We, his Majesties humble and loyall subjectes, doe, with all thankfulnes, acknowledge that His Majesties caire to this his native Kingdome hes bein more tender, and His Majesties proceedings more calme, then our enraged enemies, who have bein, by all meanes, seeking His Majesties dishonour, and owre utter ruine could have wyched. So are we heartilie sorie that the suggestiounes and informatiounes of our enemyes sould have prevailed so far with His Majestie, as that ourselfs or anie uther of His Majesties guid subjects should be compted so refractorie and disobedient as to have deservit that his Majestie sould make use of any powar or forces against us, who have bein seeking nothing bot the libertie of oure religioun against novatiounes, and that all questiounes micht be determined by a Nationall Assemblie and Parliament, both which were graciouslie indicted be His Majestie, and have bein doeing nothing bot using preparatiounes for our lawfull and necessar defence against threatened invasion and hostilities. We are glaid that your Grace is come hither as His Majesties Commissioner, to accommodatt effaires in a peaceabill way, which is the desyres of oure hearts, and seemes to ws not onlie possibill bot easie. Bot we are heavielie greived that your Grace sould come against this your native countrey in such ane hostile way as may rather provoke then pacifie, and does protend that the Kingdome will be moved to doe more for feir of violence, then frome trew loyalitie and conscience of that dewtie we ow to our dread Soveragne under God. Nothing can be requyred of us for ourselffis, who have the honour to be the chieffe cittie of this His Majesties Kingdome, or for the Commones, so far as our creddeitt and powar can reache, or for giving good exemple to uthers in receaving His Majesties gratious pleasure and iust commandments, with all humble and thankfull obedience, which sall not be to the full and most cheirfullie performit. Bot when we have doone the dewtie of gud and loyall subjects which (nixt unto oure dewtie to God Almichtie) hath beene our cheifest caire, and whairof we have given all proofes and exemplarie evidences if it sall come to pas (which the Lord of his mercye prevent) that innocent blood salbe sched, then hath yᵉ curse cum on them, and the burdein wherof, the consciences of those who haith bein aither the principall causers, or the beginners, or the fomenters, of those present trubles; for, as we have, in this cause, a guid conscience before God, and nevir meant evill to any man, far les to our King, which is oure gritt confidence and comfort, so we ar assent to be approven of all just and good men, who ar not ignorant of our proceidings, and of the necessarie causes of our intendit defence. Your Grace knowes weill what fals calumnies hes bein spred against us, and we call to God of Heaven and earth to witnes; and how the wayes of grace, informatioun (all which have bein assayed by the Nobilitie, Barrones, Burgesses, Ministers, and Commouns, heir, by whose speciall advyse we have sent this answer unto your Grace, and who have warranted us to make knowen their mynd with owre owne) hath bein stopped this lang tyme past. Humblie and earnestlie intreating, in thair name and our awin, that your Grace vald be pleased to convay to His Majesties eares the trew estaitt of matters as they stand, and the guid meaning of the honest and loyall hearts of us His Majesties subjectes: which will no doubt prove a mor readie meane of reconciliatioun then all the terrors under heaven, and which will obleice us to prove to the uttermost of our power
Your Graces trew and humble Servands.
1639.—May 8.
23. Letter from the King to Hamilton.[184]
Hamilton,
The length of Henry Vane’s Dispatch will shorten this, not being willing to trouble my self with writing, nor you with reading of Repetitions. This I must observe to you, that whatsoever either he or I writes at this time is no absolute Command, but meerly Advices to help your Knowledge, that you may the easier judge what is best for my Service. Upon this ground I send you here a Discourse of Mr Thomas Hamilton’s, wherein many things to my seeming are very well said, but how far practicable, or when, I leave you to judge; as likewise upon the whole matter I give you my Opinion, that if you find it not fit to land all our 5000 men upon Lothian-side, then it may be councellable to send most of your Land-men to the North, to strengthen my Party there. As for your landing in the South, I shall onely name two Places besides Tentallon, to wit, Sterlin, (if that be not too far off to be relieved) and Dumbar: as for Tentallon, I shall command the Marquis of Douglass to send one to agree that business with you. So longing to hear from you, and wishing you good luck, I rest
Your assured constant Friend,
Charles R.
Newcastle, May 8, 1639.