AS from the beginning till this time , we have attempted nothing presumptuously in this great Worke of Reformation , but have proceeded upon good grounds , and have been led forward by the good hand of GOD , so now , from our own perswasion are we ready to Answer every one that asketh us a Reason of this our present Expedition , which is one of the greatest and most notable parts of this wonderfull Worke of GOD , beseeching all to lift up their minds above their own particulars , and without prejudice or partiality to lay to heart the Considerations following .

I. As all men know and confesse , what is the great force , of necessity , and how it doth justifie actions otherwayes unwarrantable , So can it not be denyed , but we must either seek our peace in England at this time , or lye under three heavie burthens , which we are not able to beare . First , we must maintain Armies on the Borders , and all places nearest to hazard ; for the defence and preservation of our Countrey , which by our laying down of Arme , and disbanding of our Forces should be quickly over-runne by hostile , Invasion , and the incursions of our enemies . Secondly , we shall want all Trade by Sea , which would not onely deprive the Kingdome of many necessaries , but utterly undue our Bo●●rowes , Merchants , Marriners , and many others who live by Fishing and by commodities exported , and imported , and whose particular callings are utterly made voyd by want of commerce with other Nations and Sea-trade . Thirdly , the Subjects through the whole Kingdome shall want administration of Justice : and although this time past , the marvelous power and providence of GOD hath keeped the Kingdome in order and quietnesse without ordinary Judicatories sitting , yet cannot this be expected for afterward , but all shall turne to confusion . Any one of the three , much more all of them put together , threaten us with most certaine ruine , unlesse we speedily use the remedy of this Expedition . And this we say not from feare , but from feeling : for we have already felt to our unspeakable prejudice , what it is to maintain Armies , what to want traffique , what to want administration of Justice , And if the beginning of those evils be so heavy , what shall the growth and long continuance of them prove unto us , So miserable a being , all men would judge to be worse then no being .

II. If we consider the nature and quality of this Expedition , it is defensiue , and so the more justifieable . For proofe hereof , let it be remembred : 1. The Kings Majesty misled by the crafty and cruell Faction of our adversaries , began this yeares warre , not we . When Articles of Pacification had been the other yeare agreed upon , Armes layed down , Forts and Castles rendered , an Assembly kept and concluded with the presence and consent of his Majesties High Commissioner , the promised ratification thereof in Parliament ( contrary to the foresaid Articles ) was denyed unto us . And when we would have informed his Majesty by our Commissioners , of the Reasons and manner of our proceedings they got not so much as presence or audience . Thereafter his Majesty being content to heare them , before that they came to Court or were heard , warre was concluded against us at the Councell table of England , and a Commission given to the Earle of Northumberland for that effect : The Parliament of Ireland and England were also convocat for granting Subsidies unto this warre against us , as it not our : plots have been hatched , and military preparations made against us ! many invasions by Sea , which have , spoiled us of our Ships and goods : Men , Women and Children kil'd in Edinburgh by his Majesties Forces in the Castle : Our enemies therefore are the authore and beginners of the warre , and we defenders onely . 2. We intend not the hurt of others , but our own peace and preservation , neither are we to offer any injury or violence ▪ And therefore have furnished our selves according to our power with all necessars , not to fight at all , except we be forced to it in our own defence , as our Declaration beareth . 3. We shall retire and lay down our Arms , assoon as we shall get a sure peace , & shal be satisfied in our just demands . Upon which ground even some of those who would seem the greatest Royalists , hold the warres of the Protestants in France , against the King and the Faction of the Guisians to have been , lawfull defensive wars , because they were ever ready to disband and quiet themselves when they got assurance of peace , and liberty of Religion . Now this present Expedition being in the nature of it defensive , hence it appeareth , that it is not contrary , but consonant to our former protestations , Informations , and Remonstrances : In all which , there is not one word against defensive warre in this cause : but strong reasons for it , all which militat for this Expedition . Our first Information sent to England this yeare , though it accurseth all offensive or invasive warre , yet sheweth plainly , that if we be invaded either by Sea or Land , we must doe as a man that fighteth himselfe out of prison . If a private man when his house is blocked up , so that he can have no liberty of commerce and traffique to supply himselfe and his Family , being also in a continuall hazard of his life , not knowing when he shall be assaulted by his enemies who lye in waite against him , may in this case most lawfully step forth with the Forces which he can make , and fight himselfe free : Of how much more worth is the whole Nation : and how shall one and the same way of defence and liberation be allowed to a privat man , and disallowed to a Nation ▪

