The Last NEWS From the North.  
SHOWING Our brethren's farewell and Fidelity in delivering up of Newcastle, Carlisle, Durham, Hartlepool, and other Northern Garrisons into the hands of the Parliament.  
AS ALSO Their full intentions to march speedily against Montrosse, Kilketto, Antrim, with the rest of that barbarous crew.  
With some special observations thereupon, vindicating our Brethren of those many jealousies cast upon them by the adverse party, which should be a strong motive to stir up our English hearts to bless God for their Brotherly assistance and faithfulness in this cause.  
Also some Objections against Independency.  Psal. 124.2, 3. 
If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men risen up against us,  
Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was was kiindled against us.  Psal. 133.1. 
Behold how good and pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity.  
Written by J. H. a Well-willer to the Commonwealth.  
LONDON, Printed by E. Purslow. 1646.   

THe last News from the North.  
Honoured Sir,  
THe eyes of the whole Kingdom looking this way, true Intelligence cannot but be acceptable. The Kings leaving Newcastle, and of the manner of taking leave mutually between him and us, is no news, nor the Paper de 〈…〉 Murrey for Montrill; nor major-general 〈◊〉 possessing Newcastle, and of the paying of the 200000. l. and how Durham, Carlisle, Hartlepoole, and other Northern Garrisons have been delivered up to the Parliament; these things are now no news.  
I shall now tell you of the manner of our march, which was very civil, we went from Newcastle to Morpith, where we stayed till our Artillery (which was brought up by English) came to us; from hence we intent to Alnewick, and so to Northam, and then we shall soon be over the River tweed; we have ten days allowed for our march, but General Leven hopes to finish it in five.  
When we come into Scotland, we know not the place of Rendezvouz, some think near Edinburgh, we shall disband all but 5000. Foot and 11800. horse which shall be employed against Montrosse, Kilketto, and the rest of that barbarous crew, which yet hold some small Mountain Garrisons, which we shall soon reduce and then we shall be able to assist our poor Brethren in Ireland.  
Out of Scotland we hear of the great preparations of our friends to welcome us home, expressing much cheerfulness to hear of our daily motion towards them.  
I had almost forgot one particular very remarkaable, how General Leven executed one of his Soldiers for murder, which gives great content to the Country people; they came in to our assistance, to throw down the hedges and make the ways even for our march, rejoicing to see such harmony at the farewell, being glad that the work is so well ended; and the rather, because many wicked people would have rejoiced at our divisions, and laid a foundation for more misery by a second War.  
By the next, (hoping that this may come safe to your hand) you shall hear from me out of Scotland. In the interim, I have no more to say, only Sir, that I am  
Your obliged Servant, Ja. Anderson, Morpith, Feb. 11. 1646.   

HAving perused much joyful News from the North; I could not let it pass without some Observations thereon: I must confess it is but a mite of thankfulness, I could wish it might be a Monument, that being erected, might eternize the honour of the Scottish Nation, which they have purchased by their Fidelity to our Kingdom: I wish it might swell future Chronicles to large Volumes of Thankfulness; let it be written in leaves of Marble with a pen of iron, that it may be able to withstand the devouring teeth of envious Time, never, never to be forgotten, till all things shall confess their ashes, and time shall be no more. Would I could persuade our English Countrymen to prepare their hearts and enlarge their Meditations to let in these mercies, that our unworthiness tells us we have not merited; Here's a Union worthy to be commemorated to all posterity: No more Anglia & Scotia, but Britain, Famous Britain, England and Scotland united; Two made One.  
Here therefore you shall have in an Epitome the faithfulness of our Brethren, a great deal of matter in a little room: The Discourse needs no Division, it's of Union. To tell you of our brethren's coming to our Assistance, were but to tell you, that that hath been delivered by former Pens.  
One may observe very many circumstances that makes this courtesy very acceptable, they owned us, and that in the day of our distress; they helped us, when we could not help ourselves, and when some that were amongst us, were risen up against us.  
'Twere not unseasonable to speak of the time in which they came into our aid, and helped the Lord against the mighty: They took a hard march, a hard task, in a hard season, fight with a potent, stubborn, powerful adversary, who was well appointed, ready Garrisoned, provided, and prepared to receive an enemy, though very powerful and formidable.  
Amongst the many things that might be spoken in our brethren's commendation, this I account as none of the least, viz. the great doubt which party would prove Conqueror; 'tis sufficiently known with what variety of faces the truth of this appeared, the most judicious could not tell, whether we might be reckoned amongst the living or the dead.  
