Although we are a most ashamed still to trouble you with the sad story of the condition of that part, and this poore County which lies groaning (and now ready to expire) under the bur­then of Scottish horse, being very confident that if somthing of a more generall concernment had not intervened you would ere this have provided and applyed such a plaister, as might have either cured or cased our fore, yet we must crave leave to put you in minde, that if reliefe come not presently, it will be too late to thinke upon us, when we are perished, and the whole Kingdome indangered in our ruine, for we are brought to so low an ebb that a very few dayes wil now serve to stop our breath, and quit you of our further Clamour, and it cannot be expected but that nature will make some reluctancy in its disso­lution, our feare is, that extreamity of misery will produce dis­paire, and that men will not be able with patience to see their wives and children dye for want of bread, before their faces, which unevitably they must do if not speedily prevented, Sir, some of us have seene the sufferings, and all of us the teares of [Page 6]the Cuntry, which are such as we cannot expresse, nor expect you can conceive them to be so great, and many as they are; besides their extraordinary losses, and charges, their ordinary essesments where the Scottish forces are quartered, are levied and payed after the rate of about 140000. l. a month upon the whole County which is 2 [...] times so much as they ought to levy by the Ordnance of Parliament of the associati­on, a burden, by continuance growne so insupportable, as that the Country, redacted to this weaknesse is not able to undergo it, and when they can pay no longer, we do not know (but may well feare) what will ensue; Whereas we understand that you were informed that Vanderhursts Regiment was reduced: it is true, they were lately reduced forth of Cleaveland, into Rich­mondshire, where the most of them are dispersed among other Regiments, and so we feare it may prove a greater plague to the Country then before, they being for the most part English Ca­viliers, and disorderly beyond beliefe; Yesterday a Major of Sir Iohn Brownes Regiment, came to us, with a message from his Coll. out of Cleaveland, that they desire inlargment of Quarters, which we not being able to grant, he returned displeased. Thus having given you this account, and implored your speedy care of our fainting condition, and of the danger to the publike which is imminent, we conceive we discharge our duties, and hope we shall be free from the blame of what we feare may unhappily fall out, if not timely prevented, by takeing such spee­dy course for the removall of the Scottish horse out of this poore wasted County, as to your wisedomes may seem fit, which is the cry of the dying people, and request of

HAving seene and perused some Papers presented to the Parlia­ment by the Committee of Scotland concerning their intentions, I was desirous to satisfie my selfe by the best grounds and knowledge I could of the reallity thereof, and their performances accordingly, ha­ving heard much talke, that no Papists nor Cavaleers were admitted to the King since his comming into the Army. I found that observed as it was when the King set forth his Oathes to Men and Vowes to God, That no Papist should come to his Court, nor into his Army; for at his being at Doncaster the Gentlemen principally, that kept him company there, were, Sir James Lashly, a Papist, and a Cavaleere; Colonell Ashburnham, and Mr. Hudson, and to colour the surrender of these Gentlemen to the Parliament, they had a Message brought from London post, by Colonell Stockdall to Sherburne, of the approach of 5000. Horse of Sir Thomas Fairefax his Army, which occasioned a suddaine march away with the King and a Guard to be kept against Yorke, who at his comming to Durham had no small number of Ca­valiers to welcome him thither, whose words, and gestures, did so terrifie the well affected (considering the accesse they had to kisse the Kings hand, and make knowne their conditions and complaints vnto him) that it made many well affected to the Parliament to re­tire to places of security, fearing then that, which subtilty and time will without question produce.

