much scandalous and reproachful matter against the just proceedings of this Parliament; and an assuming, on the behalf of that kingdom, to have a power over the laws and government of this nation to the high dishonour thereof; and lastly, a design in the contrivers and subscribers of it, to raise sedition and lay the grounds of a new and bloody war in this land; that, under the specious pretences in that paper contained, they may gain advantages to second their late perfidious invasion.” It was ordered that a message with a duplicate of this declaration be sent to the Parliament and kingdom of Scotland, to know whether they do or will own and justify what hath been presented to this Parliament in their names. On the 28th of February the House was informed that according to the above order the Scots Commissioners had been apprehended at Gravesend, as they were embarking on their return home, and were now under a guard and the question being put, whether to send them back to Scotland by land so guarded, it passed in the affirmative.'

:

On the 27th of February the Council of State ordered that fifty pounds shall be imprested to Mr. Rowe, who held the post of Scout Master General in the army, for his journey into Scotland to ride post to carry a letter and message to the kingdom of Scotland, and that a post warrant be granted unto him for the more quick dispatch of his journey 2 and in his instructions he is directed not to stay above a certain number of days for an answer.3

1 Whitelock, p. 384, Feb. 26, 1648. Commons' Journals, 26 and 28

Feb. 1648.

2 Order Book of the Council of State, à Meridie, Die Martis, 27 Feb. 1648. MS. State Paper Office.

Ibid. same day-"Instructions to William Rowe Esquire, Envoyé from the Council of State to the Parliament of Scotland and ibid. 28 Feb. 1648, "An additional Instruction for Mr. Rowe."

On the same day the Council also ordered "that it be returned in answer to Mr. Sexby that this Council takes notice of his care and diligence used in the execution of the order of the House concerning the staying of the Scotts [sic] Commissioners; that they do approve of the civilities offered by him unto them in tendring unto them the use of the best Inn in Gravesend for their accomodation." On the 1st of March the Council ordered "that the whole business of the sending of the Scotts Commissioners with a guard into Scotland be referred to the consideration of the Lord General (Fairfax), Lieut.-General (Cromwell), and Sir William Constable, who are to report back their opinion concerning it to this Council.' In the afternoon of the same day the Council ordered "that the necessary charges of the Commissioners of Scotland shall be defrayed by the State in their journey home; and that two hundred pounds be advanced out of the public revenue upon account to the captain of the guard who shall be commanded to the service of conveighging [sic] the Scotts [sic] Commissioners to Scotland."

8

"2

On the following day, the 2nd of March, it was ordered "that a letter be written to the Earl of Lothian, Sir John Chiesly, and Mr. Glendinning, to let them know that the House did order that they should be sent to Scotland by land, and that we have appointed Captain Richard Dolphyn to command the guard, and that he hath money to provide them diet, horses, coaches, and other necessary accomodations by the way; that this notice is given that they may put themselves into a posture for their journey." On the

1 Order Book of the Council of State,

27 Feb. 1648. MS. State Paper

Office.

2 Order Book of the Council of State, 1 March, 1648. MS. State Paper Office.

3 Order Book of the Council of State, à Meridie; 1 March, 1648.

In the Order Book this name is written "Lendonyng."

same day there are the following minutes: "That there be also an instruction to Captain Richard Dolphin to keep a journal of all remarkable passages by his way, and that he take witnesses of any special matter that shall fall out so as oath may hereafter be made of it:" "That an order be sent to Commissary General Ireton to send a convoy of horse to Tilbury side to go with the Earl of Lothian and the rest to Scotland, and to be relieved at Ferry Briggs." Instructions are likewise given to Captain Dolphin :-1. As to safe conduct, to protect from all violence and incivilities on the journey. 2 "You are to take care that none be suffered to speak with them upon the way in England but in your presence, that nothing may be done by them to the prejudice of the Commonwealth," 3. "When you shall be come to Berwick you are to dispatch away a messenger with the letter to the Parliament or Committee of Estates of Scotland. And if they shall desire that they [the Scots Commissioners] may come to Edinburgh or any other place in Scotland you are to suffer them to go accordingly." 4. "Out of the £200 in your custody upon account you are to provide coach horses, diet, and other necessary accomodations." 2 On the 5th of March a "Private Instruction " was added, which savours of the military caution and foresight of Cromwell, who was, as we have seen, one of the committee of three to whom this business was referred. "When your messenger that carries your letter to Edinburgh shall be returned, if you find by him that Mr. Rowe [the English envoy before mentioned] be deteyned [sic] there or elsewhere in Scotland, you are then only to dismiss the Earl of Lothian and Mr. Lendoning and

