The VINDICATION and DECLARATION of the Scots Nation, etc.  
AN Aspersion being cast upon our Actions, and a Sandal raised against our Proceed. We conclude ourselves engaged to wipe off the one, and beat down the other by this short Vindication.  
It is not unknown to the world, that at First we were Invited to assist the Kingdom of England upon a Solemn Agreement, as well to make the late King Glorious, as to preserve to Lawful Rights, and Liberties of the Subjects. The only means to effect this, was propounded the forcible Rescuing the King from His Evil, and bringing Him back to His Great Council, whom we were informed He had [wilfully, and for no cause given by them] deserted: [Though now we are fully satisfied of the contrary.]  
This specious pretence involved us in that Engagement: in order to the effecting whereof, our Army in 1644. Marched into England: The success which their Design found thereby, we need not mention; it being acknowledged at large by their own Papers.  
Upon the Account also, after the Kings coming into our Army, we treated with them, and upon their large protestations of acting nothing contrary to the first agreement, [of the faithful performance whereof we alone were not frustrated] we left his Majesty to be attended on by the Commissioners, of both Houses of the Then Parliament of England, expecting thenceforth a speedy performance of theirs and our Agreement, but how our expectation was therein deceived we leave it to their own late proceed to determine and declare.  
After this, being informed how the Army of Sectaries behaved themselves towards the King, we held ourselves obliged by our said Solemn Engagement to endeavour the Redress of his Majesty's sad condition, and to that end by consent of Parliament we raised an Army in 1648. and gave them Order to March into England: which was accordingly performed.  
Upon their March we were informed of a Treaty to be between his then Majesty and his two Houses, and were also possessed with this suggestion, that under the countenance of that our engagement, the Malignant party had strengthened themselves to hinder the happy effects of the said Treaty: of which we being unwilling to be accounted the abstructers, we sent Orders to our General to stay his further March, and forbear any engagement against the English, till we were truly satisfied what effect the said Treaty would produce.  
Our General accordingly made an Halt, not doubting but that the English had done the same. But their Lieutenant General CromWell taking advantage of his security, unexpectedly fell into our General's quarters [who suspected no such treacherous fruits of a pretended Treaty, and had no order to engaste against them] and before our General was or could be Resolved what to do, prosecuted his Design with so hot and eager a pursuit, that by the advantage he had got by that his treacherous first onset, he so dispersed our whole Army, that it was no Labour for him totally to destroy the same, or have them all at his Mercy [which in the conclusion proved but cruelty, witness our General himself Whom they murdered in London after they had given him quarter.]  
By this defeat he gained a free passage with his Army without opposition, to March against this Kingdom. To prevent this, those of us who had protested against that Engagement, and to their utmost power opposed it in Arms [which they never laid down, until the Garrisons of BERWICK and Carlisle were restored to the Kingdom of England] These of us [we say] by a letter from the House of Commons to the General Assembly of this Kirk of the third of August 1648. intimating With What hopeful success the Treaty was like to go on) were invited to a Treaty with the said Lieu. General Cromwell authorised thereunto by both Houses of Parliament: And this was accepted on both Parts.  
At the meeting upon the 5. of October following Lieu. General Cromwell in the Name of the Parliament of England, did represent to the Committee of Estarts of this Kingdom, the wrongs and injuries committed against the Kingdom of England in that Engagement, and thereupon did demand by way of satisfaction, that they would give assurance in the name of the Kingdom of Scotland, not to admit, or suffer any who have been Active in, or consenting to that Engagement, to be employed in any Public place, or Trust whatsoever; which [the exigencies of our affairs, as then necessitating us thereunto] was not only granted, and afterwards confirmed in Parliament, but also publicly disclaimed, because we did expect a happy period of the  Treaty between His Majesty, and His two Houses: but what effect that did produce is apparent to the whole world in General, and to this Kingdom particularly, who are concerned therein more especially; for thereby they conclude, themselves free from whatsoever Relation, or mutual obligation to the Kingdom of England, and bound equally by the Law of God, Nations, and Common Right to declare as followeth.  

