s, and
restoring the Church and State to their ancient Liberties, Freedom,
Rights and Possessions; and the great Obligations thereby lying upon
them to express all possible care and zeal in the preservation of His
Majesties person, (in whose honour and happinesse consisteth the good
and welfare of His people) and in the security and establishment of His
Royal Authority and Government, against all such wicked attempts and
practices for the time to come. And, since the rise and progress of the
late troubles did, in a great measure, proceed from some treasonable and
seditious positions infused into the people. That it was lawfull to
Subjects for Reformation, to enter into Covenants and Leagues, or to
take up Arms against the King, or those Commissionated by Him, and
such-like: And that many Wilde and rebellious courses were taken and
practised in pursuance thereof, by unlawful meetings and gatherings of
the people, by mutinous and tumultuous petitions, by insolent and
seditious Protestations against His Majesties Royal and just commands,
by entering into unlawfull Oaths and Covenants, by usurping the name and
power of Council Tables and Church Judicatories, after they were by His
Majesty discharged, by treasonable Declarations, that His Majesty was
not to be admitted to the exercise of His Royal power, untill He should
grant their unjust desires and approve their wicked practices, by
rebellions rising in Arms against His Majestie and such as had
Commission from Him; And by the great countenance, allowance and
encouragement given to these pernicious courses by the multitude of
seditious Sermons, Libels, and Discourses, preached, printed and
published in defence thereof: And considering that as the present age is
not full freed of those distempers; so posterity may be apt to relapse
therein, if timous remeed be not provided. Therefore the King's Majestie
and Estates of Parliament do Declare that these positions, That it is
lawfull to Subjects, upon pretence of Reformation, or other pretence
whatsoever, to enter into Leagues and Covenants, or to take up arms
against the King; or that it is lawfull to subjects, pretending His
Majestys Authority, to take up Arms against His person or those
Commissionated by Him, or to suspend Him from the exercise of his Royal
Government, or to put limitations upon their due obedience and
allegiance, Are Rebellious and Treasonable, And that all these
Gatherings, Convocations, Petitions, Protesta