deteyn Sir John Chieslie until Mr. Rowe be returned to you or that you have other order from the Parliament or this Council." On the 5th of March it was also ordered "that it be delivered to Captain Dolphin as a verbal instruction that if the Earl of Lothian, Sir John Chieslie, and Mr. Lendonyng will bear their own charges by land, that he is to let them do it, notwithstanding anything in his Instructions." 1

On the 7th of March the following "Additional Instruction for Captain Dolphin" was entered in the minutes. "Whereas the Earl of Lothian, Sir John Chieslie, and Mr. Lendonyng have signified that they will bear their own charges in their journey and not accept the defraying of their charge by this State; you have therefore herewith imprested to you upon account £100 in lieu of the £200 formerly appointed for that service, which is for supply of such extraordinary occasions which may fall out in your journey." And on the same day a post warrant is ordered to be granted to Captain Dolphin for the taking up of twenty horses upon the way for the use of the Scots Commissioners and their retinue, they paying for them the rates usual upon the road. The warrant, after reciting that the Scots Commissioners had resolved to make use of horses from stage to stage for themselves and their retinue, requires all justices of the peace, &c. "upon sight hereof to furnish twenty good and sufficient horses with two sufficient guides from stage to stage and place to place from Blackwall to Berwick for the said service, they the said Earl of Lothian, &c. paying for the same the ordinary and usual rates." 2 At the same time the discharge of the ship John of Kircaldie" is notified in the minutes.

1 Order Book of the Council of State, Die Lunæ, 5 March, 1648. MS. State Paper Office.

2 Order Book of the Council of State,

7 March, 164. MS. State Paper

Office.

All this appeared a proceeding of a very high nature on the part of a government the leading members of which were designated by Mr. Denzil Holles as "mean tradesmen," and who certainly were men who did not trouble themselves to go for their pedigrees beyond the battle of Naseby, towards an oligarchy of which the principal members valued themselves on the imagination of pedigrees going back to or beyond the Flood.

2

It appears from the Order Book of the Council of State that the English rulers were fully aware that they would have a war with Scotland upon their hands soon. The following orders evince their unrelaxing vigilance. "That all the guns which were at Pontefract Castle (except only the two guns and mortar-piece belonging to the garrison of Hull) be delivered to such as Sir Arthur Haselrig shall appoint for the better defence of the garrison at Berwick."1 "That a letter be written to Sir Arthur Haselrig [governor of Newcastle] to have special care that Berwick and Carlisle be carefully garrisoned." "That it be reported to the House that the letter sent to the Parliament of England by that of Scotland is of such a nature as it lays an incapacity of prosecuting the former demands by way of treaty. And Sir H. Vane is to make the report.' "That a letter be written to the commander of the two troops of horse of Col. Hacker's regiment that lately were about Carlisle to continue in those parts till they receive further order and in the meantime that they do what they can to repress the mischiefs that are daily done to the country by the moss-troopers. "That a letter be written to the

"4

1 Order Book of the Council of State, à Meridie, 26 March, 1649. MS. State Paper Office.

2 Order Book of the Council of State,

3

Die Lunæ, 2 July, 1649. MS. State
Paper Office.

3 Ibid. same day.

4 Ibid. 23 Octob. 1649, à Meridie.

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