THE PEOPLE AND SOLDIERS OBSERVATIONS, ON THE SCOTCH MESSAGE TO THE PARLIAMENT, CONCERNing the KING; 5. of November 1647.  
By the scope whereof, all who will be satisfied with Reason, or with men's practices more than their words, may have full resolution to this more usual than doubtful Question: Whether the King, Lords, Commons, Scots, City, Clergy, and Officers of the Army, have sought more their own private ends then the public weal of this Nation?  

The words of the Message here follow in order.  
Right Honourable,  
AS upon the removal of his Majesty from Holdenby, against his will, by a party of the Army under the command of Sir Shomas Fairfax, we expressed our sense and the resentment of the Kingdom of Scotland of that violent action, so the Committee of Estates of the Parliament of Scotland, finding that his Majesty is still kept within the power of that Army, thought themselves obliged to endeavour to know the certainty of His condition, in obedience to his commands, we have applied ourselves to His Majesty, that from himself we might know the truth thereof, who was pleased to show us his usage, ever since he came from Newcastle, but for his present condition he really confesseth he cannot, but refers us to know it, from the two Houses of Parliament, and the Army.   
Dear Brethren (we may well say) here ye express (in very pathetical words) the tenderness of our affections towards this forlorn successor of all the numerous race of your tyrannical Kings, of which many not being a tenth part so wicked as this, ye have rewarded otherwise; it is a wonder that such high minded people as ye, can so undervalue yourselves, as still and always to stoop your stiff necks, rather to the heavy manarchiall yoke of cruel tyrants, then to pity and free both yourselves and your posterities, from all kind of slavery and misery, having now a fairer occasion and more precious opportunity, than ever ye had heretofore, or may possibly ever have hereafter.  
If ye were as just in your practices, as ye are wise in your conceits, ye would have long ago either alone, when he was under your power, or since, by advice and assistance of our Parliament and Army, rather called him to a strict account, impeached him of most high treason, and arraigned him for all his great abominations, oppressions, murders, and destructions throughout all these three bleeding Nations (even from the death of his Father, until he was catched in the midst of his sins, ripe enough for the sickle of God's judgements) then anywise to be so zealously affected, and tender hearted concerning his usage since ye delivered him at Newcastle, and how he hath learned the lesson of obedience to the Armies commands, now after he hath forfeited his authority, and lost his tyrannical sting.  
Certainly, it may well be deemed by his usual double-dealing, that if he had you once more under his arbitrary power, as the Army hath justly both taken and kept him all this time, until now that he was conveied away to act more mischief; he would so remember your taking up arms (though in your own defence) against him and his forces both at home and here, for all that is come and gone, and notwithstanding all your kindness and tender care now of him, he would teach you perfectly to know what he meaned and intended, when he both proclaimed you all Rebels and Traitors, and levied such strong forces by Sea and Land against you; and all for your refusing his popish Service-book.  
But it seemeth, that ye (especially unto whom he hath either given or promised great offices and honourable titles) have so well learned some new court lessons, that ye have quite forgotten your good old fashions, even to esteem of Kings as of other mortal men, and not to idolise them, nor hid their heinous faults, as most of our vulgar fort havetoo long foolishly done, even to our gaeat grief, and both their and our vexation, yea, ye had rather like the men of Lys●ra, who in their blind and superstitious zealo, both called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercurius, and would have offered sacrifice to them, if those Apostles had not interrupted them, than anywise like discreet men, who should diseerne between those who ought to be honoured and respected, and such as deserve to be tried and punished.  
Have ye so soon forgotten how he made the best and greatest of you, not only know the news, but feel the smart, that his little finger was heavier than his Father's loins (whereof too many of us want not enough of such experience also, and that by all kind of oruell oppressions, in things both spiritual and temporal; heavy taxations, persecutions, and neither hearing nor regarding petitions, but imprisoning, banishing, exiling yea, and intending to execute your own grand Commissioner, whom he hath since preferred to be your Chancella▪ (upon what terms they two best know) never observing any agreement, performing any promise, nor regarding either saith, truth or justice more to you then us, but all in hypocrisy, deceit, and Kingcraft, (always acting and prosecuting what his Father devised and contrived) even by plotting, conspiring, and all sort of Machivelian dealing, to extirpate, root-out, undermine, and destroy as well all kind of goodness, faithfulness and justice, as good peaceable and true hearted people.  
