holy inocency is. blessed  
The Author of the Dove enclosed sends  
Intelligence, and counsel to his Friends;  
From West and North, and from Northwest she brings  
What she hath gathered; she reports of things  
In Action she might not stay the event;  
But make return to him from whom she went.    

Be wise as Serpents, innocent as Doves. THE SCOTISH DOVE Sent out, and Returning; Brings Intelligence from the Armies of both Kingdoms, and relates other Passages observable, for Information and Instruction.  
From Friday the of 1 August, till Friday the 8 of August, 1645.  
THursday last, after my Dove was fully plumed, her Intelligence given her, and her Packet sealed, there came some Intelligence of good News, which then I had no room to insert, (as you may remember) one was of the taking of Bash, of which I then gave you a brief relation; another was of the taking of the King's Lifeguard, or the most part thereof; they were passing over the River from Wales to Minhead, and so to Bristol, and in their passage were taken by a Frigate; The King (as is reported) was intended to follow, and in some danger, (or rather so near to such a happiness) to be taken about the same time: a third thing which I would have related last week, is the brave service done by Captain Shilburne of Alisbury, which I shall new briefly relate, because I find the Relation thereof made by some to differ much from the truth of the action; in brief, and for truth, it was thus: The King's Garrisons at Oxford, Walling ford, and Bostocke, being denied the money they had Levied upon the Country, toward Alisbury, threatened to come and Plunder the Towns, and burn their houses, etc. The Committee therefore sent out Captain Shilburne, with about 120 Horse & Dragoons to secure the Country; he went out on the Saturday, and stayed till Tuesday; in all which time he saw no Enemy: But on Tuesday about noon, he (being at Wadsdon, and his Horses unbitted) received Intelligence that the Enemy was coming against him with a strong party from Thame; Captain Shilburne, with all speed prepared, and encouraged his men: but before he could get ready, the Enemy got between him and Ethrop-house (which was their Garrison) and in striving to get a little lane, which is about the mid way between Ethrop and Wadsdon, their forlorn parties fell to blows, and presently their whole bodies; the Enemy being 240, we not above 120. But gallant Shilburne behaved himself so bravely, that he gave great encouragement to his Soldiers, and as much disheartened the Enemy; he charged the Enemy twice through, slew divers of them, some were men of quailitie, he wholly routed them, and took divers prisoners, he lost not above 8 men: the Enemy fled towards Oxford, and as they passed through Winchington, divers of them that were wounded stayed; some died there, some a little farther: and by the judgement of the Country that see them, there was not less than 100 of the Enemy wounded: Captain Shilburne received two flight hurts in the fight. Had some men (more forward to use the Pen then the Sword) done such a service (which they seldom do) all the Pamphlets would have rung of their Letters, in praise of the action: We know that empty vessels make the greatest noise. This brave Gentleman hath done several gallant services, and tells no body, nor will he let one of our Pamphlets be beholding to him for one letter; others will be beholding to the Pamphleter to blaze their Letters and their tainter-strecht Relations, which are fuller of words then of truths; It is the best praise of Virtue or Valcur, when the actions flowing therefrom, speaks it more than their own Pen.  
The Commissioners sent from the Parliament of England, to the Parliament of Scotland, set forward on their journey on Friday last.  
Colonel Harlow is made Governor of Cannon-Froome, the Garrison lately taken by the Lord General Leven: From which Army was certified lately, that they were marched over the Forest of Dean, and (as was conceived) they intended toward Monmouth: and thereupon it was generally reported, that the Lord General Leven had summoned the Town: but it was not so, for he struck off from the Forest to Hereford, and sent summons to it, but was refused by the Town: He is now before the Town, hath laid close siege to it; sent for his great battering Pieces, and raised works and rampiers for battery: what the issue will be, I cannot tell you; that we leave to God, who I hope will give that Town and the rest shortly into the Parliaments hands.  
And thus much give me leave to say, for satisfaction to some, that although no great actions have been done by that Army since they came into these Southern or South-west parts, yet they have done great service (though easy) in hindering the King's designs & his recruits; and when God shall be pleased to put them upon greater action, I doubt not of their good and well performance of it; if men would have patience to stay God's time, and not look upon men as if they were Gods, able to do what they will; nor esteem of them worse than men: which are two extrenies between which men's fancies are too much divided, and too often fall upon prejudice by the one or by the other; it were well if men would avoid both these evils, and look upon men as men, without singularity, or prejudice, but only as instruments, by which God worketh to accomplish his own will.  
