ovvn Religion and native Kingdome We do therefore again WARNE all such of vvhatsoever quality in vvhatsoever place speedily to vvithdraw themselves from that Faction to confesse their mistakes and to joyne in the Covenant and cause of God in both Kingdomes before the first day of March next otherwise we Declare in the behalfe of the Kingdome of ENGLAND that they are to expect no favour but are to be used as desperate Malignants And We Declare in behalfe of the kingdome of SCOTLAND if they either continue in Arms after the foresaid first day of March or withhold their help and assistance from their Native country in the time of trouble danger they are to be censured punished as publick enemies to their Religion and Country perfidious transgressours of their Nationall Covenant and their estates disposed of for the use of the Publick Sixthly Because there are divers Noblemen Knights Gentlemen Citizens and others who by forsaking or deserting the Parliament of England and by joyning themselves to the Enemies of Religion his Majesties happinesse and peace of the kingdomes have made the Division greater and the Breaches wider betwixt the King and his Parliament and thereby contrary to the duty of their places callings have been the cause of the shedding of much innocent Blood of great Losses and of many Miseries and Dangers to the publick of both Kingdomes and of the sufferings of private men in their Estates and Lives and yet are not to be reckoned amongst the prime Authors of this unnaturall War nor amongst the malicious and desperate Enemies of their Religion and country We do Declare That all such forsaking their former Opposition returning to their duty endeavouring the good of Religion and the publick Peace shall as to their lives and liberties of their persons be secured and shall be received into favour But to the end that a just difference may be made betwixt such persons returning so late to their duty and those that never departed from it they must expect that toward the payment of the publick Debts relieving the common Burdens of the Kingdomes and repairing of particular losses All which in a great part have been contracted and sustained by their default or procurement Their estates in some proportion should be lyable and that as the wisdome and discretion of Parliament or of such as shall be authorized by them who will be as carefull to prevent their ruine as to punish their Delinquencies shall finde and judge to be necessary for that end Wherein also the time of their returning and offering themselves the reality of their affections and intentions and readinesse to joyne in the common Cause and Covenant will be taken into speciall consideration And in case they persist in their Opposition and shall not return before the first day of March next they are not to expect favour but shall be punished as publick enemies to their Religion and Country Seventhly Because Papists and popish Recusants according to the principles of their profession have ever beene plotting and contriving the change of Religion in this Iland and the ruine of all the Professours thereof And after the frustration of their attempts having waited upon such a time as this have alienated the heart or the Kings Majesty from his Protestant loyall Subjects taken Armes against the Parliament and Kingdome and by all their means and power have maintained a bloody and unnaturall War presuming in the end to have their execrable Superstition and Idolatry set up in the place of the true Reformed Religion and the King and his kingdomes to be brought under the power tyrannie of the Pope We doe hereby Declare that all such Papists and popish Recusants who have been now are or shall be actually in Arms under the false pretence of defending the Kings person and authority are to look for no favour but to be punished as trayrors and professed and intolerable Enemies of Religion and their Native country The same Declaration We also make against all such Irish Rebels whether Papists or others who have come over from Ireland and assisted in this war against the Parliament and Kingdome of England And Lastly because there are some few wicked and divellish spirits of both Kingdomes who have kindled and fomented the fire of Division and War betwixt the King and his Parliament or have misgoverned his Majesties Counsels and courses to his own dishonour and to the destruction of his loving and dutifull subjects or have infused malignancy in others or have been restlesse and and active Instruments of the troubles and miseries of his Majesties Dominions We doe Declare concerning those who are or shall be found by the Supreame Judicatories of the Kingdomes respectively or their Committees appointed for that effect to be such That as the conscience of their own bad deservings hath made them to despaire of favour and thereby uncessantly to work more and more mischiefe against their Religion and Native country so are they to looke for such execution of Justice