IN the yeare 1642. and afterwards in the year, 1643. When the Popish, Prelaticall, and Malignant party did grow prevalent in this Kingdom, the honourable Houses of Parliament did communicate severall De­clarations and Papers to th [...] Kingdom of Scotland, thereby to in­forme their judgements of the state of the differences here, and to gain their assistance, and invite their Forces to come into this King­dom. In which D [...]clarations, and other Papers, they affirm and de­clare.Declarat. and ac­count to all the world. August 1642. ‘That the Army of the Houses of Parliament was raised for maintenance of the true Religion, the Kings Person, Honour and Estate, priviledges of Parliament, Rights and Liberties of Sub­jects; And for the prevention of the alteration of Religion. That their Enemies design was, to corrupt and alter Religion through­out the whole Island; And that they begun with Scotland, know­ing well, that the same fate attended both Kingdoms,English Commis­sioners. August, 1643. that they have only inverted the manner of their proceeding, conceiving it an easier way to destroy them, if they may first prevaile over the Parliament and Kingdom of England, that whensoever Religion is subverted or changed in the one Kingdom, it will easily be ac­complished in the other, Religion being the band and foundati­on of the happinesse of both; That what corruptions take root in England, will quickly spread their venome and infection to their neighbour Church of Scotland. They declare the true state of the quarrell to be Religion; In reformation whereof they are so for­ward and zealous, as there is nothing expressed in Scotlands for­mer or latter Declarations, which they have not seriously endea­voured to effect. They earnestly intreat the Generall Assembly, to further and expedite the Assistance, desired by both Houses, from the Kingdom of Scotland, upon this ground and motive; [Page 2] That therby they shall do great service to God, and great honour may redound to themselves in becomming the instruments of a glorious Reformation, not only throughout this Isl [...]nd, but from thence possibly to be spread to other Churches oppr [...]ssed under the Antichristian bondage, and tyranny of the popish and prelati­call faction. They commend the prudence and faithfulnes of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Declar [...]t. Septem. 1642. in answer to the Scots Declar [...]t. in propounding those things which may conduce to a more close and firm union of the two Churches and Nations of England and Scotland, in preserving and maintaining the truth and purity of the reformed Religion, not only against popery, but all Superstitious S [...]cts and Innovations whatsoever: And declare, that the Houses of Parliament have ever made the Reformation of Church Go­vernment and Discipline, their chiefest aime, though they have been frequen [...]ly interrupted, and powerfully opposed in the pro­secution and accomplishment of it:’ And however they continue still in the storm and confl [...]ct, yet they take the peace, liberty, and preservation which God hath afforded Scotland, as a pledge of the like mercy intended to them in his good time, hoping that God will perfect their designs and indeavours of a full Reformation in all things pertaining to Religion. And professe their earnest desires for unity of Religion in all substantiall parts of doctrine, worship, and discipline; that both Kingdoms might be more strictly united, and inioy the advantages of his Maiesties more easie, safe, and com­fortable Government, the people a more free communion in all ho­ly exercises and duties of worship. And that there might be a more constant security of Religion,Remon­ [...]trance December, 1641. against the bloody practises of Papists and deceitfull errors of Sectaries, They Remonstrate: ‘That it is far from their purpose or desire, to let loose the golden reins of Discipline and Government of the Church, to leave private per­sons, or particular Congregations, to take up what form of divine service they please, but doe hold it requisite, that there should be throughout the whole Realm, a conformity to that Order which the Lawes inioy [...]s, [...]day, [...]642. accordin [...] to the word of God.’ They protest in the presence of the All-seein [...] Deity, ‘that the services which [Page 3] they have been desirous to perform to their Soveraign Lord and King, and to this Church and State, in providing for the publick peace and prosperity of his Maiestie and all his Realms, to have been, and still to be, the only end of all their Councels & Endeavours; wherin they have resolved to continue freed, and inlarged from all private aimes, personall respects or passions whatsoever.’ They oft mention their Protestation, taken by every Member of both Houses, promising in the presence of Almighty God, to defend his Maiestie, and disclaim the having any purpose to offer the least violence to his person, which ha [...]h, and ever shall be dear unto them. They declare, ‘that they expect the help and assistance of Scotland, in defence of the cause, whi [...]h if the Popish partie prevaile, must needs either involve them in that alteration of Religion, which will be made here; or ingage them in a war a­gainst this Kingdom, to defend their own Religion and Liberty.’ Declarat. and Pro­testation to all the world. 1642. And then professe before the everliving God, the safety of Re­ligion, Laws, and Liberties in this, and all other his Maiesties do­minions, to be the chiefe end of all their Councels and Resoluti­ons, without any intention or desire, to hurt or iniure his Maiestie either in his Person, or in his iust power; That they rest assured both God and man will abhor and abominate that monstrous and iniuri­ous charge laid upon the Representative bodie of this Kingdom,Declarat. Novem. 1642. of designing the ruin, not only of his Maiesties person, but of Monar­chy itself; and appeal to all the world, whether worse words then these can be given them.

These Declarations and solemn Engagements, were communi­cated to the Kingdom of Scotland, before they did joyn in war with the Houses of Parliament: And also both Kingdoms entred into a solemn League and Covenant, for Reformation and defence of Re­ligion: For uniformity in one Confession of Faith, form of Church Government, Directory for worship and Catechising, for extirpa­tion of Popery, Prelacie, Superstition, Heresie, Schisme, profannes and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine, and the power of Godlines: For preservation of the Rights and priviledges of Parliament, and liberties of the Subject: For the honour and [Page 4] happinesse of the King and his posterity; and the peace and safety of these Kingdoms.

