ordered by the Commons in Parliament That this Covenant and Orders bee forthwith printed and published H. Elsings Cl. Parl. D. Com. London Printed for Edward Husbands Octob. 9. 1643. Die Lunae 25. Septemb. 1643. IT is this day ordered by the Commons now assembled in Parliament that the Ministers in all the Parish Churches and Chappell 's of London VVestminster Suburbs and Liberties and in all Parishes within the Bills of Mortality doe read the solemne League and Covenant on Wednesday next being the day of publicke humiliation And doe explane it and urge the ground and necessity of it and exhort the people to the cheerfull taking of it and that the severall Inhabitants and Parishioners of the severall and respective Parishes arforesaid and Students of the Innes of Court doe take the said League and Covenant on the Lords day next in the afternoone And that notice hereof be given to my Lord Mayor and his Lordship desired to give timely notice hereof to the places aforesaid The Ministers are likewise to give notice that the Comissioners of Scotland now here doe take it here Hen. Elsinge Cler. Parl. D. Cem. Die Sabbathi 30. Sept. 1643. WHereas divers Lords Knights Gentlemen and divers Colonells Officers and Souldiours and others now residing in the Cities of London and VVestminster and within the line of Communication are desirous to meere at Saint Margarets Church at VVestminster on Friday next to take the solemne League and Covenant for Reformation and defence of the honour and happinesse of the King and the peace and safety of the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland And whereas divers of the Scottish Nation are desirous likewise to meet at the same time and place and divers Ministers who have no charge within the said limits to take the said Covenant It is this day ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That M. Carrill of Lincolus Inne be desired to preach on Friday next in the forenoone to those that shall so meet for the taking of the said Covenant And a Parchment Rolle with the said Covenant written therein shall be prepared for every one that take the said Covenant to subscribe his name and Colonell Long and M. Iohn Browne members of the said House are to see the names subscribed accordingly And this order is appointed to be printed and published forthwith Hen. Elsinge Cler. Parl. D. Com. A solemne League and Covenant for Reformation and defence of Religion the honour and happinesse of the King and the peace and safety of the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospell and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdomes of England Scotland 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 Kingdome of our Lord Iesus Christ the honour and happinesse of the Kings Majestie and his posterity and the true publicke liberty safety and peace of the kingdomes wherein every ones private condition is included and calling to mind the treacherous and bloudy plotts conspiracies attempts and practises of the enemies of God against the true Religion and professors thereof in all places especially in these three kingdomes ever since the reformation of Religion and how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time increased and exercised whereof the deplorable state of the Church and Kingdome of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church and kingdome of England and the dangerous estate of the Church and kingdome of Scotland are present and publicke testimonies We have now at last after other meanes of supplication remonstrance Protestations and sufferings for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practise of these kingdomes in former times and the example of Gods people in other Nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutuall and solemne League and Covenant wherein we all subscribe each one of us for himselfe with our hands lifted up to the most High God doe sweare 1. That we shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of God endeavour in our severall places and callings the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in doctrine worship discipline and government against our common enemyes the reformation of Religion in the kingdomes of England and Ireland in doctrine worship discipline and governement according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches And shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three kingdomes to the neerest conjunction and uniformity in religion confession of Faith Forme of Church governement directory for worship and Cathechising that wee and all our posterity after us may as brethren live in Faith and love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the middest of us 2. That we shall in the like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church-governement by Archbishops Bishops their Chauncellours and Commissaries Deanes Chapters Archdeacons and all other Ecclesiasticall officers depending on that Hierarchie superstition heresie schisme prophanenesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godlinesse lest we partake in other mens sinnes and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues and that the Lord may bee one and his Name one in the three kingdomes 3. We shall with the same sincerity reallity and constancy in our severall vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the rights and priviledges of Parliaments and the liberties of the kingdomes and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the kingdomes that the world may beare witnesse with our consciences of our Loyaltie and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just