At his comming to Newcastle, further to colour their designe they [Page 8]set a Citizen to guard every post, that no English-man should come into that Towne without knowledge what he was, where (by ex­perience) I know the free egresse and regresse the Cavaliers have had into the Towne and to his Majestie, namely Sir Hugh Carth-Wright, Sir James Lashly, Lievtenant Colonell Carr, with many more which I could name, the last of which named (its said) hath gone eight severall times betwixt the King and Montrosse [but for certaine betwixt the King and Montrosse he did goe and carryed the Message for him to cease Hostility,] and since that, Sir Iacob Lashly, carried the Message likewise for the Earle of Antrim to cease Hosti­lity, besides the Messengers the King hath sent both from Newcastle and Sunderland to the Queene in France, and the Messengers come to him from beyond Sea, and the retinue of Cavaliers about him, Ser­vants, attendants now to his Person, which (when considered) puts me in mind of a paper from the Commissioners, dated the 25. of May, 1646. Wherein the Lords of the Committee at Newcastle declare, that directly, nor indirectly, they had no hand in Mr. Ashburnhams escape (which is as true, as they knew not of any intentions of the Kings comming to their Army before he came amongst them, not­withstanding Master Hudson told Mr. Bribeck of the County of Dur­ham, that he had gone foure times betwixt the King and them, and that it was concluded on, before he came from Oxford) when the day before, Ashburnham was declared to be wanting: A Lord of that Kingdome went forth of Newcastle with him, and Ashburnham came not into Newcastle againe. After his Lordships servants parted with him, which occasions resemble a speech lately made by the Earle of Argile, wherein he mentions a Declaration to be set forth, of the good affection and intention of that Army, which makes me won­der with what face any man of that Nation dares expresse so much as is already in many Bookes, when it is very well knowne to all impar­tially affected that knowes them, that the generallity of Officers and Souldiers in that Army, doe expresse themselves in opposition and dislike of the Parliament's proceedings, banning with many Oathes, that they will fight for the King against the Parliament of England, alledging, that the Parliament hath dishonourably abused the King, the truth whereof If it were required I could make appeare by 100. testimonies on both sides.

And if their intentions were for Peace, and a resolution to goe home [Page 9]and to be satisfyed with their pay, considering the words of their a­greement with our Commissioners at Edenborough the 29. of No­vember, 1643. following (it not amounting to the full moneths pay shall be monethly allowed and payd the sum of 30000. pound star­ling by the Parliament of England, and in case that notwithstanding, the said monethly sum of thirty thousand pound payd as aforesayd, the States and Kingdome of Scotland shall have just cause demand further satisfaction of their Brethren of England; when the Peace of both Kingdomes is setled, for the paynes, hazard, and charges they have vndergone in the same) If that would satisfie them, then what meanes the increase of their Army since the Kings going Northwards? their bringing 3000. men into this Kingdome, many of which to my knowledge never were in England before, though they bring them under a notion of Old Souldiers run from their Colours, What meanes their bringing 5. Companies out of Scotland of the Earle of Calenders Regiment that was sent thither formerly, and now recru­ted to 500. men, and put into Hartlepoole Garrison? (What meanes then bringing 160. men (most new raised) for the Recruit of the Garrison of Tinmonth, and the Lievtenant Colonell of that place, when he shall dare to say he keepes the Castle for the King, and will keepe it for the King against the Parliament? What meanes the for­tifying of that place [for 12. moneths past to this present day] so strong? and the fortifying of Barwick 3. times] stronger then it was? what meanes their now raising every sixt man fit for ser­vice [which will be 10000. men at the least] in Scotland? Is it thinke you to war against Montrosse? who themselves report to be of no strength, notwithstanding their numbers to oppose him, under the Command of Lievt. Gen. Middleton, are 4000. horse, And 8. Regiments of foote, under the Earle of Argile, and those under him in the West parts about 2000. horse, and 3000. foote, Besides an order from the States of Scotland 3. moneths agoe for Major Gen. Monro to bring 2500. of his 4000. mer out of Ireland. Vpon the refusuall of that Command, ano­ther sent after from the States and Generall, though in the Inte­rim he is defented, notwithstanding all the gallantry and wants the Earle of Argile seemes to declare of them, they never fought on field against the Rebels from their first going over to this time they were routed, but have driven many English men [Page 10]from their Habitations. And not withstanding all their reports that the Earle of Montrosse was to bee degraded, to bee bannished, that hee was weake, somtimes rowted, and had no Army. Can any man be so senselesse as believe those reports? when [of 6. battls some of themselves have confessed be hath gotten 5. victories] how could he come to Abirdeene into the heart of that Kingdome, and burne Aberdeene, destroy 3. of their best Regiments? consider besides the 4000. men he had which were not in the battle when he was routed by David Lesly, the strength he hath raised, and supplyes he hath had, since that time; sure the Earle of Antrius would not bring over 2000. men our of Ireland to assist him, if he wore nothing, neither would 500. Lords, Collonels, Knights, and Gentlemen, English Caviliers, resort to him, and reside with him if they had not some hopes.

