THE DESIGNS AND Correspondencies of the present COMMITTEE of ESTATES AND That part of the Scotish Nation which is now entered into this Kingdom in Hostility, In some measure discovered by two PACKETS of LETTERS intercepted in the North, and sent up to the House of COMMONS. WITH AN INTRODUCTIVE AND Some Marginal Notes and Animadversions, By a private Pen. DAN. 2.26. There is a God in heaven that revealeth Secrets. ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That these Letters be forthwith printed and published: H: Elsing, Cler. Parl. D Com. London, Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the Honourable House of Commons. August 16. 1648. THat the great and glorious work of erecting a throne for the Lord Christ, & promoting the powers of godliness by a thorough Reformation in Church and State (which is a principal part of that Cause the Parliament hath hitherto traveled with) shall prosper, and notwithstanding the fraud and force of men or devils, shall ride on conquering and to conquer, till captivity be fully lead captive, and grace become glory; no pious heart but believes, But whither the Lord will honour this generation of men, and make them an instrument in his hand to accomplish this work in these Kingdoms, we cannot so confidently determine: For, when we remind our high Rebellions against our God, our want of real and personal Reformation, and neglect of executing judgement upon the Enemies of this Cause (in which sense it cannot be denied but our solemn Covenant hath been as solemnly broken) we may have cause enough to expect, That the Lord will so visit upon us those provocations, as to make England an Aceldama, or as Germany, a perpetual desolation, and bury this Parliament in their own ruins, by the unjust indignation of those very people, whose life and welfare is bound up in theirs; and yet endeavour in a blinded zeal, Sampson-like, to pull down those pillars that should support them, and let fall the Vindication of his Cause, to be resumed by some more faithful generation that shall succeed. Yet if we do but consider, with what Vicissitudes and Alternations the Lord hath been pleased to dispense his providences, suffering us many times to be brought to the pits brink, and thence as often recovering us, and blasting the highest expectations of the Enemy, we may with some reason hope, That the Decree is not yet gone forth against us; but rather that he beholds us, as once he did Israel, with a troubled heart and repentings kindled together, when he said, How shall I give thee up, O Ephraim? How shall I make thee as Admah? etc. as it were unresolved what to do with England, and England's sometimes dear and desired Parliaments. But if we add thereunto the consideration of the manner of our Deliverances, wherein he hath imprinted generally some character of special favour and mercy; and of the great and glorious things he hath done for this Parliament, the mere works of an Almighty arm, to which the creature could not pretend, not only of old, when his hand was so lifted up, that all the world saw and confessed his marvellous do in behalf of his servants; but even that now again, since the like troubles have been renewed, he hath repeated the like Administrations, giving us in the midst of our dangers (by so much the more formidable as relapses are worse than the first diseases) many seasonable, and little less than miraculous Deliverances; as, in Wales, the North, Kent, Surrey and elsewhere, the least of which we could not want, or having wanted, must probably have perished. We cannot without a sinful ingratitude, and inobservance of former mercies, which with God are arguments and obligations for future, but think that he will yet do this Parliament good at the latter end; and having been at the cost of so many mercies and miracles for them, That he will carry on this Cause by these hands, unto a happy and blessed issue for these Kingdoms. But in no sort of Dispensations hath he more remarkably appeared, and testified the continuance of his favour to this Parliament and his people, then in discovering and disappointing the secret Plots and Machinations of such, as under the character of friends lay in our bosoms, to which he hath always hitherto given a miscarrying womb and dry breasts; and in unmasking and taking off those specious vizards, wherewith those apostatised friends, and other more professed Enemies that have risen up in arms against us, have clothed their undertake, to lure our people from us, and proselyte them to their assistance: By means whereof, and by the good hand of God, the affections of those that first engaged with us, and were in some measure withdrawn, seeming to sleep in the ashes of discontent for their long continued burdens, and long delayed reparations, have been reinlivened and recovered to us, they by such providential Discoveries being brought to see aswel