proclaimed both in England and Scotland he was first proclaimed in England as King of Greet Brittain and then in Scotland and neither Nation took exception against the other or conceived that there was any claim of Jurisdiction or any Invasion intended more then there was in relation to France of which he was proclaimed King by both Kingdomes and as to the promises made in the Treaty of assistance against England there is nothing of that kinde in the Treaty but that which hath been long since published to the world in the proceedings of our Commissioners the last yeer to wit that this Kingdome would contribute their utmost endeavours by all necessary and lawfull meanes according to the Covenant and the duties of faithfull and Loyall Subjects that his Majesty may be restored to the peaceable possession of his other dominions accoding to his undoubted right of succession which both Houses of the Parliament of England and those who make this pretence of Invasion of this Kingdome did protest and declare they would never wrong not alter And further The Estates or Parliament have declared to his Majesty that the expressions of the Treaty concerning our endeavours for his restitution to his other dominions shall not import any Engagement or Obligation upon this Kingdome to make Warre in England or Ireland without the previous consideration and determination oâ— the Parliament of this Kingdome and the Generall Assembly of this Kirk or the Commis-missioners of this Kirk concerning the lawfulnesse and necessitie thereof which was never so much as taken into consideration in either of them to be debated much lesse to be determined and our Letter 6. of March renewed the 22. of June last declareth our obligation and resolution to observe the Articles of the large Treaty so that it remains very clear from our proceedings that there was no design layed or resolution taken by this Kirk or Kingdom to invade the Kingdom of England Fifthly They say the Engagers refused to treat with the Parliament of England and they were answered only with the immediate March of an Army into England therefore we having refused to treat with them they are to expect the like but the difference is very wide and manifest both in relation to persons and proceedings if they had considered all things duely they should have ranked us with the Houses of Parliament and themselves with the Engagers for their wayes are not unsuitable What they alleage concerning the refusall of a Treaty with them hath been answered abundantly Neither have we marched immediately after our Answer into England as the Engagers did there are now 12. Moneths elapsed since our answer to their Letter and they will finde us yet in Scotland Fourthly they say we have equally declared against them as Sectaries as against those of Montrosse his party ranking them with Malignants and Papists though we know the faith which they professe But our declaring against Sectaries in England doth no more prove a design to invade them then our declaring against Malignants in England or the bloody rebels in Ireland or Papists in France or Spain doth prove a design to invade them To declare against the sinfulnesse of any course of back-sliding apostasie or rebellion in another Nation either for our own vindication from jealousies and suspicions or to warn the Subjects of this Kingdome to keep themselves from the like defection and from complyance or the declaring our judgement in a way of friendly admonition will not be found a probable ground to argue much lesse to be an evidence of a designe to invade another Nation there may be many sufficient grounds which may warrant to give a testimony against an evill course that will not give a good calling to make a War against it Concerning the Faith which they professe and say cannot but be known unto us this is the first confession of their faith that we have seen and it is so short that we shall not wrong them to comment upon it untill they shall be pleased to give us a larger but touching the desire which they professe to restrain licentious practises and to have them punished by the Magistrate they can never satisfie the world nor the most charitable disposition that is in it that there is any such desire in their hearts so long as their practises be quite contrary the fig-trees leaves of flourishing words may seem to serve for a covert wherein to lurk from the eyes of men but how do they think to escape the searcher of hearts before whom all things are naked yea we think they should be ashamed to say it before the world that they are ready to beare witnesse against licentious practices and desirous to restrain and punish them and yet for all their readinesse and desire be silent and fit still we wish they did not countenance and encourage them and shewed not themselves too ready and active against others who strive to keep their garments cleane and to be free of that contagion When they have laboured to vindicate themselves they return to cast aspersions upon us and would have it believed that interest dominion and profit under pretence of Presbytery and the Covenant is our designe wherein though we be conscious to our selves of many sinnes and infirmities in the prosecution of the work of the Lord yet since we are so grossely charged we trust we may in humility and sincerity of heart desire that he who knoweth the secrets of hearts may judge between them and us vvhether they doe not falsely accuse us and vve seriously exhort them to consider whether under the pretences of preferring the peace and love of the Gospel to the Discipline Government of the Church they be not undermining and subverting the Ordinance and Government of Jesus Christ that they may set up the devices of their own heart and erect a sanctuarie for errors heresie and schisme And now having answered the reasons given by them to make it appear that we had a designe to invade England we shall give clear evidences that we neither had nor have any such design First The Estates of Parliament having about the end of February 1649. received severall Intelligences that there was a design in England to invade this kingdome did then appoint a levie of horse and foot but withall declared as is expressed in the narrative of the said Act of Levie then published in Print that they did enjoyn it only for the meer just and necessary defence of this Kingdome from Invasion without any design or intention against any who shall not first invade this Kingdome and so soon as they understood that the forces raised in England were marching for Ireland they made stop of their Levy Also upon the 6. of March 1649. they wrote a Letter to Mr. Lenthall Speaker of the House of Commons declaring that it was very farre from their intention to assume any power over the Lawes and Government of England or any wayes to raise sedition
A DECLARATION OF THE COMMITTEE of ESTATES OF THE PARLIAMENT of SCOTLAND In Answer to some Printed Papers Intituled The Declaration of the Parliament of England and the Declaration of the Army of England upon their March into SCOTLAND â—â—inted by Evan Tyler Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty 1650. Edinburgh Iuly 1650. THE Estates of Parliament understanding that divers persons Subjects of this Kingdom with their ships and goods had been lately seased at Sea and carried into the Ports of England And being likewise informed that an Army was marching Northward to In-invade this Kingdom Being resolved so far as is in their power to use all possible wayes and means to prevent War and Blood in these Kingdoms did upon the 22. of June last send tâ—…o Messengers into England with Letters to Mr. Lenthal Speaker of the House of Commons the Lord Fairfax and the Governour of Newcastle Complaining of the Injuries done unto us and desiring to know whither they would observe the rule and order prescribed in the large Treaty betwixt the Kingdoms concerning the remonstrating first the breaches of Peace seeking reparation using all fair means and giving three Moneths warning before any Engagement of these Nations in War to which Letters we did long before this time expect an Answer but in place thereof Our messengers are there detained and A Declaration is emitted by those who arrogate to themselves the Title of the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England that they have judged it just and necessary that an Army be forth with sent into Scotland which accordingly is advancing to our Borders to Invade the Kingdom without any previous