The last Proceedings of the Scots Army, under the Command of the Lord of Rexbrough, and Col. Scot.

AS for News, I have little at present to send, having as yet no action, but that of most concernment is as follows, viz. That there are Orders from the Parliament of Scotland, to have all their men, Foot and Horse, at Auchrom­bridge on Thursday July 18. that are raised in the shire­dom of Tiverdale. The Lord of Rexbrough and Col. Scot is to Command them. The general Randezvous is to be at Sterling, but these do not march there, but quarter in Tinedale, till further Orders: they expect daily a return of him that was sent the last week into England; there is a strange forwardness amongst the Nobles and Gentlemen of England, but the poor Commons go on slowly with much fear; the number they are raising, is 10000. and 3000. The people are much [Page 2] heightned at the Kings coming into that Nation, since the time whereof there hath been more Wine and Bear drank (as some conceive) then was in half a year before, for in each Company they carouse the Kings health 5 or 6 times, so that a man can go into no Town or Village, but he shall espy the people drunk up and down streets: The Ministers press the people to a for­wardness to serve the King, telling them that God will certainly blast the English Army, for it consists of none but Sectaries, and such as had a hand in the Kings death, publishing it in their Pulpits, that Cromwel hath no men left in Ireland, but a few that is fled into Gari­sons; and that there is already 150 raised in Wales for the Kings service, with many thousands more in other places. There was a Regiment of Foot and a Troop of Horse, that came through Galloway, and marched be­twixt Dunfrize and Amand Eastward; it is reported that it was my Lord of Arg [...]les Regiment, and that they were marching towards Duvolaw.

From Dunfrize the 7. instant, and he saith that it is reported there, that old Gen. Lesley, and Maj. Gen. Holburn, intends to march with their Foot towards Dunflaw with all speed, and David Lesley is at Hume Castle ere this. They are raising their new Leavies a pace, Galloway and Liddal, but want of Arms and mo­ney hinders much; they brag much of supplies of money and Arms from France, Denmark, Swethland, and Holland, but they are like to be but slenderly fur­nished, there divers Gentlemen of the South part of Scotland, are sending their Plate to Starling, thinking it absolute secure there. Their King as we hear, re­mains still at Starling, at the Kings house there, till such time as more conveniences be made for him at Eden­burgh, [Page 3] 10000 l. of the new Leavies is thought to be compleated within these eight days, then they say they hop [...] they shall not be long out of England, if our Ar­my prevent them not, for they are sensible enough, that it is easier to maintain 2 or 3 in England, then one in Scotland.

Out of France they have intelligence by letters to this purpose. The Spanish Army in Flanders is still about 6 miles from Guise, they being on the one side, and ours on the other side, both Armies are strong, and are near equal, therefore some conceive little expedi­tion will be done by neither side, but only spend the Summer in watching narrowly each other, and seek for some furprisall.

The Scilly Shallops are busie about our Coasts, shel­tering themselves in every Cave and Creek, where they lurk for their prey, and catch up all the several Vessels that float two and again: Those Islands are very strong they have cut through Cersonessus, upon which the great Castle standeth, which is now inviron'd with the Sea, and mainly fortified, so are other small Islands there­abouts; our Militia is drawn into a very good Order, and we have good cause to think that the Cavalier de­sign upon this County, so studiously and subtilly car­ried on is very much crakt, and if the expected act for setling the Militia be hastened, and thereby provision made for the arming and paying of men, I am confi­dent their hopes will be utterly broken.

Pendennis Castle, July 13. 1650.

My Lord General marches towards Bar­wick, betwixt which place and Anwick will be a ran­dezvous of the Army, Wednesday or Thursday next.

The reason of our stay so long in this Town is, for that many of the Foot-Regiments, and some Horse were not come up: There passed through this Town this last week, viz. Col. Prides, Malivers Fairfax, and the late Generalls, Col. Daniels Foot-Regiment having a long march out of Cheshire, are not yet come up, but expected this day at Durham, besides Provisions of Victuals, which the Army must have of them of ne­cessity, when they go into the barren Nation of Scot­land, are not yet ready, but will be at Barwick by that time we be there, having been shipt this week from hence, I had sent you a Copy of the Declaration of the Army, concerning their advance into Scotland, but I conceive it will as soon come to your hands by the Copy sent up to the Parl. There are 3 Copies of it in writing, signed by Mr. Rushworth, Secretary to the Ar­my, to be sent this day into Scotland, viz. one to the Scotch General, one to the Committee of Estates, and one to the Parliament.

We are informed that some Scottish Ministers, late­ly in their Prayers against the Sectarian Army, expres­sed to this effect: that if God would not deliver them from the Sectaries, they would not have him to be their God. Their Levies go on a pace, and the Priests are to raise 2000. Horse, under the Command of Major Strangham, and another on Bodnifield, they being jea­lous of the Committee of Estates▪ so that on the Scot­tish part you may properly call this third War Bellum Presbyteriale. And we hear further, that Aberdeen hath presented their King with 1000 l. which he distribu­ted presently.

The City of Edenburgh hath prepared a piece of plate to present to their King upon his coming thither. The Nobility and Gentry of the North of Scotland, presen­ted their service to their King, and offered to ride as a Life-Guard to his person. The Kirk perceive he be­gins to be very popular, and fear much he will over­top their power, and thereupon there are high jealosies amongst them, which is conceiv'd will breed much di­straction in that Kingdom. The Marq. of Argile is an absolute Ryolist and hath made a speech to their de­clared King to this effect viz.

Sir, This day the Gen. and his Officers marched a­way to Morpeth, the Artillery and most of the Army are beyond it, and intend to have a Randezvouz about Alnwick; we hear some of the Scots horse are upon the borders, Col. Hackers Regiment hath the Van, and were ordered to go yesterday for the Borders to keep guard there. There is a Message sent from the Gen. to the Kingdom of Scotland, chiefly for the common sort of people perswading them to stay in their hou­ses, and they shall be preserved. [Page 6] Newcastle—Sir, we are advertized by letters from the Head-quarters, That upon the Lord Generals advance towards Barwick, the borders took the Alarm, and from thence to the whole Nation of Scots were much startled; but they will have further cause shortly. And Capt. Hall hath sent a Scotch Vessel in hither which he took coming from Okeney, with 1000 Arms and 500 Barrels of Butter going to Leeth. It is also repor­ted that there hath been some dispute between a party of the Scots horse and some of ours, but the re­solute charge of our undaunted horse caused a sudden retreat. We have as yet no credible relation of any action which hath been to purpose, but the next I hope will produce more. Sir I remain,