the wickedness as the unsuccessfulness of their Designs; and from thence gathering cause to resolve, That as the Enemy's malice levels at the Destruction, so their welfare is only to be secured in the Preservation of this Parliament, That in the ruin of this they may bid Good-night to all future Parliaments, and in the change of this have small hopes of bettering their condition: A fresh occasion of this is given in from our Neighbours of Scotland, who being entered this Kingdom in open hostility, yet by their plausible Declarations and public Overtures, would have the world think their errand honest and honourable, that they have nothing in their eye but the good of Religion, the Preservation of the King's Person according to the Covenant, and those other ends of the Covenant and Engagements in the joint Declaration of the 6. of January; whereas by that which follows it will appear, That it is even amongst themselves a question, whether Duke Hamilton, who commands their Forces in chief, be at all a friend to Presbytery (by which generally they understand Religion) that those conditions in the Covenant with which the Defence and Preservation of the King's Person is qualified, are wholly forgotten, as always omitted in their public Expresses; and that instead of bringing Delinquents and the Enemies of this Cause to condign punishment, which both by the Covenant and recited Declaration they are jointly with us engaged to, their principal assistances are raised, and correspondencies laid with such, and particularly those Northern notorious Incendiaries, Glemham, Langdale, Musgrave, with Hartford and Holland, and other Southern Malignants; and, not to be infinite, That their Intentions of good to this Kingdom are so worthy of suspect, as that the Lord Lauderdale, who might be thought (though misguided) to have some honest principles left, is judged fit to be packed away to France, as a likely opposer of their bad ends; and the Prince himself, who is content to use their aids, doubts to trust himself amongst them; and not without reason, if it be true, as many wise observers of Affairs believe, That Duke Hamilton, with the help of the active Secretary his brother, hath got himself in the head of these Forces, more with Design (according to some old pretensions and predictions) to get the Crown of Scotland, and the conquest of England to himself, then for any service to this King or Kingdom; and though much of this lay hid and unsuspected by many well meaning men (that having lost their way in a Scotch mist, and out of zeal to Presbytery, in which both the Scots and they concentred) were (in compliance with them) gone further on the malignant's errand then ever they intended, yet now they are printed in such legible Characters, as he that runs may read them, in two packets intercepted; which having stated the occasion by which they come to the Parliaments hands, without further anticipation of the Readers judgement, shall be left to speak their own sense, with this only Observation premised, That though much thereof be in Cipher, yet those instruments which God hath qualified with skill to open them, will be able to evidence to any competent understanding, that the language they now speak is most genuine and natural; which will the rather be believed, if it be considered that the translation put upon the Naseby and other Letters which came in Characters, by the Decipherers were never yet disavowed or contradicted in the least. But now to the occasion, When the new Committee of Estates had all things in readiness for their expedition, and invasive entrance into this Kingdom, they dispatched from Edinburgh (upon the very same day that Duke Hamilton entered into England) their Vaunt-courier or Agent Mr. Haliburton, to give the Parliament an account of (the Reasons we cannot call them, but) Pretences of their march and return into this Kingdom, by a Letter and Declaration from them, and another to the King, for which he was qualified by Commission, and for that only; upon confidence whereof, he approaches Major General Lambert's Quarters for his pass and safe conduct, which was not denied him, but finding him possessed of divers other Letters doubtfully directed, and by Characters, he caused them to be put in a case under both their seals, and him to be fairly waited upon by persons of trust and credit, that the judgement of Parliament might be had concerning the same: Being thus sent up (having in his passage principally desired conference with such as were known abetters to the King's cause) the House of Commons, though tender of the Laws of Agencies and public Ministers, observing (besides that he pretended no Commission for bringing those other Papers) that the Committee of Estates in that public Express to the Houses, held forth as one cause of their coming in, that they were invited by divers persons in this Kingdom