Exhortation to Taking the Solemn League and Covenant, Treaty
I. THat we ſhall ſincerely, really and conſtantly, through the Grace of God, endeavour in our ſeverall places and callings, the preſervation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, Worſhip, Diſcipline and Government, againſt our common Enemies, the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, in Doctrine, Worſhip, Diſcipline and Government, according to the Word of God, and the Example of the beſt Reformed Churches; And ſhall indeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms, to the neereſt conjunction and Uniformity in Religion, Confeſſion of Faith, Form of Church-Government, Directory for Worſhip and Catechizing; That we and our poſterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the middeſt of us.
II. That we ſhall in like manner, without reſpect of perſons, indeavour the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, (that is, Church-Government, by Arch-Biſhops, Biſhops, their Chancellours and Commiſſaries, Deanes, Deanes and Chapters, Archdeacons, and all other Eccleſiaſticall Officers depending on that Hirarchy) Superſtition, Hereſie, Schiſme, Prophaneneſſe, and whatſoever ſhall be found to be contrary to found Doctrine, and the power of Godlineſſe; leſt we partake in other mens 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.
III. We ſhall with the ſame ſincerity, reallity and conſtancy, in our ſeverall Vocations, endeavour with our eſtates and lives, mutually to preſerve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments, and the Liberties of the Kingdoms, and to preſerve and defend the Kings Majeſties perſon and authority, in the preſervation and defence of the true Religion, and Liberties of the Kingdoms, that the world may bear witneſſe with our conſciences of our Loyaltie, and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminiſh His Majeſties juſt power and greatneſſe.
IIII. We ſhall alſo with all faithfulneſſe endeavour the diſcovery of all ſuch as have been, or ſhall be Incendiaries, Malignants, or evill Inſtruments, by hindering the Reformation of Religion, dividing the King from his people, or one of the Kingdoms from another, or making any Faction or parties amongſt the people, contrary to this League and Covenant, that they may be brought to publicke triall, and receive condigne puniſhment, as the degree of their offences ſhall require or deſerve, or the ſupream Judicatories of both Kingdoms reſpectively, or others having power from them for that effect, ſhall judge convenient.
V. And whereas the happineſſe of a bleſſed Peace between theſe Kingdoms, denyed in former times to our Progenitors, is by the good providence of God granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded, and ſetled by both Parliaments, we ſhall each one of us, according to our place and intereſt indeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firme Peace and Union to all Poſterity; And that Iuſtice may be done upon the wilfull oppoſers therof, in manner expreſſed in the precedent Articles.
VI. We ſhall alſo according to our places and callings in this common cauſe of Religion, Liberty and Peace of the Kingdomes, aſſiſt and defend all thoſe that enter into this League & Covenant, in the maintaining & purſuing thereof, and ſhall not ſuffer our ſelves directly or indirctly by whatſoever combination, perſwaſion or terrour, to be divided, & withdrawn frm this bleſſed Union & conjuction, whether to make defectiō to the contrary part, or to give our ſelves to a deteſtable indifferency or neutrality in this cauſe, which ſo much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the Kingdoms, and the honour of the King; but ſhall all the dayes of our lives, zealouſly and 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 our ſelves to ſuppreſſe 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 Ieſus Chriſt, as is too manifeſt by our preſent diſtreſſes and dangers, the fruits thereof; We profeſſe and declare before God and the world, our unfayned deſire to be humbled for our own ſins, and for the ſins of theſe Kingdoms, eſpecially, that we have not as m ought, valued the ineſtimable 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 other ſins and Tranſgreſsions, ſo much abounding amongſt us; And our true and unfained purpoſe, deſire, and endeavour for our ſelves, and all others under our power and charge, both in publike and in private, in all duties we owe to God and man, to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a reall Reformation, that the Lord may turn away his wrath, and heavy indignation, and eſtabliſh theſe Churches and Kingdoms in trueth and peace. And this Covenant we make in the preſence of Almighty God the Searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to performe the ſame, as we ſhall anſwer at that 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 bleſſe our deſires and proceedings with ſuch ſucceſſe, as may be deliverance and ſafety to his people, and encouragement to other Chriſtian Churches groaning under, or in danger of the yoke of Antichriſtian Tyranny; to joyne in the ſame, or like Aſſociation and Covenant, to the glory of God, the enlargement of the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt, and the peace and Tranquility of Christian Kingdomes and Common-Wealths.
