left us no other but this last remedy, and necessitated us to the use of Arms.  
We shall close with your last claus, wherein Scoticâ front you require that your Ships and Goods taken, may be presently restored and dismissed. We shall ask you whether you have as conscientiously restored all that plunder and spoil which your Army sent into Scotland, at your last Invasion, when you came furnished with Baggage-boys, and Baggage-women to drive and carry away into Scotland what ever was in their way in England; not sparing the very Wainscot of the houses, leaving where ever they came empty fields and bare walls. To say nothing of your former plunders while you called your selus Friends, and were in our pay; you should first have made restitution of all this, and not only for that, but for that too which you devoured & wasted here, before you had demanded the restitution of your poor Ships. But you will needs still endeavour to impose upon the world with this mistake; That this march of the English Army is the beginning of the War, and that there ought to be a public denunciation now before any act of Hostility, as this Capture of your Ships seems to be. Whereas all Leagues, Treaties, and Covenants between the Nations were broken by you, when that Nation by their Act of Parliament decreeed the Invasion of England, and accordingly put it in execution. Then the War was begun, and the Nations have ever since been in a state of Hostility: And if the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, did not then immediately, and so ever since continue and prosecute the same with fire and sword, it hath not been, for that in justice by the Law of Nations they might not have done it, for they understood not that justice but that they might give them time to reflect upon their wrong, & how obnoxious they were to a just revenge; & cool themselves to a temper fit to receiv a message for reparation; which if they had received with an acceptation becoming their guilt, and instead of the Paper of defiance of the 26 of June, returned an answer beecoming their guilt and weakness, there might perhaps have been an amicable composure notwithstanding all their past wrongs. But while even by their last answer they continue to provoke, and will not accept of means of composure, they plainly keep on foot the War they had begun; and must impute it to themselves that they have compelled us into it: And instead of quarrelling the new taking of their ships, they ought to give us thanks we began no sooner. But that during all this time that the Nations have been in a state of Hostility, We have rather waited to see if time would spend, or alter the humour, or that the paroxysm would intermit, that they might come to themselves, and endeavour to prevent, what they had just cause to expect as the merit of their perfidious Invasion, and their injudicious and petulant Papers. And let them not say, we now begin a War which they began two years since, and have ever since continued.  
For their letter to the Lord General, we shall say nothing to that. Because he received it, and will no doubt send them an answer becoming him and them.  
We have no more upon this occasion to say to the State; only before we part a word or two to the Kirk, upon occasion of their hypocritical paper printed at Edinburg 21 of june 1650 containing the causes of a Public and solemn humiliation, appointed by the general Commission of the General Assembie, to be keeped through all the Congregations of this Kirk upon the last of june instant.  
And before we come to examine the paper, we would ask one question or two about their Kirk o● Scotland: First, what it is? (though perhaps a National Church is not found in the Scriptures,) But if they would departed from that term, and say the Churches in Scotland, what they are? A Church for the matter of it is usually said to be a Company of Believers, hard to find in Scotland in the usual acceptation, unless you make their Priests the object, and then there are as many as Parishes. Where the people are more captivated to their sacred sorry dictates out of their public Tub, than any wise men among the Papists are to the determinations of the infallible Chair. And indeed by reason of the guilt and ignorance of those wretchedly beclouded souls, and that superstition, in which the cunning craftiness of their Priests hath involved them, they are more afraid of the Anathema of their Kirk, in what capacity so ever congregated, especially at the consequence of it, the effects that follow upon the dreadful Horn; then any Papist is at the fulminations of the Lateran, or the Executions of the secular Arm. And in the later the composition is easier, whereas in offences against the former, besides that there is no rule of Commutation for the shameful stule, he speeds well that redeem's his disobedience with half his gear. And they never want the Magistrate at their beck, who are willing enough to deserv a dispensation with their faults, while they are severely officious to keep the vulgar in their obedience to the Kirk.  
But in a word the Kirk of Scotland is Mes Robert Douglas, Mes Robert Blaire, Mes Samuel Rhetorfort, Mes Patrick Gillespie, and three or four more, let most of their principal Priests, whose Dictates no manned are either examine or contradict, without incurring the suspicion of Heresy or Schism, and the danger of being cut off from the Communion of those true believers, those Muffti's watching with a special care to keep their Mussulmans pure from the infection of the Sectaries.  This Paper coming therefore from their Reverend Kirk, that is, from six or eight of their leading Priests, let us hear what it says, And only trouble them with a few questions upon every particular. 

