The annals of King James and King Charles the First ... containing a faithful history and impartial account of the great affairs of state, and transactions of parliaments in England from the tenth of King James MDCXII to the eighteenth of King Charles MDCXLII : wherein several material passages relating to the late civil wars (omitted in former histories) are made known.

Six Considerations of the Lawfulness of their Expedition into England manifested.

AS from the beginning till this time, we have attempted nothing presumptuously in this great work of Reformation, but have proceeded upon good grounds, and have been led forward by the good hand of God; so now, from our own perswasion, are we ready to an∣swer every one that asketh us a reason of this our present Expedition, which is one of the greatest and most notable parts of this wonder∣ful work of God, beseeching all to lift up their minds above their own particulars, and without prejudice or partiality, to lay to heart the Con∣siderations following.

First, As all men know and confess what is the great force of necessity, and how it doth ju∣stifie actions otherwaies unwarrantable, so it cannot be denyed but we must either seek our peace in England at this time, or lie un∣der the heavy burdens which we are not able to bear.

1. We must maintain Armies on the Bor∣ders, and all places nearest to hazard, for the defence and preservation of our Country, which by laying down of Arms, and disband∣ing of our Forces, should be quickly over-run by Hostile Invasion, and the incursions of our enemies.

2. We shall want Trade by Sea, which would not only deprive the Kingdom of many necessa∣ries, but utterly undo our Boroughs, Mer∣chants, Mariners, and many others who live by Fishing, and by Commodities Exported and Im∣ported, and whose particular callings are utter∣ly made void, by want of Commerce with other Nations and Sea-trade.

3. The Subjects through the whole Kingdom, shall want administration of Justice; and al∣though this time past, the marvellous power and providence of God hath kept the Kingdom in order and quietness without any Judicatories sitting, yet cannot this be expected for after∣ward, but shall turn to confusion. Any one of the three, much more all of them put toge∣ther threaten us with most certain ruin, unless we speedily use the remedy of this Expediti∣on. And this we say not from fear, but from feeling: for we have already felt to our un∣speakable prejudice, [what it is to maintain Armies, what to want Traffick, what to want Administration of Justice.] And if the begin∣ning of these evils be so heavy, what shall the growth and long continuance of them prove un∣to us? So miserable a being all men would judge, to be worse than no being?

Secondly, If we consider the nature and qua∣lity of this Expedition, it is defensive, and so the more justifiable. For proof hereof let it be remembred,

1. The King's Majesty misled by the crafty and cruel Faction of our Adversaries began this years War, not we. When Articles of Pacification had been the other year agreed up∣on, Arms laid down, Forts and Castles ren∣dred, an Assembly kept, and concluded with the presence and consent of his Majesties High Commissioner, the promised Ratification there∣of in Parliament (contrary to the aforesaid Articles) was denyed unto us, and when we would have informed his Majesty by our Com∣missioners, of the reasons and manner of our proceedings, they got not so much as presence or audience. Thereafter his Majesty being content to hear them, before that they came to Court or were heard, War was concluded against us at the Council Table of England, and a Commission given to the Earl of Northumber∣land for that effect.

First, The Parliaments of Ireland and England were also convocate, for granting Subsidies unto this War against us, as is notoure, Plots have been hatcht, and Military preparations made against us: many Invasions by Sea, which have spoiled us of our Ships and Goods: Men, Wo∣men and Children killed in Edenburgh by his Ma∣jesties Forces in the Castle: Our Enemies there∣fore are the Authors and beginners of the War, and we defenders only.

2. We intend not the hurt of others, but our own peace and preservation, neither are we to offer any injury or violence: And therefore have furnished ourselves according to our power with all necessaries, not to fight at all, except we be forced to it in our own defence, as our Declaration beareth.

3. We shall retire and lay down Arms, as soon as we shall get a sure peace, and shall be satisfied in our just demands. Upon which ground even some of those who would seem the greatest Royalists, hold the Wars of the Protestants in France against the King, and the Faction of the Guisians to have been law∣ful defensive Wars, because they were ever ready to disband and quiet themselves, when they got assurance of Peace and Liberty of Religion. Now this present Expedition be∣ing in the nature of it defensive, hence it ap∣peareth that it is not contrary, but consonant to our former Protestations, Informations, and Remonstrances: In all which there is not one word against defensive War in this cause; but strong reasons for it, all which militate for this Expedition.

