Records of the Kirk of Scotland / containing the Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies from 1638 downwards, as authenticated by the clerks of assembly.

by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

Monday, 14 Octobris. The La: of Bogie, wpone the recommendation of the Commission of the Kirke, is reponid by the Comittee of Estaits to his former integritie, and putt one the Comittee of Warr of Fyffeshyre.

[15 Oct.]—The Earle of Linlithgow, vpone his petitione, and recommendatione of the Comissione of [the] Kirk to the Comittee of Estaits, is admitted to the inioying of aney publicke employment in the kingdome, he being ane engager aganist England.

[16 Oct.]—The Lord Montgomerey petitions the Com: of Estaits to be reponid, and produces his recommendatione from the Commissione of the Kirke, in respecte he had satisfied the kirke, and was penitent for his accessione to the ingagement aganist England; and that they had accepted of others. This bill refussed pro tempore, and remitted to the parliament.

The Northerne Band & Othe of Engagement, sent by Mideltone to L. Generall Dauid Lesley, 26 of October, 1650.

We wndersubscriuers, being tuoched with a deepe sence of the sade condition this our natiue kingdome of Scotland is in, by a prewailling armey of sectaries, quho hauing murthered our lait King, and ouerturned religione and gouerniment in our nighboure kingdomes of England and Irland, hath invaded this kingdome, and are in a way (hauing so considerable a pairt of it wnder footte alredey,) to reduce the quoll to a prouince, except the Lord by his mercey prewent it, by ioyning his Maiesties subiects in the band of vnitie, wich is the onlie meine (in our judgement) to preserue religione, King, and kingdomes. Bot to the greiffe off our hartes, wee find, in place of vnione, the breache growing wyder, and that not onlie in churche and staite, bot lykwayes in the remnant of our armey; our resolutions are firmlie and faithfully to ioyne ourselves togither, and nather for feare, threttning, alurment, nor aduantage, to relinquishe so good a cause, or lay doune armes, without a general consent; and quhat shall be done to the least of ws all, in prosecutting the said vnione, shall be takin as done to ws all. And seing the best wndertakings are wnder the mercey of censure and malice, wee cannot bot apprehend to be subiect to the lawless inquisitione. Therfor, and for satisfactione to all quho are satisfiable, wee doe promisse and sweare, that wee shall manteine the trew religione, as it is established in Scotland; the couenant, leauge and couenant; the Kings Maiesties persone, prerogatiue, gratnes, and authoritie; the preuilidges of parliament and freedome of the subiects. So helpe ws God.

Sic subscribitur,
Huntley. Athole. Seafort.
St Clare. Jo. Mideltone.
Pat: Grhame. Sʳ Geo: Monro.
Th: Mackenzie. Jo: Gordon.
Wanderrosse. W. Horrie, &c.

Midiltons Letter to L. General Lesley, from Forfar,
24 of Octob: 1650.

Rᵗ Honorable,

Being still sensible of maney ciuilities conferrid vpon me by you, and being most desyrous to continew myselue in your fauor, and shune aney thing that may tend a breache, I haue sent you inclosed the ground of our ingagment, quherby you may perceaue we onlie ayme at vnione. Wee are to goe vpon the samen grounds you professe. Nather in reasone can it be expected that men at this tyme should looke vpone bussines vncontented; we are Scotishmen, we desyre to fight for our countrie; religion, king and kingdome are in hazard; we desyre to ioyne with others vnder your commande, without changing the stait of the questione. Others wnder your command are ane other way; we are hopefull that you will not shed the blood of your brethreen, nor put ws to that wnhappey necessity as to shed yours in our auen defence. It may be obiected, that wee did fall on Sʳ Johne Broune, his regiment, in ane hostill way, wee thanke God that non in that regiment, nor aney belonging to ws did fall, nather think that ther was one drope of blood shed; bot it was Sʳ Johne Browns briske expressions that did occasion it. I beseiche you, by all the expressions of frindschipe, and by that woue ze owe religione, king, and kingdome, to indevore vnitie, and not to enter in bloode with thesse that are redey to perishe for that samen pretious treuth you fight for; not doubting bot in this you will approue yourselue ane countreyman and kynd frind to him quho has put one a resolutione to be your faithfull frind and humble seruant.

Jo: Mideltone.