A Copy of the COVENANT, Both as it was first form at EDINBURGH By the General Assembly and Convention of Estates of SCOTLAND, With the concurrence and advice of the Commissioners sent thitherout of ENGLAND, And as it was after reform by the LORDS and COMMONS of PARLIAMENT at WESTMINSTER.  
Together with His Majesty's Proclamation prohibiting the taking of it.  
Printed, Anno 1644.   

A Solemn League and Covenant for Reformation and Defence of Religion, the Honour and happiness of the King, and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of ENGLAND, SCOTLAND and IRELAND.  
As it was agreed upon by the Lords and Commons of Parliament at Westminister, September, 1643.  
[The several additions to the Scottish form are here printed in a different letter.]  
[The omissions and other alterations are noted in the margin.]  
We Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgesses, Ministers of the Gospel, and Commons of all sorts 
a Scot of.  in the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by the Providence of God living under one King, 
b Sc. and of one true Protestant reform Religion.  and being of one Reformed Religion, having before our eyes the glory of God, [and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,] the Honour and happiness of the King's Majesty and His Posterity, and the true public Liberty, Safety, and Peace of the Kingdoms, [wherein every ones private condition is included,] and calling to mind the treacherous and bloody Plots, Conspiracies, Attempts and Practices of the Enemies of God, against the true Religion and Professors thereof in all places, especially 
c Sc. in this Island.  in these three Kingdoms, 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 Kingdom of Ireland, the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England, and the dangerous estate of the Church [and Kingdom] of Scotland, are present and public testimonies; We have now at last, (after other means of Supplication, Remonstrance, Protestations, and Sufferings) for the preservation of ourselves and our Religion from utter ruin and destruction, according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times, and the Example of God's people in other Nations, after mature deliberation, resolved and determined to enter into a mutual solemn League and Covenant, wherein We [all] subscribe, and [each one of us for himself] with our hands lifted up to the most High God, do swear,  
I. That We shall 
d Sc. all and each of us, solemnly.  sincerely, really, and constantly, through the Grace of God, endeavour, in our several places and callings, the preservation of the 
e Sc. true Protestant Reform.  Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government 
f Sc. according to the Word of God.  [against our common Enemies,] the Reformation of Religion in the [
g Sc. Church.  Kingdom's] of England and Ireland, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, 
h Sc. according to the same holy Word.  according to the Word of God, and the Example of the best Reformed Churches: and 
i Sc. as may  shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in 
k Sc. both Nations  the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion, Confession of Faith, Form of Church-Government, directory for Worship and Catechising; That We and our Posterity after us may, as Brethren, live in Faith and Love, [and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us.]  
II. That We shall in like manner, without respect of persons, endeavour the Extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, [that is, Church-Government by Archbishops, Bishops, their Chancellors and Commissaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Arch-deacons, and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy] Superstition, Heresy, [Schism] Profaneness, and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine, and the power of Godliness; lest We partake in other men's sins, and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues, and that the Lord may be one, and his Name one in the three Kingdoms.  
III. We shall, with the same sincerity, reality, and constancy, in our several Vocations, endeavour, with our estates and lives, [mutually] to preserve the Rights and Privileges of the Parliaments, and the Liberties of the Kingdoms 
l Sc. respectively. , and to preserve and defend the King's Majesty's Person and Authority, in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms; that the world may bear witness with our consciences of our loyalty, and that We have no thoughts or intentions to diminish His Majesty's just Power and Greatness.  
iv We shall also with all faithfulness, endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries, Malignants, or evil Instruments, 
m Sc. to hinder.  by hindering the Reformation of Religion, 
n Sc. or to divide.  dividing the King from his People, or one of the Kingdoms from another, [or making any Faction, or Parties amongst the People, contrary to this League and Covenant] that they may be brought to public trial, and receive condign punishment, as the degree of their offences shall require 
o Sc. and.  or deserve, or the supreme Judicatories of both Kingdoms respectively, or others having power from them [for that effect] shall judge convenient.  
