Some blood was shed, but very little, first, at Newburne, a Towne five miles The Scots take posdistant from Newcastle, where part of the English Army encamped to intercept the passage of the Scots, as they marched toward Newcastle.

session of the Coun

ties of Northumber land and Durham,

But many of the English Souldiers forsooke their Commanders and fled, sooner in August, 1640. than the use of that Nation is to do in Warre: But the English Horse made good a fight, and with great courage and resolution charged upon the Scots, but all in vaine, their number being too small.

In this Skirmish, which happened upon the 28th of August, the number of men A skirmish at Newslaine on both sides is not related, either by the English or Scottish Relation; but burne on the 28th of August, 1640. certaine it is, that it was not great.

Three valiant and active Commanders of the English Army were taken Prisoners, Colonel WILMOT, Sir JOHN DIGBY, and ONEALE, the two latter being Papists, and both Captaines of Horse.

This fight opened that rich Towne of Newcastle to the Scots, and within few daies after, they put a Garrison into Durham, commanded by the Earle of Dumferling, and, taking that Fort of Newcastle upon Time, intercepted some Ships which were newly-arrived there with Provision of Corne for the King's Army.

Some blood was also shed about the same time, when part of the English Garrison at Berwick, hearing that some Ammunition was layed-up in a little Towne Another at Dunsian

of Scotland, Dunsian, made an attempt upon it, but found it better fortified near Berwick.
than was expected, and were repelled with some slaughter; from whence, hearing
that a greater power of Scots was making toward them, under the command of
the Lord HADINTON, (who unfortunately perished afterward, blowne-up with
powder at Dunglasse) they returned to Berwick.

The King, during these Skirmishes, had, by Proclamation, warned all the English Nobility, with their followers and Forces, to attend his Standard at Yorke against the Scots, on the 20th of September; where, whilest himselfe in Person resided, he received an humble Petition from the Scots, containing an expression of their loyalty to him, and the innocence of their intentions toward England.

Lords who

But their expressions were in such general termes, that the King returned answer to the Earle of LANURICK, Secretary for Scotland, Commanding them to specifie their demands more particularly: Which, whilest the Scots prepared to do, it pleased God to open the hearts of many English Lords, who, considering and A great number of bewailing the great calamity and dishonour which England was then throwne into, attended the King at by these unhappy proceedings of the King, framed an humble Letter, subscribed York, petition him by all their hands, and sent it to his Majesty, wherein they represent to him the in September, 1640, miserable condition of the Kingdome, and mischiefes attending that wicked Warre; liament. as the danger of his Person, the waste of his Revenue, the burden of his Subjects, the rapines committed by that Army which he had raised; wherein Papists, and others ill-affected to Religion, are armed in Commands, who are not by the Lawes permitted to have Armes in their owne houses; The great mischiefe which may fall upon the Kingdome, if his intentions, which are reported, of bringing-in Irish and forraigne Forces, should take effect; The urging of Ship-money; The

to another

G 2

multitude

The King complies with this advice, and summons another

The King, receiving this Message from the Peeres of England, by his Proclamation ordained a day, which was upon 24th September, for all the Lords to meet Parliament to meet at Yorke, to whom he declared, that, of his owne free accord, he had determined at Westminster, on

the 3d of November, to call a Parliament in England, to begin as soone as possibly could be, allowing the usual time for issuing out of Writs, which was upon the third of November ensuing, 1640.

1640

But he desired, first, to consult with them, what answer to returne to the Scots demands, and how with his honour he might deale with them, who had so boldly invaded England.

And, to make them understand the whole state of the businesse, he commanded the Earle of TRAQUARE, who had been his Commissioner there, to relate all occurrences since the beginning.

He desired likewise their advice, how his Army might be payed before the supplies of Parliament could come.

After many debates, and different opinions in point of honour and convenience, it was at last agreed by the greater part of Peeres, and so concluded, that sixteene Lords should be chosen to treat with the Scots, and agree upon what Conditions they thought fit.

A treaty with the
Scots for a Cessation

of Hostilities, in Oc.

tober, 1640.

multitude of Monopolies and other Patents, to the great and universal grievance of his people; The great griefe of the Subjects, for the long intermission of Parliaments, for dissolving of the last, and former dissolutions of such as have been called, without any good effect: For remedy whereof, and for prevention of future dangers to his owne Royal Person, and the whole State, they humbly intreat his Majesty, That he would be pleased to summon a Parliament within some short and convenient time, whereby the causes of these, and other great grievances, which the people lye-under, may be taken-away, and the Authors and Counsellors of them may be brought to legal tryal and condigne punishment; And that this Warre may be composed without blood, in such manner as may conduce to the honour and safety of his Majesty, the comfort of the people, and uniting of both Kingdomes against the Common Enemy of the Reformed Religion. Subscribed by almost twenty Earles and Barons.

