A Declaration of the Committee of Eſtates, concerning their Proceedings in oppoſition to the late unlawful Engage­ment againſt ENGLAND.

THe manifold dangers to Religion, to the Kings Majeſty, to our Laws and Liberties, and to the Peace of theſe kingdoms, are ſo manifeſt, that they cannot be hid from any, who will not wilfully ſhut their eyes againſt a clear light: and the remedies which we have taken in this extremity, will (we doubt not) be judged by all men of common equity and underſtanding, to have been moſt neceſſary for preſerving Religion from ruine, and our ſelves from ſlavery and oppreſſion: Yet, to prevent miſinforma­tion and miſconſtructions, we have thought fit to publiſh a ſhort narration of the Cauſes of our late undertaking to riſe in Arms, of our proceedings by way of Treaty with thoſe that joyned in Arms for the late Engagement againſt England, and of our reſo­lutions for ſetling Religion, and the Peace of this diſtracted king­dom, and ſtrengthening the Union betwixt the kingdoms, which are the beſt foundations of Honor and Happineſs to the King; whoſe Throne we deſire may be eſtabliſhed in Righteouſneſs.

When we look back upon ſome proceedings in our neigh­bor Nation, though there we ſee that the work of Reforma­tion hath been much obſtructed, and many things have been done, of which we cannot approve, and wherewith God was highly diſpleaſed; yet we finde the Fountain and Spring of all our troubles mainly to ariſe at home, from the craft and malice of our Natives and Country-men. For, notwithſtanding the Right Honorable Houſes of the Parliament of England had of­fered by their Commiſſioners to remove all diſterences which had ariſen betwixt them and us, and to do what-ever was juſt and Honorable for the ſatisfaction of this kingdom: And fur­ther, had declared their readineſs to joyn with this kingdom in the Propoſitions agreed on by both kingdoms, preſented to the King at Hampton-Court, for the making ſuch further proceed­ing, thereupon as ſhould be thought fit; for the ſpeedy ſettlement of the Peace of both kingdoms, and preſervation of the Union according to the Covenant and Treaties. And further, to give ſatisfaction all things which ſhould be judged neceſſary for the Peace of both kingdoms, not intrenching upon the particu­lar10 Intereſt of the Kingdom, and Priviledges of the Parliament of England: yet many of this Nation having entred into a ſin­ful Aſſociation and wicked combination, did joyn together in Arms under the Command of the Duke of Hamiltoun, for per­ſuance of an unlawful Engagement, againſt our neighbor Na­tion of England, contrary to the ends of the Solemn League and Covenant, the manifold admonitions and exhortations of all the faithful Miniſters of the Goſpel, the Warnings and Declara­tions of the Commiſſion of the General Aſſembly, 1647. As likewiſe againſt the unanimous proceedings of the late General Aſſembly in this year 1648. againſt the Judgement and Prote­ſtations of many Members in Parliament, who have been moſt conſtant in the Cauſe, and to preſerve the Union betwixt the Kingdoms; and generally againſt the mindes and judgements of all the well-affected in the Kingdom: And further, brought over from Ireland ſome Regiments of the Scots Army to joyn with them in this Engagement, contrary to the Treaty betwixt the Kingdoms of the 7 of July 1642. And having joyned in an unlawful Aſſociation with the Malignants of England, did im­ploy ſome of them to ſurprize and take the Gariſons of Berwick and Carliſle (and yet profeſſed openly before the World, they were ignorant who had done it) contrary to the large Treaty betwixt the Kingdoms, and the Treaty of the 29 of November, 1643. And when by miſerable and cruel oppreſſion of the people of God in this Kingdom, they had gathered together a numerous Army, they took poſſeſſion of the Gariſons of Ber­wick and Carliſle, and in a hoſtile maner entred into our Neighbor Nation, where the Lord of Hoſts poured forth his Wrath and Indignation upon them for their lyes and hypocrifie, as was before threatned by many of the faithful ſervants of God in this Kingdom.

