The Copy of a LETTER FROM Duke Hamilton, TO THE MINISTERS AT LANCASTER, With their ANSWER to the same.  
Published by Authority.  
LONDON: Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the honourable House of Commons. August 25. 1648.   

FOR SUCH MINISTERS Of this Shire as are now at LANCASTER, And have lately forsaken their own dwellings.  
Reverend Gentlemen,  
BEing informed that divers of the Ministry of Lancashire, upon the causeless apprehension of receiving injury from this Army, have lately forsaken their Charge and Benefices, and are now at Lancaster, to the inconveniences of themselves and Parishioners, for the which I am grieved; and that they should so far mistake our intentions in coming hither, it being for settling Presbyterian Government according to the Covenant, liberating and re-establishing His Majesty, and for other ends conducing to the good & Peace of the Kingdom, according to the Declaration herewith sent, and not to harm any (much less) the Ministers of this country; I therefore thought good to certify, that such as have so absented themselves, may freely and without fear return to their several Dwellings, to exercise those duties belonging to their Callings, without any prejudice to their Persons, Families or Goods from any in this Army; and if any of them be pleased to repair unto me, I doubt not but to give them that satisfaction, that they may clearly see, none shall study more the happiness and preservation of this Church according to the Covenant, than  
Your assured good Friend to serve you, HAMILTON. Hornby, 10 August, 1648.   

May it please your Excellency,  
WE acknowledge ourselves but weak men, and therefore subject to mistakes, but are not satisfied of any in having our present abode at Lancaster, it being incredible to us how we should have safety and freedom with your Army, knowing our old Enemies of Religion and the kingdom's peace are with your Excellency: we have all taken the Covenant, and are zealous for re-establishing His Majesty, and doubt not the reality of the intentions of the two Houses of Parliament, according to their late Declarations, nor yet of the settling Presbyterian Government, whereof we have lately had good assurance in this county, and how much we shall own it (unto the death) is known to all the world in our late Testimony to the Truth of Jesus Christ, subscribed by us, together with the rest of our Brethren of this Province, unto which Truth we pray nothing may be acted prejudicial by your Excellency, and rest  
Lancaster, 10 August, 1648. Your humble Servants, 

Tho: Whithead.  
James Schoulcroft.  
Io: Jaques.  
Pet: Atkinson.  
Io: syl.  
Edw: Aston.  
Tho: Denny.  
Io: Smith.  
Sam: Elwood.  
Tho: Fancet.    
FINIS.