more; The Queen of Englands Pention is lessened, so that whereas she had 12000
crowns a moneth, now the hath not 7000 Crowns, and no Pention at all is given
to Prince Charles, onely-what his Mother will allow out of hers.
By a perticular expresse from Edenburgh we had further thus.
I had earnest desires to see Edenburgh where now I am; willing to give you an
account of all passages, for all though strange objects confound my sence, yet nothing
can obstrect my due respects to you; I was no sooner arrived among the
Muckell Swingers of this Nation, but I began to studdy where I was, the first town
I came at was full of Witchts, eleven had been newly burnt in one place; the ashes
of which I wondring at, was immediately desired by the Gentlemen there, to accompany
them to the examination of five Witches in prison, who upon my comming
to them, earnestly desired me to receive their examination, and take view of
their Marks, which they received from the Devill at their first communion with
him, which accordingly I did: the next town I came at, I met with severall Elders
of the Kirk, which by their swearing would have forced by Dishes of Ale distraction
to my brain, rather then satisfaction to my reason, by taking off every Dish with a
Muckle Oath; when I arrived at Edenburgh, I was exceeding greedy to lay hold on
the branches of former compliments I received from the Nobility and Gentry of
this Nation, but in those Northern parts I See that the cold climate destroyes
what the former favours formerly produced; on the Sabbath day, I went to Kirk
hoping there to have found variety to regain me in all my losses, but behold such a
revising against the Sectaries of England, that instead of composing my reason, my
judgement was confounded, wondring whether the Rod of Jesse would ever come
out, of such a ragged stemme; if you would know what I have learned here, which
is renown'd, it is, that the Myter is above the Crown but neither Myter nor Crown
is so fixed, but that both are shaken at the Alarum of the approaches of an English
Army, which is the common talk of this Town though no such thing; but a man
may know by the figures, thundering straines, lightnings, and severall other temperatures
of the Pulpit every Lords day, what weather we are like to have in Parliament
all the week after, as clear as if the close of every day were seen in the forehead
of that first, or as if they had the Alminake makers skill, who tell you what weather
you shall have all the year after, by the twelve Hollydayes in Christmas: The Parliament
hath done nothing of consequence, this weeke but in reference to the purging
of the army, and drawing up an answer to the Parliament of Englands Letter
which you have a ready. The Kings answer to the Commissioners is not satisfactory
to the Kirk, which causeth them rather to pray for his conversion then admire
his conformity; the Malignanes in the North are quiet for the present, their reports
from Ireland are so various, that I shall leave you to the intelligence of others,
onely I shall tell you this, that when the Ministers pray for prosperity by an Army,
then they fall into such a stamering, as no man knows their expressions; and scarce
themselves their own intentions.
Wednesday July 4
THe house this day passed the Act for sale of the Goods of the late King, Queen,
and Prince; and ordered the same to be Printed. This Act expresses, That the
said Estates are justly forfeited to the State for their delinquency, And for that