Eight Earles were named, BEDFORD, ESSEX, HARTFORT, SALISBURY, WarWICK, HOLLAND, BRISTOLL, and BARKSHIRE; as likewise eight Barons, WHARTON, PAGET, KIMBOLTON, BROOKE, PAWLET, HOWARD, SAVILE, and DUNSMORE.

The Scots were required to send as many, with full Commission, to whom Letters of safe-conduct in the amplest manner were granted.

When the matter came to debate, the Earle of Bristoll for the most part was Prolocutour to the English, and the Earle of LoWDEN to the Scots.

After many demands on both sides, and expostulations upon slighter matters, which were easily reconciled, there was one point, which seemed too hard a case in the eyes of the English Peeres, that the Scottish Army should be payed by the English, whilest their owne Army was in great distresse by reason of Arreares.

But

But in conclusion, those honest Lords, who understood the condition of that unhappy Warre, were content upon any termes to make an end of it; and in conclusion an agreement was made upon these termes:

1. A Truce, or Cessation of Armes, for two Moneths, till the 16th The Terms of the of December.

Treaty agreed on,
October 16, 1640.

2. That 8501, a-day should be paid to the Scots, during that Truce.

3. That, if it were not payed, the Scots might force it from the Counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmorland, and Durham.

4. That those Counties should be allowed the Scots for their winterQuarters.

5. No new preparations for Warre to be made.

6. That private injuries should not breake the Truce, so satisfaction were made upon complaint.

7. That Merchants might freely traffique in either Kingdome, without Letters of safe-conduct, but Souldiers without leave might not passe their limits.

Upon such termes was this unnatural Warre (although the Armies could not as yet be disbanded) brought to a Cessation; and both Nations rested in assured confidence, that a peace must needs follow, since the whole matter was now to be debated in the English Parliament, which was to begin about a fortnight after; for it was likely that a Parliament should put a period to that Warre, which could never have been begun, but for want of a Parliament. They were also confident, that that freedome which the fundamental Lawes and Constitution of the Kingdome of England allow to Parliaments, could not be denyed to this (though to many others it had long been) as being that Parliament, to which the King was necessitated; and the onely way which was now left him to tread, after so many deviations unfortunately tried; and upon which the people had set-up their utmost hope, whom it seemed not safe, after so long suffering, to provoke any further.

In what a desperate condition the Kingdome of England was at that time, what necessity there was of a present cure, with how much difficulty that cure was to be wrought, and with what warinesse and wisdome it concerned both King and people to play their parts, a judicious Reader may partly conjecture by the former passages already related.

But

But further to enlighten the Reader (for in this plaine Relation I shall be sparing to use any descants of my owne) I will referre him to Speeches which at the beginning of this Parliament were made by judicious Gentlemen, and those of greatest moderation, labouring, as much as they could possibly, to spare the King, and touch tenderly upon his Honour; which I shall mention anon.

According to the reason of the Parliament and Kingdome, went along the sense of Courtiers themselves (as was expressed in an ingenuous Treatise found in the privy Chamber) concerning the condition in which the King and Kingdome of England were, when this so-much-expected Parliament was to begin.

CHAP. VII.

The beginning of the English Parliament. Grievances
examined. Sufferers relieved. Delinquents questioned.
The Archbishop of Canterbury committed to the Tower.
The flight of Secretary WINDEBANKE, and of the Lord
Keeper FINCH.

ON the third of November 1640, the Parliament began; where the King ex- The beginning of the pressed himselfe very well, in a Speech gracious and acceptable to both Houses; English Parliament, November 3, 1640. who did not expect from him any such acknowledgement of former errours, as might seeme too low for the Majestie of his Person; but onely desired to gaine his affection for the future.

Very pleasing to them all was that gracious expression, that He did now cleerly and freely put himselfe upon the love and affections of his English Subjects, desiring them to consider the best way for the Safety and Security of the Kingdome of England; and in order to it, for satisfaction of their just grievances, wherein he would so heartily concur, that the world might see his intentions were to make it a glorious and flourishing Kingdome. In which businesse he did freely and wil. lingly leave it to them where to beginne.

He desired also that all Jealousies and Suspicions might be layed-aside by them, which he promised to doe on his part. And withal, to give some reasonable colour to his former Warre, whether to excuse or justifie the Proceedings of it, he seemed as yet much distasted with the boldnesse of the Scots, who had entred England with an Army against his will; calling them by the name of Rebels; and that it concerned the honour of him and England, to drive them out againe.

47

And, in his second Speech, two daies after, I told you (said he) that the Rebels must be put out of this Kingdome; it is true, I must needs call them so, so long as they have an Army that do invade us; although I am under Treaty with them, and under my Great Seale doe call them Subjects; for so they are too.

His