singular persons which shall offend within any their Iurisdictions or Diocess after the said Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming against this Act and Statute Any other Law Statute Priviledge Liberty or Provision heretofore made had or suffered to the contrary notwithstanding Not necessary to go to the Parish Church The Ordinary or Ecclesiastical Judge cannot legally punish any man for not coming to the Church of that Parish where he inhabits if he goes to any other although he shews not any reasonable Lett. For it shall be a good Plea for the party to say that that is not his Parish Church but that he had used to frequent another Church and did resort thereunto And if the Ecclesiastical Court will not receive this plea the party shall have a Prohibition Prohibition For the Spiritual Court hath no power to judge what shall be said to be a mans Parish Church And so it was resolved by the whole Court of Kings-Bench Trin. 9. Jac. Bulstrode 1. 159. Nor can the Spiritual Court try the limits or bounds of Parishes but they shall be tried by the Common Law Co. 13. 17. Stat. Sect. 10. What Justices may punish these Offences And it is ordained and enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or Iustices of Assize shall have full Power and Authority in every of their open and general Sessions to enquire hear and determine all and all manner of Offences that shall be committed or done contrary to any Article contained in this present Act within the limits of the Commission to them directed and to make process for the execution of the same as they may do against any person being indicted before them of Trespass or lawfully convicted thereof Provided always and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid A Bishop may joyn with the Justices to enquire of Offenders That all and every Archbishop and Bishop shall or may at all time and times at his liberty and pleasure joyn and associate himself by vertue of this Act to the said Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or to the said Iustices of Assize at every of the said open and general Sessions to be holden in any place within his Diocess for and to the enquiry hearing and determining of the Offences aforesaid Provided also and be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid At whose charges the Book of Common Prayer shall be gotten That the Books concerning the said Services shall at the Costs and Charges of the Parishioners of every Parish and Cathedral Church be attained and gotten before the said Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist next following and that all such Parishes and Cathedral Churches or other places where the said Books shall be attained and gotten before the said Feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist shall within thrée weeks next after the said Books so attained and gotten use the said Service and put the same in ure according to this Act. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid Within what time the Offenders shall be impeached That no person or persons shall be at any time hereafter Impeached or otherwise molested of or for any the Offences above-mentioned hereafter to be committed or done contrary to this Act unless he or they so offending be thereof Indicted at the next general Sessions to be holden before any such Iustices of Oyer and Determiner or Iustices of Assize next after any Offence committed or done contrary to the tenour of this Act. Provided always Trial of Peers and be it ordained and enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and singular Lords of the Parliament for the third Offence above-mentioned shall be tried by their Peers Provided also Stat. Sect. 11. Chief Officers of Cities and Boroughs shall enquire of Offenders and be it ordained and enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Mayor of London and all other Mayors Bayliffs and other head Officers of all and singular Cities Boroughs and Towns Corporate within this Realm Wales and the Marches of the same to the which Iustices of Assize do not commonly repair shall have full Power and Authority by virtue of this Act to enquire hear and determine the Offences aforesaid and every of them yearly within fifteen days after the Feast of Easter and St. Michael the Archangel in like manner and form as Iustices of Assize and Oyer and Determiner may do These words In like manner and form appoint in what manner the Offences shall be enquired of Mayors and Head Officers of Corporations heard and determined by Mayors and Head Officers of Corporations c. by Indictment for so much enquire imports and Trial and Verdict of twelve men or such other Legal proceedings upon the said Indictment as are used by the Justices of Oyer and Determiner and Assizes in their general Sessions For the Mayor or Head Officer is not left by this Act to his own Arbitrary Will or Discretion in the hearing and determining the Offence but must proceed according to the rules and forms of Law in the Conviction of the Offender And the Statute saith To which Justices of Assize do not commonly repair So that the Mayor or Head Officer of such places were only intended in the lieu and room of Justices of Assize and are therefore to proceed by the same Rules as they do in the Counties at large Within what time to proceed But these words extend not to the point of time limited for Indicting such Offender nor are Mayors and Head Officers tied to their next Sessions as the Justices of Oyer and Determiner and of Assize are as Wingate tit Service and Sacraments numb 26. mistakes the meaning of the Statute For in like manner and form is intended in such respects only where 't is not otherwise provided for by the Statute But 't is expresly provided here that Mayors and Head Officers of Corporations shall enquire of these Offences only twice in the year viz. within fifteen days after Easter and Michaelmas and not at their next general Sessions unless it happen to be the Sessions after one of those two Feasts To whom the Bishop cannot associate himself Nor can the Archbishop or Bishop associate himself in this Case to any Mayor or Head Officer of a Corporation as Wingate tit Service and Sacraments number 25. mistakes Stat. Sect. 12. The Ordinaries Jurisdiction in these Cases Provided always and be it ordained and enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and singular Archbishops and Bishops and every of their Chancellors Commissaries Archdeacons and other Ordinaries having any peculiar Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction shall have full Power and Authority by virtue of this Act as well to enquire in their Visitation Synods and elsewhere within their Iurisdiction at any other time and place to take Accusations and Informations of all and every the things above-mentioned done committed or perpetrated within the limits of
any other pain or penalty this Act or any thing therein contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding Next Justice of Peace To the next Iustice of Peace If the person to whom such Agnus Dei c. is offered do bring the Offender to any Justice of Peace of the County where the offer is made although he be not the next Justice yet it is good enough and satisfies the intent of the Act For the word next is put in such Cases into Acts of Parliament but for conveniency and the more speedy execution of Justice Vide Styles 246. Maine and Sergeants Case The respective Justices of Peace here intended To any Iustice of Peace The Statute provides for the discovery of the Offender in Order to his punishment in three Cases 1. If any such superstitious thing be offered and the party be able to apprehend him that offers it he must bring him to the next Justice of Peace of the County where the offer is made 2. But if he cannot apprehend him he is to disclose his name and place of aboad or resort to the Ordinary of that Diocess or a Justice of Peace of that County where the person to whom the offer was made is resident and that within three days after such offer made 3. But if he receives the thing offered then he is not to apply to the Ordinary but is strictly tied to deliver it within a day after to some Justice of Peace of that County where he who received it shall then be resident or happen to be and in this last Case if he receives it with an intent to use or wear it and keeps it above a day or delivers it to any other person or Justice of Peace of any other County he incurs a Praemunire But these Justices of Peace are strangely confounded as well in Dalton V. cap. 89. tit High Treason as in Wingate tit Crown numb 37. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Stat. Sect. 8. A Pardon to them that shall bring in to be cancelled thâ—se Bulls which they received That all and every person and persons which at any time since the beginning of the first year of the Quéens Majesties Reign that now is have brought or caused to be brought into this Realm any such Bulls Writings or Instruments or Reconciliation only as are abovementioned and now have any of the same Bulls Writings or Instruments in his or their hands or custody and shall and do within the space of thrée months next after the end of any Session or Dissolution of this present Parliament bring and deliver all such Bulls Writings and Instruments which they or any of them now have in his or their Custody to the Bishop of the Diocess where such Absolution hath been given and received to the intent that the same Bulls Writings and Instruments may be cancelled and defaced and shall openly and publickly before such Bishop confess and acknowledge his or their Offence therein and humbly desire to be received restored and admitted to the Church of England shall stand and be clearly pardoned and discharged of all and every Offence and Offences done or committed in any matter or cause concerning any of the said Bulls Writings or Instruments for or touching such Absolution or Reconciliation only And that all and every person or persons which have received A Pardon of all those who have been reconciled to the Bishop of Rome and do confess it and submit themselves or taken any Absolution from the said Bishop of Rome or his said Sée of Rome of any Reconciliation unto the said Bishop or to the said Sée of Rome sithence the said first year of the Reign of our said Soveraign Lady the Queen and shall within the said space of three months next after any Session or Dissolution of this present Parliament come before the Bishop of the Diocess of such place where such Absolution or Reconciliation was had or made and shall publickly and openly before the same Bishop confess and acknowledge his or their Offence therein and humbly desire to be received restored and admitted to the Church of England shall likewise stand and he clearly pardoned and discharged of all and every Offence or Offences done or committed in any matter or cause concerning the said Bulls Writings or Instruments for or touching only receiving of such Absolution or Reconciliation and for and concerning all Absolution or Reconciliation had or received by colour of any of the said Bulls Writings or Instruments only Provided also Stat. Sect. 9. The penalty of a Justice of P. not disclosing an Offence declared to him and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any Iustice of Peace to whom any Matter or Offence before mentioned shall be uttered shewed or declared as is aforesaid do not within the space of xiv days next after it shall be to him shewed or uttered signifie or declare the same to some one of the Queéns Majesties Privy Counsel that then the same Iustice of Peace shall incur the danger pain and forfeiture provided by the said Statute made in the said sixtéenth year of King Richard the second As is aforesaid So that if the Offence be not declared as is aforesaid No Praemunire incurred that is to such Justice of Peace as is appointed in the foregoing Clause but it shall be declared to any other Justice of Peace of a wrong County that other Justice of Peace shall not incur a Praemunire if he doth not signifie or declare it to a Privy Counsellor One Privy Counsellor sufficient To some one of the Queéns Majesties Privy Council Here 't is plain that any one Privy Counsellor sufficeth and the Justice of Peace is not bound to signifie the Offence to the Privy Council as Wingate tit Crown numb 138. misrecites the Statute Stat. Sect. 10. Trial of a Nobleman by his Peers Provided also and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any Nobleman being a Peér of this Realm shall at any time hereafter happen to be Indicted for any the Offence or Offences aforesaid That then every such Nobleman and Péer of this Realm shall have his Trial by his Péers as in cases of High Treason and Misprision of Treason hath heretofore béen accustomed or used A saving of the right of others Saving to all and every person and persons bodies Politick and Corporate their Heirs and Successors and the Heirs and Successors of every of them other then the said Offenders and their Heirs claiming only as Heir or Heirs to such Offenders and such person and persons as claim to any their uses all such Rights Titles Interests Possessions Leases Rents Reversions Remainders Offices Fées and all other Profits Commodities and Hereditaments as they or any of them shall have at the day of committing such Offence or Offences or any time before in as large ond ample manner to all intents and purposes as if this Act
had never béen had nor made Any thing herein contained to the contrary thereof notwithstanding Stat. xxiii Eliz. cap. i. An Act to retain the Queens Majesties Subjects in their due Obedience WHere sithence the Statute made in the thirteénth year of the Reign of the Queén our Soveraign Lady Entituled Stat. Sect. 1. An Act against the bringing in and putting in Execution of Bulls Writings and Instruments and other Superstitious things from the See of Rome divers evil affected persons have practised contrary to the meaning of the said Statute by other means than by Bulls or Instruments Written or Printed to withdraw divers the Queéns Majesties Subjects from their natural Obedience to her Majesty and to obey the said usurped Authority of Rome and in respect of the same to perswade great numbers to withdraw their due Obedience to her Majesties Laws established for the due Service of Almighty God For Reformation whereof Stat. Sect. 2. Treason to withdraw any from the Religion Established to the Romish Religion and to declare the true meaning of the said Law Be it declared and enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That all persons whatsoever which have or shall have or shall pretend to have power or shall by any ways or means put in practice to absolve perswade or withdraw any of the Queéns Majesties Subjects or any within her Highnesses Realms and Dominions from their natural Obedience to her Majesty or to withdraw them for that intent from the Religion now by her Highnesses Authority established within her Highnesses Dominions to the Romish Religion or to move them or any of them to promise any Obedience to any pretended Authority of the Seé of Rome or of any other Prince State or Potentate to be had or used within her Dominions or shall do any overt act to that intent or purpose and every of them shall be to all intents adjudged to be Traytors And being thereof lawfully convicted shall have Iudgment suffer and forfeit as in case of High Treason And if any person shall after the end of this Session of Parliament by any means be willingly absolved or withdrawn as aforesaid or willingly be reconciled It shall be Treason to be reconciled or withdrawn to the Romish Religion or shall promise any Obedience to any such pretended Authority Prince State or Potentate as is aforesaid that then every such person their Procurers and Counsellors thereunto being thereof lawfully convicted shall be taken tried and judged and shall suffer and forfeit as in Cases of High Treason Perswade or withdraw It was held in Lovett and Faulkners Case Mich. 12. Jac. B. R. That if a man were Indicted for endeavouring and practising voluntarie felonice proditorie to perswade and withdraw any of the Kings Subjects from his Obedience unto the Romish Religion and was afterwards debito modo acquietatus yet an Action upon the Case in nature of a Conspiracy would not lye against the party who procured him to be Indicted Cro. Mich. 12. Jac. 357 358. Rolls 1. 209. C. 49. Bulstrode 2. 271. and the main reason given was That forasmuch as every man is bound to discover Treason and 't is dangerous to conceal any thing which may tend to Treason therefore the procuring one to be Indicted concerning it was no Cause of Action And in that Case Coke Chief Justice said That such an Action was never before that time brought But later Resolutions have been to the contrary of this Opinion Action lies for indicting a man of High Treason And 't is held for Law at this day That if a man procures another to be Indicted of High Treason an Action upon the Case in nature of Conspiracy lies against him that procures it as well as if it were for Felony The first leading Case of this nature which was resolved upon any solemn argument or debate was that of Smith versus Cranshaw or Crashaw and others where it was adjudged upon great deliberation by all the Four Judges of the Court of Kings Bench Hill 1. Car. 1. That an Action in nature of a Conspiracy doth well lye in such Case and that not only in Case of Acquittal upon Trial but upon the exhibiting a Bill of Indictment for High Treason to the Court or Jury if the Jury bring in Ignoramus although in this last Case a Writ of Conspiracy lyeth not And Lovett and Faulkners Case was denied to be Law Addition to Bendloes 152. Latch 79 80. Jones 93 94 95. And Justice Dodderidge who concurred in Opinion with the other Judges in the Case of Lovett and Faulkner changed his Opinion in that of Smith and Cranshaw and held that the Action was maintainable Bulstrode 2. 271 272. so that whosoever of meer malice without probable cause causes any person to be Indicted upon this Statute Stat. 3. Jac. 4. or that of 3 Jac. cap. 4. for endeavouring or practising so to perswade or withdraw any Subject or prefers a Bill to the Court or Jury for that purpose is liable to an Action of the Case for so doing if the party be acquitted or the Jury bring in Ignoramus as in other Cases of Felony Any of the Queens Majesties Subjects Queens Subjects Stat. 3 Jac. 4. What is meant by the Queens Subjects Vide Stat. 3 Jac. cap. 4. Sect. 19. And be it likewise Enacted and declared Stat. Sect. 3. The penalty of aiders maintainers and concealers That all and every person and persons that shall wittingly be aiders or maintainers of such persons so offending as is above expressed or of any of them knowing the same or which shall conceal any offence aforesaid and shall not within twenty days at the furthest after such persons knowledge of such offence disclose the same to some Iustice of Peace or other higher Officer shall be taken tried and judged and shall suffer and forfeit as Offenders in misprision of Treason These words And shall not within twenty days Aiders or maintainers punishable though discoverers c. disclose the same have no reference to those who are aiders or maintainers of the Offender but only to those who have barely a knowledge of the Offence without aiding or maintaining the party And therefore if such as are aiders or maintainers of the person offending discover the offence within twenty days yet such discovery shall not free them from the guilt of misprision of Treason as Wingate mistakes in his Abridgment of this Clause tit Crown numb 42. but if they once aid or maintain the party knowing him to be an Offender they are guilty whether they disclose or conceal the offence and shall have no benefit of the twenty days And be it likewise Enacted Stat. Sect. 4. The forfeiture for saying or hearing of Mass That every person which shall say or sing Mass being thereof lawfully convicted shall forfeit the sum of Two hundred Marks and be commited to Prison in the next Goal there to remain by the space of