V 
p Sc. That we shall, all and each of us, according to our places and interest, inviolably observe the Articles of the late Treaty of Peace betwixt the two Nations; and shall, by all good means, endeavour that justice be done without partiality, in manner aforesaid, upon the Opposers of it; to the end that this blessed Peace, may be perpetual to all posterity.  And whereas the happiness of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms, denied in former times to our progenitors, is by the good Providence of God granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded and settled by both Parliaments, We shall each one of us, according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remain conjoined in a firm Peace and Union to all Posterity; And that justice may be done upon the wilful Opposers thereof, in manner expressed in the precedent Article.  
VI We shall also, 
q Sc. to the utmost of our abilities.  according to our Places and Callings, in this common cause of Religion, Liberties, and Peace of the Kingdoms, assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining and pursuing thereof, and shall not suffer ourselves, directly or indirectly, by whatsoever combination, persuasion, or terror, to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Union and Conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or to give ourselves to a detestable Indifferency or Neutrality in this cause, [which so much concerneth the glory] of God, [the] good of the Kingdoms, and Honour of the King; but shall all the days of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein, against all opposition, and promote the same according to our power, against all lets and impediments whatsoever: and what We are not able 
s Sc. presently.  ourselves, to suppress or overcome, We shall reveal and make known, that it may be timely prevented or removed. All which We shall do as in the sight of God.  
And because 
t Sc. both Nations.  these Kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations against God, and his Son jesus Christ, as is [too] manifest by our present distresses and dangers, the fruits thereof, We profess and declare before God and the world, our unfeigned desire to be humbled for our own sins, and for the sins of 
u Sc. both Nations.  these Kingdoms, especially, that We have not, as We ought, valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel, that We have not laboured for the purity and power thereof, and that We have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts, [nor to walk worthy of Him in our lives,] which are the causes of other [Sins and] transgressions so much abounding amongst us; and our true and unfeigned purpose, desire, and endeavour, for ourselves, and all others under our power and charge, both in public and in private, in all duties We own to God and man, to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a real Reformation; that the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation, and establish 
x Sc. both Nations.  these Churches and Kingdoms in Truth and Peace. And this Covenant We make in the Presence of Almighty God, the Searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the same, as we shall answer at that great Day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed: most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his holy Spirit to this end, and to bless our desires and proceed with such success, as may be deliverance and safety to his People, and encouragement to other Christian Churches, groaning under, or in danger of the yoke of Antichristian Tyranny, to join in the same, or like Association and Covenant, to the glory of God, the enlargement of the Kingdom of jesus Christ, and the Peace and Traquillity of Christian 
z Sc. States  Kingdoms and Commonwealths.   

¶ BY THE KING.  
His Majesty's Proclamation forbidding the tendering or taking of a late Covenant, called, A solemn League and Covenant for Reformation, etc.  
WHereas there is a Printed Paper, entitled, A solemn League and Covenant for Reformation, and Defence of Religion, the Honour and Happiness of the King, and the Peace and safety of the three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, pretended to be Ordered by the Commons in Parliament on the twenty first day of September last, to be Printed and Published; Which Covenant though it seems to make specious expressions of Piety and Religion, is in Truth nothing else but a Traitorous and Seditious Combination against Us, and against the establshed Religion and Laws of this Kingdom, in pursuance of a Traitorous Design, and endeavour to bring in Foreign Force to invade this Kingdom; We do therefore straightly charge and command all our loving Subjects, of what degree or quality soever, upon their Allegiance, that they presume not to take the said Seditious and Traitorous Covenant. And We do likewise hereby forbid and inhibit all Our Subjects to impose, administer, or tender the said Covenant, as they and every of them will answer the contrary at their utmost and extremest Perils.  
Given at our Court at Oxford, this ninth day of October, in the Nineteenth Year of our Reign.  
God save the King.