TWO LETTERS From Lieutenant-General DAVID LESLEY, TO The Right Honourable the Commissioners of Scotland residing at London, Together with A VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATE of divers of the well-affected Gentry in Notingham-Shire; with their Names subscribed: Concerning the Carriage of the Scotish Army in those parts. Published by Authority. LONDON, Printed for Robert Bostock, at the Kings-head in Paul's Churchyard. 1646. Right Honourable, IT doth exceedingly grieve me to hear there are so many false reports spread of the carriage of this Army; yet it is some comfort unto me that the Gentlemen of Nottinghamshire, where the Army doth reside, not being desired, have been pleased in a Letter to me, to give a better Character of our proceed. And although I know my testimony would weigh sufficiently with your Lordships not to give ear to those Calumnies, yet because this may prevail more with others, I have sent your Lordships the Original, to make use thereof as you shall think fit. I have likewise thought fit to acquaint your Lordships that I have received Discharges from the several Villages where the Army quarters; and you may rest assured nothing shall be wanting which lieth in my power for easing the Country. I could wish that a Bridge were made over the River timously, that we might join with the Forces on the other side, for blocking up the Town on all partsâ–Ş The Bearer will inform you that many things are wanting for carrying on this Service, which gives no small trouble to Keiham, Febr. 26. 1646. Your Lordship's most humble servant, DAVID LESLEY. Right Honourable, THough our burdens have (of necessity) been very great, by the access of your Invited Army, yet when we consider how (by the wise and happy concurrence of your Honour, your Commanders and Officers, with our Committees of Parliament now resident at Southwel) the same burdens have been equally and regularly laid upon us in this small barren and exhausted North part of our County of Nottingham, we cannot but cheerfully (in the midst of our pressures) acknowledge our great Thankfulness for your favour, and readiness (as much as in you lies) to ease us, and so to order and regulate your Army, as to do your best endeavours to preserve us. We are sorry that our poverty and weakness cannot answer your merits and Nobleness: But we hope your Honour, (with the rest) will still be pleased to accept of our willingness, and we shall remain in this Confidence, that the expression of this our readiness will (in such noble Spirits) not only continue, but also increase your pity and goodness towards us and ours: And we shall ever pray for the increase of your Honour and Happiness; in the manifestation whereof, we have now at Southwel, in the behalf of ourselves and many others, subscribed our names this third day of February, 1645. F. Molineaux Sa: Bolles Miles Newton George Maison John Walker. Laurence Newton. Will. Clarikson Tho. Ludely William Wild Original Byron Edw. Southworth Obadiah Martin George Ruin Jo. Goslin Tho. Fox Rowl. Sands Edw. Nevil Edw. Piscough Geo. Glover Edw. Edlington Robert Hind George Nightingale John Wastall Edw. Monk Jer. Hatshide Edw. Blewet Thomas Newton. Franc. Thornhill. John Cross Rob. Noddell William Cayworth Cor. Woodhouse William Samson Stephen Cor Robert Royston Edw. Philip's Jo. Odingsell Jo. Moseley Matth. Palmer. Rich. Brough Robert Eyre William Streyley Park Cressey John Wood Acton Burnell Jo. Samlo Tho. Sherbrooke For the Right Honourable, Lieutenant-General David Lesley. Right Honourable, I Acknowledge with all thankfulness your freedom in acquainting us with the base calumnies and misinformations invented, and spread abroad against our Army, which I dare say do proceed for the most part, from the Activeness, Industry, and malice of our enemies; of purpose to render us hateful to our friends, and to divide (which God avert) the Kingdoms if possible: I have been ever-most willing to redress the least injury and wrong done by any under my Command; and at this present have the most of them, who are complained on by the Inhabitants of Tickill in prison, upon whom I shall do justice most severely, so soon as any of the crimes they are charged with shall be proved; by which your Lordships may see how unjustly we are dealt with. In the best regulated Armies that ever were, there have been disorders and miscarriages: neither is it to be expected but there have been, and are some in ours, considering how much we have been neglected in our maintenance, that sometimes for the space of seven or eight months together, we have received no