¶ The Intentions of the ARMY of the Kingdome of SCOTLAND , Declared to their Brethren of ENGLAND : By the Commissioners of the late Parliament , and by the GENERALL , Noblemen , Barons , and others , Officers of the ARMY .

THE best endeavours , and greatest workes wherein the hand and providence of God have been most evident and sensible , and the hearts and intentions of men called to be the instruments most pious and sincere , though they found approbation with the wiser sort , and such as are given to observation , yet they have ever been subject to be misconstrued by blind suspition , to be reproved by cavilling censure , which maketh place for it self to enter where it findeth none , and to be condemned of the ignorant , and of such as are at ease , but most of all of the malicious , who can not be pleased even when God is best pleased , and when men seek to approve themselves to eevery ones conscience ; But in their hearts wish rather that the Temple should not be built , Religion never reformed , and they themselves coutch betwixt the two burdens , then that they should be in their worldly projects or possessions opposed or troubled . The deliverance of the people of God of old from the Egyptian servitude ; The redemption of the Kirk by the Son of God , and the planting of Christian Religion by his servants , and the vindication of Religion from Romish superstition and tyranny , which are the greatest and most wonderfull works of GOD , have been most bitterly calumniated , and spitefully spurned against by the wicked .

The nature and quality of this great Work , wherein the Lord hath honoured us to be Agents , and the experience which we have found of continuall opposition , since the beginning , may teach us , if we be not as the horse and muse which have no understanding , that we are to expect the gainsaying of sinners ; and that nothing can be hatched in hell by Satan , or prompted by his Supposts on Earth , which will not be produced to make us and the cause of God , which we maintaine odious to all men , but most of all to our Neighbours and dearest Brethren . When we shall now enter into England , it will be layed to our charge , that we minde nothing but invasion , and that no lesse hath been intended by us from the beginning , then under the pretext of seeking our Religion and Liberties , to enrich our selves with their possessions and goods : But our peaceable carriage many yeares past , before the time of those late troubles , our Informations , Declarations , and Remonstrances published to the world , wherein we have cursed all Nationall invasion , and our willingnesse when we were in Armes , to lay them downe upon the smallest assurances of enjoying our Religion and Liberties , will be conceived by the wise and well affected , to bee more plaine and sure evidences of our meaning , then all that malice can devise , or calumnie can expresse against us .

Neither have any new emergents altered , but rather confirmed our former resolutions . for although both before and since the late pacification , wee have beene highly injuried by some Papists , and Prelats , and their adherents there , who have beene , and are still seeking no lesse then that wee should no more bee a Kirk or a Nation , and therefore themselves can not thinke , but we must accompt of them as Gods enemies and ours ; yet above all the favours wee have received from the good people and Body of the Kingdome of England , One there is , which hath highly honoured them before the world , and endeered them unto us more then before , which shall never be forgotten by us , and wee hope shall be thankfully remembred by our Children , and Childrens Children after us , to all generations ; That when upon mis-information , the Councell of England had concluded to use force against us , when the Parliament of Ireland had offered their Persons and Estates for supply against us , when all plots and policies were set on work , and publick Declarations by authority were made , and the Parliament called for this very end , when we had been traduced and proclaimed as traytours and rebels at every Paroch Kirk ▪ yet so wise , so grave , so just was that High Court of Parliament ( to their everlasting honour be it remembred ) that no threatnings , nor feares , nor promises , nor hopes , could moove them to decerne a Warre , or grant any Subsidie for a Warre against us ; but rather by their speeches , complaints , and grievances paralell to ours , did justifie the Cause which we defend .

This rich and recent favour doth so binde our hearts , that were our power never so great , we should judge our selves the unworthiest of all men , and could look for no lesse then vengeance from the righteous GOD , if we should moove hand or foot against that Nation , so comfortably to us represented in that honourable meeting . In this our than full acknowledgment , wee desire that the City of London may have their owne large share , as they well deserve by the noble proofes they have given of their constant affection to Religion , and the peace of both Kingdomes , notwithstanding the continuall assaults of the mis-leaders of King and Court living amongst them , and alwayes sounding the trumpet of Sedition in their eares : And if this which doth so convince us , shall not be thought sufficient to satisfie all the good people of England , Wee now before GOD and the world , make offer in generall , and will make offer to so many of them as will require it in particular , of the strongest and most inviolable bond of our solemne Oath and religious attestation of the great Name of GOD , who is our feare & our dread , & from whom we hope for a blessing upon our Expedition , that we intend no enimitie or rapine , and shall take no mans goods , nor ingage our selves in blood by fighting , unlesse we be forced unto it , which we may look for from the Papists , Prelats , and others of that faction ; but that any such thing shall come from godly men , or good patriots who love the trueth of Religion , or the Kings honour , and their owne Libertie , both the rule of charity , which entertaineth no suspition , where there is no evill-deserving , and the rule of wisedome , which teacheth , that both Nations must now stand or fall together , doe forbid us to apprehend .

