ittee of Estates._

Whereas the High and Honourable Court of Parliament and your Lordships
were pleased to injoyn the subscription of a Declaration and Band of the
date _June 10. 1648._ And we having found after such examination and
tryal, as is competent to the Servants of God in an Ecclesiastick way,
that the same is a snare to the Consciences of the People of GOD in this
Land to involve them in guiltinesse, and to draw them from their former
principles and Vows in the solemn League and Covenant, as doth more fully
appear in our Act concerning the same herewith presented unto your
Lordships. Therefore from our zeal to the glory of GOD and tender care of
the souls committed unto us; and for our exonoration, As we do seriously
exhort that your Lordships would be sensible of the guilt that you have
already brought upon your selves and others, by injoyning and urging that
subscription, So we do earnestly and in the bowels of _Jesus Christ_
intreat, That your Lordships would take such order and course as that it
may be no further pressed upon the people of GOD throughout the Land.

And because the people groan under the violence and oppression of Officers
and Souldiers in their Quarterings of otherwise throughout all the corners
of the Countrey (which as it hath ascended into the ears of the Lord of
Hosts, so we doubt not but it is come to your knowledge) We conceive it to
be incumbent to us to represent the same to your Lordships, beseeching and
obtesting you that as you would not desire that the Lord should visit
because of these things, you would think upon an effectuall remedy for
punishing and redressing what is past, and preventing the like in time
coming.

And whereas by an Act and inhibition of your Lordships The Liberty of
Printing being one of the Kirks Priviledges confirmed by Parliament is
restrained, Therefore we intreat that the inhibition upon the Printers may
be taken off.

And now having condiscended upon a Declaration to all the Members of this
Kirk concerning present dangers & duties, We do in all humility offer the
same to your Lordships (together with our Answer to the Paper last sent to
us from your Lordships) professing in the sight of GOD (whose Servants we
are) that we have walked herein according to the rule of his Word, and
have nothing before our eyes but his Glory, and the well of his People,
And therefore intreats your Lordships, that you would seriously ponder the
same without prejudice,