The last DECLARATIONS OF THE Committee of Estates Now Assembled In SCOTLAND Concerning Their Proceedings in opposition to the late unlawfull ENGAGEMENT against ENGLAND Together with The ARTICLES agreed upon by the Commissioners appointed by the Noblemen Gentlemen and Burgesses who Protested against the late ENGAGEMENT And the ANSWER thereunto Edinburgh Printed by EVAN TYLER And Re-Printed at LONDON for Robert Bostock at the Signe of the Kings Head in Paul's Church-yard 18 Octob. 1648. A DECLARATION of the Committee of Estates concerning their Proceedings in opposition to the late unlawfull Engagement against England THe manifold dangers to Religion to the Kings Majesty to our Laws and Liberties and to the Peace of these Kingdoms are so manifest that they cannot be hid from any who will not wilfully shut their eys against a cleer light and the remedies which we have taken in this extremity wil we doubt not be judged by all men of common equity and understanding to have been most necessary for preserving Religion from ruine and our selves from slavery and oppression Yet to prevent m sinformation and misconstructions we have thought fit to publish a short narration of the Causes of our late undertaking to rise in arms of our proceedings by way of Treaty with those that joyned in arms for the late Engagement against England and of our resolutions for setling Religion and the Peace of this distracted Kingdom and strengthening the Union betwixt the Kingdoms which are the best foundations of Honour and Happinesse to the King whose Throne we desire may be established in Righteousnesse When wee look back upon some proceedings in our neighbour Nation though there wee see that the work of Reformation hath been much obstructed and many things have been done of which we cannot approve and wherewith God was highly displeased yet we finde the Fountain and Spring of all our troubles mainly to arise at home from the craft and malice of our Natives and Country-men For notwithstanding the Right Honorable Houses of the Parliament of England had offered by their Commissioners to remove all differences which had arisen betwixt them and us and to do what-ever was just and Honourable for the satisfaction of this Kingdom And further had declared their readinesse to joyn with this Kingdom in the Propositions agreed on by both Kingdoms presented to the King at Hampton Court for the making such further proceedings thereupon as should be thought fit for the speedy settlement of the Peace of both Kingdoms and preservation of the Union according to the Covenant and Treaties And further to give satisfaction in all things which should be judged necessary for the Peace of both Kingdoms not intrenching upon the particular Interest of the Kingdom and Priviledges of the Parliament of England yet many of this Nation having entered into a sinfull Association and wicked Combination did joyn together in Arms under the command of the Duke of Hamiltoun for pursuance of an unlawfull Engagement against our neighbour Nation of England contrary to the ends of the solemn League and Covenant the manifold admonitions and exhortations of all the faithfull Ministers of the Gospel the warnings and Declarations of Commissioners of the Generall Assembly 1647. As likewise against the unanimous proceedings of the late Generall Assembly in this yeer 1648 against the Judgement and Protestations of many Members of Parliament who have been most constant in the Cause and to preserve the Union betwixt the Kingdoms and generally against the minds and judgements of all the well-affected in the Kingdom And further brought over from Ireland some Regiments of the Scots Army to joyn with them in this Engagement contrary to the Treaty betwixt the Kingdoms of the 7 of July 1642. And having joyned in an unlawfull Association with the Malignants of England did imploy some of them to surprize and take the Garisons of Berwick and Carlile and yet professed openly before the World they were ignorant who had done it contrary to the large Treaty betwixt the Kingdoms and the Treaty of the 29 of November 1643. And when by miserable and cruell oppression of the people of God in this Kingdom they had gathered together a numerous Army they took possession of the Garisons of Berwick and Carlile and in an hostile manner entered into our Neighbour Nation where the Lord of Hosts poured forth his Wrath and Indignation upon them for their lyes and hypocrisie as was before threatned by many of the faithfull servants of God in this Kingdom While these men were invading England the Earl of Lanerick and others engaged in the same Designe stayed at home to oppresse this Kingdom and under a pretence of raising a Guard for the Prince did begin a new Levie of Forces whereby they might be able to send supply to their Army in England if need were but principally to bear down the godly and wel-affected in this Kingdom and force upon them unlawfull Bands and Oathes which they devised to be engines and snares to compell men to make Shipwrack of their Consciences by joyning with all their wicked ways or in case they refused to take those accursed Oaths and subscribe their Bands that then they might not onely