necessary and lawful means
for the defence of the land, and a description of the enfeebled
state of the kingdom, contains the following exposition of their
views. "In this case of so great and evident necessity, we cannot be
against the raising of all fencible persons in the land, and
permitting them to fight against this enemy for defence of the
kingdom, excepting such as are excommunicate, forfaulted,
notoriously profane or flagitious, and such as have been from the
beginning, and continue still, or are at this time, obstinate and
professed enemies, and opposers of the Covenant and cause of God;
and for the capacity of acting, that the Estates of Parliament ought
to have, as we hope they will have special care, that in this so
general concurrence of all the people of the kingdom, none be put in
such trust or power as may be prejudicial to the cause of God, and
that such Officers as are of known integrity and affection to the
cause, and particularly such as have suffered in our former armies
may be taken special notice of."--"A True Representation of the Rise,
&c. of the Present Division in the Church of Scotland," pp. 10, 11.
London, 1657. "The Answer of the Commission of the General Assemblie
to the Quaeree Propounded to them from the Parliament," pp. 2, 3.
Aberdeen, Printed by James Brown, 1651.--_Ed._]

346 ["_Act of Leavie_: At Perth, the twentie third day of December, one
thousand six hundred and fiftie yeiris, the Kingis Majestie and
Estaits of parliament, being verie sensibill of the dangerous and
distressed conditione of this kingdome, and most desyrious,
according to the law of God and nature, in discharge of there public
trust, to use all lawful and necessarie means for the saiftie and
defence of religione, his Majesties persone and royal authoritie,
laws and liberties of the kingdome, aganis an armie of sectaries,
who most unjustlie and perfidiouslie, contrarie to the solemne
league and covenant and treaties, have invaded, and are by all actis
of hostilitie destroying the same, Thairfore hes statute and
ordained that all fensible men, within the sherrefdomes of Fyiff,
and Kinross, Clakmanan, Stirling, Dumbartane, Argyll, Boott, Perth,
Forfar, Kincardine, Aberdeine, Bamff, Murray, Nairne, Inverness,
Ross, S