THE PRINCIPALL ACTS
OF THE GENERALL ASSEMBLY, CONVEENED AT EDINBURGH, MAY 29, 1644.
Die Jovis penult. Maii.—Sess. II.
The Letter from the Presbyterie with the Army in England to the Generall Assembly.
Right Reverend,
HAVING the opportunity of the sitting of this Venerable Assembly, we thought our selves obliged to render some accompt of the estate of our Affairs. It hath pleased the Lord to exercise us since our out-coming, with many straits and difficulties, yet in the midst thereof he hath wonderfully upheld and carried us through. The depth of his wisedome hath suspended us for a time from any great action, to make us walk humbly before him, and to keep us in a continuall dependance upon himself: And yet he hath by his own power scattered before us the great Popish Army, and much diminished the number thereof, so that they do not now appeare against us in the Fields; that all may learne to trust in GOD, and not in Man. It was farre from our thoughts and intentions to have come this length at that instant when the course of Divine Providence pointed out our way unto us, which led us on by some long and speedie marches to joyne with my Lord Fairfax and his Sonne their Forces. The City of York, wherein a swarme of obstinate Papists have taken sanctuary, is blocked up; now and then God favoureth us with successe in some enterprises about it, and we look for more if the time be come which he hath appointed for the deliverance of this People.
Our Soules do abhorre the treacherous attempts of our disnatured Countrey-men, that have endeavoured to make their native Kingdome a seat of Warre, and our bowels within us are moved to think upon the maine mischiefs, if not tymeously prevented, that may follow upon the unnaturall Warres there; like unto these under which this Kingdome hath groaned for a long time. We have found none more malicious and cruell against us than these of our own Nation, and we measure those at home, by these here: Cursed be their rage, for it is fierce, and their anger for it is cruell. The present danger calls upon all to lay out of their hands what ever may hinder their haste, as one Man to come together for saving the Vine-yard that the wilde Boares would lay waste, and taking the Foxes that would destroy the Vines. You are, right Reverend, now set upon the highest Watch-tower, from whence you may discover the dangers that threaten on all coasts, and wee need not put you in minde to give warning to the Watch-men in their severall stations; to rouze up the People from their too great security; to call them to unfeigned Humiliation, and to stirre them up to wrestle with GOD by prayers that hee would preserve Truth and Peace at home against the machinations of Malignants; that hee would prepare the People here, and make them more fit to embrace the intended Reformation; and that hee would command these unnaturall and bloudy Warres to cease, that Religion and Righteousness may flourish through the three Dominions, Praying GOD to send upon you the Spirit of truth, who may lead you in all truth. We remaine
Your loving Brethren, the Presbyterie of the Scottish Army in England,
Master Robert Douglas,
Moderator, in their name.
Middle-thorp, 20 Maii, 1644.