THE Commissioners are all gone into Scotland, not onely those who were sent from thence to the King, to Treate with His Majesty last, who are returned much dis­contented; but there are also gone home, the Committee that were appointed to stay with the Army, and the Kings Secretary; they are all of any power gone into Scotland, ex­cept onely the Generall himselfe, whose Excel­lency is left here to Governe and Order the Soul­diers, who are promised content from the King­dome; They went away from hence on Mun­day and Tuesday last, and this present Thursday is their generall meeting day at Edenburgh, as was appointed by the Committee of Estates; The Commissioners, and the Ministers often Treated with the King, and His Majesties last Answer to the Commissioners before they went away from hence was in effect the same, which the Commis­sioners of both Kingdomes received, after the de­livery [Page 4] of the Propositions here to His Majesty. His Majesty doth not so refuse the taking of the Co­venant, or the passing of the Propositions as to givea positive deniall that Hee will not passe the one or Signe the other, though in effect little bet­ter) The substance of His Majesties Answer to the Scots Commissioners was thus.

That He is very sensible of the sad condition of His Kingdomes, and the miseries of Wars, none more then Himselfe, that He hath propoun­ded wayes for remedy thereof already, that Hee hopes there will a hearing bee granted to Him, And to Treate with Him for the speedy setling of the Kingdomes. And to the end that there may be the better accommodation for His Majesty and likewise for His subjects (with whom He is to treate) He desires that He may reside in some convenient place, either in, or neer London or Westminster, where His Majesty saith He de­sires that there may be a full hearing. But (af­ter God knowes how long a Treaty, and what effects) His Majesty then promises, (which Hee saith He doubts not of) to give satisfaction: and this is all the Answer which they could have to carry to Edenburgh, (what use wil be made of this God knowes) We are very sorry here that the Country is still [Page 5] burdened with the Armies lying upon us, And feare that Wee shall not yet be eased, because that some have already taken in Hay and other provisions, which they feare will be for winter quarters, others build them stables, which (with other observations of the Country people) are a great and heavy burden to the minds of many, who seeing the freedome of other Countries are greeved that themselves (who have beene the longest sufferers) should be farthest from being freed.

There are many Malignants hereabouts, this Towne is full of them, Mr. Murry of the Bed-Chamber, His Majesties old Agent, whom you had prisoner at London, and other such dangerous ones as hee, are heare, and have often recourse to His Majesty; if some stricter course (then hath yet beene) be not taken you may easily judge what these things may come to; the well affected of both Kingdomes cannot but be much troubled at it; The Scots have often made Proclamation a­gainst malignants comming hither, but that pre­valies not; they come, and are daily admitted and are received by His Majesty, I pray God they do not stir up a new Warre. I write to you of these things with a bleeding and sad heart; rather desiring a Reformation of them, then rejoycing in them, the thought whereof cannot chuse but much sad the spirits of all honest men; you may [Page 4] be sure that Malignants comming daily to Court, act no good for the Kingdomes, for they care not what ruine is brought upon us, so that they advance their own ends.

For certaine James Graham (sometimes Earle of Montrosse) is gone out of Scotland, but (by reason that hee had notice of the Parliaments Ships riding neere to the port, where hee had intended to take Shipping) hee refused to passe in the Ship appointed for him to go in, and pas­sed over privately in a Vessell elsewhere; which was done so privately that few or none of his own Officers (as it is sayd) knew of his going, though they came with him to goe over the Seas also: It is supposed by some, that hee is gone to Denmarke, others thinke hee is gone to Nor­way, some that hee will onely crosse over and then passe to some other place by Land. But for your further satisfaction from those parts, I have sent you the Copy of a Letter that came hither from Edenburgh this day: and I subscribe my selfe,

IAmes Graham (commonly called the Earle of Montrosse) I can assure you is now gone out of this Kingdome, he shipped two of his best Horses, which were his owne charging Horses; and with them he also sent twenty­foure Gentlemen of his Officers and friends, a­board a Ship of James Gibsons, to be trans­ported. And some of the Parliaments Ships lye in waite, expecting that Montrosse will lanch with them, but he having some discove­ry made to him thereof, left them to passe with­out him; himselfe went privately away, and [Page 6] shipped himselfe in a Frigot that same night, as is supposed to Birien. Vpon Thursday next there is a meeting of Estates to be here, and our Lords and other Commissioners and Gen­tlemen are to come from Newcastle, what it produceth, you shall heare by the next. There is no word come from Major Generall Middle­ton, since he went to the North; but we have advertisements that he will first goe and curbe some of the Gordons in the North, who hold out some houses against the Estates, and have not yet submitted, by which meanes they are a great trouble to their Neighbours; but we hope that he will not be long in reducing them thus in hast I remaine;