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Letter: to the English parliament

Right honourable,

The convention of estates, having considered your lords' letters of the 22 and 30 January, and knowing that on the success and welfare of that army, the good of religion and peace of this kingdom does depend, have been most careful not only in giving orders for bringing out the remainder of horse and foot, baggage and ammunition horse to the rest of the army, but also have been thinking on the best means how present sums of money may be lifted for supplying the necessities both of that army and of the other that is in Ireland. And for that end, after serious deliberation, have agreed unanimously upon an excise, as will more fully appear to your lords by the enclosed copy of the act itself. Yet fearing that the monies that shall arise upon this excise come not in timeously enough for a present supply, they have thought fit that there be presently borrowed £20,000, whereof £10,000 to be sent to the army in Ireland with 5,000 bolls of meal beside the five that have lain this while in Leith, and the other £10,000 is to be employed for the use of the army in England, and the committee are presently to go about the same.

They have also, according to your desire, changed the quorum of your committee to any seven without distinction² in absence of the rest of the estates, whereof you shall receive the enclosed act. They have also ordained this kingdom to be presently put in a posture of defence and to provide arms and ammunition, and have resolved not only that these regiments in the northern shires who have not come out already be presently called out, but also that some forces be ready in each shire to come out for a recruit to the army as they shall be required. The particular way thereof will be best known to you by the enclosed act agreed to by the estates for that purpose.

They have also given order for an advance of money for equipment to four surgeons, each whereof is to serve a brigade, and will be careful that with all diligence they be directed there.

Upon the receipt of your lords' letter of 30 January, proclamation was made at the market cross of Edinburgh upon 1 February commanding all officers of the army to proceed to their several places in the army within 10 days, under the pain of losing of their places. And conceiving it suitable to our duty and course formerly observed by us to neglect no opportunity which may witness the loyalty of our intention, our due respect to his majesty and sincerity of our desires for settling of truth and peace upon the grounds expressed in the covenant, we have sent you the warrant of a supplication or remonstrance to be made by you to his majesty on behalf of this kingdom in which we could not descend into particulars, but leave them to be expressed by you as you find the posture of affairs and the fittest opportunity to make use thereof. So praying that God may bless you and us in all the passages of this great work in which both kingdoms are so deeply engaged and we honoured to be employed, we rest.