WE the Commons assembled in the Parlia­ment of England, taking it into our con­sideration, That however the late pos­sessing of Berwick and Carlile, and the coming of the Scotish Army and Forces into this Kingdom, be most notorious and unparalleld Breaches of the Solemn League and Covenant, and the many Treaties, National Agreements, and Acts of Parliament passed both in England and Scotland.

Yet, because we are assured these impious and unwarrantable Actions cannot be done with the Approbation and Consent of the Religious and Well-affected people of the Kingdom of Scotland; and that we understand there are very few amongst these who are in this Ingagement against us, that first ingaged with us in the Covenant and Cause, but such as have been professed Enemies to them, however they be now content to pretend there­unto, that they may the better deceive the people of this Kingdom: We are unwilling to impute such Evils to the Nation in general, but to those persons that own and appear in them, whom we are confident, God (that hath still so remarkably manifested his displeasure against Truce-breakers) [Page 5] in his due time will judge, whatever we may suffer in the mean while.

Therefore we now send to you, that it may ap­pear we will not by any provocation be induced to withdraw our selves from those in Scotland who retain their former Principles, and still own the Cause wherein we have (with blessing from hea­ven) been so long engaged and solemnly United.

And because the Enemies thereof have been very industrious in prosecuting a Design to hinder the Work of Reformation in this Kingdom, by raising many Scandals and Reproaches upon us; and by unworthy Insinuations of our Ends and Intentions, and false Representations of our Acti­ons and Proceedings, which they have framed sutable to the several present stirring Distempers, the better to foment Discontents in all sorts of people against us; charging us, That we do not intend any thing in the Work of Reformation (though they do more malign what we have done already, then desire we should do more) That we have a purpose to alter the Government of the Kingdom, That we are Enemies to Peace, and to the Union of the Kingdoms, and such like. There­fore, That by such practices neither you may be abused, nor we further wronged, We have thought fit for our own necessary vindication, to give you (in the first place) a short view, how far (through the assistance of Almighty God, to whom alone be the glory) the two Houses of Par­liament have proceeded in the work of Reforma­tion, [Page 6] notwithstanding the opposition of the Ene­mies to Truth, and the great dangers and difficul­ties which have been raised, to hinder them, by the force and power, Plots and Designs of the Popish, Prelatical and Malignant party in this Kingdom, with whom the Scotish Army are now joyned in Forces and Counsels.

It is very well known how great a party in this Kingdom were ingaged for upholding of Pre­lacy, yet they, notwithstanding all discourage­ments and hazards to themselves, have taken away and extirpated that Government, so dis­agreeable to what is practiced in other Reformed Churches, and prejudicial to the power of God­liness.

And because the peace of the Church, and power of Religion cannot long continue without good Order and Discipline establisht therein, they called an Assembly of Godly, Learned, and Or­thodox Divines from all parts of the Kingdom, with whom some Commissioners of the Church of Scotland joyned, to sit at Westminster; and after Consultation had with them, Both Houses took away the Service-Book, commonly called The Book of Common-Prayer, and establisht A Directory for Worship, commanding the practice of it in all the Churches and Chappels of this Kingdom: And, in stead of Episcopacy they have set up Pres­byterial Government in the Church, which is al­ready setled in many parts of the Kingdom, and do (by Gods assistance) resolve to pursue the further [Page 7] perfecting and establishment of it in all parts, both in England and Ireland.

They have approved and passed The Confession of Faith (or Articles of Christian Religion) as it came from the Assembly of Divines, with some small Alterations (onely some small part is yet un­der consideration) the rest being printed and pub­lished by Authority of Parliament.

They have passed a greater and less Catechism that came from the Assembly of Divines.

They have taken away all Superstitious Cere­monies and Popish Innovations.

They have given Authority for the Demolish­ing of all Representations of any Persons of the Trinity, Saint or Angel, and taking away all Altars, Crosses, Crucifixes, Pictures, and all other Monuments of Idolatry and Superstition in any Church, Chappel or Place within this King­dom.

They have passed an Ordinance for the punish­ing of Blasphemies and Heresies.

They have passed an Ordinance for the Eject­ing of Scandalous Ministers and Schoolmasters; and thereupon have removed many, in whose stead they have placed godly and able Men.

They have passed an Ordinance, That none shall enter into the work of the Ministry, but such as are Ordained thereto.