c. Jones 193. And such a construction hath been made of those words Court of Record upon several Statutes Stat. 4 5 Ph. Mar. 5. as that of 4 5 Ph. Mar. cap. 5. of Woollen Cloathes Co. 6. 19 20. Gregories Case 21 H. 8. 13. Moore 600. C. 827. The same Case Stat. 21 H. 8. cap. 13. Of Non-residence Cro. Mich. 4. Car. 146. Greene versus Guy 23 H. 8. 4. Stat. 23 H. 8. cap. 4. of Brewers Cro. Trin. 4. Car. 112 113. Farrington versus Keymer Hutton 99. the same Case Stat. 7 E. 6. cap. 5. 7 E. 6. 5. of Selling Wine without Licence Styles 340. Buckstone against Shurlock 5 Eliz. 4. Stat. 5 Eliz. cap. 4. of Trades and Apprentices Cro. Hill 42 Eliz. 737. Barnabee versus Goodale Cro. Trin. 17 Jac. 538. Millers Case Styles 383. Hodges Case the Statutes of Tanning of Leather Moore 421. C. 581. and divers others It was held Mich. 6 7 Eliz. by all the Justices but three That where a Statute appoints a penalty for any Offence made thereby which was not an Offence at the Common Law to be recovered in any of the Queens Courts of Record by Action of Debt and no other Court is appointed The Statute intends the four ordinary Courts of Record at Westminster and the offence and penalty cannot be punished and determined by Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer in Patriam Dyer 236. But Dyer makes a Quaere hereupon and Sir Edward Coke in Scarlets Case 10 Jac. lib. 12.98 saith That the Opinion of Catlin Sanders and Whiddon which were the three dissenting Justices before mentioned is at this day held for good Law And the Opinion aforesaid of the rest of the Justices that any Courts of Record are restrained to the Ordinary Courts of Record at Westminster is not held for Law Continual experience saith he being against it For that Justices of Assize in respect of their Commission of Oyer and Terminer have always enquired of Offences where the penalty is appointed to be sued in any Court of Record as upon the Statutes of 33 H. 8. 9. of unlawful Games 35 H. 8. 17. of Woods 5 E. 6. 14. of Forestallers 33 H. 8. 9. 35 H. 8. 17. 5 E. 6.14 Ingrossers and Regrators and other Statutes But under favour although Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer may take Indictments for the doing of that which is made malum prohibitum by a Statute Law yet that part of the Opinion in Dyer which relates to the Action of Debt and the Courts of Record where such Action must be brought is good Law and where only Courts of Record are named such Action cannot be brought in any other Court than the four ordinary Courts of Record at Westminster as appears by the several Cases and Resolutions before recited By the Statute of 21 Jac. cap. 4. it is enacted 21 Jac. 4 That all Offences to be committed against any penal Statute for which any common Informer or Promoter may lawfully ground any popular Action Bill Plaint Suit or Information before Justices of Assize Justices of Nisi prius or Goal delivery Justices of Oyer and Terminer or Justices of Peace in their General or Quarter Sessions shall be prosecuted tried and determined by way of Action Plaint Bill Information or Indictment before the said Justices of the Counties or Liberties where such offences shall be committed in any of the Courts places of Judicature or liberties aforesaid respectively and not elsewhere save only in the said Counties or places usual for those Counties or any of them And that in all Informations Bills Counts Plaints and Declarations in any Action or Suit by or on the behalf of the King or any other concerning any Offence committed against any penal Statute the Offence shall be laid alledged to have been committed in the County where such Offence was in truth committed and not elsewhere But this Act shall not extend to any Information or Suit grounded upon any Law against Popish Recusants Suits against Recusants there excepted or such who do not frequent the Church and hear Divine Service nor to any Information or Suit for other Offences named in the said Statute of 21. but that such Offences may be laid or alledged to be in any County at the pleasure of any Informer Sir Edward Coke 3. Inst 193. and 4 Inst 174. saith That this Exceptiom of Recusancy in the said Statute of 21 Jac. doth not extend to the Courts wherein the Informer is to sue but only to the County where the Offence is to be laid so that notwithstanding that exception the Kings Bench Chancery Common Pleas Exchequer or Exchequer Chamber cannot receive or hold Plea of any Information for Recusancy either by the Kings Attorney or any common Informer but the matter shall be heard and determined before Justices of Assize Nisi prius Goal delivery or Oyer and Terminer or Justices of Peace in their general Sessions according to this Statute of 21 Jac. But the Informer if it be for Recusancy may by force of that Exception lay or alledge such Offence in what County he will For the said Exception extends only to the County and not to the Courts where the Informer is to sue Which Opinion of his touching the extensiveness of the Exception is probable enough viz. That it shall extend only to the County and not to the Courts where the Informer is to sue for the latter part of it speaks only of the County But this is unaptly applied to popular Informations upon this Statute of 23 Eliz. for Recusancy for they are not within the meaning of that Branch of 21 Jac. touching the Courts where the Informer is to sue For that part of the Statute which speaks of the Courts In what Courts an Informer may sue meddles not with Informations upon those penal Laws which give the Informer no other remedy for recovery of the penalty but by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information in the Courts of Record at Westminster nor doth it give the Justices of Assize or other Justices there named any new or further power than they had before but only appoints that where Informations might have been brought before them or in the Courts of Westminster at the Election of the Informer now they shall be brought before Justices of Assize Nisi prius Goal delivery or Oyer and Terminer or at the Sessions of the Peace in the County where the Offence was committed for the ease of the Subjects who are Defendants and not in the Courts at Westminster Cro. Trin. 4 Car. 112 113. But in our Case of Recusancy there is no such Election given the Informer by this Statute of 23 Eliz. or any other Statute but he is strictly tied to take his Remedy by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information in one of the Courts at Westminster and therefore 21 Jac. extends not to it in that branch touching the Courts where the Informer is to
Heir or Successor as was adjudged in the Case of an Annuity granted to Sir Thomas Wroth during his life Plowden 457. Provided always Stat. Sect. 8. Trial of a Peer If it happen at any time hereafter any Péer of this Realm to be Indicted of any Offence made Treason Felony or Praemunire by this Act That he shall have his Trial by his Péers as in other Cases of Treason Felony or Praemunire is accustomed Provided nevertheless and it is declared by authority aforesaid That if any such Iesuit Seminary Priest or other Priest abovesaid shall fortune to be so weak or infirm of Body that he or they may not pass out of the Realm by the time herein limited without eminent danger of life and this understood as well by the Corporal Oath of the party as by other good means unto the Bishop of the Diocess and two Iustices of Peace of the same County where such person or persons do dwell or abide That then and upon good and sufficient Bond of the person or persons with Sureties of the sum of Two hundred pounds at the least with condition that he or they shall be of good behavior towards our Sovereign Lady the Queén and all her liege people Then he or they so licensed and doing as is aforesaid shall and may remain and be still within this Realm without any loss or danger to fall on him or them by this Act for so long time as by the same Bishop and Iustices shall be limited and appointed so as the same time of aboad exceed not the space of six months at the most And that no person or persons shall sustain any loss or incur any danger by this Act for the receiving or maintaining of any such person or persons so licensed as is aforesaid for and during such time only as such person or persons shall be so licensed to tarry within this Realm Any thing contained in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding Stat. Sect. 9. One knowing a Jesuit or Priest to remain in the Realm must discover it to a Justice of Peace or higher Officer And be it also further Enacted by Authority aforesaid That every person or persons being Subject of this Realm which after the said forty days shall know and understand that any such Iesuit Seminary Priest or other Priest abovesaid shall abide stay tarry or be within this Realm or other the Queéns Dominions and Countries contrary to the true meaning of this Act and shall not discover the same unto some Iustice of Peace or other higher Officer within twelve days next after his said knowledge but willingly conceal his knowledge therein that every such Offender shall make Fine and be imprisoned at the Quéens pleasure And that if such Iustice of Peace or other such Officer to whom such matter shall be so discovered do not within Eight and twenty days then next following give Information thereof to some of the Quéens Privy Councel or to the President or Vice-president of the Quéens Councel established in the North or in the Marches of Wales for the time being That then he or they so offending shall for every such Offence forfeit the sum of two hundred marks And be it likewise Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That such of the Privy Councel President or Vice-president to whom such Informations shall be made shall thereupon deliver a note in writing subscribed with his own Hand to the party by whom he shall receive such Information testifying that such Information was made unto him Being Subject of this Realm And not any person as Wingate tit Crowne numb 59. mistakes What is meant by a Subject of this Realm Subject of this Realm who Vide Stat. 3 Jac. cap. 4. Sect. 23. Vnto some Iustice of Peace or other higher Officer Vide Stat. 35 Eliz. cap. 2. Sect. 8. At the Quéens pleasure Fine and imprisonment at the Queens pleasure In this Case the Offender must be proceeded against according to the course of Law for he cannot be fined or imprisoned at the Kings pleasure by force of this Statute before he be Indicted Convicted and Judgment given against him And so were the proceedings against Sir Thomas Figet for going armed contrary to the Statute of 2 E. 3. Stat. 2 E. 3. 3 cap. 3. For the Book 24 E. 3. 33. saith that he was arraigned c. And if in this Case the Offender be committed to prison in order to his Trial and conviction yet before Judgment or at least before conviction he may be let to mainprize and the Fine shall be imposed by the Justices before whom he is convicted Justiciarii per eorum discretionem assessent finem non Dominus Rex per se in Camera sua nec aliter coram se nisi per Justiciarios suos haec est voluntas Regis viz. per Justiciarios suos legem suam unum est dicere 2 R. 3. 11. vide Co. 4. Inst. 71. 179. Note Sir Robert Brook in abridging the forementioned Case of Sir Thomas Figet saith that he was committed to the Prison of the Marshalsey and could not be mainprized until the King had signified his pleasure but omits the principal matter worthy of observation viz. That he was first arraigned c. Bro. Contempts 6. And be it also Enacted That all such Oaths Stat. Sect. 10. All Oaths Bonds and submissions to be certified into the Chancery Bonds and Submissions as shall be made by force of this Act as aforesaid shall be certified into the Chancery by such parties before whom the same shall be made within thrée months after such submission upon pain to forfeit and lose for every such Offence One hundred pounds of lawful English money the said forfeiture to be to the Quéen her Heirs and Successors None submitting himself shall come within ten miles of the Queen And that if any person so submitttng himself as aforesaid do at any time within the space of Ten years after such submission made come within Ten miles of such place where her Majesty shall ve without especial Licence from her Majesty in that behalf to be obtained in writing under her Hand that then and from thenceforth such person shall take no benefit of his said submission but that the same submission shall be void as if the same had never béen Stat. xxix Eliz. cap. vi An Act for the more speedy and due Execution of certain Branches of the Statute made in the 23 d. year of the Queens Majesties Reign Entituled An Act to retain the Queens Majesties Subjects in their due Obedience FOr avoiding of all Frauds and Delays heretofore practised Stat. Sect. 3. Certain assurances made by Recusants shall be void against the Queen or hereafter to be put in ure to the hindrance of the due and spéedy Execution of the Statute made in the Session of Parliament holden by Prorogation at Westminster the sixtéenth day of January in the thrée and twentieth year of
or Constitution of man Naturalization being but a fiction in Law which confers the priviledges of a natural Subject but cannot make him a natural Subject who was none before For then he would have two natural Princes one where he was born and the other where Naturalized Vaughan 279 280. 283. Craw versus Ramsey Co. 7. 5 6 7. 25. Calvins Case Dyer 3 4 Ph. Mar. 145. Hobart 171. Curteenes Case so that to absolve perswade withdraw or reconcile an Alien born whose Subjection to the King began not with his birth or for any such to be absolved perswaded withdrawn or reconciled seems not to be Treason within this Act. But this Subjection is not to be understood locally Subjection not to be understood locally or in respect of the place of a mans Birth but in respect of the Prince to whom Subjection is due at the time of his Birth And therefore if a Scot or Irishman be absolved or reconciled in England although the Offence be committed in another Kingdom then that where his Subjection begun yet being born a Subject to the King of England its Treason in the absolver or person reconciling and in him that is absolved or reconciled Nor is it necessary in all Cases that the party be born in the Kings Dominions but that he may be a natural Subject notwithstanding and consequently within this Act as in the Case of an Embassador vide Co. 7. 18. Calvins Case Vide Stat. 23 Eliz. cap. 1. Stat. 23 Eliz. 1 Sect. 2. Stat. Sect. 20. A reconciled person taking the Oath Provided nevertheless That the last mentioned Clause of this Branch or any thing therein contained shall not extend or be taken to extend to any person or persons whatsoever which shall hereafter be reconciled to the Pope or Sée of Rome as aforesaid for and touching the point of so being reconciled only that shall return into this Realm and thereupon within six days next after such return before the Bishop of the Diocess or two Iustices of Peace joyntly or severally of the County where he shall arrive submit himself to his Majesty and his Laws and take the Oath set forth by Act in the first year of the Reign of the late Quéen Elizabeth commonly called the Oath of Supremacy as also the Oath before set down in this present Act which said Oaths the said Bishop and Iustices respectively shall have Power and Authority by this present Act to minister to such persons as aforesaid And the said Oaths so taken the said Bishop and Iustices before whom such Oaths shall be so taken respectively shall certifie at the next General or Quarter Sessions of the Peace to be holden within the said Shire Limit Division or Liberty wherein such person as aforesaid shall submit himself and take the said Oaths as aforesaid upon pain of every one neglecting to certifie the same as aforesaid the sum of Forty pounds Submission in case of Treason Which shall hereafter be reconciled In the late Additions to Dalton cap. 140. tit High Treason Sect. 12. is intimated that this Clause which provides in Case of Submission extends to no Cases of Treason or Misprision of Treason for there in reciting this part of the Statute the Cases of Treason and Misprision of Treason are excepted which is a great mistake For the Submission here spoken of is only in the Case of a declared Treason scil being reconciled to the Pope or See of Rome For and touching the point of so being reconciled only In the latter part of the former Section there are three several sorts of Offences made Treason Reconciled to the Pope c. what meant thereby 1. To be willingly absolved or withdrawn from a mans natural Obedience 2. To be willingly reconciled to the Pope or See of Rome 3. To promise Obedience to any pretended Authority of that See or to any other Prince State or Potentate but in this Clause only the second of these Offences is remitted in Case of Submission viz. the being reconciled to the Pope or Sée of Rome By which I conceive to be meant the forsaking of the Religion established by Law and embracing that which is professed and maintained by the Pope and See of Rome And in that sense those words are commonly taken at this day And that this is the meaning of those words appears by the Statute of 23 Eliz. cap. 1. which makes it Treason to absolve or withdraw the Subjects from their natural Obedience or to withdraw them from the Religion Established to the Romish Religion or to move them to promise Obedience to the See of Rome or any other Prince c. to answer which follows in that Act three other sorts of Treason viz. to be absolved or withdrawn or to be reconciled or to promise such Obedience so that the Offence of being reconciled answers to the Offence of withdrawing the Subjects from the Religion Established to the Romish Religion which explains what is meant by such Reconciliation viz. the being so withdrawn from the one Religion to the other But by this Clause if a person be thus reconciled that is change his Religion and become a Papist yet if he be capacitated to submit as is required by this Act and submit accordingly and take the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance such Offence of being reconciled shall not be Treason But as for being absolved or withdrawn from his natural Obedience Offences not within this Proviso or promising Obedience to the pretended Authority of the See of Rome or any other Prince State or Potentate besides his natural King such Submission and taking the Oaths shall not absolve him from that guilt but he shall have Judgment and suffer for the same as in Case of High Treason notwithstanding such Submission c. Dalton V. cap. 89. tit High Treason is therefore clearly mistaken in extending the benefit of this Submission c. generally to all who have been willingly absolved withdrawn or reconciled or have promised such Obedience Submit himself to his Majesty and his Laws The Kings Laws Stat. 27 Eliz. 2 What Laws are here meant vide Stat. 27 Eliz. cap. 2. Sect. 7. Stat. Sect. 21. Where the Trial shall be And be it further Enacted That all and every person and persons that shall offend contrary to this present branch of this Statute shall be Indicted tried and proceéded against by and before the Iustices of Assize and Goal delivery of that County for the time being or before the Iustices of the Court of Kings Bench and be there procéeded against according to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm against Traitors as if the said Offence had béen committed in the same County where such person or persons shall be so taken Any Law Custom or Statute to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding In what County The Offender may be proceeded against by force of this Act in any County where he shall be imprisoned for