pay, and as it is no small matter of grief to me, when any miscarriage falls out; So no sooner is any disorder made known to me, but I put it to trial and examination, which is clear in that of Tickill, so much aggravated; for I no sooner heard of the abuses said to be done there, but I caused imprison the persons complained on. I entreated the Commissioners from the Parliament to send to Tickill some from them, where I appointed honest and able men from our Army to meet with them, to hear the complaints, and report to me, that I might accorly punish, or clear the persons complained on: These appointed by me went to the place, but there were none there to meet with them, and the reason pretended was, because the Inhabitants durst not complain, as long as there were in the place a Regiment to over-awe them (which I dare say is a calumny.) Wherefore I have removed that Regiment, and have again renewed my former entreaty to the Commissioners; That they will be pleased to send some from them to Tickill, where I shall meet them with the persons complained on, that if they be found guilty, they may be punished according to the nature of their faults; and if innocent they may be cleared, As to that of Major Blaire, it is a wild Calumny; for since his coming to Nottinghamshire, he had no order from me to return to Yorkshire; neither did he return, or quarter there since; but is yet lying with his Troops in Derbyshire. And for our Army, notwithstanding of all the heinous crimes we are charged with; I dare say, never Army did live more peaceably, and soberly, than we have done. And that no Army in the Kingdom is more willing to accept of a competency, for subsistence, and to offer themselves when commanded, with all cheerfulness for the advancement of the public service; I am confident that God, who knows the sincerity of our hearts to this Kingdom, and the cause we fight for, will in his own time make the truth of this appear. I have sent you here enclosed a Copy of a Declaration, which I have caused publish this last Sabbath in all the Parish Churches where our Forces lie, A Copy whereof I have also sent to the Commissioners of the Honourable Houses of Parliament, and to the Committee of Yorkshire, which I entreat you to represent with this Letter, to the Committee of both Kingdoms, and to the Parliament, as also to give assurance to our friends, that whatsoever reports may be spread of our Army, that they notwithstanding may rest confident, that there shall be no disorder, nor miscarriage in it, which shall not be severely punished: And that I expect so much Charity and Justice from them, that they will believe nothing to our prejudice, upon bare and naked informations, and reports: And that they will suspend their judgements till due trial and examination be made: And then I doubt not, but that we shall receive a good testimony from our friends, and make our Enemies and Accusers ashamed of their lies and calumnies wherewith they have charged us, who have and ever shall be zealous in abhorring and punishing such villainies, and shall ever remain: Kelhame the 22. of February, 1646. Your Lordship's most faithful Servant, DAVID LESLEY Whereas both Houses of Parliament have lately given Order for providing 15000. l. per mensem, for the maintenance of the Forces before Newarke, under my command: and it is expected the Honourable Commissioners of Parliament will take special care for due performance thereof, whereby the Army may in some measure subsist, and be enabled to prosecute the service, where in they are now engaged: And whereby divers complaints have been made else where against some in the Army, without making any address to us here upon the place, who have ever, and shall still be most ready and willing to redress all just grievances; we have thought fit to make known to all the Inhabitants in these parts, that we have issued our Edict and Proclamation, commanding all Officers and Soldiers, not to presume upon pain of death, to offer the least wrong or violence to any whatsoever in their persons or goods: And we do hereby invite all such as have, or shall receive any wrong or injury, from any within this Army, to to make their appearance freely to our Quarters, to exhibit their complaints against any Officer or Soldier whatsoever: And we do faithfully promise that severe punishment shall be inflicted upon all such as shall be found guilty upon trial; as on the other part we do expect that none will be so forgetful of their duty, or injurious to this Army, as to make complaints elsewhere, when justice hath not been denied them upon the place. FINIS.