SOLEMN LEAGUE

AND

COVENANT

FOR

Reformation and Defence of Religion; the Honour and Happiness of the King; and the Peace and Safety of the Three Kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland.

Taken and fubfcribed feveral Times by King Charles II. and by all Ranks in the faid Three Kingdoms,

WITH

An Act of the General Affembly 1643, and an A&t of Parliament 1644, Ratifying and Approving the faid League and Covenant.

Jer, 1. 5. Come let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant, that shall not be forgotten. Prov. xxv. 5. Take away the Wicked from before the King, and his Throne shall be established in Righteousness.

2 Chron, xv. 5. And all Judah rejoiced at the Oaths for they had fworn with all their Heart.

Gal. iii, 15. Though it be but a Man's Covenant, yet if it be confirmed by an Oath, no Man difannulleth, or addeth thereto.

Printed in the Year 1764.

Affembly at Edinburgh, August 17, 1643. Seff. 14.

The Refult of the Debates and Confultations of the Committees of the Convention of Eftates and General Af fembly, appointed to meet with the Commiffioners of the Parliament of England.

T

He Committees of the Convention of Eftates of Scotland, and of the General Affembly, being appointed to meet with the Commiffioners of the Two Houfes of the Parliament of England, upon the Papers delivered in by the faid Commiffioners unto the Convention of Estates, and unto the General Assembly, upon the 12th and 15th of this Inftant 1643, concerning the Defires of both Houfes, for a near and strict Union, to be entred into by the Two Kingdoms; and it being declared at the faid Meeting, with what fenfible Affections the General Affembly and Convention did receive the Defires above-mentioned, and how beneficial it would be for the more firm Settlement of the faid Union, that a Covenant, fhould be entred into by both Nations; and this Form thereof being by all the forefaid Perfons taken into most serious Debate and Confideration, and agreed unto; it was thereupon refolved by them, that it should be prefented to the General Affembly, to the Convention of Estates of Scotland, and to the Two Houses of the Parliament of England, by their refpective Committees and Commiffioners, that it might with all Speed receive their refpective Refolutions.*

Subfcribed, JA. PRIMROSE.

A. KER. WILLIAM BOND. Sec. Com.

This Solemn League and Covenant was fent with the Commiffioners of the General Assembly to England, where, after it was there received and approven by the Parliament, and Affembly of Divines in that Kingdom, it was printed and published by an Ordinance of the House of Commons, September 21, 1643.

Affembly at Edinburgh, August 17, 1643. Seff. 14. The General Aemblies Approbation of the Solemn League and Covenant.

to join with the

He Affembly having recommended unto a Committee of the honourable Convention of Eftates, and the Commiffioners of the honourable Houses of the Parliament of England, for bringing the Kingdoms to a more near Conjunction and Union, received from the aforefaid Committees the Covenant after-mentioned, as the Refult of their Confultations: And having taken the fame, as a Matter of fo publick Concernment and of fo deep Importance doth require, unto their graveft Confideration, did with all their Hearts, and with the Beginnings of the Feelings of that Joy, which they did find in fo great Meafure upon the Renovation of the National Covenant of this Kirk and Kingdom, All with one Voice approve and embrace the fame, as the most powerful Mean, by the Bleffing of GOD, for fettling and preferving the true proteftant Religion, with perfect Peace in his Majefty's Dominions, and propagating the fame to other Nations, and for establishing his Majesty's Throne to all Ages and Generations. And therefore, with their beft Affections, recommended the fame to the honourable Convention of Eftates, that being examined and approved by them, it may be fent with all Diligence to the Kingdom of England, that being received and approven there, the fame may be, with publick Humiliation, and all religious and anfwerable Solemnity, fworn and fubfcribed by all true Profeffors of the reformed Religion, and all his Majefty's good Subjects in both Kingdoms.

A. JOHNSTOUN.

The

The Act of the Convention of Eftates approving of the League and Covenant, 17 August 1643.

TH

He Noblemen, Commiffioners of Shires and Burrows now conveened, having received the Covenant above-mentioned from their Committee, as the Refult of their Confultations with a Committee of the General Affembly, and the Commiffioners from both Houses of the Parliament of England; and having ta ken that Covenant unto their gravest Confideration, did with all their Hearts, and great Expreffions of Joy and Unanimity, approve and embrace the fame, as the most powerful Mean, by the Bleffing of God, for fettling and preferving the true Proteftant Religion, with a perfect Peace in all his Majefty's Dominions, and propagating the fame to other Nations, and for establishing his Majesty's Throne to all Ages. And being very confident that their Brethren in the Kingdom of England will heartily receive and approve the famen; therefore, according to the earnest Recommendation of that venerable Affembly of this Kirk now met, thinks it most necessary for the good Ends aforefaid, that it be fent into that Kingdom with all Diligence, that being received and approved by their Brethren there, the fame may be with all Religious Solemnities fworn and fubfcribed by all true Profeffors of the reformed Religion, and all his Majesty's good Subjects in both Kingdoms.

ARCH. PRIMROSE, Cler. Com.

The Act of the Commiffion of the General Assembly, for the folemn receiving, fwearing and fubfcribing of the folemn League and Covenant.

At Edinburgh, 11 October 1643.

He Commiffioners of the General Affembly, having received from their Brethren fent unto the Kingdom of England, the folemn League ard Covenant under-written, as it was approven by the Honourable

Τ

Houses

Houfes of the Parliament of England, and the Affembly of Divines in that Kingdom, and folemnly fworn and fubfcribed there * ; After due Examination thereof, did all in one Voice most heartily receive and embrace the fame, as agreeing with the Draught, unanimously and chearfully approven and embraced by the late General Affembly, and Convention of Eftates, as the most powerful Mean, by the Bleffing of God, for fettling and preferving the true Proteftant Religion, with perfect Peace in his Majefty's Dominions, and propagating the fame to other Nations, and for establishing his Majesty's Throne to all Ages and Generations: And therefore, according to the Power given to them by the faid Affembly, Ordain this folemn League and Covenant to be, with publick Humiliation, and all Religious Solemnities, received, fworn, and fubfcribed by all Minifters and Profeffors within this Kirk; And, that this may be univerfally performed, It is alfo ordained, that this League and Covenant be forthwith printed, and that the printed Copies, bound with fome clean Sheets of Paper, be fent unto the Ministry, and that every Minifter, upon the first Lord's Day after the fame fhall come to his Hands, read and explain it, and by Exhortation prepare the People to the Swearing and Subfcribing thereof folemnly, the Lord's Day next immediately following. And it is further ordained, that Prefbyteries take Account of the Performance hereof in their feveral Bounds, and that they proceed with the Cenfures of the Kirk against all fuch as fhall refufe, or shift to Swear and Subfcribe this League and Covenant, as Enemies to the Prefervation and Propagation of Religion; and that they notify their Names, and make particular Report of their own Diligence hereintill, to this Commiffion,

· 25 September 1643.

Accordingly there are feveral Copies of this Covenant printed in 4to, bound with clean Paper at the End thereof, and upon the Head of every Page of the fame, thefe Words are in Print, viz. The Subferibers of the League and Covenant, under which are original Subfcriptions of many Hundreds, 1643 and 1648.