A Letter from Holland, relating the designs of the Scotch Presbyter, together with the Usage of their King, being an Epitome of Mercurius Scoticus, lately Printed at Rotterdam, 1650.  
SIR, the Scotch Mist is so thick and dark, their policies so mysterious, that 'tis impossible for common eyes to pierce through into their designs; onely now and then a Blithe blinke happens, whereby the bright face of Truth may be discerned: and such an one I have lately met with, Mercurius Scoticus, a piercing lynceus that with a curious eye hath peeped into most of their Plots, and descried some secrets the world never knew before. To prevent the irksomeness of Reading, 'tis but an Epitome I sand: His main scope is, to demonstrate by pregnat proofs, That the Scotch Presbyter never intended Charles the II. should be their King, or to espouse his quarrel, or engage in a war with the English: for the truth thereof, he appeals to the judgement of every rational man, that will but perpend their actions both before His Majesties coming amongst them, at His arrival, and ever since His abode there.  
Before His coming into Scotland, Their Proclaiming him King, with a limitation, whereby regal Majesty became fettered in the snares of the Covenant. Their most unreasonable Propositions and Demands, sent by their Commissioners to the Treaty at Breda: Their new modeling the Scotch State after the English Mode: Their barbarous murdering the marquis of Montrosse, His Majesties general, and sundry others of His most loyal Subjects: Their bannishing all the rest in whom the least spark of loyalty appeared: Their stoping the mouths of all such Ministers as affencted Monarchy and hated Independency, and the Anti-monarchicall Sectaries: Their entrusting the Army and strengths of the kingdom to the sworn Enemies of Monarchy: Their committing the chief Government both of kirk and kingdom to such as had lifted up their hands against the royal Family, and by showing themselves so active in the late Rebellion against the Father, testified to all the world their endeavours to cut off his Posterity, Root and Branch: Their sending back William Murrey into Holland( after the marquis of Montrosse his death) to break off the Treaty before it was concluded; and if finished, to command their Commissioners in their name to disclaim it, as having proceeded further then either their Commission or Instructions did warrant them: and that their Commissioners by no means should bring home their King, for that he had Invaded the kingdom in time of the Treaty;( which indeed was no reason at all, because in that Treaty there was no Cessation agreed on) if Mr. Murrey had arrived in Holland before His Majesties shipping for Scotland, doubtless the Commissioners would not have presumed to have brought him thither.  
Then at His Majesties arrival: Their Inglorious Reception of their King, without preparation of any one of his houses, without making any provision or entertainment fit for a Prince: Their banishing all his Majesties domestic servants: Their forbidding any of the royal party to come within 10. miles of the Court: Their Ministers impudent Preaching, their disgraceful and dishonourable Language even to His Majesties face, touching his blessed Father, and the royal Family in their Court-Sermons.  
Lastly, during his abode there, Their receiving of him to the exercise of His regal power, with this limitation, that he Rule according the counsels of kirk and kingdom: their not putting themselves into a Posture of defence, till general cronwell had entred into the kingdom: Their not fortifying of Leeth: Their not Crowning of His Majesty, according to the Agreement at Breda: Their refusing to give fourscore Danish Officers entertainment, who landed last July at St. Andrews: their rejecting the assistance of all foreigners whatsoever: Their Casheering of those they call Malignants, both English and Scotch, to the number of 5000. Foot and Horse: Their not setting up His Majesties standard: Their not permitting him to remain in the Army: Their Publishing most dishonourable Proclamations and Declarations in His Majesties Name, together with the uncivil usage of His Majesty, even after general cronwell had defeated their Army at Dunbar; the cause of which overthrow they impute to His sins, and the sins of His Fathers House. By all these Evidences it is more then manifest, 'twas never the intention of the Scotch Presbyter to establish Charles the II. in His Fathers throne: and let the World judge, whether by these their Actions, they have not now approved themselves as treacherous, as the marquis of Montrosse privately by his Avisoes represented them to His majesty, and publicly to all the World by His Declaration.  
Sir, for confirmation of these truths, and your further satisfaction in every particular, I beseech you to peruse the Act of the 27. of June last, confirming the Treaty, together with all the Declarations put forth by the Scots since that month; but especially that which was set out by the kirk, and approved of by the Committee of State, Aug. 13. as also the Reasons of their Fast Published the 10. of Sept. following, where you shall find these to bee the grounds of their ensuing Fast.  
Ye are to mourn 

1. For the sins of the Nation in-generall.  
2. For the sins of our Commissioners, in bringing over our King so soon.  
3. For accepting of the King, before he had more sufficiently Repented him of his bypassed sins.  
4. For the not purging the Army of all Malignants.  
5. For the too much trusting the arm of flesh, &c.    
From these and the like Printed Declarations, you may most clearly, and assuredly collect the undeniable truth of that which Mercurius Scoticus endeavours plainly to prove by his Discourse.  