They have given all the Incouragement, and made the best provision they could for the mainte­nance of a godly Preaching Ministry through the [Page 8] Kingdom, not onely in removing the Ignorant and Scandalous, but in augmenting Maintenance for painful Ministers, both out of the Impropriations of Bishops, the Estates and Revenues of Deans and Chapters, and out of the Impropriations of Delinquents, which they bought out and setled upon Churches that wanted maintenance, to a very great value.

They have purged the Universities and chief Schools of the Kingdom (which are the Semina­ries of Learning, and Education of Youth) of ma­ny Heads of Houses, Fellows and Schollers as were Superstitious, Prelatical and Malignant, and have placed in their stead such as are well-affected to Reformation of Religion, and Uniformity with other Reformed Churches.

They have passed several Ordinances for the bet­ter Observation of the Lords day, and days of publique Fast and Thanksgiving, and have con­demned all Licentious practices upon those days; and have ordered the Books formerly written in favour of them, to be publiquely burnt.

They have suppressed all Stage-Plays and In­terludes (the Nurseries of Vice and Prophane­ness.)

And although we must needs say, That the greatest let and impediment which we have met with in setling the Reformation of Religion (ac­cording to the Covenant) hath come from His Majesty, who by His refusing hitherto to grant our Desires for the taking away of Episcopacy and the [Page 9] Service-Book, and to settle the Directory for Worship, and Presbyterial Government; and by denying his concurrence to establish them by Act of Parliament, hath given great occasion to men of unsound Judgements, to spread their Opini­ons and Errors (which is not unusual in times of Reformation) when the settling of it is long delayed.

And further, by his declaring in his late Mes­sage from the Isle of Wight, That he thinks him­self obliged both as a Christian and as a King, to employ whatever power God shall put in his hand for the upholding of Episcopacy, he hath given great encouragement to the Popish, Malignant and Prelatical party to endeavor by Plots and Designs, and now again by open force, the reintroducing of Episcopacy and the Service-Book, which by the Conjunction of the Scotish Army with their Forces, they have now great hopes to effect; yet (by Gods assistance who hath helped us hither­to) it shall be our care and endeavor against all dangers and discouragements whatsoever, to pro­ceed in the work of Reformation until it be per­fected.

For other things wherewith we are commonly aspersed; as, That we should have intentions to al­ter the Fundamental Government of this King­dom; both Houses have endeavored so to stop the mouth of malice by declaring several times for­merly, and of late the 26. of May, That they will not alter the Government by King, Lords and [Page 10] Commons, that we shall need to say no more of it.

And for our desires of Peace, our seven several Ad­dresses to the King, with Propositions for a safe and well grounded Peace, will sufficiently speak for us: And although the several denials which we have received from his Majesty formerly, and the pre­sent preparations for War by the Malignant party of both Kingdoms under pretence of Peace, might wholly discourage us, yet we (notwithstand­ing all the hazards that may attend it) now again agreed to try whether a Peace can be settled by a Treaty with his Majesty in the Isle of Wight, upon the Propositions presented to him at Hampton-Court, wherein we shall (by the help of God) ap­prove our selves such as are both desirous of a firm Peace, and mindeful of the trust reposed in us by the people of this Kingdom, for the securing of Religion and their Liberties.

As for our desires to preserve the Union and Brotherly Agreement betwixt the Kingdoms, we shall not here say much about it, because the whole Transaction betwixt our Commissioners and the Parliament, and Committee of Estates of Scotland will be printed, wherein it will appear what was offered, in order to give them real satisfaction in our Engagements to them for the Service of their Armies in England and Ireland, to which we could never get any Answer; and what they demanded in the name and by the command of both Houses, from the Parliament and Committee of Estates of [Page 11] Scotland, concerning several English Delinquents and Incendiaries then in Scotland, which by Treaties and Acts of Parliament passed in both Kingdoms, ought to have been delivered to be tryed in the Kingdom of England; but in stead of giving them up, they were countenanced and incouraged, con­sulted and agreed with to seize and hold the Towns of Berwick and Carlisle in the Kingdom of England, which by Acts of Parliament, and several Treaties and Agreements of both Kingdoms, were not to be garisoned without the consent of both Parliaments.

