A GREAT AND BLOUDY FIGHT AT SCARBOROUGH-CASTLE in Yorkeshire, between the Kings Forces under the Command of Col. Bointon and the Parliaments Forces under the Command of Col. Bethel: With the number that were killed and taken, and the totall routing of the Foot, near the Cliffs, and breaking then necks down the great Rock, and casting them into the Sea. Also the Declaration of Col. Charles Fairfax, and Major Gen. Poyntz. Marshall Gen. for the King, and their joyning with Col. Boynten against the Parliament. Likewise, another Fight near Skipton Castle in Yorkshire, between the English and the Scots, and the Scots Resolution and Design touching the City, of York. Together, with the Parliaments Message and Propositions, to their Brethren of Scotland, concerning the Kings Majesty.
⟨Aug: 14⟩ London, Printed for G.W. And are to be sold in the Ol [...]-Baily. 1648.
A GREAT FIGHT IN YORKSHIRE, NEAR Scarborough Castle, between the Kings Forces under the Command of Col. Bointon, and the Parliaments Forces under the Command of Collonel Bethel.
SInce the revolting of Scarborough, and Col Bointons declaring for the King, here hath happened some action very considerable, which is as followeth: On Wednesday last, Col. Bethel with his Regim [...]nt of Horse, and Col. Legard with his Regiment of Foot faced the Town and Castle, which c [...]used action; Col. Boi [...]ton (the Governour) drew forth a pa [...]ty of horse and foot, Col. Bethel did the like, the said forlorn engaged, and disputed the ground, the encounter was great, and gallanly [Page]m [...]intained by both parties; insomuch, that some blood was spilt, and divers h [...]roick spirits sacrificed their lives at the point of the Sword, and 7. gallant charges were made by the Forlornes of Horse, till at the last, Col. Bethels men being overpowred, retreated, the Cavalry pursues; whereupon Col. Bethel adva [...]ces wi [...]h his whole Bodie, Col. Bointo [...] m [...]kes towards him, both parties engaged, and after some dispute, our men became victorious routed the Enemies whole Bodie, pursue [...] the Enemie to the Castle Gates, doing great ex [...]cution, beat the Foote down the Cliff, who for expedition, divers of them [...]umbled down the Rocks, and broke their necks: In this action and bloody conflict, we took about 17. prisoners, killed 20. upon the place, and vanquished, the rest with the losse of 15. men, killed and wounded, Col. Bethel with his forces, lies at Salsgrave, a quarter of a mile from Scarborough Town, and so soone as a co [...]siderable partie comes up, intends to lay close siege to the Castle: We hear, that Col. Charles Fairfax, who were designed for the service of Ireland) and one Captain Wilkins, that was Marshall Gen. to Maj. Gen. Poyntz, and one C [...]ptain Buck, which was a Captain in Col. Bethels Regiment formerly, are gone to Scarborough to Col. Bointon, and have declared for the King, & tendered their service to the Governour. We hear, that part of L.G. Cr [...]mwells forces are joyned with M.G. Lambert, and th [...] there hath been some action between the Scots and them near Skipton, and divers slain on both sides: which action, hath much retarded the Scots Design, intended to march towards York, to act things of high concernment, to uphold their tollering Cause.
The Parliaments Proposalls to the Kingdom of Scotland.
WE the Commons assembled in the Parl. of England, taking it into our consideration. That however the late possessing of Berwick and Carlisle, and the [Page 3]coming of the Scottish Army and Forces into this Kingdom, be most notorious and unparalleld Breaches of the Solemn League and Covenant, and the many Treaties, Nationall Agreements, and Acts of Parl. p [...]ssed both in England and Scotland.
Yet, because we are assured these impious and unwarrantable Actions cannot be done with the Approbation and Consent of the Religious and Wel- [...]ffected people of the Kingdom of Scotland; and that we understand there are very few amongst these who are in this Ing [...]gement against us, that first ingaged w [...]th us in the Covenant and Cause, but such as have been professed En [...]mies to them, however they be now content to pretend thereunto, that they may the better deceive the people of this Kingdom: We are unwil [...]ing to impute such Evi [...]ls to the Nation in generall, but to those persons that own and appear in them, whom we are confident, God (that hath still so remarkably manifested his displeasure against Truce breakers) in his due time will judge, what ever we may suffer in the mean while.
Therefore we now send to you, that it may appear we wil no [...] by any provocation be induced to withdraw our selves from those in Scotland who retain their former Principles, and still own the Cause wherein we have (with blessing from heaven) been engaged and solemnly United.