But our provident God foresaw all, the Lord of Hosts (that was (and is) the giver of victory) hath crowned our sufferings with the happiness that we now enjoy: Our Prayers are turned into praises, our sighs into Songs of deliverance; for our War we have peace, for fear of utter ruin, the fruits of a present happiness: For our former wants (in which we did abound) we have as much felicity, as the frailty of man is capable of: You know who it was that said, Sorrows may endure for a night, 
Psal. 30.5.  but joy cometh in the morning: We have had our Night, a black, dark, sad stormy Night, but now the bright beams of the morning hath dispelled all these vapours, and we have our morning of happiness, after our night of misery: We have had news of this Town lost, that Castle lost, that Garrison surrendered, 
Witness that barbarous act of P. Rupert at Bolton in Lancashire.  another Fort yielded, and all our men massacred: We had then many of Jobs messengers; but yet (we see) we are left alive as living Monuments of the Lords mercy, and do reap the fruits of this blessedness, which our Brethren have purchased with their dearest blood.  
And here I may fitly speak a word of those that died in defence of this cause, (England's Cause for her Rights and Liberties) may we not envy their Happiness? they act their parts gloriously in Heaven, that acted them well on earth, they are raised to the highest pitch of happiness, most fortunate, most blessed, most wise, most all, they dwell all upon superlatives, Quis non optaret sic moriendo mori? How noble is it to die in a justified cause? A cause so just, so righteous, so equal, that we may justly pronounce those unjust and wicked, that would have rather let it sunk then patronise it:  
Our lukewarmness here at home could not do that that their zeal hath performed, 'twas that that set them on this work and acted it for them: If I should descend to particulars, and take a view and a regard full search of their zeal in this Reformation, I should swell my Pamphlet beyond its intended brevity: I shall name one act of our brethren's of late, (if I did not speak, the thing would speak itself,) I must confess it quadrates well with my Genius, viz. their care for the observation of the Lords day, to which end they have provided, and so ordered, that no Fairs or Markets be kept on Mondays or saturdays, and I hope there's none but will agree with me in this point, but that it is a very worthy act, a memorable Act, and worthy of our best imitations; they have hitherto chalked out a way for our Reformations; if we tread in their steps in this particular, the world will not call us unhapy, having such good Conductors, 
Josuah 22.  and so good a Copy to write after.  
The two Tribes and a half, after they had helped their Brethren to conquer the promised Land, in their return homewards built an Altar of testimony, the end why is showed in the 24. vers. lest the Children of Israel might say to the children of the two Tribes and a half, What have you to do with the Lord God of Israel? The name of the Altar was Eol (which being translated by the holy language) is a Witness, this was a Witness, lest in time to come the seed of the children of Israel might say to the seed of the two Tribes and a half, Ye have no part in the Lord: The plainness of the History applies itself; if we can set up such a Witness between us for the Government of the Church, we shall be happy in a most absolute manner: so far I have deviated from my circumstances.  
But now I come to one more, and that is of the seasonableness of the deliverance; that in the very nick of time, they came in to do us good; and when we found we could not find a way how to break the power of our Adversaries, they interposed, and the controversies ended, the question's decided: To a poor condemned man there is nothing more acceptable as a pardon, and if it come in th' opportunity and nick of time (just before the intended execution) nothing comes more welcome: The Application makes itself. We were condemned, and (if same were not too lavish) our estates divided: The story of them that bought the Bear's skin is very remarkable, worthy only to be imitated of such greedy Chapmen. There's yet one thing that heightens the Deliverance, and that is that, after the burden had lain so long upon our backs that it should then be removed, when our miseries were at the highest pitch, in the superlative degree, the addition of more miseries could scarce have made us more miserable; who's then more welcome than a deliver? When a Coliah was in Arms against Israel, who more acceptable than a David? whose part our Brethrew hath so well acted, as that I am sorry for nothing more than that we are not able to reward them.  
We were a long season in the Furnace, but the seasonableness of the deliverance makes us forget all former miseries; Barclay says, That wars never last so long in England as in other Lands. 
Barclay ●cun. Animorum.  Costly experience tells us, this is rather a Fable then a Chronicle: You cannot think but that we escaped from Scythian cruelty, when we were like to be brought into an unworthy servitude; and virtue was like to become a slave to those that had sold themselves to Viciousness.  
Now (I hope) you will say, if these things deserve not an observation, and a perpetual commemoration to the honour of that famous Kingdom, the World will calls unthankful.  
