May it therefore please your Highness for the repressing of the said usurped Forreign Power and the restoring of the Rites Jurisdictions and Preheminencies appertaining to the Imperial Crown of this your Realm that it may be Enacted by Authority of this present Parliament That the said Act. made in the first and second years of the Reign of the said late King Philip and Queen Mary and all and every branches Clauses and Articles therein contained other than such branches Clauses and Sentences as hereafter shall be excepted may from the last day of this Session of Parliament by Authority of this present Parliament be repealed and shall from thenceforth be utterly void and of none effect And to the intent that all Usurped and Forreign Power and Authority Spiritual and Temporal may for ever be clearly extinguished and never be used or obeyed within this Realm or any other your Majesties Dominions or Countries May it please your Highness that it may be further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no Forreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate Spiritual or Temporal shall at any time after the last day of this Session of Parliament use enjoy or exercise any manner of Power Jurisdiction Superiority Authority Preheminence or Priviledg Spiritual or Ecclesiastical within this Realm or within any other your Majesties Dominions or Countries that now be or hereafter shall be but from thenceforth the same shall be clearly abolished out of this Realm and all other your Highness Dominions for ever any Statute Ordinance Custom Constitutions or any other matter or cause whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And that also it may please your Highness that it may be established and enacted by the Authority aforesaid that such Jurisdictions Priviledges Superiorities and Preheminencies Spiritual and Ecclesiastical as by any Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Power or Authority hath heretofore been or may lawfully be exercised or used for the Visitation of the Ecclesiastical State and Persons and for Reformation Order and Correction of the same and of all manner of Errors Heresies Scismes Abuses Offences Contempts and Enormities shall for ever by Authority of this present Parliament be united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm And that your Highness your Heirs and Successors Kings or Queens of this Realm shall have full Power and Authority by vertue of this Act by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England to Assign Name and Authorize when and as often as your Highness your Heirs or Successors shall think meet and Convenient and for such and so long time as shall please your Highness your Heirs or Successors such Person or Persons being natural born Subjects to your Highness your Heirs and Successors as your Majesty your Heirs or Successors shall think meet to exercise use occupy and execute under your Highness your Heirs and Successors all manner of Jurisdictions Priviledges and Preheminencies in any wise touching or concerning any Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction within these your Realms of England and Ireland or any other your Highness Dominions and Countries and to visit reform redress order correct and amend all such errors heresies schismes abuses offences contempts and enormities whatsoever which by any manner of Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Power Authority or Jurisdiction can or may lawfully be reformed ordered redressed corrected restrained or amended to the pleasure of Almighty God the increase of Vertue and the conservation of the Peace and Unity of this Realm And that such person or persons so to be named assigned authorised and appointed by your Highness your Heirs or Successors after the said Letters Patents to him or them made and delivered as is aforesaid shall have full power and authority by vertue of this Act and of the said Letters Patents under your Highness your Heirs and Successors to exercise use and execute all the premises according to the Tenor and effect of the said Letters Patents any matter or cause to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding By which branches of this Statute it seems to be most demonstrable that all manner of Jurisdiction in Causes Spiritual and Ecclesiastical is invested in the Crown and that no Spiritual Courts may be holden but by the Kings Commission Lastly By the 16. Car. primi the very branch of the Statute for granting Commissions is also repealed which left the Ecclesiastical Courts no power at all Seeing then that all Power both Temporal and Ecclesiastical is vested in the King it seems to be a high point of disobedience for Subjects to hold Courts of Judicature to disturb and punish the Kings Liege People without any Legal Authority From whence may arise these few short Quaeries Qu. 1. Whither it be not proper for the persons cited to demand the sight and hearing of the Commission by which the Judges claim their Jurisdiction 1st for their own safety 2dly In point of Loyalty to the King 3dly As being obliged by the Oath of Supremacy to renounce â—â—l Forreign Jurisdictions Qu. 2. Supposing the said Judges produce no Authority from the King yet proceed to Excommunication whether the said Excommunication be not void Qu. 3. Whether the said Judges be not Indictable upon a Pramunire or liable to an Action as Counsel shall direct For what remains the parties concerned may take their measures as they find most necessary for self preservation from Mr. Cary's True Guide for all persons concern'd in Ecclesiastick Courts FINIS Rast Stat. vol. 2. c. 1. fo 397. This Parliament began the 19 of February in the 35th of the Queen and was dissolved the 10th of April following Abjure The form of the Submission 39 Eliz. c. 18. 