suprema Ecclesiastica qua fungitur for so are the words in the Charter there Plowden 497 498 500. Vide Co. 5. 10. Cawdries Case Co. 11. 10 11. Pridle and Nappers Case And where the King is Patron an Appropriation may be made by him alone Addition to Popham 145. And as he is supream Head and supream Ordinary a Resignation Resignation made to him of a Deanry is as good as if it were made to the Bishop Dyer 12 13 Eliz. 293. Pollard and Walronds Case Plowden 498. Palmer 493. Hayward and Fulchers Case And that your Highness your Heirs and Successors Stat. Sect. 6. The Queen may assign Commissioners to exercise Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction 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 or 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 Iurisdictions Priviledges and Preheminencies in any wise touching or concerning any Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction within these your Realms of England and Ireland or any other your Highnesses Dominions and Countries And to visit reform redress order correct and amend all such Errors Heresies Schisms Abuses Offences Contempts and Enormities whatsoever which by any manner of Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Power Authority or Iurisdiction can or may lawfully be reformed ordered redressed corrected restrained or amended to the pleasure of Almighty God the increase of Virtue and the conservation of the Peace and Vnity of this Realm And that such person or persons so to be named assigned authorized 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 virtue of this Act and of the said Letters Patents under your Highness your Heirs or Successors to exercise use and execute all the premisses according to the tenor and effect of the said Letters Patents Any matter or cause to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding High Commission Court The Jurisdiction and Authority here by given to the late Court commonly called the High Commission Court are now taken away by Act of Parliament but the Power here given the Queen to constitute such Commissioners was no more than she had before by ancient Prerogative and the Laws of England For thereby she might have made such an Ecclesiastical Commission if this Act of 1 Eliz. had never been made Co. 5.8 9. Cawdries Case Cro. Trin. 2. Jac. 37. Stat. Who are compellable to take the Oath Ecclesiastical Persons and Officers Judge Justice Mayor Temporal Officer He that hath the Queens Fee And for the better observation and maintenance of this Act may it please your Highness That it may be further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every Archbishop Bishop and all and every other Ecclesiastical person and other Ecclesiastical Officer and Minister of what Estate Dignity Preheminence or Degree soever he or they be or shall be and all and every temporal Iudge Iustice Mayor and other Lay or Temporal Officer and Minister and every other person having your Highnesses Fees or Wages within this Realm or any your Highnesses Dominions shall make take and receive a corporal Oath upon the Evangelist before such person or persons as shall please your Highness your Heirs or Successors under the Great Seal of England to assign and name to accept and to take the same according to the tenor and effect hereafter following that is to say I A. B. do utterly testifie and declare in my Conscience The Oath for the Queens Supremacy That the Queens Highness is the only Supream Governour of this Realm and of all other Her Highness Dominions and Countries as well in all Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Things or Causes as Temporal And that no Forreign Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preheminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm And therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all Forreign Jurisdictions Powers Superiorities and Authorities and do promise that from henceforth I shall bear Faith and true Allegiance to the Queens Highness her Heirs and lawful Successors and to my Power shall assist and defend all Jurisdictions Priviledges Preheminences and Authorities granted or belonging to the Queens Highness her Heirs and Successors or united and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm So help me God and by the Contents of this Book And that it may also be Enacted The penalty for refusing the Oath That if any such Archbishop Bishop or other Ecclesiastical Officer or Minister or any of the said Temporal Iudges Iusticiaries or other Lay-Officer or Minister shall peremptorily or obstinately refuse to take or receive the said Oath That then he so refusing shall forfeit and lose only during his life all and every Ecclesiastical and Spiritual Promotion Benefice and Office and every Temporal and Lay-Promotion and Office which he hath solely at the time of such refusal made And that the whole Title Interest and Incumdency in every such Promotion Benefice and other Office as against such person only so refusing during his life shall clearly cease and be void as though the party so refusing were dead And that also all and every such person and persons so refusing to take the said Oath shall immediately after such refusal be from thenceforth during his life disabled to retain or exercise any Office or other Promotion which he at the time of such refusal hath joyntly or in Common with any other person or persons And that all and every person and persons that at any time hereafter shall be preferred promoted or collated to any Archbishoprick or Bishoprick or to any other Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Benefice Promotion Dignity or Office or Ministry or that shall be by your Highness your Heirs or Successors preferred or promoted to any Temporal or Lay-Office Ministry or Service within this Realm or in any your Highness Dominions before he or they shall take upon him or them to receive use exercise supply or occupy any such Archbishoprick Bishoprick Promotion Dignity Office Ministry or Service shall likewise make take and receive the said Corporal Oath before mentioned upon the Evangelist before such persons as have or shall have Authority to admit any such person to any such Office Ministry or Service or else before such person or persons as by your Highness your Heirs or Successors by Commission under the Great Seal of England shall be named assigned or appointed to minister the
Contents thereof or secretly deliver out such Books to others he knowing the Contents thereof unless in this last Case he be a Trader in them and deliver them out upon that Account without any act or attribution by conference or allowance he is an Offender within this Act by the words Hold and stand with to maintain c. and so is the receiver likewise if he afterwards Reads and Confers upon any such Book with any other person and in his Conference by any Words or Speeches allows the Book to be good or conveys it secretly to his Friend to the intent he should Read it and be perswaded to be of that Opinion or if a man hear of the Contents of such Book by the report of others and doth by any overt Speech commend or affirm it to be good In all these Cases the Person so doing especially he that reads it and then allows of it is an Offender within this Act and shall for the first Offence incur a Praemunire and for the second be Guilty of high Treason So likewise if any Book to that effect be made and Written within the Realm and sent over Seas as if it were made out of the Realm and be afterwards Bought Read or Conference be had thereupon ut supra such Offences are within the danger of this Law Dyer 11 El. 281. 282. vide Co. l. 6. Praefat ' Vpon purpose and to the intent The intent material A. was Indicted upon this Statute and that of 13 Eliz. cap. 2. of a Praemunire for aiding one B. knowing him to be a principal maintainer of the Authority and Jurisdiction of the Bishop and See of Rome contra formam Statut ' praedict ' and the Indictment was certified into the Kings Bench And it was held by the greater part of the Justices that the Indictment was insufficient for want of those words Vpon purpose and to the intent to set forth and extol the Authority c. And contra formam Statut ' will not supply that defect Trin. 20 Eliz. Dyer 363. Note in the Report of this Case the Statute of 1 Eliz. is mistaken for this of 5 Eliz. there being no mention of the intent in that of Primo Stat. 1 Eliz. 1. The intent is a hidden thing and lies in the Heart and therefore there must be some overt Act or Speech which declares the intent for the intent it self is not traversable What traversable but that by which it is made manifest as was adjudged in Boothes Case Co. 5. 77. And it is also Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Stat. That as well Iustices of Assize in their Circuits as Iustices of Peace within Sect. 3 the limits of their Commission and Authorities What Justices may inquire of and certifie the Offences aforesaid or two of every such Iustices of Peace at the least whereof one to be of the Quorum shall have full Power and Authority by vertue of this Act in their Quarter or open Sessions to inquire of all Offences Contempts and Transgressions perpetrated committed or done contrary to the true meaning of the Premises in like manner and form as they may of other Offences against the Quéens Peace and shall certifie every Presentment before them or any of them had or made concerning the same or any part thereof before the Queén her Heirs and Successors in her or their Court commonly called the Kings Bench within forty days next after any such Presentment had or made if the Term be then open and if not at the first day of the full Term next following the said forty days upon pain that every of the Iustices of Assize or Iustices of the Peace The Penalty for default of Certificate of the said Offences before whom such Presentment shall be made making default of such Certificate contrary to this Statute to lose and forfeit for every such default One hundred pounds to the Quéens Highness her Heirs and Successors And it is Enacted by the Authority aforesaid The Justices of the Kings Bench may hear and determine the Offences aforesaid That the Iustices of the Kings Bench as well upon every such Certificate as by enquiry before themselves within the limits of their Authorities shall have full Power and Authority to hear order and determine every such Offence done or committed contrary to the true meaning of this present Act according to the Laws of this Realm in such like manner and form to all intents and purposes as if the Person or Persons against whom any Presentment shall be had upon this Estatute had beén Presented upon any matter of offence expressed in the said Estatute made in the said Sixteenth year of King Richard the Second All Offences c. contrary to the true meaning of the Premises That is the Offences in holding or standing with to extol c. the Jurisdiction of the See or Bishop of Rome or attributing such Jurisdiction c. or Procuring Counselling c. which is here for the first Offence made a Praemunire For these are the only Premises in the Act and this Clause extends not to the Oath of Supremacy or any Offence in refusing of it much less to all Offences against this Act as 't is mistaken in the late Additions to Dalton cap. 140. tit High Treason Sect. 11. Nor doth it seem to be the intent of the Statute to give the Justices of Peace any Power to inquire of any Offence made High Treason thereby The Power of Justices of Peace herein For the Power here given to the Justices of Peace is only to inquire of Offences contrary to the true meaning of the Premises and the Premises extend only to those Offences made a Praemunire And this clearly appears by the subsequent words viz. That the Presentment thereof shall be certified into the Kings Bench who shall hear and determine every such Offence as if the Offender had been Presented upon any matter in the Statute of 16 R. 2. Now that cannot be intended of High Treason And of Justices of Assize The like may be said of Justices of Assize for as they are meerly Justices of Assize they cannot by force of this Act inquire of either the first or second Offence in refusing the Oath of Supremacy nor of the second Offence in extolling the Bishop of Romes Authority only for the first Offence of this last kind they may inquire and take Indictments thereof and certifie them into the Kings Bench but then by their Commission of Oyer and Terminer they may not only inquire of the first or second Offence in extolling the Bishop of Romes Authority or refusing the Oath of Supremacy but may hear and determine them And accordingly were Slade and Bodye Indicted Arraigned and Tried in the County of Southampton of a Praemunire for the first Offence in extolling the Bishop of Romes Authority upon which they were Attainted and afterwards of Treason for the second Offence before Sir Roger Manwood and Justice
persons authorized or claiming Authority by or from the said Bishop or Seé of Rome to Consecrate or Hallow the same which said Agnus Dei is used to be specially Hallowed and Consecrated as it is termed by the said Bishop in his own person and the said Crosses Pictures Beads and such like superstitious things been also hallowed either by the same Bishop or by others having power or pretending to have power from him or his said Sée and divers Pardons Immunities and Exemptions granted by the Authority of the said Sée to such as shall receive and use the same and that if the same person or persons so bringing in as is aforesaid such Agnus Dei and other like things as have been before specified shall deliver or cause or offer to be delivered the same or any of them to any Subject of this Realm or of any the Dominions of the same to be worn or used in any wise that then as well the same person and persons so doing as also all and every other person or persons which shall receive and take the same to the intent to use or wear the same being thereof lawfully Convicted and Attainted by the order of the Common Laws of this Realm shall incur into the dangers penalties pains and forfeitures ordained and provided by the Statute of Praemunire and Provision made in the sixteenth year of the Reign of King Richard the Second Bringers in offerers and deliverers And that if the same Person or Persons so bringing in A man brings into the Kings Dominions such Agnus Dei or other like superstitious things and another offers or delivers them It seems that neither he that brings them in nor he that offers or delivers them is within this Act or liable to the penalty for by the express words it must be the same person So that neither the bringer in unless he offer or deliver them or cause them to be delivered nor he who delivers them or causeth or offereth them to be delivered unless he be the person who brought them in is an Offender within the Act. To whom an Agnus Dei c. may not be offered or delivered To any Subject of this Realm c. The offer or delivery of such Agnus Dei or other superstitious thing to any sort of person is not an offence within this Act as Wingate supposes it to be tit Crown Numb 37. But to make it an Offence it must be delivered or offered to a Subject of this Realm or of the Dominions of the same The intent material To be worn or used c. to the intent to use or wear the same The Intent is material in this Case an◠therefore If a man be Indicted upon this Statute for bringing in and offering or delivering such Agnus Dei c. or receiving the same the intent must be mentioned in the Indictment as it must be in Indictments upon all Statutes where the intent as here is made part of the offence So in an Indictment upon the Statute of 5 E. 6. cap. 4. Stat. 5 E. 6. 4. it is not enough to say the party drew his Dagger in the Church against J. S. but it must be averred that he did it with an intent to strike him as was Resolved by the Court of Kings-Bench Trin. 33 Eliz. in Penhalls Case Leonard 4. 49. C. 127. It seems by the words of this Statute that to make the Receiver of such superstitious things an offender within it there must be a concurrence of intentions for the using or wearing them both in the giver and receiver And that therefore if a person coming from beyond the Seas brings into this Realm any such superstitious things but with no intent that they should be worn or used and gives them to his friend at his request who receives them with an intent to wear or use them this is penal to neither Not to the giver for he had no superstitious intent and the intent is material nor to the receiver for that the offering or delivering them to be worn or used is expresly made in the Statute a condition precedent to the obliquity of the fact in receiving them for the Statute saith Then as well the person so doing as also every other person receiving them to that intent shall incur a Praemunire So that then only when the person delivering them so doth that is delivers them to be worn or used the person receiving them to that intent shall incur a Praemunire But yet there needs not any such concurrence of intentions in the giver and receiver to make the giver an offender And therefore if a man brings into the Realm such superstitious things and delivers them to be worn or used though the party receive them not to the intent to use or wear them but defaces burns or otherwise destroies them yet he that gave or delivered them incurs a Praemunire for the words in the Act relating to the Offerer or Deliverer are intire in themselves and have no dependance on the subsequent words relating to the receiver but generally make all Offenders who bring them in and either offer or deliver them to a superstitious intent without any respect to the intent of the party who receives or is offered them Provided nevertheless Stat. Sect. 7. Apprehending an Offender or disclosing his name and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any person or persons to whom any such Agnus Dei or other the things aforesaid shall be tendered and offered to be delivered shall apprehend the party so offering the same and bring him to the next Iustice of Peace of that Shire where such tender shall be made if he shall be of power and able so to do or for lack of such ability shall within the space of three days next after such offer made as is aforesaid disclose the name or names of such person or persons as so shall make the same offer and the dwelling place or place of resort of the same person or persons which he shall indeavor himself to know by all the ways and means he can to the Ordinary of that Diocess or to any Iustice of Peace of that Shire where such person or persons to whom such offer shall be made as is aforesaid shall be resiant And also Delivering of Agnus Dei received to the Ordinary or a Justice of Peace if such person or persons to whom such offer shall be made shall happen to receive any such Agnus Dei or other thing above remembred and shall within the space of one day next after such receipt deliver the same to any Iustice of Peace within the same Shire where the party so receiving shall be then resiant or shall happen to be That then every such person or persons doing any the Acts or things in this Proviso above mentioned in forme above declared shall not by force of this Statute incur any danger or penalty appointed by this Statute or
one year and from thence forth till he have paid the said sum of Two hundred Marks And that every person which shall willingly hear Mass shall forfeit the sum of One hundred Marks and suffer Imprisonment for a year One hundred Marks And not Two hundred pounds Forfeiture as 't is mistaken in the late Additions to Dalton cap. 81. tit Recusants Sect. 59. Be it also further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Stat. Sect. 5. The penalty for not coming to the Church by the space of a Month. That every person above the age of sixteen years which shall not repair to some Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer but forbear the same contrary to the tenor of a Statute made in the first year of her Majesties Reign for uniformity of Common Prayer and being thereof lawfully convicted shall forfeit to the Quéens Majesty for every month after the end of this Session of Parliament which he or she shall so forbear twenty pounds of lawful English money and that over and besides the said forfeitures every person so forbearing by the space of twelve months as aforesaid shall for his or her obstinacy after Certificate thereof in writing made into the Court commonly called the Kings-Bench by the Ordinary of the Diocess a Iustice of Assize and Goal-delivery or a Iustice of Peace of the County where such offender shall dwell or be be bound with two sufficient sureties in the sum of Two hundred pounds at the least to the good behaviour and so to continue bound until such time as the persons so bound do conform themselves and come to the Church according to the true meaning of the said Statute made in the said first year of the Queéns Majesties Reign Existens aetatis c. shall refer to the time of absence Above the age of sixteen years Talbot was Indicted upon this Statute Quod existens aetatis 16 annorum amplius non accessit ad Ecclesiam c. The question was whether the Existens aetatis 16 annorum should refer to the time of his Indictment or to the time of his absence And the Judges conceived that the Indictment was well enough and pursuant to the Statute And that Existens should in this Case refer to the time of his absence Moore 606. C. 838. Recusancy consists in omission Not repair c. but forbear This offence Consists not in committing but in omitting and is but a nonfeasance and therefore cannot be said to be in any certain place And for this reason in a Popular Action brought by the Informer qui tam c. there needs no place be alledged in the Declaration Anderson 1. 139. C. 190. Cuffe versus Vachel nor is Recusancy within that Branch of the Statute of 31 Eliz. cap. 5. Stat. 31 El. 5. which saith That the offence shall be laid in the proper County where it was done or committed For to speak properly it was not committed any where Hobart 251. Grimstone versus Molineux Vide infra Sect. 9. Conviction in the same Suit sufficient Being thereof lawfully convicted By this is not meant that the party must be convicted in some former Suit But a conviction upon the same Indictment or Information which is brought against him for the recovery of the 20 l. per month is a sufficient conviction within the meaning of this Statute And so are all penal Statutes which have in them those words being thereof lawfully convicted to be understood that is of a conviction in the same Suit whereupon the penalty is to be recovered For the meaning only is that the Offender shall forfeit nothing before conviction which is no more then the Law implies And therefore in truth these words are but superfluous and might have been as well omitted Co. 11. 59. Rolls 1. 90. C. 41. Dr. Fosters Case Rolls 1. 234. C. 6. Bulstrode 3. 87. The King against Law Nor is Conviction here intended only of a Convicton by Verdict What Conviction is here meant And therefore if the Offender be convicted upon his Confession of the fact and Judgment thereupon be had and consequently if Judgment be had against him upon a Demurrer which is a Confession of the matter of fact or if Judgment be given against him on nihil dicit for any other Cause any of these are sufficient Convictions whereupon to recover this Penalty For Convicted is here to be taken for Attainted as 't is in many other Cases For until Judgment he shall forfeit nothing And although he that is Convicted is not therefore Attainted yet every one who is Attainted or Adjudged is Convicted And of such a Conviction is this Statute to be understood Dr. Fosters Case Rolles 1. 89. 90. C. 41. Co. 11. 60. where several Cases are cited which prove that Convicted is oftentimes put for Attainted Shall forfeit to the Queens Majesty Shall forfeit i. e. to the King These words to the Queens Majesty are but surplusage and import no more than the Law would have given the Queen without them for where a Statute gives a forfeiture and limits it not to any particular person the King shall have it by Construction of Law as was agreed in the Case of Agard and Tandish Anderson 2. 128. C. 73. and so should he have this whole 20 l. per month if the Statute had staid here and had not afterwards made another express appointment Vid. Sect. 9. For every month Month what It seems that the month here mentioned shall be accounted secundum numerum singulorum dierum allowing but 28 days to a month For so are all Statutes to be understood which speak of the month unless W. 2. cap. 5. W. 2. 5. 2 3 E. 6. 13 for the account of a Lapse and 2 3 E. 6. of proving a suggestion Co. 1. Inst 135. Cro. Trin 5 Jac. 166. 167. Bishop of Peterburgh versus Catesby Yelverton 100. Catesby versus Baker Hobart 179. Copley versus Collins And of this Opinion the Court of Kings-Bench seemed to be upon Construction of the Statute of Liveries in the Case of Donner and Smith Trin. 43 Eliz. Cro. 835. The Recusant may forfeit for 13 months in a year so that by this account the Recusant shall forfeit thirteen score pounds in the whole year In an Information brought by Parker Qui tam Conformity in part not available c. against Sir John Curson and his Wife for the Recusancy of the Wife for eleven months and non culp pleaded It was proved at the Trial B. R. Pasch 17. Jac. that she conformed and came to Church for part of the time in the Information yet forasmuch as she was a Recusant both before and after it was said by the Court that her Conformity for some part of the time should not excuse her and she was found guilty for the whole time Cro. Jac. 529. The Informer demands less then is due The Informer shewed that the
non sunt culpabiles it had been ill But yet it seems that the Law is contrary to that Opinion Non sunt cuipabiles where good for where an Action or Information is brought against the Husband and Wife for an offence or wrong done by the Wife there the Husband is charged quoad poenam though not quoad culpam and when they both plead quod ipsi non sunt culpabiles the meaning is that he is not chargeable quoad poenam and she is not guilty quoad culpam and therefore it was resolved in the Case of Browne against Audley and his Wife Trin. 22 Jac. in an Action upon the Case for scandalous words by the Wife that where they both pleaded non culp and the Jury found the Feme guilty the Plaintiff should have Judgment For the issue was good for the reason aforesaid and the finding of the Jury was a good ground for the Judgment for if the Wife were guilty quoad culpam as the Verdict must necessarily be understood she being the wrong doer the Husband by consequence was chargeable quoad poenam and Judgment shall be against both Addition to Bendloes 148. and the Resolution in the Case of Needler versus Symnell and his Wife reported by Justice Croke Cro. Mich. 11. Car. 417. in the like Action brought for words spoken by the Wife is directly contrary to that opinion at the end of Sir John Cursons Case For there 't is adjudged that ipsi non sunt culpabiles by Baron and Feme is a good issue although the wrong were by the Wife alone Writ of Error by an Alien An Information of Recusancy lies against an Alien upon this Statute if he inhabits within the Realm and if Judgment be had against him he may have a Writ of Error to relieve himself Co. 1. Inst. 129. Popular Suit appropriated When once the Informer Qui tam c. hath commenced his Suit he hath of a popular Action made it his own private Action Co. 65. Dr. Fosters Case Vaughan 343. Thomas versus Sorrel And in this Case it is not necessary that the Defendant be served with Process to answer it Without Process for if the Informer put his Information into Court 't is enough to appropriate to him his share of the penalty Godbolt 158. C. 216. But yet a Note ought first to be made of the day month and year when it was exhibited for before Stat. 18 Eliz. 5. by the Statute of 18 Eliz. cap. 5. it is not to be taken to be of Record nor shall operate any thing either in appropriating the penalty or barring any other Informer but when that is done no other Informer can Sue for the same Offence and 't is a good Plea in Bar Bar. of the second Information for the Defendant to say that there is another Information depending against him for the same Offence For as soon as the first Information is delivered in and entred upon Record according to the said Statute of 18 Eliz. it shall be said to be depending Popular Suit when depending although it be not alleadged that any Writ or Process is Sued out against the Defendant thereupon Cro. Mich. 33 34 Eliz. 261. the Queen versus Harris Styles 417 Hobart 209. Parry versus Paris Palmer 40. Webbs Case Termes de la Ley 7. Action Popular Two Informations for the same offence Bar. The Defendant in an Information pleads that heretofore another Information was exhibited against him such a day in another Court for the same Offence but mistakes and names in his Plea a wrong day and not that wherein the first Information was exhibited The Plaintiff replies nul tiel Record yet if it appears that in truth the Information pleaded in Bar was exhibited before the other which is the substance of the matter this misprision shall not vitiate the Defendants Plea in Bar but Judgment shall be for the Defendant Hobart 209. Parry versus Paris Note this Case is cited in the late Additions to Dalton cap. 191. tit Informations Sect. 6. to prove that one person cannot exhibit two Informations in the same or in several Courts But that was not the Question there nor I think ever was made a Question but that the same person may exhibit two several Informations so they be not both for one and the same Offence An Information was exhibited in the Kings-Bench upon the Statute of 5 E. 6. cap. 7. for buying of Wools. Stat. 5 E. 6. 7. The Defendant pleads that there is another Information depending against him in the Common-Bench at the Suit of L. and avers that they are both for the same Offence but in truth that in the Common-Pleas supposed the Offence to be done at one time and that in the Kings-Bench at another time yet this is a good Plea in Bar Bar. of the latter Information being with an Averment that they are both for the same Offence for otherwise by the Informers false supposal of the day the Defendant shall be put to double trouble Cro. Mich. 33 34 Eliz. 261. The Queen versus Harris And the same advantage no question any man may take against whom two Informations are exhibited upon this Statute for hearing of Mass Mass for perchance he never heard Mass above once in his life time and there is no reason he should be put to double trouble for one offence But otherwise it seems to be in the Case of Recusancy The absence from Church must be for a month For if an Information be brought upon this Statute for not coming to Church for a month there if the Defendant proves that he was at Church any time within that month it shall be sufficient to avoid the penalty of Twenty pounds And as the Defendants giving in Evidence that he was at Church within the compass of any other month then that which is laid in the Information shall not excuse him so the Informers proof of his absence any other month shall not hurt him but the Evidence must go to the very same month which the Information mentions And the reason is for that this Offence is punishable according to the time of its duration or continuance and the Offender is to forfeit for every month of his absence so that if another Information be exhibited against him for not coming to Church during another month it cannot be supposed to be for the same absence with that in the first Information but for the like absence at another time and therefore cannot be pleaded in Bar thereof Two Informations on the same day c. Bar. If two Informers on one and the same day exhibit Informations against the same person for the same Offence they are both void and may be pleaded the one in Bar of the other for that there is no priority to Attach the right of Action in one of the Informers more than in the other Hobart 128. Pie versus Coke Although Sunday
the Reign of our most gracious Soveraign Lady the Quéens Majesty Entituled An Act to retain the Queens Majesties Subjects in their due Obedience Be it Enacted by Authority of this present Parliament That every Feoffment Gift Grant Conveyance Alienation Estate Lease Incumbrance and Limitation of use of or out of any Lands Tenements or Hereditaments whatsoever had or made at any time since the beginning of the Quéens Majesties Reign or at any time hereafter to be had or made by any person which hath not repaired or shall not repair to some Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer but hath forborn or shall forbear the same contrary to the tenor of the said Statute and which is or shall be revocable at the pleasure of such offender or in any wise directly or indirectly meant or intended to or for the behoof relief or maintenance or at the disposition of any such offender or wherewith or whereby or in consideration whereof such Offender or his Family shall be maintained relieved or kept shall be déemed and taken to be utterly frustrate and void as against the Queéns Majesty for or concerning the levying and paying of such sums of money as any such person by the Laws or Statutes of this Realm already made ought to pay or forfeit for not coming or repairing to any Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer or for saying hearing or being at any Mass and shall also be seized and had to and for her Majesties use and behoof as hereafter in this Act is mentioned Any pretence colour faigned consideration or expressing of any use to the contrary notwithstanding Stat. Sect. 2. Conviction of Recusancy shall be certified into the Exchequer And further be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every Conviction heretofore recorded for any Offence before-mentioned not already estreated or certified into the Quéens Majesties Court of Exchequer shall from the Iustices before whom the Record of such Conviction shall be remaining be estreated and certified into the Queéns Majesties Court of Exchequer before the end of Easter Term next coming in such convenient certainty for the time and other circumstances as the Court of Exchequer may thereupon award out Process for seizure of the Lands and Goods of every such Offender as hath not paid their said forfeitures according to the Laws and Statutes in such Case provided In what Courts Conviction of Recusancy shall be And that every Conviction hereafter for any offence before mentioned shall be in the Court commonly called the Kings Bench or at the Assizes or general Goal delivery and not elsewhere and shall from the Iustices before whom the Record of such Conviction shall remain be estreated and certified into the said Court of Exchequer before the end of the Term next ensuing after every such Conviction in such convenient certainty as is aforementioned Sir Edward Coke in Dr. Fosters Case lib. 11. 61. saith That by this Clause as hath been well observed the Statute of 23 Eliz. cap. 1. Stat. 33 Eliz. 1 In what Courts the Informer Qui tam c. may sue is altered in a material point viz. That whereas by 23. the Informer might sue the Recusant for the penalty in any Court of Record he is now by this Statute of 29. restrained from suing in the Common Pleas or Exchequer But this is utterly denied to be Law as the constant practice and experience ever since the making of this Statute sufficiently testifies And the Lord Chief Justice Hobart in his Report of Pie and Lovells Case saith That that Observation was made as he takes it by Sir Edward Coke himself But however this passage or observation as he calls it came to be inserted by Sir Edward Coke into his Report Sergeant Rolles in his Report of that Case of Dr. Foster lib. 1. 93. C. 41. brings him in speaking in another Language and more consonant to Law viz. That the Conviction here mentioned is intended of Convictions upon Indictments only and that no other sort of Convictions or proceedings upon the Statute of 23 Eliz. are mentioned or intended throughout this whole Act of 29. And if so then the Informer is not concerned in this Act nor restrained thereby as to the Courts wherein he is to sue but that he may sue still in the Common Pleas or Exchequer And so was it resolved in point in that Case of Pie and Lovell Hobart 204 205. where the Opinion of Sir Edward Coke reported by Rolles touching what sort of Conviction is meant here is confirmed and allowed for Law this Statute being made only for the benefit of the Queen in her Suits by Indictment and that other Opinion in the 11 Report exploded And the true reason is there given why those negative words and not elsewhere were added here viz. not to exclude the Informer out of the Common Pleas or Exchequer but to restrain Justices of Peace from proceeding to convict any person upon Indictments for Recusancy or for saying hearing or being at Mass which they were enabled to do by 23 Eliz. but again disenabled by those negative words in this Act and the hearing and determining of those offences committed only to the Justices of the Kings Bench Assizes and general Goal delivery But for Informations by a common Informer they were never intended here and the Justices of Assize and Goal delivery cannot hold Plea of such Informations as was resolved by the Judges Mich. 4 Car. 1. Jones 193. And yet this Statute did not wholly abrogate the power of the Justices of Peace Justices of P. may take Indictments for some offences against 23 El. 1 or of any other Justices to whom Authority was given by the Statute of 23 Eliz. in relation to the Offences of Recusancy or of saying or hearing Mass but that they might after this Statute of 29. take Indictments notwithstanding the negative words here For this Statute restrains them only from proceeding to Conviction but not from taking Indictments as was held in Edward Plowdens Case cited in Dr. Fosters Case Co. 11. 63. And now by the Statute of 3 Jac. cap. 4. And hear and determine the offence of not coming to Church Stat. 3 Jac. 4. The power of Justices of Peace to hear and determine the Offence of not coming to Church is again restored to them Vide that Statute Sect. 5. And be it also Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Stat. Sect. 3. At what time the money forfeited for not going to the Church shall be paid That every such Offender in not repairing to Divine Service but forbearing the same contrary to the said Estatute as hath beén heretofore convicted for such Offence and hath not made submission and béen conformable according to the true meaning of the said Statute shall without any other Indictment or Conviction pay into the Receipt of the said Exchequer all such sums of money as according to the Rate of twenty pounds for every month sithence the same
