THE ANSWER OF THE Parliament of England, TO A PAPER, Entitled, A Declaration by the King's Majesty, To His Subjects of the Kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland. Printed at Edinburgh, 1650. Whereunto is annexed, COPIES of Four LETTERS To the King of SCOTLAND, Which were found in the Lord Loudouns Cabinet. Die Veneris, 20 Septem. 1650. ORdered by the Parliament, That this Answer and Letters be forthwith printed and published. Hen: Scobell, Cleric. Parliamenti. London, Printed by Edward Husband and John Field, Printers to the Parliament of England, 1650. IT is well known unto the World, what manner of Contest the Parliament of England hath had, these years last passed, in their own Defence, to preserve themselves from the almost Established Tyranny, which, through a long tract of Time, had been obtruding itself, as well over the Consciences, as the Laws and Civil Liberties of the People in England, Ireland and Scotland; Designing and Practising the Extremity of all Evils upon these Nations, rather than to suffer itself to be stopped in its course, or disappointed of its end: Else what signified the first Troubles raised in Scotland by the late King, and (that failing) then the cherishing, upholding and continuing, to the last, the Horrid and Bloody Rebellion in Ireland, by the same hand; and after all, the bringing of an Unnatural War into the Bowels of this Nation, managed and improved to the utmost by him, and the Popish, Prelatical and Profane Party adhering to him therein? Which Evils have been writ out in such deep Characters of Blood, been attended with such Consumption of Treasure, and almost Devastation of several Countries in the three Nations, that they will not suddenly be worn out of the People's Sense, much less of their Memory. Yet, even during these first Troubles, the Designers were not ashamed to appear bare-faced, in their open and avowed Principles, of Opposition and Hatred against the Cause of God, the Work of Reformation, Privileges of Parliament, and People's Liberties; having for that purpose incorporated themselves in Interest with all the known and implacable Enemies of the same, as, The Popish Party abroad, and Prelatical and Malignant Party at home: But now, when by the unspeakable Blessing of God unto this Nation, Tyranny hath received its Mortal Wound, not only by being Beaten out of the Field, in all that have fought for it, but by the Remarkable Justice that hath been done upon the Prime Instrument (in the late King's Execution) and in consequence thereof, the Government of this Nation Restored to a Commonwealth and Fee-State; and the Supreme Authority Established in this and Successive Parliaments, or Representatives of the People, without King or House of Lords, as the best Means and strongest Bulwark, under the Divine Protection, to preserve the People's Liberties against the like Attempts and Invasions for time to come, and so deprived of all Hopes of its ever taking Root again in this Commonwealth; and being like also, if this Commonwealth continue, to lose ground in Scotland and other Nations, where the People are made mere Slaves and Vassals to the Will of their Prince, and his Lordly Instruments in Church and State. It hath seemed good to Charles Stuart, the Declared King of Scotland, and to the prevailing Party in State and Kirk there, to dress up this old and Malignant Cause, in a more plausible and Religious Garb, then that with which it was put forth before; and to take it out of, or rather for a time suspend its Exercise in the hands of the Popish, Prelatical and Malignant Party, who begin also to see they can keep it up no longer, but it will certainly breathe out its last Gasp, if it be not shifted, and by some Change of Instruments, recover a Reputation amongst good men; And therefore a room and place is made by common Consent amongst them, to receive and hid the Interest of Tyranny, and of Opposition to all Christian, as well as Civil Liberty, within the verges of the Solemn League and Covenant: The Signing of which Covenant, and the emitting of a Declaration, by the eldest Son of the late King (expressing in words a superficial Repentance, for what there is no probability for him at the present to put in practice) and promising (in effect) for the future, to Tyrannize and Enslave men chief by the Advice of the Kirk, and as shall tend to uphold their Power and Clergy-Interest, in the first place, before his own (An Homage which the Pope indeed hath claimed from Earthly Princes, as that which is due to him, as he pretends himself God's Vicar on Earth.) This is now accounted full Satisfaction, as to what is to be done on his part; and whereupon they would make the World believe the state of the Cause is altered, even to that degree, as that their New King is now no longer upon his Old Principles, but is come over to those upon which they have fought against his Father for these Twelve years past. The Deceit and Evil of all which, will appear, when we shall come to take in pieces the said Declaration, and thereby Unmask (as we have promised) the gross Hypocrisy of the Contrivers thereof, and the Wicked Design that is couched and contained therein, under pretence of The Name and Cause of God, The Work of Reformation, The Power and Freedoms of Parliaments in England, according to their Ancient Form (except only a perpetual subjecting and subordinating of their Laws, Counsels and Advices to the Clergy, who have a promise, That their Counsels shall be heard before any other whatsoever) and other plausible Inducements to possess himself of the Crown of England; And having obtained that Power, with the Destruction of all the Faithful and truly godly Party, that have declared themselves for this present Government, He may then be more absolute in Tyranny, than ever Prince in England was, and derive the same in Succession to his Posterity, upon the score of Conquest, acquired to him by the help of the Scots; whose goodwill to England (for the Cause of God, as they would have us believe) hath been and still is such, as to hold it fit to impose upon us the Yoke of their Usurpations both in Church and State, and have not scrupled to attempt the attaining of the same, either by Subtlety of by Force: By both which Means they never thought themselves in so fair a way unto their End, as now they have cast themselves into, by their late Agreement with their New King; and this Declaration they have made him put forth, which we shall Answer in the distinct Paragraphs of it in order as they lie. §. 