FIrſt, In the year 1653. when the preſent Parliament was interrupted, the Aſſeſsment of Scotland was 10000 l. per menſem, and the Aſſeſsment of England 120000 l. Monethly; which was but the Thirteenth part in proportion with England then. And many Honorable Members of this Parliament may very well remember how convincingly and clearly the Scots Deputies in ſeveral Conferences inſtructed a vaſt diſproportion, even then betwixt Scotland and Englands Aſſeſsments.

Secondly, The then Protector and his Council without hearing that Nation, or any from them, were pleaſed to continue Scotland at 10000 l. Monethly ſtill, when England was reduced to 60000 l. per menſem. And now when England is brought to 35000 l. per menſem, Scotland ſtands at 6000 l. Monethly. A burthen impoſſible for that poor Nation to bear!

Thirdly, When Scotland was in a diſtinct condition under the Charges of all their Forces and Armies; and when they were brought to their greateſt ſtraights in raiſing money, the Aſſeſsment of that Nation never exceeded 9000 l. Monethly, at moſt, and that neither levied in a conſtant way, nor the Countrey looked on as in a condition able to bear it, even in their moſt flouriſhing condition and greateſt commerce.

Fourthly, Scotlands long continued burthen at 10000 l. and the exceeding great decay of Trade there (except the importing Foreign Commodities, and the exporting Money, which impoveriſheth it) together with the taking away that conſtant benefit the Nation ever enjoyed, by exporting their ſtaple Commodities which always brought in Money, hath ſo drained that Countrey of their Moneys, that it is well known, though the lives and fortunes of Men worth 1000 l. per annum, ſtood engaged, they could not at this day procure 1000 l. of ready Money to borrow any where there. And although ſome pay be coming in now and then to the Army from England, yet ſuch is the frugality and ſobriety of the Officers, and many of the Soldiers, that it is well known they return more Money back to England, then what comes in.

Fifthly, When Scotlands Trading was at the beſt, all the Cuſtoms of the Nation were Farmed ſeven years for 10000 l. per annum; and it can be made appear, That in Anno 1639 and after, Newcaſtle alone did pay 45000 l. yearly for their Cuſtoms, Briſtol above 20000 l. and ſeveral Cities in England more then all Scotland. And even now by comparing the Cuſtoms of England with Scotland, a vaſt diſproportion will appear.

Sixthly, If the old eſtimate or valuation of Yorkſhire alone, be compared with the full valuation of all Scotland now, it will appear. That the former is equal to the latter; or, if theſe who have received the Rents of any forfeit Lands in Scotland lately, and have an Eſtate in England alſo, be adviſed with upon the diſproportion, it will appear, That they have paid Twenty pound out of the Hundred in Scotland, when they did not at the ſame time pay Six pound out of the Hundred pound in England. And to the end it may evidently appear to all men, that Scotland pleads no eaſe in point of Favor, but meerly in point to Juſtice, That Nation is moſt willing to pay what Aſſeſsment the 100 l. of Rent in England pays for every 100 l Rent they have, albeit their Rents conſiſts in Corn, which always yields little more Money then will pay the Aſſeſsment.

Seventhly, By comparing the preſent Aſſeſsment of ſeveral Counties and Cities in England and Scotland together, an undeniable and exceeding great diſproportion, will manifeſtly appear. For inſtance,   l. s. d.   l. s. d. Northumberland County Cumberland County Weſtmerland County Durham County pay all four Monethly but 257 16 09 Roxburghſhire worſe by far than any of them payes 307 04 09 Huntingdon   311 02 03 The Shire of Aire Mo. 322 10 05 Cheſhire 385 00 00 The Shire of Perth 419 17 10 Rutland 136 02 03 Dumfriezſhire 226 01 05 Cities in England   l. s. d.   Burroughs in Scotland     Briſtol Monethly 85 11 01 in all but 332 02 00 Edinburgh City (no ways comparable to Newcaſtle alone) pays Monethly 334 12 00 Cheſter 42 15 07 Norwich 93 06 08 Southwark 92 07 03 Newcastle 17 15 10 Exon pays Monethly but 053 13 04 Dundee Monethly 069 18 06 Liechfield 007 00 00 Irwing 009 19 08 Berwick 002 18 00 Haddington 018 00 06

Thus the Honorable Members of this Parliament may conſider and perceive, That i • will by no equal computation or eſtimate whatſoever, either General or Particular appear, That Scotland is the Twentieth part of England.