be uncapable of all publick Trust but be esteemed and used as Enemies to Religion King and Kingdom and so every way to oppresse all honest men in their Persons Estates and Consciences as nothing was to be expected from their Government to these who desired to fear the Lord and adhere to their first Principles but slavery and ruine for they having adjourned the Parliament till March 1650 had assumed to themselves an Arbitrary Power that in the mean time they might rule at their pleasure and make such alterations in the Kingdom as they thought fit Upon news of the defeat of their Army they did give out Commissions to prime Incendiaries and encouraged such as were eminent and active in Rebellion under the conduct of James Graham late Earl of Montrose to rise in Arms and sent directions to the Forces under the command of George Monro which had invaded England but were not present at the Fight and other Officers and Souldiers who escaped from it to return to this Kingdom that so by their conjunction with the Forces lately raised they might have a new Army on foot to prosecute their former designe and to tyrannize over this Kingdom as is evident from their Letters of the 28 of August sent to the Earl of Marshall Vicount of Dudhope Clerk Register and George Monro ten days after the defeat of their Army in England wherein speaking of the Engagement they declare their resolution to recruit their Regiments and to hazard their Lives and Fortunes and all that was dearest unto them for carrying on against all opposition whatsoever that pious and loyall Service and that they and many others of this Kingdom did intend not to live and out-live it By all which and many other their like proceedings expressed in the Declarations of the
Kingdom and to all the World that no sinister end or worldly design for self-interest hath stirred us up to this course we do declare First of all that we have both matter of deep humiliation before God and thanksgiving to him when we consider his gracious dispensation towards us in preserving a remnant from following the evil courses of the time and that he was pleased so soon after a great defection and backsliding in the Land to put us into a condition to resist the force and fury of our Enemies whom neither Christian duty in so dear a Sunshine of the Gospel nor natural affection to their native Country could restrain from horrid impieties and intolerable oppressions And we do freely acknowledg that it had bin just with the Lord to suffer us to lie still under that yoke of bondage which we had wreathed upon our necks with our own hands by compliance with Malignants and Malignant courses not trusting the Lord with his own work and resting on his strength but following the rules of carnal policy when ever we were brought into straights It is the desire of our Souls that for the future we may amend and it shall be our constant study with Gods assistance to avoid the rocks on which we were ready to split that we may neither upon the one hand put confidence in the arm of flesh and other wordly advantages when things are prosperous nor upon the other comply with the Enemies of the cause when we are low but in all estates and conditions to put our trust in God Almighty the Lord of Host who also is only wise to give Counsel Secondly That whatsoever Power God hath already or shall hereafter put into our hands we shall improve it for setling and propagating Religion and promoting the work of Reformation according to the Covenant and in particular to have the Liberties of the Kirk ratified which have bin many ways incroached upon and violated as is particularly instanced in the Declaration of the General Assembly Thirdly To vindicate and establish the liberty and property of the Subjects who have bin most grievously oppressed in their Consciences Persons and Estates Fourthly That we shall indeavor the Kings Majesties Restitution to the exercise of his Royal Power as soon as he shall give security for setling Religion in the manner expressed in the desires of the late Commission of the Kirk and shall give satisfaction in such other things as shall be found necessary for the peace and safety of the Kingdoms Fiftly That the late unlawful Engagement against our Neighbour Nation of England with whom we are joyned in League and Covenant may be disclaimed and disavowed by the Supream Authority of this Kingdom it being most destructive to Religion and to the Peace and Happiness of these Kingdoms Sixthly To strengthen and confirm the Peace and Union between the Kingdoms which the Malignant Party hath so much endeavored to break and dissolve Seventhly That we shall endeavor to purge out of all the Judicatories in the Land Malignancy and Prophaness and use all other good means that Justice may be equally and impartially administred to all the Subjects in the Kingdom and that a more effectual course may be taken throughout the whole Kingdom then heretofore for punishing and suppressing all Prophaness Malignancy and Impiety Eightly All means having bin used with great industry to get Malignants chosen to be Commissioners to the last Parliament and to prepossess mens minds when they came to the Parliament from