FOR that by a long Experience wee have been taught that the Scots never want their Instruments among us, and even of the English Nation, to make advantage of everie occurrence; And to represent all things (without re­spect to truth) to the advantage of those designs, to the promotion where­of, they have baselie and degenerously given up themselvs, whereby those, who have not leisure or opportunitie to search into affairs, or to take a view of their whole design, looking upon things by parts, and those mis-represented, are in danger to bee deceived, and drawn into actions of a nature that may bee dangerous unto them: It will perhaps bee held agreeable to the rules of charitie that they who understand these designs should endeavor to undeceive those, who do not, and to prevent that guilt and danger in which their ignorance may involv them, and out of which the rules of Justice and good Government (espe­cially in times of danger or just jealousie) ought not to suf­fer their good meaning to deliver them.

And to this end, for that it cannot but bee taken notice off, that a Messenger express, hath been lately sent from the Parlament of Scotland into England, bringing several Letters with him, whereof one was directed, For the Honorable William Lenthal Esquire, Speaker of the Hous of Commons in England. And for that there is no man known in England to whom that title doth agree, and therefore the Letter could not bee delivered; But may perhaps bee represented by their Instruments for other than it is, and well-meaning people abused by it, as if it were of another tendencie than it is;

There beeing a Paper found among other Papers in the possession of the said Messenger, which had on the one side the Title aforesaid (written by the hand of Sir John Cheislie, which is here verie well known) [Copie of the Parlaments Letter to the Speaker.] And within the same direction that was upon the sealed Letter directed as aforesaid, of the same Sir John Cheslies hand, as the direction of the Letter it self seem's also to bee. It is held necessarie to publish the same in Print, that all may see, what stuff it is, and to make some Observations upon it, to preserv the well-meaning from mistakes, and to make them warie how they swallow whatever they propine, they beeing seldom guiltie of much ingenuitie, or truth; but offer boldly what they think may serv their turn. By which if they reach their end, 'tis their clear gain. But if the effect bee a lie, as the means it self is, it never cost them a blush, that beeing the Index of such a qualitie as is mustered among the vices on the other side of Twede.

And 'tis probable they put more confidence in the Agencie of their Messenger, and his infusions and negotiations with their partie here (who may perhaps shortlie burn their fin­gers with such traffick) then in what their Letter was like to effect, which they had reason to believ would never bee ope­ned, beeing so addressed as aforesaid, whom they had there first furnished with this open Copie, and no doubt had di­rection what to do with it, for the publick caus of Scotland, though to avoid all further questions, the variousness of [Page 3]which might have drawn from him (against his will) som­what of truth, and made a discoverie of what it chieflie con­cern's them to conceal; Hee boldlie denie's hee had any such Paper, and after 'twas shewed him, with confidence af­firm's hee knew nothing of it, or that hee had anie such Pa­per, which yet was found among Papers and Instructions which hee denied not to be his in his Port-manteau. This Pa­per with his Comments on it, might have been sufficient to deceiv many that know no more then what their Deceivers tell them. For prevention whereof, a care was taken hee should have no convers, but was defraied, while hee was here, and sent back unto the Lord General, with a Messenger to attend him; who no doubt will send him into Scotland with a verie sufficient guard. And give such answer to the letter directed to him as will bee agreeable to the Declaration of the Parlament.

If the Estates of the Parlament of Scotland would as well have remembred what they had written, as that they had writ­ten, perhaps they would not either have written now, or at least not thus: If they would but reflect upon their letter of the 26 of June, w^ch here they mention, they might finde they had so declared an enmitie therein, that there was little reason to have urged those Arguments which are conteined in this.

That letter of theirs they will not complain sure wanted an answer; for the Parlament gave one by a full Declara­tion published Julii 14. 1649. w^ch is now again printed with their present Declaration, concerning the marching of their Armie into Scotland. Where may bee seen what that letter was, and what was said to it, which wee have reason to believ was convincing (though no doubt they will not say 'twas satis­factorie) for they never gave word of replie, no more then they have to several others: and especially they must bee a­gain remembred, that to this day there want's an answer to the Parlaments Declaration of the of November 1646. a thing they have been often told of, but never had the heart to med­dle with it. For 'tis to bee observed as the constant practice of that Nation, to affirm boldly, and impose in their writings im­pudently, without all respect or reverence to truth, that there by they may take and carrie on, in their faction, such as either cannot or will not examine them being that sort of people, by whom they hope to do their work. But when their papers are answered, whether by a publick or private hand, they never yet adventured upon a Replie. And there is not one of all their papers of consequence in all the controversies they have moved about civil things, as well those they printed, as those they have sent to the Parlament, but they have received answers which wee have reason to judg full; for that they have never either taken exceptions to the insufficiencie, nor replied; but have given up their further pretensions in si­lence.

