DIE Sabbati, 10 die Septembris.

PRAYERS.

The Lord Kymbolton was (fn. *)

Message to the H. C. with the Declaration to be sent to Scotland;

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page:

To return them the Declaration, which (fn. †) is to be sent to Scotland, with the Amendments, and to desire their Concurrence therein; and, if they concur, to send it up speedily, that it may be written out, and sent to the Lord of Maitland, of Scotland.

and with the Order for the Committee of Safety to issue Warrants, for raising Money for the Army.

Also to deliver them the Order, concerning giving Power to the Committee for the Safety of the Kingdom, to issue out Warrants, under their Hands, for Money for the Affairs of the Army; and that this House agrees with them in the Order concerning Cloaths to be sent to the Soldiers in Ireland.

Order for the Irish Troops Cloathing.

The Order for Cloaths to be sent to the Regiments and Troops in Ireland was read, and approved of. (Here enter it.)

Mr. Fisher recommended to be Vicar of Leighton.

Upon reading the Petition of the Inhabitants of Laighton, in the County of Bedford; it is Ordered, That Mr. Fisher shall be recommended to the Prebends of Windsor, to be Vicar of the said Parish.

King James's Judgement of a King and of a Tyrant, to be burnt.

Ordered, That a Book, intituled, King James's Judgement of a King and of a Tyrant, shall be burnt by the Hand of the common Hangman; and that the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench shall examine who was the Printer, Publisher, and the Author of the said Book, and report the same to this House.

Orders from the H. C. for the Lords Concurrence.

The Order brought from the House of Commons, to appoint Treasurers and Commissaries for the County of Cambridge and Ely, was read, and agreed to. (Here enter it.)

The Order for Treasurers and Commissaries for Suffolke was read, and agreed to. (Here enter it.)

The Order concerning Merchant Strangers Loan of Money was read, and agreed to. (Here enter it.)

The Order for One Thousand Pounds to be paid to the County of Buck was agreed to. (Here enter it.)

The Ordinance concerning the Lord Kirry was read, and agreed to. (Here enter it.)

Also, the Order for Two Names to (fn. *) be inserted in the Instructions for Preservation of the Peace in the County of North'ton, was read, and agreed to. (Here enter it.)

The Deputy Lieutenants for Oxon and Salop were read, and approved of. (Here enter them.)

Magennes's Petition to be released, on Condition of going to Flanders.

The Petition of Arthur Magennes was read, to desire his Enlargement; and the Ambassador of Spaine will undertake for his immediate Return to Flaunders, and continual Abode there during any Rebellion in Ireland.

To be considered.

Ordered, That, on Wednesday next, this House will take into Consideration what is charged against the said Magennis.

L. Mountague of Boughton committed.

The Lord Mountague of Boughton being apprehended, and brought up, for executing the Commission of Array: It is Ordered, That he shall be committed to The Tower, there to remain until the Pleasure of this House be further known.

Lesne Sr. De Rabinett's Petition.

Upon reading the Petition of Michael Lesne Sr. de Rabinett, of the Town of Dinan, in France: It is Ordered, That the Examination of the whole Business is referred to the Judge of the Court of Admiralty, who is to make Report thereof to this House.

Mr. Ashburnham, who has a Message from the King, to be taken into into Custody for not bringing it.

The House being informed, "That Mr. Ashburnham is come with a Message from His Majesty, and hath been in Town since Yesterday:" It is Ordered, That the Gentleman Usher shall find him out, and take him into Custody, and bring him before the Lords in Parliament.

Committee of Safety to take Care of the Forces.

Ordered, That the disposing of the Forces left behind, in the Lord General's Absence, shall be committed to the Care of the Committee for the Safety of the Kingdom, as Occasion serves, for the Safety thereof.

Letter from Dr. Pask to the E. of Holland, about Disorders at Canterbury, printed. Printer, &c. sent for.

The Earl of Holland signified to the House, "That he received a Letter from Dr. Paske, of some Disorders committed at Canterbury, by the Soldiers, which Letter is now in Print:" Hereupon it is Ordered, That the Printer shall be sent for, to be asked of whom he had the Original to print it; and that Dr. Paske and Captain Baynes shall appear before this House, so that the Truth of this Business may appear.

