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 [Page 10]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 [Page 11]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 [Page 12]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, or shall be Incendiaries, Malignants, or evill Instruments, by hindering the Reformation of Religion, dividing the King from his people, or one of the Kingdoms from another, or making any Faction or parties amongst the people, contrary to this League and Covenant, that they may be brought to publicke triall, and receive condigne punishment, as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve, or the supream Judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively, or others having power from them for that effect, shall judge convenient.
V. And whereas the happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms, denyed in former times to our Progenitors, is by the good providence of God granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded, and setled by both Parliaments, we shall each one of us, according to our place and interest indeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firme Peace and Union to all Posterity; And that Iustice may be done upon the wilfull opposers therof, in manner expressed in the precedent Articles.
VI. We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion, Liberty and Peace of the Kingdomes, assist and defend all those that enter into this League & Covenant, in the maintaining & pursuing thereof, and shall not suffer our selves directly or indirctly by whatsoever combination, perswasion or terrour, to be divided, [Page 13]& withdrawn frm this blessed Union & conjuction, whether to make defectiō to the contrary part, or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause, which so much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the Kingdoms, and the honour of the King; but shall all the dayes of our lives, zealously and constantly continue therein, against all opposition, and promote the same according to our power, against all Lets and Impediments whatsoever; and what we are not able our selves to suppresse or overcome, we shall reveal and make known, that it may be timely prevented or removed; All which we shall do as in the sight of God.
And because these Kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations against God, and his Son Iesus Christ, as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers, the fruits thereof; We professe and declare before God and the world, our unfayned desire to be humbled for our own sins, and for the sins of these Kingdoms, especially, that we have not as m ought, valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel, that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof, and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of him in our lives, which are the causes of other sins and Transgressions, so much abounding amongst us; And our true and unfained purpose, desire, and endeavour for our selves, and all others under our power and charge, both in publike and in private, in all duties we owe to God and man, to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a reall Reformation, that the Lord may turn away his wrath, and heavy indignation, and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in trueth and peace. And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God the Searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to performe the [Page 14]same, as we shall answer at that great day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit for this end, and to blesse our desires and proceedings with such successe, as may be deliverance and safety to his people, and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under, or in danger of the yoke of Antichristian Tyranny; to joyne in the same, or like Association and Covenant, to the glory of God, the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and the peace and Tranquility of Christian Kingdomes and Common-Wealths.
THE DECLARATION of the Kingdoms of ENGLAND And SCOTLAND, Joyned in Arms for the Vindication and Defence of their Religion, Liberties, and Laws, against the Popish, Prelaticall, and Malignant Party
By the Honorable Houses of the Parliament of England, and the Honorable Convention of Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland, Jan. 20. 1643.
IF either Christian Duty, which, by reason of the Light of the Gospel so clearly shining amongst us, might have been expected from the Professors of Religion; Or if naturall Affection, which, even in the Heathen and Infidells, ignorant of Christ, hath abounded [Page 22]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 [Page 23]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 [Page 24]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, [Page 25]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, [Page 27]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 [Page 28]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 [Page 29]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 [Page 30]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 [Page 31]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 [Page 32]his Kingdomes for Terror and example to others, in all times to come.
And it is further now Declared, That the whole estates reall and personall, moveable & inheritance of those that shall not come in at the times before limited in the sixth Article, and of the persons before excepted from pardon, (as of Papists in Arms, Irish Rebels, and those who shall be found to come within the compasse of the precedent Article) shall be forfeited and imployed for paying the publicke debts, relieving the common burdens of the Kingdoms, and repairing of particular losses.
And this Declaration we make, not from any presumption or vain-glorying in the strength of our Armies and Forces, but from the sence of that duty which is required, and expected from the high places and publick relations wherin we stand, and from the assurance We have of the assistance of God, by whose providence the trust and safety of these Kingdomes is put into our hands at this time, having ofter long and grave consultation, resolved and deereed, never to lay downe Armes till Truth and Peace, by the blessing of God, be setled in this Iland upon a firme foundation, for the present and future Generations, which shall be esteemed of Us an abundant reward of all that We can doe or suffer in rhis Cause.