it directly by express words yet they both conceived they were within the intent of the Act by reason as Manwood said of these words all other the Lands c. liable to such seizure or to the penalties aforesaid But it was granted on all hands that by these general words here the King hath not any estate given him in the Recusants Copyhold Lands but only a right or title to two thirds of the profits By the Kings receiving of which the Lord cannot be impeached of his Customs and Services as he would be if the King should seize the Land it self And a difference was there taken between an Act of Parliament which transfers an Estate to the King and an Act of Parliament which gives him only the profits of the Estate For in the first Case the Rule in Heydons Case that Copyhold Lands shall not pass by general words shall stand good for the prejudice that may otherwise accrew to the Lord But where the Lords Seigniory Customs and Services are not to be Impeached or taken away as here they will not by the Kings bare receiving of the profits there it was said Copyholds shall be included within the general words of Lands Tenements and Hereditaments Leonard 1. 97. C. 126. And yet Vide Owen 37. where this Case is otherwise reported and that it was at length after great debate adjudged that Copyhold Lands are not within this Statute nor are seizable for the Kings two parts And according to this Judgment I take the modern practice of the Exchequer to have been that neither the Land it self nor the profits of Copyhold Lands are liable to such seizure And for the more spéedy conviction of such Offender Stat. Sect. 5. The Indictment sufficient though it be not mentioned that the party is within the Realm in not repairing to Divine Service but forbearing the same contrary to the said Estatute Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Indictment of every such Offender mentioning the not coming of such Offender to the Church of the Parish where such person at any time before such Indictment was or did keép House or Residence nor to any other Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer shall be sufficient in the Law And that it shall not be neédful to mention in any such Indictment that the party Offender was or is inhabiting within this Realm of England or any other the Queens Majestis Dominions But if it shall happen any such Offender then not to be within this Realm or other her Majesties Dominions that in such case the party shall be relieved by Plea to be put in in that behalf and not otherwise And that upon the Indictment of such Offender Stat. Sect. 6. A Proclamation that the party Indicted shall render his Body to the Sheriff a Proclamation shall be made at the same Assizes or Goal delivery in which the Indictment shall be taken if the same be taken at any Assize or Goal delivery by which it shall be commanded that the body of such Offender shall de rendred to the Sheriff of the same County before the said next Assizes or general Goal delivery to be holden in the same County And if at the said next Assizes or Goal delivery the same Offender so proclaimed shall not make appearance of Record that then upon such default Recorded the same shall be as sufficient a conviction in Law of the said Offence whereof the party so standeth Indicted as is aforesaid as if upon the same Indictment a Trial by Verdict thereupon had proceeded and been recorded If the same be taken at any Assize or Goal delivery For if the Indictment had been taken before Justices of Peace Proclamation by whom to be made no Proclamation thereupon could have been made upon this Statute by the Justices of Assize or Goal delivery as was resolved in the Case of Edward Plowden And therefore upon such an Indictment for Recusancy taken before Justices of Peace the Court was to remove the Indictment into the Kings-Bench And there process might have been made out against the Recusant and he convicted For the Justices of Peace could do no more then Indict all other proceedings being taken away from them by this Statute Co. 11. 63. Dr. Fosters Case Rolles 1. 94. C. 41. the same Case But now by the Statute of 3 Jac. cap. 4. the Law is altered in this point Stat. 3 Jac. 4. and the Justices of Peace upon Indictments taken before them may proceed to proclaim and convict the Recusant as well as Justices of Assize and Goal delivery Shall be rendred to the Sheriff Vide Stat. 3 Jac. cap. 4. Sect. 5. Before the said next Assizes or general Gaol delivery Vide Stat. 3 Jac. cap. 4. Sect. 5. Appearance Make appearance of Record What appearance will serve in this Case Vide Stat. 3 Jac. cap. 4. Sect. 5. Vpon such default That is upon his default of appearance of Record at the next Assizes or Goal delivery For if he makes such appearance Default saved that shall save his default of not rendring his Body to the Sheriff and the not rendring himself to the Sheriff shall be no conviction as Wingate would make it to be Tit. Crowne numb 66. As sufficient a Conviction in Law That is as if he were convicted by Verdict Conviction upon Proclamation no Judgment but not as sufficient as if a Judgment were had against the Recusant For although by force of this and other Statutes the conviction upon Proclamation and default of appearance make the Recusant liable to divers penalties and incapacities and is in those respects as forceable as a Judgment yet it shall not in other Cases have the force or effect of a Judgment And therefore it was resolved 37 38 Eliz. in the Case of the general pardon Anno 35 Eliz. where there is an exception of all penalties and forfeitures due to the Queen and converted to a debt by Judgment that notwithstanding that exception a Recusant convicted upon Proclamation was within the pardon and the forfeitures due upon such conviction were thereby pardoned For the debt was not due to the Queen by Judgment but upon conviction only But otherwise it had been if he had been convicted according to the Statute of 23 Eliz. cap. 1. Stat. 23 Eliz. 1 without Proclamation and Judgment had been given thereupon Vide Co. 11. 65. Dr. Fosters Case Stat. Sect. 7. Provided always That whensoever any such Offender as is aforesaid shall make submission and become conformable according to the form limited by the same Estatute made in the thrée and twentieth year of the Quéens Majesties Reign The Offender submitting or dying no forfeiture shall ensue or be continued or shall fortune to die that then no forfeiture of twenty pounds for any month or seizure of the Lands of the same Offender from and after such Submission and Conformity or Death and full satisfaction of all
perswades others so to do and not then neither unless he hath been absent from Church by the space of a month Where this Act extends to Popish Recusants Vnder colour or pretence of any exercise of Religion Although this Act is commonly called the Act against Sectaries as distinguished from those of the Romish profession yet in truth it extends to all Recusants whatsoever as well Popish as other except in the point of abjuration For the Popish service is performed under colour or pretence of exercise of Religion and the Assembly or Meeting of Popish Recusants under such colour or pretence is an Assembly or Meeting contrary to the Laws and Statutes And they as well as others may be Indicted upon this Statute if they forbear to come to Church for the space of a moneth and be present at any part of the Popish service or move or perswade ut supra And may be imprisoned without Bail until they conform and make submission as by this Act is appointed But they cannot be required to abjure unless they offend against the Statute of 35 Eliz. cap. 2. Stat. 35 Eliz. 2 A Popish Recusant is likewise subject to the Action of Debt c. given to the Queen by this Statute Being thereof lawfully convicted That is What conviction sufficient convicted both of his absence from Church and of that other Offence which makes him punishable by this Act viz. going to Conventicles or moving or perswading c. for his absence from Church for a month must be laid down precisely in the Indictment for without that the other is no Offence within this Act as hath been said And 't is not necessary that the party be convicted of such absence upon any Prior Indictment for although there was never any former conviction of him for Recusancy yet if he offend against this Act in any of the other particulars he may be convicted both of that Offence and of his absence upon one and the same Indictment And so was the Indictment in the Case of Lee and others who were Indicted upon this Statute at the Sessions of the Peace in Essex for absenting themselves for a month from Church and resorting to Conventicles To which they pleaded not guilty and the Indictment was removed into the Kings-Bench to be tried there Cro. Mich. 16 Car. 593. Trial. Provided always Stat. Sect. 2. An Offender not conforming himself abjure shall the Realm and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any such person or persons which shall offend against this Act as aforesaid shall not within thrée months next after they shall be convicted for their said Offence conform themselves to the obedience of the Laws and Statutes of this Realm in coming to the Church to hear Divine Service and in making such publick Confession and Submission as hereafter in this Act is appointed and expressed being thereunto required by the Bishop of the Diocess or any Iustice of the Peace of the County where the same person shall happen to be or by the Minister or Curate of the Parish That in every such Case every such Offender being thereunto warned or required by any Iustice of the Peace of the same County where such Offenders shall then be shall upon his and their Corporal Oath before the Iustices of the Peace in the open Quarter Sessions of the same County or at the Assizes and Goal delivery of the same County before the Iustices of the same Assizes and Goal delivery abjure this Realm of England and all other the Queéns Majesties Dominions forever unless her Majesty shall licence the party to return And thereupon shall depart out of this Realm at such Haven or Port and within such time as shall in that behalf be assigned and appointed by the said Iustices before whom such abjuration shall be made unless the same Offender be letted or stayed by such lawful and reasonable means or causes as by the Common Laws of this Realm are permitted and allowed in Cases of abjuration for felony And in such cases of let or stay then within such reasonable and convenient time after as the Common Law requireth in Case of abjuration for Felony as is aforesaid And that the Iustices of Peace before whom any such abjuration shall happen to be made as is aforesaid shall cause the same presently to be entred of Record before them and shall certifie the same to the Iustices of Assizes and Goal delivery of the County at the next Assizes of Goal delivery to be holden in the same County In what case the offender is not bound to abjure Being thereunto required by the Bishop c. or any Iustice of the Peace c. But put the Case that the Offender is convicted and the Three months next after his Conviction elapse before he is required by the Bishop or any Justice of Peace or the Minister or Curate of the Parish to conform and make the submission here appointed and afterwards he is required by one of them so to do It seems in this Case such request comes too late for he ought to conform and submit within the three months if he be required but if he be not required he is not bound to abjure for omitting it although he shall remain in prison till he conforms and submits But if within the three months he be required to conform and submit and refuse there is no question but he may be at any time afterwards warned or required to abjure Abjuration Abjure this Realm of England c. Vide Stat. 35 Eliz. cap. 2. Sect. 6. Stat. Sect. 3. The punishment for refusing to abjure not departing or returning without Licence And if any such Offender which by the tenor and intent of this Act is to be abjured as is aforesaid shall refuse to make Abjuration as is aforesaid or after such Abjuration made shall not go to such Haven and within such time as is before appointed and from thence depart out of this Realm according to this present Act or after such his departure shall return or come again into any her Majesties Realms or Dominions without her Majesties special Licence in that behalf first had and obtained That then in every such Case the person so offending shall be adjudged a Felon and shall suffer as in Case of Felony without benefit of Clergy Vide Stat. 35 Eliz. cap. 2. Sect. 7. Stat. 35 Eliâ— â— And furthermore be it Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament Stat. Sâ—ct 4. An Offender shall be discharged upon his open submission That if any person or persons that shall at any time hereafter offend against this Act shall before he or they be so warned or required to make Abjuration according to the tenor of this Act repair to some Parish Church on some Sunday or other Festival day and then and there hear Divine Service And at Service time before the Sermon or reading of the Gospel make
as aforesaid after notice thereof to him or them given by the Ordinary of the Diocess any Iustice of Assizes of the Circuit or any Iustice of Peace of the County or the Minister Curate or Churchwardens of the Parish where such person shall then be or by any of them shall forfeir to the Queéns Majesty for every person so relieved maintained retained or kept after such notice as aforesaid ten pounds for every month that he or they shall so relieve maintain retain or kéep any such person so offending What sort of Recusants may be reliev'd or kept Rep. 3 Jac. 4. Provided nevertheless That this Act shall not in any wise extend to punish or impeach any person or persons for relieving maintaining or kéeping his or their Wife Father Mother Child or Children Wards Brother or Sister or his Wives Father or Mother not having any certain place of habitation of their own or the Husbands or Wives of any of them or for relieving maintaining or keéping any such person as shall be committed by Authority to the custody of any by whom they shall be so relieved maintained or kept Any thing in this Act contained to the contrary notwithstanding Repeal Stat. 3 Jac. 4. This Branch is repealed by the Statute of 3 Jac. cap. 4. Quod vide infra Sect. 24. Stat. Sect. 8. The Queens Remedy to recover forfeitures c. And for the more spéedy levying and recovering for and by the Quéens Majesty of all and singular the pains duties forfeitures and payments which at any time hereafter shall accrue grow or be payable by virtue of this Act or of the Statute made in the threé and twentieth year of her Majesties Reign concerning Recusants Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every the said pains duties forfeitures and payments shall and may be recovered and levied to her Majesties use by Action of Debt Bill Plaint Information or otherwise in any of the Courts commonly called the Kings Bench Common Pleas or Exchequer in such sort and in all respects as by the ordinary course of the Common Laws of this Realm any other Debt due by any such person in any other Case should or may be recovered or levied wherein no essoign protection or wager of Law shall be admitted or allowed A new remedy given to the Queen Stat. 23 Eliz. 1 All and every the said pains duties forfeitures and payments These words are not to be understood simpliciter or exclusive as if the forfeitures upon the Statute of 23 Eliz. cap. 1. could be recovered no other way then what is prescribed here But only they give the Queen a new remedy for the recovery of them which she had not before and take not away the Remedy given by 23 Eliz. upon Indictment 29 Eliz. 6. nor that by the Statute of 29 Eliz. cap. 6. upon Indictment and Proclamation nor the Informers popular Suit given him by 23. For all these three are affirmative Laws and do not abrogate one the other The former Laws not abrogated but may well stand together And the meaning of them taken together is That if the Informer recover the forfeiture upon that of 23. he shall have his part thereof But if the Offender were Indicted at the Queens Suit and Judgment had against him upon 23. or if he were convicted upon Proclamation and default upon 29. The Queen should have the whole penalty excluding the Informer for he shall not be punished again for the same offence at the Suit of the Informer But if the offender were neither Indicted nor Sued by the Informer Qui tam c. the Queen should have another Remedy to recover the intire forfeiture by Action of Debt c. upon this Statute and the Informer shall have no part thereof So that the Remedies given by these three Statutes are Cumulative and not Privative and there is no Repugnancy or disagreement between them but they have a dependance on each other The informer not aided here But as this Statute doth not abrogate any of the former Laws touching Recusancy nor takes away the Informers popular Suit so it adds nothing as to the Informer nor gives him any more speedy remedy for the recovery of the forfeiture but leaves him in the same condition as he was in before to take his remedy upon 23. Co. 11. 61 62. Rolles 1. 90 91 93. c. 41. Dr. Fosters Case Cro. Pasch 16 Jac. 481. Bridgman 121. 122. Parker vesus Webb To her Majesties use A more speedy remedy here given Stat. 23 Eliz. 1 Before this Statute the Queen had no other way to recover the intire penalty for Recusancy or any other offence within the Statute of 23 Eliz. cap. 1. but by Indictment only but by this Statute a more speedy remedy was given her by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information Vide the Cases before cited Shall and may be recovered The King by the Statute of 31 Eliz. cap. 5. 31 Eliz. 5. Within what time the King must sue is restrained in this Case to three years after the offence committed within which time he must pursue the remedy here given him for the recovery of the forfeiture but it seems that he is not restrained to two years for where the forfeiture is limited to the King and him that will sue there the Informer hath one year and the King the next two years if the Informer doth not sue within the first year of the three and the restraint in 31. of the King to 2 years next after the Offence committed where the forfeiture is limited to the King extends not to this Case For although the King is enabled by this Statute to sue for the intire forfeiture yet the intire forfeiture was not originally limited to the King only for the Informer may sue upon 23 Eliz. as well as the King may upon this Act. And where the Informer may sue it was not the meaning of 31 Eliz. to limit the King to two years after the offence committed but he may stay if he please till the Informers year is expired and then the Statute gives him two years afterwards to sue for the penalty Where the King is limited to a year and a day where not Much less is the King limited to sue upon this Statute within a year and a day and what is said in Dr. Fosters Case Co. 11. 65. viz. that for any forfeiture before the year and day neither the King nor the Informer hath any remedy for that that time is limited in certain by 23 Eliz. is a clear mistake of the meaning of that Statute of 23. touching the year and day for the limitation there of a year and a day extends only to the Kings Suits by Indictment and not to the popular Suit given by 23. much less to the Action of Debt c. given to the King by this Statute See more of this matter supra in the Statute of 23 Eliz.
