to be contrary to the grounds and bands so often declared and acknowledged
by both Kingdoms lest our silence be esteemed a compliance, or
we thought any wayes accessary to those great alterations, and the dangerous
consequences may ensue thereupon.
And as for the last Protestation in the last Sessions of Parliament, against
the last unlawfull engagement, Our Act of this Parliament declining
and repealing the same, and every thing done in pursuance thereof;
And our whole proceedings before and since, are sufficient and recall
evidences of our sincere desires and constant resolutions to continue
Union and Peace between the Kingdomes according to the Covenant
and Treaties. So it is very far from our Intentions to assume any power
over the Lawes and Government of that Kingdome or any way so raise
Sedition, or lay the grounds of a new War, or doe any thing in the late
unlawfull engagement, which can no waies be infer d from the said
paper, containing only our adherence to our former principles acknowledged
by both Kingdoms, And it being given to you to be nominated
in the ordinary way. We are so tender of the Union between the Nations,
that we thinke the remonstrating of the breach of peace, the craving
of just reparations, and using of all amicable and faire means, shound be
first assaied before any engagement in a War, which even then, cannot
be done by either Kingdoms, without a breach of the large Treaties, unlesse
it be upon three months warning preceding; upon which amongst
other grounds and reasons, we did protest and declare against the late
Engagement : And doe confidently expect the like from England, according
to the papers given in by their Commissioners to the preceeding
Session of Parliament : And however any prevolent Party in either Kingdome
hath infringed or may breake these bonds, yet we doe not conceive
it either agreeable to Gods wil or conducible to the welfare of these
Nations, to lay these sacred tyes aside as disolved and cancelled, but rather
that they should be preserved for the good of both Kingdoms, and
benefit to those who have no accession to such breaches, and of succeeding
Generations, who are innocent thereof, and may sustaine manifold
inconveniences by dissolution of the same.
Having thus delared our intentions and resolutions, we hope none
can justly blame this Nation, to continue constant to their former engagement
and principles, which the Honourable Houses of the Parliament
of England professed also to be these when they induced this Kingdome
to enter into Solemne League and Covenant with them, far lesse
can it be any ground at all for the restraining our commissioners country
to the publike Faith, and law of Nations, by which the freedome of