A DECLARATION Of the Kingdome of SCOTLAND, For Information and Satisfaction to their Brethren of England, concerning the present Expedition into ENGLAND.
ALthough we have reason to beleeve that the bloody and barbarous attempts of the Papists and their Faction, both in England and Ireland, and the manifold oppressions and miseries endured by those that stand well affected to the Protestant Religion, and their Countries Liberty, have made way in the hearts of men for the ready entertainment of assistance from their Brethren, whose earnest desire it is, and whose utmost endeavour it shall be, to preserve and restore both unto them: Yet knowing how industrious the malice of the Devill and his instruments are, in raising Prejudices, and fomenting jealousies betwixt them whose hearts and mindes ought to be one, because their happinesse is the same, and particularly betwixt us and our Brethren of England, that by dividing us from each other, they might destroy us both: And that [Page 34]this our second Expedition into England (which we doubt not but God will blesse, to the advantage of that Nation, as he did our first, to the happinesse of our owne) in steal of wonder and opposition, may finde the cheer ull concurrence of all those who together with us desire, The Preservation and Reformation of Religion: The honour and happinesse of the King; The Peace and Libertie of the Kingdoms: We thought fit to permit this short, but free and ingenuous Declaration, of our Grounds and Intentions in this our present undertaking, that so we may meet with none but such as we may either finde peaceable or leave inexcusable.
Whereas there ore the greatest questions that are like to arise in this businesse, may be reduced to these three particulars, viz. The justnesse of our Cause: The lawfulnesse of our calling thereto: And The faithfulnesse of our carriages therein. We shall hereby endeavour to give satisfaction in them all, and doubt not to doe it, unlesse there remain some whose inve [...]erate malice hath produced in them a resolution to be unsatisfied.
As for the cause and ground of this undertaking, we are not ignorant with how much earnestnesse the sons of slander and perdition (whose custome is to traduce those proceedings which they know not how to disappoint) do endeavour [Page 35]to possesse the hearts of our Brethren, that we are coming to fish in the troubled waters of England, to seek and take our own advantages in the midst of your necessities. But suffer not your e [...]res, much lesse your hearts, to be open to any such delusions, whereof we trust your eyes shall shortly witnesse the falshood. For as here after we doubt not to appeal to our carnages and your consciences, besides your late experience of our Religious observance of our former Declarations of this kinde; so in the meane time give us leave to appeal to the great searcher of hearts, who knows; That had not the love of Christ, requiring Christians to beare one anothers burden; and the Law of nature challenging our utmost care and endeavor, for the prevention of our own danger and ruine, which an ordinary understanding will easily see to be wrapped up in our neighbours, And our dutie, and desire of rescuing the King from the dangers wherein he is involved, by the company and pernicious Counsell of those who are enemies to Religion, his Majesties happinesse, and Peace of his Dominions, Called and compelled us to this Service, we could with far more content and satisfaction to our selves, have enjoyed with quietnesse our dry morsell, then entred into your houses full of sacrifices with strife: Which yet since we are required and necessitated to, by that just Calling, hereafter to be mentioned, We professe [Page 37]before God and the World, that our hearts and thoughts are clean and free from any other Intentions then those expressed in our solemn League & Covenant, in which we are confederate with England, viz. The Preservation and Reformation of Religion; The Honour and Happinesse of the King; and, The Peace and Liberties of the Kingdoms. All which we now apprehend to be deeply endangered, by the Councels and Confederacies of Papists, Prelats, Malignants, and their adherents, so prevalent in England and Ireland: And we shall no otherwise desire a blessing upon our endeavours, then as they shall be directed to the conservation and establishment thereof.
And because it is not sufficient to be ingaged in a good Cause, unlesse by a good calling, we do hereby further declare, That though the inseparable interests of both Nations in their Religion and Liberties, which having the same common Enemies, must look to stand and fall together, might have given us sufficient warrant to have endeavoured the prevention of our own ruine, by preserving our Friends and Brethren from destruction: yet that we might be the more fully and formally obliged to this Christian duty and service, and so the mouth of slander and malice be stopped, God hath so ordered things in his wise and just providence, that the Parliament, of England, who (beside, their interest [Page 36]in the Preservation and Reformation of Religion, and the defence of the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdome, to which our help is requited) have a particular obligation upon this Nation (As we have formerly declared our Intentions published before our last Expedition) for refusing to countenance or maintaine a Warre against us, in the yeere 1640. have thought fit by their Commissioners enabled to that effect, to desire a firm Vnion with us; and this just and necessary assistance from us.