Come we nearer to our Brethren that are gone from us, their names shall last the longest length of time, they are equivalent to the very best of men, inferior to none, the singular Ornamerits of this Age, Europe's wonder: These expressions proceed from me, because I do not desire that Valour should have Oblivion for its grave: But the memory of their Opponents shall perish, and their names shall be buried in the eternal night of Oblivion: And yet if you will have them recorded, let it be in times brazen-leaved book with ignominy and disgrace, there to remain as a Caveat for Generations yet unborn.  
Our brethren's carriage in these late affairs hath been terrible to their (and our) enemy, fear striking amazements to our Adversaries, that ere now have been so numerous, that the spacious fields could hardly afford room for their armed Troops; and now we see by our brethren's valour, fidelity and assistance, they are reduced to a better method, there scarce remaining a stump or stem of that huge Tree, that one while overspread whole Countries: for this their fame is gone out thorough the spacious Orb, and their victorious hands will be remembered by all succeeding Generations.  
Their zeal, their justice, their magnanimity hath made them inferior to none of their Predecessors in greatness of true glory, never, never to be blotted out of the Registers of memory.  
And left forgetful time should make us liable to ingratitude, 'twere not unfit that there were an annual Observation of this our brethren's Deliverance; and that as we are wont to write from the Gunpowder-Treason so many years; from the Spanish-Armada so many years; so to add this to the rest, Since England's grand Deliverance from her plundering conspirators, so many years: A plot that equallizes any of these two famous Deliverances, an adversary that would have despoiled us of our lives, livelihoods, goods and fortunes, and (had it been feacible) they would have plundered us of our God, of our Religion, of our being and well-being, I hope (you well borne Englishmen) your hearts will tell you that I speak no more than the greatness of this Deliverance calls for.  
'Twere easy to be infinite, the deeper I dig in this golden Mine, the more my fancy is enriched; yet all this will speak us Atheists, if we speak no other language before the conclusion. We know why Herod was eaten up of worms, 
Acts 12.23.  because he gave not God the glory: Let us look then to that primum mobile, In whom we live, and move, and have our being: 
Acts 17.28.  Let the glory of the day be given to him that is the Giver of the day; we do not attribute these performances to man, we know that he is not proportioned for such employments, such high affairs; Man is not able to conquer himself, much less his enemies.  
But one Observation I mark in our Adversaries, they were haughty and self-confiding men, when as we know that there is no such enemy as a patiented, humble, selfdenying enemy: Experience reaches us, that the highest structures have the lowest foundations; and it is not the high Towering Rocks, but the humble Valleys that are fruitful.  
And now let us imitate the Prophet David, who after the receivall of many mercies, poses himself with a What shall I render? When we are in afflictious, the first thing is Prayer, and being delivered, the next must be praise; so that we may conclude that there's no deliverance, where God does not foresee a Thankfulness; without this we shall be without God.  
If we receive the Lords Mercies without a grateful retribution, and an humble acknowledgement, we shall turn his Mercies into Judgements, his Blessings into curses, 2 Cor. 7.21, 22.  
There's mention made of Solomon's Temple, how that if then the people (a people of so many mercies) should fall off, why this house which is so high shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth; so that he shall ask, why hath the Lord done this unto this Land? If we be ungrateful, Pharaoh like our hearts will be hardened; and as God's Mercies increases, so will our sins.  

Acts 8.  Let us therefore of this City imitate the Citizens of Samaria, where we read that the Church was much in affliction, and much in Deliverance, much in sorrow and much in joy; sorrow for their afflictions, joy for their deliverance.  
And therefore in the 8 vers. it is said, There was great joy in that City; And Prov. 11.10. 
Prov. 11.10.  When it goeth well with the City, the Righteous rejoiceth: the words may be very well inverted.  
God's people are sometimes a mourning people, anon a rejoicing people, in variety of estates and conditions, in Canaan and in Egypt, 12. wells of waters as Elim, but bitter water at Maras.  
We have had our Egyptian bondage, now we have our blessed Liberty and refreshment.  
I think if I should here lay down some Arguments that calls for thanks, it were not amiss, but truly I find them so many, and so great, that I stand amazed which to touch at first, here's poverty in plenty.  
First then, for the Gospel, it being a blessing, the fruit of which, because we always enjoy, we should always acknowledge in an eminent manner, the enjoyment of which in its purity is derived down to us from our brethren's Fidelity.  