power and greatnesse 4. Wee shall also with all faithfulnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have beene or shall be incendiaties malignants or evill instruments by hindering the reformation of Religion dividing the King from his people or one of the kingdomes from another or making any faction or parties amongst the people contrary to this League and Covenant that they may be brought to publicke triall and receive cōndigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supreame Iudicatories of both kingdomes respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient 5. And whereas the happinesse of a blessed peace betweene these kingdomes denyed in former times to our progenitors is by the good providence of God granted unto us and hath beene lately concluded and setled by both Parliaments we shall each of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remaine conjoyned in a firme peace and union
to all posterity And that Iustice may be done upon the wilfull opposers thereof in manner expressed in the precedent Article 6. We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion liberty and peace of the kingdomes assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuing thereof and shall not suffer our selves directly nor indirectly by whosoever combination perswasion or terrour to be divided from this blessed union and conjunction whether to make defection to the contrary parts or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the kingdomes and honour of the King but shall all the dayes of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power against all letts and impediments whatsoever and what wee are not able ourselves to suppresse or overcome wee shall reveale and make knowne that it may be timely prevented all which wee shall doe as in the sight of God And because these kingdomes are guilty of many sins and provocations against God and his Sonne Iesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits thereof we professe and declare before God and the world our unfayned desire to bee humbled for our owne sins and for the sins of these kingdomes especially that wee have not as wee ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospell that wee have not laboured for the purity and power thereof and that wee have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts nor to walke worthy of him in our lives which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding amongst us And our true and unfained purpose desire and endeavour for our selves and all others under our power and charge both in publicke and in private in all duties we owe to God and man to amend our lives and each one to goe before other in the example of a reall Reformation that the Lord may turne away his wrath and heavy indignation and establish these Churches and kingdomes in truth and peace and this Covenant wee make in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts with a true intention to performe the same as we shall answer at that great day when the secrets of all hearts shall bee disclosed most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with such successe as may bee deliverance and safety to his people and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the yoake of Antichristian Tyranny to joyne in the same or like Association and Covenant to the glory of God the enlargement of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ and the peace and tranquillity of Christian Kingdomes and Commonwealths BY THE SVPREAME COVNCELL OF THE CONFEDERAT CATHOLICKS of IRELAND THe ensueing Declaration having come to our hands soone after the recesse of the late Generall Assembly of the Confederate Catholicks held at VVaterford wee thought fit for the better publishing thereof in all the parts of this kingdome that the same should bee printed whereby his Majesties good Subjects may evidently see what insolent expressions are therein contained against his Majesties power and proceedings against his Majesties Catholicke Subjects against all well minded Protestants that labour to settle a right understanding betwixt his Majestie his Subjects of this kingdome they take upon them to Censure his Majesty for displacing persons affected to Religion and putting into their places men Popishly addicted or in plaine English for displacing Sir VVilliam Parsons and appointing Sir Henry Tichborne one of the Iustices and of the rest it is apparant whom they meane they take notice that in his Majesties Commission sent hither to receive the Grievances of his people some of the Commissioners were Papists there being none named of such as they intend thereby but the Earle of Clanrikard whom it seemeth they thinke either unworthy of that honour or unfit to be trusted they say that the Catholicks of this kingdome are reduced to such Necessity that they devoure and eate one another which praise be to God is most false our markets being in most places as well supplied as at any time before and where those here of the State that did adhere to the malignant party in England resolved to destroy this Nation by famine and to that purpose advised all the Cornes in the march of the forces to bee burned and accordingly very much Corne was Burned many thousands of the said forces by the just Iudgment of God perished within their Garrisons in sundry parts of this kingdome for want of victualls they laboured to hinder any Cessation with the said Catholicks urging that the designe thereof did arise first from them an objection proper to such as rebell against their King ought not a dutifull people to petition for redresse of their grievances to their