Warning The justice of this their undertaking they offer to demonstrate from the late Invasion of England Authorised and Commanded by the Parliament of Scotland in which designe they say all of us concurred to make a Prey of the English though some difference fell amongst us who should have the greatest Power of Command and thereby the greatest opportunity of advancing of either party under the specious pretence of the Covenant This doth not well consist with what they say Page 3. Concerning such in this Nation who may have kept themselves fâ—ee from the guilt of these things and far lesse doth it consist with the truth but we desire not to be our own Judges in the matter let them ask their own Consciences whether ever any people in the World did more evidence their freedom from guiltinesse in a time of defection then we did in that matter of the Engagement against England Did we not dissent and protest in Parliament against it Did not all the Judicatorâ—es of the Church unanimously oppose it and declare against it did not the Ministers faithfully and freely Preach and Pray against it and generally all that feared GOD in the Land Petition against it did they not suffer for not concurring in it Yea many choosed rather to expose their Lives and estates to the mercy of their Adversaries tyrannizing over them then to contribute one six-pence toward the furthering of that Engagement whereof the Commissioners of both Houses residing in this Kingdom were witnesses as by some of their number was represented to the House of Commons who upon consideration thereof wrote a Letâ—er to the General Assembly Professing they were assured that these impious and unwarrantable Actions could not be done with the approbation and assent of the Religious and wel affected people of the Kingdom of Scotland and that they did understand there was very few amongst those who were in the Engagement against them that first engaged with them in the Covenant and Cause but such as are professed Enemies to them however they were then content to proceed thereunto that they might the bâ—tter deceive the people of England and that therefore they were unwilling to impute such evils to this Nation in generall Did we not before we heard any thing of he defeat of the Engagers resolve to rise in Arms against the promoters of it being in Arms did we not refuse to make any agreement with them though never so much to our advantage untill in the first place Berwick Carlile should be restored to the Kingdom of England Concerning which L. Generall Cromwel professed in his Letter of the 15. of October 1648 that he shoâ—â—â— ever be ready to bear wiâ—nes of our forwardnesse to do right to the Kingdom of England and in a former Letter of the 19. September Acknowledgeth our care of the Interest of England and desire to preserve the unitie of both Nations Did not both Houses of Parliament by their Votes of the 28. September 1648. appoint that in case the Noblemen and others that dissented against the Invasion of the Kingdom of England by the Army under the Command of the Duke of Hamiltoun shall desire the assistance of L. Generall Cromwell that he be ready to afford them all seasonable relief and assistance which Votes were communicated to us by Lieu. Generall Cromwell himself and in the same Letter after a particular enumeration of all the wrongs and damages sustained by the Kingdom of England from the Engagers he did demand in the name of England this security that none who had been active in or consenting to the said Engagement should be employed in any Publick place or tâ—â—st whatsâ—ever which was a cordingly granted by the Committee of Estates and ratified in Parliament Did We not also send Commissioners to both Houses of Parliament to Treat and correspond with them in all thing which might concern the continuance of the former Amitie and Friendship betwixt the Kingdoms and authorised to joyn with them in presenting the Propositions of Peace to his Majesty which Commissioners were received and our interest in the Propositions of peace acknowledged by both Houses of Parliament This is a short but true accompt concerning our carriage in relation to that Engagement how matters stand betwixt us and the lawfull authority of England And as touching those who now quarrell with us if their own consciences condemn them not as we have reason to think they do there is one greater then their consciences even the Lord Jesus Christ who knoweth all things let Him Judge between us concerning the truth or falshood of that which they would charge upon us that all of us concurred in designe to to make a prey of the English though some difference fell out who should have the greatest power of Command It is not the first time we have met with Calumnies of this kinde from that party but we shall studie to bear it the more patiently that still it is for our adherence to the Cause of Christ we are reproached And as for the good people of England we trust they will not readily give belief to such suggestions against the wel-affected of this Kingdom when they consider we have two severall times returned from England with strong Armies when there was better opportunity to have prosecuted such designes Touching
what is farther said upon this point to aggravate the miscarriages of the Engagers in their taking of Berwick and Carlile invading England without an antecedent warning We have nothing to say on their behalf their proceedings were palpably grosse inexcusable But if their wayes were so bad why do these who now prevail in England trace their steps not fearing their end Will they justifie themselves in that very thing for which they have condemned others We desire they may remember some expressions of a Letter written to us by Lieu. Generall Cromwel and his Counsell of War the 18. September 1648. shortly after the defeat of the Engagers the words are these Give us leave to say as before the Lord who knows the secrets of all hearts that as we think a especiall end of Providence in permitting the enemies of God and goodnesse in both Kingdoms to rise to that height and exercise such tyranny over His people was to shew the necessity of Unity amongst His of both Nations so we hope and Pray that the late glorious dispensation in giving so happie successe against your and our Enemies may be the foundation of the Union of the people of God in love and Amity unto that end we shall God assisting to the utmost of our power endeavour to perform what may be behinde on our parts and when we shall through any wilfulnesse falle herein let this Profession rise up in judgement against us as having been made in hypocrisie a severe a venger of which God hath lately appeared in his most righteous witnessing against the Army under Duke Hamilton Invading Us under specious pretences of Piety and Justice We may humbly say We rejoyce with more trembling then to dare to do so wicked a thing We may here also correct a mistake of theirs where they say by the Treaty six moneths warning was to precede Warre t is strange how they have learnd to multiply when they speak against others and to mince in relation to themselves But because it may belong since they read the Treaty We shall passe that and only desire to know how it comes that not only contrary to the Treaty but to the law of Nations and common reason they have without any previous warning seased our ships stopped our trade and now have published a Declaration shewing their resolution forth with to send an Army into this Kingdom even the late Engagers who are justly condemned for not giving previous warning according to the Treaty sent particular demands to the Houses of Parliament three moneths before invasion which they declared they would prosecute and about a moneth before invasion they published a Declaration of their resolutions to march into England Another ground of the justice of their undertaking is that they being invited to come into Scotland and having setled us in the power we now enjoy wee exercise it for their destruction That wee take on us to determine what is fundamentall in their Government direct threaten them if they change not what is now established form it to our minde or accomodate it to our interest which they say is sufficiently cleared by the Protestation of our Commissioners the Earl of Lothian Sir John Cheislie Mr. Glendoning who have been owned justified by the Parliament of Scotland and no censure passed upon them Wee shall first answer to this alleadged invitation They say Sir Andro Ker and