A few instances may suffice, because not only the sight of a great part thereof is still so clear before our eyes, but the smart of all, is yet so recent and fresh in our memories and apprehensions, howsoever ye like unthrifty Scholars, have rubbed and worn both all the remembrance of your lessons, & marks of your stripes, out of your minds, & from off your backs, with high titles, great offices, new promises, and lofty hopes: Have ye likewise rubbed out of your memories, all his cheating of you (by means of Henderson the great, at first one of your high Priests, and next one of his chaplains) of all his royal performance of that agreement which he made with you at Dunce-law, and you; surrendering to him of Edenburgh-Castle, and his planting therein both a number of our Country Papists▪ and abundance of our ammunition, by which instruments and means, he made many of you so sight, sob, weep and groan (yea and leave Edinburgh town) that ye were ready to curse, both the day of that agreement, and the birthday of all those that had any hand in it: Have ye also forgotten how (by his means) our Country Papists blew up with a train of gunpowder, a Castle full of your Nobility, gentry and Ladies, in the air; near Barwick where your General narrowly escaped? And do ye not remember how in your last Parliament when he was present, that the one day he gave you (as it were, a purse full of gold and jewels in the one hand, even all and whatsoever ye desired, or at least required, but in the other hand a Scottish-dagger, whereby he would have killed and devoured you all before ye was ware? For at his own palace did he not appoint a dozen to kill each one a man at one appointed hour of your meeting, even a dozen of the chiefest of you, whom he thought were his greatest opposers, or most able, and politic, to cross his popish and bloody designs?  
Was not this bloody attempt so contrived and ordered, that your General was the first man to have been thus treacherously stobed, and cowardly murdered, and then as his Majesty conceved any of you opposite to him in your places to have proceeded against you, and all the rest as his Majesty should be Graciously pleased; even as we see Butchers do with their fat Oxen: But it pleased God, both to discover and prevent that plot for your good, if ye have so much grace as to make a happy use thereof, now in your great need; which (as some of our Countrymen report) was only discovered by means of him, who was employed to kill your General: And also of the like plot at that same time to have been here against some of our Parliament members, which we thankfully remember was prevented by some of your Nation, howbeit it took, such a woeful effect in Ireland, that it still continueth almost to the destruction thereof, besides a greater multitude of other enormities, plots, cruelties and oppressions, than either tongue or pen can express.  
Mess.  
Both Houses (by many professions and engagements) have declared to the Kingdom of Scotland, that they would take care of the preservation of his person, his just power and greatness, (which both Kingdoms have sworn not to diminish) and the Parliament of Scotland upon the Kings going to Holdenby, did declare against all harm, prejudiee, injury, or violence to be done to his royal person, Therefore in pursuance of the trust committed to us, we make this address to the Honourable Houses, conceiving it needless to apply ourselves to the Army, who we suppose are and aught to be under their command, desiring to know from them the certainty of his Majesty's condition: And the rather that we are informed, their are intentions in the Army of the removing him from Hampton-Court.  
Observe. Whatsoever our Parliament hath declared to the Kingdom of Scotland, for taking care of the King's person, it is in reference to that ensnaring covenant, which ye (by means of your deceitful Clergy) fastened upon our corrupt Commissioners, when they agreed with you to assist our forces, and so they unjustly upon our Parliament, and the Parliament upon the whole Nation; and yet in the Covenant by virtue of that agreement (we suppose) there is no absolute promise nor oath to preserve the King's person, power nor greatness, whether he be a King or a tyrant, discharge his duty, or betray his trust; but only a conditional promise and vow of his preservation, whilst he showeth his fidelity by his activity in the defence of our just Laws and Liberties, and no otherwise: which if he ever did since that time, but rather more cruelly & tyrannically used his Norman power then ever he did, we even refer the judgement thereof to God, the world and your own consciences.  