The Messengers return Answer:

Answer from the H. C.

That the House of Commons will return an Answer to the Message, by Messengers of their own.

Message from the H. C. that they agree to the Declaration to be sent to Scotland;

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Pym:

To let their Lordships know, That they do agree to the Declaration to be sent to (fn. *) the Assembly, with the Amendments; and do agree to the Declaration to be sent to the Lords of the Secret Council of Scotland, with the leaving out some certain Words.

Ordered, That this House agrees with the House of Commons in these Declarations, according to this Message, leaving out the Words desired by the House of Commons. (Here enter them.)

and to the Order for the Committee of Safety to raise Money for the Army.

Also they agree to the Order sent down this Day, concerning the Power given to the Committee for the issuing out of Warrants for Monies. (Here enter it.)

Ordered, That this House agrees to this Addition.

Message to the H. C. about the Declarations to Scotland.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page:

To let them know, That this House agrees to the leaving out of the Words in the Declaration to be sent to the Council of Scotland; and that the Lords have appointed a Committee to meet in the Painted Chamber, this Afternoon, at Five a Clock, to deliver the same to the Lord of Metland; and to desire that the House of Commons would appoint a Committee of their House, to meet at the Time and Place appointed.

Ordered, That Two Persons, which are apprehended for stealing of Deer in Windsor Forest, shall be committed to Newgate.

Committee of Safety to issue out Monies, in the Absence of the L. General.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Committee for the Defence of the Kingdom, or any Five of them, shall have Power, by virtue of this Order, to issue out Warrants, for the Payment of Monies, for the Affairs of the Army, and the Defence of the Kingdom; and to do all other Things incident to the Army, or the Safety of the Kingdom, in the Absence of the Lord General, in the same Manner, and with the like Power, as the Lord General might do."

Deputy Lieutenants for Northampton, Oxon, and Salop.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That John Barnard, Esquire, and Rob't Mildmay, shall be inserted among the Names of such Persons as are intrusted by the Instructions for Preservation of the Peace of the County of North'ton.

"Mr. Arth. Hungerford, Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Oxon.

"Mr. Walther Barker, Mr. Humfrey Walcott, Captain Walth. Long, Sir Gilbert Cornwall, Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Salopp."

Commissaries for Suffolk.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Persons whose Names are hereunder written, or One or more of them, shall be authorized, and is appointed, Treasurers and Commissaries, in their several Places, within the County of Suffolke, to receive, view, and prize all Monies, Plate, Horses, and Arms, that shall be subscribed and brought unto them, by virtue of the Propositions there:

"Sabbati, 10 Septembris, 1642.

Order for raising 2000 Foot for Ireland.

"Whereas the Forces of Horse and Foot, Voluntiers, which shall be sent over into Ireland by Force of an Act made this present Session of Parliament, (intituled, An Act for the speedy and effectual reducing of the Rebels in His Majesty's Kingdom of Ireland to their due Obedience to His Majesty and the Crown of England), may, by virtue of the same Act, be raised by the Direction of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled: It is therefore Ordered, Established, and Ordained, by the said Lords and Commons, That Two Thousand Foot Soldiers, Voluntiers, besides Officers, shall and may forthwith be raised, for the aforesaid Expedition; and, for the better effecting thereof, the several Officers of the Field and Captains hereafter named; videlicet, the Right Honourable Patrick Lord Kerry, Colonel; William St. Leger, Lieutenant Colonel; William Peasley, Serjeant Major; Agmundisham Muschamp, Richard Fitz-morris, William Hide, Ralph Watts, Richard Auldworth, Henry De Lawne, and Henry Fletcher, all Captains of Foot, and their several Lieutenants, Ensigns, and other Officers, shall and may have Liberty to beat up Drums, in all Places within the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, and thereby to raise and levy Two Hundred Soldiers, Voluntiers, for each of the said Ten Captains, to be conducted to Minehead, or Bristow, with all possible Speed, and from thence to be transported to Corke, or Kinsall, in Ireland, for the Service of Munster, and there to receive their Arms: And it is further Ordered, and Ordained, That One Thousand of the said Two Thousand Soldiers, to be equally taken out of each Company, upon their Landing in Munster, shall be for the Recruiting of those Regiments already there; and the other Thousand shall be the Regiment of the said Lord of Kerry, and shall be under the Command of the Chief Governor of Munster, and the Chief Governor of Ireland for the Time being; and the said Lord of Kerry, and his said Regiment, shall have Power to invade, subdue, kill, and slay the said Rebels, and to do and perform all such Acts and Things which shall conduce to the subduing of the said Rebels, according to such Command as shall be given from Time to Time by the said Governors, or either of them."