Major Strachan were sent to them for that purpose the letter then written was directed to the Commander in chiefe of the forces of the Parliament of England which wee heard were upon the borders and we held it very necessary for us to acquaint the Kingdom of England or any intrusted by them that we dissented and protested against that unlawfull engagement and were then in Arms in opposition to the contrivers abettors thereof and were firmly resolved not to lay them down untill the garrisons of Berwick Carlile were restored to the Kingdom of England Wee likewise gave instructions to these Gentlemen But neither in the letter nor instructions as may be seen by the printed copies published by order of the House of Commons is there any call given for the coming of the English forces into this Kingdom We did only signifie to the Commander in chiefe of the English forces that we were to send to the Houses of Parliament to desire their assistance and that by joynt counsells and forces the disturbers of the peace of both Kingdoms may be brought to tryal and condign punishment and that we expected the English forces on the borders should be in readinesse to concurre with us when we should give them a call yet before any other addresse made by us either to the Houses of Parliament or to those forces yea before the answer of our letter came to our hands L. G. Cromwell marched into this Kingdom with his forces without waiting for our call which we did not intend to have given to them but to have desired the assistance of the Houses of Parliament with whom this Kingdom had joyned in Covenant and to whom we had formerly given assistance In the next place we were to have desired that those who were sent might be such as had signed the Covenant and would preserve and defend the doctrine and discipline of this Church according to the Covenant and particularly that none such should be sent as would disturb the peace of this Church or vent strange opinions contrary to the Confession of Faith directory of worship and Church-Government In the third place that their number should not exceed four thousand And lastly that the Garrisons of Berwick and Carlile being restored and the engagers being subdued or having submitted the English forces should remove out of this Kingdome Therefore so soon as wee received Lievtenant Generall Cromwels letter signifying that upon defeat of the forces under command of the Duke of Hammiltoun he had received commands to prosecute the victorie untill the Enemie were put out of a condition of growing into a new Armie and the Garisons of Berwick and Carlile were reduced in order whereunto he had resolved to march into Scotland we dispatched away the Lord Marquis of Argyle Lord Elcho and others unto him with Instructions desiring that the number of the forces should not exceed four thousand that such as should come were qualified as is before expressed And that the Garisons of Berwick and Carlile being restored and those in Armes against us having submitted his forces should return to England As matters then stood though we were very unsatilfied with many of the proceedings of that Armie yet we could not but looke on them as the servants of both houses of Parliament by whose authority they acted and to whose commands and directions they professed obedience and subjection wherefore the Houses of Parliament having upon knowledge of the State of affaires in Scotland appointed Lievtenant Gen. Cromwel by their votes 28. September 1648. to afford us
assistance which votes were communicated to us by Lievtenant Gen Cromwel on the fist of October after serious debate and consultation upon the matter wee judged it lawfull for us to accept from the houses of Parliament their offer of assistance and accordinly desired that some of the English forces might stay here for sometime and when they were to return to England we wrote a letter to both houses of Parliament wherein we Acknowledged the benefice and advantage we had by the assistance of their forces and gave them a testimony concerning their fair and civill deportment during their abode amongst us all which wee are yet ready to acknowledge and wish that these who had the charge and command of these forces would with the same readinesse acknowledge that they were then clearly convinced in their consciences of the reality of our detestation of and opposition to the late unlawfull Engagement against England But though wee have owned them sometime as servants of the Parliament of England will this infer that we should own them now as their masters by what law have they succeeded to their masters inheritance and clothed themselves with all the power of England have they not since that time they were in Scotland violently seased the person of their King and murthered him in the face of the Sun have they not turned the point of their swords against the Houses of Parliament who gave them Commission to rise in Arms and whose priviledges they were sworn to defend have they not taken away the House of Lords imprisoned divers and secluded most of the House of Commons have they not overturned both civill and ecclesiastick Government and in place there of brought in a law lesse lliberty and godlesse Toleration not withstanding their manifold Declarations and solemn engagements to the contrary had we known them as well when they were in Scotland as wee do now wee would have looked upon them as the Prophet Elisha did on Hazael the servant of Benhaddad King of Syria when he weeped because of all the evill Hazaell was to do unto the children of Israell They doe next charge us with Ingratitude claime to themselves the title of being our preservators and say we Exercise the power we have received by their means to their destruction This might well have been spared if they had remembred what assistance and preservation they had from this Kingdom when they were very low and their greatest Commanders though then not very considerable were countenanced because of their high professions for Religion and Monarchicall Government Let the letter from L G. Cromwell and other Officers of that Armie written from their quarters about Bristow to the Scottish Armie after the defeat of our forces at Kilsyth speake what was their own sense of the releefe and assistance afforded them by the well affected in Scotland and we shall be silent Though wee would not detract from the commendation of any even adversaries coming in a hostile way against us but shall be ready to acknowledge all their good deeds Yet wee may say that while they were in Scotland they neither shed their blood nor sustained hardship for us nor will the time they stayed be much above a week for every yeare that the Scottish Armie stayed in England for their assistance And for any power which is in our hands it hath been continued therein by the Established lawes of the kingdome and the Lords blessing on lawfull and warrantable means and therefore wee are to exercise it for the honour of God and the ends of that solemne Covenant which both they and wee have sworn with uplifted hands to the most high and it cannot be made appeare that we have in the least sort exercised our power to their destruction unles they conceive their destruction to be included in the attainment of the ends of the Covenant which wee are inviolably obliged by the oath of God to endeavour in our stations and callings But they insist that wee pretend to matters of their Government and take upon us to determine what is fundamentall there and threaten them to forme it to our interest which they say is sufficiently cleared from our ouneing and approving the protestation made by our Commissioners at London and our not censuring them surely they are farre to seek for a ground of Invadeing us when they would found it upon that protestation Is there any thing in it but a representation of their engagements declarations a sober regrate that they have not been keeped an earnest desire that they may be observed for the future and incase they should proceed otherwise a protestation that wee might be free before God and man of the guiltines evills confusions miseries and calamities that might follow thereupon to these distracted Kingdomes Is it not Lawfull for us in a comon cause wherein wee are both concerned if wee apprehend them proceeding in an ill course contrary to our engagements to warn them of it and if they will not forbeare for our own exoneration to declare that wee will not concurre with them nor be Involved in the guiltines by