With the Restoration of the English Monarchy in 1660, all civil and ecclesiastical office holders were required to "Take the Test Oath" denouncing the "National Covenant" and swearing loyalty to the English King. Those that refused became known as the "Covenanters" and left themselves open to persecution, torture and banishment. Although the exact wording is not known, below is a declaration at one time attested to by 23 Kincardineshire men. It serves to illustrate the nature of the Oath itself.

Wee undersubscryvers DOE sincerely affirme and declare that we judge it unlawful to subjects, upon pretence of reformeation or other pretence qt.soever to enter into leagues and covenants or to take up arms against King or those commissioned by him ; and that all those gatherings , convocations, petitions, protestations, and erecting and keeping council tables that were used in the beginning and for carrying on the late troubles were unlaull and seditious, and partly these oaths yre. of the one wes commonly called the National Covenant, as it wes sworn and explained in the year 1638 and thereafter ;and the oyr. inituled the solemn League and Covenant, were and in ymselves unlaull oaths, and were taken by and imposed upon subjects of this kingdome against the fundamental lawes and liberties of the same. And that yr lyeth no obligation upon us or any of the subjects from the sds oathes, or either of ym, to endeavour any thing or alterations of Government, either in Church or state, as now established by the Lawes of this Kingdome.