To the Honourable COMMITTEE OF KENT.  
Gentlemen;  
MY service (in all humility) presented unto you. For Accommodating (so fare, as necessarily may be,) of your desires, I give you to will't, That I have seen, and perused a Printed sheet of Paper, with this Inscription; or Title, (viz.) A Pair of Gold-weights, etc. And with this subscription, or Postscrip, (viz.) This Appeal, and Demonstration, I commend to your Circumspect Perusal, to mend, and Ratify in form, etc. with my name set at the foot of the Postscript. There being some little varying therein from any Maniscript of mine.  
And since our Saviour doth propound, to such as profess his Name, as well to be wise as Scrpents, as innocent, as Doves; And since neither the Law of God, the Law of Nations, nor the Law of Nature, doth require, or exact from any, a self Accusation; And being strongly persuaded, that it hath not entered into the thoughts of your hearts, or the hearts of any of you, to draw any thing from me, either by word or writing, to be any ways prejudicial unto met. Therefore, for the whole matter, in the Printed Paper contained, I shall propose, neither Negatively▪ nor Affirmatively; But as Prosecution shall be therein, I shall desire but the common benefit and privilege of a Native Subject, in a vindicative, or defensive way, etc. As Occurrences shall Legally present.  
But, to satisfy your Expectations, touching my sense of the Scope, and extent of what is contained in the said Printed Paper; I conceive, the first part thereof wholly, as well as some other parts, and passages therein, in part, concerns in special manner Mr. Dens Practices, and expressions at the Sessions holden at the Castle of Canterbury, for the East Division of the County of Kent, 15. July, 1645. Touching which, I shall desire (as occurrences shall permit,) a Legal Liberty of Appeal; And not out of any prejudice to the Person of him, or of any other man whatsoever; No● that I make any scruple, or difference, from whose hand, or by what Power, the Stroke of Persecution is directed. But my special Aim, and purpose therein, is, by all lawful ways to endeavour to unfold, and bring to a clear and Palpable discovery, to my own, and the common Eye of the Subjects of this Kingdom; Whether myself, and others, which have been Persecuted, (since the Repeal of those Conscience-binding Laws, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, As in the Preface to the Directory appears,) have been so persecuted by Law, or without Law.  
And if by Law, That then there may be an incessant endeavour, by Petitionary, and Supplicatory way, to procure a further, and final Repeal of those, and others of the same Affinity, if any such are yet in being; Put if Divine Providence, have so disposed, that the stings of such Conscience-binding Laws, be already plucked out; that then myself, and the whole Kingdom, may never be wanting, to give God the Honour, and men their Respective deuce therein.  
If any Passage, or expression therein, shall be taken, as to Reflect upon any; either Courts, Persons, or Person in particular, I conceive it is more than by any ordinary Construction can be naturally drawn from any part, or Passage therein, there being (to my remembrance, neither Court, Persons, Person, time, nor practices, (other then as before mentioned, touching Mr. Den, the than Judge,) specified therein.  
Only, I shall with all due Respects unto you, Present to your Judicious considerations these three Queries ensuing. (Viz.)  
QUERE I. First, If a man be enjoined, to enter into Obligations of vast sums, to conform himself to promiscuous, and illegal Restrictions of his Birthright Privileges, And shall in Obedience thereunto, both confine and conform himself, so fare, that no colour of advantage can be taken for Nonconformity, And so of course, the Party discharged from such Obligations. And notwithstanding, upon the discharge therefrom, there be Premonitions, and threats from the Judge, for Nonconformity, (as before) to inflict the same Punishments.  
QUERE. II. Secondly, If a man Appeal to a Court, That if he have offended the Law, he desires to be punished by Law; if otherwise, That by the justice of the Court he may be acquitted, And notwithstanding Sentence be pronounced against such a one, contrary to Law.  
QUERE. III. Thirdly, If a wrong party, be Indicted and Arrested, [for exercising Religious Duties, etc.] committed to Prison, brought forth before a Court of Judicature, claims the Privilege of a Subject, as in the same case is due unto him: And notwithstanding the Court shall prosecute against, sentence, and Re-imprison such a one.  
What is any wise intimated touching the miscarriage of Transactors, It appears to me to Reflect equally from both parties, now in contestation. And as Arbitrary exactions cannot be Transubstantiated into Subject's Privileges by mutation of Terms, and not things: So for my own part, 'Tis my hearty desire, that they may rather, [by mutual Act of Oblivion,] be buried in the Land of forgetfulness, then to be mustered up, to be exhibited [in their Numbers or Natures,] to the Public view of the World.  
For the Seventeen Digestions, or conditional Propositions, therein Inserted, (I conceive,) What is Demonstrated in them, being seriously pondered, and digested, may by Christian composition, produce wolsome Ingredients, to work the Pulse of this Kingdom to a more complying Constitution, for the future Peace, and Wellbeing thereof, then yet appears; as well as be found to be a Sovereign Antidote against Foreign Attempts, and discontents.  
And what in any of them may seem to have Reference, to the Proof of things, spoken or acted. I suppose, they would not have been inserted, without (I fear,) but too manifest Evidence for the Proof of them. And I (humbly) conceive, the only way and means, to prevent Uncoth Consequences of such inconsiderate and Rash Practices, were by clipping the wings, by public disavowing of them. I desire not to multiply words; I (humbly) commit you to the Protection of the Almighty. And Rest,  
Asheford, 28. Febr. 1645. At your service, where not in Active, there in Passive Obedience. THO. BELKE.   

To the Right Honourable the House of PEERS, With the Honourable House of COMMONS: IN PARLIAMENT ASSEEMBLED.  