our silence Will they quarrel with us for a meet profession of adherence to our principles will they for this now after 16. Moneths are past come in a hostile manner to invade this Kingdome dissolve our Judicatories by the sword conquer and subdue the nation force upon us a change of government Civil and Ecclesiasticall Establish Anarchie and toleration under the pretence of furthering our just freedom and of preferring the peace and love of the Gospel to discipline and Government How disagreeable is this to their own principles of liberty and toleration The scriptures tell us that men may think it strange that we run not with them to the same excesse of riot but for men of one Nation to conquer subdue and destroy another Nation because they will not run with them is almost a new thing on earth however wee shall comfort our selves in this that wee have not given them just grounds of offence and that they shall give an account to him that is readie to judge the quick and the dead And these are the two grounds of the justice of their undertaking to invade this Kingdome our accession to the late engagement against England and the owning of the Protestation made by our Commissioners touching the first of which We dare say their own consciences are convinced of our Innocency and touching the second that their own judgments may freely absolve us from all just ground of offence if they be not altogether blinded We shall proceed to consider in the next place their pretences for the necessity of this War Fâ—…st they say all faire and amicable wayes of procuring reparation of the dammages which England hath sustained by occasion of the late Invasion have been denied and rejected and so We have owned the wrongs done to that Nation First We answer that no application hath been made to us for any
reparation except in one Letter 23. May 1649. and therein their demands for satisfaction were Generall and therefore in our return 26. of June 1649. We say they cannot so well receive a particular answer how then have all amicable fair wayes been used when there was only one letter written and that in generall terms Secondly the way proposed by them for obtaining satisfaction was such as we could not agree to without sin for they proposed that we should meet and treat with Commissioners authorized by them on the behalfe of the Common-wealth of England which was to acknowledge them the lawfull authority of England which we look upon as sinfull to doe being bound by Covenant to maintain and defend the Priviledges of the Parliament of England which if it amount to any thing doth at least require that we hold them as the lawfull authority of England and shall not give their titles and styles to any other that by force would usurpe the same and seeing the wrong complained on was done against England when the Houses of Parliament were unquestionably the lawfull power in England and now the complaint is made by those that have usurped that power let any unprejudiced minde judge whether there be not cause for us to make it a case of conscience considering the strict Obligations betwixt us and the Parliament of England Neither doe those who would so earnestly have us to acknowledge them propound any thing to rid us out of this difficulty for we suppose they will lay this common ground with us that every new power which shall arise in any Kingdome and prevaile by force is not forthwith to be acknowledged by the neighbouring Nations the very heathen Nations will stand at some distance in this case forbear to acknowledge much more ought we to be tender in Christian and Covenanted Kingdoms Now it is clear and evident that there is a change both of Governours and Government in England of late and how this change comes they will not allow us to examine if we speak anything relating thereunto they tell us that we take upon us to determine what is fundamentall there It is strange to see what latitude they can allow themselves in their own Actings even to break and dissolve powers at their pleasure laying aside formes as themselves expresse it for the substance sake yet how exact are they in setting up their own form requiting even from neighbouring Nations the observance of the smallest punctiliâ— in their knowledgment of their new Titles and Stiles otherwise they will count it a ground of Invasion Thirdly Wee proposed to authorize Commissioners on behalfe of this Nation to treat with Commissioners of both Houses of the Parliament of England sitting in freedome concerning all matters of just complaint which either Nation may have against the other for redresse reparation thereof and to do every thing that may conduce for the happy Peace Union betwixt the Kingdoms never refused to speak commune anent any particular wrongs or redresses thereof in such a way as did not import our Acknowledgement of their unlawfull Titles and unlawful Parliament which justly we esteem the present pretended Parliament to be for it hath often been declared by many Acts Ordinances Declarations and Protestations that the Parliament of England doth consist of King Lords and and Commons and should never be altered and in the beginning of that Parliament it was enacted by King Lords and Commons that that same very Parliament should never be raised nor dissolved without consent of both Houses of Parliament Fourthly We answered to the matter of that Letter sent to us so far as the generality of the expressions would guide us to conjecture what they meant and if any other wrongs should be made known to us we promised to return such an answer as might give just satisfaction and untill this Declaration came to to our hands We never understood that they were unsatisfied with our Answer for that dormant Declaration of theirs dated the 14. July 1649. never came to our hands either in write or Print till now nor do we think that ever it saw the light till the publishing â—f their other Declaration of the 26. of June last 1650. which came to our hands but the other day How then can they with a good conscience say that all fair and amicable wayes have been used and rejected Fiftly Although we cleared our own innocencie in the matter of that Engagement yet when it was demanded that those who were guilty should not be employed in places of publick trust it was granted accordingly and it was never craved and so was never denyed by us that they should be lyable to give satisfaction for the wrongs and dammages sustained by England And while they demand satisfaction they might very well have remembred that the mony and great spoil which they got from that engaging Army was very considerable and should likewise have remembred that the Irishes who were Subjects of the Crown of England had contrary to the large Treaty wherein England was bound to suppresse them done much more harm in this Kingdome and that no reparation or satisfaction was given though frequently and earnestly pressed all which being considered it is most apparent that all faire and amicable wayes have not been used and so the inference which they would make that we have owned the wrongs and dammages done by the late Invasion of England falls to the ground The next reason of the necessity of their Invasion of Scotland is taken from the design and resolution which they say we have to invade England And this they would have appear first because when they demanded a Treaty for satisfaction for the former Invasion we have in expres termes declared our selves enemies to the Government of their Common-wealth This hath been already cleared that we cannot acknowledge them to be the lawfull authority of England which they would assume to themselves excluding the King the House of Peeres and the faâ—re greatest part of the House of Commons We would gladly know vvhat Law Reason or Conscience there is obliging us to acknowledge their usurpations to be lawfull actions and though we have professed that we cannot acknowledge them and declared our resolution not to comply vvith them hovv doth it follovv that therefore vve have resolved to invade England have we not often declared our judgement against Popery and Tyranny in other Nations yet neither did they fear nor we so much as dream of an intended Invasion Secondly They would prove our intended Invasion of England in that we have taken upon us to proclaim the Kings Majesty whom they term Charles Stewart to be King of England and Ireland and in our Treaty since have promised him assistance against England to which we answer That we claim no authority or jurisdiction over them and when the King was proclaimed our Records were searched and he was proclaimed with the same titles his Father was
