At Edinburgh the 9th. of November, 1648.  
THE Committee of Estates taking into consideration that divers persons in the Kingdom, especially in the Shires of the West, Tenants to disaffected Heretors & Masters, have given no small Testimony of their affection to the Covenant by their late hearty concurrence in Arms, and seasonable assistance for the Interests of Religion, King and Kingdoms, who for their dislike of and opposition to the late unlawful Engagement against England, have suffered great losses, And therefore deserves all favour and ease that may be shown them in public burdens, And the Committee being sensible of their affections to the cause, and sufferings for the same, and for their further Encouragement to remain constant therein. Doth therefore Ordain, that all quarterings and public burdens imposed upon Malignant Heretors and Masters since the first of September last, for their malignancy, and accession to the late unlawful Engagement, or for their guiltiness of the faults contained in the Acts of the 22. of Sept. and fourth of October last, shall lie upon the said Masters and Heretors alla nerly, and be charged upon their Estates, And the said well-affected Tenants to be free thereof: And where the quarterings and public burdens have lain upon, and been exacted from the Tenants, The Committee Ordains them to have compensation and allowance of their sufferings by retention of so much of their yearly duties in their own hand as will satisfy them, And if the said Heretors and Masters shall refuse to allow them any retention, That upon complaint, the Committees of the several respective Shires where they dwell, And in case of their refusal or neglect, the Committee of Estates shall Ordain them to have retention, in manner and for the causes aforesaid, And the Masters through whose default the Tenants are necessitate to complain, shall be liable in payment, of the like sums which they should allow to the Tenants to be employed by the Committees of the several Shires where they dwell for the use of the public, by and attor the retention to be allowed to the said Tenants. And Ordains their presents to be published at the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh, and other places needful, and to be Printed.  
THO. HENDERSON.   

Edinburgh, Printed by Evan Tyler, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty 1648.