1. HIs Majesty taking in consideration, that merciful Dispensation of Divine Providence, by which he hath been recovered out of the snare of Evil Council; and having attained so full persuasion and confidence of the Loyalty of his People in Scotland, with whom he hath too long stood at a distance; and of the Righteousness of their Cause, as to join in one Covenant with them, and to cast himself and his Interests wholly upon God; and in all matters Civil, to follow the Advice of his Parliament, and such as shall be entrusted by them, and in all matters Ecclesiastic, the Advice of the General Assembly and their Commissioners; and being sensible of his duty to God, and desirous to approve himself to the consciences of all his good Subjects, and to stop the mouths of his and their Enemies and Traducers, doth in reference to his former Deportments, and as to his Resolutions for the future, Declare as follows. ANSWER. THe Dispensations of Divine Providence are indeed merciful, by which Princes or Governors are at any time really recovered out of the snare of evil Counsel; yet when this is done by the violence of an absolute Necessity, 'tis seldom real or lasting, and then the Mercy in it is but little to the People, who will taste the bitter fruit of such dissimulations when it is too late. It seems that the King of Scotland can now profess to the world, he hath been in the snare of evil Counsel, whilst he entertained any doubts or diffidence of the loyalty of his People of Scotland, and stood at a distance from them and their Cause, and was unconvinced of the righteousness of it, and did not join in one Covenant with them, nor cast himself and his Interests wholly upon God; and in all matters Civil follow the advice of his Parliament; and in all matters Ecclesiastic, the General Assembly, or the Commissioners thereof: We do not deny but his former Counsels, as well as himself, have suffered a great change, through the merciful Dispensation of Divine Providence to this Commonwealth, prospering so wonderfully our Armies in Ireland, as to exclude him and his Interest in a great measure from thence, and preserving this Nation in Peace within itself, to prevent any footing to be given to him here, whereby he was reduced to the course he hath now taken, to say what the Parliament and Kirk of Scotland shall put into his mouth, and tell him is fit for him and his Affairs to declare, or else to lose all: And if Scotland do esteem it so great a mercy, to have him reduced to this pure necessity of casting himself into their Arms; We know to whom, under God, they own the Obligation; a Blessing which we confess we do not envy them, and which (were we secured never to be partaker of with them, or by their means) we should not hinder them from the free and full enjoyment of; Having by sad experience found what it is to have a King, though never so well beset in appearance with good men about him, or to trust to his Repentances and Promises, Oaths or Declarations, how fair soever in show, and how strong soever laid down in words. As to the Evil of the Counsel, out of which its said, He is recovered by this change: We say, That if the future Resolutions mentioned in this Declaration, be the evidences whereby we are to judge of the goodness of the new Counsel, we cannot but take notice, That they do only vary the means, but not the end, which still is evil, to wit, The enslaving the three Nations; and do change the Instruments, but not the Cause (as is before, and shall further be made evident) and therefore we must be excused, if we judge that their young King is yet in as great a snare of evil Counsel as ever, and thereupon endeavour what in us lies, to keep this Nation from falling under the bad effects thereof. §. 2. THough his Majesty as a dutiful Son be obliged to honour the memory of his Royal Father, and have in estimation the person of his Mother; yet doth he desire to be deeply humbled and afflicted in Spirit before God, because of his Fathers harkening to, and following evil Counsels, and his opposition to the work of Reformation, and to the Solemn League and Covenant, by which so much of the blood of the Lords People hath been shed in these Kingdoms; and for the Idolatry of his Mother, the Toleration whereof in the King's House, as it was matter of great stumbling to all the Protestant Churches, so could it not but be an high provocation against him who is a jealous God, visiting the sins of the Fathers upon the Children: And albeit, his Majesty might extenuate his former Carriages and Actions, in following of the advice, and walking in the way of those who are opposite to the Covenant and to the work of God, and might excuse his delaying to give satisfaction to the just and necessary Desires of the Kirk and Kingdom of Scotland, from his education, and age, and evil Counsel, and Company, and from the strange & insolent proceed of Sectaries against his Royal Father; and in reference to Religion and the ancient Government of the Kingdom of England, to which he hath the undoubted Right of Succession; yet knowing that he hath to do with God, he doth ingeniously acknowledge all his own sins, and all the sins of his Father House, craving pardon, and hoping for mercy and reconciliation through the blood of Jesus Christ. And as he doth value the constant Addresses that were made by his People to the Throne of Grace on his behalf, when he stood in opposition to the Work of God, as a singular Testimony of long-suffering, patience and mercy upon the Lord's part, and loyalty upon theirs; so doth he hope, and shall take it as one of the greatest tokens of their love and affection to him and to his Government, That they will continue in Prayer and Supplication to God for him; That the Lord, who spared and preserved him to this day, notwithstanding of all his own guiltiness, may be at peace with him, and give him to fear the Lord his God, and to serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind all the days of his life. ANSWER. THe first Testimony of the good of the New Counsels, into whose hands the Scots King hath cast himself, is, The Repentance towards God which they advise him to make, in reference to his own Sins, and Sins of his Father's House; A matter in itself truly praiseworthy; and the consequence whereof, in the words wherein it is expressed, doth in no small measure reach to the Acknowledgement of the just Hand of God upon his Father and Mother, in the Banishing of the one, and taking away the life of the other by the hand of Justice; putting it into the hearts of those here, that remained faithful to their Trust in Parliament, to cause his Blood to be poured forth, by whose personal Actings, Authority and Commissions, so much of the Blood of the Lords People hath been shed in the Three Nations (as this Declaration itself acknowledges) and for which therefore we have reason to bless God, and admire his Providence, That out of the mouth of the Son, there hath, in the sight of the whole World, been brought forth such a Justification of the Sentence passed and Executed upon the Father. But as to the manner of Declaring this his Repentance, that is to say, with the Qualifications therein allowed of; whereby, under the pretence of a dutiful Son, He may still retain in Memory his Father's Actions of Tyranny for his Pattern; and, through the high Estimation of his Mother, have his Ears still open to her Counsels, as often as she can convey them to him: And as sensible as he must be of his own and his Father's Enmity and Opposition against the Lord's People in the Three Nations, yet he must still be encouraged to persist in the same against those that are truly the Lords People, under the pretence of Sectaries. These are such Inconsistencies and Halting in so serious a Work, that as it is justly to be feared, that God will not be well pleased therewith; so neither will it have its expected effect amongst men, who with ease may see through the deceit and lameness of it, and will with greater abhorrency be ware of them and their Designs, that strive to cover themselves with Webs, that will not prove Garments, but whose Nakedness doth still appear. §. 