in our own Names, and in name of all the rest of the Subjects and Congregations whom we reprefent, do now, in all Humility reprefent to your Grace His Majefties Commiffioner, and the Lords of His Majefties most honourable Privie Councel; and declare before GOD and the World, That we never had, nor have any Thought of withdrawing our felves from that humble and dutiful Obedience to His Majefty and to his Government, which by the Defcent, and under the Reign of 107 Kings, is moft chearfully acknowledged by us and our Predeceffors: And that we never had, nor have any Intention or Defire, to attempt any Thing that may tend to the Dilhonour of God, or the Diminution of the Kings Greatness and Authority. But on the contrary, acknow ledging our Quietness, Stability and Happiness, to de pend upon the Safety of the Kings Majefties Perfon, and Maintenance of his Greatness and Royal Authority, who is God's Vicegerent fet over us, for the Maintenance of Religion and Miniftration of Justice: We have folemnly fworn, and do fwear, not only our mutual Concurrence and Affiftance for the Caufe of Religion, and, to the uttermost of our Power, with our Means and Lives, to ftand to the Defence of our Dread Soveraigne, his Perfon and Authority, in Prefervation and Defence of the true Religion, Liberties and Laws of this Kirk and Kingdom; but also in every Caufe which may concern His Majefties Honour, fball, according to the Laws of this Kingdom, and the Duties of good Subjects, concurre with our Frinds and Followers, in quiet manner or in Armes, as we shall be required of His Majefty, His Councel, or any having His Authority. And therefore, being most defireous to clear our felves of all Imputation of this Kind, and following the laudable Example of our Predeceffors, 1589, do most humbly Supplicate your

Grace

Grace His Majefties Commiffioner, and the Lords of His Majefties muft honourable Privie Councel, to enjon by an Act of Councel, that this Confeffion and Covenant, which, as a Teftimony of our Fidelity to God, and Loyalty to our King, we have fubfcribed, be fubfcribed by all His Majefties Subjects, of what Rank and Quality foever.

The Act of the Lords of Councel at Edinburgh, August 30. 1639, containing the Answer of the preceding Supplication.

THE

HE which Day, in Prefence of the Lord Commiffioner and the Lords of Privie Councel, compeired perfonally John Earle of Rothes, James Earle of Montrofe, John Lord Lowdoun, Sir George Stirling of Keir, Knight, Sir William Douglafs of Cavers, Knight, Sir Henry Wood of Bonytoun, Knight, John Smyth Burgefs of Edinburgh, Mr. Robert Barclay Proveft of Irwine, Mr. Alexander Henderfon Minifter at Edinburgh, and Mr. Archbald JohnStoun Clerk to the General Affembly; and in the Name of the prefent fiting General Affembly, gave in to the Lord Commiffioner and Lords of Privie Councel, the Petition above writen: Which being read, heard, and confidered by the faids Lords, they have ordained, and ordaine the fame to be infert and regiftrate in the Books of Privy Councel; and, according to the Defire thereof, ordaine the faid Confeffion and Covenant to be fubfcribed, in time comeing, by all His Majefties Subjects of this Kingdom, of what Ranke and Quality foever. Affem

H 3

Affembly 1639. Seff. 23. August 30. Act ordaining, by Ecclefiaftical Authority, the Subfcription of the Confeffion of Faith and Covenant, with the Affemblies Declaration. THE General Affembly confidering the great Happinefs which may flow from a full and perfect Union of this Kirk and Kingdom, by joyning of all in one and the fame Covenant with God, with the Kings Majefty, and amongst our felves; having by our great Oath declared the Uprightness and Loyaltie of our Intentions in all our Proceedings; and having withall fupplicated His Majefties High Commiffioner, and the Lords of His Majefties honourable Privie Councel, to injoyne, by Act of Councell, all the Lieges in time coming to fubfcribe the Confeffion of Faith and Covenant; which, as a Teftimony of our Fidelity to God, and Loyalty to our King, we have fubfcribed: And Jeing His Majefties High Commiffioner, and the Lords of His Majefties honourable Privie Councell, have granted the Defire of our Supplication, ordaining, by Civil Authority, all His Majefties Lieges in time coming, to fubfcribe the forefaid Covenant: That our Union may be the more full and perfect, We, by our Act and Conftitution Ecclefiaftical, do approve the forefaid Covenant in all the Heads and Claufes thereof: And ordains of new, under all ecclefi aftical Cenfure, That all the Mafters of Universities, Colleges and Schoules, all Schollers at the paffing of their Degrees, all Perfons fufpect of Papiftric, or any other Errour, and finally, all the Members of this Kirk and

Kingdom, fubfcribe the fame, with these Words prefixed to their Subfcription.

The Article of this Covenant, which was at the firft Subfcription referred to the Determination of the General Affembly, being determined; and thereby the Five Articles of Perth, the Government of the Kirk by Bishops, the civil Places and Power of Kirkmen, upon the Reafons and Grounds contained in the Acts of the General Affembly, declared to be unlawfull within this Kirk: We fubfcribe according to the Determination forfaid.

And ordains the Covenant, with this Declaration, to be infert in the Registers of the Affemblies of this Kirk, Generall, Provincial, and Prefbyterial, ad perpetuam rei memoriam,

The Act of Affembly declaring the Five Articles of Perth to have been abjured, and to be removed, is printed in the Collection of Acts of Affembly, relating to the feveral Heads of the Directory for publick Worship. The Act declaring Epifcopacie to have been abjured by the Confeffion of Faith 1580, and to be removed out of this Kirk, and the Act against the civil Places and Power of Kirkmen, are printed in the Collection of Acts concerning the Government of the Church.

The National Covenant ;

OR,

The General Confeffion of Faith of the Kirk of Scotland: Together with a Refolution and Promife, for the Caufes after expreffed, to maintain the true Chriftian Religion, and the Kings Majeftie, according to the forefaid Confeffion, and Acts of Parliament which are particularly fpecified for justifying the Union after mentioned: Subfcribed by the Nobles, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgeffes, Minifters and Commons, in the Year 1638. approven by the General Affemblies 1638 and 1639. and fubfcribed again by Perfons of all Ranks and Qualities in the Year 1639 by an Ordinance of Councel, upon the Supplication of the General Affembly, and an Act of the General Assembly.

WE all, and every one of us underwritten,

proteft, That after long and due Exami

nation of our owne Confciences in matters of true

and