A PLOT DISCOVERED, In which, divers Cavaliers of Scotland, should have surprised Barwick. ALSO How the marquis of Arguile, the Earl of Crawford Linsey, Earl of Lanerick, and Major Innis, met in the field upon a challenge to fight, and the proceed of the Parliament therein.  
WITH Five PROPOSITIONS concerning the King, the Amity of the kingdoms, Reformation in Religion, and the keeping of the COVENANT.  
Agreed on by the General Assembly of the Kirk, and presented to the Parliament of Scotland, March 1. 1647. And published for the Members of that Church and Kingdom, and Brethren of the Ministry.  
LONDON, Printed for H. Becke, and are to be sold in the Old Bayley. 1648.   

Right Honourable.  
UPon Monday last, the marquis of Arguile, and Earl of Crayford and Lindsey fell out, and challenging each other to a combat, Leeth Link, was the place appointed, the Earl of Lanerick was second to Crayford, and Major Innis to Arguile, it should seem that Innis was ignorant of it, until that both the Noblemen stripped themselves to their shirts, then Major Innis told them, that he did not know their intentions, and that he was ready to hazard his life for Arguile, but against the Earl of Crayford he would in no wise engage, and kept them in some discourse to that effect, until such time that some others came to them, and hindered their purpose: notice being given thereof to the Parliament, the whole house rose, and divers of them went to them, to pacify them, but are not as yet reconciled.  
Intimation being given that this Town should be seized on yesterday by the Scots and Cavaliers: (a Horsecourse being intended upon our bounds,) The Mayor and Aldermen summoned a general meeting, of all the Burghers, where it was Ordered that the Horsecourse should be dismissed by Proclamation, which was accordingly done, and a strong guard of Townsmen continually to be kept during these doubtful times. I have sent your honour here enclosed the Copy of five Propositions from the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, delivered by them to the Parliament, with their Declaration: My Lord, I must conclude, being in heart.  
Your loving Friend, George Stuart. Berwick 15 March. 1647.   

Five Propositions from the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, and to all Members of that Church and Kingdom, and to the Brethren of the Ministry.  
FIrst of all, we exhort all and every one to make more conscience of endeavouring are all Reformation of themselves and their Families, and of the places in which they live, then ever yet they have done; to be more serious in searching their hearts, considering their ways, and purging themselves from all filthiness of the flesh & spirit, to perfect holiness in the fear of God; to oppose wickedness & profaneness, promote the power & practice of godliness, & to be deeply humbled before the Lord, for neglecting these things so much and so long; withal employing & improving Christ's all-sufficiency, & striving to exercise faith in him, for the grace of mortification & sanctification, as well as for remission of sins and peace with God; that being implanted & rooted in him, we may grow up as trees of Righteousness, the planting of the Lord that he may be glorified; for without amendment of life, and bringing forth of better fruit, the fierce wrath of the Lord cannot turn away from us.  
2. As men desire they may not be led into temptation, but may be guided in safe and right paths, in the midst of so great difficulties, Let them avoid the company and counsel of the ungodly, whereby even good men have been oft times most dangerously ensnared; Let all that fear God, choose the Testimonies of the Lord for their Counsellors, be much in prayer and searching the mind of God in his Word, without leaning to their own understanding, or consulting with flesh and blood in cases of Conscience.  
3. seeing it is no act of wisdom but of folly, so to shun one danger as to run upon another as bad or worse; let us therefore avoid enemies and beware of dangers on all hands: We cannot see but the Cause of God, true Religion, the Covenant, Presbyterial Government, this Church and Kingdom, and whatsoever is dearest unto us will be in as great danger, if the Prelatical party prevail, as now they are in, by the power and prevalency of Sectaries in England, who have made the Covenant and begun reformation to be laid aside, and hindered the promoting thereof. So that there is a necessity to be apprehensive of dangers, and attentive to remedies on both sides, and to beware of compliance with, and connivance at Sectaries upon the one hand, and Malignants on the other.  
