TO
THE
RIGHT
HONORABLE
THE
COMMITTEE
OF
ESTATES
,
The
humble
Remonstrance
of
the
Commissioners
of
the
Generall
Assembly
,
met
at
Edinburgh
the
i3
.
of
October
1647
:
AS
there
hath
been
very
lately
a
publique
and
solemn
Thanks-giving
,
for
the
great
mercies
and
deliverances
which
God
hath
wrought
for
this
Nation
,
after
hee
had
brought
it
very
low
;
So
the
dangers
which
are
interwoven
with
our
deliverances
are
very
great
,
and
still
growing
greater
and
greater
.
This
also
cometh
forth
from
the
Lord
of
Hostes
,
who
is
wonderfull
in
Counsell
and
excellent
in
Working
,
that
we
may
not
be
secure
,
or
think
that
all
our
stormes
are
overpast
,
but
may
serve
the
Lord
in
fear
,
and
rejoyce
in
trembling
,
and
be
the
more
stirred
up
to
watchfulnesse
,
circumspection
,
and
zeale
,
in
all
the
duties
which
the
condition
of
this
time
calls
for
.
We
therefore
in
the
discharg
of
that
great
trust
which
is
committed
to
us
,
and
according
to
the
dutie
of
watch-men
set
upon
this
Watch-tower
,
cannot
be
silent
in
a
time
of
so
great
danger
,
but
hold
it
incumbent
to
us
humbly
and
faithfully
to
report
and
Remonstrate
to
your
Lordships
,
That
the
dangers
of
the
true
Reformed
Religion
and
Cause
of
God
in
this
whole
Island
,
whereby
the
late
Generall
Assembly
their
Declaration
communicated
to
your
Lordships
,
discovered
to
b●
in
many
respects
so
great
and
so
imminent
,
as
might
justly
minister
occasion
to
your
Lordships
in
your
wisdome
to
think
of
some
more
effectuall
meanes
and
remedies
for
preventing
or
removing
such
dangers
,
although
they
could
not
now
be
aggravated
by
any
new
emergents
.
Neverthelesse
,
we
have
too
great
cause
to
conceive
that
the
dangers
of
Religion
are
now
growen
greater
then
they
were
at
the
time
of
the
Generall
Assembly
.
And
even
since
the
time
of
publishing
your
Lordships
Act
concerning
the
disbanding
of
the
Army
in
this
Kingdome
;
The
wise
and
marvellous
providence
of
God
is
making
answer
and
proclaiming
aloud
in
both
our
eares
,
That
the
danger
is
become
greater
and
more
imminent
,
for
the
waters
of
the
present
deluge
are
growen
many
cubites
higher
since
that
time
;
for
evidence
whereof
,
the
Kings
M●j●st●es
late
answer
to
the
Propositions
of
both
Kingdomes
may
be
in
stead
of
many
demonstrations
.
It
is
our
great
griefe
that
we
have
cause
to
say
so
,
but
we
must
speak
to
the
m●t●er
as
it
is
,
and
unlesse
we
would
shut
our
eyes
,
we
cannot
but
behold
in
that
answer
,
a
threefold
growing
danger
to
Religion
.
For
first
,
His
Maj●sty
professeth
,
that
as
when
the
Propositions
were
offered
to
him
at
Newcastle
,
he
could
not
agree
to
some
of
them
without
violation
of
his
conscience
and
Honour
,
so
neither
can
he
agree
to
others
of
them
now
,
conceiving
them
more
disproportionable
to
the
present
condition
of
affaires
then
when
they
were
formerly
presented
to
him
,
as
being
destructive
to
the
principall
interests
of
the
Army
:
So
that
his
Majesties
disagreeing
being
now
more
inlarged
and
of
a
greater
latitude
then
before
,
if
his
Majesties
former
answer
to
the
Propositions
;
was
justly
conceived
to
be
unsatisfactory
in
point
of
Religion
,
this
last
doth
much
lesse
satisfie
;
for
although
his
M●jestie
did
not
in
his
former
answer
agree
to
the
Covenant
,
and
other
materiall
Propositions
concerning
Religion
,
yet
there
was
in
that
answer
some
part
of
satisfaction
even
to
the
Propositions
concerning
Religion
;
whereas
in
the
answer
,
even
that
part
of
satisfaction
is
by
the
foresaid
expression
unsettled
instead
of
being
adhered
unto
:
We
shall
passe
that
clause
in
the
answer
which
owneth
the
interests
of
the
Army
so
farre
as
to
prejudice
the
more
publike
interest
of
both
Kingdomes
in
those
Propositions
agreed
upon
after
mature
deliberation
by
both
Parliaments
.