3. ANd his Majesty having, upon full persuasion of the Justice and Equity of all the Heads and Articles thereof, now Sworn and Subscribed the National Covenant of the Kingdom of Scotland, and the Solemn League and Covenant of the Three Kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland, Doth Declare, That he hath not Sworn and Subscribed these Covenants, and entered into the Oath of God with his People, upon any sinister Intention and crooked Design, for attaining his own Ends; but, so far as Humane Weakness will permit, in the truth and sincerity of his heart: And that he is firmly Resolved, in the Lord's strength, to adhere thereto, and to prosecute to the utmost of his power, all the Ends thereof, in his Station and Calling, really, constantly and sincerely all the days of his life. In order to which, he doth in the first place Profess and Declare, That he will have no Enemies, but the Enemies of the Covenant; and that he will have no Friends, but the Friends of the Covenant: And therefore, as he doth now detest and abhor all Popery, Superstition and Idolatry, together with Prelacy, and all Errors, Heresy, Schism and Profaneness, and resolves not to tolerate, much less allow any of these in any part of his Majesty's Dominions, but to oppose himself thereto, and to endeavour the Externation thereof to the utmost of his power; so doth he as a Christian Exhort, and as a King Require, That all such of his Subjects, who have stood in Opposition to the Solemn League and Covenant, and Work of Reformation, upon a pretence of Kingly Interest, or any other pretext whatsoever, to lay down their Enmity against the Cause and People of God, and to cease to prefer the Interest of Man to the Interest of God; which hath been one of those things which hath occasioned many Troubles and Calamities in these Kingdoms, and being insisted into, will be so far from Establishing of the King's Throne, that it will prove an Idol of Jealousy, to provoke unto wrath him who is King of kings, and Lord of lords. The King shall always esteem them best Servants, and most Loyal Subjects, who serve him, and seek his Greatness in a right line of subordination unto God; Giving unto God the things that are Gods, and unto Cesar the things that are Caesar's: And Resolveth, not to love or countenance any who have so little Conscience and Piety, as to follow his Interests with a prejudice to the Gospel and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, which he looks not upon as a duty, but as flattery, and driving of Self-Designs, under a pretence of maintaining Royal Authority and Greatness. Secondly, His Majesty being convinced in Conscience of the exceeding great Sinfulness and Unlawfulness of that Treaty and Peace made with the Bloody Irish Rebels, who treacherously shed the Blood of so many of his faithful and Loyal Subjects in Ireland, and of allowing unto them the Liberty of the Popish Religion; for the which he doth from his heart desire to be deeply humbled before the Lord: And likewise considering how many Breaches have been upon their part, Doth Declare the same to be void, and that his Majesty is absolved therefrom; being truly sorry that he should have sought unto so unlawful Help for Restoring of him to his Throne, and resolving, for the time to come, rather to choose Affliction then Sin. Thirdly, As his Majesty did in the late Treaty with his people in this Kingdom, agree to recall and annul all Commissions against any of his Subjects who did adhere to the Covenant and Monarchical Government in any of his Kingdoms: So doth he now Declare, That by Commissionating of some persons by Sea against the people of England, he did not intent Damage or Injury to his oppressed and harmless Subjects in that Kingdom, who follow their Trade of Merchandise in their lawful Callings, but only the opposing and suppressing of those who had Usurped the Government; and not only bar him from his just Right, but also Exercise an Arbitrary Power over his people, in those things which concern their Persons, Consciences and Estates: And as since his coming into Scotland he hath given no Commissions against any of his Subjects in England or Ireland, so he doth hereby Assure and Declare, That he will give none to their prejudice or damage; and whatever shall be the Wrongs of these Usurpers, That he will be so far from avenging these upon any who are free thereof, by interrupting or stopping the liberty of Trade and Merchandise, or otherwise, That he will seek their good, and to the utmost employ his Royal Power, That they may be protected and defended against the unjust Violence of all men whatsoever. And albeit his Majesty desires to construct well of the Intentions of those (in reference to his Majesty) who have been active in Council or Arms against the Covenant; yet, being convinced that it doth conduce for the Honour of God, the good of his Cause, and his own Honour and Happiness, and for the Peace and Safety of these Kingdoms, That such be not employed in places of Power and Trust, He doth Declare, That he will not employ, nor give Commissions to any such, until they have not only taken, or renewed the Covenant, but also have given sufficient Evidences of their Integrity, Carriage and Affection to the Work of Reformation, and shall be declared capable of Trust by the Parliament of either Kingdom respective: And His Majesty, upon the same grounds, doth hereby recall all Commissions given to any such persons; conceiving all such persons will so much tender a good Understanding betwixt him and his Subjects, and the settling and preserving a firm Peace in these Kingdoms, That they will not grudge nor repine at his Majesty's Resolutions and Proceed herein, much less upon discontent act any thing in a divided way, unto the raising of New Troubles, especially since upon their pious and good deportment, there is a Regress left unto them in manner above expressed. ANSWER. IT is somewhat early days for him, who (by reason of his education and age, and the Council and Company hitherto about him) could not be much furthered into the sight of the Justice and Equity of what is contained in the Covenants mentioned, presently, that is to say, in the space of almost four and twenty hours, to grow up into the full persuasion of the Justice and Equity of all the Heads and Articles of those Covenants, and to be able to declare, That he hath not sworn nor subscribed them upon any sinister intention and crooked Design, for attaining his own ends; and with so fixed a Resolution to persist therein really, constantly and sincerely all the days of his life; when as the Commissioners of the General Assembly, in their Declaration dated the thirteenth of August, do say, That there may be just Grounds of stumbling from his refusing to emit this Declaration; and do tell him in so many words, that They will not own him nor his Interest, otherwise then with a subordination to God, and in so far as he owns and prosecutes the Cause of God, and disclaims his and his Father's opposition to the Work of God, and to the Covenant, and all the Enemies thereof: And notwithstanding all, he still persists in his Refufal, withdrawing to Dunfermlyn, whether the Marquis of Argyle and Earl of Lothian are sent after to press him to Subscribe; and in the mean time, overtures are made underhand to our Army, as if things might yet be made up in a fair way, and their King and they were not likely to agree: And on the fifteenth of August, a Remonstrance and Supplication of the Officers of the Scots Army, by way seconding the foresaid Declaration of the Committee of Estates, and Commissioners of the General Assembly, was presented to, and approved of by the Committee of Estates: And on the sixteenth of the said August, the Declaration so earnestly pressed upon him, or rather forcibly extorted from him, is subscribed and emited by