engaged in Covenant with them; for the more hopeful discovery of the persons that might have invited them, Ordered them to be opened and viewed by a Committee of their own, and a report (of such as were of any importance or signification) to be made, which after the difficulty of Deciphering them (that were in Characters) was mastered, was done accordingly, and by their Order thus made public. The first that is thought worthy of public view, is directed to a person of Honour here, and sometimes a zealous Asserter of the Parliaments Cause, by a Character endorsed, which besides that the Postscript clears it, is known to signify the Countess of Carlisle, and comes from the Lord Lauderdail, written partly in Ciphers, but all with his own hand, as by comparing it with another written to his own Countess residing at Highgate, will be demonstrated. 8 July, 1648. MADAM, (a) It hath been an old observation, That there was never any great Treason carried on without a Woman and a Priest: Since your Ladyship is pleased to lead the Van in this, 'tis thought Time may discover some of our late Dissenting Brethren and non-Subscribers of the Clergy that will bring up the Rear. AT last our business is brought to some ripeness; for D. Hamilton 30 writes, That this day he enters England 22: but this Bearer will more particularly acquaint your Ladyship, for he goes by the Army. He brings up to the Honourable Houses of Parliament the Declaration of this Kingdom, of the Necessity, Grounds and Ends of their undertake, and of the return of our Army into England; your Ladyship will receive a copy of it: I dare both answer for the honesty of the matter, and the rudeness of the form and language; for truly it was the work of (b) How long this Cockatrice Egg hath been hatching, we are not yet so instructed as to affirm; but they that have observed the cold and listless prosecution of the War by the Scotish Army, called in and well paid for that Service, from the Siege of Hereford downward (at which time Treaties and Negotiations were admitted by some principal persons in that Army, to which this Epistler was no stranger, with Sir William Fleming in the King's behalf) will reasonably judge, That the Design cannot be of a much younger date, but laid there. very few hours, not above (c) Great bodies commonly have slow Births: Naturalists observe, That the Elephant goes three years with young; but this great Lord is (ye see) of quicker dispatch, and may perhaps repent it at leisure. four and twenty: but God willing it shall be honestly pursued. This Gentleman hath order absolutely to obey your Ladyship in every thing. We own so many obligations to E. Holland 31, and I have no cipher with him; therefore E. Lanerick 35 and I have written this enclosed to him, which you will please to deliver: it is only a testimony of our respects, and an assurance, when ever we are able, of our service. E. Lanerick 35 thought it fit also to write a general Letter to the Lo: Hartford, which is done; and I have from myself written to E. Manchester 39, I know not if he will tell it you. Your Ladyship will please to address the Bearer to 164. 197. 193. and (d) If the City or (that which represents them) the Common-Councel shall take occasion from hence to put a Test upon their Members for discovery of those that have invited the Scots, or correspond with them, they shall justify their Integrity, and rear a Monument of their Praise to all succeeding generations. our Friends in the City. I can add no more to what I wrote so fully by the last Express, but that I am most faithfully and unfeignedly, Your most humble Servant. I would not write to your Brother Northumberland, but none is more his Servant. Be pleased to send the copy of the Declaration to L. Jermin 28. Endorsed) · (Count. Carlisle. This enclosed in the former, though without any Superscription to direct it, must according the intimation in that Letter, belong to 31. the Earl of Holland. My Lord, Your Lordship hath given (a) Which have not been without some convenient and prudent intermissions, varted and alternated pro temporum ratione. so many eminent Testimonies of your Loyalty to the King, of your good affections to both Kingdoms, their Unity, Peace and Happiness, and of your particular respects to (b) More respects to his own Nation might more have becomed his Lordship; for want of which it may be said, Hic amor est Odio majus seclus. our Nation, That we thought it fit to appoint this Gentleman to wait on your Lordship, to acquaint you with our Resolutions, and our proceed in order to all those we have been engaged for. If we had not thought it too public a way, the Committee of Estates would have said thus much to you. Be pleased therefore to let us know how we may (c) We know not how you may better serve him, then by sending a competent sum (worthy your great obligations to him) for his ransom. serve your