Secondly
,
His
Majesties
waving
the
Propositions
of
both
Kingdomes
and
pressing
the
proposals
of
the
Army
to
be
the
subject
of
a
Treaty
,
doth
yet
further
encrease
the
danger
of
Religion
,
seeing
those
Proposals
as
they
omit
and
abandon
the
former
desires
of
both
Kingdomes
in
point
of
Religion
,
so
they
cannot
avoid
(
as
the
words
stand
)
the
continuing
of
Prel●cy
;
the
toleration
of
Heresies
and
Sects
,
and
the
taking
away
of
the
Ordinance
in
joynig
the
taking
of
the
Covenant
,
as
is
more
fully
expressed
in
the
Declaration
of
the
late
Generall
Assembly
.
Thirdly
,
His
Majesties
answer
doth
also
divide
that
joynt
and
common
interest
of
both
Kingdomes
in
the
Propositions
,
which
was
formerly
the
ground
of
a
joynt
Treaty
of
both
with
his
Majesty
:
Hereby
(
what
ever
may
be
prejudice
otherwise
)
surely
Religion
will
suffer
not
a
little
,
forasmuch
as
the
Propositions
concerning
the
Covenant
of
the
three
Kingdomes
,
and
the
Vniformity
between
them
in
Religion
,
are
by
this
meanes
in
effect
excluded
from
the
Treaty
,
the
joynt
desires
and
common
cocernments
of
the
Kingdomes
in
point
of
Vniformity
in
Religion
being
no
part
of
the
subject
of
a
treaty
with
either
Kingdome
severally
,
but
of
a
reaty
with
both
joyntly
.
Yet
his
Majesties
answer
to
the
Propositions
is
not
the
only
danger
to
be
now
looked
upon
in
this
businesse
,
for
even
since
that
answer
was
given
,
this
common
cause
and
Covenant
hath
been
yet
further
weakned
and
dangerously
wounded
,
by
the
late
strong
endeavours
in
England
,
to
move
the
Parliament
to
establish
by
the●r
authority
a
toleration
of
Sectaries
,
and
to
slight
and
lay
aside
such
of
the
Propositions
of
Peace
as
concerne
the
Covenant
,
and
the
joynt
interest
of
the
Kingdomes
in
Religion
.
It
addeth
greif
to
our
sorrow
,
that
we
have
cause
to
mention
the
new
persecutions
raised
there
by
meanes
of
the
Sectaries
,
against
divers
who
have
been
zealous
and
active
for
the
good
of
Religion
,
King
,
and
Kingdomes
.
Yea
,
they
who
plead
so
much
for
liberty
of
conscience
to
themselves
,
allow
so
little
of
it
to
others
who
differ
from
them
,
that
they
can
now
make
up
a
charge
,
either
of
constructive
Treason
,
or
of
high
crimes
and
misdemeanors
against
them
,
for
such
particulars
as
do
upon
the
matter
amount
to
no
more
but
zealous
endeavours
in
opposing
the
way
of
the
Sectaries
;
Neither
common
sense
,
nor
Christian
sympathy
can
suffer
us
to
conceive
that
the
cause
of
Religion
is
in
no
greater
danger
then
before
,
when
persecution
i●
growing
daily
more
and
more
hot
against
such
as
have
most
appeared
against
,
or
endeavoured
to
hinder
the
late
unsufferable
exorbitancies
of
the
Sectaries
.
While
the
danger
of
Religion
is
thus
encreased
abroad
,
we
cannot
say
that
't
is
growen
any
whit
lesse
at
home
,
but
rather
greater
:
for
beside
the
dangerous
influence
which
the
growing
power
of
the
enemies
of
the
Covenant
in
England
,
is
like
to
have
upon
this
Kingdome
,
the
Malignant
faction
at
home
hath
not
so
much
decreased
in
profession
,
as
increased
in
designe
and
practise
against
this
Cause
and
Covenant
;
Surely
they
who
are
disaffected
in
this
Nation
,
being
many
,
are
as
malicious
as
before
,
when
very
shortly
after
the
expedition
into
England
,
perceiving
no
force
within
the
Kingdome
to
resist
them
,
they
took
Arms
and
disturbed
the
publique
peace
:
And
if
they
were
so
ready
to
stir
when
that
Army
was
but
out
of
the
Kingdome
,
how
much
more
if
it
shall
be
disbanded
?
Some
enemies
are
still
in
the
fields
,
and
in
actuall
Rebellion
within
this
Kingdom
;
and
there
is
too
great
cause
to
feare
that
many
others
who
retain
their
former
principles
,
and
continue
in
their
former
designes
against
this
cause
shall
not
be
slow
to
take
up
Arms
,
if
your
Lordships
lay
them
down
.
