THE TRUTH OF THE PROCEED IN SCOTLAND.  
Containing the DISCOVERY Of the late CONSPIRACY.  
With divers other Remarkable Passages.  
Related in a Letter written from Edinburgh, the 19 of October, 1641.  
WHEREUNTO Is Added, An Abstract of a Letter Written by his Majesty from Edinburgh, to one of the Clerks of the Counsel, the 18. of October, 1641.  
Printed Anno Domini 1641.   

COUSIN,  
YOur Letter of the 12. of this instant came to my hands, upon the 18. enclosed in my wives of the same date, you tax my long silence, which indeed I can scarce pardon myself jam, but to thnt breach of faith you charge me with, I must plead not guilty; I do not forget what promise you drew from me at our parting, I think I have stretched it, but it is yet unbroken, you object my carefulness in the discharge of my debts of this kind to my other friends, yourself being unremembered, give me leave to say this, I paid you but by d. the satisfaction I shall give you for so long forbearance, is to pay you by ls. and to bring in the gross sum at once.  
The business of greatest weight which hath been agitate in this Parliament, since my coming into these parts, is that of the election of Counsellors, Officers of Estate, and Lords of Session; which by the Treaty, are to be nominated, and chosen by the King, with the advice and approbation of the Parliament. The only man who hath as yet been chosen, according to that agreement, is the Lord Lowdon, who was nominated to the Office of Lord Chancellor by the King, and allowed by the Parliament, without the least contradiction. And I believe there are others, whom before this time the King's favour, and the sense the Parliament hath of their good deservings, would have preferred to some of the places, now void, if the Devil had not stirred up some turbulent and seditious spirits to interrupt their proceed, that he might disturb the settled peace, and turn all things here into confusion and bloodshed. At the first, men only feared private quarrels, and feudes, (which though they have formerly had lamentable & sad effects in this Nation) yet had they not that general malignity in them, which these late troubles do discover. It appears now, that the aim was not at particular persons, but at the cause, which must needs have been sorely shaken, if so great pillars had been pulled away.  
At the first, there appeared only the Lord Car, Son to the Earl of Ropborough, and the Earl of Cranford was but his second: but now the Earl of Cranford is a principal, & how many Seconds he hath, is yet undiscovered. It is now the judgement of most men, that the first business of the L. Car, was but an untimely birth of this Plot, which is now come to light: The first was thus. The Earl of Cranford, the Lord Car, and some others, being at Supper in Master William Murrayes Chamber, there came in Sir james Hamilton, whose company the Lord Car disliking, because of his Relation to the marquis of Hamilton, after some exception taken to him, told him, his chief (meaning the L. marquis) was a Traitor, and had juggled with the King these 2 or 3 years. These words he afterwards backed with a Challenge, which he sent to the marquis by the hand of the Earl of Cranford. These passages coming to the notice of the King and Parliament, they were so sensible of the unworthiness of those carriages, that they ordered the Lord Car to make this Submission.  
I Henry Lord Car, have already acknowledged my offence to his Majesty, & asked his pardon, which I do now likewise to this Honourable House of Parliament, and for the scandalous words, con●e●ning the marquis of Hamilton, which were spoken by me. I confess them to be rash, & groundless, and that I am sorry for the same.  
This Submission it was thought reasonable he should make at the Parliament Bar, as a Delinquent in a very high nature. But the noble Marquis was so affected with the sense, which both his Majesty, and the Parliament had of the injury done him, and the reparation they had made him, that with a great deal of earnestness he pressed, and did prevail, that the Lord Car might not give that satisfaction in a place of so much ignominy, but might have the favour to stand in the middle of the house, there to obey what they had imposed upon him. After this acknowledgement made by the Lord Car, it pleased his Majesty and the Parliament to make this Declaration, following.  