four Reasons why the Scotch Presbyter did not crown Charles the 2.  
First, Because it would beget in the hearts of his People a more reverend and honourable esteem of his Majesty: for though the Coronation in itself be but a Ceremony; yet in the Peoples esteem it is most essential.  
Secondly, Because at the Coronation the Nobility, Gentry, and Commons do take the Oath of Fidelity without limitation, which would shake off the Fetters their holy Covenant hath put upon our obedience.  
Thirdly, Because at the Coronation a general pardon is granted, which would be a means to unite all parties, and take away all Factious Exceptions.  
Fourthly, Because they could not agree whether he should be anointed, or not; the Scotch Presbyter having taught for these many yeares, that Princes are not the Lords anointed: and if to be anointed, whether it should be done by the Presbyter alone, or assisted by his Ruling-Elder.   
Sir: Touching the Scots affairs, since the defeat of their Army at Dunbar, the most exact account I have met with is this; Immediately after that defeat, his Majesty prudently endeavours a Reconciliation between all Parties, that all his Subjects, how ever formerly divided upon several Interests, might now unite and join against the Common Enemy: But the Presbyter, by Covenant a sworn Enemy to the King, and his Party, sought by all means to hinder this Union; and for that purpose Ker and Straughen, the two Kirk favourites, were brought off to divide themselves, and draw away a considerable Force into the West of Scotland, a part of the country well affencted to the English, and not forgetting the great benefit general cronwell had done them after Preston fight, in freeing them from the power and oppression of the Hamilton Forces: And this divided Party were they, who fearing the miscarriages of all affairs both in State and Army, might bee imputed to them, according as they had justly deserved, began to cry whore first, and cast dirt in his Majesties face, to save themselves, and their own reputation.  
But the King perceiving his Royal Endeavours to bee blasted by the calumnies of some, that countermined his designs, and the daily insolences of the ministry, that continually aspersed his blessed Father, and himself in all their Sermons, growing intolerable; besides the contempt the State put upon him, not so much as admitting him to bee present at their Debates concerning public affairs, took up a Resolution to cast himself upon his Loyal Subjects( that had then newly entred an Engagement for him) choosing rather to die Gallantly in the field with his sword in his hand, then sit still at St. Johnston, as an Image or Shadow of a King: and watching his opportunity he passed the River of Tay, and made his escape to Clova in Angus, where the same night he was discovered, through the negligence of some of his servants, and shortly after surprised by Robert Mongomery, and being brought back to St. Johnston, his ill usage was ten times worse then before, the Presbyter not sparing to blaspheme him to his face, and revile him in the most insolent and disgraceful manner they could invent.  
Notwithstanding his Majesties surprisal, the Royal Party in the North do not desist from their Loyal and Honourable Intentions, but make their advance Southwards, in hope by some means or other to effect the Kings freedom: Upon their march they hear of Sir John Brownes Regiment, and two more commanded by Colonel maul, and Colonel Pitscotty, sent by the Kirk to suppress them: These they encounter valiantly at Glames in Angus, and by a gallant charge rout those three Regiments; which happy Victory so animated the Nobility and Gentry of those Parts, that they unanimously rise for the King: Divers also of David Leslees Troops revolted after that fight, and betook themselves to the right side; but it did so greatly terrify the Kirks Party, that they presently desire a Treaty, whereto the Royal Party condescended, upon condition Hostages be given on both sides; and to bee short, my Lord Ogilvy was accepted of for the Royal Party, and Dumfernling for the Kirk.  
At this Treaty the more the King and his side condescended, the more insolent grew the Kirk in their Demands; insomuch that the Treaty broke up, without satisfaction to either Part: No sooner was that dissolved, but presently the Kirk thunder out Excommunications against the Royal Party, and nothing would appease them, till his Majesty was constrained to command general Middleton, the earl of Athol, and marquis Huntley, to disband, which in obedience to his Majesties Authority, immediately they did.  
Now the Kirk having gained the point they aimed at, command David Leslee, with the greatest part of his Army to march into the North of Scotland, there to recruit his broken Regiments, and to secure the persons of all Malignants; No sooner did this news arrive in the North( as ill news flies apace) but the Engagers betake themselves to their arms, and stand upon their guard, general Middleton once more accepting of the Command, as well for his own safety, as the preservation of his Majesty, and his Interest; And that he might be sure to leave no Enemy behind his back, he presently marches Northwards, and takes in the Garrison of Straboggy, and the bog of Gight, two strong houses, belonging to marquis Huntly, thereby very much increasing his Army; with which now grown to a considerable Body, he advanceth Southwards, resolved to fight David Leslee: but when the Armies faced each other, Leslees men began to mutiny, and refused to fight against their own countrymen; This begot a Treaty, and that a friendly Accord between the Generalls; where 'twas agreed on by both parts, that all true hearted Scots, lovers of their King and country, should now unite and join against the Common Enemy, who miserable wasted their country, and had barbarously killed in cool blood, and starved divers of their countrymen, whom they carried Prisoners into England.  

The Heads of that Agreement were:  
1. That an Act of Indemnity should bee passed, which might include all persons.  
2. That a free Parliament bee called, to meet towards the end of December.  
3. That his Majesty bee solemnly crwoned.  
4. That the herdmen bee debarred from intermeddling with Civill or Military affairs.   
Whilst these things are acting at home, there are some stirring Instruments abroad, that have endeavoured to sow some jealousies between the King and his Brother, the Duke of york; and for that purpose it is thought W. M. the Kirk-Agent hath procured a Warrant from the King to bring the Duke into Scotland, that if it may serve for the Kirks advantage, they may ruin the two Brothers both at once: For I can assure you, that before the Presbyter will lose his supremacy over Princes, he will join with the greatest enemies of Monarchy utterly to destroy it.  
Sir, I beg your pardon for creating you all this trouble, who must subscribe myself,  
Your most humble servant. From Rotterdam 10 / 20. Novemb. 1650.  
Sir, By the next you shall receive the rest of Mercurius Scoticus Epitomized.   

Printed at Rotterdam. 1650.