The Scots army advanced into England certified in a letter dated from Addarston, the 24 of January, from his excellencies the Lord Generall Lesley's quarters : with the summoning of the county of Northumberland, expressed

A Letter from the Commissioners and Committees of both Kingdoms, to Sir Thomas Glenham, and the rest of the Commanders.

Gentlemen,

ALthough wee justly presume that the solemne mutuall Covenant entred into by both King∣doms, hath long since come to your hands, and likewise that you have had notice of the raising of the Army desired by the Parliament of England for the prosecution of those ends therein expressed; viz. The preservation and reformation of Religion, the true ho∣nour and happinesse of the King, and the publick peace and liberty of his Dominions. Yet that it may appeare both to you and all the world how unwilling we are to make a forcible use of these armes which we have beene constrained by the disappointment of all other meanes of safety to take up, We the Commissioners and Committees of both Kingdoms have thought fit, besides that Declaration (a copy whereof we here∣with send) lately emitted in the name of the Kingdom of Scotland, for the satisfaction of the people concer∣ning the entrance of this their Army, to take more par∣ticular notice of you the chiefe Gentlemen and Com∣manders, hopeing likewise that things of so great and considerable consequence will finde with you such entertainment as may answer the weight and impor∣tance of them. We will not so much wrong the cause we have undertaken, as to goe about after so many evi∣dent Demonstrations of the necessity of our present

posture, to dispute it with you, but rather in stead of ar∣guments we think it reasonable to acquaint you with our well weighed resolutions, which are, through the assistance of that God in whose cause we are engaged, and whose strength wee trust in, with our utmost in∣dustry and hazard to endeavour the prevention of that imminent danger not only of corruption but of ruine, which we see evidently intended to the true Protestant Religion by the Popish and Prelaticall faction, who never wanted will, but now thinks they want not strength and opportunity to accomplish it; as also the rescuing of his Majesties person and honour so deeply and unhappily entangled in the counsels and practises of them, whose actions speak their ends to be little better then Popery and Tyranny, and the re∣deeming the peace and liberty of his Majesties do∣minions, in which the Irish Rebellion, and the sad and unnaturall divisions in England have made so great a breach; To the accomplishment of these so just and honourable designes, wee have reason to expect the concurrence of all men who either are or pretend a due love to their Religion, King, and Countrey; and shall be very sorry to want yours: but if mis-information or any other unhappy grounds shall so farre prevaile with you as to reckon us in the number of your enemies, (which certainly we are not if you be friends to those ends mentioned in our Covenant) and if in stead of that concurrence with us which we wish and hope to deserve, we finde from you opposition and acts of hosti∣lity, the Law of nature and your owne reason will tell you what you are to expect; we only adde that though it will not a little trouble us to see men withstanding

not only us but their owne good and happinesse, yet it doth in good measure satisfie us that wee have not neglected this or any other meanes to the best of our power or understanding, to prevent these inconve∣niences and mischiefes that may arise from those acts of force which we shall be necessitated unto.

Subscribed at Berwick 20 Ianuarii 1644 by the war∣rant and in name of the Committees of both Kingdoms, by us your friends

• ...Argyle
• ...W. Armyne.

Postscript.

One of these direct to Sir Thomas Glemham, and the rest of the Commanders with him at Alnwick or elsewhere.