as is due to traytors and enemies of Religion of the King and his Kingdomes for Terror and example to others in all times to come And it is further now Declared That the whole estates reall and personall moveable inheritance of those that shall not come in at the times before limited in the sixth Article and of the persons before excepted from pardon as of Papists in Arms Irish Rebels and those who shall be found to come within the compasse of the precedent Article shall be forfeited and imployed for paying the publicke debts relieving the common burdens of the Kingdoms and repairing of particular losses And this Declaration we make not from any presumption or vain-glorying in the strength of our Armies and Forces but from the sence of that duty which is required and expected from the high places and publick relations wherin we stand and from the assurance We have of the assistance of God by whose providence the trust and safety of these Kingdomes is put into our hands at this time having ofter long and grave consultation resolved and deereed never to lay downe Armes till Truth and Peace by the blessing of God be setled in this Iland upon a firme foundation for the present and future Generations which shall be esteemed of Us an abundant reward of all that We can doe or suffer in rhis Cause A DECLARATION Of the Kingdome of SCOTLAND For Information and Satisfaction to their Brethren of England concerning the present Expedition into ENGLAND ALthough we have reason to beleeve that the bloody and barbarous attempts of the Papists and their Faction both in England and Ireland and the manifold oppressions and miseries endured by those that stand well affected to the Protestant Religion and their Countries Liberty have made way in the hearts of men for the ready entertainment of assistance from their Brethren whose earnest desire it is and whose utmost endeavour it shall be to preserve and restore
both unto them Yet knowing how industrious the malice of the Devill and his instruments are in raising Prejudices and fomenting jealousies betwixt them whose hearts and mindes ought to be one because their happinesse is the same and particularly betwixt us and our Brethren of England that by dividing us from each other they might destroy us both And that this our second Expedition into England which we doubt not but God will blesse to the advantage of that Nation as he did our first to the happinesse of our owne in steal of wonder and opposition may finde the cheer ull concurrence of all those who together with us desire The Preservation and Reformation of Religion The honour and happinesse of the King The Peace and Libertie of the Kingdoms We thought fit to permit this short but free and ingenuous Declaration of our Grounds and Intentions in this our present undertaking that so we may meet with none but such as we may either finde peaceable or leave inexcusable Whereas there ore the greatest questions that are like to arise in this businesse may be reduced to these three particulars viz. The justnesse of our Cause The lawfulnesse of our calling thereto And The faithfulnesse of our carriages therein We shall hereby endeavour to give satisfaction in them all and doubt not to doe it unlesse there remain some whose inveâ—erate malice hath produced in them a resolution to be unsatisfied As for the cause and ground of this undertaking we are not ignorant with how much earnestnesse the sons of slander and perdition whose custome is to traduce those proceedings which they know not how to disappoint do endeavour to possesse the hearts of our Brethren that we are coming to fish in the troubled waters of England to seek and take our own advantages in the midst of your necessities But suffer not your eâ—res much lesse your hearts to be open to any such delusions whereof we trust your eyes shall shortly witnesse the falshood For as here after we doubt not to appeal to our carnages and your consciences besides your late experience of our Religious observance of our former Declarations of this kinde so in the meane time give us leave to appeal to the great searcher of hearts who knows That had not the love of Christ requiring Christians to beare one anothers burden and the Law of nature challenging our utmost care and endeavor for the prevention of our own danger and ruine which an ordinary understanding will easily see to be wrapped up in our neighbours And our dutie and desire of rescuing the King from the dangers wherein he is involved by the company and pernicious Counsell of those who are enemies to Religion his Majesties happinesse and Peace of his Dominions Called and compelled us to this Service we could with far more content and satisfaction to our selves have enjoyed with quietnesse our dry morsell then entred into your houses full of sacrifices with strife Which yet since we are required and necessitated to by that just Calling hereafter to be mentioned We professe before God and the World that our hearts and thoughts