With due acknowledgment of our gratitude for your singular care and pains in the business of Virginia, we have sent enclosed, as is required, a further explanation of our judgments in the three points specified by some of his majesty’s Honourable Privy Council; and though we are grieved that such unjust insinuations are made against us, we are glad of the opportunity of clearing ourselves before such honourable personages. The declarations we have enclosed. The one is more brief and general, which we think fitter to be presented; the other is somewhat more comprehensive, expressing some small accidental differences, which if you think well you can send instead of the former. Our prayer to God is, that your Worship may see the fruit of your endeavours, which on our parts we shall not fail to further. And so praying you, as soon as convenient, to give us knowledge of the success of the business with his majesty’s Privy Council, and accordingly what your further pleasure is, so we rest, Your worshipful in all duty, JOHN ROBINSON. WILLIAM BREWSTER. _Leyden, Jan. 27th, 1617._ The first brief declaration was this: As regards the Ecclesiastical ministry, namely of pastors for teaching, elders for ruling, and deacons for distributing the churches’ contribution, as also for the two sacraments,—baptism and the Lord’s supper,—we agree wholly and in all points with the French Reformed Churches, according to their public Confession of Faith. The Oath of Supremacy we shall willingly take, if it be required of us, and if it be not sufficient that we take the Oath of Allegiance. JOHN ROBINSON. WILLIAM BREWSTER. The second and ampler declaration was this: As regards the Ecclesiastical ministry, etc., as in the former declaration, we agree in all things with the French Reformed Churches, according to their public Confession of Faith; though some small differences may be found in our practices,—not at all in the substance of the things, but only in some accidental circumstances. 1. Their ministers pray with their heads covered; ours uncovered. 2. We choose none for governing elders but such as are able to teach; which ability they do not require. 3. Their elders and deacons are annual, or at most for two or three years; ours perpetual. 4. Our elders deliver admonitions and excommunications for public scandals, publicly, before the congregation; theirs more privately, in their consistories.