Shows,  
THat whereas you have mutually, by many former and latter Declarations, and Manifestations, set forth your deep sense of the deplorable condition of this languishing Kingdom, Thereby presenting unto us the Consideration thereof, to bring us home (as we humbly conceive,) to a self Examination, duly to ponder the large proportion that every one of our sins have contributed, not only in the kindling, but likewise in the increasing, and aggravating the Prodigious flames of our unnatural Divisions; and as upon mature deliberation, (weighing and digesting our Condition,) we plainly behold the distemper of this divided Kingdom, still yielding forth much combustible matter to consume itself: So likewise, by the waves of our Nationall and Domestic Distractions, (unless God work a wonderful change both in things, and Persons, to quench the coals of jealousy in our Spirits, and calm the now raging storms,) we can expect no other Issue, But that the ship of all future happiness to this Kingdom, will be Totally swallowed up (as in a Deluge,) by the Waves of our present Commotions, and this not long since flourishing Kingdom, (having unnaturally eaten out its own Bowels,) be left as a Golgatha, or field of blood. And s●nce you jointly profess, your Ardent desires are, Impartially to Render to God, the things which are Gods, And to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. We your humble Supplicants, [as not daring to cast a stone at the sins of the times, By reason of the guilt which every one of our sins have contracted therein: And as having a fellow-feeling of our brethren's miseries, so being ready, and desirous to cast in our mites, to accommodate them, and to prevent the like misery to ourselves,] are emboldened humbly to Demonstrate unto you, our apprehensions and desires ensuing; As fouded upon that Royal Law, of Loving God above all, and our Neighbour as ourselves. [Viz.]  
First, That we are hearty willing, to part with what proportion soever, of our Estates, Real or Personal, with the rest of the Kingdom, [in an equal, and proportionable manner,] for the defraying of the Vast detriments, and expenses occasioned by our unhappy divisions.  
Secondly, Touching the Militia, and Judicatory, and other weighty Affairs of this Kingdom; That if there shall be such a satisfactory Balancing of them. [As Caesar may discern, an Equivalent Power, as invested in him to defend; and the Subjects a like Equivalent Power, as invested in them to preserve, and each subject being set upon levill ground touching Native Privileges,] we humbly conceive, It might be as a Sovereign Antidote, to work the Pulse of this gasping Kingdom, to beat more hopefully, and complyantly then now it doth.  
Thirdly, That as [we humbly conceive,] the Holy One of Israel, is not to be limited, either to the time, or manner of receiving into his Vineyard; but revealeth himself to his in such manner, and measure, and at such hour, As he hath in his foreknowledge ordained, [who being our Alone Lord and Master, before whom we shall stand, or fall;] So as we dare not entrench upon God's Prerogative, to take Dominion over the Faith of our Brethren; Nevertheless, we [humbly,] conceive it an unquestionable duty; And shall be ready at all times, to the utmost of our Powers, to maintain and defend Authority, and all that shall submit, to what they shall tender in spiritual matters, in their own enjoyments from Violation, and disturbance of All men whatsoever.  
And, as we Recent, the frequent Alarms, (sounded into our Ears, by your DECLARATIONS, and Manifestations,) Are intended, as invitations, to put us upon a serious inquiry of our Estates; So to quicken us in our duties, [as Patients,] to make our Addresses to you, [as our Physicians next under God,] to acquaint you, as with the grounds of the progress of our Malady, and distemper; So with our present Constitution and fears, which seem to surprise us, Touching future inconveniences, and Enormities flowing in upon us. Wherefore we are further emboldened, Humbly to present, to your serious Considerations, These our Apprehensions, and desires ensuing. [Viz.]  
1. That you would be pleased, to set forth, A clear, and Genuine satisfaction, how fare, [as you conceive,] the Scripture doth inright the People, to a free, and common Voice, in the Election of their Ministers.  
2. That by reason of the disproportion of Live, we find it causes no small trouble, in many Places, and not a little dejection to divers people; In regard that many Ministers, are so easily drawn away [by the Loadstone of worldly Lucre,] Even as often as a greater Living presents itself, Which [we humbly conceive,] if more Equally divided, would in a great measure be prevented.  
3. That if Collectors were appointed in every Lath, or other division, according to the Wisdom and discretion of such as should be thereunto Assigned, and all the Live brought into a Common Bank, or Treasury; And there distributed, as in equity should be found most meet,] both for the present maintenance of the Ministry; And likewise in some competent proportion, [as occasioned,] for the comfortable livelihood of their Widows, and Education of their Children; We humbly conceive, that as by that means; The whole man might be the better taken up, in the work of the Ministry; So, many Jarrings, and Discords, which are but too too frequent betwixt Ministers, and People, would cease for present, and be prevented for Future.  
The Subscribers to this Supplication, and Demonstration, [humbly] crave permission for but only Twenty men of the County of _____ to present the same to the King, and Parliament.   

SIR,  
THIS Supplication, etc. (As I have declared, for the satisfaction of the Honourable Committee of KENT, or whomsoever it may concern,) was of my own composing: and that many months since. Only thus much I shall acquaint you with; That it was certified to the said Committee, that I had advanced it with a great deal of Violence, in so much that Ten thousand hands were subscribed to it. When (in Truth,) at that time, neither my own hand, was subscribed to it, nor (to my knowledge, or belief, the hand of any man whatsoever. [I dare not so much derogate from the Scout-masters of the Black cloth, as not to rank them amongst the chiefest Proficients in the Art of Multiplication.] It makes my heart to tremble, to ponder the unhappy consequences of giving or edit to naked Reports. I desire not to make further Application. But shall always pray; That we may each one endeavour to amend one. That such a Reformation may be effected, as we have so much spoken of, and so little Acted towards, And Rest.  
Yours, in all Christian Obligations, THOMAS BELKE  
FINIS.