are clean and free from any other Intentions then those expressed in our solemn League Covenant in which we are confederate with England viz. The Preservation and Reformation of Religion The Honour and Happinesse of the King and The Peace and Liberties of the Kingdoms All which we now apprehend to be deeply endangered by the Councels and Confederacies of Papists Prelats Malignants and their adherents so prevalent in England and Ireland And we shall no otherwise desire a blessing upon our endeavours then as they shall be directed to the conservation and establishment thereof And because it is not sufficient to be ingaged in a good Cause unlesse by a good calling we do hereby further declare That though the inseparable interests of both Nations in their Religion and Liberties which having the same common Enemies must look to stand and fall together might have given us sufficient warrant to have endeavoured the prevention of our own ruine by preserving our Friends and Brethren from destruction yet that we might be the more fully and formally obliged to this Christian duty and service and so the mouth of slander and malice be stopped God hath so ordered things in his wise and just providence that the Parliament of England who beside their interest in the Preservation and Reformation of Religion and the defence of the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdome to which our help is requited have a particular obligation upon this Nation As we have formerly declared our Intentions published before our last Expedition for refusing to countenance or maintaine a Warre against us in the yeere 1640. have thought fit by their Commissioners enabled to that effect to desire a firm Vnion with us and this just and necessary assistance from us And whereas it is too obvious an Objection That the Kings command or consent being no ingredient our Calling is thereby rendred deficient We answer That though through the injury of mischievous Councels both his Person and personall Commands are withheld from us Yet his Honour his Happinesse his Posterity his great Councel and the welfare of his Kingdoms call importunately to us for this timely interposing So that unlesse we can which God forbid blot out of our thoughts the sence of Piety and Religion toward God of Honour and duty toward our Soveraigne and of Gratitude toward the Parliament and Kingdome of England we can in no wise resist our present Call to this undertaking And lastly for what concernes the manner of the pursuance of this just Cause and lawfull Calling Although the many frustrate Petitions and Remonstrances from both Kingdoms presented to his Majesty have left us onley this way which yet is not intended against his Majesties Person not any of his good Subjects but those Enemies of the King and Kingdomes and whom no other meanes can prevailed Yet we shall diligently endeavour so to order the Affaires of our Army that all Insolencies Rapines Plunderings and those other calamities that usually attend upon Warre may be prevented And herein as with no small content to our selves so with no lesse satisfaction to you are we able to refer you to the experience of out former Expedition when our own necessitie drove us into England as now yours do call us to consider how little damage was occasioned by out meanes how little disorder was committed by us in any place where we came And we hereby promise the like care and diligence shall be renewed and if possible doubled to that effect And that we may not be looked with the prejudice of Strangers which we hope the firme Union of this mutuall Covenant will weare out There is a Committee of your owne Nation the most of which are Parliament men such to whom you have committed the trust and care of your Religion Laws and Liberties joyned with us without whose concurrence nothing that concernes you is to be transacted And to free you of all unjust suspition which if your mindes are not ready to conceive yet the malicious mouthes of our Adversaries and yours are ready to suggest That notwithstanding this Declaration we have some sinister and secret ends which may prove prejudiciall to your Rights and happinesse Be it hereby made knowne unto you that we have freely ingaged our selves by an Article of the late Treaty betwixt the Nations to give the publike Faith of the Kingdome of Scotland unto the Kingdome of England that neither our entrance into not continuance in that Kingdome shall be made use of to any other ends then expressed in the Covenant and that Treaty subscribed to us by the Commissioners of both Kingdomes which we are resolved to the honour of God and of this Nation to keepe inviolate And as our Friends and Brethren may looke for actions conforme to the expressions of this Declaration so must the Malignants and implacable orposers of the ends declared in our Covenant expect nothing but an impartiall and vigorous prosecution of the same In which if any evill befall them we are confident that the judgement of