And when in pursuance of those Treaties and Agreements, our Commissioners did declare those Traytors and Enemies to this Kingdom that had Garisoned them, and required the like De­claration from the Parliament and Committee of Estates of Scotland, it would not be assented unto, although very often pressed; but in stead thereof, all maner of Provisions were sent unto them, and the Commanders in those Garisons (though many of them notorious Papists) had much freedom and countenance to their proceedings by persons of eminent power in Scotland; whereas notwithstand­ing we had notice there was some design for seizing these Towns, which might have been prevented by our timely putting Forces into them, yet to avoid the guilt of breach of Treaties, we rather resolved to run the hazard which did ensue, then to bring that imputation upon our selves: And now it ap­pears, these Towns were but taken in trust to be delivered to the Scotish Forces, who however [Page 12] they do publiquely declare for Religion and the Covenant, yet the Papists and Delinquents, not onely in Berwick and Carlisle, but in other parts of the Kingdom, who are professed Enemies to Re­ligion and the Covenant, and do kill, plunder and pursue those who have been faithful in them, are so well satisfied of their ends and intentions, that they joyn and hazard their lives and fortunes with them.

Whilst these forementioned Councels and Com­pliances were thus on foot in Scotland with those that are declared Enemies to the Peace of this King­dom, and the grounds of the Union of both Kingdoms; The Parliament of Scotland did send us a Paper of Desires, dated the 26 of April last, which in the Letter wherein they were inclosed are called Demands, that implies a right which upon examination will not be found; yet the Houses were so desirous to give the Parliament of Scotland all possible satisfaction, that they did not take ex­ception thereunto, nor to the person by whom they were sent, who was accused before them for en­deavoring the Revolt of the Forces under the Lord Inchiquin in Ireland, which then had happened; Nor did they insist upon the first granting of their aforesaid just Demands made to the Parliament and Committee of Estates of Scotland, but perceiving so strange an Alteration in Scotland, they judged it fit for them to try in the first place, whether Scotland would own the Cause wherein we had both been engaged; And therefore (after our Commissioners [Page 13] had acquainted the Committee of Estates with our Declaration of the 6 of May last, concerning our full Resolutions to maintain and preserve inviola­bly the Solemn League and Covenant, and Trea­ties betwixt the Kingdoms) they did return An­swer to this purpose, That we did offer to joyn with the Parliament of Scotland in the Proposi­tions presented to the King at Hampton-Court, and in making such further proceedings thereupon as should be thought fit for the speedy Settlement of the Peace of both Kingdoms, and preservation of the Union, according to the Covenant and Trea­ties; And when we should receive their Answer thereunto, the Houses would be ready to give fur­ther satisfaction in those things which should not intrench upon the particular Interests of the King­dom, and Priviledges of the Parliament of Eng­land. But to these, all the Answer our Commis­sioners could obtain from the Parliament or Com­mittee of Estates of Scotland, was, That they could return us no Answer, till just satisfaction were given to their Desires of the 26. of April.

Afterwards we agreed upon a Personal Treaty with the Kings Majesty upon the Propositions, (He first consenting to three Propositions, which in sub­stance He had granted in former Messages) And the Houses sent to the Committee of Estates, that Scotland would joyn with them, and that they would prepare such Propositions as they thought fit for that Kingdom: But to this neither we nor our Commissioners received any Answer, until a Scotish [Page 14] Army had invaded this Kingdom, and then it was sent with a Declaration; of which we will say no more in this place, but that considering they were bound by Treaties and Act of Parliament to give us three moneths warning before their making War with us, it had been more Honorable that their Declaration had rather come before, then follow­ed after their Army.

By all which, and by their vigorous pursuing the raising of their Army, before they sent their desires, and ever after, before they knew what Answer would be returned to them by the Houses, it doth appear, That this invasion was intended and re­solved upon, let us say or do what we would; wherein they have too little considered how many obligations did lie upon them to the contrary; how much this their Engagement tends to the utter ruine of poor Ireland, who by their drawing away so many of the British and other Forces to joyn with them, and disinabling us to send them relief, is exposed to eminent hazard; how much to the dishonor and danger of the Reformed Religion in all Christendom, and how highly the God of Truth and Peace is provoked by it; which evils seeing we have on our parts so much labored to prevent, we doubt not but God will be with us, and the prayers of his people for us; And that those who have dealt falsly in striking hands with the common Enemy, to kindle a new fire betwixt these Kingdoms, shall themselves perish therein.