which as a Fountain have issued all our troubles and distractions That we will faithfully indeavor to have a free Parliament consisting of such persons as have not bin accessary to and furtherers of the late Engagement for which end we do again hereby require that in the Election of Commissioners from Burroughs and Shires to the Parliament the rules and directions set down in our Acts of the 22. September last and the fourth of this instant month of October may be punctually observed throughout the Kingdom And we call the searcher of hearts to record that these are our real and true intentions and that we do not nor shall by the Grace of God pursue any private ends or interests of our own And we trust the Lord our God who knoweth the sincerity of our resolutions who hath also had mercy upon us and hath begun to do so graciously for us will assist us herein until his work shall be accomplished And now last of all since it is agreed upon in the Treaty that all questions and differences about Religion be referred to the determination of the General Assembly or their Commissioners and that all Civil questions and differences be referred to the determination of a Parliament which is to sit down before the 10. of January next We do exhort and require all and every one of the Subjects within this Kingdom to live peaceable and quietly and to wait patiently for the determination aforesaid but in case any shall not rest satisfied with or shall reâ—â—le from the said agreement and shall continue or rise in Arms or levy any Forces without Warrant from the Committee of Estates as it is now constituted consisting of persons not accessory to the late Engagement We do declare that they shall be esteemed Enemies to Religion the King and Kingdom and punished as wilful disturbers of the Peace of the Kingdom M. Thomas Henderson A short Declaration to the whole Kirk and Kingdom concerning present Dangers and Duties Edinb 9. September 1648. Ante meridiem ALbeit the sad and dangerous condition wherein this Kirk and Kingdom is now cast by the publick Resolutions and practised of these who have ingaged in War against the Kingdom of England do proclaim unto all the lowers of Religion and the Country what is needful to be done in this day of distress Yet for the better information of the Lords people we conceive it necessary shortly for the present sent to declare what we hold incombent in duty to all these who would not betray the cause of God and render themselves slaves to the tyranny and lust of ungodly and Malignant men hoping in a short time to make known our thoughts of these particulars more fully When the dis-affected and prevailing party in the Parliament of this Kingdom did manifest head-strong resolutions to make War upon England under a pretext of suppressing Sectaries But in effect to dissolve the Union betwixt the Kingdoms and to restore the King to the exercise of his Arbitrary Government and make way for promoving of the Designs of the Malignant party in both Nations just and necessary desires relating unto the grounds of an ingagement and unto the securing of Religion were presented unto their Lordships by the Commission of the former General Assembly But these desires were altogether slighted and an ingagement resolved upon such grounds as are contrary to the Word of God and do infer the breach of all the Articles of the Solemn League
and Covenant as is clearly holden forth in the Declaration of the last General Assembly wherein also may be seen the great incroachments that are made upon the Liberties of the Kirk Neither was there any regard had unto the dissent and Protestation of a considerable number of Members of Parliament who had bin most active and straight in the Cause from the beginning nor unto the Petitions and Supplications of many Synods and Presbyteries and of the well affected people of the Land who were seeking satisfaction to their consciences But instead of a satisfactory answer the ingagement which was wickedly resolved was violently carried on by most strange plundering and cruel oppression especially of these who did it upon no other ground then out of fear to sin against God And as though it had bin too little to force obedience unto their unlawful Resolutions and Acts the Committee of Estates have urged and pressed the subscribing of a Band and Declaration of Parliament wherein men are obliged to acknowledg the justice and equity of all the Acts Conclusions and Resolutions thereof or if they refuse are to be esteemed Eenemies to Religion and their Country And after that the Committee of Estates had sent such an Army unto England as by the leaders therof was professed to be so considerable as was sufficient to prosecute their Resolutions in that Kingdom without any further supply of Forces from this Yet they have resolved upon and prosecuted a new levy with no less violence then the former that they may wreith the yoke of their oppression upon the necks of the Lords people and bring the whole Kingdom in flavery and bondage And though the Lord hath declared his wrath from heaven aginst these their resolutions and proceedings by bringing their Army to so sudden and shameful on overthrow yet do