For the thrice-fortunate and famous union of the two Nations; this multiplies and advances our joys; Now we must pray that these two thus joined, thus made one, by an invincible Union, may ever be able to preserve our Joys, that these Great Joys may procure Great Acknowledgements; so that by this our Happy Union no Foreign Enemy (how potent soever) unless he be weary of his own Fortunes, will dare ever to offend us.  
And if we look to our Ancestors, there's an 88 a famous deliverance. 
3. Armado.   
And that other miraculous deliverance that is still fresh in our memories, of 1625. 
4. Proved. plos.   
And then (for I cannot number them all) if we come to mercies of a latter date, 
5. Parliam.  and never to ourselves; how many Obligations of thankfulnesses lies upon this Kingdom for this Parliament? 
E cujus pendet nostra salute salus.  whom God hath given to regulate the inconveniences, exorbitancies and errors, both in Church and State; when as a famous Writer of this age saith; 
Dr. Brown in his Religio Medici.  that by the ambition and avarice of Prefates, the fatal corruption of Times, Religion has been decayed, impaired, and fallen from its native Integrity: in so much that it required the careful and charitable hand of these times to restore it to its primitive Integrity; by these Worthies we enjoy what we do enjoy: if I should go about to particularise, there would not be room for all our Miseries, nor for all our Mercies.  
I should come in a word or two more to our Brethren, for my zeal to them makes me confess, that there's no mercy that I enjoy, but next under God) I account them the Authors of it. I should not conclude here were it not for that they say of Hercules, who ever dispraised him but an Enemy? There's none that speaks ill of them, that deserves so well, unless it be their enemies, whose tongue at no time is a slander.  
And now I should here have concluded, were it not for some new thoughts that do arise, and that is the disappointment of all our adversaries that did wait upon our divisions, and would have boasted at our falling out. And of them we know that there are two sorts, the one an open professed enemy, one that not long since was in open Rebellion against the Parliament, a Malignant, stubborn adversary; the other the close private Sectary, which mingles himself amongst us, and goes along with us in many things, yet perhaps he also would have rejoiced to have seen us ruin each other, their hopes are both frustrated; concerning the former I think it in vain to use any arguments to persuade them.  
And for the latter, I wish I could bring any water to quench these flames, seeing so many add oil to augment them; 'tis come to it, that there is scarce a man that can enjoy a singularity in an error, without a Heresy, nor be the Author of an Opinion without he be of a Sect also.  
'Twere a good way to suppress these unhappy dissensions, if we would but suffer them to flame upon their own substance, without the addition of new fuel, and then they would go out insensible of themselves.  
They would be no longer Heresies, but bare Errors and single lapses of our understanding, without a joint depravity of our wills: but the nature of Heresy is like a Gangrene, still dilating itself, they that are troubled with it have depraved understandings, and diseased affections never thinking the disease to be far enough spread, till it be Epidemical.  
Let's consider that a Kingdom divided cannot stand, if it be divided with domestic factions it is easily conquered, but when it is perfectly united, it knows not its own strength; let us also know that there is a mean between both extremes, and that middle disposition between those two, is of transcendent excellency, being exactly framed to the Image of true perfection. Let us walk then in the middle way of the Gospel, neither following superstitious Popery, nor affecting licentious Liberty; the former must not rule, the latter shall nor, let the golden mean the Presbytery decide this great Church-controversie.  
there's an error on the right hand, so there is on the left, Prov. 7.24. There are thiefs on both sides, only Christ in the midst: that man reforms amiss, that receives wholesome admonitions, to avoid Covetousness, and becomes a Prodigal.  
A certain K. of France commands his Secretary to bring the best word, that ever he met withal in his reading: he brings him Moderation. Dedalus his advice to Icarus was, inter utrumpque vola, and Phoebus his council to Phaeton.  
Medio tatossimus ibis, ficta arguunt, the moral's good.  
They plead much for Ovid's golden age.  
Sponte sua, sine lege, fidem rectumque colebat, and this is the predominant homour of this age. Let's think of the many offences that will arise by liberty, when as restraint checks looseness, how did Spurta flourish by its Damasimbrotes restraining of youth.  
And never did Rome's Commonwealth dilate her borders more than by the practice of Legal Austerity, nor decrease more than by the introduction of Lawless Liberty.  

Peroratio.  
Twice commendable and laudable, if all of us could turn our disputes into prayers, and put up our Petitions unto Almighty God, one for the other, that he would be pleased to make a comfortable close of all our sad divisions, and pour forth the spirit of Reconciliation into the hearts of the people of this divided Kingdom.   
FINIS.