small Party to coop them up at Carlow, which garrison hath agreed, that if
Waterford be taken, they will be contented to follow the Fate of that Town
by a speedy surrender; and then there will be nothing left, but the old
Doghole of Duncannon, which in few daies must take example by the rest,
and put us in a full possession of the three Provinces of Lemster, Munster,
and Ulster; which will (no doubt) be quickly cleared of the Plague of
Pestilence, as soon as they are free from the more pestilentiall Irish, and the
Plague of Rebellion.
Tuesday, July 23.
PRoduced a more particular Accompt of Affairs, by Letter out of Scotland.
As first, that upon the Rendezvous of our Army near Aluwick, the
Scots on the Borders took a hot Alarm, by some quick Intelligence, concerning
the Approach of our Army, which represented it nearer then it was, insomuch
that the Gallowaies and their Riders, which stood Sentinel at the
Back doors of England, faced about, and spurred on to a Gallop, being
startled at this dreadfull Thunder-clap, Cromwels a coming. The Alarm was
taken likewise by all the Gentry of the South, who immediatly mounted and
left the Country to shift for themselves; so that the people seeing how they
were deserted, declared openly, they were resolved to make Termes with
the English Army, for their own preservation.
With the report of these things, their Quarters were beaten up also at
Leith, where 1200. of them being busied about the Fortifications, retreated,
to consult with their fellow-soldiers, in a fright, at Edenburgh; where they
had hardly courage enough to stay for better information. At length, Intelligence
being brought, that our English Army was not yet near the Borders,
they began to recover, and had the heart and leisure to consider their
own shame, the temper of their Southern Slaves, and publish this ensuing
Declaration, to terrifie them into a firm Combination against England;
viz. That if any should assist or joyn with the English Army, they should be
proceeded against with the same rigor that had been used against Montross
and his Party, as Rebels and Traitors to their native Country. Strictly
commanding and requiring, that in case the English make an Invasion,
they should arm all as one man to oppose them, and fire their Beacons, to
give notice to the whole Kingdom.
But alas, the Kingdom itself was in a Flame long since, the Bellows
being blown by their Fire-men of the Pulpit, to the fomenting of no less
than twenty Factions in Church and Commonwealth, so that the divisions
of Counties and Parties are much of the same number; but at least three
parts and a half of them all are for their King, and the remaining half for
the Kirk, so that its supposed, yong Tarquin may have the luck to wipe the
nose of her Holiness.
And for a Taste of his good nature and inclination to the Presbyterian
Cause, it is very observable, that when he came to Aberdeen, the Town
having presented him with at thousand pound in money, in Testimony that
they were his Majesties tame Cattel of the loyal strain, he immediately disposed
of it among his poor Cavaliers, to the great grief of the Friends of the Kirk,