In the year 1646. After the power and strength of the Enemie was broken,Declarat. of the House Comons 17. April. 1646. the House of Commons did upon the 17 of April pub­lish a Declaration (which they likewise caused to be set up and a­fixe in every parish Church) wherein they vindicate themselves from severall misconstructions, and mis-representa [...]ions of their proceedings: As that they should have any intentions or desire, to make use of the great successe God hath given them, contrary to their former professions, or to exceed or swerve from their first aimes and principles in the undertaking this war: and to recede from the solemn League and Covenant, and Treaties betwixt the Kingdoms, or to prolong these uncomfortable troubles, and blee­ding distractions, in order to alter the fundamentall constitution and frame of this Kingdom, and to leave all Government in the Church loose and unsetled, and themselves to exercise the same arbitrary power over the persons and Estates of the Subiects, which the present Parliament had thought fit to abolish, by taking away the Star Chamber, High Commission, and other arbitrary Courts, and the exorbitant power of the Councel Table. And further they declare, ‘That their true and reall intentions are, and their endea­vours shall be, to settle Religion in the purity thereof according to the Covenant; and to maintain the antient and fundamental con­stitution and Government of this Kingdom, by King, Lords, and Commons.’

In November 1647. when a Petition was presented to the House of Commons, stileing them the supreame Authority of the Nati­on, together with a printed paper annexed, Intituled the Agree­ment of the People, for a firme and present peace, upon grounds of common right,) which agreement, as we have found upon perusall of both) is the same for substance, with the agreement lately pub­lished) the House of Commons did declare, that the matters con­tained in those papers, were destructive to the being of Parliament, and to the fundamentall Government of the Kingdome; And ap­poynted a letter to be written to the Generall, to examine the [Page 5] proceeding of that businesse in the Army, and returne an account thereof to the House. And when another petition directed to the Supreame Authority of England, the Commons in Parliament assembled, was presented the 23. of the same Moneth, they voted that Peti [...]ion, a seditious and contemptuous, avowing, and prosecu­ting of the former petition and paper annexed, Stiled an Agree­ment of the people, formerly adjudged to be distructive to the be­ing of Parliaments and fundamentall government of the Kingdom, and another letter was appoynted to be sent to the Generall, to take notice of his proceedings in the execution of a mutinous per­son (who was an abetter of that agreement) at the Randisvouze neere Ware, and to give him thankes for it, and desire him to pro­secute the examinations of that businesse, to the bottome, and to bring such guilty persons as he shall thinke fit, to condigne and exemplary punishment, all which declarations, protestations, Oathes, Covenants, and solemn Ingagements, notwithstanding we find to our great giefe, wonder and astonishment, that contrary to the discent and protestation of the Kingdome of Scotland, his Ma­jestie is removed out of this life, by a violent death; That Orders are published in print, Entituled Acts of Parliament, prohibiting the proclaiming of the Prince of Wales, King of these Kingdomes, that the Commons which now sit at Westminster, (after many Members of that House, have been imprisoned, secluded by force or necessitated to withdraw, because they cannot act as in a free Parliament) have voted away the Kingly office, and the House of Lords, and claime the authority of a Parliament, and under col­lour thereof, the Power of repealing all Oathes of Allegiance or obedience whatsoever, even without exception of the Solemn leagve and Covenant, from which the conscience cannot be ab­solved by all the powers on earth. We see likewise strong endea­vours used, and resolutions taken, to maintaine a Licensious liber­ty, and ungodly toleration, in matters of Religion,) As appeareth by a paper lately published, commonly called an Agreement of the people against which upon the 26th of January last, wee did pre­sent a testimonie, from the Commisioners of the General Assem­bly of the Church of Scotland approved of by the States of Parlia­ment [Page 6] of that Kingdome. If the Honourable Houses of the Parlia­ment of England, who made the Declaration and [...]ngag [...]ment a­foresaid, ha [...] been permi [...]ed to sit and act with freedome, we know there wou [...]d have beene no such proceedings as we have already seene, nor cause to feare such dangerous evills and strange alterati­ons as are now carried on by will and power. We may confident­ly say, they would have been more mindfull of their many Decla­rations, and the Solemn Leagve and Covenant; and more ready to hearken to the advice of their brethren of Scotland, and how­ever, no regard hath been had by those who now rule, to what we have formerly said, and so we have small hopes, that any great notice shall be taken of what we shall further say; Yet in pursuance of the instructions we have receved from the Parliament of Scot­land, we hold it our dutie to desire, that there may be no toleration of Idolatry, Popery, Prelacy, Heresie, Scisme or prophannes, that ther be no change of the fundamentall constitution and Government of this Kingdome, by King, Lords and Commons, that there may be nothing done which may wrong King Charles the Second, in his succession, as righteous heire of the Crowne of these King­domes: But that by the free Councell of both Houses of Parlia­ment, reformation of, and uniformity in Religion may be setled, according to the Covenant, and particularly, that Presbyteriall Government, the confession of Faith, D [...]ectory for worship, and Catichisme, may be established, that the just Right and Tittle of King Charles the Second, to the Crowne of these Kingdomes, may be acknowledged and upon just satisfaction given to both Kingdomes, he may be received and admitted to the exercise of his Government. And if notwithstanding all our earnest desires and endeavours to the contrary, the Commons now sitting at Westminster, shall proceed otherwise in all or any of the particulars aforesaid; we doe hereby in the name of the Parliament and King­come o [...] Scotland dissent from the same, and solemnly protest that they may be fr [...]e before God and Man of all the guiltinesse, evils, confusions miseries and calamities that may follow thereupon to these distracted Kingdoms,