Forfar, 24 October, 1650.
Quhen Cromwell had sent a letter to the Comittee of Estaits, of the 9 of October, 1650, he sent the duplicat of the same to the westerne armey and ther comanders, Ker and Straquhaine, quho, after they and ther comittee had perused it, they resolued to returne no publicke anssuer therto, since, as they thought, the Comittee of Estaits wold anssuer it; only they resolued to returne him thesse 6 following querees for anssuer, as Sʳ George Maxswoll quho presented ther remonstrance to the Comittee of Estaits at Stirling,—— of October instant.
1. Quhay is satisfaction demandit? 2. Quhat is the satisfaction demandit? 3. For quhat is the security demandit? 4. What is the security ze wold haue? 5. From quhom is the security requyred? 6. To whom is the security to be giuen?
After the remonstrance of the westerne armey was presented to the Comittee of Estaits at Stirling, and accepted be them, and marked by ther clerke, produced by Sʳ Geo: Maxswoll in name of the comanders, gentrey, ministers and armey, (calling themselues the Westerne Forces,) therafter within 3 or 4 dayes was [the] thre follouing papers sent by them to Courte and Comittee of Estaits at Perth, Tuesday, 30 of October—[viz.]
30 Octob: 1650.—It being manifest that the Kings not prosecutting the causse of God, nor walking in ane subordinatione to God, bot rather in oppositione to the work of God and the couenant, and cleiuing to all the enimies, we doe therfor, according to the declaratione of the churche and stait of the 13 of Aguste 1650, disclaime all the sin and guilt of the King and his housse, both olde and lait; and declaire, that wee doe not allow him nor his intrest in the stait of the quarrell betwix ws and the enimie, aganist quhom, if the Lord will, wee are to hazard our liues.
2. That within Scotland he ought not to be intrusted with the exercisse of his power, till such tyme as ther be conwincing and cleir euidence of ane reall change in him; and that ane effectuall coursse ought to be takin for prewenting, in tymes coming, his coniunctione with the malignant partey, and for traying the causse of his lait deserting of the publicke counsailles, and of all quho had accession therto; and for disabling malignants, vntill they be out of capacity to hurte the worke and people of God.
3. That the publick judicatories be free, that ther is iust causse in Gods sight to charge some eminent persons in our counsells and forces with ingagements and deseinges to inwade Ingland, for inforcing the King one that natione; and that it was a grate prouocation in aney persone to haue intendit ane inwasion to Ingland, for the inforcing of the King one ane other natione, not subordinat to ws; with consideratione of the necessities and vnlawfullnesse therof for cleiring of our calling to it, or remoueing the Lords contrawersie aganist the King, quhom justly the Lord had remowed from the gouerniment of the kingdome, quhatsomeuer in justice was one mans pairte.
To the Rt Honorable the Committee of Estaits, the humble Remonstrance of the Gentlemen, Commanders and Ministers, attending the forces in the west.
17 October, 1650.
Althoughe wee do not judge of the wndertakings of the Lords people by the successe, and be not shaken by the dissipating of our armey, nor brought in question our causse, zet wee thinke ourselues, and all the people of this land, called by thesse late dispensations to searche and tray our wayes; wee doe therfor esteeme it our deutie (quhill wee are about to adwenture our liues againes the enimie, as prowidence shall giue opportunitie) freelie and faithfullie to make our thoughts knowen to your Lops: concerning the causses and remedies of the Lords indignation wich hath gone out aganist his people, quherin wee supposse wee neid not insist vpone the lait sinns conteined in the lait causses of the fast, published by the Commissioners of the Kirke, relatting to the conducte and carriage of our armie, and other thinges; bot wee shall speike to that wich most directlie concerns your Lops: