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SOLEMN LEAGUE

AND

COVENANT

FOR

REFORMATION and DEFENCE of RELI-
GION, the honour and happiness of the
KING, and the peace and safety of the three
Kingdoms of SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, and
IREDAND.

Taken and fubcribed several times by King
CHARLES II. and by all ranks in the faid
three Kingdom's.

WITH

An Act of the General Assembly 1643, and an Act of Parlia ment 1644, ratifying and approving the said League and Covenant.

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Jer. 1.5. Come let us joinourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

Prov. xxv. 5. Take away the wicked from before the King, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

2 Chron. xv. 15. And all fudah rejoiced at the oath; for they had fworn with all their heart.

Gal. iii. 15. Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed by an oath, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

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Affembly at Edenburgh, August, 17. 1643. Seff. 14. The General Affembly's approbation of the folemn league and Covenant.

THE affembly having recommended unto a committee, appointed

by them to join with the committee of the honourable convention of estates, and the commissioners of the honourable houses of the parliament of England, for bringing the kingdoms to a more near conjunction and union, received from the aforesaid committees the covenant after-mentioned, as the result of their consultations: and having taken the fame, as a matter of so public concernment and of fo deep importance doth require, unto their graveft confideration, did withall their hearts, and with the beginnings of the feelings of that joy, which they did find in so great measure upon the renovation of the national covenant of his kirk and kirgdom, All with one voice approve and embrace the fame, as the most powerful mean, by the blessing of GOD, for fettling and preserving the true proteftant religion, with perfect peace in his majesty's dominions, and propagating the fame to other Nations, and for establishing his majesty's throne to all ages and Generations. And therefore, with their best affections, recommend thesame to the honourable convention of estates, that, being examined and approved by them, it may be fent with all diligence to the kingdom of England, that, being received and approven there, the same may be with public humiliation, and all religious and answerable folemnity fworn and fubscribed by all true profeffors of the reformed religion and all his Majesty's good subjects in both kingdoms. A. Johnston.

Charles I. Par. 3d. Seff. 1. Act. 5. Act anent the ratification of the calling of the Convention, ratification of the League and Covenant, articles of treaty betwixt the kingdoms of Scotland and England, and remnant acts of the Convention of estates and committee thereof.

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At Edenburgh, July 15. 1644.

HE eftates of parliament presently conveened by vertue of the laft act of the last parliament holden by his majesty, and the three estates, in Anno 1641, considering, that the Lords of his majesty's privy council, and commissioners for conferving the articles of the treaty, having, according to their interests and trufts commited to them by his majesty and eltates of parliamemt, used all means by fupplications, remonftrances, and sending of commissioners, for fecuring the peace of this kingdom, and removing the unhappy Distractions betwixt his majesty and his subjects in England, in fuch a way as might serve most for his majesty's honour, and good of both kingdoms; and their humble and dutiful endeavours for fo good Ends havin

ds having proven ineffectual, and their offer of mediation and intersession being refused by his majesty; and thereby finding the weight and difficulty of affairs and the charge lying on them, - to be greater then they could bear, did therefore in the month of May 1643. meet together with the commiffioners for the common burdens, that they by joint advice fome refolutiou might be take therein; and in respect of the danger imminent to the true protestant religion, his Majesty's honour and peace of their kingdoms, by the multitude of papilts and their

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adherents in arms in England and Ireland, and of many other public and important affairs, which could not admit delay, and did require the advice of the e reprefentative body of the kingdom; appointed and caused indict a meeting of the convention of eftates (his majesty ⚫⚫having formerly refused their humble defires for a Parliament) to be on the 22d of June following; which diet being frequently kept by the noblemen, commissioners of shires and burghs, and they finding these dangers against this kirk and state still encreasing, refolved, after ferious deliberation and advice of the general affembly, and joint concurrence of the commiffioners authorized by the Parliament of England, that one of the chiefeft remedies, for preventing of thefe and the like dangers, for prefervation of religion, and both kingdoms from ruin and deftruction, and for procuring of peace, That both kingdoms thould, for these ends, enter into a covenant; which was accordingly drawn up, and cheerfully embraced, and allowed,And at laft, a treaty was agreed unto by both kingdoms, concerning the faid covenant, and assistance craved from this kingdom by the kingdom of England, in pursuance of the ends exprefled therein:--And the estates being ftill defirous to use all good means, that, without the effufion of more blood, there may be such a blessed pacification betwixt his majefty and his subjects, as may tend to the good of religion, his majelty's true honour and safety, and happiness of his people; did thereforegive commiffion to John Earl of Lowdon, lord chancellor, lord Maitland, lord Waristoun, and Mr. Robert Barclay, to repair to England, and endeavour the effectuating of these ends contained in the covenant and treaties, conform to their instructions.

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And the faid eftates having taken the proceedings above-written to their confideration, do find and declare, That the lords of council, and confervers of peace, did behave themselves as faithful councellors, loyal fubjects, and good patriots, in tendering their humble endeavours for removing the distractions betwixt his majefty and his subjects, and in calling the commissioners for the common burdens, and by joint advice appointing the late meeting of convention, wherein they have approven themselves anfwerable to the duty of their places, and that truft committed to them; and therefore ratifies and approves their whole proceedings therein, and declares the faid convention was lawfully called, and alfo full and free in itself confifting, of all the members thereof, as any convention hath been at any time by gone; and ratifies and approves the feveral acts made by them, or their commit tee, for in joining the covenant.-And also, The faid eftates of Parlia ment (butprejuduceof the premises, & of the general ratification abovementioned) ratifies: approves and confirms the forefaid mutual league and covenant, concerning the reformation and defence of religion, the honour and happiness of the king, and the peace and fafety of the three kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland; together with the acts of the kirk and estate authorizing the fame league and covenant; together also with the forefaid articles of treaty agreed upon betwixt the faid commiffioners of both the houses of Parliament of England, concerning the faid folemn league and covenant.-And the faid eftates ordain the fame acts, with the league and covenant above-specified, acts authorizing the fame, and the articles of treaty foresaid, to have the full force and strength of perfect laws and acts of Parliament, and to be obierved by all his majesty's lieges, conform to the tenors thereof respective. Of the which league and covenant, the tenor follows. THE

THE

SOLEMN LEAGUE and COVENANT

FOR

Reformation and defence of religion, the honour and happiness of the king, and the peace and safty of the three kingdoms of Scotland, England and Ireland; agreed upon by commiffioners from the Parliament and affembly of divines in England, with commiffioners of the convention of eftates and, general affembly in Scotland; approved by the generalaffembly of the church of Scotland, and by both houses of parliament and aflembly of divines in England, and taken and subscribed by them, Anno 1643; and thereafter, by the faid 'authority,taken & fubfcribed by all ranks in Scotland and England the fame year; and 'ratified by act of the parliament of Scotland, Anno1644:And again renewed in Scotland, with an acknowledgment of fins, and engagment to duties, by all ranks, Anno 1648, and by the parliament 1649; and taken and subscribed by king Charles II. at Spey, June 23. 1650; and at Scoon, January 1. 1651.

WE

noblemen, barons, knights, gentlemen, citizens, burgesses, minifters of the gofpel, and commons of all forts, in the the kingdom of Scotland, England and Ireland, by the providence of GOD, living under one king, and being of one reformed religion, having before our eyes, the glory of GOD, and the advancement of the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Christ, the honour and happiness of the kings majesty and his pofterity, and the true public liberty safety, and peace of the kingdoms, wherein every one's private condition is inluded: And calling to mind the treacherous and bloodly plots

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con.

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