A DECLARATION OF THE COMMITTEE of ESTATES Of the PARLIAMENT of SCOTLAND, TO THE Honourable Houses of the PARLIAMENT, And to all their Brethren of ENGLAND, Concerning The Necessity, Grounds, and Ends of their Engagement, and of the RETURN of the SCOTS ARMY into ENGLAND.  
EDINBURGH, Printed by Evan Tyler, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, 1648.   

GOD save the KING  
 royal blazon or coat of arms 
C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   

A Declaration of the COMMITTEE of the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland, To the Honourable Houses of the PARLIAMENT, and to all their Brethren of England.  
AFter so long a continuance of the sad calamities that have almost wasted these three Kingdoms, and the uninterrupted endeavours of this Nation to have all the causes of them removed; We cannot possibly express with what grief of soul we find them still more likely to be increased than diminished; Neither did any part of our former sufferings more deeply afflict us, than again to be necessitated to Expressions and Actions, that by some will rather be looked upon as Incentives of new troubles, then means to quiet and calm the present distempers. Therefore we have thought fit to offer this ensuing Declaration to the Honourable Houses of Parliament, and to our Brethren of England, for satisfaction of all religious, loyal and honest men; that Heaven and Earth may bear witness with us of the necessity of our Engagement and undertake at this time, and of the candour of our Intentions and Resolutions.  
After that by the blessing of God upon the endeavours of this Nation and their Armies at home and in England in two several Expeditions, a happy Peace was settled, Religion and the just Liberties of this Kingdom established, a Parliament called in England, and great progress made towards the redress of all grievances, and reforming abuses both in Church and State: It pleased the Lord again to call us to new troubles: For the differences betwixt the King and Parliament being increased and heightened into a bloody War, the many Addresses of this Kingdom to His Majesty and the two Houses for an amicable composure of differences having proved fruitless and ineffectual, and the Parliament reduced to a low condition, This Kingdom was invited to the assistance of their Brethren, large Professions by them were made of their desires of unity and uniformity in Religion, of a nearer conjunction with this Kingdom, and the dangers were fully represented to us of a prevailing Party in England, different from us in Religion and Church-Government: It was then acknowledged, that the same fate in Religion attended both: And because it was well known, that although unhappy differences had arisen betwixt his Majesty & his Subjects of this Kingdom, yet Scotland could never be drawn into any action against His Majesty, or that fidelity and subjection which they own to Him and his Posterity; large professions were therefore made by the two Houses of their loyalty to their King, whose greatness and authority they professed they never intended to diminish, as may more fully appear in the several Declarations; Commissioners were sent into this Kingdom, Invitations renewed, a Treaty made, and a Covenant solemnly signed and sworn for Reformation and defence of Religion, the honour and happiness of the King, and the peace and safety of the Kingdoms.  
Thus both Kingdoms were equally and mutually engaged, and in pursuance of the Covenant and Treaty an Army marched into England in the hardest Season; and both Kingdoms in their joynt-Declaration, Jan. 6. 1643/ 4. obliged themselves and decreed never to lay down Arms, till Truth and Peace by the blessing of God were settled in this Island upon a firm foundation for the present and future Generations. Although we shall not mention what success that Army had, what Blood they lost both in Scotland and England, what hardships they endured, and how much this Kingdom was thereby impoverished: yet we cannot but remember, how that by the blessing of God upon the joint Counsels and Forces of both Kingdoms, the two Houses of Parliament were recovered into a condition of making good those Engagements, and with what unity both Kingdoms proceeded towards the attaining of those Ends, until that Party in the Houses, who since have declared themselves Independents (who seemed forward in the engaging of this Kingdom, and at first professed greatest care of our Army) had attained to power, discovered their intentions, and interrupted all these fair beginnings, They created and fomented jealousies against the Scots, and by their influence on the two Houses cashiered all in England by Sea and Land, how eminent, how faithful soever, that they could not confide in; And by the success of their new-modelled Army, for the most part Sectaries, they engrossed all power Military and Civil into their own and their Creatures hands: the Propositions formerly agreed on by both Kingdoms and treated on at Uxbridge, were altered; yet this Kingdom and those employed by them were content so far to deny themselves and their own