While theſe men were invading England, the Earl of Lanerick and others engaged in the ſame Deſign, ſtayed at home to op­preſs this Kingdom; and under a pretence of raiſing a Guard for the Prince, did begin a new Levy of Forces, whereby they might be able to ſend ſupply to their Army in England, if need were; but principally to bear down the godly and wel-affected in this Kingdom, and force upon them unlawful Bands and Oathes, which they deviſed to be engines and ſnares to compel11 men to make Shipwrack of their Conſciences, by joyning with all their wicked ways, or in caſe they refuſed to take thoſe ac­curſed Oaths, and ſubſcribe their Bands, that then they might not onely be uncapable of all publick Truſt, but be eſteemed and uſed as Enemies to Religion, King and Kingdom; and ſo every way to oppreſs all honeſt men in their Perſons, Eſtates and Conſciences, as nothing was to be expected from their Go­vernment to theſe who deſired to fear the Lord, and adhere to their firſt Principles, but ſlavery and ruine: for they having ad­journed the Parliament till March 1650, had aſſumed to them­ſelves an Arbitrary Power, that in the mean time they might rule at their pleaſure, and make ſuch alterations in the King­dom as they thought fit. Upon News of the defeat of their Army, they did give out Commiſſions to prime Incendiaries, and en­couraged ſuch as were eminent and active in the Rebellion, under the conduct of James Graham late Earl of Montroſs, to riſe in Arms; and ſent directions to the Forces under the Command of George Monro, which had invaded England, but were not preſent at the Fight, and other Officers and Soldiers who eſca­ped from it, to return to this Kingdom, that ſo by their conjun­ction with the Forces lately raiſed, they might have a new Ar­my on foot to proſecute their former Deſign, and to tyrannize over this Kingdom, as is evident from their Letters of the 28 of Auguſt, ſent to the Earl of Marſhal Viſcount of Dudhope, Clerk Regiſter, and George Monro, (ten days after the Defeat of their Army in England) wherein ſpeaking of the Engagement, they declare their reſolution to recruit their Regiments, and to ha­zard their Lives and Fortunes, and all that was deareſt unto them for carrying on againſt all oppoſition whatſoever that pious and loyal Service, and that they and many others of this kingdom did intend not to live and out-live it: By all which, and many other their like proceedings expreſſed in the Declarations of the General Aſſembly, and their Commiſſio­ners, it is ſufficiently evident, that Religion hath not onely been endangered, but the whole work of Reformation in theſe kingdoms for theſe ten years paſt hath been very near to be wholly overturned, our Laws and Liberties almoſt deſtroyed, Authority weakned, the Perſon of the King put in hazard, and his Reſtitution (which they pretended) rendred more dif­ficult,12 and endeavors uſed to break the Union and Peace betwixt the kingdoms, and to continue (ſo far as was in their power) a laſting War betwixt this kingdom and our neighbor Nation with whom we are joyned in Covenant.

This being the true eſtate of Affairs, We did finde it moſt neceſſary for us to joyn in Arms together againſt theſe Co­venant breakers, and their Adherents who had invaded Eng­land, and were diſturbing the Peace of this Kingdom (and who under a ſpecious pretence of ſeeking the Kings Honor, Freedom and ſafety, were ſeeking their own Honor and baſe private ends, and have made the Kings condition harder then ever it was before) this courſe being the onely means which was left us whereby to endeavor the preſervation of Religion, our na­tive Countrey, and the Peace and Union betwixt the king­doms, and our own Conſciences being ready to condemn us if we ſhould ſit ſtill and ſuffer Religion to be ruined, England to be further provoked (by detaining their Gariſons) and this king­dom to be enſlaved and brought under the yoke of a perpetual bondage.

When we had put our ſelves in a poſture for our own de­fence near Edenburgh, the Earl of Crawford, the Earl of La­nerick, George Monro, and other Commanders of the Forces joyned with them, having Marched to Inneresk, ſent unto us ſome Articles upon which they deſired to Treat, for remo­ving all differences betwixt us; but theſe Demands being very unreaſonable and inconſiſtent with Religion, the Covenant and Treaties betwixt the kingdoms, We refuſed to admit them to be the ſubject of a Treaty; yet were content if they had any other thing to propound which might conduce to the ſetling of Truth and Peace according to the Covenant, to appoint ſome from us to Treat with the like number autho­rized by them, at any place equally diſtant from both Armies. Whereupon they profeſſed a readineſs to have all differences ended by a Treaty, that an inteſtine War might be prevented; but they aſſigned ſo ſhort Dyets for us to return our Anſwers about the neceſſary circumſtances to be agreed on before a Treaty could begin, as the time was elapſed before we could be well convened; and then they took the advantage of marching away, whileſt we continued in our Quarters in ex­pectation13 of a Treaty, by which means they gained the paſs at Sterling, and ſurprized our Forces there, killing ſome, and taking others Priſoners when they were in ſecurity, being ad­vertiſed that there was a Treaty betwixt us; All this not­withſ•a•ding ſo deſirous were we of the Peace of this almoſt ruined kingd•m as paſſing over all the provocations given unto us, wereadily entertained all proffers to Treat, and up­on the〈◊〉of September, Commiſſioners on both ſides met at Woodſide, together with ſome Miniſters and Elders from the Commiſſion of the Kirk; but after three days debate, that Trea­ty (during which their Army was grievouſly plundering the Countrey) produced little elſe but delays, they refuſing to accept of any conditions without rewards for their ſervice, Liberty to Tranſport the Iriſh Forces in a Body to Ireland, ſe­curity for their Lives, Eſtates, Honors, Fortunes and Places, and aſſurance that none who had been acceſſory to the late En­gagement ſhould be queſtioned either by us, or by the kingdom of England for any thing done by them in relation thereun­to, which was impoſſible for us to grant, without involving our ſelves in the guilt of the Engagement, and giving occaſi­on of quarrel againſt us to our Neighbor Nation, in whoſe names we could promiſe nothing without their advice and con­ſent. And here we cannot but remark, that theſe Lords and o­thers, who in Parliament and otherwiſe pretended ſo great a zeal for his Majeſties Honor, Freedom and Safety, yet in all their Demands to us in this Treaty, they never made the leaſt deſire of any thing for the King, but were ready to cloſe an a­greement with us when ever they could get ſatisfaction in what concerned their own Honor, Feedom and Intereſt.

