[Instructions from the parliament to their commissioners at London]

Instructiounes from the parliament of Scotland to thair commissioners at London, 30 July 1641

1. Ye ar to represent to the parliament of Ingland or Inglish commissioners that it is impossible that oure armie can remove from Newcastle till they be payed of byganes 1. Becaus of oure many solemne promises maid upon oath to pay all oure debtis in the counties befoir oure removing 2. Becaus oure officiaris and soldiours ar addebted greate sowmes upon thair privat scoir, which they must pay thameselfis, bot cannot doe unles they receave the same from ws 3. The same wer ane ground to caus the armie mutinie 4. The same wald caus thame ravage in Ingland and so might occasion ane nationall quarrell 5. At thair coming into Scotland they might make the countrie loose, which all might ensew thairupon, with many other inconvenientis which may occur in ane discontented armie.

2. Ye ar to represent that the bygane arrieris will be farr short of payment of the armie, and that the 80,000 lib. will not compleitt the same, bot must both absolutelie be payed befoir oure removing.

3. Ye ar to represent that the debtis aughtand be oure armie in the counties, ather for billetting or damnages, ar properlie aughtand be officiaris and soldiours, who must fitt and mak thair accomptis befoir thair remove. That ane particular rest may be condiscendit upon and notified to the parliament of Ingland befoir oure remove, that so no ground may be left to efter challenge, which may exhaust the brotherlie assistance or any pairt thairof resting efter payment of the 80,000 lib.

4. Ye are to remember that in the articles of cessatioune the dayis of the march to Scotland ar thairin comprehendit and, thairfoir ye ar to demand that these dayis may be condiscendit upon, which we desyre may be eight or ten dayis at leist, and accordinglie thair pay advanced befoir oure remove.

5. Ye ar lykewayis to represent that so soone as the bygane arrieris and 80,000 lib. is reallie payed at Newcastle, the generall and the armie shall remove within als many dayis as ye can obtaine, which at leist must be fyve frie dayis efter receipt of the moneyis, which dayis will be als few as can be allotted for payment of debtis and bringing our armie to ane rendevous and provyding breid, drink and other necessaris befoir we lift; and geving ordour that the lyke may be in readines upon the way whair we ar to quarter.

6. Ye ar also to represent that the counties of Bishoprik and Northumberland and towne of Newcastle must provyde horses, cairtis and other necessaris for transporting to the river of Tweid and no further canon, amunitioune and all baggage of the armie, conforme to thair many promeisis and custome of other countries, and that the same be done in dew tyme and be no hinderance to the armie in thair march.

7. Ye ar lykewayis to remember that for preveining destructioune of housis or woodis which may be occasioned in the retreate of the armie for bigging of huttis, that some course may be taken be the Inglish for provyding lodging or shelter to the armie in thair retreate.

8. That we may shew oure desyre to streatch oure abilitie to the uttermost for geving the Inglish all reasonable content, thairfoir gif they doe still press the impossibilitie or greate difficultie of paying all bygane arreiris and 80,000 lib., and that they think the present payment of the arrieris and some delay of the 80,000 lib. may give thame any case or contentment, in that caice ye shall make offer that ye shall pay all the armie with the saidis arrieris and disband thame, except 7,000 or 8,000 foote and 1,000 horsis, with ane proportiounable traine of canon and artillerie, who must stay till the 80,000 lib. come downe to compleitt thame also, which we wish may be als few dayis as is possible. And during the not payment thairof, these 7,000 or 8,000 foote and 1,000 horsis must be payed be the Inglish conforme to the pay dew to oure armie, both officiaris and soldiours, and that als weill during thair stay as in thair retreate in maner forsaid.

9. And gif the Inglish please for thair further ease of thair present burthenis to remove the garrisones of Bervick and Cairleill presentlie, we shall caus disband the regimentis upon the borders of this countrie, which will be ane benefite to both natiounes.

30 July 1641

Red and approvin in parliament and ordained to be subscryved.†

  1. NAS, PA6/3, 'July 30 1641', f.1r-1v. Back
  2. This clause is written on the rear of the document. Back