"Sabbati, 10 Septembris, 1642.

Order for cloathing the additional Regiments in Ulster.

"Whereas, upon a Report this Day made to this House, from the Lords and others His Majesty's Commissioners for the Affairs of Ireland, authorized thereunto as a Committee of both Houses of Parliament, That they (amongst other Things) had taken into Consideration the Cloathing of the Regiments of Horse and Foot last taken into Pay in the Province of Ulster; and that they thought fit that Seven Thousand Five Hundred Suits of Cloaths, videlicet, a Cap, a Doublet, Cassock, Breeches, Two Pair of Stockings, Two Pair of Shoes, and Two Shirts, for every Soldier, should be forthwith provided, and sent to those Regiments of Foot, that is to say, Four Thousand compleat Suits as aforesaid, to be landed at Belfast, and the rest at Londonderry, or to the Officers or their Agents here; the Charge whereof, amounting to Fifteen Thousand Nine Hundred Thirtyseven Pounds and Ten Shillings, at the Rate of Two and Forty Shillings and Six Pence the Suit, to be afterwards defalked upon the Pay of every Soldier, at the Rate of Two Pence per Diem; and that some Merchants, Citizens of London, may be dealt with, for the furnishing of such Cloaths for the Captains and other inferior Officers of these Regiments and Troops, as will amount to One Month's Pay for the Captains, and Two Months Pay for the inferior Officers, the whole making Eight Thousand Two Hundred Thirty-six Pounds, Five Shillings, and Four Pence, to be secured by the Parliament, to be paid unto the said Merchants at the End of Six Months next after the Delivery of those Cloaths, and to be taken again out of the full Pay of those Captains and Officers that shall first become due after the First Month's Pay appointed to be paid unto them by an Order of this House of the 21st of July last; and that the same Course may be held for Provision and Furnishing of such Cloaths to the ordinary Troopers of the Eighteen Troops of Harquebussiers, as will amount unto One Month's Pay, the whole making Three Thousand Twenty-four Pounds, to be also secured by the Parliament as aforesaid, and taken again out of the full Pay of those Troopers that shall first become due after the Pay already Ordered to be paid unto them: And whereas Mr. Richard Turner, his Son Richard Turner, Mr. Tempest Miller, Mr. Morrice Geathing, and Mr. Samuell Turner, of the City of London, Woollen-drapers, and Mr. Richard Wollaston, of the same City, Linen-draper, have accordingly been dealt withall, and do offer to furnish the said Cloaths to all the said Regiments of Foot, Captains, Officers, and Troopers, upon the Terms aforesaid: It is therefore this Day Ordered, by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That the said Mr. Richard Turner, his Son Richard Turner, Mr. Tempest Miller, Mr. Morrice Geathing, Mr. Samuell Turner, and Mr. Richard Wollaston, shall forthwith provide all the said Suits and Cloaths, for all and every the said Regiments of Foot, and Eighteen Troops of Horse; videlicet, for the Regiments of Foot of the Lord Viscount Mountgomery, Lord Viscount Clanneboy, Colonel Arthur Chichester, Sir James Mountgomery, Sir Wm. Stewart, Sir Robert Stewart, Sir Wm. Cole, and Colonel Audley Mervyn; and also for the Regiment of Horse of Colonel Arthure Hill, consisting of Five Troops, the Three Troops under the Command of the said Lord Viscount Mountgomery, and for the several Troops under the several Commands of the said Lord Viscount Clanneboy, Colonel Arthure Chichester, Sir James Mountgomery, Sir William Stewart, Sir Robert Stewart, and Sir William Cole, and of Sir Robert Adare, Captain St. John, Captain Upton, and Captain Dudley Phillipps, all which are the Eighteen Troops before mentioned; and that they the said Mr. Richard Turner, his Son Richard Turner, Mr. Tempest Miller, Mr. Morrice Geathing, Mr. Samuell Turner, and Mr. Richard Wollaston, shall deliver the same unto the abovementioned Officers, or to their several Agents here: And it is further Ordered, That they, the said Richard Turner, his Son Richard Turner, Mr. Tempest Miller, Mr. Morrice Geathing, Mr. Samuell Turner, and Mr. Richard Wollaston, shall be secured from this House, by this Order, for the Payment of all and every the said several Sums of Money before in this Order mentioned, in Manner following; videlicet, the said Sum of Fifteen Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-seven Pounds, and Ten Shillings, for the said Seven Thousand Five Hundred Suits of Cloaths, at Three Months and Three Months next after the Delivery of the said Cloaths, according to the Agreement with the Commissioners in the like Kind; and the other Sums in this Order before mentioned, for the Cloaths of the said Captains, Officers, and Ordinary Troopers, at the End of Six Months next after the Delivery of the said Cloaths; and that they shall receive from this House the said several Sums of Money, upon the producing of the Notes of Receipts of the said Officers, of the said several Regiments of Horse and Foot, and Troops of Horse, or their Agents, for Receipt of the said Cloaths at the Days aforesaid."

