THE ANSWER OF THE LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in the Parliament of England AT WESTMINSTER, To several PAPERS OF THE Commissioners of SCOTLAND.  

14. APRIL, 1646.  
ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, that The Answer to the several Papers of the Commissioners of Scotland be forthwith printed and published:  
H: Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
LONDON: Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the Honourable House of Commons. April 16. 1646.   

The Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster, having received the several Papers from the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland two of the 29th and 30th of September, with a third of the 9th of October; To the particulars therein contained, they returned this Answer:  
COncerning the payment of the Scots Army, so much insisted upon in your Lordship's Papers, The several Declarations, and the divers courses and ways which in the said Papers are expressed, and acknowledged by your Lordships to have been made, and taken by us for the payment of that Army, sufficiently witness our constant care, and manifold endeavours for the supply thereof; And if all these ways have notwithstanding proved so little effectual, as your Lordships allege, yet can it not in any sort be imputed to the Houses of Parliament, who no sooner have had any wants of that Army, or any obstructions in the ways taken for the entertainment thereof represented unto then, but they have forthwith applied themselves to supply the one, and remove the other to the utmost of what lay in their power; Before the Scots Army was entered into this Kingdom, We appointed a Committee to sit purposely at Godsmiths-Hall, to provide Moneys and necessaries for the support thereof; This Committee hath sat ever since constantly to that end, and to put forwards the execution of our Ordinances therein, whereat twice a week some of the Commissioners of Scotland themselves were present to be witnesses and promoters of their diligence; The same Committee had their Agents in every county, to quicken the execution of our Orders below in the country; we allowed Salaries and Rewards to the Diligent, we gave power to punish the negligent, and all that should it any sort divert or obstruct the coming in the those Assessments: When the course first designed for the payment of the Scots Army out of the Estates of Papists and other Delinquents, answered not expectation, we provided for it, as for other Armies, by way of Tax and Assessment upon several counties; and when those of the Northern parts proved insfficient for so great a charge, we added others thereunto, and those of the most entire and quiet parts of the Kingdom, where first was laid an Assessment of Two hundred thousand pounds in gross, and after a Monthly Assessment of Twenty one thousand pounds per mensem: There was never any expedient offered to us for the removal of any obstruction in the raising of those Assessments, which we did not readily assent unto: There was never any thing desired of us, by our Brethren of Scotland which was in our power to grant, which we have not willingly agreed unto, for the more speedy and more effectual execution of our Orders, for the pay and support of that Army: There was no course taken for any other Army, but we have taken the like also for the Scots Army; so that we may truly affirm, That it hath not rested on us, that that Army hath not been as well paid, and provided for, as any other whatsoever; but if the Activeness and great Successes of some other Armies have given us more credit in procuring Moneys to be advanced for them, or more quickened the spirits of the people to pay in their Assessments to them; surely, that ought not to be turned into matter of Complaint against us, having found the same by experience from time to time, in the payment of the Armies of our own Nation; possibly also, the pay of other Armies may appear more constant, & their wants less than it is well known to us, that both the one and the other have been; neither have our endeavours been altogether so ineffectual for the Supply of the Scotish Army, but that from the sixth of October 1643. to the first of November 1645. there hath been actually paid to them in Money and Provisions, for which Money hath been issued out of Goldsmiths-Hall, the Sum of Two hundred twenty thousand six hundred and twenty nine pounds Sterlin, besides Nine thousand pounds in Money and Led paid unto them at York: And what they have received upon the Assessments of the Northern parts, appointed to be paid in to the Lord Mayor of York, and upon the fifth and twentieth part, and from the Coal, and Excise of Newcastle, and of the Northern parts, or otherwise by any Assignments of both Houses of Parliament; And likewise besides another Assessment of Twenty two thousand pounds per mensem, Assessed upon the County of York in Moneys and Provisions for four months, during the siege of York, and after amounting to Eighty eight thousand pounds, and also besides Ten thousand pounds more for to  the soldiers of that Army, upon the return to Newcastle, over and above all that themselves have