interests, as to wave the Propositions most advantageous to Scotland, and for witnessing their desire of Peace, to join in those framed by the two Houses, where the Independents had got such a power: And for the greatest testimony of our confidence in the Honourable Houses of Parliament (notwithstanding the many injuries and discouragements received in England from the then and still prevailing party in the English Army and their Abetters, who were grown Anti-Covenanters, and threatened a disappointment of all the Ends of the Covenant) upon the public faith of the Houses, given to us for the preservation and safety of His Majesty's sacred person, and of making joint addresses to His Majesty for settling a safe and well-grounded Peace, and free access of all employed by this Kingdom to his Majesty, the Armies of Scotland returned from England, and left the King with the English Commissioners; most of our Army were immediately thereafter disbanded, and no more kept on foot but so many as were necessary for reducing some Scots Rebels, and Irish, Subjects of the Crown of England (whom by the large Treaty England was bound to reduce) We expected that the like course would have been taken for disbanding of the Armies in England, and none kept on foot but such as were necessary for the Garrisons and safety of the Kingdom, (there being then no professed Enemy in Arms) and those to have been such as both Kingdoms might have confided in, for affection to Religion and Monarchy: whereunto the Honourable Houses of Parliament did effectually apply themselves, as appears by their Declaration of the 28. of May 1647. But the Independent party were as diligent to hinder it; First by contriving and procuring a Petition from the Army against their disbanding, which by the Houses was Voted mutinous, and the Abetters of it enemies to the State, 200000 l. was provided and Commissioners sent down to the Army for disbanding it, and engaging a considerable Supply for Ireland under the Command of Generall-Major Skippon, and Lieut. General Massey, 167 Presbyterian Officers engaged for Ireland and gave obedience to the commands of the Parliament: but on a sudden, the Sectaries of that Army drew themselves together, entered into a solemn Engagement against the Resolutions of the Parliament, cashiered all the Prerbyterian Officers who had adhered to the Parliament or subscribed for Inland, placed Sectaries in their Charges, erected a supreme Council of Agitators, and then grew indeed into a complete new Model: Soon thereafter, a Party out of several Regiments, (commanded by a Tailor, a Cornet of theirs, one Joyce) violently seized on the Person of the King, and carried him from his house at Holdenby, against his own will and the Protestation of the Commissioners then attending upon him, and against the declared resolutions of both Kingdoms: and though this action was at first disavowed by the GENERAL, yet it appears to have been done by some underhand Warrant; for the King was kept still within the Army's Quarters, strong Guards placed about him; and when the Houses thought fit to command the Army not to come within thirty miles of London, and to Vote his Majesty's coming to Richmond, They by threatening Messages forced the recalling of these Votes, and carried the King along with them to Hatsield and other places at their pleasure. The Houses did then justly think it necessary to look to their own preservation, lest they should be served as his Majesty was: And upon the 11. of June 1647. they appointed a Committee of Safety to meet with the Militia of London, and consider upon the preservation of the Parliament and City, the great work of the Army being to New-model the Parliament as well as they had done Themselves, and to subdue and enslave that great and glorious City: In order whereunto, they first began with a false & frivolous general Charge against divers Members of the Houses, eminent for affection & actions in this Cause, and violently pressed their suspension from the House; but upon a full and free debate it was Voted to be against the Law, to suspend any Member upon a general Charge, without bringing in and proving of particulars. This procedure did not fit the Armies occasions: Therefore by several threatening Messages, That they would march to Westminster, That they would purge the House, and that they must take extraordinary courses, They force the Houses to recall their Votes for a Committee of safety, to disband what forces they had drawn together under Presbyterian Officers, they compel the eleven Members to withdraw from their attendance in the House, And the Militia of London at the unanimous desire of the Common-Counsel, being then settled in the hands of such persons as the City might most conside in, the Army to perfect their designs upon them, enforces the Houses to a new model of that Militia. Having thus in their power the Person of His Majesty, and having overawed the Parliament and City they disperse themselves in the several Counties about London, list and raise daily more forces, and revolves to settle, or rather to alter and subvert Religion and Government