The DECLARATION of, etc.  
SInce the hideous, and unparalleled proceed of the Sectaries of England especially of the Army [in reference to Religion, to the Law, to the protesting against, and disannulling all the proceed of the Treaty, to the Freedom of both Houses, (one being declared useless, and many Members of the other kept away by force, and the rest under the power of the Sword) to the taking away of the King's Life, and the changing the very Fundamental Government of that Kingdom] since their proceed [we say] have manifested themselves contrary, and Diametrically opposite to all bonds of Religion, or but Moral Honesty, Loyalty to the King, mutual amity and Friendship betwixt the two Kingdoms, the Solemn League and Covenant, yea, and their own Protestations, Declarations, Professions, and Remonstrances.  
And since by such proceed it is apparent, that there hath been in England a back-sliding, and departure from those Grounds and Principles wherein the two Kingdoms were engaged: we held ourselves bound equally by the Law of God and Nations to protest against them, and to address ourselves according to the Law of this Kingdom, to the Heir apparent of this Crown and Sceptre, whom we have not only acknowledged for our King, and with all readiness, unanimity, alacrity, and solemnity proclaimed His Majesty by the name of CHARLES the SECOND, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, etc. But also, [having now by his last Express received such full satisfaction as both the General Assembly of the Kirk, and Grand Committee of Estates did desire, or could be expected, do DECLARE to the whole world, that we will receive His Majesty [when he shall think fit to Honour us with, and encourage us by His Royal presence] with all chieerfulness, and most willingly render unto Him that faithful subjection, and dutiful obedience which can be expected from Loyal Subjects to so Gracious a King, who, by granting so much, hath so fare endeared This Nation, That we further DECLARE,  
That we will contribute our utmost endeavours according to the Duty of Faithful and Loyal Subjects, to settle his Majesty in the peaceable Possession of the Government of his Kingdom of England, and other his Majesty's Dominions, according to his Majesties ' undoubted right of Succession, and with all their Lives, Estates, Power, and Strength, assist his Majesty in bringing to Justice the Actors and Abettors in that HORRID and UNPARRALED MURDER of his Majesty's Royal Father, by which we doubt not but fully both to satisfy the whole world how much we did and still do detest and abominate the very design thereof, and also give a sufficient testimony of the integrity of intentions towards MONARCHICAL Government and the continuance thereof in his Majesty's Person and Posterity, and of our utter detestation of the unparaleld practices of those Sectaries at West-minster, Derby-House, and in the Army, who Design the Ruin of his Majesty and the Subversion of the ancient and Fundamental Laws and Government of all his Three Kingdoms, whom therefore we Resolve to our utmost hazard of our Lives, and Estates, to oppose: And to that end do further DECLARE,  
That we will not admit of any Treaty with any of his Majesty's Enemies (without his consent nor) till all the Late proceed in England since the ending of the Treaty, between his late barbarously Murdered Majesty and his then Two Houses of Parliament, be disclaimed and disavowed, and both Houses there be permitted to sit in Freedom and safety, that so addresses may without fear and danger of the Subject's lives, be made unto them concerning all matters of just complaint.  
And from these Resolutions and Declarations in the last place, as we DECLARE, that as no alteration or revolution of affairs can absolve us, so we trust in God that no success, whether good or bad, shall be able to divert us from that course and means by which we have jointly and unanimously consented to assist his Majesty according to this our present Declaration, and will pursue with all alacrity till we have settled his Majesty according to his own Hearts desire, attained the wished ends of the long continued Troubles of his Three Kingdoms, and put a period to those unnatural Wars and divisions which have so long wasted all his Dominions; That so at Length (if God be so pleased) we may live a comfortable and quiet life under the shadow of so hopeful and Gracious a King's prosperous and happy Government. Which God of his infinite Mercy grant in his good time That so the Throne of Charles the Second may be established in righteousness, peace and Happiness.  
Vivat, Vincat, Floreat CAROLUS Secundus.  
FINIS.