Causses of a Public and Solemn Humiliation appointed by the Commission of the General Assembly to be keeped through all the Congregations of this Kirk, upon the last day of June instant.  
EDINBURGH, 21 June 1650.  
THE LORD's dispensations have often called this Land to Humiliation and Fasting, sometimes by fear of snares, sometimes by threatened violence: But the grounds of this holds forth an eminent degree of both these, as a fruit of many misspent and abused solemn occasions. And although we have no cause to faint, or cast away our confidence in any difficulty, yet we conceiv it becomes all the Lord's people throughout this Kingdom seriously to be humbled for these causses following:  
I. First the great danger the Land and work of Reformation are into, by the sudden and unexpected approaching of the Sectarian Forces in our neighbour Kingdom of England; Which as it is without all cause or provocation from us, and inconsistent with the 〈◊〉 of God, in the Solemn League and Covevant, and the Large Treaty betwixt the Nations, So except the Lord prevent it, it threatens no less than the ruin of this Kingdom and obstructing of the work of God within the same.  
II. The present distressed Estate of the people of God in England and Ireland now groaning under the Tyranny of that party, which should the more affect us, seeing, if providence do not otherways dispose, ere long we our selus may be brought to the like or worse extremity.  
III. Beside the danger we are in from that party in England, we are not without the reach of hazard from the Malignant party; whose inveterate malice against the Work of GOD holds them on to pursue the same designs, hitherto by the blessing of God disappointed.  
iv notwithstanding all these imminent dangers, the Land lies in security, ignorance, profanity and formality; little conscience is made of the Oath of God in our Solemn Vows, the guiltiness of short coming wherein, and the breaches whereof before the Lord pleads against Rulers, Ministers, Soldiers, and people of all sorts, beside the great unthankfulness for mercies old and late, and the great abounding of Sorcery so common in many parts of this Kingdom.  
We are therefore to pray, 

I. That God would keep us from the danger of that proud party now in Arms drawing towards our border, That we may neither be infected by their Errors, nor harmed by their Violence, and that he would disappoint all their designs against this Land and the work of God, and break their yokes from off the necks of his people in our neighbour. Kingdoms.  
II. That he would purge the Land from profanity, malignancy and all other our sins, stir up all sorts to their duty, direct and bless them in it, for the furtherance of his work, and defence of his people, and that he may keep us straight therein, that enemies get no advantage by our declining from the Covenant either to the right hand or to the left.  
III. That he would show mercy to our King, and cause his wrath to cease from his Father's house, and bless the labours of our Commissioners with him, in bringing that Treaty to such a solid close, as we may be keeped from sin and snares, and he so brought to his Throne, as may be for the good of Religion and comfort of his people.  
iv That as hitherto the Lord has ever been for a defence to the Assemblies of his Kirk, so he would be pleased graciously to countenance this ensuing General Assembly both in the gathering and procedure thereof.      

EDINBURGH, Printed by Evan Tyler, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, 1650.   

Preface,  
1 Quere. WHether their fasting have not been often without any great humiliation? Or, whether this Paper savour much of it or not?  
2 Quere. Whether by the consequence of all your solemn Fasts (which your selves are compelled to call misspent and abused) you have any reason to believ they came from a right Principle, were performed in a right manner, or arrived at a merciful acceptance?  
