THe many calamities and heavy pres­sures, the sad affliction lying upon these Kingdoms this time past, and the great effusion of Christian blood occasioned by the continuance of this unnatural War, having so deep­ly [Page 5] wounded us, And being earnestly desirous to give some evident testimony of our Piety to God, Loyalty to our Soveraign, and Love to these King­doms; that the constancy of our affection to this Cause, our zeal to the Reformation of Religion, and His Majesties Person and Authority in defence thereof; And our firm Resolutions to pursue the ends express'd in our Solemn League and Cove­nant, may appear to the World: We have thought it necessary in this juncture of time, when all means are essayed by the Enemies of Truth and Peace to disparage our proceedings, by rendring suspected our best actions and endeavors, to the begetting of misunderstanding, and weakning the Union between the two Kingdoms, to Declare and make known, That as we have entred into a Solemn League and Covenant, with our hands lifted up to the most High God, with real Intentions to promote the ends thereof, So do we resolve, God-willing, con­stantly to adhere to the whole Heads and Articles of the same, And for no earthly tentation, for no fear or hope, to fall away and violate our Sacred Oath.

We do likewise professe, That nothing hath been with greater care and faithfulnesse endeavored by us; then to preserve the happy Union and Bro­therly correspondence between the Kingdoms, as a principal mean of happinesse to both; And shall continue in the same care to avoid every thing that may tend to the infringement thereof, with a special [Page 6] regard and tendernesse to the Interests of both King­doms: For the strengthning of which Union, and removing every thing that might obstruct the same, As hitherto we have had no compliance, nor kept correspondence with known Enemies and Malignants, So will wee never hereafter give countenance or encouragement to any per­son disaffected to the Parliaments of either King­dom.

And that the Integrity of our Intentions, and the uprightnesse of our Desires may be the more mani­fest, We do Declare, That we abhor all publike and private ways, contrary to the Covenant, and destructive to the happinesse of both Kingdoms, We disclaim all dealing with those that are Instru­ments of these unhappy Troubles and Impediments of Peace, And with all such persons who will not use all means and endeavors, and contribute their best Counsels and Advice for hasting an end to our lasting Miseries, and procuring a sure and well-grounded Peace; and in particular we do abomi­nate and detest that execrable Rebellion of James Grahame utterly, abjuring all maner of conjunction with him and his Confederates, And with all other known Enemies, or declared Traitors to either Kingdom, notwithstanding of any insinuations to to the contrary express'd in some Letters, as is said, by His Majesty to the Earl of Ormond in Ireland; for we have none but single Intentions, and unfained Desires of Peace, renouncing all communion with whatsoever designs and practises contrived in the [Page 7] dark to the prejudice of Religion, and Tranquility of these Kingdoms, the only principles by which we move.

And as we came into this Kingdom at the earnest desires of our Brethren, to assist them in the time of their great Extremity, in the pursuance of the National Covenant, not for any mercinary ends, nor to enrich our selves, as is falsely and calumni­ously charged upon us by those that wish not well unto us nor our cause; So shall we be most willing to depart and return home in Peace, with the same cheerfulnesse and affection that we had when we came in: Nor shall the matter of money, or want of just Recompence for the Service performed, and hardship sustained, be to us an Argument of our stay; But leaving the consideration of these things to the wisdom and discretion of both Parliaments, we shall so far deny our selves, as not to suffer any private respects of our own, to retard the advance­ment of this cause, or prejudge the publick work of both Kingdoms.

We cannot conceal, but must acknowledge how sensible we are, and have alwayes been of the many Complaints presented to the Parliament of England against this Army, and the heavie Calumnies and Aspersions lying upon us for having committed In­solencies, and oppressed the people by taking free quarter, offering our selves most willing and ready, that whosoever amongst us have by their Misdemea­nors, Miscarriages, or Inordinate way of walking, scandalized the Cause for which we have taken our [Page 8] Lives in our hand, or endeavored to beget a Mis­understanding, or foment Jealousies between the Kingdoms, we shall strive to discover all such, and labour to bring them to publick Tryal and condign punishment: Not doubting, but as we are zealous to vindicate our Honor and Reputation from all re­proaches, so the Parliament will likewise be pleased to have such favorable construction of our proceed­ings, as not willingly to harbor any Thoughts which may lessen their respects to us, and which are not suitable to the constant Tenour of our cariage and profession: And we shall likewise desire, That the manifold necessities, and pressing wants to which we were many times reduced, may not be forgotten; and that the wayes and means appointed for our supply, neither answered the expectation of the Ho­norable Houses of Parliament, nor satisfied our ne­cessities, so that for want of Moneys we could not alwayes discharge our quarters; Yet do we most freely declare our willingnesse to allow of whatso­ever hath been taken up by us, and for that effect we desire the Accompts of the Army to be adjusted with the several and respective Counties, that what ever can be justly charged upon us, may be discoun­ted off any Sums that shall be resting us in Arrear: And if we knew any thing else that could serve to remove all Jealousies and Misunderstandings, and beget a more full confidence of our uprightnesse, wee should with the same readinesse apply our selves to all the wayes that might conduce there­unto.

[Page 9] But, because His Majesties su [...]den and unexpected comming into this Army doth minister new occasi­on to us, to give some demonstration of our constan­cy, though wee hope His Majestie came with reall In­tentions, to satisfie the just desires of His Parlia­ments, and compose all those differences. Yet, lest it should bring in question the Clearnesse and Inte­gritie of our wayes, whereof our Consciences doe beare us witnesse, and our actions shall be publike and reall testimo [...]ies; Wee doe protest▪ that His presence with us, hath not begotten any alteration in our minds in the least measure to estrange us from the wayes of our Covenant, or alienate our Resolutions from going on Zealously, Constantly, and Unani­mously, to set forward the ends therein exprest, en­deavouring (so farre as lyeth in our power) to im­prove that providence of His comming to [...]s▪ to the publike good and happinesse of both Kingdomes. And as it is our earnest desire, that His Majesty would no more suffer Himselfe to be involved in the Coun­sels, whereof He h [...] had so sad experience, to the en­dangering of His Person, Posteritie, and Kingdomes; So doe wee exceedingly wish, that He would comply with the Counsels of His Parliaments, to the satis­faction of His good people: And we shall be carefull that nothing proceed from us, which may give occa­sion to His Majestie to entertaine any secret confi­dence, that this Army will give assist [...]nce for advance­ing other ends then such as are agree [...]ble to our Cove­nant, conducing to the good of Religion, the happi­nesse of the King and His Posteritie, and sa [...]tie of the King [...]omes.