THE DECLARATION Of His EXCELLENCY The Earl of Leven, THE General Officers, and all the inferior Officers and Soldiers of the Scotish ARMY.  
TOGETHER With their Petition to His Majesty, Presented at New castle By the Lord General, the general Officers, and three Commissioners from each Regiment.  
AND His Majesty's ANSWER to the said Petition.  
Published by Authority.  
LONDON: Printed for Laurence Chapman, July 6. 1646.   

To his Excellency, the Earl of Leven, The Petition of all the Officers and Soldiers under your Excellency's command,  
Sheweth,  
THat whereas the whole Officers and Soldiers of this Army under your Excellency's Command, out of their zeal to the Reformation of Religion, their tender care to preserve and confirm the mutual Amity and Confidence of both Kingdoms, and their earnest desires to vindicate their Honour from reproaches and aspersions lying upon them; Have thought it necessary to emit a Declaration of their Constancy and Integrity in the pursuance of the ends of the Covenant; and likewise to supplicate His Majesty, that he would be pleased to comply with the just desires of His Parliaments, and take some speedy course to put an end to our lasting Miseries by settling of Truth and Peace.  
May it therefore please your Excellency to represent our Desires in this behalf to the Honourable Committee; and that we humbly conceive, the uprightness of our Intentions herein (having nothing before our eyes, but the good of Religion, his Majesty's happiness, & the Peace of these Kingdoms) will procure a  acceptance of our Endeavours.   

A DECLARATION OF The Lord General, The general Officers and Soldiers OF THE Scotish Army at Newcastle, june 29. 1646.  
THe many calamities and heavy pressures, the sad affliction lying upon these Kingdoms this time past, and the great effusion of Christian blood occasioned by the continuance of this unnatural War, having so deeply wounded us, And being earnestly desirous to give some evident testimony of our Piety to God, Loyalty to our Sovereign, and Love to these Kingdoms; that the constancy of our affection to this Cause, our zeal to the Reformation of Religion, and His Majesty's Person and Authority in defence thereof; And our firm Resolutions to pursue the ends expressed in our Solemn League and Covenant, may appear to the World: We have thought it necessary in this juncture of time, when all means are essayed by the Enemies of Truth and Peace to disparage our proceed, by rendering suspected our best actions and endeavours, to the begetting of misunderstanding, and weakening the Union between the two Kingdoms, to Declare and make known, That as we have entered into a Solemn League and Covenant, with our hands lifted up to the most High God, with real Intentions to promote the ends thereof, So do we resolve, God-willing, constantly to adhere to the whole Heads and Articles of the same, And for no earthly tentation, for no fear or hope, to fall away and violate our Sacred Oath.  
We do likewise profess, That nothing hath been with greater care and faithfulness endeavoured by us; then to preserve the happy Union and Brotherly correspondence between the Kingdoms, as a principal mean of happiness to both; And shall continue in the same care to avoid every thing that may tend to the infringement thereof, with a special regard and tenderness to the Interests of both Kingdoms: For the strengthening of which Union, and removing every thing that might obstruct the same, As hitherto we have had no compliance, nor kept correspondence with known Enemies and Malignants, So will we never hereafter give countenance or encouragement to any person disaffected to the Parliaments of either Kingdom.  
And that the Integrity of our Intentions, and the uprightness of our Desires may be the more manifest, We do Declare, That we abhor all public and private ways, contrary to the Covenant, and destructive to the happiness of both Kingdoms, We disclaim all dealing with those that are Instruments of these unhappy Troubles and Impediments of Peace, And with all such persons who will not use all means and endeavours, and contribute their best Counsels and Advice for hasting an end to our lasting Miseries, and procuring a sure and well-grounded Peace; and in particular we do abominate and detest that execrable Rebellion of James Grahame utterly, abjuring all manner of conjunction with him and his Confederates, And with all other known Enemies, or declared Traitors to either Kingdom, notwithstanding of any insinuations to to the contrary expressed in some Letters, as is said, by His Majesty to the Earl of Ormond in Ireland; for we have none but single Intentions, and unfeigned Desires of Peace, renouncing all communion with whatsoever designs and practices contrived in the dark to the prejudice of Religion, and Tranquillity of these Kingdoms, the only principles by which we move.  
And as we came into this Kingdom at the earnest desires of our Brethren, to assist them in the time of their great Extremity, in the pursuance of the National Covenant, not for any mercenary ends, nor to enrich ourselves, as is falsely and calumniously charged upon us by those that wish not well unto us nor our cause; So shall we be most willing to departed and return home in Peace, with the same cheerfulness and affection that we had when we came in: Nor shall the matter of money, or want of just Recompense for the Service performed, and hardship sustained, be to us an Argument of our stay; But leaving the consideration of these things to the wisdom and discretion of both Parliaments, we shall so far deny ourselves, as not to suffer any private respects of our own, to retard the advancement of this cause, or prejudge the public work of both Kingdoms.  
We cannot conceal, but must acknowledge how sensible we are, and have always been of the many Complaints presented to the Parliament of England against this Army, and the heavy Calumnies and Aspersions lying upon us for having committed Insolences, and oppressed the people by taking free quarter, offering ourselves most willing and ready, that whosoever amongst us have by their Misdemeanours, Miscarriages, or Inordinate way of walking, scandalised the Cause for which we have taken our Lives in our hand, or endeavoured to beget a Misunderstanding, or foment Jealousies between the Kingdoms, we shall strive to discover all such, and labour to bring them to public Trial and condign punishment: Not doubting, but as we are zealous to vindicate our Honour and Reputation from all reproaches, so the Parliament will likewise be pleased to have such  construction of our proceed, as not willingly to harbour any Thoughts which may lessen their respects to us, and which are not suitable to the constant Tenor of our carriage and profession: And we shall likewise desire, That the manifold necessities, and pressing wants to which we were many times reduced, may not be forgotten; and that the ways and means appointed for our supply, neither answered the expectation of the Honourable Houses of Parliament, nor satisfied our necessities, so that for want of Moneys we could not always discharge our quarters; Yet do we most freely declare our willingness to allow of whatsoever hath been taken up by us, and for that effect we desire the Accounts of the Army to be adjusted with the several and respective Counties, that what ever can be justly charged upon us, may be discounted off any Sums that shall be resting us in Arrear: And if we knew any thing else that could serve to remove all Jealousies and Misunderstandings, and beget a more full confidence of our uprightness, we should with the same readiness apply ourselves to all the ways that might conduce thereunto.  
But, because His Majesty's su●den and unexpected coming into this Army doth minister new occasion to us, to give some demonstration of our constancy, though we hope His Majesty came with real Intentions, to satisfy the just desires of His Parliaments, and compose all those differences. Yet, lest it should bring in question the Clearness and Integrity of our ways, whereof our Consciences do bear us witness, and our actions shall be public and real testimonies; We do protest▪ that His presence with us, hath not begotten any alteration in our minds in the least measure to estrange us from the ways of our Covenant, or alienate our Resolutions from going on Zealously, Constantly, and Unanimously, to set forward the ends therein expressed, endeavouring (so fare as lieth in our power) to improve that providence of His coming to ●s▪ to the public good and happiness of both Kingdoms. And as it is our earnest desire, that His Majesty would no more suffer Himself to be involved in the Counsels, whereof He h●● had so sad experience, to the endangering of His Person, Posterity, and Kingdoms; So do we exceedingly wish, that He would comply with the Counsels of His Parliaments, to the satisfaction of His good people: And we shall be careful that nothing proceed from us, which may give occasion to His Majesty to entertain any secret confidence, that this Army will give assistance for advancing other ends then such as are agreeable to our Covenant, conducing to the good of Religion, the happiness of the King and His Posterity, and safety of the Kingdoms.  
Signed by his Excellency the Earl of Leven the general Officers, & three Commissioners from every Regiment of the Army.   

