that their Mamon should be made a Prey to the unsanctified cavalry. For
prevention whereof in time to come, an Order was made, that if any
presents were made hereafter, they should not be tendred in ready money,
but in Plate, Horses, or such kind of Lumber as he must needs leave behind,
if he should be sent out of the world, by the way of England or Scotland.
In obedience whereunto, it pleased the Marquis of Argile to present
him with six Flanders Mares for his Coach; and, if our Royall Newes
prove true, the seventh will be his Daughter: But I would not willingly
wrong the Lady, because she is reported generous and vertuous. above the
rest of her Countrywomen. And as for the Town of Edinburgh, they have
provided a Present of Plate; which is like to be lost for want of his coming
to fetch it, or laid up for another entertainment, because it will better
become the Cupboard of our English Generall.
The same Letter faith farther, that the western Scots draw all in the same
Yoke, upon the score of the Kirks Engagement; but that the Gentry of the
North, when they came to worship the Idol of Majesty, professed before the
Faces of the Kirks own Commissioners, that they intended to serve upon
no other Accompt, but their duty and Loyalty toward the Thing called King,
for whose security they resolved to remain as a Reserve, upon all occasions.
These are Chips of the old Block, Montross; and should a new game happen
upon that Quarrell, then if the Kirk cannot out their King, he will certainly
out them; and so they will become the Traitors, and Montross the Martyr.
In the mean time, I dare promise, that Puppet of their own making, will
in the end (if they do not look to him) be their utter confusion: For,
he gains ground upon them every day, by the insinuations of his agents
and Emissaries, among the People. Great brags are made of a Regiment
raising to be his constant guard, under the Command of the old Earle of
Eglinton. The Kirk hath raised 2000. Horse at their own Charges, to be
commanded by her Champion straghern. The last Levies come on very
slowly; so that when this Intelligence came away, they had not gotten above
14000. into a Body; which, upon the seasonable entry of our noble
Generall into their Quarters, must all vanish, like a Scotch Mist before the
Sun; and then I warrant you, the poor People will willingly shake hands
with us, in defence of the two Commonweales of England and Scotland.
Which being considered, They had as good joyn issue at first as at last;
for, they will hardly get Butter to their Bread by standing out for a Kingdom;
it being assured from the same hand, that seven Scotch Ships more to the seven
formerly taken, are brought into Newcastle; but such pittifull Tools
they are, that he which dares venture his Carcase in one of them, seems as
valiant as he that would cross the Sea in an Egg-shell. Yet there were found
in them no less then 500. Firkins of Butter, which were designed for the
victualling of Sterlin Castle, and 1200. Arms, with other odd utensils,
which (though they have missed the way at present) will be brought to
Sterlin ere they are two moneths elder.
Wednesday, July 24.
FRom Zealand it is certified, that at Flushing there came ashore many
Mariners in their Skiphs, having their Ships taken from them by the