"Sabbati, 10 Septembris, 1642.

Order for the Money lent by the Merchant Strangers to be re-paid.

"The and Commons, now in Parliament assembled, taking into Consideration the Willingness of the Merchant Strangers in the City of London, to contribute towards the Supply of that great Charge, which (for the Preservation of the true Protestant Religion and Common Liberty) they have been necessitated to undergo, which, as they receive with thankful Acknowledgement, so they desire to express their Care for reimbursing what shall be deposited for the Public Necessity; do therefore Order, That all Sums of Money that shall be lent, by any Merchant Stranger, or Merchant Strangers, for the Service of the Parliament, and brought into the Chamber of London, and paid to the Chamberlain thereof, shall be duly re-paid, with Interest after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum, for a Year, so long as any such Sum shall be forborn: For the Performance whereof they do hereby engage the Public Faith of the Kingdom; and the Hand of the said Chamberlain, subscribed to a Note of Receipt, shall be sufficient to demand any Sum so lent."

Agreed to.

"Sabbati, 10 Septembris, 1642.

Treasurers, etc. for Cambridge.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Persons whose Names are hereunder written (or any One or more of them) shall be authorized and appointed Treasurers and Commissaries, in the several Places hereunder expressed for them, within the County of Cambridge, and Isle of Eley, to receive, view, and prize, all Monies, Plate, Horse, and Arms, that shall be subscribed and brought unto them, by virtue of the Propositions of the Houses of Parliament: videlicet,

"For the East Side of Cambridgshire;

"Sir James Reynolds, Knight,
James Reynolds, Esquire,
Thomas Symonds, Esquire:

"For the West Side of Cambridgshire;

"Sir Thomas Martyn, Knight,
Thomas Duckett, Esquire,
Dudley Pope, Esquire:

"For the Isle of Eley;

"Sir Mihill Sands, Junior, Knight,
John Hubbard, Esquire,
Wm. Barnes, Esquire."

Agreed to.

"Die Sabbati, 10 Septembris, 1642.

Order for 1000 l. for raising Horse in Bucks.

