WEe the Commons in Parliament assembled, Taking into our consideration the late high Insurrecti­on in Kent, so suddenly and wonderfully quelled by the blessing of God, upon that small Part of the Army under the conduct of the Lord Fairfax Generall, cannot but be deeply sensible of the evill demerits of such persons as have any waies had a hand therein; as also of the mischevi­ous consequences that offenders in so high a nature should goe unpunished, yet are we de­sirous to use all possible lenitie towards those who are in any measure capable thereof.

And doe therefore hereby declare, that although we see a necessity that some capitall ex­amples be made, yet shall our principall aime therein be, that all may be warned by the punish­ment of few.

And although others who have thus employed their estates against the Parliament and King­dome, to the raising and fomenting of new distractions and troubles have justly incurred a totall forfeiture of the same, towards the repairing of the publique losses and damages by them occasioned, yet shall we thereunto extend onely the Sequestration of the estates of the principall actors, namely such as have been formerly in armes against the Parliament, or in former Insurrections in that County, or who have taken upon them to Act in this Insurrection, as Commissioners or Commanders, or who have been therein notoriously active in Plunderings, or Imprisonments, and such Ministers as have been active in this Insurrection, and as for such other persons who onely through ignorance or weaknes in themselves, and the subtilties or threats of others have been seduced or terrified into some mistaken or unwilling complyance in that action, we doe hereby warne all those not to flatter themselves for the future, in such unworthy principals, so prone and easie to be wrought upon to joyne with evill doers.

And do likewise hereby require every such person who expects the favour of this so gentle a warning, that they engage them­selves that they will never beare armes against the two Houses of Parliament, or against any that derive Authority from them, nor wittingly doe any thing to the prejudice of their affaires, or to the disturbance of the Peace of that County, upon which said ingagement entered into by such persons as come not under any the aforesaid former qualifications of principall actors, or who having been taken by the Lord Generall as Prisoners of warre, are not by him already set apart by lott, or o­therwise for a judiciall triall to be appointed by this House, the said engagers (not as before excepted) and every of them are hereby declared to be freely pardoned, and so long as they shall demeasne themselves according to their said engage­ment, are not to be proceeded against by any mulct or penalty whatsoever for the said offence, nor to be any waies lyable for the same, otherwise then what they are and shall be lyable unto by action or suit at law, for satisfaction unto particular per­sons by them damnified, wherein each particular person is left unto his legall remedy for reparations or recovery of damages as if this Declaration had not been made.

And the Churchwarden or Churchwardens of the severall parishes within the said County for the time being, are hereby required to provide and keepe a register or booke wherein the said ingagement is to be written and subscribed as aforesaid, within three dayes after notice of this Declaration unto any of the said persons who expect the benefit thereof.

And the Ministers of the said severall Parishes are hereby required openly to read this Declaration in their severall Parish Churches upon the next Lords day after the receipt thereof, at some convenient time before the dismissing of the Congre­gation from the mornings exercise; And at the same time to give the people some seasonable instructions and exhortations, touching their duty of thankfulnes unto God for so great a mercy, as the speedy suppressing of that Insurrection; as also tou­ching their duty of quiet and peaceable demeanour towards those who are in publique place and authority; and to take heed of the Councels and Practises of those, who upon what pretence soever are the Stirrers up of seditions and tumults.

And the Committee of the said County are hereby required to take care of the speedy dispersing of this Declaration, and to take a strict account of what is due according as is hereby required by the Ministers and other persons respectively concerned.