A SHORT INFORMATION FROM THE COMMISSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, Concerning The Declaration of the HONOURABLE COURT OF PARLIAMENT, Lately emitted to the KINGDOM.  
Printed in the year 1648.   

Edinburgh 5. May 1648. A SHORT INFORMATION FROM THE COMMISSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Concerning The Declaration of the Honourable Court of PARLIAMENT, Lately emitted to the Kingdom.  
1 ALthough in the Answer of April 22. which we received in writing from the Honourable Court of Parliament, we are remitted to their Lordship's Declaration (now printed and published) therein to find satisfaction to our eight desires, presented to the Parliament March 22. And although these desires were such as were most agreeable to the Word of God, and do highly concern the safety and security of Religion; yet, after diligent perusal of the said Declaration of Parliament, we can not find therein any one of these our eight desires satisfied.  
2 We find twice in the said Declaration a passage cited out of the Declaration of both Kingdoms, 1643. viz. That the not takers of the Covenant are declared to be public enemies to Religion and Country, and to be punished as professed adversaries and Malignants: But while this passage is pressed and urged upon the Parliament of England against the Sectaries, we cannot see that it is applied against such Malignants, as have not to this day taken the Covenant. Shall we require of them the observing of such a rule, and not yet walk by that rule ourselves.  
3 As the three breaches of Treaties insisted upon in the said Declaration are disputable, and not without controversy, so the three demands sent to the Parliament of England (as they are conceived) are of most dangerous consequence to Religion, so fare as we are able to judge of them, or pry into them: And although we are real wellwishers to his Majesty's Honour, freedom and safety in such a way as may not be inconsistent with the safety and security of Religion; yet the demand of his Majesty's coming with Honour Freedom and Safety to some of his houses in or near London, before security had from him, yea before applications to be made to him by his Parliaments for settling Religion according to the Covenant, we conceive to be not only a postponing of Christ's interest to be Kings, but an apparent hazard of the subvertion of all the Ends of the Covenant; considering, that the Army being disbanded (as is also demanded) and his Majesty under no restraint, but restored with Honour, Freedom and Safety, may gather new strength with the help of the Popish Prelatical and Malignant party for hindering the settling of Religion and Peace according to the Covenant; which we have the more reason to fear and apprehend, his Majesty still retaining his old principles, and having not long since professed and declared, that he is obliged in conscience to improve that power which God shall put in hands for the establishing of Episcopacy.  
4 There are in the said Declaration divers particulars highly concerning Religion, determined and resolved upon, without the advice and consent of the General Assembly or their Commissioners; which is a great prejudice to the just interest and liberties of the Kirk.  
5 We do not find in the said Declaration all lawful and possible ways of Peace, and namely by Treaties (as before, in 1639, and 1640.) endeavoured or sought after, before an engagement in war; which method we conceive to be necessary as well by common and natural equity, as by the Word of God, and especially between two Kingdoms united by Solemn Covenant.  
6 The Declaration holds forth no resolution of Parliament for opposing and suppressing of the Popish, Prelatical or Malignant party if they rise again in arms, but only against associating or joining forces with them, and not so much as that, except with limitations in case they be refusers to swear and subscribe the Covenant; and in case they rise in arms to oppose or obstruct all, or any one of the ends of the Covenant. Whereas it may be easily foreseen, that if the Popish, Prelatical or Malignant party rise again in arms in England, they cannot only conceal their intentions against the ends of the Covenant, but also be easily exempted from being reckoned refusers of the Covenant, the Covenant not being now imposed upon them; and being once suffered to rise in arms (as some are already) may grow so strong as that it will be very hard and difficult to suppress them.  
7 Whereas we have insisted for satisfaction to our consciences concerning the persons to be entrusted with the managing of the war, and that none may be employed in Committees and armies but such as have given constant proof of their integrity and faithfulness, and against whom there is no just cause of jealousy; that so we may the more confidently encourage our flocks to follow the cause of God in their hands: the Declaration in stead of satisfying this desire, doth avoid and keep off from these qualifications desired by us, and so leaves a latitude for employing such as these qualifications do not agree to.  
Finally, as we neither were, nor are against an engagement, if once satisfied in the grounds of undertaking and manner of proceeding, and the other particulars expressed in our former papers; So for the reasons before mentioned, and divers others fully expressed in our Representation upon the Declaration, we judge the present engagement as it is stated, unlawful; and trust, that all the well affected in the Kingdom will make conscience of their Solemn Vows, and will be careful by the grace and assistance of God to keep themselves from being ensnared and carried alongst in any course contrary to the Covenant.  
A. Ker.