"Whereas, on the 8th Day of July, 1642, it was Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the County of Buck shall detain in their Hands One Thousand Pounds, out of the Monies subscribed by themselves, to provide Horse, Arms, &c. to be for the Service of the King, Kingdom, and Parliament: It is this Day Ordered, by the said Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Treasurers named in the Propositions of both Houses of Parliament, for receiving of the Monies and Plate as shall be brought in, to raise and maintain Horse, Horsemen, and Arms, for the Preservation of the public Peace, and for the Defence of the King and both Houses of Parliament, shall give unto John Baldwin, Servant to Colonel John Hampden, such several Acquittances, for the Use of such Persons as he shall desire the same, amounting in all unto the Sum of One Thousand Pounds, and no more; and that the said Sum of One Thousand Pounds be entered by the said Treasurers, as received by them of the several Persons, as if they had paid the same in ready Money unto the said Treasurers; and that an Acquittance under the Hand of the said John Baldwin shall be a sufficient Discharge unto the said Treasurers for the said Sum of One Thousand Pounds, upon their Accompt: And it is further Ordered, by the said Lords and Commons, That the said John Baldwin shall be accountable for the said One Thousand Pounds, to the Lord Wharton, Lord Lieutenant of the said County of Buck, and the Deputy Lieutenants nominated by both Houses of Parliament for that County; and the Acknowledgement allowable for Approbation of them, or any Four of them (whereof the Lord Wharton to be One), of such Accompt as the said John Baldwin shall present unto them of the said One Thousand Pounds, signified by the subscribing of their Names to the same, shall be a sufficient and absolute Discharge unto the said John Baldwin, his Executors, and Administrators, for the said One Thousand Pounds, and every Part thereof."

Agreed to.

Answer to the Declaration of the Secret Council of Scotland.

"The Lords and Commons in Parliament have, with Approbation and Thanks, received from the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland a clear Manifestation of the Respect which the Lords of His Majesty's Secret Council for that Realm do bear to the Welfare and Peace of this Kingdom, in the Expression of their Affections, wherein they were pleased to second the Desires of the General Assembly of that Church, for Unity in Religion, and Uniformity in Church Government, in His Majesty's Three Kingdoms; and having often had that Matter in Debate, and our most serious Consideration, the Christian Advice of that Reverend Assembly, and the grave Counsel of that Honourable Table, concurring with our own Judgement and Experience of the manifold Mischiefs and Distractions which the Government of the Prelacy of this Kingdom hath, in all Times and Ages, produced in this Church and State, have moved us to bring our Resolution to a more speedy Maturity and Conclusion; wherein, as we have satisfied our own Reason, so we hope we shall satisfy the loving and Christian Desires of our Brethren of Scotlande, although we know that hereby we shall exceedingly irritate that opposite and malignant Party, who will bend all their Invention and Force to interrupt this Work, and to ruin and destroy us in the undertaking of it; and we desire their Lordships to consider, that the Party which hath now incensed and armed His Majesty against us, and His other faithful Subjects in this Kingdom, is the same which, not long since, upon the very same Design of rooting out the Reformed Religion, did endeavour to begin the Tragedy in Scotland, which, whensoever it shall be perfected in either Nation, will easily be accomplished in the other, Religion being the Band and Foundation of the Safety and Happiness of both: And as we resolve, according to the National Covenant betwixt the Two Kingdoms, to be careful of the Peace of Scotland as of our own; so we doubt not but their Lordships, and the Nation of Scotland, will be careful to express their Brotherly Kindness to us, and prudent Care of themselves, by restraining the evil-affected amongst them, that they may not foment our Troubles, and, by all other Ways, according to the Articles ratified in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms, to maintain the Peace and Amity betwixt the Two Nations, and to restrain the mischievous Attempts and Practices of those who are Enemies to both, that so, through God's Blessing, we may mutually rejoice in one another's Happiness, and yield His Majesty such a faithful Subjection, as may be honourable to Himself, comfortable to His People, advantageous to the Professors of the Reformed Religion in other Parts beyond the Seas."

Answer to the Declaration of the General Assembly of Scotland, about Church Government.

"We, the and Commons in Parliament assembled, having with much Contentment perused the Brotherly and Christian Answer, which the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland have made unto the Declaration formerly sent unto them from us, and finding therein great Expressions of Love to this Church and Kingdom, and of Prudence and Faithfulness in propounding those Things which may conduce to a more close and firm Union of the Two Churches and Nations of England and Scotland, in preserving and maintaining the Truth and Purity of the Reformed Religion, not only against Popery, but against all other superstitious Sects and Innovations whatsoever, have thereupon resumed into our Consideration and Care the Matters concerning the Reformation of Church Government and Discipline, which we have often had in Consultation and Debate since the Beginning of this Parliament, and ever made it our chiefest Aim, though we have been frequently interrupted, and powerfully opposed, in the Prosecution and Accomplishment of it.