And because the Peace of the Church, and power of Religion cannot long continue without good order and Discipline establisht therein, they called an Assembly of Godly Learned, and Orthodox Divines from all parts of the Kingdom, with whom some Commissioners of the Church of Scotland joyned, to sit at VVestminster; and after Consultation had with them, [Page 4]both Houses took away the Service-Book, commonly called The Book of Common Prayer, and establisht A Directory for Worship, commanding the practice of it in all the Churches and Chappels of this Kingdom: And, in stead of Episcopacy they have set up presbyteryal Government in the Church, which is already setled in many parts of the Kingdom, and do (by Gods assistance) resolve to p [...]rsue the further perfecting and establishment of it in all parts, bothin England and Ireland.
1 They have [...]pproved and passed The Confession of Faith (or Articles of Christian Religion) as it came from the Assembly of Divines, with some sm [...]ll alterations (only some small part is yet under consideration) the rest being printed and published by Authority of Parliament.
2 They have passed a greater and less Catechism that came from the Assembly of Divines.
3 They have taken away all supersti [...]ious Ceremonies and popish Innovations.
4 They have given authority for the demol [...]shing of all R [...]presentations of any persons of the Trinity, S [...]int or Angel, and taking away all Alters, Crosses, Crucifixes, P [...]ct [...]res, and all other Monuments of Idolatry and Superstition in any Church, Chappell or Place within this Kingdom.
5. They have passed an Ordinance for the punishing of blasphemies and heresies,
6. They have passed an ordinance for the ejecting of scandalous Ministers and schoolmasters; and thereupon have removed many, in whole stead they have placed godly and able men.
7. They have passed an Ordinance That none shall enter into the work of the ministry but such as are Ordained there [...]o.
[Page 5] 8 They have given all the incouragement, and made the best provision they could for the maintenance of a godly Preaching Ministry through the Kingdom, not only in removing the ignorant and scandalous, but in augmenting maintenance for painfull Ministers, both out of the Impropriations of Bishops, the Estates and Revenues of Deans and Chapters, and out of the Improptiations of Delinquents, which they brought out and setled upon Churches that wanted maintenance, to a very great value.
9. they have purged the Universities and chei [...] Schools of the Kingdom (which are the Seminaries of Learning, and education of Youth) of many heads of Houses, Fellows and Schollers that were Superstitious, Prelatical and Malignant, and have placed in their stead such as are well affected to Reformation of Religion, and uniformity with other R [...]formed Churches.
10. They have passed severall Ordinances for the better observation of the Lords day, and dayes of publike Fast and Thanksgiving, and have condemned all licentious practices upon those days and have ordered the books formerly written to be publ quely burnt.
11. They have passed an Ordinance for suppressing all S [...]age-P [...]ayes and Inte [...]ludes (the Nurseries of Vice and Prophannesse.)
And although we must needs say, That the greatest let and impediment which we have met with in setling the Reformation of Religion (according to the Covenant) hath come from His Majesty, who by His refusing hitherto to grant our desires for the taking away of E [...]iscopy and the Service-book, and to settle the directory for worship, and Presbyteriall Government; and by denying [...]s concu [...]rence to establish them by act of Par [...]iament, hath given grea occasion to men of unsound judgmen [...]s, to spr [...]ad their opinions and errors (which is not unusuall in times of Reformation) when the setling of it is long delayed.
And further, by his declaring in his late Message from the Isle of W [...]gh [...]. That he thinks himself obliged both a [...] a Christian and [...] King, to employ whatever power God shall put in his hand for the upholding of Episcopacy, he hath given great encour [...]g [...]m [...]nt to the Popish, Malignant and Prelaticall party to endeavour by plots a [...]d designs, and [...]ew again by open force, the [Page 6]reintroducing of Episcopacy and the Service-book, which by the Conjunction of the Scotish Army with their Forces, they have now great hopes to effect; yet, by Gods assistance who hath helped us hitherto) it shall be our care and endeavour against all dangers and discouragements whatsoever, to proceed in the work of Reformation untill it be perfected.
For other things wherewith we are commonly aspersed, as, That we should have intentions to alter the Fundamentall Government of this Kingdom; both Houses have endeavoured so to stop the mouth of malice by declaring severall times formerly, and of late the 26. of May, That they will not alter the Government by King, Lords and Commons, that we shall need to say no more of it.
And for our desires of Peace, our 7. severall Addresses to the King, with Propositions for a safe and wel-grounded Peace, wil sufficiently speak for us: And although the several denials which we have received from his Majestie formerly, and the present preparations for War by the Malignant par [...]ie of both Kingdoms under pretence of Peace might whollie discourage us, yet we (notwithstanding all the hazards that may attend it) now again agreed to try whether a Peace can be setled by a Treatie with his Maj. in the Isle of Wyght, upon the propositions presented to him at Hampton Court, wherein we shall (by the help of God) approve our selves such as are both desirous of a firm Peace, and mindfull of the trust reposed in u [...] by the people of this Kingdom, for the securing of Religion and their Liberties.