All the designe of both Kingdomes is , for the trueth of Religion , and for the just Liberty of the Subject ; and all the devices and doings of the enemy are for oppressing of both , that our Religion may bee turned into Superstition and Atheisme , and our Libertie into base servitude and bondage : To bring this to passe , they have certainly conceived , that the blocking up of this Kingdome by Sea and Land , would proove a powerfull and infallible meane : for either within a very short time shall wee through want of trade , and spoyling of our goods , bee brought to such extreamity , poverty , and confusion , that we shall miserably desire the conditions which wee now despise and declyne , and bee forced to embrace their will for a Law , both in Kirk and Policie , which will bee a precedent for the like misery in England , taught by our example to be more wise . Or upon the other part , we shall by this invasion bee constrayned furiously , and without order , to breake into England , which we beleeve is their more earnest desire , because a more speedy execution of their designe : For we doubt not but upon our comming , clamours will bee raysed , posts sent , and Proclamations made through the Kingdome , to slander our pious and just intentions , as if this had been our meaning from the beginning , To stirre up all the English against us , that once being entered in blood , they may with their owne swords , extirpat their own Religion , lay a present foundation with their own hands for building of Rome , in the midst of them , and be made the authors both of their own and our slavery , to continue for ever .

But in this admirable opportunity of vindication of true Religion and just Liberty , if divine providence bee looked upon with a reverent by , and men fearing GOD , and loving the Kings honour , and peace of both Kingdomes , shall walke worthy of their Profession , although the enemies have obtained so much of their desires , as by coards of their own twisting to draw us into England , yet may their maine designe be disappointed , the rope which they have made , brought upon their owne necks , and their wisedome turned into foolishnes , which we have reason to hope for from that Supreame wisedome and power , which hath in all the proceedings of this Work , turned their devices upon their own pates that plotted them .

In our Informations , Remonstrances , and the True Representation of our proceeding ; since the late pacification , we have so farre expressed the wrongs which wee have sustained , and the distresses which wee suffer , as may make manifest our pressing necessity , to take some other course for our present relief , then such Petitions , Supplications , and Commissions , as we have used before , with lesse successe , then could have beene expected of a Kingdome from their own native King . Before we stirred so much as with a Petition , wee endured for many yeares , not onely the perpetuall opposition of the trueth and power of Religion by Prelats and Papists , but also the violation of all our Liberties , and almost the totall subversion of our Religion , which was our comfort in the sight of God , and the glory of this Nation in the sight of other Kirkes , who by the testimony of their Divines , made our Reformation the measure of their wishes , and would have redeemed it with their greatest worldly losses . When grosse Popery was notoriously obtruded upon us in the books of Canons and Common prayer , without consent or knowledge of the Kirke , and the plot of the Prelats and Papists wholly discovered , how to settle it in both Nations , wee added to our former sufferings , no other Armes but Prayers and teares unto GOD : and Petitions unto our King , which were utterly rejected ; The books and corruptions against which we petitioned , highly exalted , and by the insolent advice of those who governe now his Councells , and labour to establish their own evill acquired greatnesse , upon our oppression , and the ruines of our Religion and Liberties , we were forbidden to insist , under the pain of high Treason . When wee found our selves thus opposed and borne downe , still insisting in our humble desires , we solemnely renewed our Nationall Oath and Covenant , for preserving of our Religion and Liberties , and of his Majesties authority , knowing the violation of that Oath , to bee the guiltinesse which had procured our woes , and that our repentance and turning to GOD , were the meanes by his blessing for good successe . When contrary to our deserving and expectation , His Majesty was moved by wicked counsell , to march toward us with an Army , we were very soon pleased , and choosed rather to neglect such courses , as might serve for our humane safety , then to fall in seeming disobedience to our King , Or to give the smallest distaste to our dear Brethren in England : And therfore disbanded our Forces , delivered all holds which were craved in testimony of our obedience : and so farre complyed with his Majesties pleasure , that notwithstanding the determination of our lawfull former Assembly called by his Majesty , we were contented that a new free Assembly and Parliament should be appointed , where all things both concerning our Religion and Liberties , might again be considered and established . When matters Ecclesiasticall were determined in the Assembly , according to the constitutions of the Kirk , in the presence , and with the consent of his Majesties Commissioner , and the Parliament was conveened for perfecting the Work , although we walked therein so warily , that no just provocation was given to his Majesty , yet contrary to the Lawes and custome of this Kingdome , the Parliament so certainly promised , when his Majesty was free of those bad Counsellours , was by their evill advyce prorogued ; which , to shew our invincible obedience , we were content to suffer , and did sent up our Commissioners to London , to render the reasons of our demands . When our Commissioners and Petitions of the Parliament , called by his Majesty , were so farre rejected , that they were never seen nor heard , we send up our Commissioners again with our Propositions , which contained nothing but what was necessary for the good and peace of the Kingdome , and was granted unto us before , under his Majesties hand , yet could they finde no answer at all , which will be wondered at , and hardly beleeved by so many as are strangers at Court , and know not that the Bishop of Canterbury , and the Lievtenant of Ireland , with the assistance of the too too powerfull Faction of the Papists , labour to show their zeale for his Majesties greatnesse , by the oppressing the just Liberties of the Subjects , and the Reformed Religion in all the three Kingdomes . But in place of the gracious answer which we expected , Our Commissioners were restrained , and one of the Noblemen imprisoned ; Garrisons of strangers set over our heads , in an insolent and barbarous way , exercising their cruelty even against women and children ; Our ships and goods taken and sunke , and the Owners stripped naked , and more inhumanely used at the commandement of abused authority by the subjects of our owne King , then by Turkes and Infidels . And great Armies prepared against us , with a terrible Commission to subdue and destroy our selves , our Religion , Liberties , Lawes and all .

