Sixthly, If the Lord shall bless us in this our expedition, and our intentions shall not be crossed by our own sins and miscarriage, or by the opposition of the English, the fruits shall be sweet, and the effects comfortable to both Nations, to the Posterity, and to the Reformed Kirk abroad: Scotland shall be Reformed as at the beginning, the Reformation of England long prayed and pleaded for the Godly thereby shall be according to their wishes and desires, perfected in Doctrine, Worship and Discipline. Papists, Prelates, and all the members of the Antichristian Hierarchy, with their Idolatry, Superstition, and humane Inventions shall pack from hence, the names of Sects and Separatists shall no more be mentioned, and the Lord shall be one, and his name one throughout the whole Island, which shall be glory to God, honour to the King, Joy to the Kingdoms, comfort to the posterity, example to other Christian Kirks, and Confusion to the incorrigible Enemies.
1640.—September 2.
3. Letter from the Commissioners of the late Parliament in Scotland to the Earl of Lanerick, and Petition therewith sent.[270]
Noble Lord,
As we have ever professed and declared, as well by our Words as Actions, that the Grounds of our Desires are, and ever shall be the redress of Wrongs and reparations of our Losses, and that we will never leave off in all humility to Supplicate His Majesty for the same, so this hath moved us now, being come this length, yet again humbly to Petition His Majesty to take our Case to Consideration, and grant our Desires. We are debarred from sending or carrying our Supplications in the ordinary way, which makes us have our Address to your Lordship, intreating your Lordship in our names to present this our Petition herein inclosed to His Majesty, and in all humility to beg an Answer thereunto, to be sent with the Bearer to us, who shall ever endeavour to approve ourselves His Majesties Loyal Subjects, and most unwilling to shed any Christian blood, far less the English; whereof we have given very good prooff by our bygone Carriage to every one who hath with Violence opposed us, yea, even to those who entred in Blood with us, and were taken prisoners, whom we have let go with Meat and Money, notwithstanding that all those of ours, who did but deboar’d from their Quarters, are miserably massacred by these whom we can tearm no otherwise than Cut-throats. Our behaviour to these in New-Castle can witness our Intention, which is to live at peace with all, and rather to suffer then to offend. We bought all with our money, and they have extortioned us to the triple value: the Panick fear made most of them leave the Town, and stop their own Trade; but we have studied to solve their doubts. As all our Actions shall ever tend to that which is Just and Right; so we could wish, they were interpreted to a true sense; and whatever may be the event of business, we hope the blame shall not lie upon
Your Lordships affectionate
Friends to serve you.
Leager beside New-Castle,
2ᵈ September, 1640.
| Signed, | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rothes, | Napier, | D. Hoom, |
| Cassilis, | Tho. Hope, | Keir, |
| Dumfermline, | W. Richarton, | Ja. Sword, |
| Lindsay, | J. Swith, | J. Rutherford. |
| Lowdon, | P. Hepburn. | |
Postscript.—We intreat Your Lordship to let the Bearer have a Pass for his safe Return to us.