IF either Christian duty, which by reason of the light of the Gospel so clearely shining amongst us, might have been expected from the Profes­sors of Religion; Or of naturall affe­ction, which even in the Heathen and Infidels ignorant of Christ, hath abounded toward their Native Countrey; of sincere respect to His Ma­sties Honour and Happinesse, could have been found in the wayes or hearts of our common enemies, the enemies of Truth and Peace; If they had either feared [Page 2] God or regarded men, or yeelded to our Importuni­ties, We had not, after so many Petitions, Declarati­ons and Remonstrances as have filled all mens eares and hands, been put to this necessity of a new Decla­ration (which therefore must be more pathetick 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 bloud, and so many unnaturall Trage­dies in the Kingdome 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 beleeved that our Religion, Liberties and Lawes, 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 Countrey­men?

In this our extremity, first of all We Declare, That We place not our confidence in our own counsels 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 Wee maintain with all the Reformed Churches, and which hath been witnessed and sealed by the testimony, suffe­rings, and bloud of so many Confessours and Martyrs against the Heresie, Superstition, and Tyrannie 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 [Page 3] devastation is our aime, and the end which we have before our eyes: His Covenant have we in both Na­tions solemnly sworn and subscribed, which hee 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 years past, but especially of late have been offered up with fasting and humiliati­on, and with strong crying and teares, unto him that is able to deliver and save us, are a seed which promise unto us a plentifull Harvest of comfort and happines; and the Apostacy, 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 speedie 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 Warre wherein both Nations now firmely 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, who re­wards every one according to his works; 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 Arms [Page 4] 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 far as may be) repaired, and themselves honoured and rewarded by such means and wayes, as we trust, God in his providence shal afford, and the Parliaments or Estates of the two Kingdoms respectively shall in their Wisdom, Justice and Thankfulnesse judge most convenient; so that no man who hath been eminent in action, or hath suffered any notable losse for the pub­lique, shall be neglected or sleighted, but one way or other shall be thankfully remembred, to his own 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 been Newtra­lists or indifferent in the times of civill division and danger of the Common-wealth, have been in all Na­tions severely punished as pernicious and publique enemies: yet that the consciences of all men may be the more convinced, and all pretexts removed, We give now Publique 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 Enemie, and by their zeale and forwardnesse hereafter to make up what hath been wanting through their luke-warm­nesse; this they will finde to be their greatest wisdom and safety: otherwise We do Declare them to be pub­lique [Page 5] Enemies to the Religion and Countrey, and that they are to be censured and punished as profes'd 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 Arms with the Enemies against their Reli­gion and Native Countrey; We do Declare, that all common Souldiers, who upon the humble acknow­ledgement of their former Errors, shall offer them­selves willingly and speedily to take the Covenant, and shall joyn heartily and really in the defence of this Cause, as becometh good Christians and lovers of their Countrey, shall be freely accepted into the Co­venant, and their former Error 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 fair perswasions, have joyned themselves in Arms with the Popish, Prelaticall, and Malignant party, against the Parliament and Kingdom of England, and not considering the nature of the Cause in which they have been engaged, nor the deep interest of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland, upon which this Warre was to turn in the end, have been fighting against their own Religion and Native Kingdom; We do therefore again Warne all such, of whatsoever quality, and in whatsoever place, speedily to withdraw themselves from that Faction, to confesse their mistakes, and to joyne in the Covenant and Cause of God in both Kingdoms before the first day of March next; other­wise [Page 6] We Declare, in the behalfe of the Kingdom of England, that they are to expect no favour, but are to be used as desperate Malignants: And We Declare, in behalfe of the Kingdom of Scotland, if they either continue in Arms after the foresaid first day of March, or withhold their help and assistance from their Na­tive Countrey, in the time of trouble and danger, they are to be censured and punished as publick Enemies to their Religion and Countrey, perfidious transgressors of their Nationall Covenant, and their Estates disposed of for the use of the Publique.

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 Kingdoms, have made the division greater, and the Breaches wider be­twixt the King and his Parliament, and thereby, con­trary to the duty of their places and callings, have been the cause of the shedding of much innocent Blood, of great Losses, and of many Miseries and dan­gers, to the Publique of both Kingdoms, and of the Suffering of private men in their Estates and Lives, and yet are not to be reckoned amongst the prime Au­thors of this unnaturall Warre, nor amongst the mali­cious and desperate Enemies of their Religion and Countrey: We do Declare, That all such, forsaking their former Opposition, returning to their duty, and indeavouring the good of Religion and the publique 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 [Page 7] that never departed from it, they must expect that to­ward the payment of the publique Debts, relieving the common Burdens of the Kingdoms, 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 proportions should be lyable; and that as the wisedome and discretion of the 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 publique Enemies to their Religion and Countrey.

Seventhly, Because Papists and Popish Recusants, according to the principles of their Profession, have e­ver been plotting and contriving the change of Religi­on in this Island, and the Ruine of all the Professors thereof: And after the Frustration of their Attempts, having waited upon such a time as this, have alienated the Heart of the Kings Majestie from his Protestant and Loyall Subjects, taken Arms against the Parlia­ment and Kingdome, and by all their means and pow­er, have maintained a Bloody and unnaturall Warre, 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 and Tyranny of the Pope: [Page 8] We do 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 Traitors, and professed and intolerable Enemies of Religion and their Native Countrey. 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 Warre against the Parliament, and Kingdome of Eng­land.

And Lastly, Because there are some few wicked and divelish Spirits of both Kingdomes, who have kindled and fomented the Fire of Division and Warre 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 Malignancie in others, or have been restlesse and active Instruments of the Troubles and Miseries of his Majesties Dominions.

We do 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 despair of favour, and thereby uncessantly to worke more and more mischief against their Religion and Native Countrey, so are they to look for such Execution of Justice, as is due to Traytours and Enemies of Religi­on, of the King, and his Kingdomes, for Terrour and Example to others, in all times to come.

And it is further now Declared, That the whole E­states, reall, and personall, moveable, and Inheritance [Page 9] 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 Armes, Irish Rebells, and those who shall be found to come with­in the compasse of the precedent Article) shall be for­feited and imployed for paying the Publique 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 sense of that duty which is required and expected from the high places and publique relations wherein 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 after long and grave consultation, resolved and decreed never to lay down Armes till Truth and Peace, by the blessing of God, be setled in this Island upon a firme foundation for the present and future Generations, which shall be esteemed of Us an abundant reward of all that Wee can do or suffer in this Cause.