The Parliament have entreated General Leven to take care to keep the King on that side of Severne where he is, and to hinder his recruits as much as may be, and to keep any party from Cheshire and those parts; which no doubt he will do, and something else, of which I hope you will hear shortly. There are some Letters from Scotland this week, but they import no action or other news that concerns our Intelligence.  
There is care taken by the Parliament for the keeping in of the Enemy at Oxford, Bostock, Banbury, Walling ford, Dunington, and Basin, which will with all possible speed be effected, to the ease of all the Counties adjacent, and the better if all would freely join in the work for their own good. The Reformadoes that last went to the relief of Taunton are all to be employed in that service. Care is also taken for the affairs in Cheshire, etc. and for Newarke, though for the present they are injurious to the County of Lincoln. They have taken a Garrison called Torsey-house, about 4 or 5 miles from Gainsborough, they have burnt the house, & drawn up some Sluices, very prejudicial to the County. A care is taken to secure that County, and not only so, but to bring that hellish sanctuary of diabolical robbers into a better obedience; which if God be pleased to bless the design, will be of happy concernment to all those Counties, and to the Kingdom; I pray God prosper the work.  
Several debates have been in the house, about the establishment of the government of the Church in a Presbytery way, and settling all things therein according to the true meaning and sense of Sacred Scripture: As also to distinguish (as fare as is possible) between them that are Christians indeed, and those that are only Christians by name, etc. that such as are not fit to be partaker of holy things, (either by reason of their continued profane lives, or by reason of their dark ignorance) to receive the blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper, may be for a time separated from those that are fit & worthy receivers of those holy mysteries, till they be better instructed and admonished: yet so, as there shall not be any violence to force any man's conscience (as some have dreamt and given out in words to retard the work, and to raise jealousies) no otherwise then by holy and Christian exhortation, according to the rule of holy Scripture, that so we that profess Christianity, may be Christians indeed, and all of one mind, and one heart, as the Father and the Son are one; for Christ hath but one sheep-fold and one Shepherd; and he that entereth not in by the door into the sheep-fold, but by some other way, he is a thief and a robber. It is true, that all authorities and powers are made subject to Christ, both in heaven and on earth; yet all Christians and men are by Christ made subject to all lawful authorities on earth, for the powers that be are ordained of God, and we are all bound to submit thereunto, even for conscience sake, for so the Apostle teacheth: that is, in all things commanded by God, and in all things not forbidden by God; else were the sword put into the hand of the Magistrate in vain, which it is not: for Scripture tells us, He beareth not the sword in vain. Therefore, he that disobeyeth in either of these, resists the ordinance of God; as he that obeyeth more than this, transgresseth against the command of God; both which make him liable to wrath, and brings him in danger of damnation: I pray God we may all seriously consider it, and learn to be godly wise, that we may deny ourselves, forsake our own wisdoms, and our own righteousness, that God in Christ may be all in all unto us: If we thus do, and seek Peace one with another, God will surely give Peace to the Kingdom; else we cannot expect it from God as a blessing.  
The Garrison of Banbury hath of late done very much hurt to all the adjacent Counties, and do daily make incursions into all Roads; & have rob many Carriers that pass, Coventry Road especially; they are as perfect at that Trade, as if there were with them some of the Journeymen of the Lord of Loughboroughs which is the arch rob-Carrier of England; they bestir themselves devilishly, as if they were in their last year of liberty, now let lose to trouble the Inhabitants of the Earth.  
Sandall Castle, and Skipton in Yorkshire, are both besieged, the Enemy are yet wilful, and must be whipped into a better humour, which it is likely (by God's blessing) will shortly be done: There is great hopes of Lathamhouse, but no certainty.  
Major General Skippon is recovered very well in his health, and in great measure healed of his wounds, which is a mercy to the Kingdom; for he hath, as is still likely, to be a good instrument of good to the public.  
Lieutenant General Cromwell hath been sick of a Fever in Bridgewater, but is in part recovered; God be praised for the lives of such Worthies.  
Major General Browne is now in London, he hath made known to the House the estate of those Counties within his Commission, and is hastening the aid that shall be for their support.  
Major Temple is made Governor of the Garrison of Newport. Pagnell.  
Some Letters from Ireland, relate much cruelty daily executed upon the Protestant party by those Antichristian Rebe's, or rather Hellish Pagans; it is pittisull to relate, and very grievous to consider the immane deal of those bloody men: let us all seek God for them, and send them what help we are able, and God will in due time deliver them and us.  
