great hopes he entertained of accomplishing his design,
without acquiescing with their demand from Montrose’s
expedition, whom he had sent into Scotland with an
army, in order to prepare his way into that kingdom,
by devastation with fire and sword. But this
intrigue not succeeding, he found himself obliged
to comply with all their proposals, and signed the
treaty. This treaty the king did in effect break,
before he left Breda, by communicating after the episcopal
manner, contrary to the express warning and remonstrance
of the commissioners from the church of Scotland,
who went to him, and showed him his sin in so doing,
and how inconsistent it was with his own concessions
in the present treaty; and an evidence that he had
no intention to perform what he had agreed to, but
dissembled with GOD and man; and he, on the other hand,
put them off with sham excuses and professions; and
so, from their too much credulity to his fraudulent
professions and promises all along, they brought him
over to Scotland, and before his landing in this kingdom,
he takes the covenant at Spey, on the 23rd
of June, 1649, by his oath subjoined in allowance
and approbation of the Covenants National, and Solemn
League, obliging himself faithfully to prosecute the
ends thereof in his station and calling; and for himself
and successors, he shall agree to all acts of parliament
enjoining the same, and establishing presbyterial
church government the directory for worship, confession
of faith and catechisms, in the kingdom of Scotland,
as approven by the General Assemblies of this kirk,
and parliament of this kingdom. And for their
further satisfaction, according to the act of the West
Kirk, Edinburgh, August 13th, 1650, approven
the same day by the committee of estates, he emitted
a declaration at Dunfermline, by profession, fully
and heartily acquiescing with all their demands, all
which afterward served for nothing but as a lasting
monument of his horrid perjury, wicked dissimulation,
and mockery of God and man. And even then, when
this declaration was published, he had formed a design
for bringing in the enemies of the covenant, and work
of reformation, both into the army and judicatories,
and for dividing the Presbyterians among themselves.
And this he effectually managed for both foresaid
ends, by the public resolutions, on the 14th
of December, that same year 1650. This
woful and prime step of defection, so contrary to the
word, and injurious to the work of God, was faithfully
testified against by many, both ministers, and whole
presbyteries, who were sensible of the present sinfulness
and evil of it, and foresaw the bitter and dismal
consequences that followed upon it.