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CHARLES I. PARL. 3. Seff. 1. A&t. 5.

Act anent the Ratification of the calling of the Convention, Ratification of the League and Covenant, Articles of Treaty betwixt the Kingdoms of Scotland and England, and remanent Acts of the Convention of Estates and Committee thereof.

TH

At Edinburgh, July 15th, 1644.

HE eftates of parliament presently conveened by virtue 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 interests and trust committed to them by his majefty and eftates of parliament, ufed all means, by fupplications, remonftrances, and fending of commiffioners, for fecuring the peace of this kingdom, and removing the unhappy diftractions betwixt his majetty and his fubjects in England, in fuch a way as might ferve most for his majesty's honour, and good of both kingdoms; and their humble and dutiful endeavours for fo good ends having proven ineffectual, and their offer of mediation and interceflion being refused 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 taken therein; and in refpect of the danger imminent to the true proteftant religion, his majesty's honour, and peace of their kingdoms, by the multitude of papiits 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 caufed indict a meeting of the convention of eftates (his majefty having formerly refused their humble defires for a parliament) to be on the 22d of June following; which diet being frequently kept by the noblemen, commiffioners of fhires and burghs, and they finding thefe dangers against this kirk and state ftill encreafing, refolved, after ferious deliberation and advice of the general assembly, and joint concurrence of the commiffioners authorized by the parliament of England, that one of the chiefeft remedies, for preventing of thefe and the like dangers, for prefervation of religion, and both kingdoms from ruin and deftruction, and for 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 last, a treaty was agreed unto by both kingdoms, concerning the faid covenant, and affiftance craved from this kingdom by the kingdom of England, in purfuance of the ends expreffed therein ::- -And the eftates being ftill defirous to use all good means, that, without the effufion of more blood, there may be fuch a blessed pacification

cification betwixt his majefty and his fubjects, as may tend to the good of religion, his majefty's true honour and fafety, and happiness of his people; did therefore give commiffion to John earl of Loudon, 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 of 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 counsellors, loyal fubjects, and good patriots, in tendering their humble endeavours for removing the distractions betwixt his majesty and his fubjects, and in calling the commiffioners for the common burdens, and by joint advice appointing the late meeting of convention, wherein they have approven themselves anfwerable to the duty of their places, and that truft committed to them; and therefore ratifies and approves their whole proceedings therein, and declares the faid convention was lawfully called, and allo full and free in itself, confifting of all the members thereof, as any convention hath been at any time bygone; and ratifies and approves the feveral acts made by them, or their committee, for injoining the covenant.—And also, The faid eftates of parliament (but prejudice of the premises, 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 fafety of the three kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland; together with the acts of the kirk and estate authorizing the fame League and Covenant; together alfo with the forefaid articles of treaty agreed upon betwixt the faid commiffioners of the convention of estates of Scotland, and the commiffioners of both the houfes of parliament of England, concerning the faid Soleinn 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 ftrength of perfect laws and acts of parliament, and to be obferved by all his majesty's lieges, conform to the tenors thereof refpective. Of the which League and Covenant, the tenor follows.

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; agreed upon by Commiffioners from the Parliament and Affembly of Divines in England, with Commiffioners of the Convention of Eftates and General Affembly in Scotland; approved by the General Affembly of the Church of Scotland, and by both Houfes of Parliament and Affembly of Divines in England, and taken and fubfcribed by them, Anno 1643; and thereafter, by the faid Authority, taken and subscribed by all Ranks in Scotland and England the fame Year; and ratified by Act of the Parliament of Scotland, Anno 1644; and again renewed in Scotland, with an acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement to Duties, by all Ranks, Anno 1648, and by Parliament 1649; and taken and fubfcribed by King Charles II. at Spey, June 23. 1650; and at Scoon, January 1. 1651.

