country.” The council of state being somewhat troubled at the lord-general's scruples, appointed a committee to confer with him, in order to satisfy him of the justice and lawfulness of this undertaking. The chief members of this commitee were Cromwell, Lainbert, Harrison, St. John, and Whitelock, &c. §. 2. Cromwell opened the conference; and after some previous discourse between the lord-general and the committee, his excellency acquainted them with the ground of his dissatisfaction, declaring, “ That he did not see the Scots had given sufficient cause for this invasion of their country by the English.” Upon which Cromwell proceeded thus: “I confefs, iny lord, that if they had given no cause to invade thein, it would not be juicifiable for us to do it; and to makewar upon them without a suficient ground for it, will be contrary to that which in conscience we ought to do, and displeasing both to God and good men. But, my lord, if they have invaded us, as your lord ship knows they have done since the national league and covenant, and contrary to it, in that action of duke Hamilton, which was by order and autho.ity from the parliament of that kingdoin, and fo the act of the whole nation by their repreientatives; and if they now give us too much cause of suspicion, that they intend another invasion upon us, joining with their king, with whom they have made a full agreement, without the aflent or privity of this commonwealth ; and are very busy at this present in raising forces and money to cairy on their delign: If these things are not a sufficient ground and cause for us'to endeavour to provide for the safety of our own country, and to prevent the miseries which an invasion of the Scots would bring upon us, I humbly submit to your excellency's judgment. That they have formerly invaded us, and brought a war into the bowels of our country, is known to all, wherein God was pleased to bless us with success against them: And that they now intend a new invasion upon us, I do as really be. lieve, and have as good intelligence of it, as we can have of any thing that is not yet acted. Therefore I say, my lord, that upon these grounds, I think we have a most juft cause to begin, or rather to return and requite their hoftility first begun upon us; and thereby to free our country (if God Thall be pleased to assist us, and I doubt not but he will) from the great misery and calamity of having an army of Scots within our country. That there will be a war between us, I fear is unavoidable: Your excellency will soon determine, whether it be better to have this war in the bowels of another country, or of our own; and that it will be in one of them, I think is without scruple." But no arguments could prevail on the general, who declared that his conscience was not satisfy'd as to the justice of this war; and therefore, that he might be no hindrance to the parliament's designs, he desired to lay down his commission. Upon which Cromwell spoke again, as follows: “I am very sorry your lordship should have thoughts of laying down your commission, by which God hath bleféd you in the performance of so many eminent services for the parliament. I pray, my lord, confider all your faithful servants, us who are under you, and desire to serve under no other general. It would be a great discouragement to all of us, and a great disa cowagenicnt to the affairs of the parliament, for our roble gencral to entertain any thoughts of laying down his commillion. I hope your lordship will never give fo great an advantage to the publick enemy, nor io much dishearten your friends, as to think of laying down your commission.” But all this would not do: The general still continued in the same mind, and concluding thus : " What would you have me do? As far as my conscience will give way, I am will. ing to join with you still in the service of the parliament; but where the conscience is not satisfied, none of you, I am sure, will engage in any service; and that is my condition in this, and therefore I muft de. fire to be cxcufed.” Cromwell and the other officers in this committee were moit earneft in persuading the general to continue " who, his commislion; and yet, 'tis faid, there was cause enough to believe that they did not over-much defire it. Ludlow fays, that Cromwell press’d the council of fate, that notwithstanding the unwillingnets of the lord Fairfax to command upon this occasion, they would yet continue him to be general of the army ; profefling for his own part, “ that he would rather chuse to serve und him in his poft than to command the greatest army in Europe.” He also informs us, that the forementioned committee was appointed upon the motion of lieutenant-general Cromwell, says he, acted his part to the life, that I really thought him in earnest." * How far he was so, it is impossible to say with any certainty. Thus Cromwell and his party carried it against the general, who thereupon laid down his commiffion; tho’ he was seemingly much persuaded to the contrary. The parliament were at no loss for