taxed and levied in the several Counties where they have been, and their freequarter and disorderly plunderings (which if they have been so excessive as the cry thereof from several parts representeth them to our Ears) it is not much to be wondered, if the water run more sparingly from the Cistern and Conduit, when it is so much exhausted at the Springhead, from whence the Assessments for the entertainment of that Army and other Forces should have risen. Concerning the Excise of the Northern parts, and the ways that are alleged to be taken to divert it from the Scotish Army, by forestall it here in the South, and applying it to other uses, no such practices have been made known to us; and whensoever they shall be discovered, we shall be ready to apply fitting remedies thereunto: And for the Coal of Newcastle possibly the profit thence arising might fall very short of the estimate made thereof in some one month, but in other Months it hath come in, in greater quantities. And we find, that for these Twelve Month's last passed, there hath actually come in, and been taken to the use of that Army upon the Coals of Newcastle and Sunderland above Fifty three thousand pounds sterling, whereof Four thousand five hundred pounds was of the Customs belonging to the Navy: And if upon the taking of Newcastle by the Scotish Army, the course for the managing of the Coals settled by both Houses of the Parliament of England in the Committee of Goldsmiths-Hall had not been interrupted; That Committee might have been better able to have given an Account of any decay of Trade therein, and how it hath happened that many Months it hath fallen below the first estimate thereof.  
Having made answer to the most materirall points in your Lordship's papers concerning the pay of the Scots army, as you have very frequently and very freely declared unto us the wants and necesities thereof, through default of pay, so shall we also with the like freedom and brotherly affection, represent unto our Brethren of Scotland some particulars concerning the proceed of that Army.  
It is well known unto your Lordships that we have upon divers occasions, signified our advices and directions, how that Army might employ itself most effectually for the advancement of the public service of this Kingdom, by engageing against the common Enemies, and the places held and possessed by them, wherein (by what occasion we know not) we have found ourselves several times disappointed of our hopes and expectations, by which means not only the common cause hath been retarded, but also the end frustrated for which the assistance of so great and Army was desired by us; which was, that a speedy conclusion might be put to these unhappy Wars we shall not need to go further bacl for an instance, then to that whereof the sense is freshest in our minds, and which in that conjuncture of time and of our affairs, proved very prejudicial to the service of this Kingdom, which was the continuing of that Army in the North where no Enemy was, and not marching to besieged Newarke, at such time as it was thereunto desired by both Houses of Parliament, a●●●ough they not only expressed their desires therein, but also their care in provision of money, & ammunition to enable & encourage them to undertake that work; But having received no satisfaction at all in that particular, till that now by your Lordship's Letter of the 12. of Nowember the resolution of the General the Earl of Leven, concerning the marching of that Army towards Newarke was signified unto us, By means of this delay, not only the Northern parts have laid all this while under a most unsupportable burden, but also the fairest opportunity that hath yet offered itself to us since the beginning of this War of putting an end to our miseries, together with the season the year for the speedy reducing of that place which was the principal ground of our resolution in that particular, is already slipped out of our hands, And the advance of the thirty thousand pounds, which we had good hope, and some assurance of from the City for the use of that army, in case it came to Newarke before the first of November, and not otherwise, is rendered more difficult and doubtful unto us.  
It was fare from our intentions that the Scottish Army should neither be provided for by us, nor yet suffered to provide for their own subsistence, nor doth the contrary appear by any actions or omissions on our part, nor yet by any sufferings of that army, but that according to our power, we have made provisions for them, and that they also have supplied themselves.  
We shall remember according to your Lordship's expressions in your papers, That not written Ordinances but real payments must satisfy the necessity of the Soldiers, And we hope it shallbe aswell remembered also, how far better than paper, our Ordinances have proved to that Army, which hath not been more ready to engage itself really in the service of this Kingdom, than we have been forward to pay it really, for to satisfy the necessities of the soldiers, And therefore desire such expressions may be forborn, which may seem to derogate from the honour either of the proceed or Ordinances of Parliament.  