taken in only such as are convicted it would have been eluded and rendred ineffectual for want of a Conviction of the greater part of such ubiquitary Recusants The want of due consideration of this Statute in each of these parts of it hath occasioned some mistakes in those who have handled it And Wingate tit Crown numb 78. restrains both parts of it as well relating to those that have no certain place of abode as those whose place of abode is certain to Recusants convicted and makes no mention that this later sort must be in England at the time of their Conviction And in the late Additions to Dalton cap. 81. tit Recusants Sect. 14. 't is not only said that both sorts must be convicted but that they must be in England at the time of their Conviction which two things are only requisite in such who have a certain place of abode and not in the other sort who are within the meaning and danger of this Law without any precedent Conviction for Recusancy See more of this matter Licence to Travel Stat. 3 Jac. 5. and how a Popish Recusant shall be licensed to Travel out of his compass of five miles Stat. 3 Jac. cap. 5. Sect. 8. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Stat. Sect. 4. A Popish Recusant Copy-holder That every such Offender as is before mentioned which hath or shall have any Lands Tenements or Hereditaments by Copy of Court Roll or by any other customary tenure at the will of the Lord according to the Custom of any Mannor shall forfeit all and singular his and their said Lands Tenements and Hereditaments so holden by Copy of Court Roll or customary tenure as aforesaid for and during the life of such offender if his or her Estate so long continue to the Lord or Lords of whom the same be immediately holden if the same Lord or Lord or Lords be not then a Popish Recusant and convicted for not coming to Church to hear Divine Service but forbearing the same contrary to the Laws and Statutes aforesaid nor seized or possessed upon Trust to the use or behoof of any such Recusant as aforesaid And in such Case the same forfeiture to be to the Quéens Majesty Provided always Stat. Sect. 5. Popish Recusants shall notifie their coming and deliver in their names and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all such persons as by the intent and true meaning of this Act are to make their repair to their place of dwelling and abode or to the place where they were born or where their Father or Mother shall be dwelling and not to remove or pass above five miles from thence as is aforesaid shall within twenty days next after their coming to any of the said places as the Case shall happen notifie their coming thither and present themselves and deliver their true names in writing to the Minister or Curate of the same Parish and to the Constable Headborough or Tithingman of the Town and thereupon the said Minister or Curate shall presently enter the same into a Book to be kept in every Parish for that purpose Which shall be certified to the Sessâ—ons and enrolled there And afterwards the said Minister or Curate and the said Constable Headborough or Tithingman shall certifie the same in writing to the Iustices of the Peace of the same County at the next general or Quarter Sessions to be holden in the same County and the said Iustices shall cause the same to be entred by the Clerk of the Peace in the Rolls of the same Sessions Goods and Lands where not forfeited A Popish Recusant repairs to the place appointed him by this Act and keeps within his compass of five miles but doth not present himself or deliver in his name he doth not forfeit his Goods or Lands For there is no particular penalty inflicted in this part of the Act for that omission nor yet in the subsequent Branch for him that hath clearly twenty marks per annum in Freehold or Goods and Chattels worth forty pounds But yet such person may be Indicted for such neglect and fined upon the general words of the Statute which commands the thing to be done For where an Act of Parliament commands any thing to be done and inflicts no penalty an Indictment lies against the person who ought to do it for his neglect or omission Co. 2. Inst. 55. 163. Vide Cro. Hill 41 Eliz. 655. Crouthers Case Stat. Sect. 6. The penalty of a Popish Recusant of small ability offending against this Act. And to the end that the Realm be not pestered and overcharged with the multitude of such Seditious and dangerous people as is aforesaid who having little or no ability to answer or satisfie any competent penalty for their contempt and disobedience of the said Laws and Statutes and being committed to Prison for the same do live for the most part in better Case there then they could if they were abroad at their own liberty The Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled do most humbly and instantly beséech the Quéens Majesty that it may be further Enacted That if any such person or persons being a Popish Recusant not being a Feme Covert and not having Lands Tenements Rents or Annuities of an absolute Estate of Inheritance or freehold of the clear yearly value of twenty marks above all charges to their own use and behoof and not upon any secret trust or confidence for any other or Goods and Chattels in their own right and to their own proper use and behoof And not upon any such secret trust and confidence for any other above the value of forty pounds shall not within the time before in this Act in that behalf limited and appointed repair to their place of usual dwelling and aboad if they have any or else to the place where they were born or where their Father or Mother shall be dwelling according to the tenor and intent of this present Act And thereupon notifie their coming and present themselves and deliver their true Names in writing to the Minister or Curate of the Parish and to the Constable Headborough or Tithingman of the Town within such time and in such manner and form as is aforesaid or at any time after such their repairing to any such place as is before appointed shall pass or remove above five miles from the same And shall not within three months next after such person shall be apprehended or taken for offending as is aforesaid conform themselves to the obedience of the Laws and Statutes of this Realm in coming usually to the Church to hear Divine Service and in making such publick Confession and Submission as hereafter in this Act is appointed and expressed being thereunto required by the Bishop of the Diocess or any Iustice of the Peace of the County where the same person shall happen to be or by the Minister or
Curate of the Parish That in every such Case every such Offender being thereunto warned or required by any two Iustices of the Peace or Coroner of the same County where such offender shall then be shall upon his or their corporal Oath Abjuration before any two Iustices of the Peace or Coroner of the same County abjure this Realm of England and all other the Queéns Majesties Dominions forever And thereupon shall depart out of this Realm at such Haven and Port and within such time as shall in that behalf be assigned and appointed by the said Iustices of Peace or Coroner before whom such abjuration shall be made unless the same Offenders be letted or stayed by such lawful and reasonable means or causes as by the Common Laws of this Realm are permitted and allowed in Cases of abjuration for felony And in such Cases of let or stay then within such reasonable and convenient time after as the Common Law requireth in Case of abjuration for felony as is aforesaid Abjuration to be entred of Record and certified And that every Iustice of Peace and Coroner before whom any such abjuration shall happen to be made as is aforesaid shall cause the same presently to be entred of Record before them and shall certifie the same to the Iustices of Assizes or Goal delivery of the said County at the next Assizes or Goal delivery to be holden in the same County If any such person or persons being a Popish Recusant That is any Popish Recusant within the former Branches of the Statute and none but such What Popish Recusants are within this Branch and which not Dalton V. cap. 45. tit Recusants applies this Clause to Popish Recusants convicted as if it concerned them and them only and so both at once extends and restrains the Statute contrary to its true meaning For these words any such person or persons neither extend to all that are convicted nor are restrained to such only as are convicted For the Popish Recusant who hath a certain place of aboad within this Realm although he be convicted is not within this Statute unless he were a Popish Recusant and in England at the time of his Conviction And the Popish Recusant who hath no certain place of aboad within this Realm is within this Statute although he were never convicted so that either of these sorts of Popish Recusants who have an Estate under value viz. he who hath no certain place of aboad and he who having a certain place of aboad was convicted when a Popish Recusant and in England and no other are liable by this Act to Abjuration Of the clear yearly value Clear yearly value of Twenty marks above all Charges A Rent-charge of 40 l. per Annum is issuing out of Lands worth 100 l. per Annum a Popish Recusant liable to be confined by this Statute purchases for his Life or in Fee parcel of the Lands of the clear yearly value of Twenty marks over and above what his proportion of the said Rent-charge comes to This is an Estate of the clear yearly value of Twenty marks within the meaning of this Act and shall free him from abjuration For although in strictness of Law his Estate be not clearly so much above all charges For that 't is chargeable with an yearly Rent of Forty pounds yet in equity he shall pay no more then his proportion of it which the Land he purchased will discharge and yet yield Twenty marks per Annum clearly besides Or Goods and Chattels This Statute being in the disjunctive Lands or Goods an Estate partly of Lands Goods and Lands not to be valued together and partly of Goods will not satisfie the intent thereof And therefore if a Popish Recusant who offends against this Act hath fifteen Marks per Annum clearly in Lands and be worth Thirty pounds in goods although this taken together be in truth an Estate of more value then is here required yet it shall not free him from Abjuration For the Statute doth not warrant any valuation of the Lands and Goods together so as to supply the defect of the yearly value of the Lands by the Goods or the defect of the value of the Goods by the Lands and therefore the Recusant must have such an Estate in the one or the other as will answer the Statute And this is not like the Case of Jurors upon the Statute of 2 H. 5. Stat. 2 H. 5. 3. cap. 3. where 't is said That the Iuror shall have Lands of the clear yearly value of Forty shillings if the Debt or Damage declared amount to Forty marks in which Case although it be in the disjunctive debt or damage yet it hath been adjudged that where the debt and damages both amount to Forty marks it is sufficient and the Juror must have Forty shillings per Annum Co. 1. Inst 272. For in that Case the word or is cumulative and debt or damage both amount to no more then one intire thing viz. the value of the Cause or Action depending And it appears plainly to be the intent of the makers of the Law that no Cause declared to be of the value of Forty marks shall be tried by Jurors of a less Estate but in our Case the Lands and Goods are things of different nature one real the other personal and cannot be regularly reduced under one and the same head and therefore shall not be valued together unless the Act had expresly appointed such a Valuation But yet if a Popish Recusant hath a Lease for years But leases for years and personal goods may and personal Goods and both do amount in value to above Forty pounds he shall be out of the danger of Abjuration For although the Lease is in the realty and the Goods are personal yet they shall in this Case be valued together For that by this Copulative and the Statute expresly so appoints without distinguishing between the values of either but makes it sufficient if both of them be of that value Money secured upon a Mortgage Mortgage of Lands is within the meaning of these words Goods and Chattels And if the Popish Recusant hath above Forty pounds owing to him upon such Mortgage he cannot be required to abjure Within three months next after such person shall be apprehended or taken Wingate in abridging this Clause tit Crowne numb 80. clearly mistakes the meaning of it For he saith that a Popish Recusant whose estate is under value must make the submission prescribed by this Act within three months next after his arrival at his place of aboad which is a complicated Error For he quite leaves out him who is to repair to the place where he was born or his Father or Mother dwels He makes the party liable to such submission before he becomes an offender by not repairing or not presenting himself and giving in his true name or travelling above five miles He speaks nothing of his being
person which shall be so suspected shall refuse to answer directly and truly whether he be a Iesuit or a Seminary or Massing Priest as is aforesaid every such person so refusing to answer shall for his Disobedience and Contempt in that behalf be committed to Prison by such as shall examine him as is aforesaid and thereupon shall remain and continue in Prison without Bail or Mainprize until he shall make direct and true answer to the said Questions whereupon he shall be so examined Cause of suspicion Suspected Although the party be no Jesuit Seminary or Massing Priest yet if there be cause to suspect him and he refuse to answer whether he be so or no such suspicion and refusal is ground enough for his Commitment Having lawful Authority in that behalf This Clause seems to refer to the Statute of 27 Eliz. cap. 2. Stat. 27 Eliz. 2. which appoints that the discovery of a Popish Priest or Jesuit shall be made to some Justice of Peace or higher Officer who is to give Information thereof to some of the Privy Council c. under the penalty of two hundred marks Who shall examine a Jesuit c. which Statute of 27. though it do not in express terms say that the Justice of Peace or other higher Officer shall examine the Priest or Jesuit so discovered yet inasmuch as it gives him power to take Cognizance of the matter it seems implicitely to impower him to inform himself of the truth whether the party be a Priest or Jesuit or not as well by examination of the party as otherwise that he may be the better enabled to give Information thereof to some of the Privy Council c. And one Justice of Peace having by 27. lawful Authority to examine him he hath Authority likewise by this Statute of 35. to commit him And commit him if he be suspected to be a Priest or Jesuit and refuses to answer whether he be such or no. As for Mr. Shephards Opinion in his Sure Guide cap. 14. Sect. 5. that there must be two Justices of Peace to Commit a man by force of this Statute who is suspected to be a Jesuit or Priest till he answers directly I see no ground at all for it Answer to the said Questions That is To what point he may be examined whether he be a Jesuit Seminary or Massing Priest for he is not bound to answer to any other question nor can be committed by force of this Act for his Refusal Provided nevertheless Stat. Sect. 9. Licence to travel above five miles Alt. 3 Jac. 5. and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any of the persons which are hereby limited and appointed to continue and abide within five miles of their usual dwelling place or of such place where they were born or where their Father and Mother shall be dwelling as is aforesaid shall have necessary occasion or business to go and Travel out of the compass of the said five miles That then and in every such Case upon Licence in that behalf to be gotten under the hands of two of the Iustices of Peace of the same County with the privity and assent in writing of the Bishop of the Diocess or of the Lieutenant or of any Deputy Lieutenant of the same County under their hands it shall and may be lawful for every such person to go and Travel about such their necessary business and for such time only for their travelling attending and returning as shall be comprised in the same Licence Any thing before in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding This Clause is repealed Repeal Stat. 3 Jac. 5. and a new form of Licence appointed by the Statute of 3 Jac. cap. 5. which see there Sect. 8. Provided also Stat. Sect. 10. Persons urged by Process or commanded to appear That if any such person so restrained as is aforesaid shall be urged by Process without fraud or covin or be bounden without fraud or covin to make appearance in any her Majesties Courts or shall be sent for commanded or required by any thrée or more of her Majesties Privy Council or by any four or more of any Commissioners to be in that behalf nominated and assigned by her Majesty to make appearance before her Majesties said Counsel or Commissioners That in every such Case every such person so bounden urged commanded or required to make such appearance shall not incur any pain forfeiture or loss for travelling to make appearance accordingly nor for his abode concerning the same nor for convenient time for his return back again upon the same Vrged by Process If a Popish Recusant restrained by this Act be summoned by Warrant of a Justice of Peace to appear before him the Recusant ought not to travel to such Justice out of his compass of 5 miles For although a Justice of Peace his Warrant be the Kings Process Wha◠Process is here meant yet it is not intended here For these words urged by Process are restrained by the subsequent words to such Process as requires the Recusants appearance in some one of the Kings Courts and extend not to all Cases of Summons and Process as Wingate tit Crown numb 83. mistakes But if in the Case aforesaid the Warrant be to Arrest the Recusant and by force thereof he be carried by the Constable c. out of the compass of five miles there he is excused and shall forfeit nothing for that it was done by compulsion And yet if there be any Covin between the Recusant and the Justice of Peace or Officer it may be otherwise The Kings Courts In any her Majesties Courts All Courts wherein the proceedings are directed by the Kings Laws are the Kings Courts and therefore a Court Leet Court Leet though of an inferiour nature and kept in the Lords name yet is the Kings Court Co. 5. 39. Cawdries Case Hetley 18. Ecclesiastical Court If a Popish Recusant restrained by this Act be cited into the Ecclesiastical Court he may by force of this Proviso Travel out of the compass of five miles to appear there for all Ecclesiastical Courts are the Kings Courts and the Laws by which they proceed there are the Kings Laws Vide Cawdries Case supra Vide Stat. 3 Jac. cap. 5. Sect. 7. Stat. Sect. 11. Persons which are to yield their bodies to the Sheriff And be it further provided and enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any such person or persons so restrained as is aforesaid shall be bound or ought to yield and render their bodies to the Sheriff of the County where they shall happen to be upon Proclamation in that behalf without fraud or covin to be made That then in every such Case every such person which shall be so bounden or ought to yield and render their body as aforesaid shall not incur any pain forfeiture or loss for Travelling for that intent and purpose only without any fraud
