C R  
HONI SOIT x MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
CHARLES by the grace of God King of great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the Faith. To Our Lovits Messengers, our sheriffs in that part conjunctly and severally specially constitute, greeting.  
Forsameikle as the Estates of Our kingdom of Scotland presently convened, taking into their most serious consideration the great and imminent danger of the true Protestant reformed Religion, and of the peace of their Our kingdoms from the treacherous and bloody plots, conspiracies, attempts and practices of Papists, prelates, Malignants, and their adherents, Have after mature deliberation thought expedient to enter into a solemn and mutual Covenant with Our kingdom of England, for the defence of the true Protestant reformed Religion in the Kirk of Scotland, and the reformation of Religion in the Kirk of England, according to the Word of God, the example of the best reformed Kirks, and as may bring the Kirk of God in both kingdoms to the nearest Conjunction and Uniformity in Religion and Church government, And siclike to preserve and defend the Rights and privileges of Our Parliaments, and Liberties of Our kingdoms respectiuè, And to preserve and defend Our Person and authority in the preservation of the said true Religion, and Liberties of Our said's kingdoms, And to observe the Articles of the late Treaty and Peace betwixt the two Nations, And to assist and defend all that shall enter into this Covenant, in the maintaining and pursuing thereof, as the same more fully proports: Which as it will be a comfort and encouragement to all Christians who fear God, and love Religion, to all good and loyal Subjects who truly honour Us, and to all true Patriots who tender the liberty of their country: So doubtless it will exasperate and enrage the said Papists, prelates, Malignants, and their adherents, to practise and execute all the mischief & cruelty they can against this Kirk and kingdom, as they have done in Our Kingdoms of England and Ireland. For preventing thereof, the Estates of this Our said kingdom (according to the practice of Our council, Convention of Our Estates, & of Our Parliaments in former times of the like exigence) have resolved to put this Our said Kingdom, with all possible speed, in a present posture of defence, And for the better safety and security thereof, have statute and ordained, and hereby statues and ordains, that immediately after the publication hereof, all the sensible persons within this Our kingdom of Scotland, betwixt sixty and sixteen years of age, of whatsoever quality, rank, or degree, shall provide themselves with forty days' provision, and with Ammunition, arms, and other warlike provision of all forts, in the most substantious manner, for Horse and Foot, with Tents, and all other furnishing requisite, And that the Horsemen be armed with Pistols, broad Swords, and Steel caps, And where these arms cannot be had, that they provide Jacks, or Secrets, Lances and Steel-bonnets, And that the Footmen be armed with Musket and Sword, or Pike and Sword, And where these cannot be had, that they be furnished with halberds, Loquhaber axes, or Jeddart staves and Swords.  
OUR WILL IS HEREFORE, and We charge you straightly and commands, that incontinent their Our Letters seen, you pass to the Market cross of Edinburgh, and several Burrowes of this Our kingdom, and Parish Kirks thereof, and there by open Proclamation make publication hereof, wherethrough none pretend ignorance of the same, And that you command and charge all and sundry Our subjects foresaids, being sensible persons, betwixt sixty and sixteen years, to provide themselves in manner foresaid, and to be in readiness to make their rendezvous thus armed at the places to be appointed by Our said's Estates, or Committees having power from them, within eight and forty hours after they shall be lawfully warned by order from them to that effect, as they will testify their affections to the true Protestant Religion, the Liberties of Our kingdoms, Our own honour, and the peace and safety of that their native country; and under the pain to be esteemed and punish as enemies to Religion, Us and Our kingdoms, and their whole goods to be confiscate to the use of the public.  
Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh the eighteenth of August, and of Our reign the nineteenth year, 1643. Per Actum Dominorum Conventionis. Arch. primrose Cler. Conven.   

Printed at Edinburgh 15 August 1648