him off at last for altogether) it pleased his Excellency, the Lord
Generall Cromwell, by way of prevention, to return a most pious
and prudent Answer to their Declaration, and I shall take
a little pains to contract the Particulars, as you may see following:
He signified; That hee had caused their Declaration to be
read, in the presence of their Trumpet, before his Officers;
That the Army is resolved to make good all their professions
to the honest people of Scotland: That they (had not impose
ought upon their Consciences, but perform what obligation
lies upon them by the Covenant: That the taking in of a King
to impose upon England cannot be called The Cause of God and
the Kingdom, nor is it a way to satisfie God's People in both
Nations: That the dis-owning of Malignants, and receiving
their Head, in whom all their hope and comfort lies, cannot
consist in common sence or prudence; since at this Instant hee
hath a Popish party in Arms for and under him in Ireland, and
His Cousin Rupert Commander of the Ships stoln from us upon
a Malignant Accompt:
That since the French and Irish make daily depredations upon
our Coasts, and Malignants combine to raise Armies within
our Bowels, by vertue of Commissions from him, it is not to
be imagined how the Interest which the Scots pretend to, can
bee secured from the Malignant Interest in the ends and Consequences
centring in this man.
That all Malignants whatsoever take their present confidence
and encouragement, from the late Transaction of their
Kirk and State with their King: And therefore it cannot bee
understood, how fighting and plotting against us on the one
hand, and declaring for him oh the other, should not bee an
espousing of a malignant Quarrell, but a fighting upon former
Grounds and Principles. Nor is it to be conceived, how this
can be construed to be in defence of the Cause of God, or for
the Security and Satisfaction of Gods People in both Nations.
That if security be given, it must bee some other way, than
by a few formall and seigned submissions from a person, who
being no longer able to prosecute his malignant ends, was