A LETTER FROM The House of Commons assembled in THE Parliament of ENGLAND at WESTMINTER, To the Right Honourable and Right Reverend, THE Lords, Ministers and others of the present GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the Church of Scotland sitting at Edinburgh,  
CONTAINING A NARRATIVE OF The Proceed of the Parliament of England in the Work of Reformation, and of their Resolutions to maintain the Government of the Kingdom established by Law, and of their Endeavours for Settlement of Peace, and for Preservation of the Union between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland.  
London, Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the Honourable House of Commons. 1648.   

For the Right Reverend, Mr. George Gillespy, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland at EDINBURGH.  
SIR,  
I Am commanded by the Commons assembled in the Parliament of England, to send you the enclosed Papers, which they desire you to communicate from them unto the Right Honourable and Right Reverend, the Lords, Ministers and others of the present General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, or to their Commissioners; which being all I have in Command, I shall only add, that I am,  
Sir, Your very loving Friend, WILLIAM LENTHAL, Speaker. Westminster, August 3. 1648.   

WE the Commons assembled in the Parliament of England, taking it into our consideration, That however the late possessing of Berwick and Carlisle, and the coming of the Scotish Army and Forces into this Kingdom, be most notorious and unparallelled Breaches of the Solemn League and Covenant, and the many Treaties, National Agreements, and Acts of Parliament passed both in England and Scotland.  
Yet, because we are assured these impious and unwarrantable Actions cannot be done with the Approbation and Consent of the Religious and Well-affected people of the Kingdom of Scotland; and that we understand there are very few amongst these who are in this Engagement against us, that first engaged with us in the Covenant and Cause, but such as have been professed Enemies to them, however they be now content to pretend thereunto, that they may the better deceive the people of this Kingdom: We are unwilling to impute such Evils to the Nation in general, but to those persons that own and appear in them, whom we are confident, God (that hath still so remarkably manifested his displeasure against Truce-breakers) in his due time will judge, whatever we may suffer in the mean while.  
Therefore we now send to you, that it may appear we will not by any provocation be induced to withdraw ourselves from those in Scotland who retain their former Principles, and still own the Cause wherein we have (with blessing from heaven) been so long engaged and solemnly United.  
And because the Enemies thereof have been very industrious in prosecuting a Design to hinder the Work of Reformation in this Kingdom, by raising many Scandals and Reproaches upon us; and by unworthy Insinuations of our Ends and Intentions, and false Representations of our Actions and Proceed, which they have framed suitable to the several present stirring Distempers, the better to foment Discontents in all sorts of people against us; charging us, That we do not intent any thing in the Work of Reformation (though they do more malign what we have done already, then desire we should do more) That we have a purpose to alter the Government of the Kingdom, That we are Enemies to Peace, and to the Union of the Kingdoms, and such like. Therefore, That by such practices neither you may be abused, nor we further wronged, We have thought fit for our own necessary vindication, to give you (in the first place) a short view, how far (through the assistance of Almighty God, to whom alone be the glory) the two Houses of Parliament have proceeded in the work of Reformation, notwithstanding the opposition of the Enemies to Truth, and the great dangers and difficulties which have been raised, to hinder them, by the force and power, Plots and Designs of the Popish, Prelatical and Malignant party in this Kingdom, with whom the Scotish Army are now joined in Forces and Counsels.  
It is very well known how great a party in this Kingdom were engaged for upholding of Prelacy, yet they, notwithstanding all discouragements and hazards to themselves, have taken away and extirpated that Government, so disagreeable to what is practised in other Reformed Churches, and prejudicial to the power of Godliness.  
And because the peace of the Church, and power of Religion cannot long continue without good Order and Discipline established therein, they called an Assembly of Godly, Learned, and Orthodox Divines from all parts of the Kingdom, with whom some Commissioners of the Church of Scotland joined, to sit at Westminster; and after Consultation had with them, Both Houses took away the Service-Book, commonly called The Book of Common-Prayer, and established A Directory for Worship, commanding the practice of it in all the Churches and Chapels of this Kingdom: And, in stead of Episcopacy they have set up Presbyterial Government in the Church, which is already settled in many parts of the Kingdom, and do (by God's assistance) resolve to pursue the further perfecting and establishment of it in all parts, both in England and Ireland.  
They have approved and passed The Confession of Faith (or Articles of Christian Religion) as it came from the Assembly of Divines, with some small Alterations (only some small part is yet under consideration) the rest being printed and published by Authority of Parliament.  
They have passed a greater and less Catechism that came from the Assembly of Divines.  