they still adhere unto and pursue the same designs and have not only brought within the bowels of this Kingdom the remnant of that godless and prophane Army but have given Commission also to classed incendiaries and Rebels who served under the conduct of James Grahame to raise Forces and by the whole tenure of their carriage do make it appear to all who have eyes to see that they do intend rather to involve the Kingdom in blood then to be restrained in the persuit of their former wicked resolutions Therefore albeit the thoughts of peace be precious unto us and that we wish and exhort every one to follow peace with all men as much as is possible yet looking upon the eminent dangers that threaten Religion the grievous oppressions that lies upon the Lords people in their Consciences Persons and Estates and the many fearful evils that threaten both Kirk and Kingdom if the remnant of these mens wrath be not restrained We conceive that all the people of God are obliged and ingaged by Covenant with their Lives and Estates to endeavor and pursue these following ends and to oppose all the Enemies and Adversaries thereof First Because Religion is of all things the most excellent and precious the securing thereof is to be most in our thoughts and in the indeavors of all men that it may be preserved unto us and transmitted unto our posterity in purity Secondly All are bound to defend and maintain the Liberties of the Kirk which is the House of God and the ground and Pillar of Truth Thirdly All are bound to vindicate the Liberties of the Subjects in all these things which concern their Consciences Persons and Estates Fourthly There is no less obligation carefully to maintain the Union betwixt the Kingdoms and to avoid every thing that may weaken the same or involve us in any measure of accession unto the guilt of these who have invaded the Kingdom of England Fifthly All are to indeavor the Kings Majesties Restitution to the exercise of his Royal Power as soon as he shall give security for Religion in the manner expressed in the desires of the late Commission of the Kirk and shall give satisfaction in such other things as are necessary for the peace and safety of the Kingdom Sixthly All are to take a more effectual course then heretofore for punishing and suppressing of all Malignancy injustice iniquity prophaness and impiety and to indeavor that the best and fittest remedies be applied for taking away the causes of these evils and advancing Religion and Righteousness in the â—â—nd and that those men who have been formerly instrumental in our present miseries and calamities be not again admitted unto any such trust or power as may enable them to involve the Land in the same or the like Evils These things are of such importance and consequence as that we know not what can be expected without them but a continuance and increase of our present miseries and calamities And therefore seeing the Lord hath now put into the hands of his people such an opportunity and made many willing in this day of his power We do exhort and beseech all men throughout the Land by the mercies of God who hath not given us over unto death but left us a nail in his holy place that they would seriously mind and to the utmost of their power prefer these ends against all lets and impediments whatsoever and oppose all these who stand for the engagement In the beginning of this work the Lord stirred up the spirits of his people to joyn together and defend themselves against tyranny and oppression in these things which concerned their consciences and liberties and albeit their power was but small and the strength of adversaries great yet because they did their duty in the simplicity of their hearts and trusted in the name of the Lord he was pleased to make the enemies melt as wax before the fire and to vanish as smoak before the wind And if after so many rich experiences of his assistance and rare testimonies of his loving kindness and great deliverances out of troubles and solemn ingagements by vows and Covenants we should sit still or comply with those who have carryed on the ingagement in a time that threatens so much danger unto Religion and so iminent ruin to our liberties persons and estates we could not but be exceedingly guilty before the Lord and deserve to be plagued as betrayers of the cause of God and of the safety both of Kirk and State Let us therefore arise and do our duty and the Lord of hosts who hath already broken the power and pride of our adversaries shall be with us A Ker. Articles concluded upon by the Officers and Soldiers now in Arms by authority of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland WE being servants to the State and unwilling to ingage in a civil War do conceive our selves obliged to remit the ways of prosecuting of all duties to Religion and to our King to the determination of Church and State And let them move in it as they will be answerable to God Our lives shall ever be ready to be exposed
