Severall letters and passages between His Excellency, the Lord Generall Cromwell, and William Dundas, governour of Edinburgh Castle, and the ministers therein, since His Excellencies entrance into Edinburgh whereunto are annexed some quaeries that were then sent to the said governour and ministers.

A Letter from the Governour of Edinburgh Castle, for the Right Honourable the Lord Cromwell, Commander in chief of the English Army.

MY Lord yours I have communicated to these with me whom it concerned, who desire me to return this answer, That their ingenuity in prosecu∣ting the ends of the Covenant, according to their vocation and place, and ad∣hering to their first Principles, is well known; and one of their greatest regreats is, that they have not been met with the like: when Ministers of the Gospel have been imprisoned, deprived of their Benefices, sequestrate, forced to flee from their dwellings, and bitterly threatned for their faithfull declaring the Will of God against the godlesse, and wicked proceedings of men, that it can∣not be accounted an imaginary fear of suffering in such as are resolved to fol∣low the like freedom and faithfulnesse, in discharge of their Masters Message: That it savours not of ingenuitie to promise libertie of preaching the Gospel, and to limit the Preachers thereof, that they must not speak against the sinnes and enormities of Civill Powers, since their Commission carryeth them to speak the Word of the Lord unto, and to reprove the sinnes of Persons of all ranks, from the highest to the lowest: That to impose the name of railing upon such

faithfull freedom, was the old practice of Malignants against the Ministers of the Gospel, who laid open to people the wickednesse of their wayes, that they should not be insnared thereby: That their consciences bear them record, and all their hearers do know, that they meddle not with Civill affairs further then to hold forth the rule of Gods Word, by which the straightnes and crookednes of mens actions are made evident. But they are sorry that they have just cause to regreat, that men of meer Civill place and employment, should usurpe the Calling and Employment of the Ministery, to the scandall of the Reformed Kirks, and particularly in Scotland, contrary to the Government and Discipline therein established; to the maintenance whereof you are bound by the Solemn League and Covenant. Thus farre they have thought fit to vindicate the re∣turn to the offer in Col. Whalleys latter letter. The other part of yours which concerns the Publike as well as them, they conceive that all hath been answer∣ed sufficiently in the Publike Papers of the State and Kirk: onely to that of the successe upon your solemne Appeal they say again what was said to it be∣fore, That they have not so learned Christ, as to hang the equity of their Cause upon events, but desire to have their hearts established in the love of the Truth in all the tribulations that befall them. I onely do adde that I am

My Lord,

Your most humble servant W. Dundas.

9. Septem 1650.