When the Treaty was concluded between the two Kingdoms, it was supposed that such might be the wants & necessities of this Kingdom, as that they might not be able to make due and constant payment to the Scots Army, yet was it not supposed that in default thereof they might forbear to engate their Army, much less lay Taxes upon the people of England to lay themselves, this Kingdom being to give their public faith for the payment of their Arrears with Interest, as on the other side the Kingdom of Scotland gave their public faith that neither their entrance into, nor continuance in the Kingdom of England, should be made use of to any other ends then such as are contained in the Covenant and Articles of the Treaty.  
That it is contrary to the Liberties of the subjects of England That any Taxes or Levies of moneys should be laid or raised upon them without the consent of both Houses of Parliament▪ we need not declare to your Lordships.  
And we are sorry that the cries which continually sound in our ears from the people, especially of the Northern parts, brought to us by the hands of such us we have inmosted there, should enforce us to represent unto our Brethren of Scotland, the great Complaints, which long since, and at this present, are made of the laying of Taxes of Money, and other things by some of the Scots Army, and that also in very vast and excessive proportions, besides free Quartering, and disorderly plunderings of Horses and other goods, which courses being taken and continued; It cannot be expected that we should continue the monthly pay of that Army, which though we have not taken occasion to stop and surcease, upon the Taxes and levies of Moneys and other proceed of that Army, Yet we expect (as that which of right is due, that our of it, deduction and satisfaction should be given in the Premises. And as we are obliged to make good the monthly pay of that Army according to the Treaty, so long as we shall find it necessary to use the assistance thereof within this Kingdom and no longer, so is that Army likewise bound to demean themselves conformable to the tenor of the Treaty, and according thereunto to give satisfaction to this Kingdom; That such forces of the Scottish Nation, as have been put into the several Garrisons of Newcastle upon Tyne, the City of Carlisle, and other places in the North, without the consent of both Houses of the Parliament of England shall be removed, to the intent that the same may be disposed off in such manner as shall be thought fitting by the said Houses of Parliament, The performance whereof we have demanded from the Kingdom of Scotland, by our Letter to that Parliament.  
These things we held ourselves bound to represent to our Brethren of Scotland, aswell in discharge of the trust reposed in us for the preservation of the Interest and liberties of this Kingdom, as also the better to maintain the union, and good Correspondency between the two Kingdoms, which being the surest foundation of security, and prosperity to both Nations. It always hath, and always shall be the firm resolution of both Houses of the Parliament of England, to preserve and maintain the same according to the Covenant and Treaty, the common rules and marks which both Kingdoms have set up unto themselves to steer their course by, in the pursuance of their joint interests, and for the attaining of the good ends therein expressed and contained, from which we desire that there may be no swerving on either side, hoping and expecting the like redress and satisfaction from our Brethren of Scotland, upon any infringement thereof, as we shall be ready to give unto them if any such thing should happen on our part.  
Concerning Religion, and the settling of Church-Government, as there is nothing wherein we have more desired to approve our consciences to God, and our actions to the world, so do our hearts give us a very clear Testimony of the faithful and diligent discharge of our duty therein, according to the trust reposed in us, and the Covenant taken by us. And were conceive our actions witness no less to all that will rightly weigh and consider, what we have already done therein, and with what diligence and zeal we have from time to time proceeded in that work of God, being resolved to continue so doing, till we have fully supplied what shall yet appear wanting therein, it being always to be remembered, that the preserving of the Liberty, and freedom of our debates, and Resolutions in Parliament, is not to be interpreted or termed negligence or delay in us.  
As to the Propositions of Peace to be sent to his Majesty in pursuance of our Resolutions of the sixth of August communicated to your Lordships, we have proceeded therein as the exigents of our affairs would permit, and the Propositions being at this present continually in agitation and debate in Parliament; We are resolved to apply ourselves both speedily and effectually to the perfecting of them according to the Present state of affairs, and we doubt not but that our actions shall testify to our Brethren of Scotland, and all the world, that there is no earthly thing more in our thoughts and desires, than the settling of a safe and a well-grounded Peace in the three Kingdoms, for which we have done and suffered as much as any Kingdom in the world.  
FINIS.