Page images
PDF
EPUB

Commission, or their Moderator or Clerk, to be deliver. ed to them. And the Commiffioners think it very con venient, for good Example, and the better Encouragement of others, that this Covenant be folemnly fworn, and fubfcribed by themfelves, now prefent, before the Congregation in the Eaft Kirk, upon Friday next the 13th of this Inftant, after Serman and Exhortation to be made by Mr. Robert Douglas Moderator; And that the Commiffioners of the Convention of Eftates now in Town, and the Commiffioners from the Parliament of England, and the Divines of that Kingdom here present, be earnestly defired to join with them in this folemn and religious Action.

A. KER.

The Act of the Commissioners of the Convention of Eftates enjoyning the National Entring into the Solemn League and Covenant.

At Edinburgh the 12 of October 1643.

He Commiffioners of the Convention of Eftates,

General Affembly, the Solemn League and Covenant under-written, approven and folemnly fworn and fubfcri• bed in the Kingdom of England; And having taken the fame to their ferious Confideration, do unanimoufly and chearfully receive and embrace it, as agreeing with that Draught, approven by the late Convention of Estates and General Affembly: And therefore ordains the fame to be, with all religious Solemnities, fworn and fubfcribed by all his Majesty's Subjects of this Kingdom: And that under the Pain to fuch as fhail poftpone or refuse, to be efteemed and punished as Enemies to Religion, his Majefty's Honour, and Peace of thir Kingdom; and to have their Goods and Rents confifcate for the Ufe of the Publick; and that they fhall not bruik nor enjoy any Benefit, Place nor Office within this Kingdom. And als ordains all Sheriffs, Stuarts, and others his Majefty's Magiftrates to Burgh and Land, and Committees in the feveral

Shires,

Shires, to be affifting to Minifters and Prefbyteries, in procuring real Obedience hereunto: And that with all Diligence they make Report to the Committee of Estates, of the Names of all fuch Perfons as shall postpone or refufe, to the effect Course may be taken with them as aforefaid; And that they may be cited to answer to the next Parliament, as Enemies to Religion, King and Kingdoms, and to receive what further Punishment his Majefty and Parliament fhall inflict upon them. And further ordains thir Prefents to be printed with the former Act of the Eftates, and published at the MarketCroffes of the Head-Burrows of this Kingdom; through none pretend Ignorance of the fame.

where

ARCH. PRIMROSE, Cler. Com.

The Article of the Treaty, agreed upon betwixt the Commiffioners of the Convention of Eftates of the Kingdom of Scotland, authorized by the Committee of the faid Eftates, and the Commiffioners of both Houses of the Parliament of England, having Power and Commiffion from the faid Honourable Houses, concerning the Solemn League and Covenant; and the Affiftance demanded in the Purfuance of the Ends expreffed in the famen, figned at Edinburgh, November 29, 1643.

-F"

IRST, It is agreed and concluded, that the Covenant, reprefented to the Convention of Eftates and General Affembly of Scotland, and fent to both Houses of the Parliament in England in the fame Form, as it is now returned from the two Houses of the Parliament of England to their Brethren of Scotland, and allowed by the Committee of Eftates and Commiffioners of the General Affembly, be fworn and subscribed by both Kingdoms, as a moft near Tye and Conjunction betwixt them, for their mutual Defence against the Papift and Prelatical Faction, and their Adherents in both Kingdoms; and for Pursuance of the Ends expreffed in the faid Covenant *.

Charles

* The rest of the Articles having a relation to Civil Affaire are here omitted.

Charles I. Parl. 3d. A& 5.

At anent the Ratification of the Calling of the Conven tion, Ratification of the League and Covenant, Articles of Treaty betwixt the Kingdoms of Scotland and England, and remanent Acts of the Convention of Eftates and Committee thereof.

TH

At Edinburgh, July 15, 1644.