Lordship, and we dare answer, This Kingdom will ever be ready to give testimonies of their respects to your Lordship, as we shall be particularly to approve ourselves, My Lord, Your Lordship's most humble Servants, Lauderdale. Lanerick. Edinburgh, July 8. MY Lord, Your Lordship hath given such eminent proof of your Loyalty and Fidelity, as that we are confident (now while His Majesty is in the (a) His Lordship might do better to repent himself of counselling and abetting the King in his defection from the Parliament, which hath brought him to this extremity; from which, a clear and cordial compliance with the Parliament can only rescue him with Honour and Advantage. extremity of a low condition) your Lordship will show yourself for His Rescue. The Bearer is commanded to represent to you our condition and Resolutions here; by whom we will earnestly desire you would please to convey to us such Advices and Commands as you shall think fit, for he may be absolutely trusted, and they shall be faithfully obeyed by, My Lord, Your Lordship's most humble Servants, Lauderdale. Lanerick. Edinburgh, 8 July, 1648. Here follow a few (of many) Letters of Credence, by which their Agent Mr. Haliburton, was recommended to divers persons in this Kingdom, some of which remain yet undiscovered. JULY 8. RIght Honourable, You know this Bearer, therefore I shall only say, you may trust him as you would do Your most obedient Son and Servant, Lanerick. Endorsed, For the Right Honourable the Earl of Derlton, but known in England by the name of Mr. James Maxwel, now or late Gentleman Usher of the Black-Rod to the Lords House. If this Noble Courtier shall not without the rack confess what he knows of Design against this Kingdom, where he hath Reapen so many golden Harvests, and which Transplanted into the other, have prospered into an Earldom, I shall think the stool of Repentance too good a Penance, and a Horning from hence but too gentle punishment for high Ingratitude. JULY 8. SIr, This is only to beg an absolute trust to the Bearer hereof, in every thing which he shall impart to you from Your faithful Servant, Lanerick. It is so long since I heard from Mr. 52.6.8.44. that I darest not write to him, if his (a) 'Tis hoped many gallant men will change their inclinations, since you have so notoriously changed your Cause; and upon that account only were your friends, 1. usque ad arras. Inclinations be changed we will lose a gallant Friend; Let this Bearer receive his directions in conveying his commands to me, if he hath yet any good wishes for us, which certainly we never so much deserved from Men of Honour as now. Endorsed, 409. JULY 8. MAdam, The little we have more to say then what we did by the last Express, will be fully offered to your Ladyship by this Bearer, for whose Fidelity and Secrecy I dare absolutely engage myself, and that he will faithfully obey such commands as you shall think sit to lay upon him. Madam, Your Ladyship's most humble and most obedient Servant, Lanerick. Endorsed, 367, 154. 17. What use their Agent Mr. Haliburton was to make of the great trust and power conferred upon him by these absolute and unlimited Credentials, will appear in this that follows. JULY 8. SIr, This Bearer hath full Authority to engage the Public Faith of Scotland, for such sums of money as can be procured upon a National security: We darest not hazard to put your name in the Commission, for we cannot answer for the Secrecy of all that have signed it; beside our fears of having it miscarry, & so a possibility of wronging you: But he hath so positive a command to follow your directions, as he will address himself to none but such as you shall advise him; he will fully show you our Condition, and the best ways in our Judgements of your being assisting to us, give him the same trust you would give to Your most humble Servants, Lauderdale. Lanerick. Endorsed, 189. IOhn Donne, I am commanded by the Committee to let you know, That this Gentleman Mr. Haliburton is employed by them to London to the two Houses of Parliament, and to go to the King: you shall direct Letters as he bids you, and receive and direct our Letters as formerly, when he is in the Isle of Wight. He carries up Copies of our large Declaration, which you shall transcribe, and in our (a) Though the fashion be old, certainly it never became you; and though while you lived amongst us you were with an unexampled patience suffered to publish your scandals and our wrongs by our own Instruments, insooth 'twere high time now to leave it off, lest it stick upon you with the superadded badge of a shamoless Impudence. old fashion provide a Printer, and see that he print it correctly: I am confident many Printers will be glad to print it (b) You have so long ploughed with our Heifers, that you may be confident of the Beasts that they will do your work: But, my Lord, afford us the like in Scotland, and