43. Eliz. c. 9. Sect. 18. Sect. 27. King James began his Reign Anno 1602 March the 24th 1. Jacobi ca. 25. Sect. 13. and 24. Sessio 2. 3. Jacob. 3. Session 4. Jacobi 4. Session 7 Jacobi Huttons Rep. fol. 61. Resolutions upon the Statute of 35 Eliz. c. 1. concerning Sectaries What shall be said a Session of Parliament This Statute was Anno 18 Jacobi and Printed but is not in any of the Statute Books Saint-John versus Saint-John 21 Jac. c. 28 58 Statutes in this Act revived and continued 1 Car. 1. cap. 7. This Session of Parliament by reason of the increase of the Sickness and other inconveniences of the Season requiring a speedy Adjournment nevertheless shall not determine by His Majesties Royal Assent to this some other Acts. 3 Car. 1. cap. 4. Sect. 21. Sect. 22. * in his History of the Life and Death of the 35. Eliz. c. 1. An. 16. Car. 1. cap. 4. An. 16. Car. 2. This 35. Eliz. c. 1. was continued but that Act it seems is since expired Keeble Stâ— fo 1293. c. 4. 35. Eliz. c. 1. declared to be in force Statutes are of two sorts Those that are introductory of a New and those that are declaratory of an old Law Further remedy against Seditious Sectaries Unlawful Conventicles and Meetings under pretence of Exercise of Religion forbidden The punishment and manner of proceeding against them for the first Offence Second Offence Third Offence How seditious Sectaries being convicted may be transported How the Offendâ—r 〈…〉 discharged â—pâ—n payment of â—f 〈◊〉 pâ—und Punish 〈◊〉 of Offendâ—rs 〈◊〉 the tâ—ird Offence How the sâ—id Penalty of 〈◊〉 poâ—â—d shall be disposâ—d Persâ—n sued fâ—r execâ—ting this Act may plead the geneâ—â—ral Issue aâ—d recover â—reble Câ—sts Felony to escâ—pe after Convictim or to retâ—rn after Transportation Seditious and tumâ—ltuous Mettings and Conveâ—ticles The penalty of suffering Conventieles in private houses Goalers may not let Prisoners committed upon this Act to go at large The Penalty Within what time Offendâ—rs must be prâ—sâ—cuted Married women how to be punished How Justices of the Peace may enter into houses suspected for Conventicles The houses of Peers What persons may not be commited to the house of Correction Persons served with Process Refusing to take au Oath 14. C. 2. ca. How such persons may be acquited Peers offending how to be proceeded against The continuance of this Act Keeble St. A. 12. Car 2. c. 1. fol. 1. 61. The Preamble 16 Car. 2. c. 4. Conventicles c. forbidden after the Tenth of May 1670. How the Offendors must be Convicted The penalty for the first Offence The Record and Conviction to be returned to the next Quarter Sessions The Penalty for the second offence The Penaltiâ—s how to be levied Constablet c. to levy the same and pay it to â—he Justice immediately How the penalties are to be devided Certificate into the Exchequer The penalty of such as Preach or teach in a Conventicle how to be levied and dispâ—sed The forfeit re of such as suffer Conventicles iâ— their Houses Provâ—so Appeâ—â—s way be and to whom and in whâ—t Cases Appellant to enter into a Recâ—gnizaâ—ce Justices of Peace Câ—â—stabâ—es c 〈◊〉 refusal may break upon doâ—rs Lieutenants Deputy Lieutenanâ—s and 〈◊〉 Officers â—f the Miliâ—ia â—ust disperse Conventicles either with Horse or Foot Proviso for Peers of the Realm The penalty of all Justices of Peace Constables and othâ—r Officers Civil aâ—d Military that omit their duty in pâ—rforâ—iâ—g this Act. All persons indeâ—priâ—ied that put this Act in execution This Act to be interpreted â—ost beneficially for the suppressing Conventicles Offeâ—dâ—rs to be prâ—secuted within three months after the offence Aldermen within London have the same power there as Justices of Peace elsewhere Feme-Covert Peers of the Realm Proviso fâ—r the Kings Supremacy Sect. 1. Sect. 2. Sect. 16. Sect. 17. Sect. 18.
Dissolve this Parliament which had not any Session and if it be a Session then he had no power to Dissolve it and then it is as it were a recess and a Parliament cannot be discontinued or dissolved but by matter of Record and that by the King alone and if the Parliament yet continue then this Statute also continue during the Parliament by the Proviso but that would not serve For first it is against the intent of the King and against his Proclamation And also the Case is truly put in the Commission as to the matter in Fact and he is not misinformed but mistaken in the Law and then the Commission for the Dissolving is good semblable to the Lord Chandois Case and other Cases vide in Cholmley's Case but because that all the Judges were not at this Conference therefore it was deferred until the next term and in the interim the Grand Secretary and the Attorney General were to inform the King that the Statute is obscure and had not been put in ure and that we could not agree si divers Sessions sont in vn mesme Parlement le Roy ne signe bille tanque al darren la tout nest que un mesme