[A1641/7/14]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
To the right honourable the lords and others of the committee at Edinburgh,
Right honourable,
Upon 17 [July 1641] we received yours desiring the removal of the incendiaries, which we presented to his majesty, to which his majesty returned this answer: first, as concerning [John Stewart], earl of Traquair, his majesty declares upon his trust and credit that he never had any communication with him since his removal from court, neither had his majesty any commission from him, but only concerning his submission sent to the parliament, that it might be so formed as would make it most acceptable to the parliament and concerning other two particular signatures, and now his majesty will advertise him that he may retire towards Scotland and at a greater distance from court.† As for Sir John Hay [of Bara] and Sir Robert Spottiswood [of Dunipace], his majesty declares it is long since they took their leave of him, but they are forced to stay through want of money, and his majesty has given them advertisement that they come no more to court. As for Doctor [Walter] Balcanquall, his majesty declares he will come to Scotland, but gave no other answer.
We desired of before that your lordships would be pleased to give us timeous advertisement how you were satisfied with the treaty, that so the same might have been the more timeously presented to the parliament, but it would appear that your lordships resolve to delay until [John Campbell], lord Loudoun's return.
We perceive by a letter from [Charles Seton], earl of Dunfermline and Lord Loudoun direct to his majesty that your lordships are not resolved to prorogue the parliament, but to sit still until 17 August and prepare business for the parliament without making any acts unless some occasion occur which the parliament shall find to concern the public good of the kingdom and present necessity thereof. This conditional exception presupposes a possibility of doing such acts, which truly may disorder a fair game. His majesty protests very frequently to accommodate all matters according to our hearty desire, but declares that if any such acts shall now be made he will hold the same as the greatest injury that ever has been done to him, being in such fair terms as we are now into, and will protest against the same, for what we did formerly was through necessity and in the times of mistake. We are confident your lordships will be very tender in this point, and do humbly entreat you to send us some letter under your hands relating thereto whereby his majesty's mind may be put to peace and quietness.
As your lordships have delayed the proceedings of your parliament to 17 August for his majesty's coming down, so do we conceive it necessary that your lordships would write a new letter to his majesty to keep him in mind of his coming down. Not that we do think his majesty in any way remiss therein (for never one was more earnest on a journey), but lest if the English do not get their own business ended again that time, they may possibly labour to divert his majesty. Wherefore the invitation will be very necessary, which is much wished and expected by,
Your lordships' affectionate friends and servants, [John Leslie, earl of] Rothes, London, 21 July 1641†
28 July 1641
Produced by [Charles Seton], earl of Dunfermline. Read in audience of parliament, which appoints every estate to take the same into their consideration and think upon the answer.†
[A1641/7/15]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
To our very honourable lords [Charles Seton], earl of Dunfermline and [John Campbell], lord Loudoun, and in their absence to be disclosed by [Archibald Campbell], earl of Argyll or [John Elphinstone], lord Balmerino or committee at Edinburgh†
Our very good lords,
We had drawn a public letter, but because John Smith [of Grotehill] and Hugh Kennedy went to a well to get some waters for their health before their hands were got to that letter, therefore we thought good to send the same to your lordships, which you shall only receive by way of information, and will be pleased with all diligence to send the same to the committee at Edinburgh, to the effect their lordships may take notice thereof as a note or information sent from us. We could not neglect the sending of this letter, because his majesty was earnest that we should send some information relating thereto with all diligence. No further for the present, but we remain
Your lordships' servants, [John Leslie, earl of] Rothes; Patrick Hepburn of Waughton; J. Douglas, London, 22 July 1641
Before I received your lordships' letters, which you appointed me to deliver to the king, [William Hamilton], earl of Lanark, to whom the packet was directed, had received a large information hereof which he had shown to his majesty before yours was delivered. [John Leslie, earl of] Rothes
28 July 1641
Produced by the Earl of Dunfermline. Read in audience of parliament, which appoints every estate to take the same to their consideration and think upon the answer.†
[A1641/7/16]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
A letter from [Alexander Leslie of Balgonie], general, to the parliament, 28 July 1641
For the estates of parliament now sitting at Edinburgh†
Right honourable,
I have received a letter this day from our commissioners. Because the contents of their letter are so important and of so great consequence, I have made haste to take a copy thereof and have sent the principal with all haste to be presented and advised by your lordships and the estates of parliament now met together. I wish the bearer may be at Edinburgh before [Charles Seton], earl of Dunfermline and [John Campbell], lord Loudoun have their dispatch, for as our commissioners crave a speedy answer from me, so I will wait and look to be directed by your lordships what answer I should make and, as I receive the commandment from your lordships, so I shall obey the same, as becomes,
