THe Grand Committee of Estates for the king­dome of Scotland, Conveened at Edinburgh on Tuesday February 8. On which day, both the English Commissioners, Mr. Ashurst, and Collonell Birch, came to Edenburgh, with Mr. Marshall, and al­so the Scots Commissioners that night; But their Grand Convention of Estates had onely some Spee­ches made by divers Lords, viz. the Marquis of Ar­guile, the Lord Lothean, Mr. Hamilton and others, to congratulate their meeting, but it being moved that (in regard the Scots Commissioners were not there ready with their Reports) they might adjourne untill [Page 2]Thursday Februa. 10. which the Committee of E­states, accordingly Ordered.

On Wednesday the 9 of February, the Committee of the Kirke of Scotland sate, and proceeded in some debates, which they had been upon the day before, concerning some non-conformists in Scotland, there being much disturbance in divers of the Kirkes, by some who stand for liberty of Conscience in Church­worship.

The Marquis of Arguile, the Earl Lauderdaile, and the Lord Lothean, (not Lord Loudoun the Lord Chan­cellor) gave our Commissioners a visit at their lodg­ing, which is at an Inne, there being no house provi­ded for them, (and I can assure you that there are not Innes here like the London ones) a sorry place, yet such as are in Edinburgh. These three Lords were ve­ry courteous to our Commissioners, and the Scots in generall are civill to them.

On Thursday the 10 of Februa. The Grand Com­mittee of Estates met againe. And the Earle of Lou­doun Lord Chancellour, and the Earle Lauderdaile, (with the rest of the Scots Commissioners, from Lon­don, began to make their Reports, concerning trans­actions of overtures by them in England, since last they went from Edenburgh, And declared to the Com­mittee what they had offered to the Parliament of En­gland, and what engagements they had tendred to the King, as also what they had done to satisfie his Ma­jesty.

Particularly, what was transacted by them with his Majesty at Hampton Court, and so other Over­tures untill the time that his Majesty was removed from Hampton Court.

[Page 3] Divers of the Lords and the rest of the Estates (in particular) gave them thanks for their fidelity, and for their paines, after the Estates were risen, but the bu­sinesse is not yet debated what shall be done in a body by the whole Committee of Estates by order: because when they sit again they are to go on in their reports untill they have finished all, which will hardly bee this week, and then perhaps a week or more in debate afterwards.

They then ordered to fit this present Thursday, being the 15 of February, and are to fit by and by: And did Order February 10 last past that the English Commissioners should make their addresses to the Lord Chancellour Loudoune, who is president to the Committee of Estates. And the reason of the last ad­journment untill this day was because he is not well. And for ought I see, they wil so adjourn, that time will spin out to a full length before they come to the pe­riod: So I hope there will be no great feare of raising Forces in Scotland this yeare, And before Winter we may all learne wit to be friends. Here is a muttering of Sir Lewis Dives being in this Kingdome, but I see him not, nor heare of him where he is. Some rumor here that the Earle of Leven is gone away in a discon­tent saying, that he would loose his life but he would set the Crowne on the Kings head, but this is false, and therefore if any Malignants from hence shall writ any such thing into England beleeve it not, for it is ut­terly false.

On Friday the 11 of February the Commissioners of the Kirke sat and had reports made concerning the substance of the Committee of Estates the day before something was moved about drawing up a paper to [Page 4]present to the Committee of Estates at their sitting, but it was at last resolved that nothing should be done in that particular untill the Commissioners had made a full report of the English negotiation.

On Saturday the 12 of February, came news hither of the Disbanding of the supernume­rary Forces in the North of England, which gives much content to divers of the Commis­sioners of Estates here, (as themselves ex­presse). We had here some talke of Prince Charles his comming hither, as some said, was expected from France, others said, it was the Duke of York to come from London. But the Scots are so farre from agitating, or liking any such designe, that they generally say, they will have neither King, Queene, nor any of the Kings Children to be there to charge them; they cannot spare monies neither for Warre, nor Honour, they will labour to maintain what they have, and to keep their own king­dome quiet, if they can, and let others shift for themselves.

On the Lords day Febru. 13. the Ministers here which we heard, did pray zealously for peace, and preached very honestly, though [Page 5]we have heard that some others have been a little too bitter else where, there were very few that day with our Commissioners.

Yesterday being Munday the 14 of Febru [...] many Lords and other Gentlemen came to Town from other parts, so that this City of Edenburgh, is very full, things are exceeding deare, and accommodation bad, better in ma­ny Villages in England. But, which is worse than all the former, the Plague breaks out here very violently, and many dye, every day more then other, so that we begin to fear dan­ger in residing here, except some place be as­signed for the Commissioners out of Eden­burgh, and the Scots Estates adjourn to some other place, or there sitting untill the Parlia­ment meet to adjourn.

This day being the 15 of Februa. the Con­vention of Estate, are to meet: And the Scots Commissioners are to proceed upon their re­ports, concerning the English Negotiation, from the time that his Majesty came last to Hampton Court, what transacted there, and so on untill their return: As also what papers they delivered into the Parl of England, and what answers they received, as also concern­ing [Page 6]some passages about the English Army, which will take up so much time, that I be­leeve the English Commissioners (for ought I heare this day) cannot make their addresses to them before March. The Marquesse of Arguile, and divers of the Committee of E­states, yea, and many of the Scots Ministers protest that they will labour for a right un­derstanding between the two Nations, and for settlement of a firme and inviolable Peace, for the Souldiery, mony, Ile warrant you, will stop their mouths, and there is none vi­sible to them any where, but hopes of the En­glish Arrears, And the Inhabitants of Scot­land long to hear of all things to be united and setled between the Kingdomes. For which he prayes, who is,