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E noblemen, barons, knights, gentlemen, citizens, burgeffes, minifters of the gofpel, and commons of all forts, in the kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland, by the providence of GOD, living under one king, and being of one reformed religion, having before our eyes the glory of GOD, and the advancement of the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, the honour and happiness of the king's majesty and his pofterity, and the true publick liberty, fafety, and peace of the kingdoms, wherein every one's private condition is included: And calling to mind the treacherous and bloody plots, confpiracies, attempts and practices of the enemies of God, against the true religion and profeffors thereof in all places, especially in these three kingdoms, ever fince the reformation of religion; and how much their rage, power and prefumption are of late, and at this time, increafed and exercifed, whereof the deplorable state of the church and kingdom of Ireland, the diftreffed eftate of the church and kingdom of England, and the dangerous eftate of the church and kingdom of Scotland, are prefent and publick teftimonies: We have now at laft (after other means of fupplication, remonftrance, proteftation and fufferings) for the prefervation of our

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felves and our religion from utter ruin and deftruction, according to the commendable practice of these kingdoms in former times, and the example of GOD'S people in other nations; after mature deliberation, refolved and determined to enter into a mutual and folemn league and covenant, wherein we all subscribe, and each one of us for himself, with our hands ⚫ lifted up to the most high GOD, do fwear,

I.

THA
Tthe grace of GOD, endeavour, in our feveral places

HAT we shall fincerely, really, and conftantly, thro'

and callings, the prefervation of the reformed religion in the church of Scotland, in doctrine, worship, difcipline and government, against our common enemies; the reformation of religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, difcipline and government, according to the word of GOD, and the example of the best reformed churches: And fhall endeavour to bring the churches of GOD in the three kingdoms, to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in religion, confeffion of faith, form of church-government, directory for worship and catechifing; that we, and our posterity after us may, as brethren, live in faith and love; and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us.

II. That we shall in like manner, without respect of perfons, endeavour the extirpation of popery, prelacy, (that is, churchgovernment by arch-bishops, bishops, their chancellors, and commiffaries, deans, deans and chapters, archdeacons, and all other ecclefiaftical officers depending on that hierarchy) fuperftition, herefy, fchifm, profaneness, and whatfoever shall be found to be contrary to found doctrine and the power of godliness; left we partake in other mens fins, and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues: and that the Lord may be one, and his name one in the three kingdoms.

III. We fhall, with the fame fincerity, reality and conftancy in our several vocations, endeavour, with our eftates and lives, mutually to preserve the rights and privileges of the parliaments, and the liberties of the kingdoms; and to preserve and defend the king's majesty's perfon and authority, in the pre

fervation

fervation and defence of the true religion, and liberties of the kingdoms; that the world may bear witness with our confciences of our loyalty, and that we have no thoughts nor intentions to diminish his majesty's juft power and greatness.

IV. We fhall also, with all faithfulness, endeavour the difcovery of all fuch as have been or fhall be incendiaries, malignants, or evil inftruments, by hindering the reformation of religion, dividing the king from his people, or one of the kingdoms from another, or making any faction or parties amongst the people, contrary to this League and Covenant; that they may be brought to publick trial, and receive condign punishment, as the degree of their offences fhall require or deserve, or the fupreme judicatories of both kingdoms refpectively, or others having power from them for that effect, shall judge convenient.

V. And whereas the happiness of a bleffed peace between these kingdoms, denied in former times to our progenitors, is by the good providence of God granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded, and settled by both parliaments; we fhall each one of us, according to our place and intereft, endeavour that they may remain conjoined in a firm peace and union to all pofterity; and that justice may be done upon the wilful oppofers thereof, in manner expreffed in the precedent article.

VI. We shall alfo, according to our places and callings, in this common cause of religion, liberty and peace of the kingdoms, affift and defend all thofe that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining and pursuing thereof; and shall not fuffer ourselves directly or indirectly, by whatsoever combination, perfuafion or terror, to be divided and withdrawn from this bleffed union and conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or to give ourselves to a deteftable indifferency or neutrality in this cause, which fo much concerneth the glory of GOD, the good of the kingdom, and honour of the king; but fhall all the days of our lives zealously and conftantly continue therein, against all oppofition,

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