"And, however we continue still in the Storm and Conflict, finding small Abatement of Difficulty, and much Increase of Malignity and Perverseness, in the Opposition wherewith this great and necessary Work of Reformation is encountered; yet we heartily thank God, and rejoice with our Brethren of Scoteland, for the Peace, Liberty, and Preservation, which God hath afforded them, taking it as a Pledge and Earnest of the like Mercy intended to us in His good Time, and hoping that He will not only free us from the most grievous and destructive Miseries and Calamities of a Civil War, but graciously perfect our Desires and Endeavours of a full Reformation in all Matters appertaining to Religion; which, as it is the greatest Honour and Service which God receives from His People, so we acknowledge, with our Brethren, that it is the surest Foundation of Glory, Strength, and Happiness, which He bestows upon any Nation.

"The manifold Obstructions and Impediments which we have met with, in seeking this great Blessing, do give to us and all God's People great Cause of Grief, and work in us an earnest Longing for the Removal of them; yet, knowing that all the wonderful Works of God in this Kind have been brought to Perfection through many Oppositions and seeming Impossibilities, that so the Conclusion might be more glorious to His Divine Majesty, and comfortable to His Children, we cannot but, in Humility and Submission, expect the like issue of our wrestling and striving with that fierce and peremptory Opposition, which hath been framed and acted against us by the most subtile and busy Engines of Satan, the most pestilent Incendiaries amongst the Jesuits from abroad, a virulent and discontented Party at Home, consisting of the Prelatical Clergy, Atheistical Projectors against Religion, prophane and sensual Selflovers, heightened and inflamed against us with a Spirit of Malignity beyond the Example of former Times, wherein we have had manifold Occasions to discern both our own Weakness and Imperfections, and the Divine Mercy and Goodness, and to hope that God, having upheld us so long beyond our own Strength and Merit, will bring us through at last, to the full Accomplishment of His own Praise, and of the Joy of this and other Churches.

"We acknowledge it an Act of Love to us, and of Wisdom for the Good of both Churches, for which we are thankful both to God and them, that our Brethren of Scotland have bestowed their serious Thoughts and earnest Desires for Unity of Religion, that, in all His Majesty's Dominions, there might be One Confession of Faith, One Directory of Worship, One Public Catechism, and One Form of Church Government: And although it will hardly be obtained punctually and exactly, unless some Way might be found of a mutual Communication and Conjunction of Counsel and Debate in framing that One Form; yet, both intending the same End, proceeding by the same Rule of God's Word, and guided by the same Spirit, we hope by God's Assistance to be so directed, that we may cast out whatsoever is offensive to God, or justly displeasing to any Neighbour Church, and so far agree with our Brethren of Scoteland, and other Reformed Churches, in all substantial Parts of Doctrine, Worship, and Discipline, that both we and they may enjoy those Advantages and Conveniences, which are mentioned by them in this their Answer, in the more strict Union of both Kingdoms, more safe, easy, and comfortable Government of His Majesty, both to Himself and People, more free Communion in all Holy Exercises and Duties of Worship, more constant Security of Religion, against the bloody Practices of Papists, and deceitful Errors of other Sectaries, and more profitable Use of the Ministry; for the compassing and attaining whereof, we intend to use the Labour and Advice of an Assembly of Godly and Learned Divines, for the convening of whom a Bill hath already passed both Houses, which had taken Effect long since, if we could have obtained His Majesty's Royal Assent thereunto: All which considered, we acknowledge the faithful and affectionate Expressions of our Brethren, in wishing and desiring this great Advantage for us, doth fully deserve those Thanks which we have formerly expressed, and no whit stand in Need of that Apology which they are pleased to make.