But whereas they seem to urge som wondrous salutife­rous Epistle of the 6 of March, which they could never have answer to; and would seem to insinuate some rare prescrip­tions [Page 9]to bee there, for the good and peace of those Kingdoms as they will needs call them, though one of them bee now more happie then to own the name: and complain heavily as they have don heretofore, that they could never get an­swer to it; Wee must tell them, that Epistle is Apocryphal. It lie's some where hid, and had sure the same fate their last had, to bee never received. Certain it is, there is none such to bee found among the Papers of the Parlament, and if it had com'n to hand, 'tis like enough to have had an answer, as well as any of the rest: 'tis ten to one now this matter is obsolete, and too old to bee taken into consideration. The contro­versies now are gon beyond paper-conflicts, and will bee de­termined by other Arguments. But that they may have som account of what is like to becom of that Letter, Wee shall desire them to call to minde, That when their last Commis­sioners, whom they mention, were in England, they sent a paper to the Parlament the 14 of Februarie, 1648, which is also printed with this last Declaration, as it was also with the former, the later part whereof who ever shall read, will conceiv it a paper fitter to bee given in by a Herault, then Com­missioners; and accordingly received a short answer from the Parlament (there also printed) it not beeing capable of a longer. Upon the sending of which their paper, They verie well knowing they had forfeited all priviledg of publick persons, and had by that their paper of defiance merited an other kind of Treatment then they found, they secretly and clandestinely withdrew themselvs without taking publick leav, as all publick persons use to do, (hoping their paper would haue produced effects proportionable to its natural tendencie; and as affairs then stood, and as they by their secret infusions among the people had prepared them, might have wrought som alterations amonst us) and were about to ship themselvs for Holland: But were again brought on shore, and sent with a guard to Scotland, to see whether the Kingdom of Scotland would own their miscarriage, or punish it. But the Parlament owned what they had don. And so whether their Commissioners had instructions for what they did needs not [Page 10]bee enquired; for ex post facto the Parlament made it self there­by particeps criminis. But they beeing taken into the custo­die of the guard that carried them down upon the 6 or 7 of March, 1648. 'tis not possible those instructions mentioned, or that letter could come to their hands till they were upon their waie homeward: By which means 'tis verie likely wee lost the sight of that Letter so much valued by them: how ever no such thing is found exstant, and therefore no wonder if it had no answer. And sure now it will never have the ho­nor of a publick one; but if it could bee found, it might per­haps bee examined by a private hand, to see what stuff it brought into England, and to what purpose. But the letter saith they have intelligence our Armie march toward that King­dome, and that our ships have searched som of theirs, and seized persons and goods, &c. And that these things are contrarie to the Act of Pacification, and the large Treatie, where there hath been no provocation, &c. 'Tis true, som of their ships have been searched and seized. What reason had they to exspect other? do not they know they have been treating with the declared Enemie of this Common-wealth, whom they call their King? and do they not know, that having finished their Treatie with him, hee vvas then everie daie exspected there? and is since arrived? And can they think affairs here are so loosly mannaged, that vvee should not see vvhat persons and provi­sions are carried in their ships, especially from Holland vvhere their King then vvas? And 'tis ten to one if the Com­manders of these ships had found him there, they would have seized upon him too, if the consideration, that 'tis the greatest mischief may well befal you, to let him com amongst you, had not advised the contrarie. But they need not stick much at this, for they are like to have more of it. And before this bee printed, the Armie is like not to have marched onelie toward their Kingdom, but into it. And by that time the sound of their drums have avvakned you out of your dream, and you have considered things beeing well awake; you will finde that neither the one, nor the other, is either against the Act of Pacification, unless you could make your Parenthesis positive, which may bee taken to bee hypothetical. 'Tis true indeed [Page 11]there had been no provocation on your part, the thing had been under another consideration. But whether there hath been a provocation or not, is out of question to all, but your selvs; however wee exspect you will say there hath not, be­caus the Genius Loci lead's you to affirm anie thing. And if wee had not been formerly sufficiently acquainted with this kinde of stuff, it might have drawn forth som quaeries in an other dress then wee shal now put them. We would ask you,

1. What it is that you will call injurie when you are on the inferring side? for where you are passive, no doubt you know well enough.

