The VINDICATION and DECLARATION of the Scots Nation, &c.
AN Aspersion being cast upon our Actions, and a Sandall raised against our Proceedings. We conclude our selves engaged to wipe off the one, and beat downe the other by this short Vindication.
It is not unknown to the world, that at First we were Invited to assist the Kingdome of England upon a Solemne Agreement, as well to make the late King Glorious, as to preserve to Lawfull Rights, and Liberties of the Subjects. The onely means to effect this, was propounded the forcible Rescuing the King from His Evill, and bringing Him back to His Great Councell, whom we were informed He had [wilfully, and for no cause given by them] deserted: [Though now we are fully satisfied of the contrary.]
This specious pretence involved us in that Engagement: in order to the effecting whereof, our Army in 1644. Marched into England: The successe which their Designe found thereby, we need not mention; it being acknowledged at large by their own Papers.
Upon the Account also, after the Kings comming into our Army, we treated with them, and upon their large protestations of acting nothing contrary to the first agreement, [of the faithfull performance whereof we alone were not frustrated] we left his Majesty to be attended on by the Commissioners, of both Houses of the Then Parliament of England, expecting thenceforth a speedy performance of theirs and our Agreement, but how our expectation was therein deceived we leave it to their owne late proceedings to determine and declare.
After this, being informed how the Army of Sectaries behaved themselves towards the King, we held our selves obliged by our said Solemn Engagement to endeavour the Redresse of his Majesties sad condition, and to that end by consent of Parliament we raised an Army in 1648. and gave them Order to March into England: which was accordingly performed.
Upon their March we were informed of a Treaty to be between his then Majesty and his two Houses, and were also possessed with this suggestion, that under the countenance of that our engagement, the Malignant party had strengthned themselves to hinder the happy effects of the said Treaty: of which we being unwilling to be accounted the abstructers, we sent Orders to our Generall [Page 2]to stay his further March, and forbeare any engagement against the English, till we were truly satisfied what effect the said Treaty would produce.
Our Generall accordingly made an Hault, not doubting but that the English had done the same. But their Lieutenant Generall CromWell taking advantage of his security, unexpectedly fell into our Generalls quarters [who suspected no such treacherous fruits of a pretended Treaty, and had no order to engaste against them] and before our Generall was or could be Resolved what to doe, prosecuted his Designe with so hot and eager a pursuite, that by the advantage he had got by that his treacherous first onset, he so dispersed our whole Army, that it was no Labour for him totally to destroy the same, or have them all at his Mercy [which in the conclusion proved but cruelty, witnesse our Generall himselfe Whom they murdered in London after they had given him quarter.]
By this defeat he gained a free passage with his Army without opposition, to March against this Kingdome. To prevent this, those of us who had protested against that Engagement, and to their utmost power opposed it in Armes [which they never laid downe, untill the Garrisons of BERWICK and Carlisle were restored to the Kingdome of England] These of us [we say] by a letter from the House of Commons to the Generall Assembly of this Kirk of the third of August 1648. intimating With What hopefull successe the Treaty was like to go on) were invited to a Treaty with the said Lieu. Generall Cromwell authorized thereunto by both Houses of Parliment: And this was accepted on both Parts.
At the meeting upon the 5. of October following Lieu. Generall Cromwell in the Name of the Parliament of England, did represent to the Committee of Estarts of this Kingdome, the wrongs and injuries committed against the Kingdome of England in that Engagement, and thereupon did demand by way of satisfaction, that they would give assurance in the name of the Kingdome of Scotland, not to admit, or suffer any who have been Active in, or consenting to that Engagement, to be employed in any Publique place, or Trust whatsoever; which [the exigencies of our affaires, as then necessitating us thereunto] was not onely granted, and afterwards confirmed in Parliament, but also publickly disclaimed, because we did expect a happy period of the above-mentioned Treaty between His Majesty, and His two Houses: but what effect that did produce is apparent to the whole world in Generall, and to this Kingdome particularly, who are concerned therein more especially; for thereby they conclude, themselves free from whatsoever Relation, or mutuall obligation to the Kingdome of England, and bound equally by the Law of God, Nations, and Common Right to declare as followeth.