In this extreamity for us to send new Commissioners or Petitions , were against sense and experience ; those that governe the Kings Counsels being far from any inclination or intention to satisfie the just desires and grievances of the Subjects , as they have made manifest by breaking up of the Parliaments in both Kingdomes . To sit still in senselesnesse and stupiditie , wayting for our owne destruction at the discretion of our mercilesse enemies ( which were it not at this time joyned with the cause of God , would move us the lesse ) is not onely against Religion , but Nature ; teaching and commanding us to study our own preservation . To endure continuall threatnings , and so great hostility and invasion from yeare to yeare , which is the professed policie of our enemies , is impossible ; and when wee have examined our own Strength , more then we are able to beare . We have therefore after much agitation and debating , with , and amongst our selves , resolved to have our proceedings , which have been canvassed by so many , and brought to some point of determination in our own Parliament , to be better known to the Kings Majesty , and the world , and especially to the Kingdome of England , that against all false and artificiall relations , they being nakedly seen to be what they are , wee may obtaine a better grounded and more durable peace , for enjoying of our Religion and Lawes : and as wee desire the unworthy authors of our troubles , who have come out from our selves , to be tryed at home , and Justice to be done upon them , according to our owne Lawes : So shall wee presse no further processe against these pernicious Counsellours in England , the authors of all the miseries of both Kingdomes , then what their own Parliament shal decerne to be their just deserving .

When we look back upon this Work of Reformation from the beginning , and perceive the Impressions of the providence of God in it , wee are forced in the midst of all our difficulties and distresses , to blesse God for his Fatherly care and free love to this Kirk and Kingdome , and to take courage and spirit to proceed in patience & perseverance , whither he shall goe before us , and leade us on . When the Prelats were growne by their rents & lordly dignities , by their power over all sorts of his Majesties Subjects , Ministers , and others , by their places in Parliament , Councell , Colledge of Justice , Exchequer , and high Commission , to an absolute dominion & greatnesse , and setting their one foot on the Kirk , and the other on the State , were become intollerably insolent , even then did the Work begin , and this was the Lords opportunity . The beginnings were small , and promised no great thing , but have been so seconded and continually followed by Divine providence , pressing us from step to step , that the necessity was invincible , and could not be resisted . It cannot be expressed what motions filled the hearts , what teares were powred forth from the eyes , and what cryes came from the mouthes of many thousands in this Land at that time , from the sense of the love and power of God , raysing them as from the dead , and giving them hopes after so great a deluge and vastation , to see a new world , wherein Religion and Righteousnesse should dwell ▪ When wee were many times at a pause , and knew not well what to doe , the feares , the furies , the peevishnesse , and the plots also of our dementat adversaryes , opened the wayes unto us , and taught us how to proceed ; and what they devised to ruine us , served most against themselves , and for raysing and promooving the Worke . Although neither Councell , nor Session , nor any other Judicature , hath been all this time sitting , and there have beene meetings of many thousands , at some times , yet have they been keeped without tumult or trouble , and without excesse or ryot , in better order , and greater quietnesse , then in the most peaceable times hath been found in this Land . When we were content at the pacification , to lay down Armes , & with great losse , to live at home in peace , our wicked enemies have been like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest , whose waters cast up mire and dirt , and will have us to doe that which it seemeth the Lord hath decreed against them . The purity of our Intentions f●rre from base and earthly respects : The bent and inclination of our hearts in the midst of many dangers : The fitting of instruments , not onely with a desire and disposition , but with spirit and ability to overcome opposition , and the constant peace of heart accompanying us in our wayes , which beareth us out against all accusations and aspersions , are to us strong grounds of assurance , that GOD hath accepted our worke , and will not leave us . Wee know that the Lord may use even wicked men in his servic● , and may fill their sailes with a faire gale of abilities , and carry them on with a strong hand , which should make us to search our hearts the more narrowly : But as this ought not to discourage his own faithfull servants , who out of love to his Name , intend his honour , walk in his wayes , finde his peace ▪ comforting them , his providence directing them , and his prefence blessing them in their affaires ; So it cannot be any just ground of quarrelling against the work of GOD .