2. What you will think to bee a sufficient provocation?

And 3. If you bee awake, whether you have not indeed sufficiently provoked the Common-wealth of England by your late wicked invasions.

4. Whether you can think the Act of Pacification and the Large Treatie (which you mention) or anie Treatie at all be­tween the Nations bee in force, after the war begun by you, and this Nation invaded with a numerous Armie?

5. Whether you will denie there was anie Invasion at all?

6. Whether this Invasion was not made by decree of an Act of the Parlament of the Kingdom of Scotland?

7. Whether Acts of Parlament in Scotland do not binde and involv that Nation?

8. What those provocations were, upon which your King­dom of Scotland invaded England? and therein bee verie par­ticular, that if you have not had, you may have an answer.

9. Whether there were not Commissioners from England with your Parlament (even when you were levying that Ar­my) for an amicable composure of all that might bee in difference between those Nations.

10. Whether those Commissioners were heard, or the mat­ters wherein they were instructed put into debate?

11. Whether the Treaties had anie reservation of a privi­lege for you to break them, when, and as often as you pleas; and that wee must bee bound by them notwithstanding?

12. Whether it was agreeable to the Treaties, that you [Page 12]should garrison and keep Barwick and Carlisle, Towns be­longing to this Common-wealth, which wee in conformi­tie to the Treatie left ungarrison'd.

13. Whether it were according to the Treatie and Cove­nant, that you should invade England with an Armie?

14. Whether had you first sought reparation and redress by anie complaint to the Parlament here, or to their Com­missioners with you?

15. Whether you had denounced war, and given three moneths warning before your Invasion?

16. Whether you were not unanimously agreed upon an Invasion, but fell out among yourselvs upon the point of Command, because it was carried by Hamilton, and might not be under the direction of the Kirk, that is, four or five of their leading Priests?

17. Whether you think the two Nations have not been in a state of hostilitie ever since your Invasion?

18. How long forbearance of seeking just reparation shall make it unlawfull to seek it at all?

19. Whether the Parlament of England hath not given you sufficient time to com to your selvs, and offer that which must bee had from you?

20. Whether they have not used all means, and made all fair offers of an amicable composure, even since the Nations have stood in a state of hostilitie, and particularly by their Letter of 23 Maie 1649.

21. And lastly, whether by your Letter of the 20 of Iune, 1649 you have not put things into an incapacitie of deter­mination by anie other waie then that of Arms.

It might justlie make those, that know you not, wonder to read your Letter; but to us there is nothing of that kinde seem's strange. There is no man almost in either Nation, that take's notice of affairs, but know's, that when wee perceived you were gon off in your affections from the Parlament of England, for prevention of that evil they had caus enough to exspect from you (seeing the Apostacie and corruption of your Commissioners here) sent their Commissioners to your [Page 13] Parlament into Scotland to compose all differences: but they were so far from effecting what was desired, and the end of their mission, that they could never bring anie thing to a de­bate; But while they were still there, notwithstanding anie offers they had or might have had to propose, a war was de­termined by their Parlament, and accordingly prosecuted to an Invasion, without either caus shewed, or warning given, till Hamilton was entred into England: They garrison'd our frontier-Towns, and went on committing all manner of acts of hostilitie, till it pleased our good God, who hath ever owned and carried on our caus, to appear for us and make an handfull of wearied men (who with very long marches had made haste to expose their lives for the service and safetie of their Countrie) his Instruments to chastize the pride and persidie of that numerous and insolent Enemie, who were wholly broken, and the greatest part of them utterly de­stroyed.