So ſoon as we underſtood that the Forces of the Parliament of England were come to the Borders, for purſuit of the com­mon Enemy, and reducing the Gariſons of Barwick and Car­liſle, We wrote a Letter from Falkirk to the Commander in Chief of theſe Forces, and ſent two from us with Inſtructions to acquaint him with the eſtate of our Affairs, particularly our proceedings in the Treaty, and to aſſure them that we would contribute our utmoſt endeavors for the reſtitution of the Towns of Barwick and Carliſle to the Parliament of England, to whom they do of right belong: In return whereunto we re­ceived14 from Lieut. General Cromwel a Letter to this purpoſe, That upon the defeat of the Forces of the Duke of Ha­milton, they had received in command, to proſecute the Victory, until the Enemy were put out of a condition or hope of growing into a new Army, and the Gariſons of Ber­wick and Carliſle were reduced; in purſuance of which com­mands, they had reſolved to advance into Scotland with their Army, for obtaining their Gariſons, and that the common Enemy might be the ſooner brought to a ſubmiſſion to rea­ſonable conditions; withal ingaging themſelves, that ſo ſoon as they ſhould know from us, that the Enemy ſhould yield to theſe things we had propoſed to them, and the Gariſons of Berwick and Carliſle were delivered, they ſhould forthwith de­part out of this Kingdom: After receipt of this Letter, we ſent ſome of our number with Power and Inſtructions, to do their utmoſt endeavor for obtaining the Towns of Berwick and Carliſle to be ſurrendred to him, for the uſe of the Hono­rable Houſes of the Parliament of England, and to repreſent our earneſt deſire and firm reſolution, to preſerve inviolable the Union betwixt the Kingdoms, according to the Covenant and Treaties; and ſince they had reſolved in obedience to the Com­mands laid upon them, to ſend Forces into this Kingdom for purſuing the common Enemy, therefore to deſire that thoſe which ſhould be ſent, might be ſuch as would give no offence or ſcandal to the Miniſtery and well-affected in this Kingdom.

Upon the 18. of Septemb. ſome Propoſitions were ſent unto us from thoſe at Sterling, to which we returned an Anſwer upon the 20. And after a new meeting at Kirkliſtoun with Commiſſio­ners from them, Articles of Agreement were drawn up and ſub­ſcribed by the Commiſſioners on both ſides, which are now pub­liſhed in print: In all which proceedings, we have ſtudied to ſet before our eyes the Honor of God, and the good of Religion, the preſervation of our Laws and Liberties, and of the Union betwixt the Kingdoms. And to the end it may further appear to this king­dom and to all the World, that no ſiniſter end or wordly deſign for ſelf-intereſt, hath ſtirred us up to this courſe, we do declare,