But your Parliament and Nation in stead of trying him according to Law and justice, declare against all harm, prejudice, injury or violence, to be done to his Majesty's royal person; as if he had been borne a Lawless Libertine, even to do all kind of mischief to thousands, ten thousands and hundreds of thousands; and yet never be so much as once questioned himself, or scarce those who assisted him.  
If he urged, threatened and raised cruel wars against you, for refusing that mass-book, which he undertoke (with all the rabble of Popery) to plant amongst both you and us, in that his most vile and flattering Letter to the Pope, yet extant in print: why then do not ye deal with him, as the only party with whom ye have to do, and not trouble us with your Covenant, Reformation nor religion (whether it be good or bad) more than we trouble you with ours; as ye did both ingeniously prophess and faithfully promise, in your declaration for assisting our Parliament and Nation. Reas. 6.  
Have ye likewise forgotten, what love and respect all of us (whom ye now most cruelly and unjustly both hate, and stir up our enemies to persecute) did bear unto you, not only by our former Parliament, who absolutely refused him all kind of aid and assistance to come against you, but likewise, by our unanimous choosing rather to undergo his highest displeasure (according to our free and rational principles) then to take up arms to assist him in that unjust quarrel.  
Besides, in that Declaration, ye acknowledge that we have been your nearest and dearest friends, being willing & ready to help and assist you in all your straits and extremities: and therefore if ye either suffer or cause us to sink in such miseries ye protest there; that ye not only betray our safety but your own (as standing & falling together) & so ye there conclude, that ye will do to us herein as ye would be done unto: and in divers of your other Remonstrances and Declarations, ye thankfully remember great aid and assistance which ye have receved of us; chief, at the expelling of the French out of your Nation in the days of your Queen Regent, which favours ye vow and Imprecate never to forget.  
Now, seeing ye thus confess, profess, protest and promise, both to our great credit and your own great comfort, what Neighbourly kindnesses ye have received of us, and what respect therefore ye own unto us: whence then cometh this great change, both of your affections, resolutions, words and actions? cannot ye rest contented with your own misery and slavery, and not like Satan to tempt or enslave others? For it seemeth to us, that ye love such unworthy conditions better than either your lives or estates, and have almost these nine years both adventured the one and consumed the other, in pretending to fight against a a cruel tyrant, and yet all this time intending to fight for a cruel tyrant (as ye too well taught our deceitful Parliament) and that ye and your posterity may be still henceforth, as ye have been always heretofore, not only his and his predicessours' slaves, but as he useth you, so ye may still use (or rather abuse and enslave) all the poor people under you, after that lamentable and base example of France.  
Doubtless, ye are a hundred-fould worse (as well in this respect as in many others) than the Isralits' in the days of Samuel, who lusted to have a King like other Nations; for they not yet feeling the evils and inconveniences which would accompany a King, though they had sufficient notice given them thereof by the Prophet; but ye have enough of such grievous and lamentable experience already yourselves, besides what ye (both as eye and ear witnesses) well know both we and Ireland have; even that he (who is now your best beloved Country man) hath most cruelly exercised (at least) all the grevous oppressions which Samuel foretold of King Saul; and therefore, except he repent, as God gave that wicked King in his anger to Israel, and took him away in his wrath; so doubtless he gave; and will take your King, whom ye still both respect and endeavour to excuse and defend in all his most heinous Sins, Abominations, Murders, Injustices, Tyrannies and oppressions; far exceeding either Saul, Jeroboam, Ahab, Ahaz, or Ammon, if not all of them.  