or lay the grounds of a new Warre or doe any thing in pursuance of the late unlawfull Engagement and that no such thing could be inferred from the paper given in by their Commissioners containing only an adherence to our former Principles acknowledged by both Kingdoms That they were so tender of the union betwixt the Nations that they did think the remonstrating of the breaches of Peace the craving of just reparation and the using of all fair and amicable means should be first essayed and then three moneths warning should be given according to the large Treaty before any Engagement in warre and they expected the like from England and however any prevalent party in either Kingdome had infringed or might break these bonds yet they did not conceive it either agreeable to Gods will or conduccable to the welfare of these Nations to lay those sacred tyes aside as dissolved and cancelled but rather that they should be preserved for the good of both Kingdomes and benefit of those who have no accession to such breaches and of succeding generatiâ—ns who are innocent thereof and may sustain manifold inconveniences by dissolution of the same To this Letter we never received any answer nor any reply to our Letter of the 26. June but all this spring for these three or four moneths past have weekly heard of great preparations made against us both by Sea and Land yet untill the Estates of Parliament understood that the English Forces were upon their March North-ward and some of our Ships were taken at Sea they did not so much as make ready for our Defence and so soon as they took any resolution therein which was about the middle of June before they made any dispatch to the Shires Upon the 22. of June they sent Messengers to England with Letters to Mr. Lenthal Speaker of the House of Commons and others wherein they complain of the wrongs done unto them and desire redresse declare their obligations and resolution to observe the rules prescribed in the large Treaty before any engagement in War and desire to know whether these who have the present power in England do acknowledge themselves obliged or will oblige and declare their resolutions to observe the way and order aforesaid and plainly and clearly to declare whether they march for offence or defence and withall acquainted them in that Letter that they had renewed the Acts of Leavy and for Posture of Defence made the last yeer wherein the same narrative is kept as in the former and in the power granted by the Parliament to the Committee of Estates It is expresly excepted and reserved that they shall not have any power to give orders to the Forces of this Kingdom for any other ends then for the just and necessary defence of this Kingdom Upon the whole matter there is neither justice nor necessity of their present undertaking against us nor can it be laid that all fair and amicable wayes and means which were used have been refused but on the contrary we have since that pretended refusall used the means to prevent a War and yet an Army is on our Borders ready to Invade us Wherefore we may safely conclude that there is no just cause much lesse any necessity for them to Invade this Kingdom and if they shall Invade us that we are obliged by all Laws both of God and man to stand to our own just and necessary defence Whilst this Declaration was under consideration there was another sent unto us by a Trumpeter from L. Generall Cromwell Intituled A Declaration of the Army of England upon their march into Scotland to which except where we meet with repetitions we have resolved to make a further answer And first to the way of addresse set down in the frontispice of that Paper It is not directed to those in Authority more then to any other persons in the Kingdom but after this manner To all that are Saints and partakers of the Faith of Gods Elect in Scotland So as if there be none in Authority whom they apprehend Saints it is directed to none of them Can there be a more lively portraytour of Anarchie in the World then this and that varnished over with the colour of Piety and Religion or can there be a more seditions usurping way devised to draw away the hearts of the people from their obedience to Authority May we not here with great reason return them their own words They pretend to matters of our Government and take upon them to determine what is fundamentall here and direct and threaten us if we change not what is Established and form it to their minde or accomodate it tâ— their Interest And may we not justly declare against them as they did in another case most uniustly against us That the said Paper doth contain much scandalous and reproachfull matter against the just proceedings of the Parliament of this Kingdom and an assuming to have power over the Laws and Government of this Nation to the high dishonour thereof And lastly a designe in the contrivers of it to raise sedition and lay the grounds of a new War in this Land They begin with sugeâ—ed words wiâ—hing like mercy and tâ—uth light and liberty with themselves but are marching with an Army to conquer and subdue us cruely under errour darknesse and slavery and then they â—urther preface with a desire to make a distinction and sepaâ—ation betwixt some and others in this Kingdom but blessed be the Name of the Lord there is not a different thought amongst all the godly in this Land concerning the unlawfulnesse of their Invasion and the lawfulnesse of our defence against the same They boast much of their great successes and reproach the Great Name of the Lord of Hosts fathering upon him their transgressions but consider not that the Lord might have a hand of justice in the same things wherein they had a hand of injustice and that he in His wise dispensation can correct one extreame by another and yet remain displeased with both They begin also with an appeal concerning the truth of the particulars which they are to remonstrate to the Lord who should they come to day of engagement they say will be a sore witnesse against them it they utter these things out of hypocrisie and they end with another appeal concerning the tâ—uth of what they have said desiring the God of Heaven to Judge them accordingly when they come to meet their enemies in the field to which we shall say no more but beseech the Lord to look upon these provocations and to vindicate the honour of His great Name They labour in the first place to make good their proceedings in relation to the late King from his actions which we intend not to justifie But who made them the Kings Judge or where is there warrant to take his life When such a thing was suggested to David though anointed King of Israel against Saul who was rejected of the Lord he said The
Lord forbid that I should do this thing wickednesse proceedeth from the wicked but mine hand shall not be upon him They endeavour to vindicatte their actions against the Houses of Parliament and concerning the change of the fundamentall Government from the true and equitable intent of the constitution of England which we shall not insist upon to answer but we think they might with as great confidence have said to us that white is black and black is white and bring arguments to make us beleeve it to be so in England They would also cleer their proceedings from the example of ours in the yeer 1648. for say they We acted contrary to Acts of Parliament and called a new one excluding whom we thought fit all which was done by vertue and authority from the Committee of Estates which was no Committee being constituted of such persons as by Act of the foregoing Parliament had not legall right to sit or Act therein they not having taken the Oath in reference to the late engagement which was enjoyned by Parliament or else to have no place therein To which â—e answer that whatsoever we acted was in performance of the solemn League and Covenant and Treaties betwixt the Kingdoms which are above any Act of Parliament and according to which the Committee of Estates were by their Commission bound and appointed to mannage the affaires of the Kingdome The solemn League and Covenant being an oath to God allowed and appointed by the authority of both Kingdomes cannot be repealed or made void by any subsequent Acts of Parliament though of both Kingdomes nor can all the powers on earth absolve those that have taken it from their duty therein expressed by vvhich they are bound all the