I shall now endeavour to give you intelligence of the passages in the West. Last week I told you our Noble General, Sir Thomas Fairfax, was at Wells, and Major General Massey gone toward the enemy; which was true: but now the General is before Sherborne. He hath raised batteries, and made divers battering shot: his whole Army is there with him, quartered at all the Towns adjacent; Major General Massey is marched that way, towards him. The enemy, Goring and Greenvile, are between Exeter and Barstable; they have drawn out divers of their Ordnance from Exeter, to make them a Train of Artillery: his Majesty made our Noble General Master of his Ordnance at Naesby field, and Goring delivered all that was in his custody unto his charge at Langport and Bridgewater, and is now bringing more to him out of Exeter; if God please, they may all shortly be delivered to our General to keep, he knows how to use them well. His Majesty is somewhere in Wales, but I cannot tell you where; I will at this time obey his Proclamation (yet I never see it) and will not tell any man where he is. I know he is not where he should be; if he were, it would be a double happiness, not more to his subjects then to himself: God open his eyes, and show him the way to find out his errors, & misleaders; they hate him, but his Majesty loves them: but his Majesty loves not them that loves him most; he takes counsel with them that are the destroyers of counsel.  
It is by Letters certined from the General's Army, that he intends to advance speedily toward the enemy with his whole Body: the enemy draws all out of Cornwall, and their Garrisons, to make up a Body: it seems, they mean to have another field for their part; let them go on, and let God fight his own Battles, and judge between us and them. The inhabitants of Cornwall (though they are really goring friends, and that party to assist them) will not suffer Goring to come with his Army into that Country: and to that end they supplicate, lest our General following, their Country should be destroyed by both Armies; they begin to faint: if God give their Army now, with Greenvile and Goring, into the General's hand, all Cornwall will cry for mercy.  
Major General Massey is going toward Bristol (as is certified) with about 2500 Horse and Dragoones, and two or three Regiments of foot, to block up the enemy at distance; the Plague is still very hot in the Town.  
Farnley Castle, the House of Sir Hungerford, in the County of Wilts, hath yielded voluntarily to Sir Thomas Fainfax, and both Governor and soldiers submit to the obedience of the Parliament.  
The Club men are little spoken of in any County, it seems they are in a good way of submission; and it is not the least of the rest of God's mercies, that hath disposed so of things, that the enemy is disappointed in that plot and hope. The Clubmen of Hampshire generally have declared themselves, to cast themselves upon the Parliament for all matters of right, and to submit to such government of the Church, as by the Assembly shall be propounded to the Parliament, etc.  
There was a party from Basin House, that went to M. Wallops Park, called Farreley Park, and were there killing and spoiling the Dear; and the Country came in upon them, and beat them, took some of them, and divers of their Arms, the rest fled away. At a place called Tadley, about five miles from Basin, they intended to keep a Wake, and there came divers to sell Fruit, and Pedlars Beware, and it was to be kept the last Sabbath day; but on the Saturday night a party from Reading went thither, and took from them all their provisions, Pedlars packs, and other Knacks, which spoiled all their sport.  
There hath been debate in the House about sending Propositions to the King, if yet his Majesty will be pleased to accept thereof; and it was voted they would send Propositions by Bill, but without any Treaty. The world may see the Parliaments desire of peace, and their tender care of his Majesty's honour and preservation; provided it may stand with the safety of the Kingdom.  
There was published a Murcurous Britanicus on Monday last, dishonourable to the King; which the Parliament taking into consideration, have imprisoned both the Author and Printer: it is not the Author that used to write the first Britanicus. Aulicus of Oxford hath continually abused the Parliament in the basest language that a base heart could conceive, and his Majesty hath never given the least check to him for it; but the Parliament would not so requite his Majesty.  
Colonel Russel is appointed to be Governor of the Isle of Ely.  
The Clubmen in Dorsetshire being tumultuously gathered together, and sent to by the General to departed to their Dwellings, would not, but grew more numerous: The General sent Lieutenant General Cromwell with two Regiments of Horse, and two Regimenrs of Foot, and sent them home with bleeding pates; a just reward for their boldness.  
Reports tell us of rupert's coming to Banbury, and the King's preparation toward the North; it were good to sear the worst.  
There is a Tract entitled England's Pressures, or, The People's Complaint, extant, which is useful to give satisfaction to all murmuring Complaints, and worth the Readers labour and charge, to read and buy.   

Printed for L. C. according to Order.