A LAWFUL LEAGUE AND COVENANT▪ To be entered into, and taken, by all Men that have either Religion, Loyalty, or Honesty: For the freeing themselves and their Posterities, from Tyranny and Slavery.  
with an Exhortation for taking the same.  
Servants have ruled over us, and none would deliver us out of their hands.  Lament. 5.8. 
The breath of our Nostrils, the Anointed of the Lord, was taken in their nets: of whom we said, under his shadow, we shall be preserved alive among the heathen.  Lament. 4.20. 
But the wicked men said, How shall he save us? so they despised him, and brought him no presents: but he held his tongue.  1. Sam. 10.27. 
Printed for the People, and are to be sold in the Streets, to such as will buy them. Anno 1648.   

THE Lord hath destroyed his Tabernacle as a garden, he hath destroyed his Congregation: the Lord hath caused the Feasts and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion and hath despised, in the indignation of his wrath, the King, and the Priests: Lam. 2.6. The Lord hath forsaken his Altar; he hath abhorred his Sanctuary verse 7. He hath destroyed and broken her bars; her King and her Princes are among the Gentiles; the Law is no more: verse 9 Let us search and try our ways and turn again to the Lord, let us lift up our hearts with our hands unto God in the Heavens. Lam. 3.40.41. Come let us join ourselves unto the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten. Jer. 50.5.  

The Preamble.  
WE Noble men, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgesses, Ministers of the Gospel, and Commons of all sorts, in the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland; having by the Faction and Rebellion of divers wicked people under the specious colour of Reformation been deprived of our Religion, King, Laws, and Liberties; having for seven year's last passed: now before our eyes the glory of God, and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the honour, and happiness of the King's Majesty, and His posterity; and the true public liberty, safety, and peace of the Kingdoms; wherein every ones private condition is included: And calling to mind, the Barbarous, and cruel, inhumanity; of these enemies of God against the King's Majesty; with their bloody plots, conspiracies, and practices against the true reformed Religion, and the professors thereof, in all places, (especially these three Kingdoms) ever since this pretended reformation; and how much their rage, power and presumption, is of late and at this time increased and exercised: whereof the desperate, and deplorable estate, of this Church and Kingdom of England; the inconstant, and unsettled estate, of the Kirke and Kingdom of Scotland, and the bleeding condition of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland, are present and public testimonies: we have now at last, after other means of expectation supplication, complying, pr●ying, paying; and suffering, for the restauration of our Religion, and King, and the preservation of our Laws, Estates, and, Persons, from utter ruin, and destruction, according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times (and especially that in the year 1643.) and the example of God's People in other Nations; after mature deliberation, resolved and determined to enter into a mutual and solemn League and Covenant: Wherein we all subscribe, and each one of us for himself with our hands and hearts lifted up to the most high God do swear.   

The Covenant.  
1. THat we shall sincerely, really, and Constantly, through the grace of God, endeavour in our several places and callings, the Restauration of the reformed Religion in the Church of England; in Doctrine, worship, Discipline, and Government, as the same is by Law established: The reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of Scotland, and Ireland, in Doctrine, worship, Discipline and Government (if we shall be thereto Lawfully called) according to the word of God: And shall endeavour, to bring the Churches of God, in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity, in Religion, Confession of Faith, form of Church Government, Liturgy, and Order, that may stand with the word of God, and the Laws of the Nations; That we and our posterities after us, may as Brethren live in Faith, and Love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us.  
2. That we shall in like manner, without respect of persons, endeavour the Extirpation of Popery, Presbytery, (that is to say Church and Kingdom's Government, by Presbyters, lay Elders, and unlawful Synods and Assemblies, whether congregational, Classical, or Nationall; or any of them) Independency, Superstition, Heresy, Schism, Profaneness; and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine, and the power of Godliness, lest we partake in other men's sins, and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues, and that the Lord may be one, and his name one in the three Kingdoms.  
3. We shall, with the same sincerity, realty, and constancy, in our several vocations, endeavour with our Estates, and lives, mutually to preserve, the known rights and Privileges of Parliaments, according to the primitive constitutions thereof; and the Liberties of the Kingdoms, And to restore, preserve, and defend, the King's Majesty's Person, and Authority, in the preservation and defence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdom, And in all other causes as well eclesiastical as Civil (according to our Oath of Allegiance) he being therein, in these his Kingdoms next and immediately under God Supreme head and Governor; That the world may bear witness with our Consciences of our Loyalty, And that we have no thoughts of introducing Popery by acknowledging any person, or power in these Kingdoms to be above the King.  
