by Armes against King Stephen, and was like to prevail, the
Estates of this Nation used all art to prevent it, upon this
Ground, because They conceived it dangerous for Them, and
the Whole State, to have a young Prince get the Mastery by
his sword.
For, it is very observable, that Princes ever improve such
kinds of victorie to an advantage over the people, and success
them cruel; witness the savage proceedings of Edward
the second against his Lords, after he had overthrown them
in battil in the Nothern Parts, executing their persons, and
confiscating their estates, as Traytors; so that he is noted in
Chronicle, to be the first of all our Kings, after the Conquest,
who, to prosecute this Revenge, gave a Precedent of
butchering the Bodies of the English, by drawing and quartering.
Which may serve to shew, that to reduce an expell'd
Tyrant into possession by the sword, is, to instate him in an
absolute cruel Tyranny over a Nation.
THORSDAY. February, 20.
We had this from Edenburgh, of the 13. Instant.
SIR,
THE Lord hath been exceeding gratious hitherto, and
will be more gracious yet, if self-ends and Ambition
do not hinder. Many a fair game of State hath been lost by
these: we are here taken up with matters of another nature,
that we are not at leisure to attend things of civil concernment.
Concerning the season, and the pressure of some necessities,
we are (blessed be God) in a good posture, contriving
how to make progress in the present work; nothing
will more contribute to our prejudice than the current of a
Lordly spirit: But I forbear; time will manifest.
The Enemy recived a sound alarm upon our last march,
They have quartered their Army, Horse, and Foot all along
the River side to prevent our landing any men there. That
is now our onely hopeful designe left to get footing in the
County of Fife: And if our Boats were ready (which are
making at London and New-Castle) we should forthwith attempt
to transport most of our Army over the water.
The weather is so bad that our souldiers are not able to endure