Yet notwithstanding all this, ye (like wise merchants who take and keep all advantages against unskilful customers) still hold so fast and stick so close to your bargain, which ye made with our corrupt Parliament, when ye saw them in such a strait, that they were in fear and danger of both their lives and estates, by his wicked means, and their own unjust deal; and that even besides your hire and wages, ye (by the device, means and assistance of the chiefest incendiaries of all these bloody wars, even your ambitions, covetous and pernicious Clergy, confederating with ours) most unjustly procured your deceitful Covenant to be both taken by our Parliament, and forced upon the whole Nation; and consequently your humane religion, under the colour of reformation; though it passeth the limits and bounds of all their Commissions or abilities; seeing thereunto they never had the consent of the free people of this Nation who both choosed and trusted them; yea and are like to be called to an exact and strict account by them, both for these and many hundreds more of other wrongs, treacheries and acts of Injustice; especially, in that they would not call him to an account for all his tyranny and wickedness, exercised over the free people of this Nation, since the beginning of his Reign, nor deal with him according to his deserts; neither before these wars began, nor when they began, nor yet ever since they have been, (though they might oftentimes) and so to have prevented both the effusion of much blood and the destruction & wasting of manifold treasures and estates:  
And howsoever ye commissioners, in pursuance of the trust committed to you, by those that sent you, will make your address only to our Parliament, conceiving it nedlesse to apply yourselves to the army, who ye suppose are and aught to be under the Parliaments command; yet ye are to consider, that the Parliament are but the Commons of England's servants, as well as the Army; as ye know Prophets and Priests of old, or Bishops and Ministers of late, are not superiors to Kings (in temporal matters at least) though they be employed by the people, to put the crown on their heads, and take their Oaths for the faithful discharging of their Offices; yea and in regard our Parliament have run themselves over head and ears into so manifold gulfs of injustice, that they nither deserve the title nor respect which is due to a Just, discreet, faithful and careful Parliament: and and therefore they now lie (as it were) prostrate on their knees, as well at the mercy of the Commons of England as your good King doth at this present; so that all their subtle propositions & treaties with him, nor yet the City, Clergy, nor corrupt Officers of the Army to help them, will neither avail nor prevent the fearful Interrogatories, which possibly and speedily may be demanded of either; than ye will have occasion to take up such a mourning and lamentation for your good King, who hath so advanced your glorious Reformation, as both Jerem. the Prophet, and all Judah with the singing women, did for the death of good King Josiah, in the Valley of Megiddo.  
Mess. The Kingdom of Scotland finding that their stability, and happiness doth so much depend upon the safety and preservation of his Majesty's royal person, etc.  
Obser. Now, ye having both expressed your own fervent desires and sincere affections towards your good King, have also endeavoured to make our Parliament and Nation do the like: ye come in the third place to show the cause of all this great business; namely, whereupon your stability and happiness doth so much depend; which ye attribute to The safety and preservation of his Majesty's royal person.  
It is a wonder, that ye should either be so ignorant or void of shame, as to express so impudently and evidently such vile untruths, flatteries and contrarieties, even against both your own experiences, understandings and consciences, chief in these late and sad days, both of your affliction and ours, which ye well know hath been all by his means; being a most cruel scourge to plague both you and us for all our heinous sins, as Nebucadnezar was in punishing Israel for theirs: and therefore ye (upon that sandy ground of your own humours and conceits,) do run the hazard of the following resolution.  
Mess. And being resolved that no alteration of affairs shall ever separate them from that duty allegiance they owe unto him, nor from their constant resolutions to live in all loyalty and obedience under his government, have often shown their earnest desires, and contributed their utmost endeavours, towards the composure of these unhappy differences.  
Ob. Here ye would say, if dissimulation would permit you, no wickedness, oppression nor tyranny that he and all his hellish Cavaliers, bloody papists, profane Countiers, flattering favourites, and domineering Bishops, can commit, shall ever separate you from the performance of that duty of Allegiance ye own unto him, and constant resolution ye have to live in all loyalty and obedience under his government, and that ye have been very active towards the composure of these unhappy differences.  
All which words may perhaps feed the fancy of the simple and ignorant multitude, who are always ready to be deluded by such means, but they will never savour nor smell of any goodness, justice, nor integrity to any impartial discreet, or judicious men: because they proceed either of very weak or corrupt principles, of a slavish disposition, or blind affection, without either sense, reason, due, or true satisfaction, though ye make him (as it were) your joy and your Crown  
Mess. And the Houses of Parliament having by their Votes of the 26th. of Oct. last, intimated to us their resolusions to apply themselves to his Majesty, and that they are preparing Propositions to be tendered to him; We do desire that they may be expedited and communicated to us; that according to our many engagements and relations there may be still a conjunction of counsels, in those things that are for the common peace, and joint interests of both Kingdoms.  