dayes of their lives zealâ—uslâ— constantly to continue in maintaining and pursuing the ends thereof against all opposition and to promote the same according to their povver against all lets and impediments vvhatsoever 2. What we acted was for our ovvn just defence against an actually oppressing Army whose proceedings were so wicked and boundlesse as they were not only contrary to the Covenant and Treaty betwixt the Kingdomes but to the very Acts and Determinations of the Parliament from whom they had their Commission 3. Though the Members of the Committee of Estates were appointed at their first meeting in the Committee to accept their Commission and give their oaths for faithfull discharge of the trust reposed in them in reference to the Engagement against England or else to have no place therein yet there is nothing in the Act of Parliam-declaring their proceedings null and void incase they did not take the Oath aforesaid and the Engagers themselves did admit some to sit and vote who did not takâ— that Oath will it therefore necessarily follow that all which they did was in Law null and void Besides the last Act of Parliament concerning the power of the Committee of Estates doth not at all limit the Members to any Oath 4. It was agreed in the Treatie at Sterling by common consent that such Members of the Committee of Estates as were accessory to the Engagement should forbear coming to the Committee of Estates untill the next Session of Parliament to which the determination of differences were referred and our whole proceedings were ratified by the Parliament and now also by the Kings Majesty We have not done any thing against our Vowes Oaths Covenants Protestations and Declarations as they have done but in pursuance of them we have acted in our own defence against visible and actuall tyranny and oppression not upon jealousies or suspicions against a Parliament consulting and voting peaceably as they have done We have adhered to the Lawes and Constitutions of the Kingdom and have not altered the fundamentall Government thereof as they have done without any power warrant or calling But what suppose they were able to justifie their proceedings as they are not what would that contribute for to nuke up a just ground for invading the Kingdom even suppose they had the authority of both Houses sitting in a full Parliament and the Kings consent thereunto they have no power or jurisdiction over this Kingdom the Lord hath been pleased these many hundred yeâ—rs to preserve our Freedome whilst there was little knovvledge of the Gospel in the Land And vve do confidently trust in his Name and are persvvaded that hee vvill not novv give us up to the vvilland povver of those that vvould bring in Darknes for Light Errour for Truth and instead of Government make vvay for Toleration Anarchie and Confusion If Treaties be urged against them they were broken say they by the full Authority of the Parliament of Scotland they very well know the contrary that a very considerable number of the Parliament protested against it which certainly even in Law much weakened the Authority and that it was revoked by the full Authority of Parliament and the House of Commons in their Letter to the Generall Assembly hath acknowledged us free of it and our Commissioners have been since admitted and received by both Houses of Parliament and our Interest in the Treaty acknowledged as hath been already more fully expressed How well can they take upon them to person at the Houses of Parliament whom they have broken in pieces in making up challenges against us but they will not owne their actions in any thing that may plead for us They insist that the breach is not made up so as to challenge England on agreements unlesse we think that Scotland may break and England should remain bound whereas it is a known Law of Nations that in the breach of the League by the one party the other is no longer obliged We never said either that the one Kingdom could be free and the other bound or that the one Kingdom having broken the other was obliged to keep if reparation of the wrong done was refused but that notwithstanding a prevailing Party break yet both Kingdomes are bound still against the breaking Party and that reparation ought to be made This will appear if the scope and intent of the large Treaty made betwixt the Kingdoms be considered as it is expressed to wit That the great blessing of a constant and friendly conjunction of the two Kingdoms now united by alleageance and loyall subjection to one Soveraigne and Head may be firmly observed and continued to all posterity it is agreed c. And words to the same purpose are again twice repeated the severall cases of breaches of the Peace which may fall out and the way of remedy are set down for Commissioners are appointed in the Intervals of Parliaments for conservation of the Peace to which Commissioners in the Intervals as afterward to Parliaments all breaches are to be remonstrated which had been altogether needlesse if every breach of the Treaty had made it null and void According to this sense the Houses of Parliament have formerly declared particularly in the year 1641. when there was some
appearance of the beginning of trouble in this Kingdom the Houses of Parliament did in their sense and apprehension of the Nationall Alliâ—nce betwixt the Kingdoms settled and confirmed by the large Treaty and Acts of Parliaments of both Kingdoms declare that they were bound to apply the Authority of Parliament and power of England to the preservation conservation of our Peace when the troubles of England did grovv to a greater height about the end of the year 1642. the Houses of Parliament did again declare that seeing the subtile practice of the common Enemy of the Religion and Liberty of both Nations did then appear in England with more evidence strength danger than it did in Scotland the former year therefore in their judgment the same obligation did ly upoÌ„ their Brethren of Scotland by the afore-mentioned Act vvith the power force of this Kingdom to assist England in repressing these amongst them who were in arms against the Parliament fordestruction thereof from which other Declarations and the expresse meaning and intent of the Treaty it may be easily collected that what wrong is done by the common enemies of both Kingdoms though it ought to be repaired yet it is not to be looked on as that which should cancel and dissolve the Treaty and the mutuall amity and alliance that is betwixt the Kingdoms but that either Kingdom ought when they aâ—e desired and called thereunto to be assistant to other in their strâ—â—ts and the treaties ought to continue undissolved and to be preserved for the good of the present and future generations unles it be intended that they shall for ever hereâ—fter remain in hostility or that the one shall conquer the other for they cannot be tyed by stricter bonds then they are already If the Covenant be alleadged against them they affirm they have kept it religiously which they would make out by a distinction thus The Articles concerning Religion and civil Liberties have the first place in the Covenant say they and these which concern the Kings Interest and constitution of Parliament the last and these with subordination one to another the Covenant tyed them to preserve Religion and libertie as the ends of it even when these were inconsistent with the preservation of the Kings Interest and the frame of Parliament because when the means and the end cannot both be injoyed together the end is to be preferred to the means That there was a reall inconsistence because the Houses accepted of his Majesties concessions at Newport which were destructive to Religion and the Covenant and acquiesced therein but the Armie appeared against them and so Religion and liberties are preserved But first there is no such distinction in the Covenant betwixt Articles as that one is a meane and another an end though each of them may conduce to the strengthening another the ends are expressed in the title narrative and Articles thereof and are unitive and copulative not disjunctive nor is there any inconsistencie betwixt the Articles and ends thereof otherwise it had been unlawfull for to have taken the Covenant And the third Article with which they quarrell most doth oblige us expresly to endeavour the prosecution thereof with the same sincerity reality and constancy as the rest Neither regall nor Parliamentary Government are in their own nature inconsistent with the preservation of