I Know an Account of our present condition must be acceptable to you, though the Di­stempers we now lye under may give you grief and trouble. The news of the Commo­tions that infest this our Countrey (I questi­on not) hath gone far, and people receive the impressions of it according to the different passions that govern them. You have heard the occasion that first contributed to this unhappy Rebellion, and therefore I shall offer nothing as to that, but only give you a short Account of the great core our Magistrates take to put a stop to this for­midable evil; which take in a few words.

The Council omits nothing that may contribute to our safety; they sit close, and have issued forth their Orders for the summoning of the Militia, and all the Heritors of the next adjacent Counties to come in and attend the Kings Host, which is to March against the Rebels; and their Orders are so readily and cheerfully obeyed, that it is not doubted but they will be Eight or Ten thousand before Friday next, besides the standing Forces, which with the Addition that will be made by them, will be more Considerable. The Militia and Gentry of the re­moter Counties from the North are likewise on their March to Sterling, and may contribute greatly to the ad­vantage of the Kings affairs there.

My Lord Chancellor is gone over to Fife, to hasten out the Militia Regiments, and the Nobility and Gen­try of that Shire, all of whom seem to be very resolute and forward for the suppressing the Rebellion.

The Militia-Regiment of Edenburgh have very unani­mously taken an Oath to be faithful to the King, and to serve him with their Lives and Fortunes in this Ex­pedition, against those who are the disturbers of our Peace.

One piece of News more I must likewise inform you of, which is very considerable:

The Privy Council hearing that there were some that rose in Tyvindale, with a resolution to joyn with the [Page 3] Rebels in the West, and by that means to make them the more formidable, (which doubtless they would have been by the Addition of their Forces) sent the Master of Ross to Selkerk with Forty Horse and an Hundred Dragoons to skirmish with, and if they could, to dissi­pate them; and he behaved himself bravely; for disco­vering Three hundred Horse and Foot, he Advanced towards them in good Order: The Gallantry of which Action consternated the Rebels, who thereupon began to run. Upon which, the Master Commanded out Twenty of his best Horse to charge them in their Reer; which effected what he designed, which was, to make them dispute the point with him; for it obliged them to Halt and Draw up. Then the Master Attacqued them so briskly with his whole Party, that he killed Threescore upon the place, and took Ten of them Pri­soners.

As to the Number of these Rebels, we can as yet get no certain Account of them; but this we hear, and take it for a good Omen, That there are great debates and divisions among them for the Command; and no wonder, for when Government is forsaken, and the Obligations to it denied, if every one that can, aspires to it; and the only way to decide it, is the Swords-point; for every one may upon the same parity of rea­son, claim as much right to have the management of the new Government, as to endeavour the destruction rf the old. As to their Number, they are variously reported, because some go to them, and others leave them. And my thoughts are, as they don't encrease, so they don't decrease.

I pray God (if it be his Will) put a stop to this Rebellion; and incline the hearts of the people to be obedient and loyal to His Majesty and his Govern­ment, that there may no more Christian blood be spilt.

In a short time (Sir) I hope, through the Blessing of God, to give a further account of our success against these distubers of our Peace.

June 10, 1679