the Exchequer in the Case of Sir Edward Lenthal Cro. Hill 12 Jac. 365. Shall for every such offence lose and forfeit Thréescore pounds Receiving the Sacrament and neglecting it afterwards If a Popish Recusant once receive the Sacrament after his Conformity and afterwards neglect so to do within the time prescribed by this Act and is guilty of such neglect for two years together although he was never convicted for the first year yet an Information lies against him and he shall forfeit Threescore pounds for the second year For he is liable to pay so much for every offence that is for every year wherein he neglects to receive the Sacrament after he hath once received it The Informer may sue for any year and the Informer is at his liberty for which offence or year he will inform whether for the first second c. And the reason of this is because here are no steps or gradations to increase the penalty for the second or third offence but the penalty is equal and a like in this Case for every offence It is observable that the Popish Recusant who after his conformity receives the Sacrament and afterwards neglects so to do for the space of one or more years is in worse Condition then he who conforms and receives it not at all For in this last Case he shall forfeit but Twenty pounds for the first and Forty pounds for the second year But if he once receive the Sacrament and afterwards neglect it for the space of two years he shall forfeit for each of those years Threescore pounds To him that will sue for the same An Information upon this Branch of the Statute must be brought by an Informer Qui tam c. within a year after the offence or neglect Within what time he must sue or he can take no advantage thereof For such an Information is within the Statute of 31 Eliz. cap. 5. Stat. 31 Eliz. 5 Cro. Hill 12 Jac. 366. Vide Statute 23 Eliz. cap. 1. Sect. 9. Before whom a Common Informer cannot sue Or before Iustices of Assize c. Note that notwithstanding these words an Information on this Statute by an Informer Qui tam c. for not receiving the Sacrament cannot be brought before Justices of Assize or Goal delivery or Justices of Peace For no Common Informer can sue for the King and himself before any of those Justices but must sue in one of the Courts of Record at Westminster as was resolved Mich. 4. Car. 1. Jones 193. Vide Stat. 23. Eliz. cap. 1. Stat. 23 Eliz. 1 Sect. 9. Stat. Sect. 3. Presenting the monthly absence from Church of a Recusant And be it further Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That the Churchwardens and Constables of every Town Parish or Chappel for the time being or some one of them or if there be none such then the chief Constables of the Hundred where such Town Parish or Chappel is or shall be or one of them as well in places exempt as not exempt shall once in every year present the monthly absence from Church of all and all manner of Popish Recusants within such Towns and Parishes and shall present the names of every of the Children of the said Recusants being of the age of nine years and upwards abiding with their said Parents and as near as they can the age of every of the said Children A Recusants Children and Servants as also the names of the Servants of such Recusants at the general or Quarter Sessions of that Shire limit division or liberty Of all and all manner of Popish Recusants Whose monthly absence from Church must be presented and whose not As this Act is penned it seems that the Churchwardens and Constables are not bound thereby to present the monthly absence from Church of any of the Children or Servants of a Popish Recusant although such Children or Servants be Recusants unless they are Popish Recusants And that 't is sufficient to satisfie the Statute to present their names without taking any notice of their absence from Church But if they be Popish Recusants they fall within the general words of the Act and their monthly absence ought to be presented as well as that of their Parents or Masters Wingate in his Abridgment of this Statute tit Crown numb 100. hath clearly mistaken the meaning thereof in this particular for he tells us that the monthly absence of all the Children and Servants of a Popish Recusant ought to be presented At the general or Quarter Sessions General or Quarter Sessions Stat. 23 Eliz. 1 What is meant by those words vide Stat. 23 Eliz. cap. 1. Sect. 7. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Stat. Sect. 4. The presentments recorded That all such presentments shall be accepted entred and recorded in the said Sessions by the Clerk of the Peace or Town-Clerk for the time being or his Deputy without any Fée to be had asked or taken for the same And in default of such presentment to be made the said Churchwardens Constables or High Constables respectively shall for every such default forfeit twenty shillings And in default of such accepting entring and recording without Feé as aforesaid the said Clerk of the Peace or Town-Clerk shall for every such Offence forfeit and lose forty shillings And that upon every Presentment of such monthly absence as aforesaid The reward of the Church-wardens and Constables whereupon such party so presented shall after happen to be Indicted and Convicted not being for the same absence before presented Then the said Churchwardens Constables or High Constables respectively so making such Presentments shall have a reward of forty shillings to be levied out of the Recusants Goods and Estate in such manner and form as by the more part of the said Iustices shall be by Warrant under their Hands and Seals then and there ordered and appointed Stat. Sâ—ct 5. What Justices shall hear and determin these Offences And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Iustices of Assize and Goal delivery at their Assizes and the said Iustices of Peace at their said Sessions shall have Power and Authority by virtue of this Act to enquire hear and determine of all Recusants and Offences as well for not receiving the Sacrament aforesaid according to the true meaning of this Law as for not repairing to Church according to the meaning of former Laws in such manner and form as the said Iustices of Assize and Goal delivery do or may now do by former Laws in the Case of Recusancy for not repairing to Church And also shall have power at their Assizes and Goal delivery and at the Sessions in which any Indictment against any person either for not repairing to Church according to former Laws or not receiving the said Sacrament according to this Law The effect of the Proclamation shall be taken to make Proclamation By
which it shall be commanded that the body of every such Offender shall be rendred to the Sheriff of the same County or Bailiff or other kéeper of the Goal of the Liberty before the next Assizes and general Goal delivery or before the next general or Quarter Sessions respectively to be holden for the said Shire Limit Division or Liberty And if at the said next Assizes and general Goal delivery or Sessions the same Offender so proclaimed shall not make appearance of Record Conviction of a Recusant That then upon every such Default recorded the same shall be as sufficient a Conviction in Law of the said Offence whereof the party shall stand Indicted as aforesaid as if upon the same Indictment a Trial by Verdict thereupon had proceéded and béen found against him or her and recorded General or Quarter Sessions Stat. 23 Eliz. 1 Power of Justices of Peace revived Stat. 23 Eliz. 1 29 Eliz. 6. At their said Sessions c. General or Quarter Sessions c. What Sessions are here meant vide 23 Eliz. cap. 1. Sect. 7. To enquire hear and determine This is intended of Indictments only and revives the power of Justices of Peace given them by the Statute of 23 Eliz. cap. 1. and taken from them by the negative words of the Statute of 29 Eliz. cap. 6. so that now the Justices of Peace may proceed to Judgment against the Recusant upon 23. or convict him upon Proclamation and default of appearance and so may the Justices of Assize and Goal-delivery Justices of Assize and Goal delivery proceed either way For the words of this Statute and that of 29. which give the Proclamation being in the affirmative The Proclamation may be waved do not take away the proceedings upon 23. but that the Justices may wave the Conviction by Proclamation if they please Nor is the Informers Informer popular Suit taken away by 29. or by this Statute Co. 11.61 Dr. Fosters Case vide Stat. 23 Eliz. cap. 1. Sect. 7. Against any Person either for not repairing to Church This branch extends to all Recusants c. So that this Branch of the Statute which gives the Conviction by Proclamation extends to other Recusants besides Popish Recusants and is not restrained to this latter sort but is misrecited in this particular by Dalton V. cap. 110. tit Forfeiture for Felony Shall be rendred to the Sheriff c. before the next Assizes c. In an Action brought against Sir John Webb and his Wife for recovery of twenty pounds per month for the Recusancy of the Wife The Defendants plead that the Feme was before that time convicted for the same absence upon Indictment at the Kings Suit Proclamation erroneous and Proclamation made that she should render her self at the next Assizes and default of appearance thereupon But it was resolved by the Court of Kings Bench That the Plea was ill and that this was not a Conviction according to Law and therefore was in effect as no Conviction For the Proclamation was erroneous in two points 1. In the person to whom the Statute saith it shall be proclaimed that the Offenders body shall be rendred to the Sheriff c. But this Proclamation was That she should render her self to the Justices of Assize For the rendring of the body to the Sheriff is a material point And the intent of the Statute is not pursued in this Proclamation For the intent was that Recusants being dangerous members of the Commonwealth should be in the Custody of the Sheriff c. ne nocere valeant 2. In the time when The Proclamation was that she should render her self at the next Assizes but the Statute saith before the next Assizes And when the Proclamation is ill the Conviction for default of appearance thereupon cannot be good nor shall bar the King or the Informer of their Action And although by the subsequent Clause in this Act That no Proclamation shall be avoided for any defect c. the Recusant perhaps may be estopped to take such exception to the Proclamation yet the King is not Palmer 40.41 Bridgman 122. Rolles 2.108 Note that Palmer in his Report of this Case hath stated the first difference between the Statute and Proclamation as 't is here laid down and so the truth of the Case was But in reciting Bridgmans Argument he reports it quite contrary viz. That the Proclamation was That the Recusants body should be rendred to the Sheriff and that it ought to have been that it should be rendred to the Justices of Assize But this is a mistake and contrary to the Statute and the truth of the Case Or other kéeper of the Goal Keeper of a Goal A keeper of a Goal may be by usage or prescription Lib. Assiz 259. A. 42. Pl. 7. Co. 1. Inst 114. And if the person indicted for Recusancy live in a Corporation where the Sheriff hath not to do and he be Proclaimed upon this Statute he may render himself to the keeper of the Goal there Shall not make appearance of Record And if the Recusant do appear of Record at the Assizes Appearance shall save the default Goal delivery or general or quarter Sessions it shall be sufficient to save his default although he did not render himself to the Sheriff upon the Proclamation and this is clear by the words of the Statute which is grosly mistaken in this particular by Wingate tit Crowne numb 102. who saith the Recusant shall be convicted if he render not his Body to the Sheriff or Bailiff of the Liberty and that default be recorded Appearance how to be made This appearance must be in proper person and not by Attorney for none can at first appear by Attorney unless enabled by some Statute and all appearances by the Defendant in any Court ought by the Common Law to be in person Co. 10.101 Bewfages Case But after a Plea pleaded to an Indictment an Attorney may be admitted at the discretion of the Court if they think fit but not otherwise and in some Cases not without a special Writ directed to the Justices to that purpose Vide 16 E. 4. 5. Fitz. N. B. 26. It must be entred of record The party Indicted and Proclaimed who appears at the Assizes or Sessions must take care that his appearance be entred of Record For if the Clerk of the Assizes or Clerk of the Peace should mistake and instead thereof record his default he hath no way to avoid his standing convicted Action upon the Case But is put to his Action upon the Case against such Clerk of the Assizes or Peace Vide Popham 29. Keilway 180. What is a good appearance and what not The personal presence at the next Assizes or Sessions of the party indicted of Recusancy and Proclaimed although he continue there from the beginning to the ending is no sufficient ground to record his appearance nor shall save his default For
where the King discharges him of that payment by refusing it so that where the King refuses the twenty pounds per month the Recusants Goods cannot be seized but only two parts of his Lands The Law likewise is mistaken For if the King refuses the twenty pounds per month he may seize an Advowson as part of his two parts as hath been said so that an Advowson is within this Clause An Advowson is within this Clause and not without it And the Case of Standen and the University of Oxon is quite contrary to that Opinion in the late Additions to Dalton For Justice Jones held strongly that an Advowson was within this Clause And Hobart Chief Justice and Justice Winch declared themselves to be of the same mind and Justice Hutton denied not that an Advowson was within it only held that the force of it as to an Advowson in gross was taken away by the Statute of 3 Jac. cap. 5. Stat. 3 Jac. 5. University which gives the Presentation to the University But the three other Justices were against him and held That where the King had seized it as part of his two parts and the Incumbent died The King should present and not the University See of this matter more at large Stat. 3 Jac. car 5. Sect. 19. If the King seize by Inquisition two parts of a Mannor belonging to a Recusant Convict to which an Advowson is Appendant Two parts of an Advowson Appendant seized by seizure of two parts of the Mannor by such seizure two parts of the Advowson are likewise seized by consequence although it be not named in the Inquisition as was resolved in the Case of the Chancellor c. of Cambridge and Walgrave Hobart 126 127. Moore 872. C. 1214. The King shall present alone And there although the King hath Title but to two parts of the Advowson yet he shall present alone by his Prerogative as was resolved in that Case and so he should have done where there were three Coparceners of an Advowson two of full age and one under age and in Ward to the King the King only should by his Prerogative have presented during the Wardship 47 E. 3. 14. 38 H. 6. 9. But yet His two parts shall not pass from him by general words although two parts of an Advowson shall pass to the King by the word Hereditaments and the seizure of the Mannor shall draw with it the seizure of the Advowson yet the Kings two parts of the Advowson shall not pass from him by such general words And therefore if the King seizes two parts of a Mannor belonging to a Recusant Convict to which an Advowson is Appendant and grants over his two parts of the Mannor to a Subject with all Hereditaments Appurtenances c. yet two parts of the Advowson will not pass unless specially named or the grant be adeo plene integre in tam amplis modo forma prout c. the Recusant had the Mannor Hobart 126 127. Moore 872. C. 1214. All other Lands c. liable to such seizure or to the Penalties aforesaid Whether Copyhold Lands Copyhold Lands are seizable by force of these words Vide Stat. 29 Eliz. cap. 6. Sect. 4. Stat. 29 Eliz. 6. In lieu and full Recompence of the twenty pounds monthly So that if the King make his Election to seize the two parts the Recusant is no longer liable to pay the twenty pounds per month The twenty pounds per month discharged but the two parts of his Lands shall go in lieu and full Recompence thereof Jones 24. Standen versus University of Oxon. Provided always Stat. Sect. 9. A Recusants Mansion house shall be reserved to him and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Kings Majesty his Heirs and Successors shall not take into his two parts but leave to such Offender his chief Mansion House as part of his third part and shall not Demise Lease or put over the said two parts nor any part thereof to any Recusant nor to or for the use of any Recusant The Kings two parts shall not be demised to a Recusant And that whosoever shall take the same in Lease or otherwise of his Majesty his Heirs and Successors shall give such security not to commit nor suffer wast to be committed in or upon any the said premises as by the Court of Exchequer shall be allowed sufficient His chief Mansion House Mansion House Mansion house is in Law most commonly taken for the chief Messuage or habitation of the Lord of a Mannor or the Mannor House where he most remains or continues Termes de la Ley 199. Mansion But it is to be taken here in a larger sence for any other House which is the Recusants chief dwelling House And for the better Tryal how his Majesties Subjects stand affected in point of their Loyalty and due Obedience Stat. Sect. 10. Who are compellable to take the Oath Be it also Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That from and after the end of this present Session of Parliament it shall be lawful to and for any Bishop in his Diocess or any two Iustices of Peace whereof one of them to be of the Quorum within the limits of their Iurisdiction out of the Sessions to require any person of the age of Eightéen years or above being or which shall be Convict or Indicted of or for any Recusancy other then Noblemen or Noblewomen for not repairing to Divine Service according to the Laws of this Realm or which shall not have received the said Sacrament twice within the year then next past Noblemen and Noblewomen excepted or any person passing in or through the County Shire or Liberty and unknown except as is last before excepted that being examined by them upon Oath shall confess or not deny himself or her self to be a Recusant or shall confess or not deny that he or she had not received the said Sacrament twice within the year then last past to take the Oath hereafter following upon the holy Evangelist Certificate of the name and place of abode of him which taketh the Oath Which said Bishop or two Iustices of the Peace shall certifie in writing subscribed with his or their Hands at the next General or Quarter Sessions for that Shire Limit Division or Liberty within which the said Oath shall be so taken the Christen Name Surname and place of aboad of every person which shall so take the said Oath which Certificate shall be there recorded by the Clerk of the Peace or Town-Clerk and kept amongst the Records of the said Sessions Where this Oath cannot be tendred Passing in or through the County Shire or Liberty and unknown These words passing and unknown being in the Conjunctive it seems that the Bishop or two Justices ought not to examine upon Oath or tender this Oath to any Passenger or Traveller quatenus such unless he be unknown viz. such an
