SInce the arrivall of the laſt Poſt from the North, which intimated unto us the unhappy tydings of the great Conſpiracy in the North of England, yet welcome Newes, in the timely diſcovery of it; we are further advertiſed, and it is likewiſe ſignified to the honourable houſes of Parliament, by letters from very good hands, the dangerous proceedings of the Royaliſts in thoſe Parts; wherein is made manifeſt, the inveterate malice, and moſt bloody deſignes of the Enemies of England; For, having formerly been the chiefe Inſtruments of involving this Kingdome in bloud, by engaging a deſperate warre againſt the VVorthies therof, have (ſince the happy ſheathing of this devouring ſword) again endeavoured to draw it, that ſo ſtreames of bloud might iſſue forth, and run down the ſtreets of our ſtately Townes and Cities: But God forbid, for Hee having by His omnipotent Power ſheathed the ſword, and compoſed the ſad difference and diſtractions within this bleeding Kingdome, were now pleaſed to manger their Deſignes, and being to light the wicked Conſpiracies and Intentions of the Enemies to Truth and Peace; as will manifeſtly appeare by this enſuing Relation.

The Royaliſts in the North of England, having for many weekes together laboured and endeavoured with his Majeſty for the raiſing of Forces, and providing of Armes, and other Neceſſaries of warre, having attained their deſires, began to pluck up their drooping Spirits, and to appear in a warlike maner, divers of them having obtained new Commiſſion from his Majeſty to raiſe Forces againſt the Parliament; and thoſe which have bin in Armes againſt the Parliament for the King, flock thither, and promiſes are made that they ſhall have conſderation for the time they ſpend, till they become uſefull, and can attain to the accompliſhing of their Deſignes in agitation, by raiſing of an Army to oppoſe the Power and Strength of his Excellency ſir Tho. Fairfax.

The Names of the chief Ringleaders which had received their Commiſſions from his Majeſty, are, ſir Marmaduke Darcy, ſir Iordan Croſland, ſir William Blackſton, and many others: But now they begin to deſpaire by reaſon that their main ſupportance, and chiefeſt aymes hath taken no effect, which was, the ſurpiſall of the ſtrong Holds and Garriſons in the North (now in poſſeſſion of the Parliaments Forcces) the Names of which, together with the manner of the Scituation of them, I will faithfully communicate, as followeth:

Firſt, that impregnable Hold the Caſtle of Pontefract, who endured more then a yeares ſiege by the Parliaments Forces, under the Command of the right honourable the Lord Fairfax; which place if it had beene again re-poſſeſs't by the enemy, (as was intended) would have coſt many thouſand mens lives, before the retaking of it.

But that which makes us moſt lament, it, that the concord and union of our diſtreſsed Kingdome ſhould ſtill be retarded and meet with oppoſition; for it is intimated unto us, that for the ſurpriſall of the ſorenamed Gariſon, the Kings hand & ſeale was not onely ſhewed but that his Majeſty had alſo granted ſeverall Commiſſions to men of eminency, for the further proſecuting of the Deſign in agitation againſt the Parliament, as is before cited.

But if this Plot had taken effect, our renowned Parliament had loſt one of the chiefeſt Flowers in this little Garden; for, it is held to be one of the ſtrongeſt Caſtles in Europe, having ten great Towres within it, and ſcituated upon a high Rock, having but two Gates to enter in at, and the walls at leaſt ſeven or eight yards in breadth, being free from Battery by any Canon.

If the enemy had become Maſters of this Caſtle, they would have indangered moſt of the other Holds in the North, as Scarbrough, a place of great conſequence, and ſcituated upon a a mighty high Rock, which if once being repoſsest of again, would tend much to the prejudice of this Kingdome, but eſpecially to the Northerne Counties.

Alſo the Caſtle of Helmsley would have beene in great danger, by reaſon of the innumerable ſort of Papiſts and Malignants that are about it, it is a place of great concernment, having coſt many mens lives in the reducing of it, and much bloud ſpilt in the attempting thereof.

His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax at his beſieging of the ſaid place received a terrible wound, being ſhot through the ſhoulder with a ſling-bullet, weighing about ſeven or eight pound, as he was viewing the ground for raiſing of his Batteries, and planting of his Ordnance.

But to conclude, Skipton Caſtle, Knaresbrough Caſtle, and Sandall Caſtle is ſuppoſed would bee alſo endagered, being places of great ſtrength and conſequence, eſpecially the two firſt.