WHereas there hath been certain scandalous words spoken of the marquis of Hamilton, tending to the prejudice of his honour, and fidelity to his Majesty, and his Country, which are now acknowledged by Henry Lord Car, speaker thereof, in presence of his Majesty, and the Estates of Parliament, to have been rash and groundless, For the speaking whereof, he is hearty sorry, and since his Majesty and the Estates of Parliament, knows them to be so: Therefore his Majesty and the said Estates declare, the said marquis of Hamilton to be free thereof, and esteems him to be a Loyal Subject to his Majesty, and a faithful Patriot to his Country, and the said Estates remit the further Censure of the said Lord Car, to the King's Majesty.  
This business thus passed over, the Parliament returned to that which they were formerly upon: which was, the election of Officers of Estate. And for a fair accommodation of all things, they appointed- Committee, consisting of 6 of every Estate: for the Lords, were the Lord Chancellor Lowdon, the Earl of Argile, the Earl of Cassels, the Earl of Glencarne, the Lord Balmerinoth, Precedent of the Parliament, and the Lord Lindsey. And for the Barons and Burgesses, six of either Estate, men of known wisdom and integrity: whom they entrusted to make some overturnes to his Majesty privately, and afterward to impart them to the several Estates.  
In few days, their consultations had this issue, that they delivered in a paper to the King; which his Majesty approving, they after that, presented to the several Estates. The tenor whereof: was,  
THE Estates of Parliament considering, that albeit john Earl of Traquaire, etc. are cited before them, and accused, as guilty, of divers bainous, and Treasonable Crimes, perpetrated, and commttted by them, against the Commonwealth, contained in their several Ditties, which they have just reason to prosecute.  
Nevertheless the said estates of Parliament taking into their consideration his Majesty's most gracious goodness towards this his native Kingdom, and his fatherly care and wisdom in composing of all past differences, and providing for the future, to the great joy and happiness of all his Subjects, do in retribution thereof with an unanimous consent to testify their high respect and thankfelnesse to his Majesty: And that his Majesty may joyfully return a contented Prince from a contented people, to the settling of his royal affairs in his other Dominions, believing that the same will be acceptable to his Majesty, and most conducible to the peace and good of the Kingdom, Declare that they will not insist further in the process intended against the said persons, nor proceed to any sentence thereupon, but acquit and discharge them freely of the same crime contained in their ditty libelled against them respective & grants them liberty to repair to their houses, to attend their private affairs, they always behaving themselves within the compass of their private calling.  
The estates considering, that whereas albeit james Earl of Montrose, etc. are cited before them, and accused as guilty of divers crimes and misdemeanours committed by them to the just offence of the Estates of Parliament, and derogatory to the great trust and confidence had of them; and albeit the Parliament have just reason to persecute their process, yet nevertheless, etc. as in the former.  
The Estates of Parliament considering, that whereas there are divers and sundry persons indicted, and accused before this Parliament, as guilty of certain Crimes committed against the State, and to the prejudice of the peace of this Kingdom. Nevertheless, the said Estates of Parliament considering that by God's mercy and providence, and by his Majesty's great wisdom, and all our tempests are turned into the calm of an happy peace, do hereby out of their respect to his Majesty, to whom they know the same will be acceptable, declare that they will not insist in any further Trial of the said crimes, but have acquit and discharged, and hereby acquits and discharges all other persons cited and called to appear before them, to answer for whatsoever crimes or misdemeanours, during the late troubles. And declares the Act of Pacification and Oblivion, and benefit thereof to be extended to them such like: as they had not been cited to appear before this present Parliament, without prejudice always of the restitution to private parties, &c conform to the said Act of Pacification, contained in the Treaty.  
Upon Monday the 11. of this present, the several estates took this paper into consideration & there was only this objection, by some made to it, that it seemed to contradict the oath they had taken, which did oblige all the members of that Parliament, to bring the incendiaries to an exact trial. The noble earl of Argile who had taken much pains, to bring their affairs into this hopeful way of accommodation, did now very much labour to remove this block, which lay in the way to it, and gave this answer.  