Religion It were absurd to say so both reason and experience evidencing the contrary and there is great fallacie in the argument given to prove their inconsistencie for the Instance is concerning the actions of Governours which are saâ—d to be destructive to Religion But what is that to the Government they might as well have reasoned thus The English Army did in the yeer 1647 offer proposalls to the King which were destructive to religion therefore the Army must be taken away and we will have no more Armies If then the preservation of Religion and the civil Government be consistent as the Covenant it self doth necessarily presuppose then certainly our endâ—avours to preserve them may very well consist and ought to be performed with sincerity realty and constancie and unavoidably it will follow that an endeavour to destroy any of them is a cleare breach of and inconsistent with our Covenant and oath to God their distinction then falls to the ground and consequently their conclusion so that their endeavouring to destroy and actually destroying the King and changing the fundamentall Government is in our judgement so far from being a keeping of the Covenant as it is a clear and evident breach thereof It might have been much more strongly argued for Zedekiah then any thing that can be said in the present case that the keeping of his oath made to the King of Babylon was destructive to Religion and inconsistent with his dutie to God as King of Israel and with the civil liberties of the people of God when the King of of Babylon had spoiled the temple and carried away all the Princes all the mighty men of vallour all that were apt for war and all that were crafts men and smiths that the Kingdom might be base and not lift it self up yet what saith the Spirit of GOD Shall he prosper Shall he escape that doth such things Or shall he break the Covenant and be delivered As I live saith the Lord God surely in the place where the King dwelleth that made him King whose Oath he despised and whose Covenant he brake even with him in the midst of Babylon shall he die When it was alleadged against the late engagers that their invading England was contrary to the 5. Article of the Covenant by which they were obliged to endeavour that the Kingdoms may remain conjoyned in a firm Peace and union to all posteriâ—y they were ready under the pretences of endeavoring the reformation of Religion the rescuing of his Majesties Person and preservation of the priviledges of the Parliament of England to declare before God and the world that they were resolved never to break the Union betwixt the Kingdoms nor to entreanch upon the Nationall rights of the subjects of England or their liberties not considering that the Articles of the Covenant were unitive and copulative and that the Covenant is broken and not kept when any one Article thereof is broken And now under the like pretences of the advancement of Gods glory and the furthering just freedom the Sectaries are invading Scotland contrary to that 5. Article of the Covenant but the same Lord who avenged the quarrell of His broken Covenant upon the late Engagers lives and reigns to avenge it upon the Sectaries Whereas they mention their appearing against the Houses of Parliament who had accepted of the Kings concessions at Newport which were destructive to Religion and that thereby they have preserved both Religion and Liberty how do they know that Religion and Liberty would have been destroyed if they had not appeared the Lord could have preserved them by lawfull means
who hath called us to a triall on both hands will with the tentation give us the issue We must not be discouraged but rather count it all joy when we fall into divers temptations Concerning our agreement with his Majestie we know there is scarce any possibility to satisfie those who have declared themselves enemies to Monarchicall Government but we desire all good men to consider how we have been led thereunto by following our duty in prosecution of the Nationall and solemn League and Covenant After the death of his Majesties Father having sought the LORD for his direction and had serious consultation amongst our selves wee found it a duty lying upon us by Covenant wherein wee have professed in the sight of GOD that wee had before our eyes the Honour and Happinesse of the KING and his Posterity and made an appeal to the World as witnesses with our consciences of our loyaltie and that we had no thoughts to diminish his Majesties just Honour and Greatnesse that we should proclaim and declare to all the world his Majestie to be by the providence of GOD and Lawful Right of undoubted succession and descent KING of Great Britain France and Ireland and that all the Subjects of this Kingdome were bound faithfully to obey Him maintain and defend Him according to the Nationall Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant betwixt the Kingdoms with all declaring that before He were admitted to the exercise of His Royall Power He should give satisfaction to this Kingdom in these things that concerned the security of Religion the Union betwixt the Kingdoms and the good and Peace of this Kingdom resolving for that end to make our humble and earnest addresses to His Majesty This was the onely way left unto us to prosecute our dutie without giving advantage to Malignants upon the one hand who would admit Kings without minding any thing of Religion or else giving advantage to Sectaries upon the other who without regard to the obligation lying upon them by Covenant have altered the Fundamentall Government Having made application to His Majesty once and again He hath now given satisfaction to all our Demands for he hath sworn and subscribed the Nationall Covenant and the Solemne League and Covenant acknowledged the Authority of Parliament and approved the acts thereof agreed that all matters Civil be determined by the Parliament or such as shall be authorised by them and all matters Ecclesiasticall by the Generall Assembly of this Kirk or such as shall be authorized by them He hath further agreed to recall and disclaim all Commissions issued forth for acting any thing by Sea or Land to the prejudice of the Covenant or of the Kingdom of Scotland or of any who do or shall adhere to the Solemn League and Covenant and Monarchicall Government in any other of his Majesties Dominions and all Declarations made by any in his name or by his warrant against the same and that he shall disallow and disclaim or declare null and void all Treaties and agreements with the bloody Rebels in Ireland and that he will never allow nor permit any liberty or the Popish Religion in any part of his Dominions That he shall swear the Coronation Oath and that he shall then declare he will in matters Civil follow the Counsell of his Parliaments and such as shall be authorised by them and in matters Ecclesiasticall the Generall assembly and such as shall be authorized by them Having granted these Demands and the Lord in his providence having brought him amongst us and he professing his grief and sorrow for his former wayes whereunto he wâ—s led by evill Counsell of which we are bound to construct charitably considering his age and education The Estates of Parliament of this Kingdom have thought it their duty to â—â—stâ—re His Majesty to the exercise of His Royal Power And if from a tender regard and conscience of the Oath and Covenant of God we have been following our duty herein and not for worldly Interests and designes where is our offence or what reason or just grounds can bee given by these who are now upon our Borders for invading this Kingdome None of His Majesties actions before His coming into this Kingdom can in the least sort be charged on us unlesse they had been owned by us and for the future it shall be our care that there may be no just ground of complaint As for the blood and other sins which the Lord may put on the account of the KING and that Family we shall mourn before the Lord for it and pray that his wrath may be turned away and that as the Lord hath now been pleased in his wise gracious providence to admit hiâ— to enter in Covenant with Him and His People so also that he would give him a new heart and spirit so to guile him in all his wayes as may be matter of rejoycing to all that fear the Lord and may convince his greatest Adversaries and stop their mouthes from reproaches Themselves might be here put in mind of that Scripture which saith I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu But we take no