He Eftates of Parliament presently conveened by vertue of the laft Act of the laft Parliament holden by his Majefty, and the three Eftates in Anno 1641. Confidering, that the Lords of his Majefty's Privy Council and Commiffioners for conferving the Articles of the Treaty, having, according to their Interefts and Trust committed to them by his Majefty and Estates of Parli ament, used all Means by Supplications, Remonftrances, and fending of Commiffioners, for fecuring the Peace of this Kingdom, and removing the unhappy Distractions betwixt his Majefty and his Subjects in England, in fuch a Way as might serve moft for his Majesty's Ho nour, and Good of both Kingdoms; and their humble and dutiful Endeavours for fo good Ends having proven uneffectual, and their Offer of Mediation and Interceffion being refufed by his Majefty; and thereby finding the Weight and Difficulty of Affairs, and the Charge lying on them, to be greater than they could bear; did therefore, in the Month of May 1643, meet together with the Commiffioners for the common Burdens, that by joint Advice fome Refolution might be tane therein; and, in refpect of the Danger imminent to the true Protestant Religion, his Majefty's Honour, and Peace of thir Kingdom, by the Multitude of Papists and their Adherents in Arms in England and Ireland, and of many other publick and important Affairs, which could not admit Delay, and did require the Advice of the reprefentative Body of the Kingdom; appointed and caused indict a Meeting of the Convention of Eftates (his Maje fty having formerly refufed their humble Delires for a Parliament)

Parliament) to be on the 22d of June following; which Diet being frequently kept by the Noblemen, Commiffioners of Shires and Burghs, and they finding these Dangers against this Kirk and State ftill increafing, refolved, after ferious Deliberation and Advice of the General Affembly, and joint Concurrence of the Commiffioners authorized by the Parliament of England, that one of the chiefeft Remedies, for preventing of these and the like Dangers, for Prefervation of Religion, and both Kingdoms from Ruin and Destruction, and from procuring of Peace, That both Kingdoms fhould, for thefe Ends, enter into Covenant; which was accordingly drawn up, and chearfully embraced, and allowed. And at laft, a Treaty was agreed upon by both Kingdoms, concerning the faid Covenant, and Affiftance craved from this Kingdom by the Kingdom of England, in Pursuance of the Ends expreffed therein:And the Eftates being ftill defirous to ufe all good Means, that, without the Effufion of more Blood, there may be fuch a bleffed Pacification betwixt his Majefty and his Subjects as may tend to the good of Religion, his Majefty's true Honour and Safety, and Happinefs of his People, did therefore give Commiffion to John Earl of Lowdon, Lord Chancellor, Lord Maitland, Lord Wariftoun, and Mr. Robert Barclay, to repair to England, and endeavour the Effectuating of these Ends contained in the Covenant and Treaties, conform to their Inftructions.—

And the faid Eftates having taken the Proceedings above written to their Confideration, do find and declare that the Lords of Council, and Confervers of Peace, did behave themselves as faithful Councellors, loyal Subjects and good Patriots, in tendring their humble Endeavours for removing the Distraction betwixt his Majesty and his Subjects, and in calling the Commiffioners for the Common Burdens, and by joint Advice appointing the late Meeting of Convention, wherein they have approven themselves antwerable to the Duty of their Pla. ces, and that Trust committed to them; and therefore ratifies and approves their whole Proceedings therein, and declares the faid Convention was lawfully called,

K

and als full and free in itself, confifting of all the Mem. bers thereof, as any Convention hath been at any Time bygone; and ratifies and approves the several Acts made by them, or their Committee, for enjoyning the Covenant And alfo, The faid Eftates of Parliament (but Prejudice of the Premiffes, and of the General Ratification above-mentioned) ratifies, approves and confirms the forefaid mutual League and Covenant, concerning the 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; together with the Acts of the Kirk and Estate authoriz. ing the fame League and Covenant; together alfo with the forefaid Articles of Treaty agreed upon betwixt the faid Commiffioners of the Convention of Eftates of Scot land, and the Commissioners of both the Houfes of Parliament of England, concerning the faid Solemn League and Covenant--And the faid Eftates ordains the fame Acts, with the League and Covenant above-specified, Acts authorizing the fame, and the Articles of Treaty forefaid, to have the full Force and Strength of perfect Laws and Acts of Parliament, and to be observed by all his Majefty's Lieges, conform to the Tenors thereof respective. Of the which League and Covenant, Acts authorizing the fame, Treaties above-written-the Tenors follow *.

THE

* The Tenors of all follow in the Act of Parliament, but here the Covenant only follows; The Acts authorizing the fame, and relative Article of the Treaty, being placed before this A&.

** ****

« PreviousContinue »