Whether the end of abstinence from food, and all gorgeous apparel, and what ever might elicit Acts of Sens with complacency, be not, that the soul being retired into itself from all things that might distract it by the lust of the Eyes, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life, it might with a serious and sad reflection view all its actions, divested now of those attires and dresses, with which it was fascinated in its election and prosecution of them. And make a severe judgement of them, and of itself for them, and bearing their guilt with a tender sens lie down with a deep and true humiliation, under that mighty hand, who only is able to take away their guilt, avert their punishment, and prevent their recidivation? and who ever doth deeply retire into himself, and makes an unreserved self-denial the gate by which, receives there such impressions, as are not easily delible. All the world may see, by the effects, the Scots fasts are none of these. But the poor, silly, ignorant, superstitious people are brought together, under the thundering and ranting of the Lords of their Consciences (who have their Theme given them from the General Assembly, or High Commission of the Kirk of Scotland) that they may be wrought to a tempe● to receiv such impressions from them, as may fit them to serve such turns as the State of their affairs from time to time shall require. This is a Scottish fast; and the infection of this foul disease hath gotten more footing in England then Sectarianism hath hitherto done in Scotland. But one question more to your Preface: What is that eminent degree of a snare you are now under, is it not some one of your own seeking? Have you not wooed your own danger, and now know not how to avoid it? You would have a King like all other Nations, when, if you had pleased, you might have been free? And you would take One of that Family who your own paper takes notice of to be under the wrath of God? One that you know perfectly hate's you, and scorns your Church? One that you have disobliged in the highest degree in executing his Commissioner? You cannot but know you have forty to one in Scotland, who, upon principles of profaneness, and Cavalierism, will take his part against you. You had an experience of the Presbyterians of Orkney and Caithness their joining with and declaring for Montross, what a temper your Kirk is of, and of how good proof even against a weak temptation, that you may well think you are in a snare and doubt whether another abused hypocritical fast will deliver you.  
1. Caus, Upon this, We would ask you, Whether this word Sectarian might not have been left out with decorum in this your solemn preparation to your day of Feast? Whether the people might not have met in as fit a temper for the true ends of a fast without it?  
2 Upon what ground you call the Army of the Parliament a Sectarian Army? the term is very general, and must signify what you pleas. The Parliament of England hath told you in their Declaration what their Religion is that they are off, those who desire to Worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in the Lord Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. And we have good reason to believ that there are in that Army, that you call Sectaries, ten times more of that Religion than will be found in all Scotland. If they have discovered such dangerous errors as you seem to make a nois with, you should give them in particulars; for on this side tweed 'tis grown obsolete to believ as the Church believe's; no, though it be the Kirk of Scotland, whose decrees we cannot subscribe as infallible Canons in all things all things to be beelieved, lest we should entrench upon the Prerogative of the Scriptures, which we acknowledge to be the rule, and desire to practise up to it, and to follow no other. And therefore neither shall we in matter of Manners, for avoiding of profaneness, model our selus to the conversation of their people, who perhaps in that point may not have atteined the highest Reformation. And cercainlie those they intent for Sectaries in the Army are such, as in humility and uprightness, wait upon God, who is no respecter of persons, and seek direction from him, who being infinite goodness will dispens himself in light to all who shall in that manner seek it from him, not daring to prescribe or limit the shinings out of his infinite Beams, but to follow to what ever degrees of Light and Holiness he shall pleas to lead unto, and not give up themselves to the circumscribing dictates of any sort of men, what ever they may arrogate to themselves, or presume of the fullness of their own measure. But perhaps this is put in in pursuance of that Act of their General Assembly, which commands all Ministers to preach against the Sectaries under pain of censure, for which reason they will seldom miss them in any of their Sermons, though they go never so far out of their way to meet them. And there is good reason the General Assembly should by their example keep alive this laudable practice which they have commanded others, and therefore we shall let it pass here, without further examination.  
3 Querie, What work of Reformation that is, that is in so much danger by the approach of the Heretics? Is it that needful work of the Reformation of your Manners? 'Twere pity that should be hindered; there is need enough it should proceed; Swearing and Cursing is your natural dialect, and you have no better embellishment of your Language or Schemes of elegant speaking than the frequent intertexture of Oaths and Execrations. What uncleanness and drunkenness is practised, may be in some measure observed by a survey of the Crowds which perpetually fill their Stool of Repentance; What Reformation there is in the matter of Lying so frequent with them heretofore as gave being to that Proverb (As false as a Scot) may be seen in this Paper in this very Paragraph, wherein though it be the warning for a solemn address to God, they dare say the approachof our Army is without all provocation? What name is there for this stupidity of forgetfulness or impudence? have you used your selus to these formalities of Lying, that you have made it impossible to you to speak Truth? for the inconsistency of it with the Oath of God in the Solemn League and Covenant, and the Large Treaty, We must tell you, as often as you affirm it, there are none such in being. You have perfidiously, on your parts, and yet very happily for us dissolved them all. And we hope it will be long enough ere you get us again involved.  
