THE Committee of Estates taking into consideration that divers persons in the Kingdom , especially in the Shires of the West , Tennents 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 unlawfull Engagement against England , have suffered great losses , And therefore deserves all favour and ease that may be shewen them in publick burdens , And the Committee being sensible of their affections to the cause , and sufferings for the same , and for their further Incouragement to remain constant therein . Doth therefore Ordain , that all quarterings and publick burdens imposed upon Malignant Heretors and Masters since the first of September last , for their Malignancie , and accession to the late unlawfull Engagement , or for their guiltinesse of the faults conteined 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 Tenents to be free thereof : And where the quarterings and publick burdens have lyen upon , and been exacted from the Tennents , The Committee Ordains them to have compensation and allowance of their sufferings by retention of so much of their yearly dueties in their own hand as will satisfie them , And if the said Heretors and Masters shall refuse to allow them any retention , That upon complaint , the Committees of the severall respective Shires where they dwell , And in case of their refusall 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 Tenents are necessitate to complain , shall be lyable in payment , of the like sumes which they should allow to the Tenents to be imployed by the Committees of the severall Shires where they dwell for the use of the publick , by and attor the retention to be allowed to the said Tenents . And Ordains thir presents to be published at the Mercat Crosse of Edinburgh , and other places needfull , and to be Printed .