Prince they affirme that the raising of Armes by this Nation which they Call Rebellion was without provocation but resolutions of extirpating the Catholicke Religion and the professors thereof in this kingdome will be proved not onely by testimony of Catholicks but even of many Protestants and then all the world they hope will witnesse with them the justnesse and necessity of this war and though they insult of successe and insinuate that the Catholicks failing to prevaile by strength have recourse to Craft Yet it is well knowne that in most Conflicts the losse was greater of the other side the Authors of this Declaration are not satisfied to have overbusied themselves and assumed Regall Power in England but hereby let the Counsell of State here know how highly they have offended that they acquainted them not with the intention of a Cessation of Armes and let them also know that they represented the wants of the Armies here unto the Parliament of England with much Craft to have a ground wherewith to collour the Cessation as if his Majesties Commission were not sufficient to justifie their proceedings therein and conclude with this inference that the forces here by meanes of this Cessation will find opportunity to joyne with the Popish party in England for their greater strengthning by all which it is evident that if the usurped Regall power of those incendiaries can have influence on Ireland that none with or without his Majesties Commission shall stand justified but such as adhere to them and their Rebellion and forsake their Loyalty and obedience to his Majesties Commands A DECLARATION OF THE LORDS AND COMMONS ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT Shewing the present designe now on foot by vertue of a pretended Comission from his Majestie for a cessation of Armes or treaty of peace with the Rebells in Ireland now they are brought to such a low condition that they are inforced to devoure and eate one another in some parts
ADMONITIONS BY THE SVPREAME COVNCELL OF THE CONFEDERAT CATHOLICKS OF IREAND To all his Majesties faithfull Loyall Subjects of the three Kingdomes of England Ireland and Scotland Against a Solemne League and Covenant framed by the malignant partie in the Parliament of England As also against a Declaration of the English Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament Printed by Command of the said Supreame Councell 〈◊〉 VVaterford by Thomas Bourke 26. Ian. 1643. BY THE SVPREAME COVNCELL OF THE CONFEDERAT CATHOLICKS of IRELAND HAving since the last generall Assembly of the said Confederat Catholicks held at the City of VVaterford seene a Solemne league and Covenant framed by the Malignant party in the Parliament of England and by them procured to be sworne by such of his Majesties Subjects as they could seduce in the kingdome of England and Scotland and sent likewise into some parts of this kingdome to infect others wherein are contained resolutions so destructive to the Professors of the Catholicke Faith in generall to his Majesties Protestant Subjects and this Nation in particular that wee should betray the trust reposed in us had wee not given timely notice thereof to the said Confederat Catholicks whereby they may bee forewarned of their utter extirpation intended so farre as may lie in the power of the said Malignant party to which end we have caused the said solemne league Covenant to be printed in which all Christian Princes and their good Subjects may observe the insolency of the said rebellious incendiaries being not satisfied to have withdrawne themselves from their allegeance and to have raised armes against so gracious a King but also thereby endeavour to poyson the mindes of the faithfull Subjects of other Princes with their disloyalty inserting in the preamble of that Rebellious Covenant these words calling to minde the treacherous and bloudy plotts Conspiracies attempts and practises of the enemies of God against the true Religion and professors thereof in all places not confining themselves to the three kingdomes of England Ireland and Scotland And in the perclose of that Covenant adding these words most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit for this end and to blesse our designes and proceedings with such successe as may be deliverance and safety to his people and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of the yoake of Antichristian tyranny to joyne in the same or the like association and Covenant By which all the world may evidently see how far they desire their treason against Monarchie to be spred by such and the like Covenant and malicious practise and in other the partes of that oath bounded to the limitts of the three Kingdomes of England Ireland and Scotland they sweare to a reformation as they tearme it of Religion in England and Ireland and to endeavour to bring the Church of God in the said three kingdomes to uniformitie in Religion and Confession of Faith and that they shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery and Prelacy as hereafter in the oath is more at large expressed whereby the Catholicks of England Ireland and Scotland may plainely forsee what rigour they are to expect and how they stand forewarned to prepare themselves for a defensive and offensive warre against the said Malignant party or failing therein will be driven to quit all they can call theirs in England Ireland and Scotland How vaine it is for any his Majesties Catholicke Subjects to hope for mercy at the hands of that party when the generall words without respect of persons have left no exemption for any but would extirpate all without distinction of person or difference