A DECLARATION OF THE Proceedings of the New Moddel'd Army in the Kingdome of Scotland, against the Irish Army under the Command of Generall Kilketto; Declaring the manner of their retreat to the Mountaines, and the Warlike Preparations of the Northern Army, by cutting off Passages, and planting of Ordnance.
Whereunto is annexed, the New Oath taken by the Scottish Chivalry, concerning the Kingdome of England, and Generall Kilketto: Together, with their resolution and proceedings thereupon.
PUblished by Authority; And communicated to the English Chivalry, for generall satisfaction of the Kingdome of England, March. 1. 1647.
LONDON: Printed Anno Domini, 1647.
A TRVE RELATION OF The proceedings and advance of the Scottish Army, towards the North of Scotland, under the Command of his Excellency Generall Leven.
MY best respects to you recommended &c. Yours, by the last, I received, & the inclosed papers; and according to your request, I thought it requisite, to satisfie your desire, concerning the proceedings of the new modelled army in Scotland, [Page]upon their Design Northwards, against Kilketto and his adherents, who not long since, were within thirty miles of the City of Edenburgh▪ [...]lundering most of the Inhabitants thereabouts, and driving many Heads of Cattel towards the North; but were frustrated of their Designe: for, upon an alarum, that Lieutenant Generall David Lesley, and Major Generall Brown, were advanced over Tweed, and upon their march towards the North of that Kingdom, with a strong party of Horse and Dragoons, immediatly took his retreat towards the North, leaving most of the Cattell behind him.
Sir, not long since, Major Generall Middleton fell upon a party of the Kilkettonians, as they were ranging the Country, killed many of them, and took divers prisoners, and some few dayes after that, he fell upon two or three Garrisons, which were kept by the Irish Rebels, stormed them, and put many to the sword.
Kilketto is supposed to be about foure thousand strong, his army consisting of one thousand Horse, and three thousand Foot, most of them compleatly armed, and very [Page]expert Souldiers; yet some what timerous of spirit, and fearfull of maintaining the Holds, now in their possession: for, by a Messenger from those parts, it is declared unto us, that the Irish have deserted severall Garrisons, and have drawn up their whole Body towards the high Mountaines, fortifying, and planting their Ordnance, upon severall convenient Hills, cutting off several passages, and making great preparations of war, yet (its verily believed) to little purpose; for Lieutenant Generall David Lesley, lets no opportunity slip, for the putting an end and period to the distractions of that Kingdome, having declared himself very nobly & gallantly to the new modelled army for the expediting of that Designe, by incouraging the Souldiery, who have expressed themselves freely and resolutely to their Generall; saying, they will live and dye with him, and hazzard both life & limbes against the publike enemy of both Kingdomes. Thus (in briefe) have I given you, an exact relation, of the Occurrences of Scotland, remaining
Thursday the 11. instant, the Rear of the Scotch Army marched over Tweed at Kelsey and Barwick, and the next day the town of Barwick was quitted, and the Garison dismantled, according to agreement: the sixe Regiments of their horse, which were appointed to disband, had their Rendezvouz at Kelsey, where they were required. 1. To deliver up their Armes. 2. To take an oath to this effect: To offer no injury to the Country in their passage to their severall Homes; to bee faithfull to the Covenant and cause of both Kingdoms, and not to ingage with any against them: At first, they refused; but at last were induced to accept of them; partly by the meanes of their Lieut Gen. David Lesly, and partly by the incitements of their Ministers.
Both of these were necessary, if we consider the constitution of some of those who were disbanded, who resolved to joyne with Kilketto, being much incensed at their proceeding.
Vpon the taking the Oath, and delivering up their pistols, they had pay upon the place, some one, some two, some 3 moneths pay, according to the yeares of their service. This done, the Lieut. Gen. very nobly & freely required of them, if they had any thing to say of him, or any other of their Officers; they answered no: thereupon they broke the Standards of every Regiment, and so were all dispierced towards their severall homes; except those who were selected for a New Model, who chose the best pistols (of those delivered up) for themselves. Most of these are of the Arguile party, officers and soulditrs, yet some of them unwilling to continue in arms.
The new Model is fourteen hundred Horse, and five thousand Foot. The Hamiltonians are much discontented at this.
I might acquaint you with the spoyl and plunder they made in Northumberland, and their not paying of quarters from the comming of the first 100000. l. till this time; but I had rather these and the like complements were buried: there will be disorders in the best governed Bodies, Courts, Camps, City, & [Page]Country, none are exempted: the best Instrument is somtimes out of tune: Love covereth a multitude of sins: its the want of that which first occasions the offence; and then in others raises slanders, whence arise all the clamors and scandals against this Army, but only from want of affections: sure the army hath deserved better from them, and might have had better words a yeare since when an Enemy was in the field. But now the work is done, how are they slighted: the generall cry is now for a disbanding; and for my part (& I thinke divers others of quality in the Army would be of my mind) it should be the first thing I would petition for, seeing now it is only set up as a marke for every tongue set on fire to dart forth their malice against, and every Malignant Priest, and upstart Levite, to raise and write slanders, to fill Gangrenaes Volumes. Sir, I have no more at present, only I remain,