2 Caus, We should ask what that people of God in England and Ireland is, that are in such distress, groaning under Tyranny, and who those Tyrants? Are they those in Ireland with whom your Nation there have held so good correspondency? How comes Ormond and Inchiquine, and the Popish Bishop of Clogher to be Saints in the Scottish Calendar? Besides with what face can you talk of Tyranni? is the like Civil Tyranny practised among any Popish, or Reformed (except only in France) that is practised among you, where the poor Countrymen (whom their Lords honour with the name of Vassals) have so m ch allowed them as may keep them alive to do further service. And 'twere a work of Christian mercy to manumit those poor creatures, and let them taste a little of the freedom that belongs to men; But for their Ecclesiastical Tyranny, it vows an example elsewhere, and 'tis to be hoped will never be taken up for a pattern by any others, nor last long where it is, being so extravagantly abominable.  
3 Caus, 'Tis well you now see your danger. Pray look how you came into it, Perditio tua ex te o Scotia. Thou mightst have been safe and wouldst not; pride and desire of Domination in thy Priests have undone thee. They have chosen to put the whole Land into the power of the Malignants; they fear rather that the people's eyes should be enlightened with that truth which would divest them of their Un-evangelical power and jurisdiction. And you should have done well to have put that ugly pride of yours into the Catalogue of the Causes of your Humiliation.  
4 Caus, Every one that knows your Land, will grant there is ignorance and profaneness, and formality enough in Scotland, and Conscience little enough either of your Oath of God, or any thing else; though that same thing of your Own, your Covenant, be more in your mouths then any else. By your unthankfulness perhaps you mean to men also, if you knew what that same thing of gratitude were, you might perhaps think where you had been deficient in it. As for the Sorcery, you might do well to re-examine whether you had good grounds for all your terrible burn: And whether there be not a Sorcery among you, that is not yet taken notice of. Remember that Balaam was frequent in Sacrifices when he endeavoured to curs. Some say, Ignorance and malice make a man fit to be a Witch: And that the vehement intention, and going forth of the soul, from malice with fixation, is the formal act of Witchcraft, as it remain's in the Witch. Something looking suspiciously toward such a thing as this, may sometimes perhaps be found in a Circle of three or four foot Diameter; but we hope with as little success as Balaam had.  
But your Catalogue seems to come short; I'll help your memories with one more, for your next, for this is past; and that is, that you will remember to be humbled and ashamed that your Catholicon [the Stool] should not have been able to charm that drunken Devil among you that possessed such numbers at Edinburgh at the first news of the arrival of your King. You have sure a rare way of Thanksgiving in Scotland: Or did not you of the Kirk think to interest your selus in it till you knew whether he would serve your turn or not, and so lest it to them that had no other form for it in the Cavalerish Directory, but that of healths. It is like to prove a happy business whose Auspicia are sacred with these Lyean Mysteries.  
To your directions to pray we shall say little, they being generally but in pursuance of the said Causes; yet shall ask you if it be not possible there may be as much pride expressed in the first line of this first direction, as is to be found in all that party in Arms, that is now coming against you? Is this your manner to instruct your people to come solemnly to seek God with spirits thus seasoned? You have often made a great nois, calling out that there might be but one Directory for Worship in both Nations; and would you have us take up this? is this the divine thing that must be obtruded upon all? Did their sweetness and love, and their rendering good for your evil, when they were last with you, and delivered you from your enemies, and gave your Civil Power that being it now hath, deserv that language. What was the pride you found in them then? or why is this bitterness against them that hath ever since possessed you? Is it because you must needs hate them that over deserv of you? or because they set you that unprofitable pattern (as you account it) which you mean not to follow, of a Christian and generous self-denial. Leave out this unsavoury expression next time. Remember Balaam's sacrifices, his dis-appointment, and his end. We shall trouble this Paper no further, but advise you when you emit another, to direct the people to acknowledge that gross hypocrisy that hath ever followed your Nation beyond others: That you are the most abominable hypocrites in the world, which all men else know, though you will not: That you are the blind Leaders of the blind, and that they that are led by you are in danger to be destroyed. And remember that you are always under the eyes of the infinite allseeing Spirit, whose truth and wisdom is engaged to discover and punish your fourberie and imposture in the view of the world.  
FINIS.