him: And now in a moment, what a blessed and hopeful change is wrought upon this young King? how hearty is he become to the Cause of God, and the work of Reformation? and how readily doth he swallow down these bitter Pills which are prepared for and urged upon him, as necessary to effect that desperate cure under which his Affairs lie? But who sees not the gross Hypocrisy of this whole Transaction, and the sandy and rotten foundation of all the Resolutions flowing hereupon? as first, He that on the fifteenth of August hugged all his Malignant and Popish Party in his bosom, and lodged them in the secret Reserves of his favour and love as his best Friends, can now on the sixteenth (the day following) from a fullness of persuasion of the Justice and Equity of all the Heads and Articles of the Covenant, renounce and discard them in the sight of God and the world, and vow never to have any more to do with them, as old Sinners, unless they by his example turn to be as good Converts as himself, and be able to personate and act the same part; and so by virtue of the very Covenant itself, eat out and undermine those who conscientiously and honestly intent the ends of it: The sad experience whereof, was as well seen in the managing the whole business of Duke Hamiltons' Invasion, as in many of the then Members in both Houses, who never shown more zeal for the Covenant, then when they found that thereby they could suppress and beat down the truly godly and honest Party, as Sectaries, and Enemies to Monarchical Government, and buoy up the sinking and lost Reputations of the most engaged Royalists and rotten hearted Apostates, under peetence that they were turned Friends to the work of Reformation, and for upholding the Church Interest: And if in this sense the Scots King will have no Enemies, but the Enemies of the Covenant, nor no Friends, but the Friends of the Covenant, he makes but little change; for he hath the same Friends and Enemies that he had before, with this only difference, That by his and his Parties becoming in appearance friends to the Covenant for a while, they have the opportunity at the last to make use of this Engine; better to undermine and oppose the true ends of the Covenant, then by a flat opposition to it, and to obtain a Crown, what Dissimulation is not thought lawful by Politicians? though a larger measure than what is held forth in this Declaration, cannot easily be instanced in; And which therefore we doubt not but God, who is the Searcher of the Hearts, and Tryer of the reins, will proceed further to discover in the face of the Sun, and more severely judge in this new King of Scots and his House, then if he had dealt plainly with God and Man, and held himself forth in his own colours: The little time which he hath been upon the Stage, having sufficiently laid him open what he is, A true Inheritor of his Father's Principles and Counsels, wherein he may be traced all along; and even in this last Action, wherein he hath trod in the steps of his Father, as well as other his Predecessors, who when ever they found themselves in Scotland beset with the power of the Kirk and State, did subscribe and emit whatever was pressed upon them, though they resolved to break all that ever was so done by them upon the first occasion. And as a second Deduction from his full persuasion of the Justice and Equity of all the Heads and Articles of the Covenants, He Declares his conviction in conscience of the exceeding great Sinfulness and Unlawfulness of that Treaty and Peace made with the Bloody Irish Rebels, and of allowing to them the liberty of the Popish Religion; and that he is resolved, for time to come, rather to choose Affliction then Sin. It seems very much to be doubted, if the Irish Bishop of Clogher, armed with a Commission from Ormond, Charles Stuart's pretended Lieutenant of Ireland, had with his Army of Irish Popish Rebels, founded upon a pure Popish Account, succeeded and prevailed against our Army in Ulster under Sir Charles Coot, Whether then that which is now confessed, and resolved against as Sinful and Unlawful, would have been so acknowledged, or thought wisdom, perhaps, so to have been, by the Kirk of Scotland itself; considering that the said Bishop offered very fair Quarter to all of the Scots Nation, that were for Monarchical Government; and the Scots Clergy in those parts had about the same time stirred up the people in our Quarters to Mutiny and Rebellion (insomuch that Sir Charles Coot was necessitated to secure their persons) as if they had done it on purpose to prepare the way to usher in the Infal upon our Quarters, to destroy our Forces, by that Irish Army, who pitched their Opposition chief against such as they called Sectaries, being indeed such as declared for the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England. But when Sin doth not prosper, it is no wonder if it be bewailed; and if it lose its power, it is no marvel if it lose also its credit, even with the best Friends to it. It is fit Popery, and the Bloody Rebellion of Ireland, should be renounced, and the Scots King Absolved from any further hand in it (considering the many Breaches, or rather Failings on their parts) now that through the Blessing of God upon the Sectarian Army in that Nation, as they call them, the Rebels have been disenabled to keep themselves in Power, and maintain his Interest there; which we have good reason to believe is yet a greater Affliction to him, in his sober thoughts, than he finds it to be Sin: For, as we are credibly informed, Ormond and Inchiquin were very lately departing out of Ireland, and giving up all there; but by very fresh Directions and Commands from the Scots King out of Scotland, they are Required to stay, and promote his Interest there: In pursuance of which, the said Ormond is as busy as ever, giving out Commissions amongst the Irish, whether as Friends to the Covenant or no, we shall leave the World to judge. The third and last Effect of the Scots Kings full persuasion of the Justice and Equity of all the Heads and Articles of the Covenant, is, His Recalling all Commissions formerly given for infesting the Seas with Piracies and Depraedations; and Resolutions for the future, to employ none in such Power and Trust, until they have renewed the Covenant, and be declared capable of such Trust by the Parliament, as more at large is afore-recited in the clause itself. It is to be observed (as little Justice and Necessity as the Scots pretend there was of sending our Army into Scotland) That here is now acknowledged by their King, for himself and them also, That the Scots have treated and concluded with their King, on the behalf of the People of England and Ireland, as well as Scotland, and have taken upon them (we presume, by virtue of the Covenant) to Interest themselves, in the highest Degree, in the Laws and Liberties of England, and have laid the Groundwork of a New War, to be carried on principally by themselves in this Nation, Declaring for such as adhere to the Covenant and Monarchical Government, and against such as (without Opposition to the Covenant) are for this Commonwealth, as it is now Established, without King or House of Lords; And yet have the confidence to Appeal to God, how innocent they are of giving us any cause to send an Army into Scotland, in our Defence, and to keep off this deep designed War from our own Doors, as long, at least, as God shall enable us thereunto. Will not God judge such underhand Dealing as this? We are assured he will; as he