"For his Excellency the Lord General of the English Forces in Scotland: These. 66 “Edinburgh Castle, 14th December 1650. "MY LORD, - What I pressed, in my last, proceeded from "conscience and not from policy: and I conceived that the few days desired could not be of such prejudice to your affairs, as "to bar the desired expressions of professed affection towards "those that fear the Lord. And I expected that a small delay "of our own* affairs should not have preponderated the satis"faction of a desire pressed in so serious and solemn a manner "for satisfying conscience. แ "But if you will needs persist in denial, I shall desire to "hear the information of late proceedings from such as I dare "trust, and 'as' have had occasion to know the certainty of "things. Such I hope you will permit to come alongst at the "first convenience; and during that time all acts of hostility, "and prosecution of attempts, be forborne on both sides. I am, "my Lord, your humble servant, The Lord General's Reply, No. 3: LETTER CLVII. "W. DUNDAS." For the Governor of Edinburgh Castle: These. Edinburgh, 14th December 1650. SIR, You will give me leave to be sensible of delays out of conscience of duty 'too.' If you please to name any you would speak with 'who are' now in Town, they shall have liberty to come and speak with you for one hour, if they will; provided you send presently. I expect there be no loss of time. I rest, Governor Dundas applies hereupon for Mr. Alexander Jaffray and the Reverend John Carstairs to be sent to him: two official persons, whom we saw made captive in Dunbar Drove, who have ever since been Prisoners-on-parole with his Excellency; doing now and then an occasional message for him; much meditating on him and his ways. Who very naturally decline to be concerned with so delicate an operation as this now on hand, in the following characteristic Note, enclosed in his Excellency's Reply, No. 4: LETTER CLVIII. For the Governor of Edinburgh Castle: These. Edinburgh, 14th December 1650. SIR, Having acquainted the Gentlemen with your desire to speak with them, and they making some difficulty of it, 'they' have desired me to send you this enclosed. I rest, Sir, your servant, Here is "this enclosed:" OLIVER CROMWELL. § "For the Right Honourable the Governor of Edinburgh Castle: These. "Edinburgh, 14th December 1650. "RIGHT HONOURABLE,· We now hearing that you was "desirous to speak with us for your information of the posture "of affairs, we would be glad, and we think you make no doubt "of it, to be refreshing or useful to you in anything; but the "matter is of so high concernment, especially since it may be "you will lean somewhat upon our information in managing "that important trust put upon you, that we dare not take upon "us to meddle: ye may therefore do as ye find yourselves clear "and in capacity; and the Lord be with you. We are, Sir, "your honour's humble servants, wellwishers in the Lord, "AL. JAFFRAY. & Newspapers (in Cromwelliana), p. 98. So that, for this Saturday, nothing can be done. On Sunday, we suppose, Mr. Stapylton, in black, teaches in St. Giles's; and other qualified persons, some of them in red with belts, teach in other Kirks; the Scots, much taken with the doctrine, "answering in their usual way of groans," Hum-m-mrrh! — and on Monday, it is like, the cannons and mortar-pieces begin to teach again, or indicate that they can at once begin. Wherefore, on Wednesday, here is a new Note from Governor Dundas; which we shall call Reply No. 4, from that much-straitened Gentleman: 66 "Edinburgh Castle, 18th December 1650. "MY LORD, — I expected that conscience, which you pre"tended to be your motive that did induce you to summon this "house before you did attempt anything against it, should also "have moved you to have expected my Answer to your Demand "of the house; which I could not, out of conscience, suddenly 'give without mature deliberation; it being a business of such "high importance. You having refused that little time, which "I did demand to the effect I might receive the commands of "them that did intrust me with this place; and "I" yet not da"ring to fulfil your desire, I do demand such a competent "time as may be condescended upon betwixt us, within which "if no relief come, I shall surrender this place upon such "honourable conditions as can be agreed upon by capitulation; "and during which time all acts of hostility and prosecution of 'attempts on both sides may be forborne. I am, my Lord, "your humble servant, 66 The Lord General's Reply, No. 5: LETTER CLIX. "W. DUNDAS." For the Governor of Edinburgh Castle: These. Edinburgh, 18th December 1650. SIR, All that I have to say is shortly this: That if you will send out Commissioners by eleven o'clock this night thoroughly instructed and authorised to treat and conclude, you may have terms, honourable and safe to you, and 'to' those whose interests are concerned in the things that are with you. I shall give a safe-conduct to such whose names you shall send within the time limited, and order to forbear shooting at their coming forth and going in. rest, To this I expect your answer within one hour, and The Governor's Reply, No. 5: OLIVER CROMWELL. § "Edinburgh Castle, 18th December 1650. "MY LORD, I have thought upon these two Gentlemen "whose names are here mentioned; to wit, Major Andrew "Abernethy and Captain Robert Henderson; whom I purpose "to send out instructed, in order to the carrying-on the Capi"tulation. Therefore expecting a safe-conduct for them with "this bearer, I rest, my Lord, your humble servant, The Lord General's Reply, No. 6: "W. DUNDAS." LETTER CLX. For the Governor of Edinburgh Castle: These. Edinburgh, 18th December 1650. SIR, I have, here enclosed, sent you a safe-conduct for the coming forth and return of the Gentlemen you desire; and have appointed and authorised Colonel Monk and Lieutenant-Colonel White to meet with your Commissioners, at the house in the safe-conduct mentioned: there to treat and conclude of the Capitulation on my part. I rest, Sir, your servant, § Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, p. 98). §§ Ibid. p. 98. Here is his Excellency's Pass or safe-conduct for them: PASS. To all Officers and Soldiers under my Command. come You are on sight hereof to suffer Major Andrew Abernethy and Captain Robert Henderson to forth of Edinburgh Castle, to the house of Mr. Wallace in Edinburgh, and to return back into the said Castle, without any trouble or molestation. Given under my hand, this 18th December 1650. OLIVER CROMWELL. § By tomorrow morning, in Mr. Wallace's House, Colonel Monk and the other Three have agreed upon handsome terms; of which, except what indicates itself in the following Proclamation, published by beat of drum the same day, we need say nothing. All was handsome, just and honourable, as the case permitted; my Lord General being extremely anxious to gain this place, and conciliate the Godly People of the Nation. By one of the conditions, the Public Registers, now deposited in the Castle, are to be accurately bundled up by authorised persons, and carried to Stirling, or whither the Authorities please; concerning which some question afterwards accidentally rises. PROCLAMATION. To be proclaimed by the Marshal-general, by beat of drum, in Edinburgh and Leith. WHEREAS there is an agreement of articles by treaty concluded betwixt myself and Colonel Walter Dundas, Governor of the Castle of Edinburgh, which doth give free liberty to all Inhabitants adjacent, and all other persons who have any goods in the said Castle, to fetch forth the same from thence: § Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, p. 99). |