Our first Information sent to England this year, though it accurseth all offensive or invasive War, yet sheweth plainly, that if we be in∣vaded either by Sea or Land, we must do as a man that fighteth himself out of Prison. If a private man when his House is blocked up, so that he can have no liberty of Commerce and Traffick to supply himself and Family, being also in continual hazard of his life, not know∣ing when he shall be assaulted by his Enemies who lie in wait against him, may in this case most lawfully step forth with the Forces which he can make, and fight himself free; of how much more worth is the whole Nation? and how shall one and the same way of defence and libe∣ration be allowed to a private man, and disal∣lowed to a whole Nation?

Thirdly, We are called to this Expedition by that same divine providence and vocation which hath guided us hitherto in this great business. We see the expediency of it, for the glory of God, for the good of the Church, for ad∣vancing the Gospel, for our own peace: after seeking of God, and begging light and directi∣on from Heaven, our hearts are inclined to it, God hath given us zeal and courage to prosecute it, ability and opportunity for undertaking it, unanimous Resolution upon it, scruples re∣moved out of minds where they were harbour∣ed, encouragements to atchieve it from many passages of divine providence, and namely from the proceedings of the last Parliament in Eng∣land, their Grievances and desires being so ho∣mogeneal and akin to ours, we have laboured in great long-suffering by Supplications, Informa∣tions, Commissions, and all other means pos∣sible, to avoid this Expedition. It was not pre∣meditate nor affected by us (God knows) but our enemies have necessitated and redacted us unto it, and that of purpose to sow the seed of National Quarrels: yet as God hitherto hath turned all their plots against themselves, and to effects quite contrary to those that they intend∣ed; so are we hopeful that our coming into Eng∣land (so much wished and desired by our Ad∣versaries for producing a National quarrel) shall so far disappoint them of their aims, that it shall link the two Nations together in straiter and stronger bonds, both of Civil and Christi∣an love, than ever before.

And that we may see yet further evidences of a calling from God to this Voyage, we may observe the order of the Lord's steps and pro∣ceedings in this work of Reformation. For, beginning at the gross Popery of the Service Book, and Book of Canons, he hath followed the back trade of our defection, till he hath Re∣formed the very first and smallest Novations, which entred in this Church. But so it is, that this back trade leadeth yet further, to the Pre∣lacy in England, the fountain whence all those Babylonish streams issue unto us: The Lord there∣fore is still on the back trade, and we following him therein, cannot yet be at a stay. Yea, we trust, that he shall so follow forth this trade, as to chase home the Beast, and the false Pro∣phet to Rome, and from Rome out of the World. Besides, this third Consideration resulteth from the former two; for if this Expedition be ne∣cessary,

and if it be defensive, then it follows inevitably, that we are called unto it, for our necessary defence is warranted, yea command∣ed by the Law of God and Nature, and we are obliged to it in our Covenant.

Fourthly, The lawfulness of this Expedition appeareth, if we consider the party against whom, which is not the Kingdom of England, but the Canterburian Faction of Papists, Atheists, Arminians, Prelates, the misleaders of the King's Majesty, and the Common Enemies of both Kingdoms. We perswade our selves, that our Brethren and Neighbours in England, will never be so evil advised, as to make themselves a Party against us, by their defence and patroci∣ny of our Enemies among them, as sometimes the Benjamites made themselves a Party against the Israelites, by defending the Gibeathites in in their wicked cause, Judg. 20. We pray God to give them the wisdom of the wise Woman in Abel, who when Joab came near to her City with an Army, sound out a way which both kept Joab from being an Enemy to the City, and the City from being an Enemy to him, 2 Sam. 20. As touching the Provision and Fur∣niture of our Army in England, it shall be such as is used among friends, not among enemies. The rule of humanity and gratitude will teach them to furnish us with necessaries, when as be∣side the procuring of our own peace, we do good Offices to them. They detest (we know) the churlishness of Nabal, who refused Victuals to David and his men, who had done them good and no evil, 1 Sam. 20. And the inhumanity of the men of Succoth and Penuel, who denied bread to Gideon's Army, when he was pursuing the Common Enemies of all Israel, Judg. 8. But let the English do of their Benevolence, what humanity and discretion will teach them; For our own part our Declaration sheweth, that we seek not Victuals for nought, but for Money or Security: And if this should be refused (which we shall never expect) it were as damnable as the barbarous cruelty of Edom and Moab, who refused to let Israel pass through their Country, or to give them Bread and Water in any case, Numb. 20. Judg. 11. and this offence the Lord accounted so inexpiable, that for it he accursed the Edomites and Moabites from entring into the Congregation of the Lord, unto the tenth Ge∣neration, Deut. 23. 3, 4.