hath begun already of late most wonderfully and seasonably to do: And he that thus brings it to light out of their own mouths, gives us hope, That in his due time he will return it with Shame and Loss upon their own heads, who have adventured on such bold Undertake, to which they were never called, but are most perfectly unconcerned, any further than they are drawn and enticed thereunto by inordinate lusting after the Conquest of this Nation, and Establishing themselves in the Wealth and Power thereof. But to make all fair and smooth to those that are apt to be deluded and misled, and to engage them in a New War against their Native Country, their New Converted King declares, That by Commissionating persons at Sea to commit Piracy and Depraedations, for the interruption of Trade, He intends no Damage nor Injury to his harmless & oppressed Subjects, but only to his Enemies; which now are none, but those that are Enemies to the Covenant and Monarchical Government: And that he resolves to employ none in such Trust, until they have renewed the Covenant, and been declared capable of that Trust by Parliament; and therefore doth in words recall all Commissions given to any such persons: But when all this is done, how are the former Evils committed at Sea, to the interruption and destruction of Trade, remedied by this, or the parties injured, repaired? When War was acted by Duke Hamilton, upon the Lives and Estates of this Nation, and none therein were employed, but such as took the Covenant, and were declared fit for that Trust by the Parliament of Scotland, who commanded that Invasion, Were the Evils of War less upon the English, or the Crime less in those that acted them? Do such Resolutions as these vary the state of the War, and of the Cause, or do they only change the Method and Circumstances of moving and proceeding to the same end? We hope it is too late now, to misled any of the well-affected with Blinds of this nature, by which they have once been cozened before, and whereby they may assure themselves they shall be deceived a second time, if the Cavaliers, and purely Royal Party, do but lay hold of the expedient offered to them, which is, by a (feigned) pious and good Deportment, to make themselves capable of a Regress into their former Employments, upon the cheap Terms of swallowing down the Covenant, and the obtaining the Approbation of as full and free a Parliament, as that which Authorized the Invasion of this Nation by Duke Hamilton. And full, who knows not what such a Declaration as this signifies, to those that have Commissions to Rob and Spoil, and perhaps better understand Charles Stuarts Intentions that granted them, than those that put him upon holding forth this Dissimulation, as if they were recalled. §. 4. ANd as his Majesty hath given satisfaction to the just and necessary Desires of the Kirk and Kingdom of Scotland, so doth he hereby assure and declare, That he is no less willing and desirous to give satisfaction to the just and necessary Desires of his good Subjects in England and Ireland; and in token thereof, if the Houses of Parliament of England, sitting in Freedom, shall think fit to present unto him the Propositions of Peace, agreed upon by both Kingdoms, he will not only accord to the same, and such alterations thereanent, as the Houses of Parliament, in regard of the Constitution of Affairs, and the good of his Majesty and his Kingdoms, shall judge necessary, but do what is further necessary for prosecuting the ends of the Solemn League and Covenant, especially in those things which concern the Reformation of the Church of England, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and Government; That not only the Directory of Worship, the Confession of Faith, and Catechism, but also the Propositions and Directory for Church-Government, accorded upon by the Synod of Divines at Westminster, may be settled; and that the Church of England may enjoy the full Liberty and Freedom of all Assemblies, and Power of Kirk-Censures, and of all the Ordinances of Jesus Christ, according to the Rule of his own Word: And that whatsoever is commanded by the God of Heaven, may be diligently done for the House of the God of Heaven; and, whatever heretofore hath been the suggestions of some to him, to render his Majesty jealous of his Parliament, and of the Servants of God: Yet is he hath declared, that in Scotland he will hearken to their Counsel, and follow their Advice in those things that concern that Kingdom and Kirk; So doth he also declare his firm Resolution to manage the Government of the Kingdom of England by the Advice of his Parliament, consisting of an House of Lords and of an House of Commons there; and in those things that concern Religion, to prefer the Counsels of the Ministers of the Gospel to all other Counsels whatsoever. And that all the world may see how much he tenders the safety of his People, and how precious their blood is in his sight, and how desirous he is to recover his Crown and Government in England by peaceable means; as he doth esteem the service of those who first engaged in the Covenant, and have since that time faithfully followed the ends thereof, to be Duty to God, and Loyalty to him; so is he willing, in regard of others who have been involved in these late Commotions in England, against Religion and Government, to pass an Act of Oblivion, excepting only some few in that Nation who have been chief obstructers of the work of Reformation, and chief Authors of the change of the Government, and of the Murder of his Royal Father. Provided, That these who are to have the benefit of this Act, lay down Arms, and return unto the obedience of their lawful Sovereign. ANSWER. THe Treaty that was touched upon in the former Paragraph, made between the kingdom of Scotland and their King, in reference to England and Ireland, is here at large, and in the particulars of it, set down; it will be needless to repeat them: In the whole Frame of which, we dare boldly affirm, There are those Grounds laid of enslaving this Nation to the Scots, and especially to the power of their Clergy, That no Parliament that hath ever yet sat in England, & have had the least drop of true English blood in them, but would disdain and abhor to be thus imposed upon by the Scotish Nation: And are these the hopes that are given to this Nation, of having two Houses of Parliament sitting in Freedom, when what they must desire, and what they must have, must be prepared and agreed for them by a Foreign Nation? Will the Parliament be more the Parliament of England, when two Houses shall be brought upon the Stage again with a King at the Head of them, by the power of a Scotish Army enforcing this upon the Nation, then when the Parliament is in actual possession of such Power and Freedom, as through the blessing of God upon their endeavours, they are able by Law to exclude both King and House of Lords (the known opposers of the People's Freedom) out of their National Counsels, and by the force God hath enabled them with, to preserve the common Peace and Safety of the whole, under the Government of a Commonwealth and Free-State? It is too late now to think that the People have no better discernment of their own true Interest, then to be ●atched with any satisfaction that can be offered and given by a King, if he himself with his power must come in at the end of it: Nor will the great promises of what he will do in the Cause of God and Work of Reformation (under that pretence to let in upon us the return again of