A Solemne League and Covenant
for Reformation and Defence of RELIGION,
The Honour and Happyneffe of the King,
and the Peace and Safetie of the three Kingdoms of ENGLAND, SCOTLAND and IRELAND

We, Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgesses, Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdom of England, Scotland, 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 Jesus Christ, the Honour and Happynesse of the King’s Majestie and his Posteritie, and the true publike Libertie, Safetie, and Peace of the Kingdoms, wherein everyones rivate Condition is inclu-ded ; Aud calling to minde the Treat Kerous and Bloody Plots, Conspiracies, Attempts, and Practices of the Enemies of God, against the true Religion and Proffessors thereof, in all places , especially in these three Kingdoms, ever since the Reformation of Religion;And how much their Rage, Power and Presumption are of late, and at this time, increased and exercised, whereof the deplorable Estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland, the distressed Estate of the Church and Kingdom of England, and the dangerous Estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland, are present and publike Testimonies. We have now at last ( after other means of Supplication, Remonstrance, Protestations, and Sufferings ) for the Preservation of ourselves and our Religion, from utter ruine and destruction, according to rhe commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times, and the example of God’s People in other Nations,afier mature deliberation,resolved and determined to enter into a mutual and solemne League and Covenant, wherein we all subscribe, and each one of us for him-self, with our Hands lifted up to the most High God, do swear,

That we shall sincerely, really, and constantiy, through the grace of -God. endeavour in our several Places and Call-ings, The Preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Gov-ernment, 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 endcavour to bring the Churches of God in the three King-doms to the nearest Conjunction and Uniformitie in Religion, Confession of Faith, Forme of Church Government, Directory for Worship and Catechising ; That WC and our Posteritie after us. may as Brethren iive in Faith and Love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us. I I. That we shall in like manner, without respect of Persons, endeavour the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy,(that is, Church-Cavemment by Archbishops, Bishops, their Chancellors, and Commissaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Archdeacons, and all other EccIesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierachy) Super-.& ion, Heresie, Schisme, Prophanenesse, and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine, and the Power of Good-nesse, 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. I rr. We shah with the same sincerity, reality, and constancy in our several Vocations, endeavour with our Estates and Lives, matually to preserve the Rights 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 Witness with our Consciences of our Loyalty, and bhat WC have no Thoughts or Intentions to diminish His Majesties just Power and Greatnesse.

We shall also with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been, or shall be Incendiaries, Malignants, or evil 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 publike Tryall, and receive condign punishment, as the degree of their offcnces shall require or deserve, or the su reme Judicat-ories of both Kingdoms, respectively, or others x aving power from them for that effect, shall judge convenient. v. And whereas the happyness of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms, denied in former times to our Progenitors, is by the good providence of God granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded and settled by both Parliaments; We shall each one of us, according to our Place and Interest endeavour,That they may remain conjoined in a firm Peace and Union to all Posterity;and that Justice may be done upon the wilful opposers thereof, in manner expressed in the precedent Article. VI. 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 Cov-enant, in the maintaining and pursuing thereof; and shall not suffer ourselves directly, or indirectly, by whatsoever combin-ation, persuasion, or terror, to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Union and Conjunction, Whether to make defection to the contrary part, or to give ourselves to a detestable indiffer-ency or neutrality in this Cause, which so much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the Kingdoms, and honour of the King; but shall all the days of our lives, zealously, and constantly continue thercin against all opposition, and promote the same according to our Power, against all Lets and Impediments what-soever: And what we are not able ourselves to suppress, or over-come, we shall reveal and make known, that it may be timely prevented or rcmoved.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, especial1 Y that we have not as we ought, valued the inestimable benfit o 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 unfeigned purpose, desire and endeavour for ourselves 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 o before another in the example of a real Reformation, That a t e Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation, and estab-. lish these Churches and Kingdoms in Truth and Peace. And this Covenant we make in the prescence of Almighty God, the search-er of all Hearts, with a true intention to perform 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 bless our desires and proceedings with such success, as may be deliverance and safety to his People, and encouragement to the Christian Churches, groaning under, or in danger of the yoke of AntiChristian Tyranny, to join 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 Kingdoms and Commonwealths.