after their own will, as is held forth in their Proposals, which they first presented to His Majesty, and afterwards sent them to the Houses, as that which they would have the ground of Peace: But the City was so enraged at the change of the Militia, that they came down to Westminster to petition against it, and the Prentices (who had learned from the Army the powerfullest Arguments to persuade) came in multitudes and pressed the granting of the Common-Counsells Petition. Thus on the 26th of July 1647, the Houses again settled the Militia as formerly, many in London entered into an in Engagement, but the Militia of London quieted all Tumults, settled orderly guards, and the next day the House of Commons sat quietly; yet it was resolved by that party that the two Speakers and the friends of the Army should fly thither, which they did: The Houses notwithstanding sat, choosed new Speakers, revived the Committee of safety, and put themselves in a posture of defence, and upon the desires of the Commissioners of this Kingdom, they invited His Majesty to come to London with Honour, Freedom and Safety. The Army drew together, refused to own the Parliament, declared against them, printed their own Proposals, cried out against a new War, And in the mean time them and their friends that lied to them, being engaged by a writing to live and die together, marched up against the Parliament and City, who seemed to have been in a readiness to oppose them, until by the endeavours of some, that were better friends to the Sectaries; then to the Parliament and City, by their many addresses to the Army ●nd returns, the City was surrendered, and the Sectaries having ●rought up the Speakers and Members that fled to them, marched in triumph through London with Laurels in their hats; Sir Thomas Fairfax was made captain-general of all England, Constable of the Tower of London and Commander of all the Garrisons in England; he put out an honest faithful Citizen, and put in a Sectary Lieutenant of the Tower, and then they fell afresh upon the purging of the House (as they called it) Seven Lords were impeached of a new pretended Treason, the eleven Members forced to fly, and after a fortnight's debate, and being often carried in the negative (for a little Liberty yet remained) At last by a threatening Declaration from the Army, and the sword-men's coming into the House, all Orders passed in absence of the old Speakers, were repealed and some of the activest of the Houses, the Lord Major, three honest Aldermen and d●vers Common-Counsellours of London charged and imprisoned, the Officers of the City altered, and all upon general accusations for raising a new War; but indeed really for being zealous for the ends of the Covenant and for defence of the Privileges, yea the being of the Parliament, against the violence and insolence of this Shismatick Army.  
The liberty of the Parliament being thus destroyed by their own Servants, contrary to their many professions, the famous City of London enslaved to Sectaries, and not only those privileges taken from them, which by their faithfulness to the Parliament, and with the expense of so much Blood and Treasure they had merited, but even their ancient Liberties trodden on, and all things governed at Westminister and London according to order from the Court of War, who also by a reigning spirit of Levelling Democraty, were, or seemed to be overruled be the new-supreme Counsel of Agitators, who had been Soldiers and now were turned superlative Commanders: As the labour of the Independent Junto, was to court the people and the soldiery by Declarations and engagements (which they assoon falcified) and even to trade with the Papists (as was informed) so they studied to interest the King's party, and cajolled some of them to purpose that were most obnoxtious to the Parliament, and excepted in the Propositions: But they soon manifested to the World, what their intentions were to the King, for after they had made use of the detaining of His Majesty's Person in their Army, and of pretending for His interests and party to enable them to subdue the Parliament and City; That work being over, they first grew severer to His party (except such as they still made very good use of) and then endeavoured by threatening to fright him away from Hampton-Court; The power of the Levellers was much talked of until His Majesty was sure in the I'll of Wight, and then their Lievetenant-Generall found a means to quiet them: In the I'll of Wight they first made His Majesty Prisoner, without any known authority, and then got the Houses to own and order it, And by the prevalency of the Independent party, Votes were passed making another kind of new high Treason, to make any application to the King, to write to him, or receive letters from him (a severity greater than is usual against malefactors) and for justifying of these votes, a Declaration was published, with many false scandals cast upon his Majesty, and it is even declared they will put no more trust in his Majesty, yea now we are informed, that by horrid treachery and poison, endeavours are used to take away his life.  
