pursuing the common enemies of all Israel, Judg. viii. But let the English do of their benevolence what humanity and discretion will teach them; for our own part, our declaration sheweth, that we seek not victuals for nought, but for money or security; and if this should be refused, which we shall never expect, it were as damnable as the barbarous cruelty of Edom and Moab, who refused to let Israel pass through their country, or to give them bread and water in any case, Numb. xx. Judg. xi.; and this offence the Lord accounted so inexpiable, that for it he accursed the Edomites and Moabites from entering into the congregation of the Lord unto the tenth generation, Deut. xxiii. 3, 4. Fifthly, The fifth consideration concerneth the end for which this voyage is undertaken. We have attested the searcher of hearts, it is not to execute any disloyal act against his majesty; it is not to put forth a cruel or vindictive hand against our adversaries in England, whom we desire only to be judged and censured by their own honourable and high court of parliament; it is not to enrich ourselves with the wealth of England, nor to do any harm thereto. But, by the contrary, we shall gladly bestow our pains and our means to do them all the good we can, which they might justly look for at our hands, for the help which they made us at our reformation, in freeing us from the French, a bond of peace and love betwixt them and us to all generations. Our conscience, and God, who is greater than our conscience, beareth us record, that we aim altogether at the glory of God, peace of both nations, and honour of the king, in suppressing and punishing, in a legal way, of those who are the troublers of Israel, the fire-brands of hell, the Corahs, the Balaams, the Doegs, the Rabshakehs, the Hamans, the Tobiahs, and Sanballats of our time; which done, we are satisfied. Neither have we begun to use a military expedition to England, as a mean for compassing those our pious ends, till all other means which we could think upon have failed us; and this alone is left to us as ultimum et unicum remedium, the last and only remedy. Sixthly, If the Lord shall bless us in this our expe dition, and our intentions shall not be crossed by our own sins and miscarriage, or by the opposition of the English, the fruits shall be sweet, and the effects comfortable, to both nations, to their posterity, and to the reformed kirks abroad: Scotland shall be reformed, as at the beginning; the reformation of England, long prayed and pleaded for by the godly, thereby shall be, according to their wishes and desires, perfected in doctrine, worship, and discipline. Papists, Prelates, and all the members of the antichristian hierarchy, with their idolatry, superstition, and human inventions, shall pack from hence; the names of Sects and Separatists shall no more be mentioned; and the Lord shall be one, and his name one, throughout the whole island; which shall be glory to God, honour to the king, joy to the kingdoms, comfort to the posterity, example to other Christian kirks, and confusion to the incorrigible enemies. No. II. Two Letters from the King to Montrose, anno 1642, thanking him for his good services, and desiring the continuance of them. MONTROSE, As I think it fit, in respect of your sufferings for me, by these lines to acknowledge it to you; so I think it unfit to mention by writ any particulars, but to refer you to the faithful relation of this honest bearer, Mungo Murray; being confident that the same generosity which has made you hazard so much as you have done for my service, will at this time induce you to testify your affection to me as there shall be occasion; assuring you that, for what you have already done, I shall ever remain your most assured friend, Windsor, 27th January 1642. CHARLES R. MONTROSE, I KNOW I need no arguments to induce you to my service. Duty and loyalty are sufficient to a man of so much honour as I know you to be: Yet as I think this of you, so I will have you to believe of me, that I would not invite you to share of my hard fortune, if I intended you not to be a plentiful partaker of my good. The bearer will acquaint you of my designs, whom I have commanded to follow your directions in the pursuit of them. I will say no more, but that I am your assured friend, York, 7th May 1642. CHARLES R. No. III. A Letter from the Queen to Montrose, assuring him of her confidence and assistance. MON COUSIN, J'AI receu votre lettre, et par icelle vois que vous croiez que les affaires en Ecosse sont en fort mauvais etat pour le service du roy, et cela par ma negligence, pour n'avoir pas ecouté aux propositions qui m'ont ete fait a mon arrive; en cela j'ai suivi les commandemens du