To the Right honourable WILL: LENTHAL Speaker to the PARLIAMENT. By him to be communicated to the MEMBERS Sitting at Westminster.  
WHEREAS we the Gentlemen and Freeholders of this County of Berks, were generally met together at Abingdon, upon some intimation of an Election of a Knight of the Shire, in pursuance of your Order, for the filling up of this Parliament; and that some solicitations were used throughout the County for voices, and being jealous to be surprised therein by any Clandestine carriage of the Writ: And whereas at this Meeting it was further taken into consideration, that this County have with the rest of this Nation been deeply sensible of many insupportable grievances and oppressions of late days, occasioned through the want of a real, settled, and regular Government; and in particular, that the Commissioners for the Militia having formerly charged the country to provide Arms, which was done accordingly, the said Commissioners do yet direct their Warrants for the bringing in of Twenty shillings for every Foot Arms; which we are very confident is besides the intent of the Act which empowers them, and are ignorant otherwise by what Authority they proceed therein; That therefore, having seriously consulted the Remedies which might be proper for these and the like Inconveniences for the future, and by God's blessing reduce us unto a firm, free, and legal settlement of our Rights, Civil and Religious; we conceived it to be our duty towards God and our country, without any private ends whatsoever, to declare ourselves in this sense; That we take the most satisfactory expedient for it, will be, the recalling of all those Members that were secluded in 1648. and that before the first force upon the Parliament. And, that in the Elections which shall be of any other Members in the vacant places, such due course may be taken, as that the country may not any way be surprised or overawed therein: And, that the secluded Members may be admitted to Sit without any Oath or Engagement to restrain their freedom in the least; Wherein we shall be ready to defend You and Them with whatsoever is dearest unto us, against all opposition: And pray unto Almighty God for his assistance to the happy accomplishment of what may best conduce to the Peace and Safety of this Nation.  
[This is subscribed by most of the chief Gentlemen and Freeholders of the County of Berks.]   

LONDON, Printed for Edward Thomas at the Adam and Eve in Little Britain. 1659.