unanimous proceedings and Declaritions of the late Generall Assembly and their Commissioners And whereas God hath evidently manifested his displeasure and wrath against their sinfull wayes and proceedings in oppressing the well-affected in this Kingdom invading the Kingdom of England by Routing and Defeating their Army there and now some of their Army have returned to this Kingdom and joyned with others their associate to disturb the peace thereof By which their proceeding and actions the work of Reformation of Religion hath been almost wholly overturned the Liberty of the Subject very near destroyed Authority weakned the Person of the King put in hazzard the union betwixt the Kingdoms endeavoured o be broken occasion of quarrell given to our neighbour Nation and this Kingdom b ought to so sad and deplorable condition as if the Lord in mercy prevent not Famine and Desolation is like to bee added to all our troubles and miseries Therefore to prevent the emminent dangers to Religion and to the King for setling the peace of this greatly distracted Kingdom and to the end the affaires of this Kingdom may not be managed by such persons as the kingdom of England do esteem enemies for their concurrence in the late Engagement The Committee of Estates consisting of such persons as were nominated to be on the Commission of Parliament and did dis assent in Parliament from and protest against the late unlawfull Engagement Do Declare that they are resolved to act and direct in the publique affaires by vertue of the authority of that nomination of the Parliament and their legall Protestation in it and that in acting and directing they resolve to proceed with the advice and consent of such Members of the late Parliament as did concurre with them in the said Protestation and do now concurre in armes in prosecuting of the same as also with the advice and consent of such two Commissioners and one Burgesse as shall be entrusted respectively by the Shires and Burghs joyning with us in armes for the Covenant and that they will not admit into their Counsels or Committees any persons who have concurred in armes or counsell for the late unlawfull Engagement or who have subscribed the Bond or sworn or subscribed any Oath or Declaration for prosecuting that Engagement And further that they will admit none who have been ayding or shall be ayding or assisting to or abetting and agenting for these who are now joyned in arms with the Earl of Crawford Earl of Glencairn Earl of Lanerk Lord Sinclair Lord Register George Monro and their adherents nor any such as have or shall declare their judgement against this cause and our proceedings in pursuance thereof and we ordaine these Presents to bee published and also to be Printed that none pretend ignorance Mr. Tho Henderson Edinburgh 22. September 1648. THe Committee of Estates considering that the putting of the dis-affected and Malignant Persons in places of trust and power in the severall Shires ond Burghs of this Kingdom hath been one of the greatest causes which hath brought all these evils upon this Kingdom and for the reasons contained in the former act do therefore find it necessary to require And doe hereby Command and require the severall Shires in the Election of their Commissioners to Parliament and Burghs in election of their Commissioners to Parliament Magistrates and Counsell that they make choice of none but such as have continued constant and faithfull in this Cause And that they will not admit any to be in the former places of Trust Commissions Magistracy or Counsells who have concurred in Arms or Counsell for the late unlawfull engagement or who have subscribed the Bond or sworne or subscribed any Oath or Declaration for prosecuting that engagement And further that they will admit none who have been aiding or shall be aiding or assisting to or abetting and agenting for these who are now joyned in armes with the Earls of Crawford Earle of Glencairn Earle of Lanerk Lord Sinclair Lord Register George Monro and their adherents nor any such as have or shall declare their judgement against the cause and our proceedings in pursuance thereof And we ordaine these Presents to be published at the Merkat Crosse of Edinburgh and other places needfull and also to be Printed that none pretend ignorance Mr. Tho Henderson Articles agreed on by the Commissioners appointed by the Noblemen Gentlemen and Burgesses who protested against the late Engagement and are now in Arms in and about Edingburgh And by the Commissioners appointed by the Noblemen Gentlemen and Officers of the Scotish and Irish Forces that prosecutes the Engagement and are now in Armes in and about Stirling And subscribed in the name of those that entrusted them and their Adherents respectively I. IT is agreed That for easing the burthens of the Kingdom and to prevent Famine and Desolation all the Forces under the Commands of the Earl of Crawford Earl of Lanerk George Monro and all Forces having Commission from any of the Committee of Estates that were for the Engagement and all others whom they can stop or let whether in the Field or in the Garrisons of Berwick and Carlile or other Garrisons within this Kingdom on this side of Tay be disbanded betwixt and the first day of October next And that none of them be seen after the said day in Troops Companies or Regiments And that all the Forces of their Adherents whether in Field or in Garrison