jour tent avera relation al primer jour del primer Session le primer jour le darren jour nest que un mesme Parlement un mesme jour in ley nisi special mention soit fait in Pact quant ceo prendra force mes chescun Session in que le Roy signe les Billes est un jour a per lui un Parlement a per luy navera auter relation mes a mesme le Session quod not a diversitatem 33. H. 8. Bro. Tit. Parl. Fol. 119. b. num 86. That is in English if there be divers Sessions in one and the same Parliament and the King Signeth no Bill until the last day there all is but one and the same day and all shall have relation to the first day of the first Session and the first day and the last day is but one and the same Parliament and one and the same day in Law unless there be special mention made in the Act when that shall take its force but every Session wherein the King Signeth any Bills is a day by it self and a Parliament by it self and shall have no other relation but to the same Session wherein note the diversity 33. H. 8. When a Parliament is called and doth sit and is Dissolved without any Act of Parliament passed or Judgment given it is no Session of Parliament but a Convention Coke 4. Inst fo 28. vide also 2. Bulstr fo 237. In Hobart's Rep. p. 78. It is St. John's Case there was an Action brought on the Statute 21. H. 6. for not returning one Burgess c. And there it is said the Parliament was as none because there was no Act nor Record of it And in p. 111. Hobart says the 12 Jacobi which if you be judged by the Journal was a large and well occupied Parliament because no Act Passed nor Record is of it was resolved by all the Judges to be no Parliament And now we are come to the Parliament begun and holden at Westminster the 19 of February in the 21 Year of King James which was there continued until the 29 day of May following and then Prorogued to the second day of November Anno 1624. and there in the 28 Chapter is an Act Intituled An Act for continuing and reviving of divers Statutes and Repeal of divers others wherein are these words viz. And so much of one Act made in the 35 Year of the Reign of the said late Q. Elizabeth Intituled An Act to retain the Queens Majesties Subjects in their due Obedience as hath not been sithence Repealed by any other Statute and the other 57 Statutes which are there mentioned shall by vertue of this Act be judged ever since the Session of Parliament in the 7th Year of His Majesties Reign of England to have been of such force and effect as the same were the last day of that Session and from thenceforth until the end of the first Session of the next Parliament Well in the next Parliament begun and holden at Westminster the 18 day of June Anno 1625. in the first Year of King Charlis the I. and there continued until the 11th day of July following and then Adjourned until the first day of August following unto Oxford several Acts Passed and by a special Bill then Past It was Enacted as followeth it is the 7th Chapter in Keeble viz. And all Statutes and Acts of Parliament which are to have continuance unto the end of this present Session shall be of full force after the said Adjournment until this present Session be fully ended and determined and if this Session shall determine by Dissolution of this present Parliament then all the Acts aforesaid shall be continued until the end of the first Session of the next Parliament At the next Parliament begun and holden at Westminster the 17th day of March Anno 1627. in the 3d Year of King Charles the I. there is an Act in the Fourth Chapter Intituled An Act for repeal and continuance of divers Statutes among which in the 21 Section this 35 Eliz. is mentioned thus viz. And so much of one Act made in tho 35 Year of the Reign of the late Q. Eliz. Intituled an Act to retain the Queens Majesties Subjects in their due Obedience as hath not been since Repealed by any other Statute and in the 22d Section it Enacts that this 35 of Eliz by vertue of this Act shall be and continue until the end of the first Session of the next Parliament holden in the first Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord the King that now is From that 3d Year unto the 16 there is no mention made as the Observer has truly Remark'd of any thing relating to the 35. Eliz. But in the 16 at the Parliament begun at Westminster the 3d day of November Anno 1640. c. 4. it is Enacted as followeth viz. And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the Passing of this present Act or of any other Act or Acts or His Majesties Royal Assent to them or any of them in this present Session of Parliament shall not be any determination of the said Session and that all Statutes and Acts of Parliament which have their continuance or were by an Act of Parliament made in the 3d Year of the Reign of His Majestie that now is Intituled An Act for the Continuance and Repeal of divers Statutes continued until the end of the first Session of the then next Parliament shall by virtue of this Act be adjudged ever since the Session of Parliament in the said Third Year to have been of such force and effect as the same were the last day of that Session and from thenceforth until some other Act