The Petition of the Earl of LEVEN, Lord General, the general Officers, Colonels & Captains, etc. of the Scottish Army, presented to His MAJESTY at NEWCASTLE.  
WE, your Majesty's loyal Subjects and faithful Servants, the Lord General, the general Officers, the Colonels and Captains in the Scottish Army, now in the Kingdom of England, from the deep sense of the bleeding condition of these Kingdoms so heavy pressed with sad afflictions, through the unhappy differences between your Majesty and your Subjects, from the true affection and zeal to the Reformation of Religion, and your Majesty's Person and Authority in defence thereof; And in the pursuance of that Sacred Oath which we have taken with our hands lifted up to the most high God, Do make our humble address, and tender this earnest Petition to your Majesty in our name, And in the name of all the inferior Commanders and Soldiers under our charge, That your Majesty, in your Wisdom and Goodness, may be pleased to take a speedy course for settling of Religion and Church Government in this Kingdom, according to the Word of God, and example of the best Reformed Churches, and bringing the Churches of the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and Uniformity; And for establishing the Privileges and Liberties of your Kingdoms, according to the desires of Your good People. We may not conceal our unfeigned grief, for that Your Majesty hath not yet been pleased to authorise and sign the Covenant, which we are confident would bring honour to God, happiness to yourself and Posterity, and endear Your Majesty (above measure) to all Your faithful and loyal Subjects: In the just defence whereof, as many of them have already lost their lives, so are we ready to sacrifice ours.  
We must also pray your Majesty to compassionate the distressed condition of your Kingdoms groaning under the heavy pressures of manifold calamities, occasioned by the continuance of this unnatural War; and to comply with the Counsels of your Parliaments; that all differences being happily composed, and the Armies in both Kingdoms disbanded, we may return home in peace, or be disposed of otherwise by your Majesty, with the advice of your Parliaments, which may be most for Your Majesty's honour and service, and the prosperity of these Kingdoms.  
Signed by his Excellency the Earl of Leven, the general Officers, and three Commissioners from every Regiment of the Army.   

By His Majesty's Command.  
I Am in his Name to return this Answer to the Petition presented to him by the Lord General, the General Officers, the Colonels, and other Officers and Soldiers of the Scottish Army, That his Majesty came into the Scottish Army, with full intent of Settling an Happy Peace in these His Kingdoms, and to satisfy the Just Desires of His good Subjects; and likewise to comply with His Parliaments in all things which shall be for the good of Religion, and the Happiness of His Subjects, which he will always prefer to all worldly interests: And whensoever it shall please God so to bless His Majesty's endeavours, as to settle an Happy Peace in these His Dominions, His Majesty will be very solicitous to find out some means of Honourable Employment for so many Gallant Men as are employed in this Army.  
At Newcastle 27. of June, 1646. Lanrick.  
FINIS.