SInce my last, we seeing the Enemy not wil­ling to engage, and yet very apt to take ex­ceptions against speeches of that kind, spo­ken in our Army, which occasioned some of them to come to parley with our Officers to let them know that they would fight us, they lying still in, or neer their fastnesse, on the West side of Eden­burgh. We resolved (the Lord assisting) to draw neer to them once more, to try if we could fight them, and in­deed, one houres advantage gained, might probably (we think) have given us an opportunity, to which purpose, upon Tuesday the 27 instant, we marched Westward of Edenburgh towards Sterling, which the Enemy perceiv­ing, marched with as great expedition as was possible to prevent us, and the Vantguards of both the Armies came to skirmish upon a place, where Bogges and passes made the accesse of each Army to the other difficult. We being ignorant of the place drew up, hoping to have en­gaged, but found no way feazeable by reason of the bogs and other difficulties.

We drew up our Cannon, and did that day discharge two or three hundred great shot upon them, a conside­rable number they likewise returned to us, and this was all that passed from each to other, wherein we had neere twenty killed and wounded, but not one Commissioned Officer, the Enemy as we are informed had about four-score [Page 2] kild and some considerable Officers. Seeing they would keep their ground, from which we could not re­move them, and our bread being spent, we were neces­sitated to go for a new supply, and so marched off about ten or eleven a clock on Wednesday morning. The E­nemy perceiving it, and as we conceive, fearing we might interpose between them and Edenburgh, though it was not our intention, albeit it seemed so by our march, Re­treated back again with all haste, having a Bogge and passes between them and us. There being no considera­ble action, saving the skirmishing of the Van of our Horse with theirs, neere to Edenburgh, without any losse to either part considerable, saving that we got two or three of their Horses.

That night we quartered within a mile of Edenburgh, and of the Enemy. It was a most tempestuous night and wet morning, the Enemy marched in the night between Leith and Edenburgh, to interpose between us and our Victuall, they knowing that it was spent (but the Lord in mercy prevented it) which we perceiving in the mor­ning, got time enough, through the goodnesse of the Lord, to the Sea side to revictuall; the Enemy being drawn up upon the Hill neer Arthurs Seat, looking up­on us, but not attempting any thing. And thus you have an account of the present Occurrences.

SInce my last, we have againe twice attempted to in­gage the Scots Army. Upon Tuesday last, we march­ed with an endeavour to interpose betwixt Eden­burgh [Page 3] and Sterling, and by that necessitate the Enemy to fight, and accordingly wee advanced, with our whole Army, but they being in view of us, (only a river part­ing) discerned by our march what we designed, and so hastened their march, untill they came to a Passe neare us; and drew up in Ba [...]talia, we did the like, all being confident we should within a quarter of an houre have an ingagement, and as we judged could not be prevented, the ground appearing equally good on both sides. The Word given out was [RISE LORD] the body of Foote advancing within lesse then twice Musket shot, and then was discovered such a Bog on both our wings of Horse that it was impossible to passe over. Thus by this ve­ry unexpected hand of Providence were we prevented, and only had liberty to play with our Cannon that even­ing and part of the next morning which did good execu­tion, as wee beleive, upon them, we had very strange and remarkeable deliverances from theirs, though they played very hard upon us, and that with much art, but the Lord suffered them not to do us much hurt, we had not slaine and wounded above five and twenty men. We finding it not possible to ingage them, and far from our Provisions, divers of our men having cast away their Bisket, with their Tents out of a considence they should then fight: We therefore resolved upon our march back to the Sea side, The Enemy likewise hastened towards Edenburgh, we did beleeve their design was to gain a Passe or two, and so interpose betwixt us and our Provisions, which they might easily have done being before us, but the Lord gave them not courage to do it, we found them drawne up near Edenburgh by Arthurs hill, and not at [...]ll interrupted our march, but not long after we got over [...]he Passe. They instead of offering to advance upon [Page 4] us, retreated behind one of their Garisons, and so march­ed on that side of the Passe, wee came over up towards those hills we left.

