WEE the Lords and Commons in this pre­sent Parliament assembled, do in the pre­sence of Almighty God, for the satisfaction of our own Consciences, and discharge of that great trust [Page] which lyes upon us make this declaration to you.

And for the avoiding of bloud, We directed the directed the Earle of Essex Lord Generall, by him selfe or others in some safe and honourable way, to cause to bee delivered an humble Petition, wherein we doe desire nothing from His Majesty but that he would returne in peace to His Parli­ament: And by their faithfull Counsell and ad­vice compose the distempers and confusions a­bounding in his Kingdomes, as hee is bound to doe, we therin professing in the sight of Almighty God, which is the strongest obligation and assu­rance that any Christian, and the most solemne publike Faith which any such State, as a Parlia­ment can give, that we would receive him with all Honour, yeeld Him all true obedience and subjection, and faithfully endeavour to defend his Person and Estate from all danger, and to the ut­termost of our power to establish to him and to his people all the blessings of a glorious and hap­py Reigne, as it is more largely expressed in that Petition.

For the Delivery of which Petition, His Ex­cellencie hath twice sent unto the King, humbly desiring a safe conduct for those who should bee imployed therein, but His Mtjesty refused to give [Page] any such safe Conduct, or to receive this humble and dutifull Petition, by any addresse of the Earle of Essex, saying, that if Justice had been done, the Gentleman which brought the second Message, could not expect his Liberty.

By all which, and many other Evidences and Inducements, we are fully convinc'd in our judg­ments and Beliefe, that the Kings Councels and Resolutions are so eng [...]ged to the Popish partie for the suppression and extirpation of the true Religion, that all hopes of peace and protection are excluded, and that it is fully intended to give satisfaction to the papists by alteration of Religi­on, and to the Cavaleers and to the Cavaleers and other Souldiers, by exposing the wealth of the good Subjects especially of this City of London, to be sackt plundered and spoiled by them.

Also His Majesty being now growne stronger, and able as he conceives to make good his owne ends by Armes, his confidence in the papists doth more clearly appear, persons imprisond for priests and Iesuites have bin released out of the Gaole of Lancaster, profest papists have bin invited to rise and take up Armes.

[Page]We are also credibly informed, that divers Je­suits in forreign parts, makes great collection of mony for the furthering of his Maj. designs, here against the Parliament, And that great means are made to take up the differences betwixt some Princes of the Roman Religion, that so they might unite their strength for the extirpation of the Protestant Religion, wherein principally this Kingdome and the Kingdome of Scotland are con­cerned, as making the greatest body of the Refor­med Religion in Christendome, and best able to defend themselves, and succour other Churches. For which Reasons, we are resolved to enter into a so­lemn Oath and Covenant with God, to give up our selves and fortunes in his hands, and that wee will to the uttermost of our power and judge­ment maintain his Truth, and conform our selves to his will. That we will defend this cause with the hazzard of our lives against the Kings Army, and against all that joyns▪ with them in prosecu­tion of this wicked design, according to the form to be agreed upon by both Houses of Parl. to bee subscribed by our hands▪ And that we will for the same ends associate our selves, and unite with all the well affected in the City of London, and other parts of his Majesties Dominions.

[Page]We do also expect our Brethren of Scotland, ac­cording to the Act of Pacification, whereby the two Kingdomes are mutually bound to suppresse all debates and differences to the disturbance of the publique Peace, That they will help and assist us in defence of this cause, which if the Popish party prevail, must needs either involve them in that alteration of Religion which will bee made here, or ingage them in a Warre against this King­dome, to defend their own Religion and Liberty: And we doubt not but the God of Truth, and the great Protector of his people, will assist and ina­ble us in this our just defence, to restrain the fury and malice of those that s [...]ek our Ruine, and to procure end establish the safety of Religion, and fruition of our Laws and Liberties in this, and all other his Majesties Dominions; Which we do here again professe before the ever-living God to bee the chief end of all our Counsels and Resolutions, without ony intention or desire to hurt or iniure his Maiestie, either in his Person or iust Power.