be-north Tay and in the Highlands and Iles bee disbanded betwixt and the tenth of October next And that none of them be seen after the said day in Troops Companies or Regiments II. That all Forces under the Command of his Excellency the Earl of Leven and Lievtenant Generall David Lesly be also disbanded betwixt and the said first day of October excepting the number of one thousand Foot and five hundred Horse which are to be kept untill the disbanding of the forces benorth Tay and the Highlands and Iles. And that then the said 1000 Foot and 500 Horses shall be disbanded betwixt and the said tenth day of October and that mutuall Pledges be given for performance thereof III. That the securing and setling of Religion at home and promoting the work of Reformation abroad in England and Ireland be referred to the determination of the Generall Assembly or their Commissioners and all Civill questions and differences whatsoever bee referred to the determination of a Parliament to sit down before the tenth of January next IV. That to prevent the Immenent dangers to Religion and a quarrell with our neighbour Nation in the mean time untill the meeting of a Parliament That all such as have been imployed in publick place or trust and have been accessory to the late engagement shall forbeare the exercise of their places and not come to the Committee of Estates to the end the Committee of Estates may onely consist of such Members of Parliament as disâ—ssented from and protested in Parliament against he late engagement and in case any of the said Forces under the Command of the Earl of Craford Earl of Lanerk George Monro and their adherents or any other Forces not under their Command shall continue in Arms and not disband at the dayes appointed That then the said Committee of Estates constituted as aforesaid shall continue or raise Forces to suppresse the same V. That these things being agreed to and the Forces under the Earl of Craford Earl of Lanerk George Monro and their adherents now at Sterlin being disbanded To the end it may appear that we are onely seeking the publick good and not the ruine of particular persons or their Estates as hath been misreported Wee the Committee of Estates constituted as is before expressed Doe hereby declare for our Selves and all that adhere unto us That we shall neither Challenge nor Incite any others to Challenge any who have been accessory to this late Engagement and service to take away their Lives Estates Titles of Honour or the freedome of their Persons provided alwayes that no other shall have the benefit of this Treaty but these who being on this side of Tay shall betwixt and the first of October next and these be-north Tay who shall betwixt and the tenth of October next declare under their hand-writing to the Lord Chancellour or President of the Committee of Estates now at Edinburgh That they do accept of and submit to this present agreement VI. It is further agreed that all Prisoners of this Warre on both sides taken since the 25 of August be presently released Subscribed 26. Sept. 1648. Cassills Arch. Johnstoun Jo. Cheislie Ro. Barclay VVEe agree to the above written Articles and do declare that most of our Forces on this side of Tay shall be disbanded betwixt and the first of October next to come and all of them on this side of Tay without exception betwixt and the sixth day of the said Moneth and likewise all those on the other side of Tay betwixt and the tenth day of the said Moneth Subscribed at Sterlin 27. Spet 1648. W. Keith J. Lyone Hamilton H. Berthwick FINIS
to all hazards for the good of both and if all duties for them and for our friends release in England shall now be deserted let the blame before God and men lie upon the obstructors of it And if no further use be made of our service We do demand 1. That security be given to all who are or have been ingaged in this service for their Persons Honors and Estates whereby they may be free from all dangers prejudices and censures whatsoever whether Ecclesiastical or Civil for their accession to the late Engagement or any thing done by them relating thereunto or to this service for our own defence And this to be confirmed by Parliament or the lawful Authority of the Kingdom II. That in regard of our extraordinary charges and loss one Moneths pay be instantly delivered unto us for payment of the Irish Forces and that Boats and Ships presently be provided for their transportation into Ireland And for preventing all disorders upon their march through the West-Country by Free-quartering We do desire that a regular course may be taken for their entertainment during their abode there which shall be no longer then wind and weather shall serve and Boats be provided to transport them III. That one Moneths means be provided for the Scottish Forces and that they be not disbanded until the Irish Forces be transported and that sufficient pledges be delivered for performance of what is desired And that our disbanding and transportation be done by Authority of the Committee of Estates These reasonable demands being performed We the Irish are ready instantly to march towards any part of the West coast which shall be thought most fit for our transportation into Ireland and we of the Scottish instantly to disband Otherwise rather then expose our Lives and Fortunes to the mercy of any by the want of fitting assurances for what is past or the loss of our Honors by deserting the interest of those commanded by or joyned with us We are resolved to sacrifice our selves at the dearest rates we can And take God to witness how free we are of the guilt and consequences that may follow thereupon Stirling 18. Septemb. 