of quality contrary to the law of Nations and when their malice is so high swolne that they assume Regall authoritie so farre as to presume to proclaime warre against us their fellow Subjects even in the best times of their loyaltie and that without any relation to his Majesties allowance So as wee are to expect no peace untill they bee reclaimed and when they so despise the power and interest of his Majestie and of his Protestant and Catholicke Subjects of the three kingdomes as that they resolve likewise the extirpation of Archbishops Bishops Prelats all other dignitaries of what religion soever we therefore being bound by the oath of association solemnely by us taken to preserve our Religion maintaine the priviledges and just prerogatives of our Sacred Soveraigne and defend the liberties of our Countrey observing by the sinister and un godly practises of the said Malignant party that the whole scope of their wicked intentions is to extirpate the Catholicke Religion and the professors thereof in the said three kingdomes destroy Monarchie deprive our said Soveraigne of his just prerogatives and banish or put to death all such of his Majesties Subjects aswell Protestants as Catholicks who will not conforme themselves to their doctrine so erronious and destructive to the rights of Monarchie in discharge of our said oath for the preservation of our Religion in observance of our Loyalty to our said Sacred Soveraigne the maintenance of his Prerogatives the defence of our lives liberties and estates and lives liberties estates of all his Majesties well affected Subjects in his said three Kingdomes doe earnestly desire them upon view perusall of the said Covenant seriously to consider the dangerous and foule intentions of the said evill projectors to make full timely preparation for the safety of themselves and their posteritie and doe also desire all Catholicke Princes their good Subjects assecting the preservation of their Religion the Rights of Soveraignty to consider how far they are concerned in that so bloudy impious a resolution to find a timely fit remedy to be applied to so contagious a designe which the said Malignant party would invite the Subjects of all Christian Princes to intertaine A SOLEMNE LEAGVE AND COVENANT FOR REFORMATION AND DEFENCE OF RELIGION The honour and happinesse of the KING and the peace and safety of the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland Also two speciall orders viz. 1 Concerning the taking of the League and Covenant in all Churches and Chappell 's in London and VVestminster upon the next Lords day in the afternoone 2. Concerning divers Lòrds Knights Gentlemen Colonells Officers Souldiours and others that are desirous to meet this present Friday in the afternoone at Margarets VVestminster and to take the said League and Covenant Ier. 50.5 Come let us ioyne our selves to the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant that shall not be forgotten Prov. 25.5 Take away the wicked from before the King and his Throne shall be established in righteousnesse 2 Chro. 15.15 And all Iudah reioyced at the Oath for they had sworne with all their heart and sought him with their whole desire and he was found of them and the Lord gave them rest round about Die Sabbathi 30. Sept. 1643. It is this day
Rolles Sir Adam Loftus Treasurer of Ireland and Treasurer at warres and Sir Robert Meredith one also of the Councell-Table Secondly the Lords and Commons desire it may be observed that during all these passages and negotiations the houses of Parliament were never acquainted by the state of Ireland with the treaty of a Cessation much lesse was their advise or Counsell demanded notwithstanding that the care and managing of the war was devolved on them both by Act of Parliament and by his Majesties Commission under the great Seale to advise order and dispose of all things concerning the government and defence of that kingdome but the wants of the Army were often represented and complayned of whereby with much craft a ground was preparing for the pretext wherewith now they would cover the Counsell of this Cessation as if nothing had drawne it on but the extreame wants of their Armies whereas it is evident that the report of such a treaty have beene in a great part the cause of their wants for thereby the adventurers were disheartned contributions were stopped and by the admittance to Court of the negotiators of this Cessation their wicked Councell have had that influence as to procure the intercepting of much provisions which were sent for Ireland so that Ships going for Ireland with victuals and others comming from thence with commodities to exchange for victuals have beene taken by Dunkerkers having his Majesties warrant but also by English Ships commanded by Sir Iohn Pennigton under his Majesty And moreover the Parliament messengers sent into severall Counties with the Ordinance of Ianuary last for Ioanes and contributions have beene taken and imprisoned their Money taken from them and not one penny eyther loane or contribution hath been suffered to be sent in for Ireland from those Counties which were under the power of the Kings army while in the meane time the houses of Parliament by their ordinances declarations sollicitations to the City of London the counties free from the terror of the Kings forces were still procuring not contemptible ayde and reliefe for the distresses of Ireland Thirdly as the Lords and Commons have reason to declare against this plot designe of a Cessation of armes as being treated and carryed on without their advise so also because of the great prejudice which will thereby redound to the