My time is very short. I now received your Letter. I have within these two hours word brought to me, [I pray you tell my Lord of Canterbury, that it is by that man I did write last to him, that I have sent into Scotland and gave him sixteen pounds,] that the Scotch Army, as he doth assure me upon his life, and bids me hang him if it be not so, will upon Munday or Tuesday next come into England, that they will upon Saturday be before this Town, which they say they will take or here be broken, from hence they intend to go to Yorkshire, &c.
Your most humble servant,
Conway and Kilulta.
Newcastle Aug. 15,
1640.
1640.—August 21.
2. Six Considerations of the Lawfulness of their Expedition into England, manifested.[269]
As, from the beginning till this time, we have attempted nothing presumptuously in this great work 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 wonderful work 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:—
First, As all men know and confess what is the great force of necessity, and how it doth justifie actions otherways unwarrantable, so it cannot be denyed but we must either seek our peace in England at this time, or lye under the heavy burdens which we are not able to bear.
1. We must maintain Armies on the Borders, and all places nearest to hazard, for the defence and preservation of our Countrey, which, by laying down of Armes, and disbanding of our Forces, should be quickly over-run by hostile invasion and the incursions of our enemies.
2. We shall want trade by Sea, which would not only deprive the Kingdom of many necessaries, but utterly undo our Boroughs, Merchants, Mariners, and many others who live by Fishing, and by Commodities Exported and Imported, and whose particular callings are utterly made void, by want of Commerce with other Nations and Sea-trade.
3. The Subjects through the whole Kingdom shall want administration of Justice; and although this time past the marvellous power and providence of God hath kept the Kingdom in order and quietness, without any Judicatories sitting, yet cannot this be expected for afterward, but shall turn to confusion. Any one of the three, much more all of them put together, threaten us with most certain ruine, unless we speedily use the remedy of this Expedition. And this we say not from fear, but from feeling: for we have already felt to our unspeakable prejudice, [what it is to maintain Armies, what to want traffick, what to want administration of Justice.] And if the beginning of these 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 than no being.