So we finding an impossibility in our forcing them to fight, the Passes being so many and great, that as soone as we get on one side, they go over on the other, that the Councel yesterday was very unanimous on this, that it was to no purpose further to march after them, but inclined generally to fall upon Garisoning of Dunbarre, and other considerable places nearer Tweed, and after one Garison compleated (if we have no better complyance) proceed to some more severe course then hath bin yet ta­ken. I know many among you will thinke it strange we have done no more against them: I wish they may eye the Lord, and not man. We have this satisfaction, there is no meanes left unattempted by us: We have done our utmost, and the Lord therein gives us comfort, besides many remarkeable testimonies of his presence.

Of late we have understood those who have the name of honesty among them, begin to be better satisfied, and more desirous of an Agreement. They are not so of a peece as they were, but their disaffection about the King, and other divisions increase: They see themselves in a snare, and would gladly many of them get out, we are assured their honest men will not long hold in with them. The Lord I doubt not but one way or other will very eminently appear with us, is the prayer of your af­fectionate humble Servant.

HAving taken Redhall Monday the 26 instant, wee advanced from Penckland hills, about two miles [Page 5] to the water of Leith, and the next day we marched on, resolving (if possible) to ingage the Enemy, who were drawne up that morning in Battalia, as if they intended to have stood us; but as they observed us wheeling to the Westward, to come upon them, they remooved from their ground, and gained a passe, where there was a boggy ground of each side. Our men were drawn on with all possible speed, not knowing the ground to bee such, and were in a short time set in order. Never more resolution and willingnesse knowne to have engaged an Enemy then was in our men at that time; but when we should have fallen on, neither wing was able to come at them, and then we perceived that, notwithstanding all their bravadoes the day before by Sir Jo. Browne, by whom they sent us word they were resolved to give us a faire meeting; Yet their haste towards us was not to engage us, but to stop us from comming at them. Wee stood in Battalia that afternoone, and next morning: the Cannons playing hotly on both sides, and though we were much the fairer mark, standing upon the pitch of a rising ground, yet it pleased God our losse was much the lesse, we had onely about foure that dyed upon the place, and about 18. or 19. wounded; and of the Enemy about 100. wounded and killed, one Col. Mennes and a Captain, and a Lieutenant of Horse, and an En­signe killed of theirs. We have lost since our comming into Scotland, by the Enemy, onely one Commission Of­ficer, viz. Col. Lilburnes Cornet, who was killed at the charge at Muscleborough. There was severall strange shot, one was at Major Hobsons Troopes, which was drawne close together to prayer, and just as the Amen was said, there came in a great shot among them, and touched neither Horse nor man. The next morning hav­ing [Page 6] but two daies provision left, and seeing we could not in that place engage them, we drew back to our old quar­ters on Penckland hills, and the Enemy drew between E­denburgh and Leith, as if they would that night have at­tempted our Garisons on the East side of Edenburgh, and have interposed between us and our bread & cheese. The 29 instant we marched to the Eastward of Edenburgh, and seeing the Enemy drawn up from Arthurs Hill to the Sea side, we possessed our selves of the next ground to them, within Canon shot, resolving there to have endevoured to engage them, but they very gallantly drew away be­tween Arthurs Hill and Cragmiller a Garison of theirs. Our Canons some of them reaching them, and doing as we understand, notable execution upon them. Thus from time to time they avoyded fighting, neither is it possible, as long as they are thus minded, to ingage them; so that to follow them up & down is but to loose time and weaken our selves, methinks this people deale with my Lord, as did the Irish Army; so that as his work was to take in ga­risons, Ours, its humbly conceived, wil be to make a con­siderable Garison or two, & spoiling what of their Coun­try we canot get under our power. I suppose you wil have a full account hereof. This day we march. I think if ever there was an unworthy jugling, which the Lord will wit­nesse against, its among those, with whom we have to do. Straughan at a conference since my last, being asked seri­ously by one what he thought of their King, and whether he conceived him any whit the better, since his signing the late Declaration, replied, that he thought him as wick­ed as ever, and designing both their and our destruction, and that of the two, he thought his hatred towards them was the more implacable.