Firſt of all, That we have both matter of deep humiliation before God, and thankſgiving to him, when we conſider his gracious diſpenſation towards us, in preſerving a remnant from following15 the evil courſes of the time; and that he was pleaſed ſo ſoon after a great defection and backſliding in the Land, to put us into a condition to reſiſt the force and fury of our Enemies, whom neither Chriſtian duty in ſo clear a Sunſhine of the Goſpel, nor natural affection to their native Countrey, could reſtrain from horrid impieties and intolerable oppreſſions. And we do freely acknowledge, that it had been juſt with the Lord to ſuffer us to lie ſtill under that yoke of bondage, which we had wreathed upon our necks with our own hands, by complyance with Malignants and Malignant courſes, not truſting the Lord with his own work, and reſting on his ſtrength, but following the Rules of carnal policy, whenever we were brought into ſtraights. It is the de­ſire of our Souls, that for the future we may amend, and it ſhall be our conſtant ſtudy, with Gods aſſiſtance, to avoid the rocks on which we were ready to ſplit, that we may neither upon the one hand put confi­dence in the arm of fleſh, & other worldly advantages, when things are proſperous, nor upon the other, comply with the Enemies of the cauſe when we are low, but in all eſtates and conditions to put our truſt in God Almighty, the Lord of Hoſts, who is onely wiſe to give counſel.

Secondly, That whatſoever Power God hath already, or ſhall here­after put into our hands, we ſhall improve it for ſetling and propaga­ting Religion, and promoting the work of Reformation according to the Covenant, and in particular, to have the Liberties of the Kirk rati­fied, which have been many ways incroached upon and violated, as is particularly inſtanced in the Declaration of the General Aſſembly.

Thirdly, To vindicate and eſtabliſh the liberty and property of the Subjects, who have been moſt grievouſly oppreſſed in their Conſcien­ces, Perſons and Eſtates.

Fourthly, That we ſhall endeavor the Kings Majeſties Reſtitution to the exerciſe of His Royal Power, as ſoon as he ſhall give ſecurity for ſetling Religion in the maner expreſſed in the Deſires of the late Commiſſion of the Kirk, and ſhall give ſatisfaction in ſuch other things as ſhall be found neceſſary for the Peace and Safety of the kingdoms.

Fifthly, That the late unlawful Engagement againſt our Neighbor Nation of England, with whom we are joyned in League and Co­venant, may be diſclaimed and diſavowed by the Supreme Authority of this kingdom, it being moſt deſtructive to Religion, and to the Peace and Happineſs of theſe kingdoms.

Sixthly, To ſtrengthen and confirm the Peace and Union between16 the kingdoms, which the Malignant party hath ſo much endeavored to break and diſſolve.

Seventhly, That we ſhall endeavor to purge out of all the Judicato­ries in the Land, Malignancy and Prophaneneſs, and uſe all other good means that Juſtice may be equally and impartially adminiſtred to all the Subjects in the kingdom; and that a more effectual courſe may be taken throughout the whole kingdom then heretofore, for puniſhing and ſuppreſſing all Prophaneneſs, Malignancy and Impiety.

Eighthly, All means having bin uſed with great induſtry, to get Ma­lignants choſen to be Commiſſioners to the laſt Parliament, & to pre­poſſeſs mens mindes when they came to the Parliament, from which as a Fountain have iſſued all our troubles and diſtractions. That we will faithfully endeavor to have a free Parliament, conſiſting of ſuch per­ſons as have not bin acceſſory to, & furtherers of the late Engagem; for w^ch end we do again hereby require, that in the election of Com­miſſioners from Burghs and Shires to the Parliament, the rules and di­rections ſet down in our Acts of 22 Sept. laſt, and the 4 of this inſtant month of Octob. may be punctually obſerved throughout the kingdom.

And we call the ſearcher of hearts to record, that theſe are our real and true intentions; and that we do not, nor ſhall, by the grace of God, purſue any private ends or intereſts of our own. And we truſt, the Lord our God, who knoweth the ſincerity of our reſolu­tions, who hath alſo had mercy upon us, and hath begun to do ſo gra­ciouſly for us, will aſſiſt us herein until his work ſhall be accompliſhed.

And now laſt of all, ſince it is agreed upon in the Treaty, that all que­ſtions and differences about Religion be referred to the determinati­on of the General Aſſembly or their Commiſſioners, and that all Ci­vil queſtions and differences be referred to the determination of a Parliament, which is to ſit down before the 10 of January next; We do exhort and require all and every one of the Subjects within this kingdom, to live peaceably and quietly, and to wait patiently for the determination aforeſaid; but in caſe any ſhall not reſt ſatisfied with, or ſhall reſile from the ſaid agreement, and ſhall continue, or riſe in arms, or levy any Forces without warrant from the Committee of Eſtates as it is now conſtituted, conſiſting of perſons not acceſſory to the late Engagement, We do declare, That they ſhall be eſteemed enemies to Religion, the King and Kingdom, and puniſhed as wilful diſturbers of the Peace of the kingdom.