1 ALthough in the Answer of Aprill 22. which we received in writing from the Honourable Court of Parliament, we are remitted to their Lordships Declaration (now printed and published) therein to find satisfacti­on [Page 2]to our eight desires, presented to the Parlia­ment March 22. And although these desires were such as were most agreeable to the Word of God, and doe highly concern the safety and se­curity of Religion; yet, after diligent perusall of the said Declaration of Parliament, wee can not finde therein any one of these our eight desires satisfied.

2 Wee finde twice in the said Declarati­on a passage cited out of the Declarati­on of both Kingdomes, 1643. viz. That the not takers of the Covenant are declared to be publick enemies to Religion and Country, and to be punished as professed adversaries and Ma­lignants: But while this passage is pressed and urged upon the Parliament of England against the Sectaries, wee cannot see that it is applied against such Malignants, as have not to this day taken the Covenant. Shall we require of them the observing of such a rule, and not yet walk by that rule our selves.

3 As the three breaches of Treaties insisted upon in the said Declaration are disputable, and not without controversie, so the three demands sent to the Parliament of England (as they are conceived) are of most dangerous consequence to Religion, so farre as wee are able to judge of them, or pry into them: And although wee are reall well-wishers to his Majesties Honour, free­dome [Page 3]and safety in such a way as may not be inconsistent with the safety and security of Religion; yet the demand of his Majesties com­ming with Honour Freedom and Safety to some of his houses in or near London, before security had from him, yea before applications to be made to him by his Parliaments for settling Religion according to the Covenant, wee conceive to be not only a postponing of Christs interest to be Kings, but an apparent hazzard of the subver­tion of all the Ends of the Covenant; consider­ing, that the Army being disbanded (as is also demanded) and his Majesty under no restraint, but restored with Honour, Freedom and Safe­ty, may gather new strength with the help of the Popish Prelaticall and Malignant party for hin­dring the setling of Religion and Peace according to the Covenant; which wee have the more rea­son to fear and apprehend, his Majesty still retain­ing his old principles, and having not long since professed and declared, that hee is obliged in conscience to improve that power which God shall put in hands for the establishing of E­piscopacy.

4 There are in the said Declaration divers par­ticulars highly concerning Religion, determined and resolved upon, without the advice and con­sent of the Generall Assembly or their Commissi­oners; which is a great prejudice to the just in­terest and liberties of the Kirk.

5 We doe not finde in the said Declaration all lawfull and possible wayes of Peace, and namely by Treaties (as before, in 1639, and 1640.) en­deavoured or sought after, before an ingagement in warre; which method wee conceive to be ne­cessary as well by common and naturall equity, as by the Word of God, and especially between two Kingdoms united by Solemn Covenant.

6 The Declaration holds forth no resolution of Parliament for opposing and suppressing of the Popish, Prelaticall or Malignant party if they rise again in armes, but only against associating or joyning forces with them, and not so much as that, except with limitations in case they be refusers to swear and subscribe the Covenant; and in case they rise in armes to oppose or obstruct all, or a­ny one of the ends of the Covenant. Whereas it may be easily foreseen, that if the Popish, Pre­laticall or Malignant party rise again in armes in England, they cannot only conceale their intenti­ons against the ends of the Covenant, but also be easily exempted from being reckoned refusers of the Covenant, the Covenant not being now im­posed upon them; and being once suffered to rise in armes (as some are already) may grow so strong as that it will be very hard and difficult to suppress them.

7 Whereas wee have insisted for satisfaction to our consciences concerning the persons to be en­trusted with the managing of the warre, and that [Page 5]none may be employed in Comittees and armies but such as have given constant proof of their in­tegrity and faithfulnesse, and against whom there is no just cause of jealousie; that so wee may the more confidently encourage our flocks to follow the cause of God in their hands: the Declaration in stead of satisfying this desire, doth avoyd and keep off from these qualifications desired by us, and so leaves a latitude for employing such as these qualifications do not agree to.

Finally, as we neither were, nor are against an engagement, if once satisfied in the grounds of undertaking and manner of proceeding, and the o­ther particulars expressed in our former papers; So for the reasons before mentioned, and divers others fully expressed in our Representation upon the Declaration, wee judge the present engage­ment as it is stated, unlawfull; and trust, that all the well affected in the Kingdom will make con­science of their Solemn Vowes, and will be care­full by the grace and assistance of God to keep themselves from being ensnared and carried a­longst in any course contrary to the Covenant.