it is easily demonstrable in Story that there was nothing more advanced the beginnings of the Reformation of England than the weakness which Henry 8. perceived in the Arguments which the Papists brought against the Reformers in all their Disputes And therefore a Convocation Dispute had been much more proper for this Controversie than the destructive Arguments of Distresses and Crown Office Writs Which if it were put to the Test there are many that question whether the Law-Provokers might not come by the worst For as to those things which are called the Rites and Ceremonies of true Worship true Religion has none but what God has prescribed in His Word and they are looked upon either as parts or helps to our Devotion As parts of Devotion they consist in promulgation of the Word the Administration of the Sacraments and Prayer which requires also decent composure of gesture and posture As helps to Devotion they are divided into Fasting and Vows And these are all the Rites or Ceremonies of true Worship Ceremonies of Form are apt to wander into Superstition if not plain Idolatry And therefore it is that some unbyassed person not without Reason fear That the Dissenters who have abandoned all would have much more Argument on their side than they whoretain some It being thus apparent that the Law was never intended to prevent such Assemblies whose only end of Meeting is to Worship and Glorifie God and that too according to the same Fundamentals which the Statute enforcers profess it now remains to examin whether the Evidence offered be sufficient to make the Dissenters guilty of the Crimes assigned by the Law viz. Disloyalty and Insurrection First then as for colour and pretence they are only Non-Appearances lodg'd in the Heart of Man which are only disclosed to the Omniscience of God himself And therefore to judge of colour and pretence appertains only to God and not to any Law from whence arose that common Maxim that De non apperentibus the Law takes no Cognizance Much less is in the power of an Informer to make Oath of colour or pretence until colour and pretence break forth into some overt and apparent act which may afford matter for Testimony and proof From whence it is plain that unless there be due and sufficient proof made of false Doctrine seditious words or contrivances tending to Insurrection and Disloyalty which are the breaches of the Law and Law can never punish where there is no breach committed Nor does the Conscience of any Magistrate oblige him to sine and levy upon the bare Information of colour or pretence As for the addition of those words Do or may contrive it seems somewhat repugnant to reason that Plots and Contrivances should ever be carried on in the Publick Assemblies of Women and Children so that the fear seems only to be of the Teachers moving the people to Sedition But as for that one would think it should be an Argument rather for the permission of Conventicles it being a thing far more easie to discover a man that Preaches open Sedition than one that goes from House to House clandestinly insinuating the same Doctrine Nor is this branch Independant but casts its influence into the whole Crime described and intended by the Act thus embody'd If any person or persons shall be present at any Conventicle c. under coulour or pretence of any exercise of Religion in other manner than according to the Liturgy and Practice of the Church of England Perhaps some persons carry away with the present torment of unwary Passion may from hence assent that there is no other exercise of Religion that can be truly real and sincere but only colourable and pretended which is not performed in the very words of the Liturgy according to the Common acceptation of the Word in England To which though there were no other answer to be given yet the consequent words and the practise of the Church clearly contradict such an uncharitable Paraphrase for that in all Parochial Churches it is the general custom to Pray both before and after Sermon But if the nature of the word Liturgy be duly considered that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Liturgy is not more than the Office of Prayer the Compilers themselves call the English Liturgy an order for Morning and Evening Prayer or a set Form of Prayer whereby it becomes only a Species of the Grand Genus Prayer or Oration by which with a true and humble contrition of Heart we address our selves to God concerning such things as are consentaneous to his Holy Will and this divided into two parts Invocation and Thanksgiving Now suppose that the Liturgy of England now the most exact Liturgy in the World as most certainly it is not it cannot be thought that the Dissenters are obliged by this Statute to use no other Prayers than what are set down in the Liturgy For then the Law enforcers may be presum'd to lie under the Penalties of the Statute themselves Who after the full performance of all the duties of Prayer which is ordered in the Liturgy both for Morning and Evening Service if it may not be said out of a contempt of the Liturgy yet somewhat to the discredit of the Liturgy are never satisfied till they have given it the supplement of their tedious and vainly Ostentatious additions of super-excellent and super-fine which after a full performance of all the duties of Innovation and Thanksgiving seems in them a kind of Tautology forbidden in Scripture However because the Dissenters using the same form of Prayer though not in the same words avoid that inconvenience therefore they must be