What provocation soëver they had for this Invasion, which they never yet told us of, wee conceiv all indifferent men will beleev here was provocation enough to have drawn out a pre­sent revenge, (which yet then was changed into a deep obli­gation, had it met with men of the least sent of gratitude) and remain still a sufficient cause to require reparation. And wee verilie beleev there is no man that is master of common reason, or know's what belong's to civil transactions, or the rules of the common Law of Nations, but will without he­sitation bee bold to pronounce, That this Invasion hath dissol­ved all Leagues and Treaties, and left this Common-wealth as free from all obligations or stipulations to the Kingdom of Scotland, as they are free from anie such with the Kingdom of China or Iapan. And therefore to verie little purpose are those Treaties and Acts mentioned, that have no beeing anie where in rerum naturâ, unless onely among the records of their guilt: where no doubt they will appear both to the Divine Ju­stice and their own consciences, when God shall make inqui­sition for that innocent blood that they shed while they brake and dissolved them. Especially wee may stand amazed [Page 14]at their impudence, that urge the beeing of them to us, which themselvs most perfidiously broke without all or anie provo­cation. And 'tis an impudence also like theirs, to say they send the Copies of the first mentioned papers, to let us see they keep still the same principles, and resolv still to walk according to the sam rules and grounds, and have no other intentions or re­solutions, either in respect of war or peace, then is there ex­pressed: When as the Parlament of England have clearly told them in a former Declaration, that by their Act they have left no such rule in beieng, which yet they pass over, and dis­semble with as deep a silence as if they knew nothing of it, or as if by som Lethean draught their memories were becom abrasae tabulae, or by the power of som enchantment, or Nar­cotick potion they had been fast asleep, while that scene was upon the stage. By this you may see the Letter was not cal­culated for the Parlament, who (besides that they knew well they would not open it) they knew must resent with ex­treme indignation their impudence in believing they could so impose upon them. But 'twas fitted for the vulgar, and for their proselytes, who might perhaps bee brought to think that wee were still under those bands, and were about to break them, and to invade poor Scotland with an unjust war, in which there was nothing but abundance of candor, and a tender conscientiousness of the Treaties and Covenant.

But they acknowledg their obligations by those rules, and their resolution not to invade without first using all fair means, and giving three moneths warning. As to their ac­knowledgments, they should do better to bestow it upon their perfidie past, then use it to declare an opinion which they may as well change again as they have don before; and they may take it for their comfort, they do but sing to the deaf; wee now know them too well to trust them anie more under such simple assurances as shall bee in their own power to break. As for their resolution not to invade without three moneths warning, wee shall give no thanks to their good nature for that production; the state of their affairs (which they are ever wont to bee most ruled by) at this time require it; [Page 15]They know not yet what to make of their King, and they had need see first how they shall bee able to mannage him, and see which way hee will incline, and whether hee bee like to prove an obedient son of the Kirk or not; if not, 'twill bee dange­rous to rais an Armie for the invasion of England, least hee subdue the Kirk with it first. They see by their danger under Hamilton, that 'tis not safe to trust Arms where they are not sure of the Commanders. The Kirk find's they have had enough to do to mannage their little Armie there on foot this yeer to serv their turns; and they know the fortieth part of the Nation are not their devotiers, the rest perfect Cavies, as wearie of their yoke for the burthen, as all good men are of their hypocrisie for the grossness and formalitie: That if an Armie be raised of the Cavies they are lost: That if their King should humor them, and get them to engage against England, an impression is not seasonable with them till win­ter, and so they may have time enough to declare when wee think it time to leav the field. But then also, if they list so manie of their part, and send them into England, how shall the Kirk bee defended from their Malignant Partie at home? They are in streights, and therefore troubled wee are so for­ward; and would have us believ their act of posture and levie is onely for their own defence; which yet beeing made since their last invasion, may argue there was then som little guilt awake that quickned their fear, that som account would bee taken of them for former injuries; for otherwise their Coun­trey hath an intrinsecal fortification against all the Aggres­sions of ambition or avarice, and is as good a remedium of ex­tended desire, as deformitie is said to bee of love. And this pro­fession of their resolutions they think is abundantly sufficient to remove all ground of jealousie and mis-reports, and to take away all pretence of necessitie of the marching of our forces to defend the borders of England. Indeed wee cannot well bee of their minde, wee know not how soon the Lads may have a minde to bee upon English ground, which if they once feel under their feet, they'l shift for themselvs at our charge. And wee wonder they should think wee should now [Page 16]take their words, when they have so latelie broken their Treaties. Besides, they know it no new thing for their Nati­on to do it (witness among manie that signal one of Iames the fourth) though 'tis more then once they have paid dear for it, and may do now again before all accounts are ad­justed.

