My Lord,
By the Dispatch Sir James Hamilton brought your Lordship from His Majesties Sacred Pen, you were left at your liberty to commit any act of Hostility upon the Rebels, when your Lordship should find it most opportune: since which my Lord Holland with 1000 Horse and 3000 Foot marched towards Kelso, himself advanced towards them with the Horse (leaving the Foot three miles behind) to a Place called Maxwel-heugh, a height above Kelso; which when the Rebels discovered, they instantly marched out with 150 Horse, and (as my Lord Holland says) eight or ten thousand Foot; five or six thousand there might have been. He thereupon sent a Trumpet commanding them to retreat, according to what they had promised by the Proclamation. They asked whose Trumpet he was, he said my Lord Holland’s; their answer was, he were best to be gone. And so my Lord Holland made his Retreat, and waited on His Majesty this night, to give him this account.
This morning Advertisement is brought His Majesty, that Lesley with 12,000 men is at Cockburns-path, that 5000 men will be this night or to morrow at Dunce, 6000 at Kelso; so His Majesty’s opinion is, with many of his Council, to keep himself upon a Defensive, and make himself here as fast as he can: for His Majesty doth now clearly see, and is fully satisfied in his own Judgement, that what passed in the Gallery, betwixt His Majesty, your Lordship, and my Self, hath been but too much verified on this occasion. And therefore His Majesty would not have you to begin with them, but to settle things with you in a safe and good posture; and yourself to come hither in person, to consult what Counsels are fit to be taken, as the Affairs now hold. And so wishing your Lordship a speedy passage, I rest
Your Lordships most humble Servant,
and faithful Friend,
H. Vane.
From the Camp at
Huntley-field this
4ᵗʰ of July [June] 1639.
Having no time to write my Self so much, I was forced to use his Pen; therefore I shall only say, that what is here written, I have directed, seen, and approved.
C. R.
1639.—June [7 or 8.]
49. Supplication by the People of Scotland to the King.[211]
To the Kings most Excellent Majestie,
The Supplication of His Majesties Subjects of Scotland,