Your lordships' most faithful and humble servant, A[lexander] Leslie [of Balgonie], Newcastle, 26 July 1641
28 July 1641
Read in audience of the parliament, together with the letter to which the same it relates, who appointed a committee of all the estates for answering the same.†
[A1641/7/17]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
23 July 1641, from the commissioners at London to [Alexander Leslie of Balgonie], lord general†
Our very good lord,
The great committee from the parliament of England appointed for seeking out monies for disbanding the armies does find that work so difficult by reason the daily charge of the armies does exhaust all the monies they can possibly get; as they are now aware this evil cannot be remedied but by taking the readiest way for disbanding and so to remove that consumer, which will enable them to get money to pay both arrears and that part of the brotherly assistance promised to us. And other monies cannot be had presently, so they will make use of their credit and get trust for a short time, for the poll monies come in fast, although not in such quantity as both to maintain the armies and pay the arrears, which make them say they will disband with great rests to their own army. Their desires to us, which we represent to your excellency, are first to condescend upon a certain day when you will disband; next to spare the £80,000 of brotherly assistance for some few days. Although it becomes not us to give a determined answer, yet we know that you are desirous and ready to depart so soon as the articles of the treaty are ratified in parliament here, and that the arrears due to your army and £80,000 of brotherly assistance is satisfied for the articles. They will come up with [Charles Seton], earl of Dunfermline and [John Campbell], lord Loudoun, and will be enacted within very few days for the arrears, when your excellency shall condescend upon a certain day for disbanding the army, whether it be 3, 4 or 5, or any other day preceding 10 August, again the which you think the army may be sufficiently ready to be disbanded, we once knowing the certain day, can account all the arrears to the said day and press the payment thereof. We expect all the arrears preceding this day shall be ready to send away within few days, which we intend to send by sea, with the which you may be expecting all the accounts of Durham and Northumberland. And when we get word of the precise day of the disbanding of the army from you, all the arrears between this day and the day of the disbanding shall be craved by us and sent either to you with all expedition or answered by exchange here; a great number of these being yet lying upon our head, which must of necessity be satisfied and be delivered here. As for the £80,000, all the favour that they desire is that the payment of it may be superseded until 10 August, at which time they promise very good security of noblemen and burgesses, and to have it ready and send it to Scotland in one of the king's ships. It has ever been our desire that a considerable great sum should be sent for supplying the wants of that nation that is so destitute of money. We thought ever the transporting of it in the king's ship the surest way, only they require a little more time, which by appearance your excellency and the committees will not deny, we being certified that the same shall be delivered 10 [August] at farthest, and sooner if possibly it can be had.
We received a letter from our commissars who had treated with the commissars of Durham and Northumberland appointed for taking in the accounts there. We find they crave many extraordinary and unreasonable things in their accounts, and we do therefore crave that your excellency would ripely advise with your own commissioners and set down those particulars which you think in reason should be allowed either as being stipulated by you or as being customable in other places where an army is among friends or where it is fit to be done here in this nation at this time. Set down these and we shall endeavour to get assurance that we shall be troubled with no other but with these; otherwise they will bring in claims to exhaust all our brotherly assistance. Set down reasons to us for every one of their claims you do deny. And we do earnestly entreat your excellency to send an answer of the day of disbanding as soon as you can for all resolutions depends thereon. And they never expect here that we shall be gone. It seems to be expedient that you should proceed with your accounts with the counties and allow all those things you think reasonable. As for their exorbitant articles, let them keep a note of them, but it seems expedient your letter to us should bear that you must be secured that none of these extraordinary articles should be required from you and expressly certified that the brotherly assistance of £220,000 resting shall be burdened with none of these nor with no claim whatsoever after we are gone, but that all things claimable may be presently expressed. Having no further we rest,
[...], London, 23 July 1641
Postscript: The English are resolving to disband their army upon condition that your excellency design a peremptory day for disbanding ours, for which we must give public faith. Therefore desires your excellency to write your resolution herein and cause clear the accounts, as the letter bears. Your excellency's humble servants. It is thus subscribed: [John Leslie, earl of] Rothes, Patrick Hepburn of Waughton, J. Douglas, Hugh Kennedy, J[ohn] Smith [of Grotehill].