one to succeed in the great office; for having fufficiently experienced the valor, conduct and faithfulness of Cromwell, who had in fact been long at the liead of the army, tho' only lieutenant-general in name, they foon voted, one and all, that he hould be their general; + and so an act paffed, “ for constituting and appointing Oliver Cromwell, Esq; to be captain-general in chief of all the forces raised, and to be railed, by authority of parliament, within the commonwealth of England." ģ. 3. Before his departure for Scotland, Cromwell moved the council that he might be eased of the affairs of Ireland, But he could only obtain to have five others joined with him in the commiilion for governing that kingdom, who were Ludlow, Ireton, colonel John Jones, major Salway, and one Mr. Weaver ; any three of whom were to make a committee. And now the lord-general set out for the north, after the army, and received great demonstrations of respect as he D 2 * Ludlow's Memoirs, vol. I. p. 315. he passed along. At York he was attended, and magnificently entertained by the corporation ; but ftaid no longer than to order supplies for the army. The committee of eltates in Scotland, before this, fcemed to be surprised at the news of an Englih army's marching northwards. They sent a letter to the speaker of the English parliament, " settir g forth their confternation, and declaring that the forces they were raising were only for their own defence ? desiring to know, whether the English army, now on the march, was to act on the offensive or defensive." They wrote also to Sir Arthur Haslerigg, governor of Newcastle, major-general Lambert, and the lord-general Cromwell, in much thé sanie terms. On the other hand, the parliament of England published a declaration of the grounds and reasons of their army's advance, “ accufing the Scots of acting contrary to agreement, and having invaded England before under duke Hamilton, and now preparing for another invasion; in proclaiming Charles Stuart king of England and Ireland, though they had no authority in these kingdoms; and in declaring against the English parliament and army, as fe&taries, and ranking them with malignants and papists." The Scots, perceiving that the parliament of Ergland was not to be imposed on, now laboured by all potlible imeans to render their army odious; and so did they terriíy the common people by misrepresentations of cornwell's commission, as if he was to destroy all ke met with, that they were hardly satisfied by a deciaration of the lord-general and the army, 66 reminding them of the buhaviour of the English forces when they were before in Scotland, and proteiting that none but those who had endeavoured to engage foreign princes against the commonwealth of England, or had exercised acuzi hoftility, should have the least violence of vred to them, either in body or goods." In the mean time leaving York, Cromwell came to Northallerton and Darlington, being faluted, as he palied by, with the ordnance. At Durham he was met with by Sir Arthur Hailerigg, who conducted him to to Newcastle, and there gallanoly entertained him. From Newcastle he haftened to Berwick, and caused a general review of the army on Haggerton-moor, where he was received with great demonstrations of joy, by a gallant body of 5000 horse, and 11,000 fooť. From Berwick he sent the army's declaration into Scotland, containing the grounds of their march into that kindom. One copy hereof was conveyed to the Scotch general, another to the parliament, and a third to the committee of estates. $. 4. While the lord-general was thus upon the verge of Scotland, he drew out the army upon'a hill, within Berwick bounds, where they had a full prospect of the adjacent country, and made a speech to them, exhorting them to be faithful and courageous, and then not to doubt of a blessing from God, and all encouragement from himfelf.” This speech was answered with loud and unanimous acclamations from the soldiers ; who being ordered to march, entered Scorland with a Mout. That night they quartered near the iord Mordington's caitie, where the general caufed proclamation to be made, “ that none, on pain of death, should ofter violence to the persons or effects of any in Scotland not found in arms; and that none, on the same penalty, should ftraggle half a mile from their quarters, without special licence.” The next day they arrived at Dunbar, where they were recruited with provisions, by ships sent thither from England for that purpose; the Scots having taken care, before-hand, that the country from Berwick to Edinburgh should afford them nothing. From Dunbar they ma:ched to Haddington, winin twelve miles of Edinburgh. And in all this march they did nor ice one Scotchman under fixty years of age, nor any youth above six, and but very few women and children ; ite Scotch minifters having assured the people, “ that the English would cut the throats of all the men between fixty and fixteen years of age, cut of the righihands of all the youth between fixteen and fix, burn the D 3 |