Wil: Lenthall Speaker
Beuchamp St. Iohn
Gilbert Gerrard
Walter Erle
Iames Cambell
Tho: Cheeke
Robert Nicholas
Benjamin Rudyard
Iohn Gurdon
Robert Harley
Francis Knollys
Edward Maſter
Iohn White
Anthony Stapeley
Dennis Bond
Laurence Whitaker
Michaell Noble
Pere: Hoby
Richard Barwis
Edward Baynton
William Cawley
Iohn Moyle
Iohn Pyne
George Searle
Henry Vane Senior
Nevill Poole
Iohn Yonge
Henry Herbert
Thomas Sandis
William Ieſſon
Philip L: Herbert
Thomas Barrington
Martin Lumley
Iohn Trevor
Francis Godolphin
Thomas Arundell
Edward Stephens
Gilbert Pykering
Iohn Creue
Oliver Cromwell
Henry Vane Iunior.
William Cage
Richard Eriſey
Philip L: Liſle.
William Heveningham
Iſaac Penington
Richard Creſheld
Thomas Pelham
Thomas Parker
Iohn Leigh
Iohn Harris
Auguſtine Skinner
Iohn Venn
William Strickland
Iohn Franklin
Samuel Browne
Robert Scawen
Roger Hill
Iohn Button
Iohn Meyrick
Ambroſſe Browne
Richard Wynn
Edward Owner
Charles Pym
Charles L: Cranborne
Ben. Weſton
Dudley North
Iohn Nut
Io: Corlet
Roger Burgoyne
Peter Temple
Benjamin Valentyne
Thomas Walſingham
Oliver Luke
William Alenſon
Humphery Salwey
Richard More
VVilliam Aſhurſt
Thomas Moore
Thomas Fountayne
VVilliam Ellys
Henry Shelley
Richard Shuttleworth
Henry Ludlow
George Gallopp
Robert Wallopp
Arthur Heſilrige
Oliver Saint-John
Thomas Grantham
Francis Barneham
Will: L: Fitzwilliams
Edmund Dunch
Henry Mildmay
Hugh Rogers
Thomas Hatcher
John Wray
Simonds D'Ewes
Anthony Bedingfield
John Aſhe
William L: Munſon
Martyn Liſter
Robert Goodwyn
Edward Thomas
Henry Lucas
Miles Corbett
Philip Smith
Cornelius Holland
William Spurſtowe
John Lowry
Peter Wentworth
Henry Cholmeley
Philip Stapleton
William Pierrepont
Roger North
Alexander Popham
Thomas Hodges
John Maynard
Samuel Vaſſall
Anthony Irby
John Clotworthy
John Broxolme
Richard Jervoyſe
John Blakiſton
Walter Longe
John Rolle
Robert Jennor
John Waddon
William Maſham
John Liſle
Edmund Fowell
Edward Aſhe
Thomas Pury
Richard Whithead
Richard Jenyns
Humphrey Tufton
Thomas Dacres
Thomas Erle
John Downes
John Goodwyn
Francis Drake
William Waller
Samuel Luke
Francis Buller
Richard Harman
George Buller
Arthur Onſlowe
Richard Wynwood
Robert Pye
Hen. L: Grey of Ruthin
Richard Knightley
John Pym
Chriſtopher Yelverton
Anthony Nicoll
Peter Wroth
Robert Reynolds
Nathaniel Barnardiſton
Henry Heyman
William Purefoy
Valentine Walton
Michael Oldeſworth
William Wheler
Hall Ravenſcroft
Tho. L: Grey of Groby
Thomas Middleton
Edward Hungerford
Chriſtopher Wrey
Richard Lee
Herbert Morley
Thomas Lane
Robert Cecill
William Bell
Thomas Some
Herbottle Grimstone
Symon Snowe
John Naſh
Herbottle Grimſtone
Ralph Aſheton
Edward Ayſhcoghe
John Wylde
John Trenchard
Thomas Jervoyſe
Richard Brown
William Playters
Nathaniel Stephens
Richard Roſe
Francis Rous
Gilbert Millington
Walter Young
John Brown
John Hippiſley
Edward Poole
Henry Pelham
William Hay
John Driden
Nathaniel Fyennes
William Lewis
Giles Grene
William Lytton
John Hervey
Edward Dowce
William Strode
Edmond Prideaux
Thomas Hoyle
Edward Exton
Francis Popham
Zouch Tate
John Curſon
Alexander Bence
Squire Bence
John Selden
John Glynn
Richard Onſlow
John Coke
Thomas L: Wenman
Bulſtrode Whitelocke
George Mountagu
Edward Partheriche
Henry Campion
William Whitaker
Denzell Holles
Edward Wingate
James Fenys.
Poynings Moore
Edward Biſſe, Junior.
William Jephſon
Edward Mountagu
Norton Knatchboll.
Thorn at Eden