III. Thirdly , we are called to this Expedition by that same divine providence and vocation which hath guided us hitherto in this great busines . We see the Expediencie of it , for the glory of GOD , for the good of the Church , for advancing the Gospel , for our own peace , after seeking of GOD , and beging light and direction from Heaven , our hearts are inclined to it , GOD hath given us zeal and courage to prosecute it , ability and opportunity for under-taking it , Instruments fitted for it , unanimous resolution upon it , scruples removed out of minds where they were harboured , encouragemets to atchieve it from many passages of divine providence , and namely from the proceedings of the last Parliament in England , their grievances and desires being so homogenecall and a kinne to ours , we have laboured in great long-suffering by Supplications , Informations , Commissions , and all other meanes possible to avoid this Expedition : It was not premeditate not affected by us ( GOD knows ) but our enemies have necessitate and redacted us unto it , and that of purpose to sowe the seed of Nationall quarrels ; yet as GOD hitherto hath turned all their plots against themselves , and to effects quite contrary to those that they intended : so are we hopefull , that our going into England , so much wished and desired by our adversaries for producing a Nationall quarrell , shall so farre disappoint them of their aymes , that it shall link the two Nations together in straiter and stronger bonds both of civill and Christian love , then ever before .

And that we may see yet further evidences of a calling from GOD to this voyage , we may observe the order of the Lords steps and proceedings in this Worke of Reformation . For , beginning at the grosse Popery of the Service Book , and Book of Canons , he hath followed the back trade of our defection , till he hath reformed the very first and smallest Novations , which entered in this Church . But so it is that this backe trade leadeth yet further , to the Prelacy in England , the fountaine whence all those Babilonish streame issu'd unto us : The Lord therefore is still on the back trade , and we following him therein , can not yet be at a stay . Yea , we trust , that he shall so follow forth this trade , as to chase home the Beast and the false prophet to Rome , and from Rome out of the world . Besides , this third consideration resulteth from the former two , for if this Expedition be necessary , and if it be defensive , then it followeth inevitably , that we are called unto it , for our necessary defence is warranted , yea commanded by the Law of GOD and Nature , and we are obliged to it in our Covenant .

IV. Fourthly , the lawfulnesse of this Expedition appeareth : if we consider the party against whom : which is not the Kingdome of England , but the Canterburian Faction of Papists , Atheists , A●●inians , Prelats , the misleaders of the Kings Majesty , and the common enemies of both Kingdomes . We perswade our selves , that our brethren and neighbours in England will never be so evill advised , as to make themselves a party against as by their defence and 〈◊〉 of our enemies among them , as somtime the Benjamites made themselves a party against the Israelites , by defending the G●●tachites in their wicked cause , Iudg. 20. We pray GOD to give them the wisdome of the wise woman in Abell , who when Ioab came neare to her City with an Army , found out away which both keeped Ioab from being an enemy to the City , and the City from being an enemy to him , 2 Sam. 20. As touching the provision and Furniture of our Army in England , it shall be such as is used among Friends , not among enemies : The rule of humanity and gratitude will teach them to furnish us with necessaries , when as beside the procuring of our own peace , we doe good offices to them . They detest ( we know ) the churlishnes of Nabal , who refused victuals to David and his men , who had done them good and no evill , 1 Sam. 20. And the inhumanity of the men of Succoth and Penuell , who ●●nyed bread to Gideons Army , when he was persuing the common enemies of all Israel , Iudg. 8. But let the English doe 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 passe through their Countrey , or to give them bread and water in any case , Num. 20. Iudg. 11. and this offence the Lord accounted so inexpiable , that for it he accursed the Edomites and Moabites from entring into the Congregation of the Lord unto the tenth generation , Deut. 23.3 , 4.

V. The Fifth consideration concerneth the end for which this voyage is under-taken . We have attested the searcher of hearts , It is not to execute any disloyall act against the Kings Majesty , It is not to put forth a cruell 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 our selves with the wealth of England , nor to doe any harme thereto . But by the contrary , we shall gladly bestow our paines and our meanes to doe 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 then our Conscience beareth us record , that we ayme altogether at the glory of GOD , peace of both Nations , and 〈◊〉 of the King , in suppressing and punishing in a legall way of those who are the troublers of Israel , the fire-brands of hell , the Korahs , the Balaams , the Doegs , the Rabshakah● the Hamans , the Tobiahs and Sandballats of our time , which done we are satisfied . Neither have we begun to use a military Expedition to England as a meane for compassing those our pious ends ; till all other meanes which we could think upon have failed us , and this alone is left to us as ultimum & unicum remedium , the last and onely remedy .

VI. Sixtly ; if the Lord shall blesse us in this our Expedition , and our Intentions shall not be crossed by our own sinnes , and miscarriage , or by the opposition of the English , the fruits shall be sweet , and the effects comfortable to both Nations , to the Posterity , and to the reformed Kirkes abroad : Scotland shall be ●●●med as at the beginning , the Reformation of England long prayed and pleaded for by the Godly there , shall be according to their wishes and desires perfected in doctrine , worship , and discipline , Papists , Prelats , and all the members of the Antichristian Hierarchy , with their Idolatry , Superstition , and humane inventions shall pack them hence ; the names of Sects and Separatists shall no more be mentioned , and the Lord shall be one , and his Name one thoughout the whole Hand which shal be glory to God ; honour to the King , joy to the Kingdomes , comfort to the posterity , example to other Christian Kirkes , and confusion to the incorrigible enemies .