1640.—June 17.
6. Letter from Committee of the Scottish Parliament to the Earl of Lanerick.[251]
Right Honourable,
It is not unknown to your Lordship with what difficulties this Kingdom hath wrastled this time past, in asserting their Religion and Liberties against the dealings of bad Instruments with his Majesty to the contrary. The means which they have used, have been no other but such as they humbly petitioned and obtained from his Majesty—a free National Assembly and Parliament. The Assembly went on in a fair way, and was closed with the liking and full consent of his Majesties Commissioner; but the Parliament Indicted by his Majesty was prorogated, till the Reasons of the Demands of the Estates were rendered to his Majesty; which having done by their Commissioners, they kept the second of June (the day appointed by his Majesty) for the sitting of the Parliament; and after diligent Enquiry, hearing nothing from his Majesty nor his Commissioner, neither by their own Commissioners or any others sent from his Majesty, which might hinder the Parliament to proceed to the settling of their Religion and Liberties, after mature deliberation, and long waiting for some signification of his Majesties pleasure, they have all, with one consent, resolved upon certain Acts, which they have adjudged to be most Necessary and Conducible for his Majesties Honour and the peace of the Kingdom, so far endangered by delayes; and have committed to us the Trust to shew you so much, and withal to send a just Copy of the Acts, that by your Lordship (his Majesties Principal Secretary of Scotland) they may be presented to his Majesty. The Declaration prefixed to the particular Acts, and the Petition in the End, contain so full expressions of the Warrants of the Proceedings of the Estates, and of their humble continued desires, that no word needs to be added by us. We do, therefore, in their name, (according to the Trust committed to us,) desire your Lordship (all other wayes of Information being stopt) with the Presenting of the Acts of Parliament, to represent unto his Majesty against all suspicions, suggestions, and tentations to the contrary, the constant love and loyalty of this Kingdom unto his Majesties Royal Authority and Person, as their Native King and kindly Monarch: And that they are seeking nothing but the Establishing of their Religion and Liberties under his Majesties Government, that they may still be a free Kingdom, to do his Majesty all the honour and service that becometh humble Subjects; that their Extremity is greater, through the Hostility and Violence threatned by Arms, and already done to them in their Persons and Goods, by Castles within and Ships without the Kingdom, than they can longer endure: And that, as his Majesty loveth his own Honour and the Weal of this his Antient Kingdom, speedy course may be taken for their relief and quietness; and that if this their Faithful Remonstrance (to which, as the Great Council of the Kingdom, they found themselves bound at this time for their Exoneration) be passed over in silence, or answered with delayes, they must prepare and provide for their own defence and safety. We are very hopeful that your Lordship (as a good Patriot, and according to the obligement of your place) will not be deficient in that duty for your Native Countrey, and send us a speedy Answer, as we shall in every duty be careful at all occasions to shew our selves.
| Your Lordships humble Servants, | ||
|---|---|---|
| Signed, | Balmerino, | George Dundas, |
| Burghly, | John Smith, | |
| Napier, | Ed. Egger, | |
| Thomas Hop, | Thomas Patterson, | |
| John Murray, | Ja. Sword. | |
| John Hamilton, | ||
1640.—June 26.
7. Terms of Agreement on which Lord Lowdoun was liberated from the Tower of London.[252]
I. The Lord Lowdon doth promise to contribute his faithful and uttermost Endeavours for his Majesties Service, and furthering of a happy Peace, and shall with all possible diligence and care go about the same, and shall labour that His Majesties Subjects of Scotland may in all humility petition, that His Majesty may be Graciously pleased to authorize a Commissioner with full Power from His Majesty to establish the Religion and Liberty of that His Majesties Native and Ancient Kingdom according to the Articles of Pacification, and that by a new Convening or Session of the Parliament, without cohesion or dependence on what hath been done by themselves, without His Majesties Presence, or of a Commissioner to represent His Majesties Royal Person and Power.
II. That if there be not an Army already convened in Scotland in a Body, he shall endeavour that they shall not convene, nor come together during the time of Treaty, in hope of Accommodation; and if they be already convened in a Body before his return, he will labour that they may dissolve and return to their several Shires, or dispose so of them, that they remain not in one Body, as may best evince that they intend not to come into England; but may carry themselves in that respective way, as may best testifie their Duty to His Majesty, and their Desires of Peace.
III. That if General Ruthwen shall happen to become their prisoner, they may (as a testimony of their desire to shun every thing which may provoke His Majesties displeasure) preserve him, and that the Lord Lowdon will shew how far he is engaged for his Safety.
IV. That when Affairs shall be brought to a Treaty in Parliament, and that His Majesty shall be Graciously pleased to settle the Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom according to the Articles of Pacification, he will endeavour that the Kings Authority shall not be entrenched upon, nor diminished, that they may give a real demonstration to the World, how tender and careful they are, that His Majesties Royal Power may be preserved both in Church and State.