I shall not envy it, if you enjoy that liberty here to your utmost wish; in the mean time I shall content myself with that easy Reproof, Licebit Clazementis turpuer agere: I hope you know the Story, which fits you but too well. without a Warrant; therefore you shall be careful that it be not false printed: Before you can get it printed there, we shall have it printed here. I rest, Your assured Friend, Landerdale. Edinburgh, 8 July, For Mr. John Donne. The other Packet was intercepted by the Northumberland Forces, and transmitted to the House of Commons by Sir Arthur Hesilrige Governor of Newcastle; It was directed to Mr. John Donne, the Agent to the Committee of Estates for the Kingdom of Scotland, at his Lodging in Blackfriars. Barwick: 19 July, 1648. MAdam, I have received two together, one of the 6. the other of the 11. till now I thought it not possible a Letter from your (a) You see, my Lord, a fair hand may draw black lines; but comfort yourself, for Sables and Crosses are good bearing in Heraldry. Ladyship could have brought me so much trouble as your last hath done, for the sad disaster of so many gallant persons. I could digest the ruin of that Design (though I was raised to a greater (b) 'tis happy with England when the Enemies best hopes lean upon such brek in Reels; and considering the 〈…〉 you had of that 〈…〉 valour, when he commanded the King's Horse in Scotland, we wonder upon what Basis you raised such great Expectations from him; you know who said, 〈…〉 cerborum Deuce Loone quam Leonum Duc. cervo. expectation from it then any thing else in England) but the great loss by the imprisonment of the Earl of Holland, I confess I cannot (c) Have a little patience, my Lord, and you shall have some Mustard after your dinner to help your digestion. digest, nor your Ladyships trouble which you express in the end of your Letter. But I will insist no more on so sad a subject; only thus much I may with confidence aver, That except the King, who is a prisoner, none in England could have been made prisoner, that Scotland would have been so ready to relieve as the Earl of Holland, and none in the world more forward to it then I. From France we are strangely neglected; I got not so much as a Letter, except what was directed in common, not the half of the Ammunition promised, and that was Mustard (e) Since your Lordship is so unsatisfied with the method of your service, I wish you had had your Mustard before dinner. after dinner, after our Army was marched; not a penny of (f) Not a penny, my Lord perhops it come all in Cardecues, or else 'twas thought that the clippings and filings of our English money which you carried hence in your last, might defray the charge of this Expedition. Ammunition by haives, and Money by nulls, so let our Enemies be always supplied. money: but that which is worst, is the strange (g) It is not strange, but reason enough to make a prov●●, Crete ●sis agere cum ●●●●isibus, to break Faith with Faith breakers. conditions demanded, contrary to all our engagement, and showing a great distrust of Scotland; but I will repeat nothing of what you may read here, and after you have read it, be pleased to send it away. Your most humble Servant. Endorsed,) · (Count. Carlisle. Barwick: 10 July, 1648. MY Lord, We have at last received the Queen's and Prince's pleasure by Sir William Fleming, with about the half of that Arms and Ammunition we expected; yet as much as he could get at Amsterdam, though he stayed long for it: but (a) It may be the Queen and Prince were informed and satisfied with the Advice D Hamilton gave in Scotland, who to that preposition in Parliament, concerning supply of money for this Service, bade, Set the Lads into England; and they would do well enough; which we found a sober truth, when they came hither upon an honester Errand. no Money, whereof we stood most in need. And as we are very sensible of, and thankful for Her Majesty and His Highness gracious favour expressed in the Letter they honoured us with; so we cannot but let your Lordship know, how much we are troubled with those hard conditions in the additional Instructions, which indeed are such as we dare not make them known but to very few: For should it be known in Scotland that the Prince demands in our Army the exercise of that (b) 'Tis much that they have counselled all Obligations of Honour and Honesty, lost the remembrance of what we did for them in Q Elizabeth's day and what we would not do against than in the beginning of thes. Troubles, that have broke then Vows to God, Faith and Treaties with men, should stick at any form of Worship, 〈◊〉 scruple a Service-Book, Qui ●emth modesciae limites transierum, oporta● naviter esse impudenies, which they could afford, were it not to give advantage to their opposers Form of Worship formerly used in England (which the King never had with us it would give so great advantage to the