A DECLARATION CONCERNING The miserable sufferINGS OF THE COUNTRY, under some of the SCOTS FORCES that quarter in the NORTH OF ENGLAND, Certified in two several said to be LETTERS written from the Inhabitants of Stainton, and Cleaveland. but made at London by the 〈◊〉. Printed and Published according to Order. Octob: 24th LONDON Printed by E. E. 1646. A DECLARATJON Concerning the miserable sufferings of the COUNTRY under some of the Scots forces that quarter in the North of England, certified in two several letters from the Inhabitants of Stainton, and Cleaveland. SIR, I Am very sorry that there is so little credit given to our Petitions and letters; if those that have not faith to believe them had but our gests amongst them one month: they would be more sensible of our sufferings; In the interim so long as we have either or Corn, they will coinhabit with us, and command, and without limit exact, until they see an end of us, and ours; no part of this Kingdom hath suffered so much by supposed friends, as this poor Cleave▪ and; for if it were exactly counted it could not amount to less than 80000. l. yet receive we neither pity nor relief; although it is well known, that when the Scots were in the West; we paid a monthly ascesment for 4. months; But now the whole Army is gotten into the North and there they Lord it, without any contribution from any part of this Kingdom: certainly the Southern parts suppose that the Scots are marched into their own Country; or else this North, part is totally assigned to ruin, and destruction; God knows how many woeful souls have weekly, daily, and hourly, expected relief; but the time is nor yet come; God in his good time help us, for our case is miserable: divers overtures have been for sending another Gentleman to assist you in soliciting; but no money can be raised for his expense; And he will not undertake it gratis as you have done; But I think ere long you will have Westminster Hall full of Petitions; for the Country intends to send 3. or 4. out of every Town; in the mean time, Sir, I beseech you let us still depend upon you, for other hopes we have none, but what m●y be (from your endless endeavours, and unwearied pains) derived: Sir no more for the present but that I am, Your very humble servant, Signed by the Inhabitants. Stainton the 12. of October 1646. SIR, IN some of your last letters, you seemed to com●ort our dying hopes, and despairing spirits: that the Scots were to have 200000 l. and so to march; and since the bruit thereof: I dare affirm their Army hath been prejudicial to these parts, 1●0000. l. and for any thing we can perceive their depa●ture as fare of, as at the first; we hear and read the good Language they give you at London: but we feel contrary effects here by their actions: we did hope when the Earl of Newcastle was vanquished, our greatest miseries had been past: but we have found the contrary, he only sucked some of our blood, but the Scots have devoured our fl●sh, and are now picking our bones: Betwixt them both, I am sure neither you nor any Gentleman of this Wepontake of Langbarfe have made 12. pence profit of their Estates; our slavery are fare greater than any those of the Turks both for our persons and Estates, they in Turkey are quit for a fifth part, we in a year pay our Revenue several times over, by Ordinances of Parliament, since the Scots came into Yorkshire the whole Country was assessed per. month, 10000 l. 7000. l. now 3500. l. a month: but we pay now for billet and sesse to the Scots Army here ●fter the rate of a hundred and forty thousand pounds per mensem, and now a part of this hundred pays a thousand pounds a week to 2. Regiments of them, we are the absolutest slaves that ever was read of; for they ascesse us at their pleasure, levy it as they please, if they bid us go or ride, none dare refuse, to provide any thing for their appetites though we fetch it 10. miles (they being very excessive in their diet) they kill us in hot blood, beat us in cold, Captain john Welden they lately slew, in seeking to rescue his neighbours from their Robberies, he hath served faithfully (and with great courage) the Parliament, and deserved a better reward, and what his enemies could not do, is effected by the pretended friends of the Parliament, I would you could use some means to the Parliament that some parts of his Ariers might be got for his poor wife: we mightily admire at the Parliaments confidence, and the good opinion the City hath of their integrity, I could wish some visiters were sent from them to view their carriage & our misery, our observation of them these 18. months have been far different from people that came to preserve us, they have protected Delinquents, Papists, not suffering the Ordinances of Parliament to be excecuted, fresh forces daily come in from Scotland, their Garrisons recruited, additional fortifications, great supply of victuals, the Scots Army being receptacle and sanctuary of Delinquents and Cavaliers, and such as have fought against the Kingdom, and for Vandrusks Regiment though disbanded. It is but transferred into several veins of the Scots Army which the Country feels to their great costs and personal dangers; on the contrary, the well affected are not only discountenanced, but great & insupportable burdens are laid upon them; so that they are glad to be intercessors to their enemies for very small courtesies. These are bad symptoms, either of a good intention or of a peace betwixt the Kingdoms: and it will be found; that if we should fall to blows, (which I tremble to think on) that the waste and spoil that the Parliament hath suffered the Scots to make here is so great; that there will not be found a week's Provision in all this Country if they should have occasion to send any considerable forces hither, whereas about Newcastle and Northumberland they keep things fair and fresh, f a foul day should happen. Sir, in a word, our stock is clean wasted; our little corn we had ill got in by reason of the great moisture, we are now threshing it for the Scots, we are eating our last bread; who have been able to get away, are gone. And we do expect a great mortality, the Pestilence, being begun already amongst us; we the well affected prays you to petition the Honourable House of Commons that they will give us 2. or 3. month's allowance out of our Estates, having had nothing these 5. years out of them; or allowance in consideration of them, protections for our persons; for our debts; until we be restored to our Estates, 4000 l. per mensem, we have ●aid to the Scots Army constantly since they came into this Weapontakee. And lastly, (Sir) if my name should be known, and produced as Author of this letter, I could not hope to live these days; so terrible are these guests to us, I will cease to be further troublesome; and rest Your assured friend to serve you, Signed by the Inhabitants. Cleveland September the 13. 1646 FINIS.