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 ; 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 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 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 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 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 ,