The Scots new Protestation concerning their King, and the Lord Gen. Cromwel, and the coming in of M. Patrick Gilespie, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Guthery, Mr. Dury (chaplain to the King) col. Hume, and divers others, to the protection of the Parliament of England. With the several Queries and Proposals presented to them; and a Narrative of the daily proceedings of both armies.
ALL things here goes on very prosperously, and the Lord hath shined from Heaven upon our late Undertakings, giving us an earnest of his future blessings; for God is speaking aloud to that Generation of men, who have formerly stop'd their ears; but many thousands there are, that now begins to hearken to the voyce of the living God; and amongst [Page 2]the rest, those pious and learned Divines, M. Gilespie, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Guthery, and Mr. Dury, are come in to the protection of the parliament of England, and have taken a protestation both against the King and the generall Assembly, not to own, or be aiding or abetting to their design. Three other Ministers are come in to us from Angns for protection, as not being able to endure the persecution of many in those parts. And one of them being had in examination before the General Assembly, had these two questions proposed to him:
1 Whether the Presbyterian Government as established in Scotland, be in all things conform to the Word of GOD.
2 Whether Cromwel be Antichristian?
To which he answer'd, That he was determin'd to be silent in each particular; for which he received excommunication.
The Scene of our proceedings lies now in Fife; and that we may make improvement of the mercies already received, we have transported the greatest part of our Army on that side. Ten Regiments of Foot, and ten of Horse, with six Troops of Dragoons are there; and if the enemy will draw forth, they will be able to give them battle. However they will range about the country, and hinder supplies of provision from coming to them. Yet it is probable, having a desperate game to play, they may attempt for England, chusing rather to hazard all there, then to linger into ruine in their own wasted countrey. But His Excellency the Lord Generall hath ordred Maj. Gen. Harrison to attend their motion, and accordingly hath sent for col. Rich (in all haste) to come to him [Page 3]with all the forces he can possibly make. Upon the conjunction of those forces with these, they will be able to suppresse all the Levies which are now busily raising in the West, and to hinder all provisions out of those parts from them.
We have taken the strong and impregnable castle of Innes-Garvey, with many other considerable places since our wafting over into Fife, a List whereof followeth:
- Burnt Island surrendred with 30 pieces of Ordnance.
- Innes-Garvy castle taken with 16 pieces of Ordnance.
- Duglas castle taken with 14 pieces.
- Hume castle taken with 20 pieces of canon, 200 Musquets, 2 Morter pieces, one barrel of powder, and about 70 small shot.
- Huntley house surrendred at the first summons, without the losse of one man on either side.
- Four Men of War taken in Burnt Island Road, with little losse, and about 40 pieces of Ordnance, with other good prizes.
- Divers ships taken by Commissary General Whaley upon his march along the Sea side in Fife, and some of the Parliaments ships attending his motion on the coast.
- The subduing of the Scots forces in the said county; and their retreat to Sterling and Earn bridge.
It is affirmed, that about 7000 of the Well-affected Presbyters, with the Marq. of Argyle, have declared against the proceedings of the General Assembly and likewise protested against them, for owning and abetting the titular Kings design.
Another Letter from Scotland.
THe Lord Gen. Cromwel is gone in person to the Army in Fife, and hath also wafted over his own Regiment of horse and foot, Lieu. Gen. Fleetwoods, Col. Coopers, Col. Goffes, Col. Twisletons, and col. Ingoldsbyes Regiment. His Excellency hath ordered that the Army be divided into two parts; the one party to march towards St. Johnstons, to divert the recruits and provisions of the enemy; the other towards Sterling, to face the Enemy, and to fight him. Massey hath taken possession of a bridg 4 miles on this side Sterling, which (as yet) he keeps; and the Scots Foot remain still in Sterling Park with the Train of Artillery. The Officers of the Army have lately entred into consultation about the businesse of Mr. Love, and after some time spent therein, resolved, That they would not intermeddle therein; but that it will be their rejoycing, that justice may run in an interrupted channel.
A Letter from the Lord Deputy of Ireland being contracted, speaks to this effect; from the Leaguer before Limbrick, That Col. Tothil hath been cashiered the army, for breach of quarter given to some of the enemy; that his Lordship desires no more men may be raised for Ireland; That the castle upon the bridg hath been stormed and taken, and the better half of the bridg possest by us; so that they are lockt in on that side, and have broken down two Arches next the Town, that now there is small hope of working our selves by the way of the bridg into the Town; That after this, they had an attempt upon an Island encompassed by a Line, with a great Fort in the middle of it, which had they gained, they had been in a fair way to master the Town; but our whole party that was employed perished in the attempt: They had 11 Boats, and 2 Cots, besides the great Flote in the 5 boats that were lanched before: There went over Major Walker (his Lordships own Major who commanded in chief) with capt. Graves, captain Whiting, his Lordships own Ensign, and about 90 souldiers and non-commission'd Officers, who were all drowned or killed, to the great [Page 6]grief of the whole Army, who humble themselves in the sence of Gods displeasure.
The further victorious proceedings of the Lord Gen. Cromwel in Scotland, manifested by his own Letter as followeth.
THe greatest part of the Army is in Fife, waiting what way God will further lead us: It hath pleased God to give us in Burnt Island, which is indeed very conducing to the carrying on of our affairs. The town is well seated, pretty strong, but marvellous capable of further improvement in that respect, without great charge. The Harbour at a high spring is neer a fathom deeper then at Leith, and doth not lie commanded by any ground without the Town. We took three or four small men of War in it, and I believe 30 or 40 Guns. Commissary Gen. Whaley marched along the Sea-side in Fife, having some ships to go along the coast, and hath taken great store of great Artillery, and divers ships. The Enemies affaires are in some discomposure as we hear, surely the Lord will blow upon them.