Sixthly, We protest, That no subscription, whether by the Lords of Councell or others, of the Confession mentioned in the Proclamation, and enjoyned for the maintenance of Religion, as it is now already, or at this present time established and professed within this Kingdome, without any innovation of Religion or Law, be any manner of way prejudiciall to our Covenant, wherein we have sworn to forbeare the practice of Novations already introduced, &c. till they be tryed in a free Assembly, And to labour by all lawfull meanes, to recover the puritie and libertie of the Gospel as it was established and professed before the foresaid Innovations: And in like manner, that no subscription foresaid be any derogation to the true and sound meaning of our worthy predecessours, at the time of their subscription in the yeer 1581. and afterward: Withall, warning and exhorting all men who lay to heart the cause of Religion, against the corruptions of the time & the present estate of things, both to subscribe the Covenant as it hath bin explained, & necessarily applied; and as they love the puritie and libertie of the Gospel, to hold back their hands from all other Covenants, till the Assembly now indicted be conveened, & determine the present differences and divisions, & preserve this countrey from contrary oathes. Seventhly, As his Majesties royall clemencie appeared in forgiving and forgetting what his Majestie conceiveth to be a disorder or done amisse in the proceeding of any; so are we very confident of his Majesties approbation, to the integrity of our hearts and peaceablenesse of our wayes and actions all this time past: And therefore We protest that we still adhere to our former complaints, protestations, lawfull meetings, proceedings, mutuall defences, &c. All which, as they have been in themselves lawfull, so were they to us, pressed with so many grievances in his Majesties absence from this native kingdome, most necessary, and ought to be regarded as good offices, and pertinent duties of faithfull Christians, loyall subjects, and sensible members of this Kirk and Common-wealth, as we trust at all occasions to make manifest to all good men, especially to his sacred Majestie, for whose long and prosperous government, that we may live a peaceable and quiet life in all godlinesse and honesty, We earnestly pray.