And though it may be ſaid, That Scotland puts England to ſome Charge in keeping an Army there; it is anſwered, That ſo many of the Forces are not kept there ſingly in relation to Scotland, but chiefly with an eye to England. good and ſafety from danger elſwhere: It being offered to be made appear, That a far fewer number are abundantly ſufficient to keep that Nation peaceable; and that having equal Juſtice in Property and other Priviledges, there is as little cauſe to apprehend their ſtirring as any other part of the Commonwealth; and if it appear otherwiſe, it is reaſonable that they who will not be peaceable, ſhall bear their particular burthen.

Moreover, it would ſeem very hard, that becauſed Six or ſeven Regiments are kept in and about London, Weſtminſter, and Hull, therefore theſe places ſhould be aſſeſt above their due proportions.

Theſe things being conſidered, it is humbly conceived, That it being the Rule of this Parliament in other things to put matters in the like condition as they were in at their interruption; at which time Scotland was but the Thirteenth part with England; they will at leaſt ſo ſettle the Aſſeſsment of that Nation now, until it be made more plainly appear (if it be needful) that they are not the Twentieth part of England, conſidering that Scotland is really at this day in a worſe condition then they were in Anno 1652. or 1653. That ſo that poor afflicted Nation may ſee and taſte the difference betwixt the Government of a Commonwealth, and of a ſingle Perſon.

Having in this Paper formerly given in to ſeveral Members of the Houſe, hinted at the vaſt diſproportion betwixt the preſent Aſſeſsment of England and Scotland, and made it clearly appear, That Scotlands proportion of Aſſeſsment can upon no accompt whatſoever be eſtimate the Twentieth part of Englands; and hearing that the Parliament are to Aſſeſs Scotland at the Sixth part in proportion with England, it is humbly added, That well near theſe Twenty years by-paſt, the Lord hath thought fit to exerciſe that poor Nation with an inteſtine and bloody War, wherein the vaſtations, ſpoilings, and burnings, with an univerſal Peſtilence, made the greater part thereof deſolate. During which, the Conſcience of their Duty in order to Religion and civil Intereſts, with the hope of ſome memorable and laſting advantage to themſelves and their poſterity, and the daily expectation that one year or two ſhould have finiſhed their troubles, Did encourage them to indure all the miſeries which ſo many Changes did produce; albeit their Bowels were conſuming all the while. But now all Eſtates, Families, Incorporations, and the Body of the Land being irrecoverably ſpent, and their money exhauſted; and there being many hundreds of Families ſometimes in good account there, whom no Riot or Intemperance, but the publick calamities and burthens meerly have redacted to all woful extremity: And who (if Honor and Tenderneſs did not reſtrain them) would willingly abandon all their Intereſts, and bid farewel to their Native Countrey, and be content their acquaintance and dwelling places ſhould know them no more. And theſe and many more, having at this Parliaments return to the Government, confidently preſaged, That the bitterneſs of death was over, and being ſtill in expectation, that the Parliaments Moderation, Juſtice, and Sence of their Miſeries, will make former Promiſes and Profeſſions good to them; If they ſhall (after the late Vote in the Grand Committee on the Union, appointing Scotlands proportion the Thirteenth part of Englands) meet with ſuch an unimagined diſappointment, whilſt God is gone out againſt them in the unſeaſonableneſs of the ſeaſon, and threatning an univerſal Famine there; moſt of their Corns that are reaped, being already deſtroyed, and the remainder given up for loſt; what can they ſay, or to what Airth ſhall they look.

But if there be any Bowels, any Simpathy, any Compaſſions, or if Arguments from Common Juſtice, the Laws of God and Nature, the Moral Bonds lying on thoſe who rule over men, Examples or Reaſons of State, may be admitted to plead for a People, who can ſay they Agrege not their Calamities beyond the bounds of Ingenuity and Truth. It is hoped from the Juſtice of this Parliament, That the Aſſeſsment to be impoſed on that afflicted people, ſhall be according to a juſt proportion with England; the which will very much ſilence their Grievances, and make them undergo the burthen with the greater ſatisfaction, when they finde their proportion ſetled according to a juſt Rule.