delight in recriminations To conclude it hath been cleared there is no just cause of their invading this Kingdom For in the matter of the Engagement against England we blesse the Lord we are innocent and for the testimony given by our Commissoners at London and approven by the Parliament it was necessary duty Neither can there be any just pretence for the necessity of this War all fair and amicable wayes have not been used Wee have not refused to do them right Wee had no designe to invade England nor have wee given any other just ground of offence Wherefore this War made without any just cause necessity or antecedent warning is most unjust on their part and most just on ours being for our own lawfull and necessary defence Having answered their Declarations we desire now to let the Kingdome know who are these that come thus in a hostile manner against us are not these the men who in their low Estate by their solemn professions of intending nothing but the Reformation and defence of Religion and the prosecution of uniformity therein between the Churches and unity between the Kingdomes the honour and happinesse of the King and his posterity and the Peace and safety of these dominions engaged us in a solemn League and Covenant with God and with them and by Treaties to joyn in a Warre for these ends in the year 1643. and now in place thereof have by their crafty counsells undermining designes and force of Armes obstructed and opposed the work of Reformâ—aion established a multiformity of Religions destroyed the King and his family so farre as is in their power overturned all Government Civill and Ecclesiasticall in England and Ireland and cannot rest there but have now resolved to prosecute a war against this Kingdom also unlesse as we did swear a Covenant with
them we will renounce and forswear it and the ends thereof are not these the men who are abusers of the Ordinances of God in our neighbour land tolerators of errors proclaimers of liberty dispensers with Bands and Oathes in Gods matters but rigid exactors and oppressors of persons yea of Nations in their Consciences Liberties and Estates in their own matters and for their own ends who have brought great scandall and reproach upon the name of God the the name of his people and the study of piety and who have not only broken the solemn and sacred Covenant betwixt God and these Nations but have in effect rejected it and trampled upon it are become enemies to all the ends thereof and persecutors of the servants and people of God for their adherence to it doe they not follow the wayes of the Prelaticall and malignant party who in the beginning of these troubles came to invade this Kingdome but blessed be the Lord returned with shame are they not walking in the same paths that the late Engagers did against England sinning with an high hand against God his Cause Covenant and People the sinfulnesse of their wayes meanes Instruments ends and aymes and the evident injustice of their quarrell against these who never gave them just ground of offence make it apparent We assisted and relieved England twice since the beginning of these troubles and returned both times peaceably out of the Kingdome Not only their own expressions but their consciences can bear witnesse to our sufferings and opposition in reference to the late engagement and will they requite us with War for our kind assistance hostilitie for friendship and render evill for good Surely he seeth all these things whose eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him and can speak peace unto their helpers and bring in the day of his vengeance and the year of recompence for the quarrell of his broken Covenant upon these who have set up Thresholds by his Thresholds and Posts by his Posts and not onely do so themselves but endeavour to compell and force others to do the same do they thus provoke the Lord to jealousie are they stronger nor he hath he not sworn by his great name that his people shall knov whether his designes or his enemies his counsell or theirs his word or theirs his work or theirs shall stand In the pride of their heart because of former successes and trusting to their Power skill and experience they think to doe with Jerusalem as with Samaria with Israel as with Edom and with the Covenanted people of God as with Malignants against whom they were raised as a scourge and a rod of indignation not considering that when the Lords work is done and the axe boasteth it selfe against the hewer then the Lord useth to send among their fat ones leannesse under their glory to kindle a burning and the light of Israel useth to be for a fire and his holy one for a flame to destroy the briars and thorns in one day saith the Lord. If we shall keep malignancy out of our quarrell and malignant Instruments out of our Counsels and forces and our selves free from every thing which may provoke the Lord and doe every duty that may engage them for us the case of the Ammonites against Jepthah and Israel the case of Jeroboam against Abijah the case of Amaziah gainst Joash the case of Zennacherib against Hezâ—kiah the case of Moab against Jehosaphat and the judgments which came on these Invaders speak terrour to our Adversaries that come against us and courage and comfort to the necessary defenders for the Lord lives and reignes for ever to confirm the word of his servants and perform the counsell of his Messengers and turneth the wisdom of the wise and strength of the strong backward maketh the Diviners mad and the despisers to wonder and perish for he will work a work which they shall in no wise beleeve though a a man declare it unto them Let us therefore arise and be doing for the Cause and for the Cities of our God and the Lord will be with us and will not forsake us if we forsake not him And who then can be against us He will be Jehovah Nissi and spread a banner of love over His people and send the angel of His presence among them for a sun and a shield and will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone a cup of trembling and a torch in a sheif to all that dare meddle with Sion and break the staffes of beauty and bands and he will soon go through the briars and thorns let in battell against him for the Cause and the battell is the Lords Let us wait on His salvation There is cause of humiliatâ—on when we consider our formality in the Worship of God our neglect of duties of true piety our undervaluing of the precious Gospel our unthankfulnes for mercies our stupidity under judgements our manifold backslidings of heart and seâ—f-seeking our not minding as we ought the inward work of Reformation resting too much on the out side of duties the profanes of many in the Land in our Aâ—my and many other transgreshons â—or these things we should lie low in the dust and acknowledge that it were just with the Lord to leave us to let our enemies prevail over us and let in a flood-gate of error heresie schisme and profanesse to overflow the Lanâ— But there is no cause of fear or fainting if we will consider that the Lord delights to be called on as a God who will keep Covenant and mercy to and with his people notwithstanding their failings if we look either to the Lords former dispensations or present engagements for his Work and the honour of his great Name or if we will look to the eâ—emies quarrell their aymes and designes or to the resolutions of this Kâ—rk and Kingdom to stand for the Cause and Covenant against enemies and dangers on all hands If the Lord had intended to destroy the Land he would not have done so much for us and amongst us nor received a sacrifice off our hands Though the enemy should come in like a flood to overflow Immanuels Land His Spirit shall lift up a standard against him and not suffer His people to say a confederacy to such but shall magnifie himself in the borders of Israel Wherefore we desire all the people of the Land to beware that they be not deceived and insnared with the fair offers and smooth pretences of the Sectaries whole words are soft as butter and oil but gall and bitrernesse is in their hearts and actions they have the smooth voyce of Jacob but the rough hands of Esau And we do in the name and by the warrant of the Estates of Parliament discharge all persons whatsoever within the Kingdom to give them aide counsellor assistance or to correspond or comply with them any manner of way under the same paines and certifications that they are discarged to joyn assist correspond or comply with Malignants and Rebels in Arms. Tho. Henderson FINIS