roi; mais je crois encore que si les bons serviteurs du roy veuille s'accorder ensemble, et ne perdre point de temps, qu'ils peuvent prevenir tout le malheur qui pourroit arriver de ce coté la: et pour moy, je contribuerai de mon coté tout ce que je puis; et lors que les armes qui viennent de Danemark seront arriveés, que j'attens tous les jours, si vous en avez besoin, vous en aurez, comme aussi aucune autre assistance que je pourrai, aiant toujour eu une tres grande confiance en vous et en votre generosité, que je vous assure n'est point diminué, quoique comme vous miserable j'ai oui que vous aviez faites amitie avec quelque personnes qui me pourroit fait apprehender; mais la confiance que j'ai en vous, et l'estime, ne pendra pas sur de si petites fondemens que le commun bruit, ni sur une chose que si vous avez faite je suis assuré que ce n'est que pour le service du roy: Croiez aussi que de mon coté je ne manquerai pas a ce que je vous promis, et que je suis et serai toujours, votre bien bonne amie, York, ce 31 May. COUSIN, HENRIETTE MARIE R. I HAVE received your letter, and see by it that you are of opinion the king's affairs in Scotland are in a very bad condition, and that this is occasioned by my refusing to hearken to the advice you gave me at my arrival; in this I observed the king's orders, and am still persuaded that all the mischief that can happen from that quarter may be prevented by the king's good servants, if they will agree among themselves, and lose no time. For my own part, I shall contribute all I can; and when the arms from Denmark come to hand, which I am expecting every day, if you need any of them, you shall have them; as also any other assistance that is in my power, having always had a great confidence in you and in your generosity; which I assure you is not in the least lessened, though I am under the same misfortune with you, and have heard that you make up friendships with such as might make me apprehensive: But my confidence and esteem of you are not built on so slender foundations as common talk is, nor can it be shaken by such a step as this, which, if you have made, 1 am persuaded it was made with no other view but to serve the king. You may be assured, that, for my part, I will never fail of my promise to you; that I am, and always shall be, your very good friend, York, 31st May. HENRIETTA MARIA R. Though this letter has only the date of the month, and not of the year, it is certain that it was written in the 1643; for the queen landed at Burlington, in Yorkshire, in the end of February that year, and afterwards went to York, where Montrose advised her to crush the covenanters in the bud; but she was not so lucky as to follow his advice. See the 33d, 34th, and 35th pages of the History. No. IV. The King's Commission to the Marquis of Montrose to be Lieutenant-Governor, and General of all his Majesty's Forces in Scotland. CHARLES R. CHARLES, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To our right trusty and right entirely beloved cousin, James Marquis of Montrose, greeting. Whereas divers traitors and seditious persons, of our kingdom of Scotland, have levied war against us, and, to the manifest forfaulture of their allegiance, and the breach of the act of pacification, lately made between the two kingdoms, have invaded our kingdom of England, and possessed themselves in divers places therein, to the great disturbance of our peace, and the destruction and spoil of our people; and yet further, if no course be taken by us to prevent that, intend to make a new invasion upon this our kingdom, and bring in forces for the assistance of the rebels here. Know ye therefore, that we, reposing especial trust and confidence in your approved wisdom, courage, fidelity, and great ability, whereof you have given hitherto most extraordinary and undeniable proof, do, by these presents, name, constitute, ordain, and authorise you, the said James Marquis of Montrose, to be our lieutenant-governor, and captain-general of all our forces, raised, or to be raised in our kingdom of Scotland, and of, and over all others brought, or to be brought thither out of our kingdoms of England and Ireland, or from any part whatsoever. And we hereby give you power and authority to raise and levy forces, meet and apt for the wars, within all the parts of our said kingdom of Scotland, and to command and enjoin the sheriff-lieutenants, magistrates of cities and towns, and all others having power and authority under us, within every several county of our said kingdom, to send, or cause to be sent unto you, such number of our said subjects apt and meet for the war, to such place or places, and at such time as you shall think expedient. And |