reduced into obedience to something not well considered what it is by Constablâ—s and Informers But there is a more exquisite Liturgy yet the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Liturgy prescribed by our Saviour himself which though out of Veneration it be reduced into one Prayer for general use yet is no other than a set form of Prayer teaching heedless Mortals who might else be extravagant in their Petitions the true matter of Prayer that is what we are to implore from God and what we are to give thanks for as enjoy'd Examin then the Prayers of the Dissenters and if they differ either in the Cause the Matter the Form or end from the English Liturgy of Men mentioned in the Act or the Heavenly Liturgy of Christ let them be delivered over to all deserved punishment but if their Prayers be agreeable to the prescrib'd forms of both nay if they be agreeable to the Coelestial Liturgy though not according to the Verbatim of the Establish'd Liturgy of England 't is a hard case that they should by any Statute be adjudged not to exercise such a Religion If it be objected that the Notions of many are Abortive and through weakness may deserve Reprehension there is an easie way to remedy those Errors by imposing a more equal Injunction by the Authority of Church Discipline that no person should
then also make out Warrants to the several Constables Head-boroughs or Tythingmen of the respective places where the Estate Real or Personal of such Offender to be transported shall happen to be commanding them thereby to sequester into their hands the Profits of the Lands and to distrain and sell the Goods of the Offender so to be transported for the reimbursing of the said Sheriff and such reasonable Charges as he shall be at and shall be allowed him by the said respective Court for such conveying and embarquing of such Offender so to be transported rendring to the party or his or her Assigns the Overplus of the same if any be unless such Offender or some other on the behalf of such Offender so to be transported shall give the Sheriff such Sureties as he shall approve of for the paying all the said Charges unto him 6. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That in default of defraying such Charges by the parties to be transported or some other in their behalf or in default of Security given to the Sheriff as aforesaid it shall and may be lawful for every such Sheriff to contract with any Master of a Ship Merchant or other person for the transporting of such Offender at the best rate he can and that in every such case it shall and may be lawful for such persons so contracting with any Sheriff for transporting such Offender as aforesaid to detain and imploy every such Offender so by them transported as a Labourer to them or their Assigns for the space of Five Years to all intents and purposes as if he or she were bound by Indentures to such person for that purpose And that the respective Sheriffs shall be allowed or paid from the King upon their respective Accounts in the Exchequer all such Charges by them expended for conveying embarquing and transporting of such persons which shall be allowed by the said respective Courts from whence they received their respective Warrants and which shall not have been by any of the ways aforementioned paid secured or reimbursed unto them as aforesaid VII Provided always and be it further Enacted That in Case the Offendor so indicted and Convicted for the said third Offence shall pay into the hands of the Register or Cler of the Coart or Sessions where he shall be Conuicted before the said Court or Sessions shall be ended the sum of 10 l. That then the said Offendor shall be discharged from Transportation and the Judgment for the same 8. And be it further Enacted That the like Imprisonment indictment Arraignment and Proceedings shall be against every such Offender as often as he shall again offerd after such third Offence nevertheless is dischargeable and discharged by the payment of the like sum as was paid by such Offendor for his or her said Offence next before committed together with the Additional and increased sum of 100 l. more upon every new Offeâ—ce committed the said respective sums to be paid as aforesaid and to be disposed of as followeth viz. the one moiety for the Repair of the Parish-Church or Churches Chappel or Chappels of such Parish within which such Conventicle Assembly or meeting shall be held and the other moiety to the Repair of the High-ways of the said Parish or Parishes if need require or otherwise for the amendment of such High ways as the Justices of the Peace at their respective Quarter-Sessions shall direct and appoint And if any Constable Head orough or Tythingman shall neglect to Execute any the said Warrants made unto them for sequestring distraining and selling any of the Goods and Chattels of any Offendor against this Act for the levying such sums of money as shall be imposed for the first or second Offence he shall forfeit for every such neglect the sum of 5 l. of lawful money of England the one Moiety thereof to the King and the other Moiety to him that will sue for the same in any of the Kings Courts of Record as aforesaid And if any person be at any time suâ—d for putting in Execution any of the powers contained in this Act such person shall and may plead the General Issue and give the