As that Independent party, hath endeavoured to subvert the begun Reformation of Religion, to destroy the King and Monarchy, and overthrow the Parliament, and persecute honest men, so it hath been their study even since the removal of the Scots Army, to break the happy union betwixt the kingdoms, to lay aside the Covenant, disappoint all the ends of it, and violate all treaties betwixt the kingdoms; we shall not need to repeat the jealousies they created and fomented against Scotland, and the Scots Commissioners; and our Army, whilst it was there, how they withheld the maintenance from them due by the Treaty, that by free quarters they might grow burdensome and odious to the people, nor need we now to mention any violation of the large Treaty concerning the remainder of money due upon the Brotherly assistance, nor of the money due by Treaty for our Army in Ireland, or by the late Treaty upon the march of our Army; nor shall We now insist on the Breach of that Article of the large Treaty, by which the Houses were obliged to pursue, take, and punish the Irish Rebels, Subjects of the Crown of England, who so long infested us: We have already declared what Breaches they have made of the solemn engagements for the King, and when our Commissioners at London demanded whither the votes against all application to his Majesty, did extend to his Subjects of Scotland, to debar such as are warranted by the Parliament of this kingdom, or their Commits from free access to, or intercourse with his Majesty, or that he should be hindered from, and so made incapable of any Act of Government, in relation to the Affairs of Scotland? No Answer was then nor as yet is returned thereunto, but before that time, not only such as had warrants for access to him were debarred thereof, notwithstanding of the engagement of the House 27. of January 1647. to the contrary; But even the Earl of Lawderdaill a public Minister of this kingdom, contrary to that engagement, and to the Law of Nations, was violently removed by a party of the Army from Woburn, where his Majesty then was, and not suffered to have access to him, and though reparation was therein desired by the last Committee of Estates, yet none was given; And although by the 8. Article of the Treaty 1643. It is agreed that no cessation, pacification, nor agreement for peace whatsoever shall be made by either kingdom, or the Armies of either kingdoms, without the mutual advice and consent of both kingdoms, which engagement the Houses of Parliament also repeated in their letter of the 27. of January 1647. to observe that Article after the removal of our Army out of England; yet contrary thereunto the Sectaries and their adherents framed proposals destructive to the ends of the Covenant, which were presented to his Majesty without the advice or consent of the kingdom of Scotland, and having cunningly inserted therein some things more pleasing to his Majesty, than the propositions of both kingdoms were, it was their study to persuade his Majesty in his answer to the Propositions at Hampton Court, to throw himself on the proposals, and thereby unsatisfy both his kingdoms, which as soon as the King had done, they themselves laid them aside and used his Majesty as we have before expressed. And whereas the Houses of Parliament, whilst in liberty, made it their work, first to disband the Army, before any applications to be made to his Majesty, the Independent Army having the King within the quarters of their Army, and the City reduced, pressed vehemently the sending of the Propositions of both, kingdoms, whilst themselves were fastest trinketing with their Proposals; a short and peremptory day: was set for delivery of the Propositions, without the advice or consent of the Commissioners of the kingdom of Scotland then at London; and Instructions given, That if the Scots Commissioners were not there present at that day, the Propositions nevertheless should be delivered without them: And as we have great reason to believe, that it was the study of the Sectaries and those that were their Instruments in that Treaty, that His Majesty should not satisfy his Parliaments by his Answer; yet upon that Answer, by the power and prevalency of that Party, the Houses of Parliament laid aside the Propositions agreed on by both Kingdoms, and have (contrary to the Treaty) framed and presented Propositions and Bills to His Majesty, against which the Commissioners of this Kingdom declared, and thereafter by order according to their Instructions protested against them in the Isle of Wight, as being destructive to Religion, the Crown, and union of the Kingdoms, as may at large be seen in that printed Answer to the new Propositions, which the Parliament here have owned and approved as the sense of this Kingdom, and which we hold as here repeated:  