wise and indifferent men will reduce it to themselves as the wilfull Authors thereof And finally we declare against all false and artificiall relations that we are so farre from desiring harme or losse to any of our Brethren of England that our sincere and reall intentions are not to adde fuell not bring oyle but water to extinguish these lamentable combustions and fires which we have with so much duty and love laboured to quench That our taking of Armes is not to make Wars if we be not necessitated but to obtaine a better grounded and a more durable Peace for enjoying of our Religion and Liberties in all the three Kingdomes And that the wicked who are the unworthy authors of all our troubles being removed from our King a right understanding may be established betwixt his Majesty and his people And as we have solemnly sworn to protect and defend all who shall enter in and adhere to this Covenant So doe we certainly expect that all our Brethren in England who are zealous for the true Protestant Religion loyall to the King and faithfull for their Country will joyne and concurre with us in the most noble and just wayes of procuring these just desires Which being obtained we shall be most willing and ready to returne to our native Country esteeming it our greatest happinesse that truth with Peace may be established in all His Majesties Dominions Arch Primerose FINIS
or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evill Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his people or one of the Kingdoms from another or making any Faction or parties amongst the people contrary to this League and Covenant that they may be brought to publicke triall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supream Judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient V. And whereas the happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms denyed in former times to our Progenitors is by the good providence of God granted unto us and hath been lately concluded and setled by both Parliaments we shall each one of us according to our place and interest indeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firme Peace and Union to all Posterity And that Iustice may be done upon the wilfull opposers therof in manner expressed in the precedent Articles VI. We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion Liberty and Peace of the Kingdomes assist and defend all those that enter into this League Covenant in the maintaining pursuing thereof and shall not suffer our selves directly or indirctly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terrour to be divided withdrawn frm this blessed Union conjuction whether to make defectiō to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the Kingdoms and the honour of the King but shall all the dayes of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power against all Lets and Impediments whatsoever and what we are not able our selves to suppresse or overcome we shall reveal and make known that it may be timely prevented or removed All which we shall do as in the sight of God And because these Kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations against God and his Son Iesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits thereof We professe and declare before God and the world our unfayned desire to be humbled for our own sins and for the sins of these Kingdoms especially that we have not as m ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts nor to walk worthy of him in our lives which are the causes of other sins and Transgressions so much abounding amongst us And our true and unfained purpose desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our power and charge both in publike and in private in all duties we owe to God and man to amend our lives and each one to go before another in the example of a reall Reformation that the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in trueth and peace And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the Searcher of all hearts with a true intention to performe the same as we shall answer at that great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with such successe as may be deliverance and safety to his people and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the yoke of Antichristian Tyranny to joyne in the same or like Association and Covenant to the glory of God the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the peace and Tranquility of Christian Kingdomes and Common-Wealths Wil Lenthall Speaker Beuchamp St. Iohn Gilbert Gerrard Walter Erle Iames Cambell Tho Cheeke Robert Nicholas Benjamin Rudyard Iohn Gurdon Robert Harley Francis Knollys Edward Master Iohn White Anthony Stapeley Dennis Bond Laurence Whitaker Michaell Noble Pere Hoby Richard Barwis Edward Baynton William Cawley Iohn Moyle Iohn Pyne George Searle Henry Vane Senior Nevill Poole Iohn Yonge Henry Herbert Thomas Sandis William Iesson Philip L Herbert Thomas Barrington