EIGHT PROPOSITIONS OF The desires of the Commissioners of the General Assembly of Scotland, to the Parliament. 

1 That the grounds and cause of undertaking a war may be cleared.  
2 To consider what are the breaches of peace, which are taken to be the ground of the war.  
3 That no ground or quarrel of war be, that may break the union of the Kingdoms.  
4. If the Popish, Prelatical, or Malignant party rise in arms, that all means be used for suppressing them.  
5 That the Parliament will declare His Majesty's Concessions and offers of Religion unsatisfactory.  
6 Security to be bad from His Majesty, that he and his Successors shall agree to Acts of Parliament enjoining the League and Covenant, the Presbytery, and Directory.  
7 That none have power, but such as have given proof of their honest dealing.  
8 And that there be no engagement without a civil Oath.    
AND The answer of the Lords to the said Propositions  
ALSO A Petition entered in the Parliament of Scotland by eighteen Lords, and near forty of the Commons, of Shires and Burroughs of the Parliament of Scotland.  
Published according to Order.  
Printed at London by ROBERT IBBITSON. 1648.   

1648. A PROTESTATION Entered IN THE PARLIAMENT OF SCOTLAND, By eighteen Lords, and near forty of the Commons of Shires, and Burroughs, of the Parliament of SCOTLAND.  
WHereas we have earnestly desired and pressed that no power be granted to any Committee, to do, act, or Order any thing which may engage this Kingdom in a new War, before the Parliament resolve on a War, and states the Causes and Ends thereof, it being in our judgement neither agreeable to the Oath of Parliament, and Tenor of Commons from Shires and Burrougheses, nor the Act of Parliameut 1640. And against the Articles, it being also a dangerous preparative, and much derogatory to the Liberty of the Kingdom, and Privileges of Parliament; And most of all it being of dangerous consequence to the cause of God, and to the ends of the solemn League and Covenant. We do therefore descent from granting any such power, and do protest that we may not be included in any such Vote or Resolution, but may be free before God and Man of all the guiltiness, prejudices or evil that may follow thereupon,, to the Cause, Covenant and Religion, to the King's person and authority, to this Kirke and Kingdom, or the union between the two Kingdoms.  

Edinburgh 22 March, 1647.  
TO the Right Honourable the Estates of Parliament present convened: The humble desires of the Commissioners of the General Assembly, Whereas we were desired to appoint a conference of some of your Lordships, which did go on towards an agreement, till it was obstructed by a Vote of Parliament of the 16. of this instant, and having already shown by our papers of the 18. and 20. the reasons of not proceeding in that conference, and that the cause was not in us; we do now as the servants of Jesus Christ, for your exhortation, for preventing of mistakes, and for a clear understanding betwixt yours and us represent these our humble desires, which we commend to your Lordship's serious thoughts.  

I.  
That the ground and cause of undertaking was may be clear to be so just, as that all who are well affected may be satisfied in the lawfulness and necessity of engagement, and that nothing be enacted in reference to a war before the lawfulness of the war, and the state of the question be agreed upon.   

II.  
That as the breaches of the Covenant by the Parliament partly by Sectaries in England are evident, so we desire and hope, that according to the treaties it may be considered upon and declared by the Parliament what are those breaches of peace which they take to be a ground of the war, and that whereabout thereof may be sought.   

III.  
That there may be no such quarrel or ground of the war as may break the union between the Kingdoms, or may discourage or disable the presbyterian party in England, who continue from in adhering to the League and Covenant.   

iv  
That if the popish prevail, or malignant party shall again rise in Arms, this war and their Armies may be so fare from joining, or associating with them, that on the contrary they may oppose them, and endeavour to suppress them, as enemies to the Cause and Covenant, upon the one hand, as well as Sectaries on the other.   

V  
Seeing your Lordship's undertake should be in the first part for Religion, we desire that His Majesty's late concessions and offers concerning Religion as they have been by the Church, so may be by the Parliament declared unsatisfectory, whereby your Lordships may give a further evidence of the reality of your intentions for the good and safety of Religion.   

VI  
That your Lordships may be pleased not to fix or settle upon any such state of a question, as doth not contain security and assurance to be had from His Majesty by his solemn oath under his hand and seal, That he shall for himself and his successors consent and agree to acts of Parliament, enjoining the League and Covenant, and fully establishing Presbyterian Government, Directory of worship, and confession of faith, in all His Majesty's Dominions, and that His Majesty shall never make any opposition to any of these, or endeavour any change thereof, and that this security be had from His Majesty before his restitution to the exercise of His Regal power, which desire we propound for no other end, but because we cannot see how Religion which hath been, and we trust shall be the principle end of the undertake of this nation can be otherwise secured, but that without this security it shall be left in very great hazard.   

VII.  
That for the same end of securing Religion (which is professed to be the principal end of engagement) and for all the other ends of this Covenant, such persons only may be entrusted by your Lordships to be of your Committees or Army as hath given constant proof of their integrity and faithfulness in this Cause, and against whom there is no just cause of exception or jealousy, that so we may the more confidently encourage our Flocks and Congregations to follow the Cause of God, in their hands, and not to doubt of the fidelity of those who shall be entrusted by your Lordships.   

VIII.  
That there be no engagement without a Solemn Oath wherein the Kirke may have the same interest which they have had in the Solemn League and Covenant, the Cause being the same.  
All which desires being duly pondered by your Lordships in an equal balance, will we trust be found just and necessary: And we do not doubt but satisfaction from your Lordships therein may be the happy effectual means for facilitating the state of the question, and for uniting the Nations in one unanimous undertaking of such duties as are requisite for the Reformation and defence of Religion, the Honour and Happiness of the Kiig, and the good, peace and safety of the Kingdoms.  
Eight Noblemen, eight Barons, eight Burgesesses from the Parliament, with seven Ministers, and eight Ruling-Elders were appointed to keep a Committee and consider of the Articles aforesaid.  
After which, that Committee called a Committee from the Parliament and gave this report, viz.     

March 25. 1648.  
Anent the first of the Articles agrees to it, but so, that nothing be acted in the mean time, in reference to war.  
To the second Article, that some be appointed to represent the breaches of the Covenant and Peace. And to report their representation both of the time and manner.  
Thirdly, any engagement to England, if it be for strengthening the Union of the Presbyterian Party, and the well-affected in England.  
The fourth agreed to, in matter and substance.  
Fiftly, Upon the agreement and the whole matter, and state of the question, their Lordships will be pleased to declare His Majesty's concessions to be unsatisfactory, they agree.  
Sixtly, Declare that the present question to be stated shall be an assurance to be had from His Majesty and His Successors, that Acts of Parliament shall be agreed unto, enjoining the League and Covenant, and as to the second part of the Article, That His Majesty shall do this before His restoration: It's remitted to those who shallbe appointed for drawing up the state of the Question.  
The seaventh agreed to verbatim.  
To the eight, to consider the framing of Oaths, otherwise, that they shall have their due interest past, that some be appointed for drawing up of the question, and grounds of engagements for uniting the Kingdomse, and further an wanimous nnderstanding.  
FINIS,