[A1641/7/7]¹

[Copy of the lord general's letter sent to the Earl of Rothes]

Copy of [Alexander Leslie of Balgonie], the lord general's letter sent to [John Leslie], earl of Rothes

My lord,

Long since I wished that the treaty might have a speedy and happy close and that there might be nothing left in the way to hinder our march back again at the appointed time, and for this cause the commissaries of our army were directed to have all their accounts in readiness. And when these commissions for the two counties and the town of Newcastle came down, there was the like number of gentlemen belonging to the army nominated by us to join with the English commissioners for clearing and according all reckonings between us.

At their first meeting together there have such differences arisen amongst them in taking the right extent of these words, damages and losses of the country that as the English (no doubt) have for their part given notice thereof to their parliament, so these gentlemen belonging to our army have directed a letter to our commissioners to let you all know the true and undeniable grounds of such a procedure on their part, and what has already past, that your lordship and they, knowing the equity and necessity thereof, may be the more able to take away all misunderstanding and matter of debate.

And this also has given me occasion to write to your lordship at length what I conceive may be the evil consequences of this whole affair unless they be prevented in time, for although the business of the accounts comes by the by and is not so important as the great matters of the treaty, yet it will be as importunate for the time that it is in handling, and if it be not carried rightly, it is the only point wherein the English and we can differ, and whereby the treaty may be made of no effect, and this I fear the rather because your lordship may know the disposition of the gentry of these counties who are nominated for commissioners and how they stand affected to the present works of reformation the parliament has in hand, which they conceive to be the true ground of our stay here, and which they have truly in their heart as they cannot choose, being popish for the most part, and all of them favourers of the state of bishops. And for this cause, they malign us the more and are glad to catch any bone of division which may breed controversies between the parliament and us. And now they have got the opportunity (as they think) at wishes in this commission for damages, whereby both they may advantage their counties, ease the public burdens of their kingdoms and send us away empty in a worse condition than when we come out of our own country, which may be easily done if they should make the multiplied reckonings of their damages exceed the sum of the brotherly assistance which will be left in arrears behind, as they profess they will. And so they think to confirm the friendship which the parliament has so fairly and kindly begun, but I am persuaded, my lord, the honourable houses of parliament have another opinion and estimation of our services, and they know that the most part of our nobility and gentry who are in this army sustain other manner of damages than Durham and Northumberland, for the which they need never look for any reckoning or recompense but from the God of heaven. And your lordship knows, and the English may consider, that our abode so long here is not to end our own business, which might have been dispatched long ago, but that we know that the two kingdoms cannot be happy but together. And for their cause it is that our army has sustained hunger and nakedness with an invincible patience in the midst of plenty, that we might not give offence to our common adversaries and hinder this great work in the very first birth, indeed, further your lordship knows the longer we stay our burdens increase the more. And if the supposed damages of these countries turn to be our debt, which we can never allow where we had no benefit, the brotherly assistance will be offered with the one hand and taken away with the other, and we will be forced to begin as it were upon a new treaty, and when we thought ourselves in the harbour, be cast again out to a sea of difficulties. I will end this long letter and not touch upon anything that is set down in the other letter that is sent from them who are upon the accounts, because they are full and clear of themselves. Only this I desire of your lordship: to represent this business rightly to them whom it concerns, that the parliament conceive no prejudice of us who will never give them just cause, and that they may build all assurance and confidence upon these sure pledges that we have given already of our undoubted affection to the peace and good of this kingdom and for the furtherance of that great work of reformation they have in hand. For as we think ourselves obliged in conscience and honour to keep the constant tenor of our former actions to the end, so on the other part we hope the parliament will take such good order that they who lie in wait to put differences amongst us may be marked and disappointed; and that all accounts to which we are bound to answer may be so cleared that there be no place left to after reckonings, nor these fair hopes of their brotherly assistance and respects to us be blasted before we come to enjoy the expected fruit of them in due time. And this I conceive (that all means of a sweet correspondence may be still entertained amongst us) to be of greater consequence to the happiness of the whole isle and to the present train of affairs than all that these two counties and the town of Newcastle are worth were they all to be sold to a penny, for they of themselves will neither understand nor will they be thankful for the blessings of God that are before their eyes. And therefore we leave them, and take us to the judgment of the parliament, and it will be necessary that your lordship and the rest return us a speedy answer. For I rest.

Your lordships most affectionate friend and servant, it is thus subscribed: A[lexander] Leslie [of Balgonie], Newcastle, 16 July 1641

19 July 1641

Produced by [Master Adam Hepburn of] Humbie.²