violent opposers and have such an operation, as we shall not be guilts of: Some of the other Demands look so like (c) Wonder not, my Lord, at that, since every Age hath afforded instances of them that have loved the Treason, but hated the Traitors. distrust, as we dare not show them. But we have sent Sir W. Fle●●no to the Army, and when he comes back, and brings the opinion of D. Hamilton and Calendar, such a return shall be made, and such assurances given, both by the Committee in the Name of the Kingdom, and by those that wrote formerly, as shall witness our loyalty and fidelity to their Majesty's service, and of our duty to the Prince, whose (d) 'Tis thought the Prince remembers his Father's usage amongst you, and may expect, 〈◊〉 your Army meet with a disaster, his person may be made a price for your redemption, with some money pernaps into the bargain presence with, and confidence in the Scots, will be found to be the best, if not the only means of the King's rescue, and the Princes real good. The Scots Army is now at P●erith, Lambert retires before them Fast enough; they are in a condition to stand upon their own legs: The greatest part of the Forces expected from Ireland are landed in Scotland; as soon as they come up to the Army, and some Regiments now upon their march in Scotland, the Army will march into better quarters, The Earls of Lauderdale and Lanerick are sent to Barwick with Forces to secure a Garrison there () This Parenthesis was writ in Characters in the sust person, which proves them the Authors of this Letter; the rest of the clause being in words at length, and in the third person, to blind the Reader. (which we have done) They are to return to EDINBURGH, where the General Assembly now sits, as violent against us as ever the Commissioners of the last were. The misfortunes of our friends in the South, and at Pomfret is sad, most especially the taking of the Earl of Holland. But no difficulties nor discouragement can make us less active, as we shall, God willing, (however we may be look upon) give real proofs of our zeal and constancy to the King's service; and that we are most faithfully Your most humble Servants, Lauderdale. Lanerick. For my Lord Jermin. Another enclosed. Barwick: 19 July, 1648. MAdam, We have now lost all our hopes in the South, since the Earl of Holland his sad misfortune and restraint; but as our Difficulties grow, so does the justness of our quarrel; for to the rescue of the King is now (a) Nothing to nothing will not advance the sum, nor one bad Cause to mother mend the matter, but iniquity to iniquity may increase wrath against the day of wrath, if not prevented by a timous repentance. joined our best and noblest friend. With God's (b) We hope he is left out of all your correspondencies, for we may safely say, God is Independent, and will not associate with such faithless pretenders to Presbytery, as have the powers and piety of it under the notion of Impertinercy assistance we will effectuate both, or bring ourselves to the same condition. This is a (c) Madam, 'tis ill trusting to such votaries; he is ill like to keep his personal vow, that hath broken his National, more solemnly made then this, and with a hand lifted up to the high God. vow now solemnly made, and shall as faithfully be kept by Your most humble and most obedient Servant, Lanerick. Barwick: 19 July, 1648. Mistress, (d) Yet more Ladies! sure that war which at first, and with the Scots was Bellum Episco ale, and since in England Bellum Basilicum, will at last resolve itself between both into Bellum Faemininum; but that God who has enabled us to outride the storms and impetuous force of our Masculine spirited Enemies, will not let us fall under the attempts of such effeminate conspirators. If the satisfaction of two long Letters from you had not allayed it, yours of the third of July would have made me quarrel, there is a great deal in it too like Compliment; and than you tell me in plain English, 4 will employ Lauderdale no more, what ever necessities he have; and that upon a great mistake, as if I had by that woeful little sum prejudiced my occasions: But I must say no more of this, lest again I grow angry. You will, I hope, by the next, do Lauderdale more right, and send your picture, which will make amends. Now for answer to your two last, you desire to know (e) î is taken to signify the Lord Jer●●in. how î and Duke Hamilton agree, I wrote you my mind of that already, which it seems you had not then received, but it came that night to London, so I shall not repeat it. Since that time, Informations are come to Lanerick, that î does Hamilton and him ill offices in France, which renews the distance, I do what I can to mend it, but I cannot do you the good offices you expect with Duke Hamilton at this distance, 'Twas observed in the Preface, That Duke Hamiltons' affection to Presbytery is suspected by their