special matter in Evidence And if the Plaintiff be Non-suit or a Verdict pass for the Defendant thereupon or if the Plaintiff discontinue his Action or if upon Demurrer Judgment be given for the Defendant every such Defendant shall have his or their treble Costs 9. And be it further Enacted That if any person against whom Judgment of Transportation shall be given in manner aforesaid shall make escape before Transportation or being Transported as aforesaid shall return unto this Realm of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Barwick upon Tweed without the special Licence of his Majesty his Heirs and Successors in that behalf first had and obtained That the party so escaping or returning shall be adjudged a Fellon and shall suffer Death as in case of Fellony without benefit of Clergy and shall forfeit and loose to his Majesty all his or her Goods and Chattels for ever and shall further loose to his Majesty all his or her Goods and Chattels Lands Tenements and Hereditaments for and during the Life of such Offendor and no longer And that the Wife of any such Offendor by force of this Act shall not lose her Dower nor shall any corruption of Blood grow or be by reason of any such Offence mentioned in this Act but that the Heir of every such Offendor by force of this Act shall and may after the death of such Offendor have and enjoy the Lands Tenements and Hereditaments of such Offendors as if this Act had not been made 10. And for better preventing of the mischiefs which may grow by such seditious and tumultuous Meetings under pretence of Religious Worship Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Lieutenants or Debuty-Lieutenants or any Commissioned Officers of the Militia or any other of his Majesties Forces with such Troops or Companies of Horse or Foot and also the Sheriffs and Justices of Peace and other Magistrates and Ministers of Justice or any of them jointly or severally within any the Counties or places within this Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales or Town of Berwick upon Tweed with such other Assistance as they shall think meet or can get in readiness with the soonest on Certificate made to them respectively under the hand and Seal of any one Justice of the Peace or Chief Magistrate as aforesaid of his particular information or knowledg of such unlawful Meetings or Conventicles held or to be held in their respective Counties or places and that he with such Assistance as he can get together is not able to suppress or dissolve the same shall and may and are hereby required to repair unto the place where they are so held or to be held and by the best means they can to dissolve and dissipate or
prevent all such unlawful Meetings and take into their Custody such of those persons so unlawfully Assembled as they shall judg to be the Leaders and Seducers of the rest and such others as they shall think fit to be proceeded against according to Law for such their Offences 11. And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every person who shall wittingly and willingly suffer any such Conveticle unlawful Assembly or Meeting aforesaid to be held in his or her House Out-house Barn or Room Yard or Backside Woods or Grounds shall incur the same Penalties and Forfeitures as any other Offendor against this Act ought to incur and be proceeded against in all points in such manner as any other Offendor against this Act ought to be proceeded agianst 12. Provided also and be it Enacted by the Authhrity aforesaid That if any Keeper of any Goal or House of Correction shall suffer any person committed to his Custody for any Ossence against this Act to go at Large contrary to the Warrant of his Commitments according to this Act or shall permit any Person who is at Large to joyn with any Person Committed to his Custody by vertue of this Act in the exercise of Religion disfering from the Rites of the Church of England Then every such Keeper of a Goal or House of Correction shall for every such Offence forfeit the sum of 10. l. to be levied raised and disposed by such persons and in such manner as the Penalties for the first and second Offences against this Act are to be Levied Raised and disposed 13. Provided always That no person shall be punished for any Offence against this Act unless such Offendor be prosecuted for the same within three Months after the offence committed and that no person who shall be punished for any Offence by vertue of this Act shall be punished for the same Offence by vertue of any other Act or Law whatsoever 14. Provided also and be it Enacted That Judgment of Transportation shall not be given against any Feme Covert unless her Husband be at the same time under the like Judgment and not discharged by the payment of money as aforesaid but that instead thereof she shall by the respective Court be committed to the Goal or House of Correction there to remain without Bail or Mainprize for any time not exceeding 12 Months unless her Husband shall pay down such sum not exceeding 40 l. to redeem her from imprisonment as shall be imposed by the said Court the said sum to be disposed by such persons and in such manner as the Penalties for the first and second Offence against this Act are to be disposed 15. Provided also and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Justices of the Peace and Chief Magistrate