100. THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT (1643)

A solemn league and covenant for reformation and defence of religion, the honour and happiness of the king, and the peace and safety 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 kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by the providence of God living under one king and being of one reformed religion ... , for the preservation of ourselves and our religion from utter ruin and destruction according to the commendable practice of these kingdoms in former times and the example of God's people in other nations, after mature deliberation, resolved and determined to enter into a mutual and solemn league and covenant wherein we all subscribe; and each one of us for himself, with our hands lifted up to the most high God, do swear: — That we shall sincerely, really, and constantly, through the grace of God, endeavour in our several places and callings the preservation of the reformed religion ...; and we shall endeavour to bring the churches of God in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in religion, confession of faith, form of church government, directory for worship, and catechizing.... That we shall ... endeavour the extirpation of popery, prelacy (that is, church government by archbishops, bishops, their chancellors and commissaries, deans, deans and chapters, archdeacons, and all other ecclesiastical officers depending on that hierarchy), superstition ... , and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and power of godliness.... We shall ... endeavour ... to preserve the rights and privileges of the parliaments and the liberties of the kingdoms, and to preserve and defend the king's majesty's person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true religion and liberties of the kingdoms, that the world may bear witness ... that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his majesty's power and greatness.... And whereas the happiness of a blessed peace between these kingdoms ... is by the good providence of God granted to us, and hath been lately concluded and settled by both parliaments, we shall ... endeavour that they may remain conjoined in a firm peace and union to all posterity....

Rushworth, Historical Collections, V, 478 f.