most confident Abettors and Cabalistical correspondents Here's my Voucher. yet I have told Lanerick what a Champion you are. Your next question is, of the affections of Lauderdale to 163. which I assure you is as great as ever, as also to Presbytery, though he abhors the impertinencies of some Presbyters, most especially Gilespy: And this affection is most consistent with all duty to the King and to England, which Lauderdale can demonstrate, though for his own part, to both he believes it much above dispute. I shall here write nothing of News, it comes to you by another address, as you desired. I am most unsatisfied with the Prince's delay, and more with those hard conditions Sir William Fleming hath brought, which indeed argue a great mistrust of the Scots, and an unjust one: For assure yourself, what ever you may think of other Designs, (b) It is hard to distinguish between the Nation and Parliament of Scotland, that under a present distemper is engaged in this Design: yet I dare not call it National, when I find so many there that have not bowed the knee to Baal, and amongst them so considerable a body and Society of men, as the Reverend Assembly, and others our Covenant-ingaged Brethren of all qualities and degrees, who desire to serve and save the King and England. It is Scotland, and Scotland only must save the King and England, all others have their rise from the expectation of Scotland, and I am sorry with so little success, most particularly for E. Holland. And now whilst Lauderdale is so unsatisfied, and indeed almost despairing that the Prince will come to Scotland, if he can choose; I am earnestly pressed to go to France to invite him; Lauderdale shuns it, and opposes it with all his strength, but is resolved, rather than the blame of not inviting Him should be charged upon him, he will go, although he should be laughed at at his return, for coming without his errand: 2 will go, though Lauderdale hath no hope of prevailing, as to his Regiments full establishment. But all shall be done that is possible, which you easily expect from me: if Lauderdale go, he shall not relieve 4. yet you will know his Regiment by the Cornets, which are hair-coloured and white. I have ventured so long a Letter, though I have no hope it will go safe, always if it be intercepted, you are eased of so much trouble, and they that gets it may let it go, for they will not be much the wiser, for there are no State-matters in it. Adieu. Endorsed, ΔΔ. This Letter is not without some obscurity and inconsistency; but far be it from this hand to add or supply any sense that seems to be lest in the Character on Decypherer: Gods 'Cause needs not our lie. Beside, the next of the same Direction, runs in a more current uniformity and analogy of sense, in many parts expounds and justifies this. YOu will be clearly persuaded it was not want of resolution to part, made me stay here so long, when you see that since I wrote last, I have taken a firm one to go to France within ten days at most: It is both the desire of î signified by Sir William Fleming; and every thing else invites, and is fully ripe for it: One singular instance is, Lauderdales' going along with me, as you will hear fully from himself: I get a Letter from the Committee to the King of France, one to the Queen, another to the Cardinal, to get my Regiment established with all advantages, which I know will take no effect, only it will conciliate some respect to my affairs, and furnish me a handsome retreat when I list to come off, having got a refusal; both which you may make an account of, for it is very like this summer will go near to make an end of the greatest part of my men, and unless the Country undertake the recruits, and that upon terms granted by France, for the sure payment of the Regiment, and admission of it to guard the King, it were madness to look after it any more: Lauderdale will take course for Address, and you shall hear from us at all occasions: The General Assembly here will go as high against the engagement as can be imagined, but it is now (a) So thought Haman, when he had gained a Commission for the destruction of the jewish Nation: but though the Medes and Persians could not reverse such Decrees, the God of Israel could, and did control and invert them to the ruin of the Designers. past their hindering, and all that oppose it will be ruined, unless some strange accident hinder it; Duke Hamilton and Calendar have not both the same spirit; (b) If Lanerick rule Scotland, D. Hamalton, who is the elder Brother, hath the more wrong; but if either rule it, King Charles wants some of His Right. Lanerick doth now absolutely rule Scotland, and though it be indeed most perfectly necessary for Lauderdale to go, yet the hamilton's press it vehemently to have him out of the way, that they may rule all without any impediment, which is impossible (while he is present, at