But you would fain know whether those, who have the power in England, do acknowledg themselvs obliged, or will oblige themselvs &c. That which will bee answer to this, there is no doubt but they will receiv before this can be prin­ted, from the Lord Generall of the Parlament of the Common­wealth of England, in pursuance of the Declaration by them published: But for the expression, what needs this lisping? you must speak out before you get an answer to anie question you will ask the General. Why those who now have the power, why not the Parlament of the Common-wealth of England? that is their declared style in which they will bee addressed unto, and they will not bate you an hair of it. And what you mean by the power wee know not; but you maie take notice they have Autoritie as well as Power. Your own you can call a Parlament, and yet you might remember how it came to bee one. You know how your former Parlament was beaten up after the defeat of Hamilton; and this now in beeing cho­sen while the other was, and that by the assistance of the Eng­lish forces then in Scotland, who in stead of punishing your past perfidie, gave you the power you have, and left you in a possi­bilitie to be ingratefull; which for bringing so signally in­to act as you have don, they maie return to chastize you for it. The Parlament of the Common-wealth of England is so, whe­ther you acknowledg it or no, and you maie choos whether you will or not; but if you have occasion to send anie Let­ters or Messages that you will have received, you shall best consult your own business if you give a right address, they will otherwise speed as well as Colonell Grey and the Letters brought by him have done. There needs no further answer to your repeated quaeres about obligation, or proceeding af­ter the Laws of Nations, to which you will receiv your [Page 17]answer at home. And the Parliament's Declaration hath said sufficient for the JUSTICE, NECESSITIE, and ENDS of this Expedition; Wee shall onely tell you again, becaus you stick so close to it, that the Nations are not covenanted, and there is no such thing in force. Nei­ther that you need fear the inconveniences of the Armie's lying neer one another upon the borders; for the English Ar­mie intend not to lie there, but to march into the bowels of your Countrie, and there take reparation, if it can be found, for all the spoils, plunders, and devastations by you made in England. And to make you understand how unthriving a cours it is, bee your necessities never so great, to take up, up­on the account of Interest (without consulting justice) at so great disadvantage. Onely, to close up all, wee must tell you, wee are not much edified with your apocryphal attribute of a [covenanted] God: And tell you that it is the mantle that hath vailed the grossest hypocrisie that ever the sun saw.

'Tis true, the Divine Justice took order with them that un­lawfully, as you say, invaded England in the yeer 1648. And you must take notice, that it was the Kingdom of Scotland by the Autoritie of their Parlament, that invaded us. And you should do well to consider, what reparation the Kingdom of Scotland hath made to this Common-wealth for the injuries and wrongs don by them; or whether you think your nati­onal guilt bee sufficiently expiated by exposing som particu­lars to the shame of your penitentiall Stool, or that the Com­mon-wealth of England value's that hypocritical foolerie at so high a rate, as to accept it for the price of blood, or to ac­count it a ballancing reparation for all those plunderings and devastations by them committed and made in England; or that you can, upon coming out of that Stool, so wipe your mouths, as you may truly say there remain's upon you neither guilt nor blemish of that wickedness: Or whether you think you can be able to impose upon the Divine Omni­science, and satisfie his justice with a few good words. You might do well to examine, whether the Lord may not yet have a controversie against you for that unanimous resolution [Page 18]of the Invasion of England, which is verie well known, was never called into question among you upon the point of lawfulness, till the Kirk began to see that it would bee carried on, and mannaged by persons who were not much devoted to their Interest. And they shall do well for a further disco­verie of their own deceit to ask themselvs, whether they have not had since that som thoughts toward another Inva­sion of this Nation, in case their King should prove to their minde, and they should judg him worthie their ingaging for him. Bee not deceived, God is not mocked; consider un­der whose Eies you are, and speak your hearts, becaus God see's them. Wee do acknowledg with an humble and reve­rentiall sens, that the same Lord doth still live and reign, and rejoyce that hee doth so; and are confident hee will discover and bring to shame and punishment too all those that hypo­critically think to veil themselvs from his All-seeing Eies with a few formalities of expressions. And as the justice of our Caus is so clearly evidenced by the Parlaments Declara­tion, that none but themselvs will believ wee offend; so with confidence wee exspect the blessing of God upon us in this Ex­pedition, which wee have not undertaken till after the use and offer of all other means, and a long exspectation to see if at last they would take effect, and their rejection of them, have left us no other but this last remedie, and necessitated us to the use of Arms.