respectively impowered as aforesaid to put this Act in Execution shall and may with what Aid Force and Assistance they shall think fit for the better Execution of this Act after refusal or denial enter into any House or other place where they shall be informed any such Conventicle as aforesaid is or shall be held 16. Provided That no Dwelling-house of any Peer of this Realm whilest he or his Wife shall be there Resident shall be searched by vertue of this Act but by immediate Warrant from his Majesty under his Sign Manual or in the prefence of the Lieutenant or one of the Deputy-Lieutenants or two Justices of the Peace whereof one to be of the Quorum of the same County or Riding nor shall any other Dwelling-house of any Peer or other person whatsoever be entered into with Force by vertue of this Act but in the presence of one Justice of the Peace or chief Magistrate respectively except within the City of London where it shall be lawful for any such other Dwelling-house to be entred into as aforesaid in the presence of one Justice of the Peace Alderman Deputy-Alderman or any one Commissoner for the Lieutenancy for the City of London 17. Provided also and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no person shall by vertue of this Act be committed to the House of Correction that shall satisfie the said Justices of the Peace or chief Magistrate respectively that he or she and in case of a Feme Covert that her Husband hath an Estate of Free-hold or Copy-hold to the value of 5 l. per Annum or personal Estate to the value of 50 l. any thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding 18. And in regard a certain Sect called Quakers and other Sectaries are found not only to offend in the matters provided against by this Act but also obstruct the proceedings of Justice by their obstinate refusal to take Oaths lawfully tendered unto them in the ordinary Course of Law Therefore be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that if any person or persons being duly and legally served with Process or other Summons to appear in any Court of Record except Court-Leets as a Witness or returned to serve of any Jury or ordered to be examined upon Interrogatories or being present in Court shall refuse to take any Judicial Oath legally tendered to him by the Judg or Judges of the same Court having no legal Plea to Justifie or excuse the refusal of the same Oath or if any Person or Persons being duly served with Process to answer any Bill exhibited against him or them in any Court of Equity or any Suit in any Court Ecclesiastical shall refuse to answer such Bill or Suit upon his or their corporal Oath in cases where the Law requires such Answer to be put in upon Oath or being summoned to be a Witness in any such Court or ordered to be examined upon Interrogatiories shall for any Cause or Reason not allowed by Law refuse to take such Oath as in such Cases is required by Law That then and in such Case the several and respective Courts wherein such refusal shall be made shall be and are hereby enabled to Record Enter or Register such refusal which Record or Entry shall be and is hereby made a Conviction of such Offence and all and every person and persons so aforesaid offending shall for every such Offence incur the judgment and punishment of Transportation in such manner as is appointed by this Act for other Offences 19. Provided always That if any person or persons aforesaid shall come into such Court and take his or their Oath in these words I do swear that I do not hold the taking of an Oath to be unlawful nor refuse to take an Oath on that Account 20. Which Oath the respective Court or Courts aforesaid are hereby Authorized and required forthwith to tender administer and Register before the Entry of the Conviction aforesaid or shall take such Oath before some Justice of the Peace who is hereby Authorized and required to Administer the same to be returned into such Court such Oath so made shall
any house or other place where they shall be informed any such Conventicle as aforesaid is or shall be held as well within Liberties as without and take into their Custody the persons there unlawfully assembled to the intent they may be proceeded against according to this Act. And that the Lieutenants or Deputy-Licutenants or any Commissionated Officer of the Militia or other of his Majesties Forces with such Troops or Companies of Horse and Foot and also the Sheriffs and other Magistrates and Ministers of Justice or any of them jointly or severally within any the Counties or places within this Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales or Town of Barwick upon Tweed with such other assistance made to them respectively under the hand and Seal of any one Justice of Peace or chief Magistrate of his particular information or knowledg of such unlawful Meeting or Conventicle held or to be held in their respective Counties or places and that he with such assistance as he can get together is not able to suppress and dissolve the same shall and may and are hereby required and enjoyned to repair unto the place where they are so held or to be held and by the best means they can to dissolve dissipate or prevent all such unlawful Meetings and take into their Custody such and so many of the said persons so unlawfully assembled as they shall think fit to the intent they may be proceeded against according to this Act. 10. Provided always That no dwelling House of any Peer of this Realm where he or his wife shall then be resident shall be searched by Virtue of this Act but by immediate warrant from his Majessiy under his sign Manual or in the presence of the Lieutenant or one Deputy-Lieutenant or two Justices of the Peace whereof one to be of the Quorum of the same County or Riding 11. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any Constable Headborough Tythingman Church-wardon or Overfeer of the Poor who shall know â—r be credibly informed of any such Meetings or Conventicles held within his Precincts Parishes or Limits and shall not give information thereof to some Justice of the Peace or the chief Magistrate and endeavour the Conviction of the parties according to his Duty but such Constable Headborough Tythingman Churchwarden Overseers of the Poor or any person lawfully called in aid of the Constable Headborough or Tything-man shall wilfully and wittingly omit the performance of his duty in the execution of this Act and be thereof convicted in manner aforesaid he shall forfeit for every such offence the sum of 5 l. to be levied upon his Goods and Chattels and disposed in manner aforesaid And that if any Justice of the Peace or chief Magistrate shall wilfully and wittingly omit the performance of his duty in the execution of this Act he shall forfeit the sum of 100 l. the one moiety to the use of the Informer to be recovered by Action Suit Bill or Plaint in any of his Majesties Courts at Westminster wherein no Essoin Protection or Wager of Law shall lie 12 And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any person be at any time sued for putting in execution any of the Power contained in this Act otherwise than upon Appeal allowed by this Act such person shall and may plead the general issue and give the special matter in Evidence and if the Plaintiff be Nonsuit or a Vordict pass for the Defendant or if the Plaintiff discontinue his Action or if upon demur Judgment be given for the Desendant every such Desendant shall have his full treble Costs 13. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That this Act and all clauses therein contained shall be construed most largely and beneficially for the suppressing of Conventicles and for the justification and encouragement of all persons to be employed in the execution thereof and that no Record Warrant or Mittimus to be made by vertue of this Act or any proceedings thereupon shall be reversed avoided or any way impeached by reason of any default in form And in case any person offending against this Act shall be an Inhabitant in any other County or Corporation or flie into any other County or Corporation after the offence committed the Justice of Peace or chief Magistrate before whom he shall be convicted as aforesaid shall certifie the same under his hand and seal to any Justice of Peace or chief Magistrate of such County or Corporation wherein the said person or persons are Inhabitants or are fled into which said Justice or chief Magistrate respectively is hereby authorized and required to levy the penalty or penalties in this Act mentioned upon the Goods and Chattels of such person or persons as fully as the said other Justice of Peace might have done in case he or they had been Inhabitants in the place wlfere the offence was committed 14. Provided also That no person shall be punished for any offence against this Act unless such offender be profecuted for the same within three months after the offence committed and that no person who shall be punished for any offence by vertue of this Act shall be punished for the same offence by vertue of any other Act or Law whatsoever 15. Provided and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every Alderman of London for the time being within the City of London and the Liberties thereof shall have and they and every of them are hereby impowered and required to execute the fame power and authority within London and the Liberties thereof for the examining convicting and punishing of all offences within this Act committed within London and the Liberties thereof which any Justice of Peace hath by this Act in any County of England and shall be subject to the same penalties and punishments for not doing that which by this Act is directed to be done by any Justice of Peace in any County of England 16. Provided and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if the person offending and convicted as aforesaid be a Feme-Covert cohabiting with her Husband the penalty of 5 s. or 10 s. so as aforesaid incurred shall be levied by Warrant as aforesaid upon the Goods and Chattels of the Husband of such Feme-Covert 17. Provided also That no Peer of this Realm shall be attached or imprisoned by vertue or force of this Act any thing matter or clause therein to the contrary notwithstanding 18. Provided also That neither this Act nor any thing therein contained shall extend to invalidate or avoid his Majesties Supremacy in Ecclesiastical affairs but that his Majesty and his Heirs and Successors may from time to time and at all times hereafter exercise and enjoy all Powers and Authority in Ecclesiastical affairs as fully and as amply as himself or any of his Predecessors have or might have done the same any thing in this Act