"The main Cause, which hitherto hath deprived us of these and other great Advantages, which we might have by a more close Union with the Church of Scoteland and other Reformed Churches, is the Government by Bishops, which, to strengthen itself, hath produced many other Differences in Discipline and Ceremonies betwixt them and us, and is apt to work in the Minds of those who are the Approvers and Defenders of it, such a Disesteem of, and Opposition to, those Churches, as makes us desperate of that most beneficial and desirable Conjunction with them, until this great Impediment be removed; whereupon we have entered into a serious Consideration, what Good we have received from this Government by Bishops, which may countervail such a Loss and Inconvenience; and we are so far from apprehending any Satisfaction herein, that we plainly perceive it a Cause of many other Calamities, Dangers, and intolerable Burthens, being a Dishonour to God, by arrogating to themselves a Pre-eminence and Power which He hath not given them; by prophaning the Purity of His Ordinances with the Mixture of their own Injunctions; by withstanding the frequent and powerful Preaching of the Gospel, that so their usurped Authority might receive more easy Admittance into the ignorant and misguided Consciences of Men; by corrupting the Ministry with Pride, Ambition, Covetousness, Idleness, and Luxury; by suppressing the Spiritual Power and Efficacy of Religion, and turning it into Formality and Pomp; by inclining to Popery, the Principles thereof being suitable to this Government, and contrary to those Principles which were the First Grounds of Reformation: We likewise find it most pernicious to the Civil State and Commonwealth, in that the Bishops have ever been active to infuse into our Kings such Tenets and Positions as are contrary to the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom, and apt to introduce Tyranny, and an arbitrary Power over the Lives, Liberties, and Propriety of the Subject; and that they have been forward to incite the King against His People, and, by Force of Arms, to constrain them to submit to such an arbitrary Government, and, by unlawful Contribution of Money, to assist His Majesty in making War upon His Subjects, whereof there are many Evidences, both in those Preparations which not long since were made to invade Scoteland, and in the War now raised against the Parliament and Kingdom of England; and yet they have shewed themselves so ambitious of Sovereignty, that they forbear not to maintain, in Sermons and Printed Books, That the King's Sceptre ought to submit to Aaron's Rod, and the Mitre to be above the Sword; which argues in them an Antichristian Spirit, to exalt themselves above all that is called God, and a Design (when they have brought the Kingdom to be disposed at His Pleasure) to subject His Majesty to their own arbitrary Censures, that so themselves may triumph in the Bondage and Slavery both of King and People.

"Upon all which and many other Reasons, we do Declare, That this Government, by Archbishops, Bishops, their Chancellors and Commissaries, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Archdeacons, and other Ecclesiastical Officers depending upon the Hierarchy, is evil, and justly offensive and burthensome to the Kingdom, a great Impediment to Reformation and Growth of Religion, very prejudicial to the State and Government of this Kingdom, and that we are resolved that the same shall be taken away; and according to our former Declaration of the 7th of February, our Purpose is, to consult with Godly and Learned Divines, that we may not only remove this, but likewise settle such a Government as may be most agreeable to God's Holy Word, most apt to procure and conserve the Peace of the Church at Home, and a happy Union with the Church of Scoteland and other Reformed Churches abroad, and to establish the same by a Law, which we intend to frame for that Purpose, to be presented to His Majesty for His Royal Assent; and, in the mean Time, humbly to beseech His Majesty, that a Bill for the Assembly may be passed in Time convenient for the Meeting to be by the Fifth of November next, the miserable Estate of the Church and Kingdom not being able to endure any longer Delay.

"This being the Resolution of both Houses of Parliament, we do desire our Brethren of Scoteland to concur with us, in petitioning His Majesty, that His Royal Authority may be applied, to the Conservation of a firm Unity between the Two Kingdoms; and that they likewise will think good to send to the same Assembly some Godly and Learned Divines of that Church, whereby an Uniformity in Form of Church Government may be obtained, and thereby a more easy Passage made to the settling of One Confession of Faith, One Liturgy, or Directory of the Public Worship, and One Catechism, in all the Three Kingdoms; which we hope, through God's Blessing, will have such an Effect, in all His Majesty's Dominions, as will much advance the Honour and Service of God, enlarge the Greatness, Power, and Glory of the King, confirm the Peace, Security, and Prosperity of all His good Subjects, make Way to the Relief and Deliverance of the poor afflicted Churches abroad, and to the total Abolishing of the Usurpation and Tyranny of Rome, being the prime Cause and Fountain of all the Miseries and Calamities, the bloody Massacres, outrageous Cruelties, and bitter Persecutions of God's People, in all the Christian World, for many Ages."

Footnotes