And for the better asserting of them, for clearing his Majesty's doubts, and for the giving, and receiving muturall satisfaction: We do desire (in the name of the Kingdom of Scotland) that there may be a personal Treaty with the King, as the best and readiest means to obtain the joint desires of both Kingdoms; And for that effect, that the King may be invited to come to London, with that honour, freedom, and respect due to his Majesty, or (at least) remain at Hampton-Court, and not under the power and constraint of Soldiers, where both Kingdoms may make their free applications to him, without any danger of such stop, or affront as hath been already committed against a Commissioner of Scotland: and for which no reparation hath been made, and that his Majesty be no more carried about with the Army at their pleasures. etc.  
Here is still a continued course of great businesses (as well now after, as it was throughout all the wars) of addressing of Parliaments and states, as well English as Scots, by Propositions to be tendered to him, with all expedition, and communicated to you for unity and peace sake; as if judges should present petitions, and offer conditions▪ of peace unto such malefactors as stand guilty at their Bar.  
2. Ob. And for the better etc. Here is a great deal of stuff to little purpose, truly it is a pity ye were not as discreet as ye would appear to be; by means of your Priestly generation, ye are still of such a strange disposition, that although ye do resort to all Nations yourselves, yet ye will permit none to dwell among you, who are more able or better principled than yourselves, and might possibly instruct you, both in spiritual and temporal freedoms, better than all your teachers and Lawyers: witness your hard usage from time to time, (chief in the first three years of your late troubles) what numbers of our people resorted amongst you, thinking there had been some hopes to have made you a free-principled, discreet and absolute free people, and not to be carried away neither by wicked Kings, nor time-serving Priests; but some of our people, as well as your own, had imprisoning instead of reasoning, and both of them bad entertainment for endeavouring your good.  
And concerning the Kings coming to London, do ye not know, he may come thither, with that honour, freedom and respect which is due unto him, and yet with little content either to himself or to you?  
Ye make so much of a dissembling Absalon, a cruel murderer, and bloody tyrant, as we have great cause to be jealous, that ye have left your first love which ye appeared to have, and that ye have not such a measure of discretion as to discern between good and evil, nor between those that lash, whip and scourge you, yea, and both makes you gather straw, and perform your whole task of bricks too; and those who tell you the truth for your present and future good, ye both persecute even with a deadly hatrered, and endeavour more to force your Religion by the sword, than anywise to convince by the word; so that if neither sword nor pestilence can humble you, God hath both famine and other judgements which doubtless will do it.  
Mess. These we conceive to be the most probable and effectual means for attaining a happy peace, settling of Religion, restoring his Majesty to his just Rights, and continuing, and strengthening a good understanding betwixt these Kingdoms, which are most earnestly desired by the Kingdom of Scotland, and shall be constantly and faithfully endeavoured by etc.  
Obs. If ye conceive that these corrupt courses, which so tend to justify the wicked and condemn the just, are the most probable & effectual means, for obtaining these your ends; yea, and being so contrary to your just protestations against his proclaimations, & your taking up arms against his forces; we desire that ye would either show how this can be possible; or how this your great and sudden change cometh, or else, acknowledge your error herein; seeing there is neither any beginning nor appearance of repentance in him, notwithstanding all his deceitful Protestations and bloody wars in all the three Nations: otherwise, ye will both incur blame, and come short of obtaining a happy peace, restoring him to his just rights, and both continuing and strengthening a good understanding between these Nations, though it be never so much both desired by you and endeavoured by your Commissioners in your behalf.  
But supposing ye cannot show how such a thing is possible, we will endeavour therefore to show you, how fare ye have both changed your minds, & in our apprehensions, degenerated from the perfect rules of equity and justice in two years' time, that ye may learn to lay a more solid foundation where upon to build your stability & happiness, then on the sandy foundation of the safety & preservation of a wicked man's person, though of never so great a majesty & royalty (as ye say) and by such corrupt flattering and deceit full means, yea, and unjust terms and titles, to justify and protect him in all his wickedness, both against yourselves and us: we send you back again, to read and consider once more, your own general assemblies Remonstrance, published to the view of the world, June 12. 1645.  