1648. Signed by Warrant and Command of the Officers now in Arms by the Authority of Parliament Jo SPALDGUGE We have appointed our Commissioners to stay no longer then six o clock at night to morrow the 19. and that the Treaty shall then end and that the Cessation shall expire eight hours thereafter unless the Desires before-mentioned be fully granted The Answer of the Noblemen and Gentlemen now in Armes for the Covenant to the Articles of the Officers and Souldiers that joyned in the late unlawfull Engagement against England and now continue in Armes to disturb the peace of this Kingdom WEE have considered the desires of the Officers and Souldiers at Sterlin and do return this answer That the Imputation of neglecting dutyes to Religion and to the King mentioned in the Preface to the Articles cannot be charged on Us who have never been wanting in the use of all lawfull meanes to prosecute the ends of our solemne League and Covenant But upon those who joyned in prosecution of the late unlawfull Engagement against our neighbour Nation of England which hath beene destructive to all these ends Touching the first article Wee referr you to the answer given in our former papers and do here again declare that we shall not challenge nor incite any other to challenge any of your number for their lives and estates but shall endeavour to secure them so far as we can without approbation of their actions or the breach of Covenant and Treaties As for that which concerns exemption from Church-censures we cannot meddle therein without breach of Covenant but must referr you to the Iudicatories of the Kirk to whom you may make your own addresse and receive their answer Concerning the second and third articles we refer you to the answer given by our Commissioners to the Commissioners on your side which was that we held it unreasonable that they should desire any thing from us or any other who adhere to us for satisfaction of their Officers and Souldiers because we will not involve our selves in any thing which may import an accession to the late engagement or may be the ground of a quarrell to England against this Kingdome but if they had reall inclinations to Peace they and their adherents might without our accession thereunto take course amongst themselves for giving satisfaction to their Officers and Souldiers and therefore did desire and do now again renew the same that all their forces and the forces of these who adhere unto them may be disbanded betwixt and the twenty fifth or at furthest the twenty eight day of this moneth of September and that none of them be found together after that time in Troops Companies or Regiments and wee shall betwixt and the said day disband all our Forces and none of them after that time shall bee found in Troopes Companyes or Regiments for the punctuall performance whereof on both sides mutuall pledges are to bee given and further we cannot say in answer to these articles If you shall not agree to the Desires made in our last papers of the 16 of this instant and not rest satisfied with these Answers but shall continue in Armes to the disturbance of the Peace of this Kingdom and persist in the courses in which you are now engaged contrary to the Declarations of the Generall Assembly their Commissioners we do hereby certify unto you that all who have been active in the late Engagement as well chose in England as those in this Kingdom and all such as have or shall hereafter joyn with you are to be declared enemies to both Kingdoms and that this Kingdom will be necessitated to concurre with the Kingdom of England for punishing them accordingly as breakers of the Covenant and Treaties and wee leave it to you seriously to consider whether the wayes and courses you are upon bee really for the good of the King and this Kingdom or a safe way for the releef of your friends that are prisoners in England We do declare that unlesse the Desires contayned in our papers of the 16 of this instant and in this paper be clearly and positively agreed unto and wee advertised thereof before Friday the 22 of this instant at twelve of the clock in the day that then the Treaty shall end and that the Cessation from acts of hostility and marching of forces shall expire eight houres thereafter September 20. 1648 Subscribed by command of the Noblemen and Gentlemen now in Arms for the Covenant Mr Tho Henderson Edinburgh 22 September 1648. VVHereas many within this kingdom have joyned in Armes for prosecuting an unlawfull Engagement against our Neighbour Nation of England contrary to the Solemn League and Covenant and Treaties between the Kingdoms the Warnings and Declarations of the Commission of the Generall Assembly 1647. And likewise against the