And
so
much
the
more
may
this
be
expected
,
because
as
their
pride
and
insolency
is
of
late
growen
more
intollerable
upon
the
hopes
of
disbanding
the
Army
,
so
there
is
many
of
them
enraged
,
as
Beeres
robbed
of
their
Whelp●
,
or
as
Wolves
of
the
evening
,
being
also
desperate
of
mending
their
broken
estates
,
except
it
be
in
publique
combustions
;
Others
of
them
are
animated
and
emboldened
by
the
great
favour
and
indulgence
which
hath
been
shewed
towards
them
in
their
Delinquencies
,
in
so
much
that
they
are
thereby
hardened
from
repenting
of
their
Rebellion
,
or
compliance
with
Rebels
,
and
even
blesse
themselves
for
a
better
lot
,
easier
yoke
,
and
lighter
burden
,
then
those
who
have
been
most
reall
and
active
for
the
Covenant
.
These
dangers
of
Religion
we
have
insisted
upon
,
as
being
most
proper
for
us
to
speak
to
,
and
not
as
we
are
in
sensible
of
the
great
danger
of
the
Kings
person
,
and
of
Monarchicall
Government
,
for
preserving
of
which
,
according
to
our
Covenant
,
our
prayers
and
best
endeavours
shall
not
be
wanting
.
And
now
the
danger
of
Religion
in
all
these
being
so
great
,
and
the
grounds
of
our
fears
and
apprehentions
being
so
pregnant
,
we
earnestly
beseech
and
humbly
obtest
your
Lordships
,
in
the
bowels
of
Jesus
Christ
,
and
by
the
vowes
of
God
which
are
upon
you
,
that
as
your
Lordships
desire
God
,
and
your
own
consciences
,
and
the
posterity
may
not
afterwards
charge
upon
you
the
ruine
of
Religion
,
King
and
Kingdomes
,
so
your
Lordships
may
be
very
tender
and
conscionable
that
no
such
designe
be
entertained
or
get
place
among
you
,
as
tendeth
to
the
disabling
of
this
Church
and
Kingdome
,
from
an
effectual
prosecuting
and
promoting
of
the
ends
of
the
Covenant
,
or
to
the
strengthning
and
inabling
the
enemies
thereof
,
by
affording
them
the
oppertunity
which
they
wait
for
,
to
disturb
again
the
peace
,
and
to
destroy
the
present
Reformation
.
These
and
no
better
effects
can
be
looked
for
if
the
army
in
this
Kingdom
which
hath
been
so
blessed
of
God
,
and
so
faithfull
to
you
,
shall
be
disbanded
before
this
Cause
which
so
much
concerneth
the
Glory
of
God
,
the
Reformation
and
defence
of
Religion
,
the
Peace
and
safety
of
the
Kingdomes
,
the
Honour
and
happinesse
of
the
King
,
be
setled
upon
a
firme
foundation
.
In
this
our
humble
desire
we
are
not
byassed
with
any
respect
to
any
particular
party
or
interest
:
Our
witnesse
is
in
Heaven
and
within
our
own
brests
,
that
we
speake
for
the
interest
of
Religion
and
of
the
Cause
of
God
;
neither
doth
that
which
we
desire
tend
to
a
new
War
,
but
to
the
preventing
of
a
new
War
;
nor
to
the
encreasing
of
burthens
on
the
Kingdom
,
but
to
the
preventing
of
greater
burthens
:
Nor
is
it
our
desire
alone
,
but
many
others
are
equally
sensible
with
us
of
the
great
danger
which
may
accrue
to
this
cause
from
the
disbanding
of
that
●rmy
.
It
is
not
unobserved
that
most
of
those
who
are
active
for
the
laying
down
of
Armes
are
such
as
were
against
the
taking
up
of
Arms
in
this
cause
▪
However
since
there
can
be
no
assurance
in
humane
reason
that
the
Kingdome
shall
need
no
Army
,
we
humbly
offer
it
to
your
Lordships
most
serious
thoughts
,
how
far
a
new
state
of
the
question
,
setting
aside
the
Covenant
,
[
which
some
late
debates
both
heer
and
in
England
give
us
cause
to
feare
]
and
the
raising
or
imploying
of
another
Army
[
which
we
also
apprehended
and
expect
if
this
Army
were
once
disbanded
]
may
be
perjuditiall
and
even
distructive
to
this
cause
and
Covenant
,
for
which
this
Nation
hath
done
and
suffered
so
much
.
Having
thus
discharged
our
consciences
,
we
humbly
leave
all
this
to
be
well
weighed
by
your
Lordships
,
and
we
pray
the
Lord
himselfe
to
guide
your
Lordships
Counsels
,
that
you
may
be
like
the
wise
men
of
Issachar
having
understanding
of
the
times
what
Israell
ought
to
do
,
and
what
they
ought
not
to
do
.
A
Ker
.
FJNJS