The Parliament of this Kingdom taking into their consideration the dangers thus threatening Religion, His Majesty's sacred Person and Posterity, yea Monarchy and all Government; how that by the injustice, violence and treachery of the Independents and their adherents in Parliament and Army, the Covenant was laid aside, all the ends of it frustrated, Toleration countenanced and by the new Propositions endeavoured to be settled, His Majesty imprisoned and such height of insolences committed against him, The privileges, yea the being of the Parliament being in a manner destroyed, and the foundations of it razed, The famous City of London (to whom this Nation and all that are faithful in this Cause must needs acknowledge so great obligations) enslaved, its Liberties trodden on, and many of the best affected to the Covenant, in Parliament and City, for their fidelity persecuted and driven away, The Treaties with and engagements to this Nation broken, The public Faith of England, yea almost all Laws divine and humane violated, The people of England oppressed with Freequarter and Taxes, and the union and brotherly correspondence betwixt the Kingdoms much weakened and endeavoured to be taken away; And being very sensible of the many injuries and affronts done to this Nation, their Army, and those employed by them; weighing also well how fruitless all their endeavours by way of Treaty and Messages for curing those evils and removing those differences had proven, and how little regard was had to our Commissioners and their endeavours at London of late, Thought it high time to look to their own preservation, and to put this Kingdom into a posture of Arms. Yet before any further Engagement, they resolved to try, if by the Three just and necessary Demands of the 26. of April made to the Houses of Parliament, it were possible in an amicable way to compose those differences and provide for the security of Religion, of His Majesty, and of the peace and union of the Kingdoms: To the which had a satisfactory Answer been returned, all the Inconveniencies that may ensue, might have been prevented, which we have still since that time patiently expected.  
But in stead of security to Religion according to the Covenant against the dangers on all hands; In stead of freeing His Majesty from his base imprisonment, that he may come to some of his houses in or near London with Honour, Freedom and Safety, where both Kingdoms may make their applications to him for settling Religion and a well-grounded Peace; In stead of disbanding the Army of Sectaries, by whose power and tyranny all those evils are come upon us, and further threaten us, without taking any notice at all of what upon so just and necessary grounds we demanded, without any reparation given of the many injuries done to this Kingdom and those employed by them, or any Answer to that demand made by our Commissioners, Whether it was intended that His Majesty should be debarred from exercising any act of Government in relation to this Kingdom, Or whether Scots men employed and allowed by Scotland might have free access to him: In stead (we say) of all these, we have received three Propositions to be presented to His Majesty, that after His Majesty assent thereto, and to such Acts of Parliament as shall be offered by both Houses for confirmation thereof, than both Houses will treat with his Majesty, (without telling him or us, where or with what security to either) concerning the future settlement of the Government of the Church, and the settlement of the Militia, and the rest of the Propositions formerly tendered at Hampton-Court; And a desire from the English Commissioners residing here, for us to prepare such Propositions as we shall judge fit and necessary for this Kingdom, that they may be sent to His Majesty with all convenient speed: They did also communicate to us some Votes of the two Houses; and the Committee of Estates told them, That they could return no Answer, till first they received satisfaction to the Demands of this Kingdom of the 26. of April, And these are as little satisfied, Religion, the King and his Kingdoms as little secured, and the solid grounds of a Religious and good Peace, as little provided for now as formerly.  