All which (is very probable) would have heene attempted, if they had proſpered in their firſt Deſigne; but being fruſtrated in that, and many of the Complotters apprehended, the reſt deſpaire (as men out of hopes) betaking themſelves to any corners or holes for ſanctuary.

The reſt of the Royailſts that have had formerly ſo many frequent meetings, and divers others of the Kings Officers and Souldiers, that lay hovering up and downe the Northern Parts, plundering and pillaging the countries, dare not appear ſo publikely, nor appoint meetings as formerly.

So that it is hoped all their wicked ſtratagems and Conſpiracies will ſoone bee fruſtrated, by reaſon of The confident expectations we have of a firm union betwixt the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, will (we hope) in a very ſhort time remove all fears and jealouſies (magure the malice of the adverſary.) The receipt of the money is conſented unto; for ſo far are we from ſtanding on punctillioes, or circumſtances, which might retard matters of greateſt concernment, that it will appear to the world that we ſhall be moſt reall in our performances; in purſuance whereof, the Scots ſhall receive the firſt 100000. l. at North-Otherton, and when they are marched out of Newcaſtle the other 100000. l. accepting of Hoſtages for the rendition of the reſt of our Gariſons, and their quitting the whole Kingdom.

I had almoſt forgot to intimate unto you, that the Scots Commiſſioners ſent a Letter to the Houſe, of the tranſactions of the treaty between them and our Commiſſioners, about the matters before recited, and are pleaſed to declare, that its far from their deſire, that any differences or miſunderſtandings ariſe betwixt us. We hear that a faire concluſion will be made to the generall ſatisfaction of all good men, and the eſtabliſhment of Peace betwixt the two Kingdomes. The money is ſpeedily to be ſent away, And his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax is to ſend a ſtrong party of horſe, conſiſting of 3000. for the ſafe conveighing of it to the North.

The Parliament have alſo been pleaſed to expreſſe themſelves, concerning the Covenant, as followeth:

We by the Covenant in the firſt Article which concerns Religion are to endeavour in our ſeverall Places and Callings.

In the ſecond, which concerns the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Superſtition, Hereſie, Schiſm and prophaneneſſe, to endeavour in like manner.

In the third, which concerns the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament, the Liberties of the Kingdoms, and the preſervation and defence of the true Religion and liberties of the Kingdoms and the preſervation and defence of the Kings perſon and authority in the preſervation and defence of the true Religion & Liberties of the Kingdoms, to indeavour in our ſeverall Ʋocations.

The 4. which concerns Incendiaries they are to be brought to publike tryall, and receive condign puniſhment from the ſupream Judicatories of both Kingdoms reſpectively.

In the fifth concerning the continuing of the peace & unon of the Kingdom of England and Scotland, We ſhall each out of us endeavour according to our Places and Intereſt.

In the ſixth and laſt, concerning the aſſiſtance and defence of all thoſe that enter into this Covenant. To indeavour according to our Places and Callings, to perform whatſoever we are oblieged to by the Covenant.

It ſeems ſtrange to us, That England and Scotland being ſeverall diſtinct Kingdoms, and by Covenant each one being to act in his ſeverall Place, Ʋocation Call ng and Intereſt, that the Kingdom of Scotland ſhould from the Covenant entitle themſelves to the right of exerciſing any joynt power in the Kingdom of England the expreſſe words of the Covenant being directly contrary to the exerciſe of any joynt power, which was ſeveral and diſtinct before the making this Covenant, and the joynt exerciſe of ſuch power would break the Covenant; becauſe we are thereby obliged in our ſeveral Ʋocations, mutually to preſerve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments, & the Liberties of the Kingdoms, and the exerciſe of ſuch a joynt power, which doth give a negative voyce to another Nation, in the proceedings in the Kingdoms of England & Ireland would be a manifeſt breach of thoſe priviledges and liberties: And whereas throughout your whole Papers this joynt intereſt is ſo much inforced from the Covenant, neither that word Ioyatly, nor any other expreſsion which will bear that interpretation, is ſo much as mentioned in the Covenant; and the words, each one in his ſeverall Vocation, Calling Place and Intereſt, which runs through the whole Covenant, and would have cleared the meaning of it are wholly left out by you and in all your recitals of the Covenant, or arguments drawn from thence, there are no words to that effect.