The copy of a letter from Colonell Francis Anderson to Sir Thomas Glemham, January 20, 1643, touching the invasion of Scotland the copy of a letter from the Marques of Argyle & Sir William Armyne, to Sir Thomas Glemham the 20, January 1643 : the copy of Sir Thomas Glemhams letter in answer to the Lord Marquesse of Argyl's, and Sir William Armyne's.

Sir Thomas Glemhams Letter in Answer to the Marquesse of Argyl's and Sir William Armyne's.

My Lord,

I Have this day received yours, together with one to the Gentlemen of the Countrey, and having communicated with them, we returne you this An∣swer.

That without the sight of that Let∣ter we could not have bin induced by any flying rumors to beleeve, that the Scottish Nation, or the prevailing party for the present in that Nation, would have attempted an Invasion of Eng∣land: so contrary to the Lawes of God, of Nations, of both Kingdoms, and especially to the late Act of Pacifica∣tion: so opposite to their Allegiance and gratitude to His Majesty, to that neighbourly love which they pretend, to that discreet care which they should have of their own safety.

We could not otherwise have imagined that they who by His Majesties goodnesse enjoy a settlement of their Church and State, according to their own desires, should needlesly and ingratefully imbroyle themselves in a busi∣nesse that concernes them not, forfeit their Rights, disob∣lige His Majesty, and hazard the losse of their present hap∣pinesse.

No Order of any Committee or Committees whatsoe∣ver of Men or Angells, can give them power to March in∣to the Bowels of another Kingdome, to make offensive Warre against their naturall Soveraigne, upon the empty pretence of Evill Councellors, who could never yet be named. And for the English agents, we cannot believe them to be any Commissioners Lawfully authorized, ei∣ther by the Parliament, or by the two Houses, or yet by the House of Commons, whence so many of the Mem∣bers are expelled by partiall Votes, so many banished by seditious tumults, so many voluntarily absent themselves out of Conscience, where desperation or want of opportu∣nity to depart, or feare of certain Plunder, are the chiefest Bonds which hold the little remnant together from dissi∣pation, where the venerable name of PARLIAMENT is made a stale to Countenance the pernitious Counsailes and Acts of a Close Committee.

For Subjects to make forraigne Confederacies without their Soveraignes assent, to invade the territories of their undoubted King, to goe about by force to change the Lawes and Religion established, is grosse Treason without all contradiction; And in this case it Argues strongly, who have been the contrivers and fomenters of all our troubles. No Covenant whatsoever, or with whom∣soever, can justify such proceedings, or oblige a Subject to runne such disloyall courses. If any man out of Igno∣rance, or Feare, or Credulity, have entred into such a Co∣venant, it bindes him not, except it be to repentance. Nei∣ther is there any such necessity, as is pretended, of your present posture, your selves cannot alleadge that you are any way provoked by us, neither are we Conscious to our selves of the least intention to molest you.

Those ends which you propose are plausible indeed to them who doe not understand them, the blackest designes did never want the same pretences; if by the Protestant Religion, you intend our Articles, which are the publique Confession of our Church, and our Book of Common Prayer established by Act of Parliament, you need not trouble your selves, we are ready to defend them with our Bloud: If it be otherwise, it is plain to all the World, that it is not the Preservation, but the Innovation of Re∣ligion which you seek, how ever by you stiled Reforma∣tion. And what calling have you to reforme us by the sword? We do not remember that ever the like indignity was offered by one Nation to another, by a lesser to a greater, That those men who have heretofore pleaded so vehemently for Liberty of Conscience, against all Oathes and Subscriptions, should now assume a power to them∣selves by Armes to impose a Law upon the Consciences of their fellow Subjects. A vanquished Nation would scarce endure such Tearmes from their Conquerers.

But this We are sure of, that this is the way to make the Protestant Religion odious to all Monarchs, Christian and Pagan.

Your other two ends, that is the Honour and happi∣nesse of the King, and the publique Peace and Liberty of His Dominions, are so manifestly contrary to your pra∣ctice, that We need no other motives to withdraw you from such a Course, as tends so directly to make His Ma∣jesty Contemptible at home and abroad, and to fill all His Dominions with Rapine and Blood.

In an Army all have not the same intentions, Wee have seen the Articles agreed upon, and those vast Sums and Conditions, contained in them, as if our Countreymen

thought that England was indeed a Well that could never be drawn dry, and whatsoever the intentions be, We know right well what will be the consequents: if it were other∣wise, no intention or consequent whatsoever can justify an unlawfull Action. And therefore you do wisely to de∣cline all disputation about it, it is an easy thing to pretend the Cause of God, as the Iewes did the Temple of the Lord, but this is farre from those evident demonstrations, which you often mention, never make.

Consider that there must be an Account given to God of all the blood which shall be shed in this quarrell. The way to prevent it, is not by such insinuations, but to retire before the Sword be unsheathed, or the breach be made too wide; you cannot think that we are grown such tame Creatures, to desert our Religion, our Lawes, our Liber∣ties, our Estates, upon command of Forreigners, and to suffer our selves and our Posterity, to be made Beggers and Slaves without opposition. If any of ours shall joyne with you in this Action, we cannot look upon them other∣wise then as Traitors to their King, Vipers to their native Country, and such as have been Plotters or Fomenters of this designe from the beginning. But if misinformation or Feare, hath drawn any of yours ignorantly or unwil∣lingly into this Cause, We desire them to withdraw themselves at last, and not to make themselves accessaries to that deluge of Mischiefe which this second voyage is like to bring upon both Kingdomes.

FINIS: