September 1643: Declaration, That no one shall have any Command under the Parliament, till he has taken the Covenant..

September 1643

[20 September, 1643.]

The Lords and Commons, considering a great Necessity and Importance of uniting the Two Kingdoms of England and Scotland in a Solemn and Religion Covenant, for the Defence of the true, Reformed Protestant Religions, and the Laws and Liberties of both Kingdoms, and for Reformation in this Church agreeable to God's Ho y Word; have, for that Purpose, in both Houses, agreed upon a Form of a Covenant, and do thereupon Declare, That they cannot confide in such Persons to have or execute Place and Authority in the Armies raised by them, who shall not approve and consent unto the Covenant; and thereupon have Ordered, That such Members of either House as are to undertake any Charge or Command, in any the Armies raised by Authority of both Houses, before their Departures from the Houses to their Charge, shall publicly, at a Conference of both Houses, declare their Approbation of the Draught or Form of the Covenant passed in both Houses, and their full Purpose to take and observe the same; and, until such Public Declaration, shall forbear to enter upon any such Charge or Command.