Protestant Religion and the encouragement and advancement which it will give to the practise of Popery when these rebellious Papists shall by this agreement continue and set up with more freedome their Idolatrous worship their Popish superstitions and Romish abominations in all the places of their command to the dishonoring of God the grieving of all true Protestant hearts the dispising the Lawes of the Crown of England and to the provoking of the wrath of a Iealous God as if both kingdomes had not smarted enough already for this sin of too much connyving at and tolerating of Antichristian Idolatry under pretext of Civill contracts and politick agreements In the fourth place they desire it may be observed that this Cessation will prove dishonorable to the publicke faith of this kingdome it will elude and make null the acts and ordinances of Parliament made for the forfeyting of Rebels Lands at the passing of which acts it was represented that such a course would drive the Rebels to despayre it prove so but otherwise then was meant For dispayring of their force and courage they go about to overcome us with their craft Lastly what shall become of the many poore exiled Protestants turned out of their estates by this rebellion who must now continue begging their bread while the rebels shall enjoy their lands and houses And who shall secure the rest of the Protestants that eyther by their owne courage industry great charges hath kept their possessions or by the successe of our Armies have beene restored can there be any assurance gotten from a perfidious enemy of a Cessation from butchery and breach of agreement when they shall see a fit time and opportunity These and many other considerations being well weighed it will appeare evidently that this designe of a Cessation is a deepe plot laid by the Rebells and really invented for their own safety and falsely pretended to bee for the benefit of our Armies And whereas the Lords and Commons have no certaine information that the treaty is concluded but are informed by severall letters that all the Protestants as well inhabitants as soldiors in that kingdome are resolved to withstand that proceeding and to adventure on the greatest extremities rather then have any sort of peace with that generation who have so cruelly in time of peace murthered many thousands of our Countrey-men and laboured to extirpe the Protestant Religion from amongst them so they doe believe that these rumors of a Cessation were first contrived by the enemies of our Religion and peace and by their practises the treaty was carried on with much subtility and sollicitation thereby to stoppe the sending of supplies from thence to our Armies and for the cooling of the affections of those who have already shewed their zeale to the weale of Ireland and therefore the onely meanes to defeate this their policy and prevent the evills intended by it is to settle a course whereby the army of Ireland may be at least fenced against hunger and cold for which purpose it is desired that all those who are well affected to the Protestant Reliligion either in that or this kingdome And all those who by their adventures already made have imbarked their particular interests with the publicke of that kingdome and doe desire a good returne of their engagements will joyne their endeavours for obviating of that necessity which may be made a strong argument to enforce a destructive Cessation of Armes that they would nor through too much suspition and jealousie of it forbeare the providing of supplies and so occasion that inconvenience which they ought by all meanes to prevent for by so doeing they will loose all their former paines and charges and the withholding of provisions will gaine credit to that calumny laid against this kingdome and neglecting the armies of Ireland and by the continuing of supplies these forces will bee encouraged to continue the warre and so â—owne both their worke and ours And lastly the Rebels seeing assistance against them still flowing from hence must needs be out of hope of prosecuting or concluding this their designe the cry of much Protestant bloud the great indigencie of many ruynate families the danger of our Religion almost exiled out of that kingdome calls for this last act of piety charity justice and policy from us which being resolved on letters are to bee dispatcht to the severall partes of that kingdome to encourage the Commanders and souldiers upon the foresaid reasons and assurances that they may not hearken to such an unjust and deceitfull counsell and as by their prosecuting of the warre through Gods blessing they have successe fully resisted the Rebels cruelty so they may upon this occasion beware they be not over reached by their crafts All which the Lords and Commons doe earnestly desire may be seriously taken into heart by all the kingdome and that from those other encouragements mentioned at large in the ordinance of the fourteenth of Iuly last and such as are now offered a course may be taken wherby such a constant weekely contribution may be setled as will supply the Army in Ireland The meere necessity of nature which may be more punctually and seasonably transmitted into the severall parts of that kingdome according to their respective wants that so the benefit and honour of so pious a worke happily begun and successively hitherto carryed on may not be lost when so little remaynes to be done And that the saving of a kingdome the reestablishing of so many Protestants Churches the repossessing of so many thousand Christians unto their estates may not be deserted and let fall to the ground for a little more paines and cost FINIS