That that Oath was but conditional, the intent of it being only the peace and good of the Kingdom, and this way proposed did most conduce to that end, and therefore, that clause might be dispensed with. In conclusion he prevailed thus fare, that they resolved some Ministers▪ should be advised with in point of Conscience, whether they might dispense with their Oath in that particular;  
When all things were in this fair and hopeful way of accommodation, and the King & Parliament thus near a full agreement (they being assured that his Majesty would condescend to them in those particulars they should propound to him; as on their part they had omitted nothing that might be to his Majesty's satisfaction) there was discovered a design to be put in execution that very night, against the marquis of Hamilton, and the Earls of Argile, & Lanerick, whereupon they left the Court that night, where they were informed the danger would be, and lodged in the Town, and the next day retired to Kineele, an house that belonged to the Marquis, about 12. miles from Edinburgh, lest their presence in the town should occasion any tumult to the offence of the King's Majesty, and disturbance of the proceed of the Parliament. The Parliament being that day made acquainted with the business sent for those 3 that were the first discoverers of it, which were Lieutenant Colonel Hume Lieutenant Colonel Hurry, and Captain Will. Stewart, their depositions being presently taken, they were in the afternoon read in full Parliament.  
Captain Wil Stewart did depose, that the day before being Monday the 11. of Octob. being in a Tavern with his cousin Leiutenant Colonel Stewart, he desired an oath of secrecy of him, telling him he had something to impart to him, but he making answer; that he never found him unsecret, his cousin said well, the marquis of Hamiltoune, and the Earl of Argile have governed all things at their pleasure this time past, but we have now got a strong party against them, and this night W. Murray shall bring them into the privy Chamber, as to a consultation, my Lord Amont, the Earl of Crauford and some others shall come up the stairs out of the garden; and arrest them in the King's name, and carry them to the King's Ship, the Earl of Crauford adviseth to cut them off, but my Lord Amont would have them tried by Parliament, the Earl of Lanerike is to be taken with them, The Town and Channon-gate are sure to us, and we have enough to defend the Court, until such time as the Earl of Roxborougb, Hume, and others bring in their friends, who are all of our party. Leiutenant Colonel Hurry did depose that on Monday the eleventh of October, the Earl of Crauford told him, that if he would bring with him four or five good fellows early in the morning he might make him a fortune,  
Lieutenant Colonel Hume did depose that on Thursday the eighth of October, Colonel Cockrane told him, if he would join with him, he would show him a way to make himself a fortune. And the Monday following at the Earl of Craufords' house demanded an oath of secrecy of him, promising him to impart something to him, but he answered, if it were any thing against his country or his covenant he would not swear, whereupon the Colonel would not impart any thing to him,  
Upon these depositions the Earl of Crauford, Colonel Cockraine and Lieutenant colonel Stewart were that afternoon committed, and are so to remain until such time as they be examined, mean while the ports are shut up and guards are appointed for the security of the town and Parliament, the care of them is committed to the general Lesly, and Proclamation hath been made that all who have not special business in Parliament, nor are the necessary servants of Parliament men, should presently departed the town, unless they be licenced by the Lord General for to stay.  
It is not yet resolved whether those that are accused shall be examined in full Parliament, or before a Committee, To morrow the resolution is expected  
Cousin, it it is time, I close, lest I weary both myself and you, I having been so long silent, I cannot write less, and until further Discovery be made, I shall not write more, but commit you to him who dwelleth in light, & will in his due time bring to light all the hidden things of darkness, and remain  
EDINBURGH, October 19 1641. Your Cousin that will ever love and serve you. J.S.   

An Abstract of a Letter written with his Majesties own hand at Edinburgh, October 18. 1641. To Mr. Nicholas Clerk of the Counsel.  
I Hear it is reported, that I am resolved at my return to alter the Form of the Church-Government in England to this in Scotland. Therefore I command you, to assure all my Servants there, that I am constant for the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England, as it was established by Queen Elizabeth, and my Father: and resolve by the Grace of God, to live and die in the maintenance of it.  
FINIS.