I Am so much your Servant, that I must wait upon you, and attend the motion of your personall residence; and though my Letters are long ere they arrive, yet I hope at last they will have the ho­nour to kisse your hand; and I beseech you permit them so to do, and with as much affection as is pos­sible, from a person whom you have suffered to be acquainted with your worth, and have so infinitely obliged; which makes me very unhappy, that I can neither say or do any thing accordingly. However, give me leave to entertain you with what is done on the other side of Tweed; which I here humbly repre­sent, by communicating these ensuing lines to your tender object, and favourable construction.

This morning, here arrived a Messenger from Scot­land, with severall Letters to Gentlemen of quality in these parts, intimating the transaction of affairs between the Committee of Estates, Clergy, and Lai­ty; And amongst the rest, he makes mention of a [Page 2]great blow given to Renegado Hurry (and his party) near Caithness, in the North of Scotland, the man­ner thus:

Sir John Hurrey (that grand Renegado-Artist) have­ing landed a considerable party, consisting of about 2000 horse and foot, presently endeavoured to leave no means unattempted, that might prove instrumen­tal for the carrying on of the royal interest and design, and likewise for the fomenting of new Commotions. The Committee of Estates timely fore-seeing the sad event that might happen and ensue thereupon, forth­with resolved to expedite a potent power against them; and accordingly gave instructions to Lieute­nant Generall David Lesley, to issue forth Orders for a generall Rendezvous of the horse and foot in those parts; to the end, he might speedily take the field, and be in a posture of opposition, to retard the Ene­mies farther march Southward: This being with ala­crity facilitated, the said Lieutenant Generall took his march towards the North, and (as it is said) on the 28 of April last, marched towards Caithness; the E­nemy having intelligence of their advance, mustred up all his forces, and Colonell Hurrey (Commander in chief of that Brigade) having all his men in readinesse, fell suddainly upon Generall Lesley's men, and assault­ed them couragiously, but they being provided for them, gallantly resisted them, and forced them to re­treat: The first of this instant, the Lieutenant Ge­nerall having united all his forces together, gave com­mand to Colonell Humes to advance with a party of Horse towards the Enemy, who according to Order, charged Colonell Hurrey's horse, and exchanged seve­rall vollies, and were received with great gallantry, [Page 3]being most of them old Soldates, and well knew how to withstand the fury of an enemy; but being at the last over-powred, they retreated to the next Re­serve, and Colonell Humes his men returned to their main Body. Within a while after, their Bodies joyn­ed, and the conflict grew very hot, which put them all in a great heat, notwithstanding their being in a cold Climate. The victory seemed somewhat dubious for a while, for Colonell Hurrey and his men fought very gallantly, and for the space of two hours very manfully maintained their groud, but (having not many horse, and they being over-powred by Generall Lesley's) were forced to desert their foot; then Gene­rall Lesley's men (upon routing of the horse) sud­dainly fell in among the foot, and by main force and violence broke their ranks, disordering their Batta­lia, and putting all to the sword that stood in op­position and defiance, which befell the Zwitzers in no small number, for many of their fiery spirits de­nied quarter; but those that desired that martiall priviledge, had the same granted. In this great blow, (we hear) that the Lord Napier is wounded, and that Renegado Hurrey is taken prisoner, being very dangerously wounded; who is now like to sing a most dolefull tune, to his severall Changes. It is ve­ry credibly reported, that there were killed, rou­ted, and taken prisoners, two thousand five hun­dred of the Hurronians, and that the aforesaid Lieu­tenant Generall David Lesley, returned triumphant­ly with severall trophees of his victory (having ta­ken all their armes and ammunition, and divers pri­soners) with the losse of about 300 men, and some 350 wounded.

The rest of the Confederate-royalists in the North, (it's said) are making what haste possible they can towards the Mountains, and many discontented spi­rits (who seemed not a little active for the propa­gating and carrying on of the designe) begins now to sing a song of Recantation; so that (it is believed) the flames are already quenched which began so vio­lently to break forth: notwithstanding, the great talk of the Treaty at Breda for an Agreement, and new forces to be speedily landed; for that goes on but slowly, and [perhaps] may be ended, when the Parlia­ments Army comes to Edenborough. The Scots know their [declared] King is young, necessitous, and with a divided-Councell, and are stedfastly resolved to deal with him accordingly; for unlesse he will come to their terms, he must expect nothing from them. Tru­ly (if I may tell you my thoughts) I conceive he is in a sad condition; for the States are weary of his be­ing there, and the Prince of Orange sits but loose in the saddle himself, therefore the Scots are not to be discommended, in seeking to make good conditions.

Having given you a word or two of the Treaty, I shall present you with the latest Intelligence which we have received from Germany. The declared King of Scotland having sent Captain Swan to the Emperor, as an Embassadour (and after to the Duke of Saxony) received this answer from the Emperour. That he condoled with him for his fathers death [and that with a great invective against the Parliament] withall telling him, the poor and unable condition that Germany was in; yet he promised to do his best, when the allyed Crowns, and Neighbours, and the united Provinces should be a president, for he must regulate himself by [Page 5]them. But it is believed, all their negotiations and subtle actings will be frustrated, and suddenly blasted in the bud; for in Scotland they still play fast and loose, and good reason they have, for misery is hast­ning upon them, if they presume to attempt ano­ther invasion, which to prevent, the souldiery in these parts seem both unanimous and resolved; being also seconded with an invitation from the well affect­ed in York-shire, Sunderland, Cumberland, and Dur­ham, who are resolved to stand close to them, for the preservation of their Countries, lives, and liber­ties, against the force and violence of any invaders whatsoever; And declaring, That they will be obe­dient to the present Government, and give their utmost aid and assistance against all persons whatsoever, that shall endeavour to abolish and extirpate the same: Yet notwithstanding, many there are in these parts, who walk too much averse to their steps, desiring a change, &c. As the daughters of Pelias King of Thessa­ly did, who hearkning to the counsell and advice of Medea, suffered their old decrepit father to be boiled in a Chaldron with herbs, perswading the people, that nothing was more available, for the restauration of him to his former youth. Even so, when self-ended spirits, carry eloquence in the one hand, and subtilty in the other (under the pretence of Reformation in Govern­ment) they immediately cut the Commonwealth in pieces; as these turbulent spirits in these parts would do, who (by their fair eloquent delusions, for Mo­narchy) endeavour to alienate and withdraw the hearts of the people, from their due obedience to the present Authority, and seeketh nothing more then the ruinating of the Preservers of Englands Liberties, and [Page 6]casting all the fruit of their labours and indefatigable pains, into a Chaos and labyrinth of misery. Sir, fearing that I have been too tedious, be pleased to excuse him, who remains