least) to bad ends, so that things will surely go strangely here shortly: all other particulars of our voyage Lauderdale will communicate; and all I add is, that you fail not to write us Lauderdales' addresses, what you will have me say to î. Endorsed, ΔΔ. These three that follow, amongst many others that speak the same sense, being writ at large, are added as concurrent Testimonies to those in cipher, though it needed not, when the principal contents are so universally, and (by that unhappiest way of proof, Experience) found to be too true; as namely, That the Earl of Calendar hath the Command of Carlisle in Cumberland (as the Earl of Lauderdale hath of the Countess of Carlisle at Westminster) The same Lord Lauderdale and Lanerick were sent to secure Barwick, upon an Information that some thousands of English Horse were in Northumberland; and that the Information proving false, they resolved to prove false too, and secure the place notwithstanding, with the breach of Faith, and the Articles of the National Treaties: And lastly, but that which is worth all the rest, That learned Gillespy is Moderator of that Reverend Assembly, that will never (to say no worse) pray a Blessing upon this horrid Violation of the Public Faith of their Nation, by many ancient Obligations, and the late Covenant and Treaties, so solemnly and religiously engaged with this. For the Countess of Lauderdale at Highgate. My deart heart, IT is very likely this Letter may come to other hands before it come to you, yet I may tell you, that I am well, thus much nearer you than I was; for it pleased the Committee of Estates to command my Lord Lanerick and me to come hither and secure this Town, which we have this day very quietly done: The * You had no reason to expect other from those Renegado English, who were sent into that Town by yourselves, to keep it for your coming. English are marched out, and we in, we have made Col: Lodowick Lesley Governor under my Lord Duke, the Earl of Calendar hath the command of Carlisle: As for the condition of our Army, I send you the last Letter I had from thence, which comes from one that is in the English Army; within two days or three I go back to Edinburgh, where Mr. Gillespy is Moderator of our Assembly. Be careful of the enclosed Letters, you know to whom 151, is, the other is for Mistress 108.23.71.13.65.95.109.21.45.104.11.60.66.17. I pray you cause write on the back of it and send it to her: This is all at this time shall be said by Your own LAUDERDALE. Barwick, 19 July. For 151. I was sorry to see you trouble yourself and me both, with an account of what money you received, you need no more but take upon my account as you need it, and advertise me. I can tell you but few news: Our Army is at Peerith, Lambert hath still retired, but our Army will not go in far, till the Forces from Ireland come to them, most part are landed; the General Assembly sits, and Gillespy is Moderator: The Committee sent the Earls of Lauderdale and Lanerick to secure Berwick, upon an information that some thousand English Horse were in Northumberland, and gave them power to take what force they could get for that service, but the information is proved false, and they are gone with no more than are necessary for the place: Sir William Fleming is returned with a good proportion of Ammunition and some Arms: This is all I can tell you at this time. For Mr. GEORGE HALIBURTON. 19 July, 1648. George, Until I know of your being at London, I shall not direct the Packets to you; I can say little by this Post, the condition of our Army being better known to you then to me. Most of our Irish Forces are now landed, and within few days will join with our Army; two hundred of them in their passage were taken by one of the Parliaments Ships, and carried to Col. Monk, * Whence you may see all fairness (I hope it deserves no other name) towards the Scots, none from them. Omnia adversum spectantia nulla retrorsum. who as we are this day informed, did immediately cause send them back to Major Gen. Monro, declaring, That he had no Order for hindering of Scotish men to return to their own Land; most of our Forces in the North are likewise upon their march, and within few days will be up with the Army. This day the Earls of Lauderdale and Lanerick have secured the Town of Berwick from the Sectaries with a Scottish Garrison, and have placed Col. Lodowick Lesley Governor there: It is impossible to satisfy this General Assembly, who are resolved to fly very high in their Censures and Declarations, though many pious and eminent men of the * 'tis likely there wants the word Episcopal, who only will be scandalised at their proceed in pursuance of their Covenant. Clergy are so scandaled with this rigid procedure of theirs, as they can hardly force themselves to live under their Government: This is all which for the present shall be said to you by Your Friend. FINIS.