It is true that I was content to hear your Advice concerning your going into the Frith, it being chiefly to shew Henry Vane that your Judgement went along as well as your Obedience: though I had a care ever to take off from you the envy of seeking this particular Imployment, taking it, as it is just, upon my own absolute Command; yet I will not say, but that you might have cause to wonder, because neither of us expressed ourselves so clearly as we might. But my chief errand to you at this time is, that upon serious Debate upon your long Letter to Henry Vane, only with him and Arundel, (for I dare trust no other) we found no reason to alter my former Commands, but were more confirmed in the fitness of them; only we have thought requisit to alter some things in the Proclamation, which you shall receive by the next Dispatch, at furthest within a day or two of this: so that you are not to (indeed I think you cannot) publish any, until the New one come to you, (for I believe it will be at the Holy-Island before you:) the Alterations of which you will only find to be, that I do not say all I think; but in no ways slack my Resolution, much less seem to yield to any new thing. So referring you to Henry Vane for the relating of our Proceedings here, I rest
Your assured constant Friend,
Charles R.
York, 18 Apr. 1639,
at ten a clock at night.
1639.—April 19.
18. A Letter from the Nobilitie of Scotland to the Earle of Essex, lying in Berwick, sent with Mr William Cuninghame.[179]
Our Most Noble Lord,
As in all these great affairs which have been so much noysed abroad, of our Church and State, our chiefest care hes beene to walke warrantablie, according to the Laws that were sett in force for that effect; so we are certainely persuaded that amongst ourselves there is none that can justlie complaine of what hes passed; and for these our Countrie Men who are now in England, if they be of that number, as they are evill subjects to our gracious King, and worse compatriots to us; so, of all the worst guests amongst yow, while they endeavour to make the remedie of their evills, and the escape of their deserved punishment, the beginning of ane incurable disease betwixt two nations, to whom this quarrell should nowayes extend, if the informations and protestations made by us for this end, and the bond of our Covenant sworne to God and man, hes not cleered all scruples in the mynd of our gracious Soveraigne hitherto: and, of all good subjects with yow, it is not our fault, but rather our joynt misfortune with yow, that there are too too many amongst yow, also in great place and credite, whose privat byasse runnes quyte voyd and contrare to the publict good, and who are, these wicked ones, rysing earlie to poysone the publict fountaine, and to sow the unhappie teares of jealousies and discords betwixt yow and us, before the good seed of our love and respect to our neighbour nation can take place in your hearts. Amongst all the evills of this kynd which daylie overtakes us, next to the present undeserved displeasure of our Prince against us, (which God in mercie will take off in his aune tyme,) there could nothing have been fallen so strange and unexpected to us as the drawing of your forces together upon your borders, which, whether to defend yourselves, or to annoy us, and so to prepaire and gather those clouds which threatnes a sore tempest to bothe, we for our parte wishe they may first perishe in the shipwrack who beginnes to dashe the ane nation against the other.
As for yow, my Lord, although your place, persone, and qualitie, the honour and reputation of your former life, may give us some assurance that your Lordship will bewar to beginne the quarrell, whereat the enemies of both the nations will rejoyce and catch the advantage; yet give us live to admire the ground of these needlesse feares that makes you thus strengthen your borders, or rather suspect these pregnant presumptions of a farther project intendit against this nation by your power, which needs must make us bestirre ourselves betymes at all hands for our safetie; God is our witnesse that we desire no nationall quarrell to arise betwixt us, or to tast of that bitter fruit that may sett both your children and our children’s teeth on edge, but rather hold ourselves obliged, in conscience of our duetie to God, our Prince, and all our nation, our brethren, to try all just and lawfull meanes for the removall of all causes of discord betwixt two nations who are yet locked togither, and should be still in all the strongest bonds of affection and common interest, and to be alwayes readie to offer that occasion of greater satisfaction in this kynd for clearing our loyall intentions towards our Prince, to all whom it may concerne, and, namely, to your Lordship, in regard of your place and command at this tyme, by any mids whatsomever should be thought expedient on both sydes. This farr we thought good to represent to your Lordship, being occasionallie together, so few of us as are in this place, for ourselves, and in name of the rest of our number, who, together with us, shall expect your Lordships answer, and rests your Lordships affectionat friends to serve you.
Edinburgh, 19 Aprile 1639.