Wee shall close with your last claus, wherein Scoticâ fronte you require that your Ships and Goods taken, may bee pre­sently restored and dismissed. Wee shall ask you whether you have as conscientiously restored all that plunder and spoil which your Armie sent into Scotland, at your last Invasion, when you came furnished with Baggage-boies, and Baggage-women to drive and carrie away into Scotland what ever was in their way in England; not sparing the verie Wainscot of the houses, leaving where ever they came emptie fields and bare walls. To say nothing of your former plunders while you called your selvs Friends, and were in our pay; you should first have made restitution of all this, and not onely for that, but for that too which you devour'd & wasted here, be­fore you had demanded the restitution of your poor Ships. But [Page 19]you will needs still endeavor to impose upon the world with this mistake; That this march of the English Armie is the beginning of the War, and that there ought to bee a publick denunciation now before any act of Hostilitie, as this Capture of your Ships seem's to be. Whereas all Leagues, Treaties, and Covenants between the Nations were broken by you, when that Nation by their Act of Parlament decree­ed the Invasion of England, and accordingly put it in execu­tion. Then the War was begun, and the Nations have ever since been in a state of Hostilitie: And if the Parlament of the Common-wealth of England, did not then immediately, and so ever since continue and prosecute the same with fire and sword, it hath not been, for that in justice by the Law of Nations they might not have don it, for they under­stood not that justice but that they might give them time to reflect upon their wrong, & how obnoxious they were to a just revenge; & cool themselves to a temper fit to receiv a message for reparation; which if they had receiv'd with an acceptation becomming their guilt, and instead of the Paper of defiance of the 26 of June, returned an answer beecoming their guilt and weakness, there might perhaps have been an amicable composure notwithstanding all their past wrongs. But while even by their last answer they continue to provoke, and will not accept of means of composure, they plainly keep on foot the War they had begun; and must impute it to them­selvs that they have compell'd us into it: And instead of quarrelling the new taking of their ships, they ought to give us thanks wee began no sooner. But that during all this time that the Nations have been in a state of Hostilitie, Wee have rather waited to see if time would spend, or alter the humor, or that the paroxism would intermit, that they might com to themselvs, and endeavor to prevent, what they had just caus to exspect as the merit of their perfidious Invasion, and their injudicious and petulant Papers. And let them not say, wee now begin a War which they began two years since, and have ever since continued.

For their letter to the Lord General, vvee shall say nothing [Page 20]to that. Because hee received it, and vvill no doubt send them an ansvver becoming him and them.

Wee have no more upon this occasion to say to the State; onely before vvee part a vvord or tvvo to the Kirk, upon oc­casion of their hypocritical paper printed at Edinburg 21 of Iune 1650 conteining the causes of a Publick and solemn hu­miliation, appointed by the general Commission of the Ge­neral Assembie, to bee keeped through all the Congregati­ons of this Kirk upon the last of Iune instant.

And before wee com to examine the paper, wee would ask one question or two about their Kirk o [...] Scotland: First, what it is? (though perhaps a National Church is not found in the Scriptures,) But if they would depart from that term, and say the Churches in Scotland, what they are? A Church for the matter of it is usually said to bee a Companie of Believers, hard to finde in Scotland in the usual acceptation, unless you make their Priests the object, and then there are as manie as Pa­rishes. Where the people are more captivated to their sacred sorrie dictates out of their publick Tub, then anie wise men among the Papists are to the determinations of the infallible Chair. And indeed by reason of the guilt and ignorance of those wretchedly beclouded souls, and that superstition, in w^ch the cunning craftiness of their Priests hath involved them, they are more afraid of the Anathema of their Kirk, in what capacitie so ever congregated, especially at the consequence of it, the effects that follow upon the dreadful Horn; then anie Papist is at the fulminations of the Lateran, or the Exe­cutions of the secular Arm. And in the later the composition is easier, whereas in offences against the former, besides that there is no rule of Commutation for the shameful stule, hee speed's well that redeem's his disobedience with half his gear. And they never want the Magistrate at their beck, who are willing enough to deserv a dispensation with their saults, while they are severely officious to keep the vulgar in their obedience to the Kirk.

But in a word the Kirk of Scotland is Mes Robert Douglas, Mes Robert Blaire, Mes Samuel Rhetorfort, Mes Patrick Gille­spie, [Page 21]and three or foure more, let most of their principal Priests, whose Dictates no mand are either examine or con­tradict, without incurring the suspition of Heresie or Schism, and the danger of beeing cut off from the Communion of those true beleevers, those Muffti's watching with a special care to keep their Mussulmans pure from the infection of the Sectaries.