Die Lunae, 17 julii, 1648.  
We 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 General, cannot but be deeply sensible of the evil demerits of such persons as have any ways had a hand therein; as also of the mischievous consequences that offenders in so high a nature should go unpunished, yet are we desirous to use all possible lenity towards those who are in any measure capable thereof.  
And do therefore hereby declare, that although we see a necessity that some capital examples be made, yet shall our principal aim 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 Kingdom, to the raising and fomenting of new distractions and troubles have justly incurred a total forfeiture of the same, towards the repairing of the public losses and damages by them occasioned, yet shall we thereunto extend only the Sequestration of the estates of the principal actors, namely such as have been formerly in arms 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 only through ignorance or weakness in themselves, and the subtleties or threats of others have been seduced or terrified into some mistaken or unwilling compliance in that action, we do hereby warn all those not to flatter themselves for the future, in such unworthy principals, so prone and easy to be wrought upon to join with evil 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 bear arms against the two Houses of Parliament, or against any that derive Authority from them, nor wittingly do any thing to the prejudice of their affairs, or to the disturbance of the Peace of that County, upon which said engagement entered into by such persons as come not under any the aforesaid former qualifications of principal actors, or who having been taken by the Lord General as Prisoners of war, are not by him already set apart by lot, or otherwise for a judicial trial 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 demean 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 ways liable for the same, otherwise than what they are and shall be liable unto by action or suit at law, for satisfaction unto particular persons by them damnified, wherein each particular person is left unto his legal remedy for reparations or recovery of damages as if this Declaration had not been made.  
And the Churchwarden or Churchwardens of the several parishes within the said County for the time being, are hereby required to provide and keep a register or book wherein the said engagement is to be written and subscribed as aforesaid, within three days after notice of this Declaration unto any of the said persons who expect the benefit thereof.  
And the Ministers of the said several Parishes are hereby required openly to read this Declaration in their several Parish Churches upon the next Lord's day after the receipt thereof, at some convenient time before the dismissing of the Congregation from the morning's exercise; And at the same time to give the people some seasonable instructions and exhortations, touching their duty of thankfulness 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 public place and authority; and to take heed of the Counsels and Practices 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.  
Henry Elsing Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.   

London Printed for John Wright, at the Kings-Head in the Old-Bayley, 1648.