Yet all those our encouragements , which have upholden our hearts in the midst of many troubles , could not make our ●ntry into England warrantable , if our peace , which we earnestly seek and follow after , could be found at home , or elsewhere . Where it is to be found , we must seek after it ; and no sooner shall we finde it , but by laying down our Armes , and by the evidences of our peaceable disposition , wee shall make it manifest to the world , and especially to the Kingdome of England , that we are seeking nothing else , and that our taking up of Armes , was not for invasion , but for defence . No man needeth to plead by positive Law for necessity : it is written in every mans heart by Nature , and in all Nations we find men have received it by practise ; That Necessity is a Soveraignitie , a Law above all Lawes , is subject to no Law , and therefore is said to have no Law : where Necessity commandeth , the Lawes of Nature and Nations give their consent , and all positive Lawes are silent and give place . This Law hath place sometimes to excuse , sometimes to extenuat , and sometimes to justifie and warrand actions otherwayes questionable . And no greater necessity can be , then the preservation of Religion which is the Soule ; of the Countrey which is the Body ; of our Lyves who are the members , and of the honour of the King who is the Head : All those at this time are in a common hazard , and to preserve and secure all , wee know no other way under the Sunne ( and if any man be so wise as to know it , wee desire to heare it , and shall bee ready to follow it ) but to take order with our common enemies , where they may be found , and to seek our assurance where it may be given . The question is not , whether we shall content our selves with our own poverty , or enrich our selves in England , that question is impious and absurd . Neither is the question whether we shall defend our selves at home , or invade our Neighbours and dearest Brethren , this also were unchristian and unreasonable : But this is the question , whether it be wisdome and piety to keep our selves within the Borders till our throats be cut , and our Religion , Lawes , and Countrey be destroyed : Or shall wee bestirre our selves , and seeke our Safeguard , Peace and Liberty in England : whether we shall doe or dye ; whether we sha●l goe and live , or abide and perish : Or more largely to expresse all , whether we who are not a few privat persons , but a whole Kingdome , shall lye under the burden of so many accusations , as scarcely in the worst times have beene intended against Christians , Receive the Service booke , and the whole body of Popery , Embrace the Prelats , and their abjured Hierarchy , Renounce our solemne Oath and Covenant , so many times sworne by us , lose all our labours and paines in this Cause , and forget our former slavery and wonted desires of redemption at the dearest rate , Tickle the mindes of our enemies with joy , and strengthen their hands with violence , and fill the hearts of our friends with sorrow , and their faces with shame , because of us , Deserte and dishonour the Sonne of God , whose Cause we have under-taken , whose Banner wee have displayed , and whose Trueth and Power hath been this time past , more comfortable unto us , then all that the peace and prosperity of the world could have rendered , and draw upon our selves all the Judgements which GOD hath executed upon Apostates since the beginning ; Or shall we fold our hands , and waite for the perfect slavery or our selves , and our posterity , in our Soules , Bodies , and Estates , and ( which is all one ) foolishly to stand to our defence , where we know it is impossible ; Or shall wee seeke our reliefe in following the calling of GOD , ( for our necessity can bee interpreted to be no lesse and entering by the doore which his providence hath opened unto us , when all wayes are stopped beside ?