We shall not much insist on the particulars of these three Propositions: Our Commissioners did on some of them so fully express themselves, especially that of the Militia, in their late Answer to the Propositions, before they went to the I'll of Wight (which we here hold as repeated) But we cannot conceal, how very unsatisfactory that concerning Religion is; and we are sorry to see other Interests still so carefully provided for, and so little security to Religion, which indeed was the main and principal cause of our Engagement in the late wars. In these Propositions we still find the Covenant omitted, one end of it only mentioned by way of Narrative, and the Propositions for Uniformity according to the Covenant, with all the other Propositions of Religion left to the future Treaty, and all that is now desired, is, That Presbyterial Government be confirmed by Act of Parliament in such manner as both Houses of Parliament have agreed in several Ordinances of Parliament, That is to say, etc. The Commissioners of the Parliament and General Assembly of this Kingdom have several times expressed their sense of these Ordinances, which we shall not here repeat: But we doubt this new etc. be of a larger extent, and relates to that impious Toleration settled by both Houses, so contrary to Covenant, so destructive to the ends of it, and for aught we know not yet repealed, against which this Kingdom hath so fully declared in the forementioned Answer to the new Propositions: for it was then brought in as a part of the Proposition for settling Presbyterial Government, as the way that both the Houses then agreed to: And seeing the same over-awing power continues, which first brought in that Toleration avowedly, we have reason to apprehend it still remains, but is now covered & rolled up in this new etc. And we have the greater reason to be unsatisfied, that Presbyterial Government is only demanded for three years, and in the end of the Propositions it is professed, that the Houses will treat with his Majesty concerning the future settlement of the Government of the Church, without relating to the Covenant as a rule of the Government, or the Propositions formerly agreed upon by both Kingdoms, but in such a general as may overthrow all the Reformation established, and open a door to Hierarchy or Anarchy, to Episcopacy or Independency, and to Toleration, All abjured in our solemn Covenant.  
And seeing no satisfaction is given to the so just & necessary demands of the Parliament of the 26 of April, either for Religion or the King's Majesty, but that Religion is still in as much hazard as ever, the King still barbarously detained in his base imprisonment, and as we are credibly informed, daily in hazard of his life by Treachery and Poison, and that Army of Sectaries (the great cause of all our evils and dangers) still kept up, strengthened, and a great part of it now marched close to our Border: Though this Kingdom shall never be averse from giving and receiving mutual satisfaction by Treaty; yet we cannot agree to these Propositions, nor join with the two Houses in presenting of them to His Majesty, whilst neither King nor Parliament enjoy their liberties.  we can no longer, as unconcerned spectators, be witnesses to the loss and ruin of all, which by the oath of God that lies upon us in our solemn League and Covenant, and by many other obligations, we are bound to endeavour to preserve: And the ends being now the same for which we were invited, and in prosecution whereof we lost so much Blood, did undergo so many hardships, and so much impoverished our own country, and being engaged by the joint Declaration of both kingdoms, never to lay down Arms, till Truth and Peace be settled in the Island, upon a firm foundation for the present, and future Generations, being also invited thereunto by many of that kingdom joined in Covenant with us. Our forces are again in England, and in discharge of our duties to God, our Native King, our own country, and our Brethren in England, we have undertaken this so necessary engagement, in prosecution of those just, pious and loyal ends, to which we are so solemnly sworn. And although we have not at all departed from our good old Principles, and that our Demands and Desires are contained in our several Declarations, Papers, and addresses this time passed to the Houses of Parliament, yet seeing by the malice of our enemies, many false and scandalous aspersions are cast upon us, our Actions and intentions traduced, and jealousies raised in the minds of many good (though too credulous) men both at home and abroad; for satisfaction of all that are satisfiable, and to witness the sincerity of our intentions and resolutions, we shall here repeat our most material desires, and the grounds of our undertake.  
1. We declare before God and all the world, that we are resolved sincerely, really & constantly, to maintain and preserve inviolably with the hazard of our Lives and Fortunes, and all that is dearest unto us the Reformation of Religion, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and Government, as it is by the mercy of God, and his Majesty's goodness established by Law amongst us; and never to suffer it by fraud or force to be taken from us, nor yet to endure the bringing in of Episcopacy, the Book of Common Prayer, or any other of these Innovations and Superstitions, thrown out of this Church, (as some have been so impudent to aver) And also with the same sincerity, reality, and constancy, in our places and callings, to the uttermost of our power faithfully to endeavour the confirming what is already done in the work of Reformation, establishing the Covenant, and attaining all the ends of it in England and Ireland, particularly Reformation of Religion and Uniformity according to the Covenant.  
