A general Band made for Maintenance of the trew and Chriftian Religion, and the Kings Majefties Perfon and Eflate; and withstanding all forreyne or inteftine Preparations and Forces tending to the Trouble thereof: Subfcrivit be His Majesty and diverfe of the Eftatis 1588; and afterwards fubfcrivit, in the Year 1590, together with the Confeffion of Faith, be Perfons of all Ranks and Degrees, be an Act of Council, at the Defire of the General Affembly of the Kirk, March 6. * 1589.

WE

E underfubfcriband, confidering the strait Link and Conjunction betwix the trew and Chriftian Religion, prefentlie profeffit within this Realme, and his Heines oure Sovereyne Lordis Eitate and Standing; having baith the self-fame Friendis and common Enemies, and fubject to the

lyke

1590.

lyke event of ftranding and decay. And weying thair withall the imminent danger threatned to the faid religion, as weil be forreyne preparationis for profequutione of that deteftabil confpiracie againis Chrift and his evangell, callit the Holie league; as be the inward and inteftine practizes of the favourers and fuppoftis thairof amangis oure felfis, quha now, inanimate be the reportis of forreyne powers in this Realme, begine maire plainlie to utter their lang concelit evill meaning to the trewth, and confequentlie to the standing of His Majeftie oure Sovereyne Lord, quham they have found and tryit to be ane conftant and inflexibil profeffor of the fame: the prefervation quhairof beand deirer to us than quhatfumever we have deireft to us in this lyfe. And finding in His Majeftie a molt honourabil and Chriflian refolution, to manifeft him felf to the warld that zelous and religious Prince quhilk he hes hithertill profeffit, and to imploy the means and power that God hes put into his handis, as weill to the withstanding of quhatfumever forreyne force fall mean within this Ifland, for alteration of the faid religion, or endangering of the prefent eftate; as to the ordering and repreffing of the inward enemies thairto amangis oure felfis, linkit with thame in the faid antichriftian league and confederacie. Have thairfore, in the prefence of ALMIGHTIE GOD, and with His Majefties allowance, faithfullie promifit and folemnelie fworn, lykeas heirby we faithfullie and folemnelie fwear and promeis, to tak a trew aefauld and plain pairt with His Majeftie

and amangis oure felfis, for diverting of the ap pearand danger threatned to the faid religion, and His Majefties eftate and standing depending thairupon, be quhatfumever forreyne or inteftine plotis or preparationis.

And to that effect faithfullie, and upon oure trewths and honours, bind and oblidge us to uthers, to convene and affembil oure felfis publicklie with oure friends in armes, or in quyet manner *, at fik tymes and places as we fall be requirit be His Hienes proclamatione, or be writ or meffage direct to us from His Majeftie, or ony having power from him and being convenit and affemblit, to joyne and concurre with the haill forces of oure friendis and favoureris, againis quhatfumever forreyne or inteftine powers of Papiftis or thair partakers, that fall arryve or ryfe within this Ifland, or ony pairt thairof; readie to defend or purfue, as we fall be authorizit and conduct be His Majeftie, or ony having his power and commmiffion to joyne and hald hand to the exequution of quhatfumever mean or ordour fall be thought meet be His Majeftie and Councell, for the fuppreffing of Papiftrie, promotion of trew religion, and fetling His Hienes eftate and obedience in all the quarters and corners of this Realme: to expone and hazard oure lyfis, landis and gudis, and quhatfumever mean that God hes lent us, in the defence of the faid trew and chriftian religion, and of His Majefties perfon and eftate, againis quhafumever fall

* In the Band fubfcribed 1588, by the King and divers of the Etates, it is, to convene and a embil privilie, or with oure friendis in armes or quyet manner, at fic tyres, &c. The original Parchement is in the College-library of Glafgew.

fall ayther privilie practize, or oppenlie pretend ony harm or alteration to ayther of thame in ony fort to purfue and profequute Jefuitis, and femiinary or meffe-priests, condemnit enemies to God and His Majeftie, to thair utter wrack and exterminion, according to the power grantit to us be His Hienes proclamation and acts of Parliament.

To try, fearch, and fpeir out all excommunicates, practifand and uthers Papifts quhatfumever within oure boundis and fchyres quhair we keep refidence; and delaite them to His Hienes and his privie Councell, and conforme us to fic directions as from tyme to tyme, we fall receive from His Majeftie and his faid Councell in thair behalfis : efpeciallie fa mony of us as prefentlie ar, or heirafter fall be appointit commiffioners within every fchyre, fall follow, purfue, and travail be all meanes poffibil, to tak and apprehend fic Papiftis, apostates and excommunicates as we fall receive in valentine* from His Majeftie. And we the remanent within that schyre, fall affift and concurre with the faidis Commiffioners, with oure haill friendis and forces to that effect, without refpect of ony perfon quhatfumever.

And generallie to affift in the meane ryme, and defend everie ane of us ane uther, in all and quhatfumever quarrels, actions, debaits movit or to be movit againis us, or ony of us, upon occafion of the present band, or uther caufe depending thairupon: and aefauldlie joyne in defence and pursuit againis quhafumever † fall offer or intend ony injurie or revenge againis ony ane of us for the premiffes,

* Billet. †The Band fubfcribed 1588. by the King and divers of the Eftates hath here, His Majestie allenarlie exceps.

miffes, making his caufe and pairt that is purfuit, all our pairtis; notwithstanding quhatfumever privat grudge or difpleafure depending betwix ony of us, quhilk fall be na impediment or hinder to oure faid aefauld joyning in the faid common cause, but to ly over and be misknawn till they be orderly removit and tane away be the order under fpecifiet. To the quhilk tyme we, for the better furtherance of the faid caufe and fervice, have affurit, and by the tenor heirof every ane of us, taking burden on us for ourfelfis, and all that we may let, affure ilk uther to be unhurt, unharmit, or in ony wayes invadit by us or ony oure forefaids, for auld ficd or new, utherwife than be ordinare courfe of law and juftice: nayther fall we, nor ony of cure forefaids, mak ony provocation of tumult, troubil, or difpleifure to uthers in fort, as we fall anfwer to Gon, and upon our fidelitie to His Majeftie, and our honours. And for cure further and mair heartie union in this fervice; we are content and confentis be thir prefents, That all quhatfumever our feids and variances fallen, or that may fall out betwix us, or ony of us, be, within fourtie dayes after the dait heirof, amicably re ferrit and fubmittit to feven or fyve indifferent friends, chofen be His Majeftie, of oure haill number, and be thair moderation and arbitriment componit and tane away.

ony

And finallie, That we fall na wayse, direclie or indirectlie, separate nor withdraw us from the union and fellow fhip of the remanent, be quhatfumever fuggeftion or private advyce ;or for quhatfumever incident, retard or ftay fic refolutione as be common deliberatione fall be tane in the premiffes.