4. We shall with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been, or shall be, Incendiaries, Malignants or evil instruments, by hindering, or obstructing the exercise of Religion, and worship, according to Law established; dividing the King from his People, or one Kingdom from another, or making any faction or parties among the People, contrary to the Law of the Land▪ that they may be brought to public trial, and receive condign punishment as the degree of their offences shall require, according to the known Laws of the Land, and by no other power or Judicatory whatsoever.  
5. And whereas the happiness of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms, so well settled formerly by his Majesty, is by the Faction of these Incendiaries, broken and violated, and all the three Kingdoms, involved in Blood, and confusion, we shall each of us according to our places, and interest, endeavour that Peace may be restored; and the Kingdoms conjoined in a firm and lasting League, and Union, under his Majesty and his posterity for ever. And that Justice may be done upon the wilful opposers thereof, in manner expressed in these Articles, and not otherwise.  
6. We shall also according to our Places, and Callings, in this common cause of Religion, Liberty, and Peace of the Kingdoms; assist, and defend, all those that enter into this League, and Covenant, in the maintaining and pursuance thereof and shall not suffer ourselves, directly, or indirectly, by whatsoever combination, persuasion; or terror, to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Union, and conjunction; whether to make defection to the contrary part, or give ourselves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause; which so much concerns the Glory of God, the Good of the Kingdoms, and Honour of the King: But shall all the days of our lives, zealously, constantly, continue therein, against all opposition, and promote the same, according to our power; against all lets and impediments whatsoever. And what we are not able ourselves to suppress, or overcome, we shall reveal, and make known, that it may be timely prevented, or removed: All which we shall do as in the sight of God.  
And because these Kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations against God, and His Son Jesus Christ, as is too manifest by our present distresses, and dangers, the fruits thereof: we profess, and declare before God and the world, our unfeigned desire, to be humbled for our own Sins, and for the sins of these Kingdoms, especially that we have not as we ought, valued that enestimable benefit of the Gospel; that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof, and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of Him in our lives; which are the causes, of others Sins and Transgressions, so much abounding amongst us; and our true and unfeigned purpose, desire and endeavour for ourselves, and all others under our power and charge, both in public and in private; in all duties we own to God, and man; to amend our Lives, and each one to go before another, in the example of a Real reformation, that the Lord may turn away his wrath, and heavy indignation, and establish these Churches, and Kingdoms, in truth and Peace. And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty God, the searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to Perform the same, as we shall answer at the great day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed most humbly beseeching the Lord, to strengthen us by his holy spirit, for this end, and to bless our desires, and proceed, with such success as may be deliverance and safeto the King, and People; and encouragement to other Christian Churches, groaning under or in danger of the yoke of Antichristian Presbytery and Tyranny; to join in the same, or the like association, or Covenant; to the Glory of God, the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and the Peace and Tranquillity of Christian Kingdoms and Commonwealths.   

The Exhortation to the taking of this Solemn League and Covenant; for the Restauration and Defence of Religion, the Honour and Happiness of the King, and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms.  
IF The Power of Religion, or solid reason, if Loyalty to the King, and piety to their Native Country, or love to themselves, and natural affection to their posterity, if the example of men touched with a deep sense of all these, or extroardinary success from God thereupon, can awaken an embroiled bleeding remnant, to embrace the Sovereign and only means of their recovery, there can be no doubt, but this Solemn League and Covenant will find, wheresoever it shall be tendered, a People ready to entertain it with all cheerfulness and duty.  
And were it not commended to the Kingdom, by the concurrent encouragement of the renowned city of London, the County of Essex, the Principality of Wales, and multitudes of persons of eminent rank and quality in this Nation. And the whole Body of the Kingdom of Scotland except the Assembly of Presbyters, who pretend Jure Divino to govern Kirke and Kingdom) with the Kingdom of Ireland, who are all ready to join in it, with rejoicing at their undertake, so graciously seconded from Heaven already, by blasting the Counsels, and breaking the power of the enemy: Yet it goes forth in its own strength, with such convincing evidence, of equity, truth, and righteousness, as may raise in all (not wilfully ignorant or miserably seduced) inflamed affections to join with their fellow Subjects, in this happy Bond; for putting an end to the present miseries, and for saving both King and Kingdom from utter ruin; now so strongly and openly Laboured by the two factions of Presbytery, and Independency, and such as have been bewitched, and besotted, by those bloody and viperous Traitors.  