Tyranny) much work upon the pious and judicious among us, who want not the full and free enjoyments of their consciences in this kind, in a voluntary way under this Government, without being beholding to the Concessions of a King: nay, we may truly say, That since the change of Government in this Nation, there have been more Laws made, and means used for the propagating the Gospel and the power of godliness, and encouraging the true Professors thereof; and more done for the extirpation of Profaneness and open Wickedness, then hath been during the whole time of the Reigns of Kings over this Nation. And as to the King of Scotland's declaring his firm Resolution to manage the Government of England by the Advice of his Parliament, consisting of a House of Lords and of a House of Commons; and in those things that concern Religion, to prefer the Counsel of the Ministers of the Gospel, before all Counsels whatsoever; We trust it shall never be in his, nor in the Kingdom of Scotland's power, to impose either himself or his Creatures, the House of Lords, upon the Supreme Authority and National Counsel of the Freeborn People of England; who, if they once become corrupted in that which is the Fountain of their Liberties, their own Representatives in Parliament assembled (which with thus much cost & hazard are set up in some measure already in their Primitive and Original Purity, and are going on every day more and more to the completing thereof) must expect nothing but the flow forth of Tyranny and Mischief upon them, in and by their very Laws; and that which should be the chief and only remedy against all their evils, would by this means become the greatest cause and author of them: Nor would this at all be mended or helped by the Clause which is put in, That in those things which concern Religion, he will prefer the Counsels of the Ministers of the Gospel before all Counsels whatsoever, and so by undeniable consequence before the Parliament itself; for we have learned by experience, That there is hardly any Debate had in Parliament, but the subject-matter of it, in some sense or other, may be brought under the concernment of Religion, and by that means, all the Laws must be or not be, as the Clergy will approve or not approve of them; A practice so inconsistent with the Fundamental Privileges and Freedom of Parliament, and the People's good, that it hath always been exploded and resisted by all Assertors of English Freedom; and whenever any visible Attempts have been made to promote such a Design (as too often have been since the sitting of this Parliament) the Parliaments have highly Resented it, and frequently adjudged it High Treason, looking at it, as that which Introduces a Foreign Jurisdiction, and makes way for the setting up again a Popish Supremacy, changed in Name only. Touching the Act of Oblivion offered; It is no doubt, the effect of a great desire the King of Scots hath to receive that which he pretends unto, in the Government of England, An Acknowledgement of his Power to dispense such Favours: But in the mean time we must observe, who it is that makes this Offer, A Traitor to the Parliament and People of England, and who by his past Actings against them, hath rendered himself obnoxious to their severest Censures, from which we hold him no way Absolved by Assumption or Declaration of a Scotish Kingship. He who by Law and his Gild stands incapable of the meanest Privilege amongst us, Doth he think himself qualified to Exercise the Greatest? Shall the Malefactor be presumed to have Power to give Pardon to his Judge? Or do the Scots or their King imagine, under pretence of an Act of Oblivion, to seduce England to receive their Laws from Scotland? The Obstructers of real Reformation we are as much against, as he or they can pretend to be, as by our Acts and Actions appears; Amongst which, we reckon it not the least, That that Grand Enemy to Reformation, the Father of the now Declarer, after his long and Bloody progress made in Destruction and Devastation of the Innocent people in the Three Nations (the Gild whereof upon him, being a Truth so apparent, as both Himself and Son, and our now Enemies of Scotland, have been forced to acknowledge) hath been by Our Authority Tried, Adjudged and Executed, for his notorious Treasons, Tyrannies and Murders; whereof, whatever the Interpretation be given by the Son of that Murderer, or other his Partisans, Old or New Malignants, late Apostates, or detestable Neutrals, who style the Act of Justice, Murder (with like Truth and Reason, as those who call Good, Evil, and Evil, Good; Light, Darkness, and Darkness, Light) We, for our parts, bless God for that opportunity put into our hands, of offering that Sacrifice to Divine Justice, towards vindication and cleansing of our Land from that Blood, wherewith, by that Murderer and his party, it was so miserably defiled. And as we have been obliged in a faithful and conscientious discharge of that Power and Trust committed to us by God, and the People of this Nation, to Avenge that Innocent Blood upon the Head of that Tyrant, and some others, the chief Authots and Actors under him in shedding thereof: So for the seduced Multitude, and those who in simplicity have been misguided by them, to act to their own and countries' ruin, We have, in the view of all, expressed our tenderness and forbearance towards them. And being invested with the Authority of the Nation (whose Representative we are) in that behalf, as to such misled persons, The Parliament of England thinks fit further to declare, That as they have already long since had it in their thoughts, and for that purpose have under consideration, An Act of general Pardon (in the progress whereof they have been interrupted, by the renewed Endeavours of Charles Stuart, and his Adherents, to disturb the Peace of this Commonwealth, and hinder its Settlement) they will with all convenient speed apply themselves to the passing of such an Act; And in the mean time do expect from all persons living under the Protection of this Commonwealth, That they make not themselves any way Aiders or Abettors of the said Charles Stuart, in his Pretences to the Government of this Nation, under what fair and specious shows soever, upon the penalties in the Laws in that behalf provided. §. 5. THe Committee of Estates of the Kingdom, and General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, having declared so fully in what concerns the Sectaries, and the present Designs, Resolutions and Actings of their Army against the Kingdom of Scotland: And the same Committee and Assembly having sufficiently laid open public Dangers and Duties, both upon the right hand and upon the left, It is not needful for his Majesty to add any thing thereunto; except, That in those things he doth commend and approve them, and that he Resolves to live and die with them, and his Loyal Subjects, in prosecution of the Ends of the Covenant. ANSWER. THe Parliament of England, and also their Army, having so fully declared the Justice, Necessity and Ends of undertaking the present Expedition into Scotland; and having also put it in a way how those Declarations from the Committee of Estates, and Commission of the Kirk, in Answer thereunto, shall have their invalidity detected (as some of them already in part have been) It will be needless to say any thing further on this subject in this place. §. 