Chief page 3. line 16, 17, 18, 19 and page 5. line 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. and page 6. l. 19, 20, 21, 22. The words are these;  
When we call to mind, that God accepteth not the persons of men, and that the greatest are not to be winked at in their sins; we make bold to warn your Majesty freely, that the guilt which cleaveth fast to your Majesty, and to your Throne is such, as (whatsoever flattering preachers or unfaithful councillors may say to the contrary) if not timely prevented, cannot but involve yourself and your posterity under the wrath of the everliving God, for your being guilty of the shedding of the blood of many thousands of your Majesty's best subjects, and for what other causes your Majesty is most conscious, and may best judge and search your own conscience●.  
Now having paralleled your present practices with your former judgements, even of late days, whereof at first we esteemed more highly, then either then or since, howbeit it doth now clearly appear, that ye have not been sound at all howsoever we as all Christians ought to take every thing ' in the best or most charitable sense, until time discover men's intentions by their actions, according to our Saviour's rule, to know the Tree by the fruit; for instance, it appears plainly to us now, even by your practices ever since, that in your little Book called Your lawfulness of coming into Eng! a ad, Reas. 6th. Ye have either a bloody or (at the best) a compulsive intention, to root out, or at least to compel all of what soever degree, estate or condition, to be one with you in Religion, by which unjust resolutions, do ye not presume above what is meet, and even usurp the work both of God's word and Spirit?  
If this kind of dealing, be any-wise a doing as ye would be done unto, we refer it both to your aforesaid declaratian, and to your own consciences; for if ye would not be pleased, that any person or state should urge and beat you from your Religion, why then dare ye presume to urge or beat either us from ours, or any others from theirs; but still to do as ye would be done unto, for whatsoever measure ye give, the like ye shall receive.  
And have ye forgotten, is it so out of your minds, that ye began all these bloody wars, against your good King, in the very same quarrel? was it not because it was his Majesty's Royal and gracious pleasure, to compel you to serve God by his bishops and Popish book, otherwise than ye were persuaded, or at least accustomed? And if so (which ye cannot yet deny, because it can be so abundantly proved) why then will ye be so arrogant and wicked, as still to prosecute such an un-godly attempt, and persecute honest and peaceable people? but rather to learn of Christ, to he meek, humble and lowly, endeavouring always to convince by the word, but never to force by the sword.  
Again, it cannot be denied, but even thankfully remembered, that ye not only lent us your helping hand, even a powerful army, whereby ye forced a Parliament to be called among us, when our King made it no less than treason to mention a Parliament (being then in the highest of his norman tyranny and malice against our birthrights and liberties) but likewise, ye continued your army a whole year with us, until ye set us in a right Parliamentary posture; and saw both wicked men punished, and just men advanced before ye departed, yea and ye went all away with as great honour, credit and respect as (we suppose) such a great army in any foreign Nation ever did.  
Upon which ground, and that ye have been always esteemed a valiant people, and an unconquered Nation howsoever ye be in bondage to your Kings) and did carry yourselves wisely in all the particulars of your own defence against the King's power and forces, we called you into our Nation with an army to help and assist us against the King; and in the first place ye took in New- Castle again from his forces, and sent us Coals both of your own and from thence, for our monies; when many had begun to burn bedsteeds and tables above the space of too years, for want thereof:  
But herein was your failing, ye began and ran well but who did let you that ye would not go on to the end of your races, why would ye not be as careful to assist our forces and discharge your own duties in all other places and services since, as ye were to exact your arrears, and so to have made a speedier end of these wars.  
Howsoever, upon this view of mutual duties and favours thus given and received; it is our earnest desire, for a better union between us, then either such a Covenant or kind of religion can make, that there may be no further pursuance of us, in a coercive way unto either, more than we endeavour against you in what we profess or practice, but that LOVE, which is the greatest Commandment of all, may begin and increase again between us as brethren, friends and neighbours, & so continue throughout all generations.  
FINIS