I professe Sir, the Mysterie of all this is difficult, when I con­sider the fruitfulnesse of that land to raise, send for, and support, such vast, now, Armies; when they have a sufficient one in Eng­land, that may be very wel spared to their assistance and yet shall bring new raised men to be (as themselves say) at his Mai. Com­mand in England, where theres no need of them; but that which will undoubtedly resolve both you and me in this parti­cular wil be its conjunction, (there being already a cessation be­twixt Montrosse & them both) which will be a force sufficient to make good the Covenant according to their Construction which they put upon it, and if that will not serve they have already promised Commissions to divers Caviliers in the North, to raise men and shall have the assistance of Gen. King, with 9 Ships, loden with men and Ammunition from Hambrough [as letters come in at Newcastle reports,] besides a relation made by Mr. Lanson a Merchant of Newcastle who see Gen. King at Ham­brough and some of those Ships laden there ready with an intent to come for the North.

Observe in all their declarations and vowes how intentive they are to maintaine the Covenant, which we finde interpre­ted in such like minner as is contained in their papers the 11. of Aprill 1646. by which and the like interpretations and con­structions, they will, as they do, be possessors of the whole estates [Page 11]of the well affected in the Northerne parts, otherwayes what meanes those vast sesments demanded of the Northern Counties as in many places the charge demanded by them, is more in 3. moneths then the revenew of the places is worth in 12. months, having demanded of the County of Durham 5000. l. a moneth for their infantrie, besides all their women, Children, and bag­gage horses, which charge will be neere as much more, what meanes their many threates and bannishments of the well af­fected, of the County of Durham, and this County, their pro­tecting papists, and delinquents, where I could name many in both places, but for feare of a farther evill to them; however it hath been proved of some at the Northern Committee of Par­liament.

Oh friend, were ye but sensible of our miseries, it would make your heart to bleed, to know the rapes, murthers, ro­beries, oppressions, and abuses which is and hath been acted on the well affected in these parts, and upon complaint very, small redresse, as the Commissioners of Lords and Comment in Parlia­ment, can testefie concerning Tickell, where though some were imprisoned before them, yet never punished after their depar­ture; and yet notwithstanding all these things what meanes is there used or rather not used to render them with a faire Cha­racter to the Parliament; have not they their Agents both at home and abroade? I have seene their letter of complaint against Gen. Payntz. from David Lesley notwithstanding those two, are as gracious as is possible, and have had severall meetings lately at Bedall one of which was 2. dayes before Gen. Poyntz took Journey for London &, some officers in that Army have de­clared a gallant opinion of Gen. Payntz, by reason he hath ex­pressed to them a dislike of the Parliaments proceedings; have they not an Agent at Durham, Col. Chidwick who hath layne there certaine weeks acting his great ability to render that Go­vernment with a faire Caracter, as on the contrary he hath not been wanting in his letters from Nettingham to Mr. Pierpoint at Yorke, in the time of the redusement there, to be Carefull to out all Independents out of that Army, which hath been accor­dingly performed: & their Commands given to Caviliers, one of which was first a Cavilier, then came & took the Covenant: went [Page 12]againe, and tooke Command, and fought against the Parliament, and came and served under the Parliament againe, was C [...] ­red for such his fact: and now is in Commission in the new Modall, much like were those wise Officers, that when the case was Judged at a Court Martiall at York betwixt Commissary Gen. Wood, and his deputy Bradford; Wood complayning of others false mustering, his threats, and twice swearing God dam him gave judgement that they were civill Officers and not within the cognisence of that Court Martiall. Have not the Scots their Agents, the Priests of the County of Durham, with many more to whom they have given protections to pay no sesments, not billet soldiers? which without question will not be wanting in gratifying that Army with a Character of honour, so far as in them lyeth, Sir having impartially considered all these passages and carriages, the best construction that (in my apprehension) can be made is, that if upon the exposition of the Covenant there continue a difference betwixt the Parliament and them, they have an Army ready to defend or offend as occasion requires, I rest.

Yorke 1. Iuly 1646.