Fifthly, The fifth Consideration concerneth the end for which this Voyage is undertaken. We have attested the searcher of hearts, It is not to execute any disloyal act against his Ma∣jesty, It is not to put forth a cruel or vindictive hand against our Adversaries in England, whom we desire only to be Judged and Censured by their own Honourable and High Court of Par∣liament, It is not to enrich our selves with the Wealth of England, nor to do any harm there∣to. But by the contrary, we shall gladly be∣stow our pains and our means to do them all the good we can, which they might justly look for at our hands, for the help which they made us at our Reformation, in freeing us from the French, a bond of peace and love betwixt them and us to all Generations. Our Conscience, and God who is greater than our Conscience beareth us re∣cord, that we aim altogether, at the glory of God, peace of both Nations, and honour of the King, in suppressing and punishing (in a legal way) of those who are the troublers of Israel the Fire-brands of Hell, the Korahs, the Baalams, the Doegs, the Rabshekahs, the Ha∣mans, the Tobiahs and Sanballats of our time, which done, we are satisfied. Neither have we begun to use a Military Expedition to England, as a mean for compassing those our pious ends, till all other means which we could think up∣on have failed us, and this alone is left to us as ultimum & unicum remedium, the last and only remedy.

Sixthly, If the Lord shall bless us in this our Expedition, and our intentions shall not be crossed by our own sins and miscarriage, or by the opposition of the English, the fruits shall be sweet, and the effects comfortable to both Nations, to the Posterity, and to the Reform∣ed Kirks abroad: Scotland shall be Reformed as at the beginning, the Reformation of Eng∣land long prayed and pleaded for by the God∣ly, thereby shall be according to their wishes and desires, perfected in Doctrine, Worship and Discipline. Papists, Prelates, and all the Members of the Antichristian Hierarchy, with their Idolatry, Superstition, and human In∣ventions shall pack from hence, the names of Sects and Separatists shall no more be men∣tioned, and the Lord shall be one, and his name one throughout the whole Island, which shall be glory to God, honour to the King, Joy to the Kingdoms, comfort to the posterity, ex∣ample to other Christian Kirks, and Confusion to the incorrigible Enemies.

His Majesty on the other hand, for opposing the Scots, and the strengthening of his Kingdom of England, now under an actual Invasion, is∣sueth out Commissions of Array to the several Lieutenancies of England; and withal, declared his Royal Pleasure, that these latter should not derogate, or be any waies prejudicial to the for∣mer Commissions granted unto the Lord Lieute∣nants, &c. for their commanding and ordering of the standing Militia's of their respective Coun∣ties, but that it should be lawful for them to exe∣cute both these concurrent Commissions, and the Earl Marshal of England was to command by ad∣vice and direction from his Majesties Privy-Coun∣cil, all the power of arrayed men on the South side of Trent, and pursuant hereto, he had a Commission granted him under the Broad Seal of England.

Great were the discouragements his Majesty every way met with in this necessary and defensive war against these his worst of Subjects, for that his Majesty having called the Gentry of the Coun∣ty of York unto them, and declaring his resoluti∣on to lead them on himself in Person to the Fron∣tiers of that County, several of the Gentry thereof very fairly deliver a Petition to his Maje∣sty for their excuse herein, for that by reason of the Poverty of their County, they were not able to advance, and more according to his Majesties expectation, except they might have 14 daies Pay from his Majesty before-hand, whereas at the time of the delivery of this Petition, or very short∣ly after, the Scots were upon the point of entring into the aforesaid County, and setting the Bishop∣rick of Durham under Contribution, and being shortly after also possessed of Newcastle; such and so great were the difficulties his said Majesty then labour'd under, the circumstances hereof were very well known to sundry of the Peers, and

others of this his Majesties Kingdom of England, who, as it afterwards notoriously appeared in the ensuing Troubles, were no very great Enemies to the Scots in this their Invasion of England. These men hereupon Petition his Majesty for the sum∣moning of a Parliament, where they very well knew the Scotch War and Invasion would be, if not justified and abetted, yet palliated and excu∣sed. There were two Petitions of this nature, and they stuffed with their pretended Grievances; the one from several Peers, the other from the City of London; though this later had been ex∣presly prohibited by the Council Board. And they were as followeth.