Martin Lumley Iohn Trevor Francis Godolphin Thomas Arundell Edward Stephens Gilbert Pykering Iohn Creue Oliver Cromwell Henry Vane Iunior William Cage Richard Erisey Philip L Lisle William Heveningham Isaac Penington Richard Cresheld Thomas Pelham Thomas Parker Iohn Leigh Iohn Harris Augustine Skinner Iohn Venn William Strickland Iohn Franklin Samuel Browne Robert Scawen Roger Hill Iohn Button Iohn Meyrick Ambrosse Browne Richard Wynn Edward Owner Charles Pym Charles L Cranborne Ben. Weston Dudley North Iohn Nut Io Corlet Roger Burgoyne Peter Temple Benjamin Valentyne Thomas Walsingham Oliver Luke William Alenson Humphery Salwey Richard More VVilliam Ashurst Thomas Moore Thomas Fountayne VVilliam Ellys Henry Shelley Richard Shuttleworth Henry Ludlow George Gallopp Robert Wallopp Arthur Hesilrige Oliver Saint-John Thomas Grantham Francis Barneham Will L Fitzwilliams Edmund Dunch Henry Mildmay Hugh Rogers Thomas Hatcher John Wray Simonds D'Ewes Anthony Bedingfield John Ashe William L Munson Martyn Lister Robert Goodwyn Edward Thomas Henry Lucas Miles Corbett Philip Smith Cornelius Holland William Spurstowe John Lowry Peter Wentworth Henry Cholmeley Philip Stapleton William Pierrepont Roger North Alexander Popham Thomas Hodges John Maynard Samuel Vassall Anthony Irby John Clotworthy John Broxolme Richard Jervoyse John Blakiston Walter Longe John Rolle Robert Jennor John Waddon William Masham John Lisle Edmund Fowell Edward Ashe Thomas Pury Richard Whithead Richard Jenyns Humphrey Tufton Thomas Dacres Thomas Erle John Downes John Goodwyn Francis Drake William Waller Samuel Luke Francis Buller Richard Harman George Buller Arthur Onslowe Richard Wynwood Robert Pye Hen. L Grey of Ruthin Richard Knightley John Pym Christopher Yelverton Anthony Nicoll Peter Wroth Robert Reynolds Nathaniel Barnardiston Henry Heyman William Purefoy Valentine Walton Michael Oldesworth William Wheler Hall Ravenscroft Tho. L Grey of Groby Thomas Middleton Edward Hungerford Christopher Wrey Richard Lee Herbert Morley Thomas Lane Robert Cecill William Bell Thomas Some Herbottle Grimstone Symon Snowe John Nash Herbottle Grimstone Ralph Asheton Edward Ayshcoghe John Wylde John Trenchard Thomas Jervoyse Richard Brown William Playters Nathaniel Stephens Richard Rose Francis Rous Gilbert Millington Walter Young John Brown John Hippisley Edward Poole Henry Pelham William Hay John Driden Nathaniel Fyennes William Lewis Giles Grene William Lytton John Hervey Edward Dowce William Strode Edmond Prideaux Thomas Hoyle Edward Exton Francis Popham Zouch Tate John Curson Alexander Bence Squire Bence John Selden John Glynn Richard Onslow John Coke Thomas L Wenman Bulstrode Whitelocke George Mountagu Edward Partheriche Henry Campion William Whitaker Denzell Holles Edward Wingate James Fenys Poynings Moore Edward Bisse Junior William Jephson Edward Mountagu Norton Knatchboll Thorn at Eden THE DECLARATION of the Kingdoms of ENGLAND And SCOTLAND Joyned in Arms for the Vindication and Defence of their
Religion Liberties and Laws against the Popish Prelaticall and Malignant Party By the Honorable Houses of the Parliament of England and the Honorable Convention of Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland Jan. 20. 1643. IF either Christian Duty which by reason of the Light of the Gospel so clearly shining amongst us might have been expected from the Professors of Religion Or if naturall Affection which even in the Heathen and Infidells ignorant of Christ hath abounded toward their Native Countrey Or sincere respect to His Majesties Honour and Happinesse could have been found in the waves or hearts of our common Enemies the Enemies of Truth and Peace If they had either feared God or regarded men or yeelded to our Importunities We had not after so many Petitions Declarations and Remonstrances as have filled all mens ears and hands been put to this necessity of a new Declaration which therefore must be more patheticke and pressing then any of the former Nor after so many troubles and sufferings of the Kingdome of Scotland after the desolation of the Kingdome of Ireland and after so much blood and so many unnaturall Tragedies in the Kingdom of England had we been redacted to this present condition and joynt posture of Arms the Lord whose counsels are a great depth and who is righteous in all his wayes and holy in all his Works hath just cause of controversie against us and this whole Island But who would have believed That our Religion Liberties and Laws which for so long a time have endured Opposition and Assaults of forreigne Power envying our happinesse would have been opposed oppressed and trod under foot by the craft and cruelty of our own Natives and Countrey-men In this our extremity first of all we declare That we place not our confidence in our own counsells and strength but our confidence is in God Almighty the Lord of Hosts who will not leave nor forsake his people It is his own Truth and Cause which we maintain with all the Reformed