2. We do also declare that we will endeavour the Rescue of his Majesty's Person from his base imprisonment, that he may come with Honour, Freedom and Safety to some of his own Houses in or near London, that the Parliaments of both kingdoms may make their applications to him for obtaining his Royal Assent to such desires as shall be by them presented to him, for establishing Religion as is above expressed; and settling a well-grounded Peace, that so his Majesty may live in the Splendour and Glory of his Royal progenitors, as beseemeth his Royal Place and Dignity. That all differences and troubles may end in mutual confidence and rejoicing, the King may enjoy the comfort of his Royal Consort and children, with other contentments. And We after so great distractions and long continued sufferings may reap the blissed fruits of Truth and Peace under his Government. For however the late procedure of this kingdom, may have been misunderstood, yet God knows that we have never admitted of any thoughts to the prejudice of our Gracious Sovereign, his Person and Government, to whom we pray that the Lord would grant a long and happy Reign, and that there may not want one of his seed to rule over us rightly, and to sit upon his Throne, while the Sun and the Moon endureth.  
3. That the two Houses of Parliament may be restored to their Freedom, that all Members who have been faithful to this Cause, may freely and safely attend their charges; That the Parliament being Masters of their own Counsels and Results, they may together with the advice and consent of the kingdom of Scotland, conclude in a Treaty with his Majesty, all other things expedient to a thorough setlement.  
4. That the City of London, which hath expended so much in Blood and Treasure, may have their former Propositions presented to the King at Oxford and Newcastle, and pressed as was formerly intended.  
5. That the Army of Sectaries under the command of Th●… Lord Fairfax of Camron be disbanded, and none employed either in relation to the prosecution of the War in Ireland, or the necessary Garrisons and forces, but such as have or shall take the Covenant, and are well affected to Religion and Government, that so the people of England may be eased of taxes, free quarter, and other great Impositions under which they have so long groaned.  
6. And although the interest of Religion, King and Kingdoms, and the settling of a solid Peace, be the cause of this undertaking: yet we do not doubt but due regard will be had to the concernments of Scotland contained in our several former demands, both in relation to what is due to this Kingdom and their Armies here and in Ireland, as also what is necessary for the better safety, union and Government of the Kingdoms.  
We have now expressed the true grounds and reasons of this Engagement, and the Ends we propose to ourselves. And we do expect that none, who will not declare themselves Enemies to God, the King, the Parliament, and peace of these kingdoms, will oppose us in this so pious and necessary an undertaking: And therefore we hope all jealousies and misunderstandings w●ll be laid aside, and that we shall meet with a hearty concurrence, both of all the Subjects of this kingdom and our Brethren of England. And we do declare, That it shall be our endeavour to protect in their persons and goods, all of the English Nation, who shall join in Covenant with us, and for prosecution of those Ends: and that we do no prejudice nor use violence to none (as fare as we are able) but such as oppose us or those Ends above mentioned. Particularly we shall endeavour, that the Arrears due to all Soldiers who have served the Parliament of England in this Cause (excepting such as have engaged and abetted the Army in their courses, and shall not immediately desert them) may have their accounts audited, part of the Arrears paid, and security for the rest with full indemnity.  
And because our Army will be necessitated to live upon the Country, until a Regular course be taken for their maintenance: We do declare, that it shall be our care, that they carry themselves as soberly, and be as little burdensome as is possible; and before we return, we shall labour to see the Northern Counties satisfied for what extraordinary burdens they sustain.  
To conclude, We declare before God and the world, That we resolve by God's assistance in all our proceed never to break on our parts the union betwixt the kingdoms, nor to encroach upon the Nationall rights of the Subjects of England, or entrench upon their just Liberties: much less is it our intention at all to make a Nationall enengagement against the Parliament and kingdom of England, but for them, whose freedom, privileges, and happiness, shall ever be as dear to us as our own; And our desires being provided for and secured, then immediately our Army shall departed the kingdom of England, and return peaceably home again; whereof we have twice already given real testimonies, our intentions being ever the same with our professions, resolving still to continue steadfast in the prosecution of them, for the accomplishment whereof we shall be ready to sacrifice both our Lives and Fortunes.  
ARCH. PRIMROSE.  
FINIS.