Our enemies at first did shroud themselves so farre with the Kings authority , that they behooved to stand and fall together , and that to censure them , was treason against the King . But we have showne , that the Kings Crowne is not tyed to a Prelats Mitre ; and that the one may be cast unto the ground , and the other have a greater lustre and glory then before . Now they take themselves to another starting hole , and would have men thinke , that to come in to England , and to pursue them , although legally , is to invade the Kingdome where they live ; As if the cutting away of an excrescence , or the curing of an Impostume , were the killing of the Body . Let them secure themselves under the shelter of their own phantasies ; But we are not so undiscerning , as like mad men , to run furiously upon such as they first meet with , and come in their way . For although it cannot bee denyed , but the wrongs done unto us ; as the breaking of the late Peace , Crying us down as rebels and traytours , The taking of our ships and goods , The imprisoning of our Commissioners , The acts of hostility done by the English in our Castles : Had they beene done by the State or Kingdome of England , they might have beene just causes of a Nationall quarrelling : Yet since the Kingdome of England , conveened in Parliament , have refused to contribute any supply against us , have shown themselves to be pressed with grievances like unto ours , have earnestly pleaded for redresse and remedy , and a Declaration made , that his Majesty our of Parliament will redresse them , which might be a cure for the grievances of particular Subjects , but Nationall grievances require the hand of the Parliament for their cure ▪ for preventing whereof , the Parliament was broken up and dissolved . Neither doe we quarrell with the Kingdome for the Injuries which we sustain ▪ nor can they quarrell with us , for taking order with that prevalent Faction of Papists & Prelats , the Authors of so many woes to both Nations , let all who love Religion & their liberty joyn against the common enemies , and let them be accursed who shall not seek the preservation of their Neighbour Nation , both in Religion and Lawes , as their own , as knowing that the ruine of one , will prove the ruine of both .

And as we attest the God of Heaven and Earth , that those and no other are our Intentions ; so upon the same greatest attestation doe we declare , That for atchieving those ends , we shal neither spare our pains , fortunes , nor lyves , which we know cannot be more profitably & honorably spent : That we shal not take from our Friends & Brethren , from a threed even to a shooe latchet , but for our own moneyes , and the just payment , that wee come amongst them as their Friends and Brethren , very sensible of their by-past sufferings & present dangers , both in Religion and Liberties , and most willing to doe them all the good we can . Like as wee certainly expect , that they from the like sense of our hard condition , and intollerable distresses , which hath forced us to come from our own Countrey , will joyne and concurre with us , in the most just and noble wayes , for obtaining our just desires : And when our own moneyes and meanes are spent , we shall crave nothing but upon sufficient surety of repayment , how soon possibly it can be made , what is necessary for the entertainment of our Army , which wee are assured so many as love Religion , and the peace of both Kingdomes , will willingly offer , as that which they know we cannot want , and in their wise fore-sight will provide the way to furnish necessaries , and to receive the surety . This course being keeped by both sides , will neither harme our Brethren , for they shall bee satisfied to the least farthing ; nor our selves , who look for a recompence from the rich providence of God , for whose sake we have hazarded the losse of all things . The escapes of some Souldiours ( if any shall happen ) we trust shall not be imputed unto us , who shall labor by all means to prevent them more carefully , & to punish them more severely , then if done to our selves , & in our own Country . Our professed enemies the Papists & Prelats , with their adherents , & the receipters of their goods & geir , we conceive wil be more provident , then to refuse us necessary sustentation , when they remember what counsell was given by them , for declaring all our Possessions to be forfeited , & to be disposed of to them , as well deserving Subjects . We shall demand nothing of the Kings Majesty , but the settling and securing of the true Religion , and Liberties of this Kingdome , according to the Constitutions and Acts of the late Assemblies , and Parliament , and what a just Prince oweth by the Lawes of God and the Countrey , to his grieved Subjects , comming before him with their humble desires and supplications . Our abode in England shal be for no longer time , then in their Parliament our just grievances and complaints shall be heard and redressed , sufficient assurance given for the legall tryall and punishment of the Authors of our evills , and for enjoying of our Religion and Liberties in peace , against the invasion of their Countreymen . Our returning thereafter shall be with expedition , in a peaceable and orderly way , farre from all molestation ; and wee trust the effect shall be against Papists the extirpation of Popery , against Prelates the Reformation of the Kirk , against Atheists the flourishing of the Gospel , and against Traytours and fire-brands , a perfect and durable Union and Love between the two Kingdomes : which , he grant who knoweth our intentions and desires , and is able to bring them to passe . And if any more be required , God will reveale it , and goe before both Nations ; and if he goe before us , who will not follow , or refuse to put their necks to the Work of the Lord ?

FINIS .