They have taken away all Superstitious Ceremonies and Popish Innovations.  
They have given Authority for the Demolishing of all Representations of any Persons of the Trinity, Saint or Angel, and taking away all Altars, Crosses, Crucifixes, Pictures, and all other Monuments of Idolatry and Superstition in any Church, Chappel or Place within this Kingdom.  
They have passed an Ordinance for the punishing of Blasphemies and Heresies.  
They have passed an Ordinance for the Ejecting of Scandalous Ministers and Schoolmasters; and thereupon have removed many, in whose stead they have placed godly and able Men.  
They have passed an Ordinance, That none shall enter into the work of the Ministry, but such as are Ordained thereto.  
They have given all the Encouragement, and made the best provision they could for the maintenance of a godly Preaching Ministry through the Kingdom, not only in removing the Ignorant and Scandalous, but in augmenting Maintenance for painful Ministers, both out of the Impropriations of Bishops, the Estates and Revenues of Deans and Chapters, and out of the Impropriations of Delinquents, which they bought out and settled upon Churches that wanted maintenance, to a very great value.  
They have purged the Universities and chief Schools of the Kingdom (which are the Seminaries of Learning, and Education of Youth) of many Heads of Houses, Fellows and Scholars as were Superstitious, Prelatical and Malignant, and have placed in their stead such as are well-affected to Reformation of Religion, and Uniformity with other Reformed Churches.  
They have passed several Ordinances for the better Observation of the Lords day, and days of public Fast and Thanksgiving, and have condemned all Licentious practices upon those days; and have ordered the Books formerly written in favour of them, to be publicly burnt.  
They have suppressed all Stage-Plays and Interludes (the Nurseries of Vice and Profaneness.)  
And although we must needs say, That the greatest let and impediment which we have met with in settling the Reformation of Religion (according to the Covenant) hath come from His Majesty, who by His refusing hitherto to grant our Desires for the taking away of Episcopacy and the Service-Book, and to settle the Directory for Worship, and Presbyterial Government; and by denying his concurrence to establish them by Act of Parliament, hath given great occasion to men of unsound Judgements, to spread their Opinions and Errors (which is not unusual in times of Reformation) when the settling of it is long delayed.  
And further, by his declaring in his late Message from the Isle of Wight, That he thinks himself obliged both as a Christian and as a King, to employ whatever power God shall put in his hand for the upholding of Episcopacy, he hath given great encouragement to the Popish, Malignant and Prelatical party to endeavour by Plots and Designs, and now again by open force, the reintroducing of Episcopacy and the Service-Book, which by the Conjunction of the Scotish Army with their Forces, they have now great hopes to effect; yet (by God's assistance who hath helped us hitherto) it shall be our care and endeavour against all dangers and discouragements whatsoever, to proceed in the work of Reformation until it be perfected.  
For other things wherewith we are commonly aspersed; as, That we should have intentions to alter the Fundamental Government of this Kingdom; both Houses have endeavoured so to stop the mouth of malice by declaring several times formerly, and of late the 26. of May, That they will not alter the Government by King, Lords and Commons, that we shall need to say no more of it.  
And for our desires of Peace, our seven several Addresses to the King, with Propositions for a safe and well grounded Peace, will sufficiently speak for us: And although the several denials which we have received from his Majesty formerly, and the present preparations for War by the Malignant party of both Kingdoms under pretence of Peace, might wholly discourage us, yet we (notwithstanding all the hazards that may attend it) now again agreed to try whether a Peace can be settled by a Treaty with his Majesty in the Isle of Wight, upon the Propositions presented to him at Hampton-Court, wherein we shall (by the help of God) approve ourselves such as are both desirous of a firm Peace, and mindful of the trust reposed in us by the people of this Kingdom, for the securing of Religion and their Liberties.  
As for our desires to preserve the Union and Brotherly Agreement betwixt the Kingdoms, we shall not here say much about it, because the whole Transaction betwixt our Commissioners and the Parliament, and Committee of Estates of Scotland will be printed, wherein it will appear what was offered, in order to give them real satisfaction in our Engagements to them for the Service of their Armies in England and Ireland, to which we could never get any Answer; and what they demanded in the name and by the command of both Houses, from the Parliament and Committee of Estates of Scotland, concerning several English Delinquents and Incendiaries then in Scotland, which by Treaties and Acts of Parliament passed in both Kingdoms, aught to have been delivered to be tried in the Kingdom of England; but in stead of giving them up, they were countenanced and encouraged, consulted and agreed with to seize and hold the Towns of Berwick and Carlisle in the Kingdom of England, which by Acts of Parliament, and several Treaties and Agreements of both Kingdoms, were not to be garisoned without the consent of both Parliaments.  