For what is there almost in this Covenant, which was not for substance, either expressed, or manifestly included, in that solemn Protestation, of May the fifth 1641. wherein the whole Kingdom stands engaged, until this day: The sinful neglect whereof, (as we may justly fear) opens one Fludgate the more, to let in all these Calamities, upon the Kingdom, and cast upon it, a necessity of renewing Covenant, and entering into this.  
And if it be said the extirpation of Presbytery (which hath not so much as the face of a Law to countenance it, nor any colour to introduce it in this Kingdom but certain scandalous petitions preferred to the Parliaments in Queen Elizabeth and King James His time, by factious and seditious persons, that neither feared God nor his Vicegerent, but were wholly addicted to change, and who by the wisdoms of those Parliaments received their just rewards) is unwarrantable, or not necessary: The assertors thereof will not only appear to be defective in their own Judgements, but lay an aspersion upon the wisdom and temper of the Parliaments of those times, by the moderation and Justice whereof under God we reaped those blessings of Peace, and Plenty, which we enjoyed, until we were deprived thereof, by the industrious malice of these pretended Reformers.  
And as for those Clegy-men and others, who may pretend that they cannot Covenant, to extirpate that government which themselves have sworn to set up. They can tell if they please, that they that have sworn obedience to the Laws of the Land, are not by any voluntary, or enforced oath, or Covenant, to be after taken, bound to extirpate those Laws, though they be inconvenient. And if any Minister, or others, have entered into any such oath, or Covenant, not warranted by the Laws of God, and the Land: In this case they must teach themselves; and others, that such oaths call for repentance, not pertinacy therein.  
That scruple, that this is done without the King's consent will soon be removed, if it be remembered that the Protestation of the fifth of May before mentioned, was voted and executed by both Houses, and after by order of one house sent abroad, to all the Kingdom: His Majesty not excepting against it, or giving any stop to the taking of it, all be it he was then resident in person at White-Hall: But now, his Majesty being imprisoned, and it being voted, that no address shall be made unto him; the People are discharged before God and Man, if of themselves, they enter into a Covenant to restore this Religion, and to free their Sovereign, themselves, and their posterities, from Tyranny and Slavery.  
Therefore however some men, hoodwinked; and blinded, by the Artifices, of these Jesuitical Engineeres; who have long conspired, to Sacrifice our Religion, Laws, Liberties and persons to Arbitrary slavery; and our Estates to their insatiable avarice; may possibly be deterred, and amused, with high threats and Declarations, flying up and down upon the wings of the Privilege, and power of Parliament (now captivated and prostituted to serve all their lusts) to proclaim all Malignants, Incendiaries, and enemies to the State, who take This Covenant. Yet let no faithful English heart be afraid to join with their loyal fellow Subjects of the three Kingdoms, in this Solemn Lawful League.  
What though those tongues set on fire by hell do rail and threaten: That God who but even as yesterday vouchsafed to disperse those dark Clouds, and Fogs, which overshaddowed the Kingdom of Scotland, and made their Loyalty appear as clear as the Sun at noon day, in the very eyes of their purblind brethren. And hath so miraculously turned the hearts of those that fomented the disloalty of our fellow Subjects of Ireland; will doubtlessly stand by all those, who with singleness of heart, & a due sense of their own sins, and a necessity of restauration of Religion, shall now enter into everlasting Covenant with the Lord, never to be forgotten, to put an end to all these unhappy and unnatural breaches, between the King and his People, causing his righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the Nations to the terror and confusion of those men of Blood, the confederate enemies of God, and the King, who have long combined, and have now raked together the dregs and scum of many Kingdoms, to bury all the Religion, Glory, Honour, and Liberty of this Nation, in the eternal grave of dishonour and Destruction.  
READER, I desire thee to compare this Covenant, and the exhortation for the taking thereof, with that, which was with such violence imposed upon these Nations, in the year 1643. (and is now again threatened) and thou shalt find, the reasons here given, to be really the same, that were then pretended, for the obtruding that upon us, But the legality and necessity of this, to be so great and just: That it needed no reasons to persuade any man to enter into it but if yet thou wantest reason: Read over a book lately printed entitled Good English: and if that give thee not satisfaction, that there can be no settled Peace but this way, I shall conclude that thou art wilfully blind or deperately wicked to thine own destruction.   Luke 19.27. 
The King said: moreover those mine enemies which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay them before me.  Sam. 10.24. 
And Samull said, see you not him whom the Lod hath chosen that there is none like him? And all the people shouted and said.  
GOD SAVE THE KING.