6. ANd whereas that prevailing party in England, after all their strange Usurpations, and insolent Actings in that Land, Do not only keep his Majesty from the Government of that Kingdom by force of Arms, but also have now Invaded the Kingdom of Scotland, who have deserved better things at their hands, and against whom they have no just quarrel; His Majesty doth therefore desire and expect, That all his good Subjects in England, who are and resolve to be faithful to God and to their King, according to the Covenant, will lay hold upon such an opportunity, and use their utmost endeavours to promove the Covenant, and all the ends thereof; and to recover and re-establish the Ancient Government of the Kingdom of England (under which, for many Generations, it did flourish in peace and plenty at home, and in Reputation abroad) and Privileges of the Parliament, and Native and Just Liberty of the People: His Majesty desires to assure himself, That there doth remain in these so much confidence of their Duty to Religion, their King and Country, and so many sparkles of the ancient English Valour, which shined so eminently in their Noble Ancestors, as will put them on to bestir themselves for the breaking the Yoke of those men's Oppressions from off their Necks: Shall men of Conscience and Honour set Religion, Liberties and Government at so low a Rate, as not rather to undergo any hazard, before they be thus deprived of them? Will not all generous men count any Death more tolerable, then to live in servitude all their days? And will not Posterity blame those who dare attempt nothing for themselves, and for their Children, in so good a Cause, in such an Exigent? Whereas if they gather themselves, and take courage, putting on a Resolution answerable to so Noble and just an Enterprise, they shall honour God, and gain themselves the Reputation of Pious men, worthy Patriots, and Loyal Subjects, and be called The Repairers of the Breach, by the present and succeeding Generations; and they may certainly promise to themselves a Blessing from God upon so just and honourable undertaking for the Lord, and for his Cause, for their own Liberties, their Native King and Country, and the unvaluable good and happiness of the Posterity. Whatever hath formerly been his Majesty's guiltiness before God, and the bad success that these have had who owned his Affairs, whilst he stood in Opposition to the Work of God; yet the state of the question being now altered, and his Majesty having obtained Mercy to be on God's side, and to prefer God's Interest before his own, He hopes, That the Lord will be gracious, and countenance his own Cause in the hands of weak and sinful Instruments, against all Enemies whatsoever. This is all that can be said by his Majesty at present, to those in England and Ireland, at such a distance; and as they shall acquit themselves at this time in the active discharge of their necessary Duties, so shall they be accepted before God, endeared to his Majesty, and their Names had in remembrance throughout the World. Given at Our Court at Dunfirmlin the sixteenth day of August, 1650. and in the second year of our Reign. ANSWER. THat which was first in Design and lurking at the bottom, is now last brought forth into open view to be put into practice: Until the Scots King had thus washed himself clean with his verbal Repentances, had pretended a full persuasion of the Justice and Equity of all the Articles and Heads of the Covenant, and a casting of himself wholly upon the Advice of Parliaments, & Assemblies of Divines, in all Civil and Ecclesiastical matters in both Nations; He would have spoiled his own Affairs, and weakened the hands of all that should have joined with him, to have engaged in a new War against England, who have smarted and suffered too much already by the old; but now, after the Landscip of such Wonders as these is drawn forth into a piece of paper, and the state of the Cause and of the War would seem to be changed, What doth all this tend to, and what is the use that is to be made of it? Surely no other then that, which if all these things had been left undone, was his and the Scots proper Interest before, upon their old Account; that is to say, To stir up all Parties and Interests capable of his or their seducements, to take the first opportunity to embroil this Nation afresh in blood, that they might come in as Conquerors, and so make it, as much as in them lies, the saddest spectacle of ruin and misery that can be imagined; for what can be like an overrunning of the Nation by a Scotish Army, with their King in the Head of them, be their pretences what they will? And therefore, since it is so apparent what is the end and Design of this Declaration, It will become all true Englishmen to be more awakened then ever, to watch against, and resist to the last man, so pernicious and deep laid a Design, whereby at one blow to cut off and disappoint all that hath been fought for so many years together, and subject themselves to the power of a Foreign Nation, against whom God hath been pleased to give so wonderful a Testimony by the late signal Victory near Dunbar, the third of September, One thousand six hundred and fifty, upon Solemn Appeals made by both parties to Almighty God: And as it shall be our parts to omit no good means that God hath put into our hands, to prevent any Insurrections or Disturbances of the public Peace and Safety, by what hand soever carried on; so we do hold it our duty further to Declare, That whosoever shall be found (in pursuance of this Declaration of Charles Stuart the Scots King) promoting the Interest of him the said Charles Stuart, or any way engaging in the prosecution of the wicked Designs therein contained, They shall be proceeded against with much more severity than Delinquents in the former Wars, as to the judgement of Parliament shall be thought meet. Hen: Scobell, Cleric. Parliamenti. SInce the dispatch of this Answer, there came to hand the Copies of four Letters, written from the Earl of Loudoun, Chancellor of Scotland, to the King of Scots, which were taken in the said Chancellor's Cabinet among the spoils of the Scots, at the late memorable defeat of their Army in the Fields of Dunbar: By which seasonable Providence, a further discovery is made, of what was sufficiently evident before to all discerning men; both of the Scots continuing Design to invade England, had we not thus prevented them; and of the dissembling formality of their King's Repentance, so much cried up by them, upon his omitting (as they call it) this Declaration, and obtruded upon their credulous multitudes, and swallowed by their Party here for Interest sake: when hereby 'tis evident 'twas drawn by them in terminis, and extorted from him with Minatory importunities, and well demonstrates the little sense of Conscience or Honour in that Kings, & the desperateness of his hopes that pursues his end by such means. And it may further be observed, what sincerity can be expected from that Nation in any Public Transactions, when their great Minister of State dare make so bold with his King's Answer, as to alter it to what he thought would be●ter serve a turn; and offer that to their Parliament as their Kings, without ever consulting him in it, and that in a business of so great a concernment: The discovery of these juggle may be useful for those who have been imposed upon by the boldness of these Instruments, who without respect or reverence to truth, are wont to be bold with any thing that may conduce to their end. Die Veneris, 20 Septembr. 