And when in pursuance of those Treaties and Agreements, our Commissioners did declare those Traitors and Enemies to this Kingdom that had Garisoned them, and required the like Declaration from the Parliament and Committee of Estates of Scotland, it would not be assented unto, although very often pressed; but in stead thereof, all manner of Provisions were sent unto them, and the Commanders in those Garrisons (though many of them notorious Papists) had much freedom and countenance to their proceed by persons of eminent power in Scotland; whereas notwithstanding we had notice there was some design for seizing these Towns, which might have been prevented by our timely putting Forces into them, yet to avoid the guilt of breach of Treaties, we rather resolved to run the hazard which did ensue, then to bring that imputation upon ourselves: And now it appears, these Towns were but taken in trust to be delivered to the Scotish Forces, who however they do publicly declare for Religion and the Covenant, yet the Papists and Delinquents, not only in Berwick and Carlisle, but in other parts of the Kingdom, who are professed Enemies to Religion and the Covenant, and do kill, plunder and pursue those who have been faithful in them, are so well satisfied of their ends and intentions, that they join and hazard their lives and fortunes with them.  
Whilst these forementioned Counsels and Compliances were thus on foot in Scotland with those that are declared Enemies to the Peace of this Kingdom, and the grounds of the Union of both Kingdoms; The Parliament of Scotland did send us a Paper of Desires, dated the 26 of April last, which in the Letter wherein they were enclosed are called Demands, that implies a right which upon examination will not be found; yet the Houses were so desirous to give the Parliament of Scotland all possible satisfaction, that they did not take exception thereunto, nor to the person by whom they were sent, who was accused before them for endeavouring the Revolt of the Forces under the Lord Inchiquin in Ireland, which then had happened; Nor did they insist upon the first granting of their aforesaid just Demands made to the Parliament and Committee of Estates of Scotland, but perceiving so strange an Alteration in Scotland, they judged it fit for them to try in the first place, whether Scotland would own the Cause wherein we had both been engaged; And therefore (after our Commissioners had acquainted the Committee of Estates with our Declaration of the 6 of May last, concerning our full Resolutions to maintain and preserve inviolably the Solemn League and Covenant, and Treaties betwixt the Kingdoms) they did return Answer to this purpose, That we did offer to join with the Parliament of Scotland in the Propositions presented to the King at Hampton-Court, and in making such further proceed thereupon as should be thought fit for the speedy Settlement of the Peace of both Kingdoms, and preservation of the Union, according to the Covenant and Treaties; And when we should receive their Answer thereunto, the Houses would be ready to give further satisfaction in those things which should not entrench upon the particular Interests of the Kingdom, and Privileges of the Parliament of England. But to these, all the Answer our Commissioners could obtain from the Parliament or Committee of Estates of Scotland, was, That they could return us no Answer, till just satisfaction were given to their Desires of the 26. of April.  
Afterwards we agreed upon a Personal Treaty with the King's Majesty upon the Propositions, (He first consenting to three Propositions, which in substance He had granted in former Messages) And the Houses sent to the Committee of Estates, that Scotland would join with them, and that they would prepare such Propositions as they thought fit for that Kingdom: But to this neither we nor our Commissioners received any Answer, until a Scotish Army had invaded this Kingdom, and then it was sent with a Declaration; of which we will say no more in this place, but that considering they were bound by Treaties and Act of Parliament to give us three month's warning before their making War with us, it had been more Honourable that their Declaration had rather come before, then followed after their Army.  
By all which, and by their vigorous pursuing the raising of their Army, before they sent their desires, and ever after, before they knew what Answer would be returned to them by the Houses, it doth appear, That this invasion was intended and resolved upon, let us say or do what we would; wherein they have too little considered how many obligations did lie upon them to the contrary; how much this their Engagement tends to the utter ruin of poor Ireland, who by their drawing away so many of the British and other Forces to join with them, and disinabling us to send them relief, is exposed to eminent hazard; how much to the dishonour and danger of the Reformed Religion in all Christendom, and how highly the God of Truth and Peace is provoked by it; which evil seeing we have on our parts so much laboured to prevent, we doubt not but God will be with us, and the prayers of his people for us; And that those who have dealt falsely in striking hands with the common Enemy, to kindle a new fire betwixt these Kingdoms, shall themselves perish therein.  
H: Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.  
FINIS.