House who are now engaged at Oxford were present in Parliament and gave their Votes therein it was found adjudged and declared by the King in Parliament that our deare Brethren of Scotland had done nothing but what became loyall and obedient Subjects and were thereupon by Act of Parliament publikely righted in all the Churches of this Kingdome where they had beene defamed Therefore however some men hoodwinkt and blinded by the artifices of those Jesuiticall Engineers who have long conspired to sacrifice our Religion to the Idolatry of Rome our Lawes Liberties and persons to arbitrary slavery and our estates to their insatiable avarice may possibly bee deterred and amused with high threats and Declarations flying up and downe on the wings of the Royall Name and Countenance now captivated and prostituted to serve all their lusts to proclaime all Rebells and Traytors who take this Covenant yet let no faithfull English heart bee afraid to joyne with our Brethren of all the three Kingdomes in this solemne League as sometimes the men of Israel although under another King did with the men of Judah 2 Chron. 30. at the invitation of Hezekiah What though those tongues set on fire by Hell doe raile and threaten That God who was pleased to cleare up the innocency of Mordecai and the Jewes against all the malitious aspersions of wicked Haman to his and their Soveraigne so as all his plotting produced but this effect Esth 9. that when the Kings commandement and decree drew neare to bee put in execution and the enemies of the Jewes hoped to have power over them it was turned to the contrary and the Jewes had rule over them that hated them and laid hands on such as sought their hurt so as no man could withstand them and that same God who but even as yesterday vouchsafed to disperse and scatter those dark clouds fogs which overshadowed that Loyall and Religious Kingdome of Scotland and to make they righteousnesse to shine as cleare as the Sunne at noone day in the very eyes of their greatest enemies will doubtlessely stand by all those who with singlenesse of heart and a due sense of their owne sinnes and a necessitie of reformation shall now enter into an everlasting Covenant with the Lord never to bee forgotten to put an end to all those unhappy and unnaturall breaches betweene the King and such as are faithfull in the Land causing their righteousnesse and praise to spring forth before all the Nations to the terror and confusion of those men of blood the confederate enemies of God and the King who have long combined and have now raked together the dregs and scumme of many Kingdomes to bury all the glory honour and libertie of this Nation in the eternall grave of dishonour and destruction Die Veneris 9. Februar 1643. AN Exhortation touching the taking of the Solemn League and Covenant and for satisfying of such Scruples as may arise in the taking of it was this day read the first and second time And by Vote upon the Question assented unto and Ordered to bee forthwith Printed H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. Printed at London for Ralph Smith at the signe of the Bible in Cornhill neere the Royall Exchange 1644. A SOLEMN League and Covenant FOR Reformation and Defence of Religion The Honour and Happinesse of the KING And the Peace Safety of the three Kingdoms OF England Scotland and Jreland WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland by the Providence of God living under one King and being of one Reformed Religion halving before our eyes the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ the honour and happiness of the Kings Majestie and His Posterity and the true publike Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdoms wherein every ones private condition is included and calling to minde the treacherous and bloody plots Conspiracies Attempts and practices of the Enemies of God against the true religion and professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the reformation of religion and how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time increased and exercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church Kingdom of England and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publike Testimonies We have now at last after other meanes of Supplication Remonstrance Protestations and Sufferings for the preservation of our selves and our religion from utter ruine and Destruction according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times and the Example of Gods people in other Nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutuall and solemne League and Covenant wherein we all subscribe and each one of as for himself with our hands lifted up to the most high God do swear I. THat we shall sincerely really and constantly through the Grace of God endeavour in our severall places and callings the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common Enemies the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the Example of the best Reformed Churches And shall indeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the neerest conjunction and Uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church-Government Directory for Worship and Catechizing That we and our posterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the middest of us II. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons indeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church-Government by Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deanes Deanes and Chapters Archdeacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hirarchy Superstition Heresie Schisme Prophanenesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to found Doctrine and the power of Godlinesse lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may be one and his Name one in the three Kingdoms III. We shall with the same sincerity reallity and constancy in our severall Vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdoms and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms that the world may bear witnesse with our consciences of our Loyaltie and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish His Majesties just power and greatnesse IIII. We shall also with all faithfulnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have been
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
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