2

suffered the People to swallow that interpretation so quite contrary to the
Text of the Confession; but where the Ministers or others, who had sworn
obedience to those Points. scrupled that Gloss, they assured them it would
breed a great Division to alter the words of the Convenant ; but that they
might very well swear with a reservation of not abjuring Episcopacy, the
Articles of Pearth, or any thing Established by Acts of Parliament or the
General Assembly: with which Jesuitical reservation on the part of the
Imposers many of the Ministers swore their Covenant.

III. How could they take upon them to add to the former Confession?
That was made for Defence of His Majesties Person and Authority with
their Fortunes, Bodies and Lives, in defence of the Gospel of Christ and the
Liberties of the Kingdom : whereas by their own Authority they have
superadded a mutual defence of one another against all persons whatso-
ever, not excepting His Majesty; which is in effect, if His Majesty shall
oppose their Courses, to oppose Him and all such as adhere to Him and
their Loyalty. And whether King James in the first Confession and Band
intended it against His Son and Successor, or the intention of that be a
Warrant for this, or how the Covenanters could swear to defend his Ma-
jesties Person and Authority, and yet to defend one another against all
persons whatsoever let the whole World be Judge.

IV. What defence can they make against those Acts of Parliament which
ordain all such to be punished as movers of Sedition, and disturbers of the
Publick Peace, who league themselves together without the knowledge
or approbation of their Sovereign? Which Acts are these following.

The Tenth Parliament of James the Sixth, Act 12.

Forasmuch as there was an Act made in the Regiment of Mary, late Queen
Dowager, and Regent of this Realm, Our Sovereign Lords Grandmother
of worthy memory concerning Leagues and Bands, as being thought, against
all Law and Obedience of Subjects towards their Princes ; The not observa-
tion of which Act since the making, have given occasion of many troubles
which have occured since : Wherefore Our Sovereaign Lord, with the advice
of His three Estates, convened in this present Parliament, ratifieth, ap
roveth, and for his Successors perpetually confirmeth the said Act of Parlia-
ment, and ordaineth the same to have full effect