And whereas it is too obvious an Objection, That the Kings command or consent being no ingredient, our Calling is thereby rendred deficient: We answer, That though, through the injury of mischievous Councels, both his Person and personall Commands are withheld from us: Yet his Honour, his Happinesse, his Posterity, his great Councel, and the welfare of his Kingdoms, call importunately to us for this timely interposing. So that unlesse we can (which God forbid) blot out of our thoughts the sence of Piety and Religion toward God, of Honour and duty toward our Soveraigne, and of Gratitude toward the Parliament and Kingdome of England, we can in no wise resist our present Call to this undertaking.
And lastly, for what concernes the manner of the pursuance of this just Cause and lawfull Calling: [Page 38]Although the many frustrate Petitions and Remonstrances from both Kingdoms presented to his Majesty, have left us onley this way, which yet is not intended against his Majesties Person, not any of his good Subjects, but those Enemies of the King and Kingdomes, and whom no other meanes can prevailed Yet we shall diligently endeavour so to order the Affaires of our Army, that all Insolencies, Rapines, Plunderings, and those other calamities that usually attend upon Warre, may be prevented. And herein as with no small content to our selves, so with no lesse satisfaction to you, are we able to refer you to the experience of out former Expedition (when our own necessitie drove us into England; as now yours do call us) to consider how little damage was occasioned by out meanes, how little disorder was committed by us in any place where we came: And we hereby promise the like care and diligence shall be renewed, and if possible doubled to that effect.
And that we may not be looked with the prejudice of Strangers, which we hope the firme Union of this mutuall Covenant will weare out, There is a Committee of your owne Nation, the most of which are Parliament men, such to whom you have committed the trust and care of your Religion, Laws and Liberties, joyned with us, without whose concurrence nothing that concernes you is [Page 39]to be transacted. And to free you of all unjust suspition, which if your mindes are not ready to conceive, yet the malicious mouthes of our Adversaries and yours are ready to suggest, That notwithstanding this Declaration, we have some sinister and secret ends which may prove prejudiciall to your Rights and happinesse: Be it hereby made knowne unto you, that we have freely ingaged our selves, by an Article of the late Treaty betwixt the Nations, to give the publike Faith of the Kingdome of Scotland unto the Kingdome of England, that neither our entrance into, not continuance in that Kingdome, shall be made use of to any other ends then expressed in the Covenant, and that Treaty subscribed to us by the Commissioners of both Kingdomes, which we are resolved, to the honour of God and of this Nation, to keepe inviolate.
And as our Friends and Brethren may looke for actions conforme to the expressions of this Declaration, so must the Malignants and implacable orposers of the ends declared in our Covenant, expect nothing but an impartiall and vigorous prosecution of the same: In which, if any evill befall them, we are confident that the judgement of wise and indifferent men will reduce it to themselves, as the wilfull Authors thereof.
And finally we declare against all false and artificiall relations) that we are so farre from desiring [Page 40]harme or losse to any of our Brethren of England, that our sincere and reall intentions are not to adde fuell, not bring oyle, but water to extinguish these lamentable combustions and fires, which we have with so much duty and love laboured to quench: That our taking of Armes is not to make Wars (if we be not necessitated) but to obtaine a better grounded and a more durable Peace, for enjoying of our Religion and Liberties in all the three Kingdomes: And that the wicked (who are the unworthy authors of all our troubles) being removed from our King, a right understanding may be established betwixt his Majesty and his people. And as we have solemnly sworn to protect and defend all who shall enter in, and adhere to this Covenant: So doe we certainly expect, that all our Brethren in England, who are zealous for the true Protestant Religion, loyall to the King and faithfull for their Country, will joyne and concurre with us in the most noble and just wayes of procuring these just desires: Which being obtained, we shall be most willing and ready to returne to our native Country esteeming it our greatest happinesse, that truth with Peace may be established in all His Majesties Dominions.
FINIS.