4. when we speak of Malignants, we desire that the distinction may be remembered, which was made in the solemn Warning to the Kingdom from the Assembly in Feb. 1647. viz. That the cause is in very great danger from two sorts of Malignant Enemies: 1. From such as have openly displayed a Banner, or joined in Arms and profess Hostility against the cause, and such as adhere thereunto: 2. From secret Malignants, Dis-covenanters, and bosom Enemies. This second sort may be still known some Characters, given both at that time and before that time, As by their slandering or censuring the Covenant of the three Kingdoms and expedition into England, in the year 1643. as not necessary for the good of Religion, or safety of this kingdom, or as tending to the diminution of the King's just power and greatness, by their confounding of the King's power and just Authority, with the pretence and abuse thereof by Commissions, Warrants, or Letters procured from His Majesty by the Enemies of this Cause and Covenant. As if none were faithful and loyal to the King, who oppose such men and their ways; By their Spleen, Malice, and Calumnies against such as God hath made eminently instrumental in this cause, and who resolve to be constant to the end in their first Principles, as if such men were the King's Enemies who are most zealous for the good & safety of Religion; by their commending, justifying, or excusing other known Malignants, & by their conversing or intercommuning with excommunicate Delinquents. Unto which Characters time and experience give us occasion to add some others, as namely, their unwillingness and declining to reckon Malignants among the Enemies of this cause from whom danger is to be apprehended; their disjoining and dividing the duty of endeavouring the King's Majesty's preservation and restitution, from the duty of preserving, defending, settling and securing religion; As if we might and ought to pursue the former without the latter while both are in danger; their maligning of, and uttering malicious words against faithful and Zealous Ministers, and against this meeting and Judicatory, appointed by the General Assembly. Lastly, their crying up or down of parties or persons and even of the Sectaries themselves according as they have more or less hopes of advantage from them to their own designs. For it's no long since such men made light account of any dangers, which were apprehended from the prevalent faction of the Sectaries in England; There being then some hopes of a compliance and combination between them & the Malignants: Which is an infallible demonstration that such men's pretended zeal against those Sectaries now, is not from the right principle. Wherefore let all such dangerous persons as have here been deciphered and described, be carefully observed and avoided, as men would keep themselves pure, and free of snares: And let Presbyteries be diligent to discover, try, and censure any of this kind in their bounds, that they may be able herein to give a good account of their diligence; As also, that they be careful to discover, try, and censure any trafficking Sectaries, and all such as favour their opinions and ways.  
Fifthly, Though we esteem that prevalent faction of Sectaries with their abetters and adherents, presumptuous and malicious Enemies to Religion, King, and Government: Yet we hold it is our duty to labour to remove and prevent all occasions of jealousies and suspicions betwixt the Kingdoms; and to do or say nothing that may breed misunderstandings, break off correspondence, weaken the confidence or infringe the Union & peace betwixt the two Kingdoms, so happily established in his Majesty's presence, and with his Royal consent in both Parliaments: A caution as necessary now, as when it was given above five years ago in a Warning from the Commissioners of the General Assembly, met in this same place, January the fourth, 1643 And generally we desire that all the Articles and clauses of the Solemn. League and Covenant may be kept inseparably and inviolably linked together, and that there may be great tenderness and care to avoid every thing which may be interpreted as a contradicting and abandoning of the former principles, Proceed, Petitions, Protestations, Remonstrances, and Declarations of this Kirk and Kingdom in the pursuance of this cause; and more especially to take good heed that Scotland's desires, do not mount higher for the King, and fall lower in the point of Religion, than they were at our first undertaking, and engagement in this cause.  
Finally, we do most seriously obtest all the people of God in this nation, and especially the Estates of Parliament by their love to the cause of God, by their solemn Vows and Covenants, by their first principles and professions, by their former zeal and sincerity, by the many blessings of God, and great works done for us when our zeal and integrity was greatest in this cause, and by all the curses and judgements of God which his word denounceth against backesliders and Covenant-breakers, that they may all the days of their lives continue firm, steadfast and faithful in their Covenant with God, and one with another, and make good their former professions in a time of tentation and difficulty, without wavering or falling off to the right-hand, or to the left, and as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.  
A. KER.  
FINIS,