1650. THe Copy of a Letter from the Lord Loudoun to the King of Scotland, dated 9 Julii, 1650, and the Copies of three other Letters, all found in the Lord Loudouns Cabinet, were all this day Read. ORdered by the Parliament, That the said four Letters be all printed at the latter end of the Declaration, with the Circumstances when and where the same were found; And it is referred to Mr. Scot to take care to see them printed accordingly. Hen: Scobell, Cleric. Parliamenti. Most Gracious Sovereign, ALbeit there be no man rejoices more for your Majesty's safe Arrival in this Kingdom, or more desirous to wait upon your Majesty then myself; yet the duty of my place in attending the Parliament so long as it was sitting (where I did endeavour to be more serviceable to your Majesty than I could be elsewhere) and the distemper of my health, not permitting me to travel, I hope will plead pardon at your Majesty's hand, that I have not come to wait upon you; but so soon as I shall be any ways able to travel, I shall attend your Majesty; and shall not presume to trouble your Majesty with any particulars till then, resolving to make it my chief care and study how to improve the happy agreement (laid upon so pious and well grounded a Foundation of a Covenant with God and your People) to the best advantage, as may conduce most to his Honour, and the Recovery of your Majesty's just and undoubted Right of all your Kingdoms; than which, nothing shall be more faithfully and really endeavoured by Your Majesty's most Loyal Subject and humble Servant, LOUDOUN. Edinburgh, 9 Julii, 1650. Endorsed, A Copy of my Letter to the King's Majesty, 9 Julii, 1650. Most gracious Sovereign, THe Marquis of Argyle and the Earl Balclewgh, have communicated to me your Majesty's Answer to that Paper, which was presented by him and others to your Majesty, in Name of your Parliament and their Committee, concerning the Removal of some of your Servants and others from your Court and Royal Person: And considering that some parts of your Answer is such as would not be Satisfactory, I have presumed to alter it, and write it so, as I am confident will give good Satisfaction: For seeing your Majesty hath by your Answer to the same Desires, given full contentment to the General Assembly, I doubt not but your Majesty is willing to give the same conent to your Parliament and Committee of Estates: Therefore I trust your Majesty will pardon my boldness, for I know no better service can be done to your Majesty, than that any thing which proceeds from you, may be acceptable to your People, and that your Majesty may be more and more endeared in their affections; which is the duty, and shall be ever the desire of Endorsed, A Copy of my Letter to the King, July 22. 1650. Most gracious Sovereign, THe condition of your Majesty's Army here, and what our Resolutions are at present, will be so exactly shown to your Majesty by Sir James Lumsden, as I shall refer the particulars to his Relations, rather than trouble your Majesty with a long Letter; yet briefly I hold it fit to show your Majesty, That Cromwell hath gotten more than a month's provision for his Army by Sea, and that he expects shortly new Recruits: And victuals being so scarce, as it will be very difficult to entertain our Army in a Body till the Harvest, that Corns be cut and reaped, It's resolved, for this and other Reasons, That this Army shall march out to the fields nearer the Enemy, and (if they force us to fight) in God's strength to give them Battle; or (if they shall not pursue us) some Enterprise will be undertaken, to make a diversion to give the Enemy work in England, rather than consume us with a lingering War, and make the seat of it in Scotland. In order to which, your Majesty's hastening hither your Declaration is so necessary, as the delay of it will retard and obstruct any Expedition into England; and time is so precious, as the loss of opportunity can hardly ever be recovered: So praying God to bless your Majesty, and so direct your Counsels, and the actions of your Armies, as may serve most for his honour, & may restore your Majesty to your just Right. And, Sir, It is the desire and judgement of many, That Sir J. L. should be Lieut: General of the Foot, but was not thought expedient to do it presently, to shun contest and emulation; yet his affection to the Cause, and to your Majesty's Service, is such, as he is willing to give his best assistance in ordering the Army, and to act his part in a day of Battle: And truly Sir, he is a person of so much valour and experience in War, that your Majesty would give him all encouragement, and lay your Commands upon him, to return presently to the Army, and not leave it. Endorsed, A Scroll of my Letter to the King, Aug. 10. 1650. SIR, THere hath been so much said by these who are here, and those were sent from the Committee of Estates, and from the Commissioners of the General Assembly, to move your Majesty to emit that Declaration for satisfaction of the Church and State, and of such in all your Kingdoms as desire Religion and your Majestics Throne to be established, according to the Covenant, as I can add little to persuade your Majesty; yet if your Majesty shall ponder in the Balance of righteous judgement, the consequences will follow upon your granting or refusal, your Majesty will not deny it. If your Majesty grant and emit this Declaration, you satisfy the Church, the State, the Army, and all your good Subjects; They all concur to act for you, and the Army is ready (if they be not engaged in present Battle) to march into England, and leave Scotland, and all which is dear to them to the utmost hazard, and sacrifice their Lives for carrying on the Work of Reformation, and restoring your Majesty to your Right and Crown of England: And then, if there be any in England who dare appear for Religion, for their own Liberties, or for your Majesty's Interest, they will find a fit opportunity for it. Your Majesty is now obliged by the Oath of Covenant with God and your People, to promote the Ends of the Covenant in your Royal Station and Place, to the utmost of your Power. And your Majesty by the Treaty with this Kingdom, and in good Reason, is bund to follow the Counsel and Advice of your Parliament and Church, and of these who are by them authorized; and since this which is earnestly desired by both, as necessary for the good of Religion and the Covenant, and engaging of the Church and Kingdom to hazard their Lives and Estates for carrying on your Majesty's Interest, with the Interest of Religion, your Majesty should not deny, but cordially and speedily condescend to it. If your Majesty, after so earnest entreaty and such offers, from the Church, the State and the Army, shall refuse to satisfy the desire, and clear your Resolutions, your Majesty will grieve their Spirits, cool their Affections, and weaken their Hands: And since your Majesty refuseth to do what is necessary for the good of Religion and God's Interest, they will look to the safety and good of Religion, and to their own Safety, and emit a Declaration, how willing they are to hazard their lives for your Majesty's Interest, if ye had been for Religion; but that being denied, they will separate the preservation of Religion from your Interest, and so to the Safety of this Kingdom; and if there be a difference and separation upon those grounds, there will never, in humane appearance, be such a conjunction, and your Enemies (who will grant any thing which may destroy your Majesty) will win their ends. Endorsed, A Copy of my Letter to his Majesty, upon sending the Declaration to him to be Signed. FINIS.