Churches and which hath been witnessed and sealed by the Testimony Sufferings and Blood of so many Confessors and Martyrs against the Heresie Superstition and Tyranny of Antichrist The glory of his own Name The exaltation of the Kingdome of his Son and The preservation of his Church and of this whole Island from utter ruine and devastation is our Aym and the End which we have before our eyes His Covenant have we in both Nations solemnly sworn and subscribed which he would not have put in our hearts to do if he had been minded to destroy us The many Prayers and Supplications which these many yeers past but especially of late have been offered up with Fasting and Humiliation and with strong crying and tears unto him that is able to deliver and save us are a Seed which promise unto us a plentifull Harvest of Comfort and Happinesse and the Apostasie Atheisme Idolatry Blasphemies Prophanenesse Cruelty Excesse and open Mocking of all Godlinesse and Honesty have filled the cup of our adversaries to the brim and threaten their speedy and fearfull destruction unlesse it be prevented by such extraordinary repentance as seemeth not yet to have entred into their hearts Upon these and the like Grounds and Considerations being confident that this War wherein both Nations now firmly united are so deeply engaged is of God we resolve with courage and constancy unto the end to do our part and the Lord who hath stirred up our spirits displayed his Banner before us and given the Alarm do that which seemeth him good Secondly although every man is to hope for the principall reward of his service from God rewards every one according to his workes yet we finde our selves bound in conscience and equity to Declare That besides those who have the Publick Faith ingaged to them for their security such as since the beginning have done valiantly and dealt faithfully in this Cause and such as have chosen rather to suffer the spoyling of their goods then to assist the Enemy or to take Armes against their Religion and Countrey and shall continue constant in the same course of doing or suffering unto the end shall be according to their Merits taken into publick Notice and Consideration their losses so farre as may bee repaired and themselves honoured and rewarded by such meanes and wayes as we trust God in his providence shall afford and the Parliaments or Estates of the two Kingdomes respectively shall in their Wisdome Justice and Thankfulnesse judge most convenient so that no man who hath been eminent in action or hath suffered any notable losse for the publick shall be neglected or sleighted but one way or other shall bee thankfully remembred to his owne honour and the good of his posterity Thirdly although newtrality and indifferency in the time of the danger of Religion be a thing detestable to God who willeth all Christians earnestly to contend for the Truth and such as have beene Newtralists or indifferent in the times of civill division and danger of the Common-wealth have beene in all Nations severely punished as pernicious and publick enemies Yet that the consciences of all men may bee the more convinced and all pretexts removed We give now PUBLICK WARNING to such persons to rest no longer upon their Newtrality or to please themselves with the naughty and slothfull pretext of Indifferency but that they addresse themselves speedily to take the Covenant and joyne with all their power in the defence of this Cause against the common Enemy and by their zeale and forwardnesse hereafter to make up what hath been wanting through their lukewarmnesse this they will finde to be their greatest wisdome and safety Otherwise We do Declare them to be publick Enemies to the Religion and Countrey and that they are to be censured and punished as professed Adversaries and Malignants Fourthly Because a great many of the multitude of the people upon ignorant Mistakings false Informations and Threats or Compulsions against their wils and inclination have been induced or constrained to joyne in Armes with the Enemies against their Religion and Native countrey We doe Declare that all common Souldiers who upon the humble acknowledgement of their former errours shall offer themselves willingly and speedily to take the Covenant and shall joyne heartily and really in the defence of this Cause as becommeth good Christians and lovers of their Countrey shall be freely accepted into the Covenant and their former errour passed by otherwise let them expect the punishment of wilfull Delinquents and Malignants Fifthly because some of the Scottish Nation upon their own private respects or upon specious pretences and faire perswasions have joyned themselves in Armes with the popish Prelaticall and Malignant party against the Parliament and Kingdome of ENGLAND and not considering the nature of the Cause in which they have been ingaged nor the deep interest of the Church and kingdome of SCOTEAND upon which this War was to turn in the end have been fighting against their