The DECLARATION of, &c.
SInce the hideous, and unparrallel'd proceedings of the Sectaries of England especially of the Army [in reference to Religion, to the Law, to the protesting against, and disanulling all the proceedings of the Treaty, to the Freedome of both Houses, (one being declared uselesse, and many Members of the other kept away by force, and the rest under the power of the Sword) to the taking away of the Kings Life, and the changing the very Fundamentall Government of that Kingdome] since their proceedings [we say] have manifested themselves contrary, and Diametrically opposite to all bonds of Religion, or but Morall Honesty, Loyalty to the King, mutuall amity and Friendship betwixt the two Kingdomes, the Solemne League and Covenant, yea, and their own Protestations, Declarations, Professions, and Remonstrances.
And since by such proceedings it is apparent, that there hath been in England a back-sliding, and departure from those Grounds and Principles wherein the two Kingdomes were engaged: we held our selves bound equally by the Law of God and Nations to protest against them, and to addresse our selves according to the Law of this Kingdome, to the Heire apparent of this Crown and Scepter, whom we have not onely acknowledged for our King, and with all readinesse, unanimity, alacrity, and solemnity proclamed His Majesty by the name of CHARLES the SECOND, of Great Brittaine, France and Ireland, &c. But also, [having now by his last Expresse received such full satisfaction as both the Generall Assembly of the Kirk, and Grand Committee of Estates did desire, or could be expected, doe DECLARE to the whole world, that we will receive His Majesty [when he shall think fit to Honour us with, and encourage us by His Royall presence] with all cheerfullnesse, and most willingly render unto Him that faithfull subjection, and dutifull obedience which can be expected from Loyall Subjects to so Gracious a King, who, by granting so much, hath so farre endeared This Nation, That we further DECLARE,
That we wil contribute our utmost endeavours according to the Duty of Faithfull and Loyall Subjects, to settle his Majesty in the peaceable Possession of the Government of his Kingdome of England, and other his Majesties Dominions, according to his Majesties' undoubted right of Succession, and with all their Lives, Estates, Power, and Strength, assist his Majesty in bringing to Justice the Actors and Abettors in that HORRID and UNPARRALED MURDER of his Majesties Royall Father, by which we doubt not but fully both to satisfie the whole world how much we did and still do [Page 4]detest and abominate the very designe thereof, and also give a sufficient testimony of the integrity of intentions towards MONARCHICALL Government and the continuance thereof in his Majesties Person and Posterity, and of our utter detestation of the unparaleld practises of those Sectaries at West-minster, Derby-House, and in the Army, who Designe the Ruine of his Majesty and the Subversion of the ancient and Fundamentall Lawes and Government of all his Three Kingdomes, whom therefore we Resolve to our utmost hazard of our Lives, and Estates, to oppose: And to that end doe further DECLARE,
That we wil not admit of any Treaty with any of his Majesties Enemies (without his consent nor) till all the Late proceedings in England since the ending of the Treaty, between his late barbarously Murdered Majesty and his then Two Houses of Parliament, be disclaimed and disavowed, and both Houses there be permitted to sit in Freedome and safety, that so addresses may without feare and danger of the Subjects lives, be made unto them concerning all matters of just complaint.
And from these Resolutions and Declarations in the last place, as we DECLARE, that as no alteration or revolution of affairs can absolve us, so we trust in God that no successe, whether good or bad, shall be able to divert us from that course and means by which we have joyntly and unanimously consented to assist his Majesty according to this our present Declaration, and will persue with all alacrity till we have setled his Majesty according to his owne Hearts desire, attained the wished ends of the long continued Troubles of his Three Kingdomes, and put a period to those unnaturall Warres and divisions which have so long wasted all his Dominions; That so at Length (if God be so pleased) we may live a comfortable and quiet life under the shadow of so hopefull and Gracious a Kings prosperous and happy Government. Which God of his infinite Mercy grant in his good time That so the Throne of Charles the Second may be established in righteousness, peace and Happinesse.
Vivat, Vincat, Floreat CAROLƲS Secundus.