one as conceals his true Name or Quality or cannot give a good Accompt what he is For so it must be reasonably intended and not of all Travellers through the Country as Wingate tit Crowne numb 106. mistakes for it appears by the other qualifications here enumerated that the intent of the Act is that it shall be offered by the Bishop or two Justices to such only of whom there is any just cause of suspition Stat. Sect. 11. Refusal of the Oath And be it further Enacted That if any such person or persons other than Noblemen or Noblewomen shall refuse to answer upon Oath to such Bishop or Iustices of Peace examining him or her as aforesaid or to take the said Oath so duly tendred unto him or her by such Bishop or two such Iustices of Peace out of Sessions that then the said Bishop or Iustices of Peace shall and may commit the same person to the common Goal there to remain without Bail or Mainprize until the next Assizes or General or Quarter Sessions to be holden for the said Shire Division Limit or Liberty where the said Oath shall be again in the said open Assizes or Sessions required of such person by the said Iustices of Assize or Iustices of Peace then and there present or the greater number of them And if the said person or persons or any other person whatsoever other then Noblemen or Noblewomen of the age of Eightéen years or above shall refuse to take the said Oath being tendred unto him or her by the Iustices of Assize and Goal delivery in their open Assizes or the Iustices of Peace or the greater part of them in their said general Quarter Sessions every person so refusing shall incur the danger and penalty of Praemunire mentioned in the Statute of Praemunire Praemunire made in the sixtéenth year of the Reign of King Richard the Second except Women Covert Women Covert who upon refusal of the said Oath shall be by the said Iustices of Assize in their open Assize or Iustices of Peace in their General or Quarter Sessions for the said Offence committed only to the common Goal there to remain without Bail or Mainprize till they will take the said Oath There to remain without Bail or Mainprize Sureties cannot be taken The Bishop or two Justices cannot take Sureties of him who refuses the Oath for his appearance at the Assizes or Sessions as Wingate tit Crowne numb 107. mistakes but must commit him immediately to Goal nor can any other Court or Justices Bail him in this Case Vntil the next Assizes or General or Quarter Sessions This being in the Disjunctive Commitment till Assizes or Sessions the Bishop or two Justices have their election to commit the party refusing the Oath either until the next Assizes or until the next Sessions as they shall think fit For some may be more aptly committed until the next Assizes and some until the next Sessions Co. 12. 131 132. What Sessions is here meant Sessions Stat. 23 Eliz. 1 Vide Stat. 23 Eliz. cap. 1. Sect. 7. And if the said person or persons or any other person whatsoever c shall refuse These words any other person whatsoever are exclusive of the said person or persons who are committed for refusal For 't is here in the disjunctive To whom the Oath may be tendred so that it seems that if any person whatsoever of the age of eighteen years or above and under the degree of a Nobleman or Noblewoman be at the Assizes or general Quarter Sessions of the Peace whether voluntarily or brought in upon Process on an Indictment of Recusancy or for any other matter and be there tendred this Oath and refuse to take it although it were never tendred to him before yet upon his refusal there he incurs a Praemunire And in this respect this Statute is more extensive then that of 7 Jac. cap. 6. Stat. 7 Jac. 6. where there must be a Prior tender and refusal of this Oath otherwise a refusal of it at the Assizes or Sessions doth not make a Praemunire by that Act. Vide Co. 12. 131. Shall incur the danger and penalty of Praemunire If a man be committed by the Bishop or two Justices of Peace for refusal of this Oath and the tender and refusal be expressed in the Mittimus the Justices of Assize or Justices of Peace in their Sessions are bound to take notice of this tender and refusal and after they have there made the party a second tender of the Oath and he refuses it Indictments of Praemunire upon this Statute by which he incurs a Praemunire the Indictment against him to convict and attaint him of a Praemunire must contain all the special matter viz. that he stood Convicted or Indicted of Recusancy or that he had not received the Sacrament twice within the year next before or that passing through the Country and unknown being examined upon Oath he confessed or denied not c. as the Case is and that the Oath was tendred to him by the Bishop or two Justices of Peace Quorum unus c. and he refused it and that it was again tendred to him in open Court and he again refused it For in this Case the Mittimus Mittimus is the ground upon which he must be proceeded against at the Assizes or Sessions But if the first tender and refusal be not expressed in the Mittimus or Warrant of commitment there although there was a tender and refusal of the Oath before the Bishop or two Justices yet the Justices of Assize or Justices of Peace in their Sessions can take no notice of it But they must there tender him the Oath without reference to any Prior tender which they may do by force of the said general words any other person whatsoever and if he refuse it he incurs a Praemunire And in this Case the Indictment may be short and general scil that he was tendred the Oath in open Court and refused it c. And so it must be in all Cases where in truth there was never any Prior tender and refusal Co. 12. 131 132. Stat. 7 Jac. 6. Justices of Peace Vide the Statute of 7. Jac. cap. 6. whereby the power of the Justices of Peace is in some particular Cases inlarged in reference to this Oath Stat. Sect 12. The Oath of Allegiance The form of which Oath hereafter followeth I A. B. do truly and sincerely acknowledge profess testifie and declare in my Conscience before God and the World That our Sovereign Lord King James is Lawful and Rightful King of this Realm and of all other his Majesties Dominions and Countries and that the Pope neither of himself nor by any Authority of the Church or See of Rome or by any other means with any other hath any Power or Authority to depose the King or to dispose any of his Majesties Kingdoms or Dominions or to Authorize any Foreign Prince to
a farther distance although they inhabited in that which was within London or ten miles for three months next before that Session of Parliament yet if they were not Tradesmen at the time of making of this Act they should have had no benefit by this Proviso but ought within ten days after such Indictment or Conviction for Recusancy to have removed out of the compass of ten miles Stat. Sect. 7. And whereas by a Statute made at Westminster in the Five and thirtieth year of the Reign of Queén Elizabeth Intituled An Act for the restraining of Popish Recusants to some certain place of abode it was amongst other things Ordained and Enacted That every Popish Recusant then or after Convicted for not repairing to Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer A Recusant confined having any certain place of dwelling and abode within this Realm should within the time limited by the said Statute repair to their place of usual dwelling and abode or not having any certain place of dwelling or abode within this Realm should likewise within the time limited by the said Statute repair to the place where such person was born or where the Father or Mother of such person should be dwelling and not at any time remove or pass above five miles from thence under the pains in the said Statute limited and provided Which Statute by reason of sundry Licences given unto such Recusants under colour of a Proviso in the said Statute contained hath not wrought that good effect in the Commonwealth as was hoped Be it therefore Enacted Ordained by this present Parliament and by the Authority of the same That the said Statute made in the said Five and thirtieth year of the said Quéen Elizabeth for and concerning the confining of the said Recusants under the pains and penalties therein contained shall by this Act and by the Authority of the same be confirmed and be hereafter put in due execution according to the tenour true intent and meaning of the said Statute in that behalf made Repeal of a Proviso in 35 Eliz. 2. And that the said Proviso in the said Statute contained giving power to grant Licence or Licences unto the said Recusants to go and Travel from or out of the compass of the said five miles shall be from and after the end of this present Session of Parliament utterly repealed and void Any thing in the said Statute to the contrary notwithstanding Then or after Convicted Vide Sect. 8. infra Giving power to grant Licence or Licences unto the said Recusants The Proviso in the Statute of 35 Eliz. cap. 2. here repealed is only that which there impowers the Justices of Peace For that is the only Proviso which gives power to grant Licences And the cause here alledged for the Repeal is the giving of sundry Licences to Recusants under colour of a Proviso in 35. which can be construed only of those which were to be given by the Justices of Peace and not of the other Licences given by 35. in several other cases so that the Proviso's there permitting the Popish Recusant to Travel in case of Process or commandment by Privy Counsellors or the Queens Commissioners or Proclamation to render his body to the Sheriff remain still in force and unrepealed and the Recusant may take the benefit thereof at this day Stat. Sect. 8. Provided nevertheless and be it further Enacted by this present Parliament and by the Authority of the same That it shall and may be lawful for the Kings most excellent Majesty his Heirs and Successors or for thrée or more of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council or for threé or more of the Privy Council of his Heirs or Successors in writing under the hands of the said Privy Counsellors Licence to a Popish Recusant confined to give Licence to every such Recusant to go and Travel out of the compass of the said five miles for such time as in the said Licence shall be contained for their travelling attending and returning and without any other Cause to be expressed within the said Licence And if any of the persons which are so confined by virtue of the said Statute as is aforesaid shall have necessary occasion or business to go and Travel out of the compass of the said five miles That then and in every such Case upon Licence in writing in that behalf to be gotten under the Hands and Seals of four of the Iustices of Peace of the same County Limit Division or place next adjoyning to the place of abode of such Recusant with the privity and assent in writing of the Bishop of the Diocess The effect of a Licence to be granted by four Justices of Peace or of the Lieutenant or of any Deputy Lieutenant of the same County residing within the said County or Liberty under their Hands and Seals In every of which Licence or Licences in writing so to be had and made shall be specified and contained both the particular cause of the said Licence and the time how long the said party licensed shall be absent in travelling attending and returning It shall and may thereupon be lawful for every such person so licenced to go and Travel about such their necessary business and for such time only for their travelling attending and returning as shall be comprized in the said Licence the said party so licenced first taking his corporal Oath before the said Four Iustices of the Peace or any of them who shall have Authority by virtue of this Act to minister the same that he hath truly informed them of the Cause of his Iourney and that he shall not make any causless stays And that all and every Licence hereafter to be made in this behalf contrary to the tenor effect and true meaning of this Statute shall be utterly void frustrate and of none effect Any thing in the said former Act or in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding And every person so confined which shall depart or go above five miles from the place whereunto he is or shall be confined not having such Licence and not having taken such Oath as aforesaid shall incur the pain and penalty and forfeit as a Recusant Convicted and passing or going above five miles from the said place whereunto he is or shall be confined by the said Statute of tricesimo quinto Elizabethae should do For the Kings most Excellent Majesty c. or for thrée or more of his Majesties most Honorable Privy Councel c. to give Licence to every such Recusant What recusants may be Licensed to travel above five miles By such Recusant is intended here such Recusant as is confined by the Statute of 35 Eliz. 2. and not only such as was mentioned in the foregoing Clause of recital For that recital is imperfect in that it mentions only the Popish Recusant Convicted Stat. 35 Eliz. 2 Imperfect recital here whereas 35 Eliz. speaks as well of the Popish
Recusant not Convicted who hath no certain place of aboad as of the Popish Recusant Convicted And the benefit of having Licences from the King or three Privy Counsellors by force of this Act is intended as well to the one as the other although the Convicted only are mentioned in the recital and this will plainly appear first by the following words here which impower the Justices of Peace to grant Licences and expresly extend to all persons confined by vertue of the said Statute that is the Statute of 35 Eliz. now it cannot be presumed that the makers of the Law intended any difference between the persons to be licenced by the King or Privy Counsellors and the persons to be Licensed by the Justices of Peace the only difference being in the manner of granting the Licence the power given to the King or Privy Counsellors being more absolute and not under such precautions as is that which is given to the Justices of Peace For the King or Privy Counsellors may grant a Licence to the Recusant to travel without any particular cause shewn in the Licence or the assent of any other person and without any Oath to be made by the Recusant which the Justices of Peace cannot do And there is no reason to think that the Power here given to the King or Privy Counsellors which in all other particulars is so much more absolute and extensive then that given to the Justices of Peace should be yet less extensive as to the persons to be Licensed Secondly It were absurd to think that the Makers of the Law intended to confer a greater priviledge upon the Recusant convicted whose Offence appears upon Record then to such as are not convicted Et ealis interpretatio in ambiguis semper fienda est ut evitetur inconveniens absurdum But if by such Recusant should be meant only such as are mentioned in the recital viz. those Convicted and not all who are Confined by 35 Eliz. It would follow that the Convicted Recusant who is the more notorious Offender may have a Licence without any cause shewn or Oath made But he who is not Convicted is barred of that priviledge and can apply himself only to the Justices of Peace for a Licence clogged with divers circumstances which are not required in a Licence granted by the King or the three Privy Counsellors Shall not impeach 35 El. 2. Much less shall this Recital of the Statute of 35 Eliz. impeach the express words of that Statute as if no other Popish Recusants were intended to be confined thereby but only such as are Convicted because no other are mentioned in the Recital For the Recital of an Act of Parliament in another Act of Parliament being only by way of Preface or Introduction cannot add to or diminish the Act recited or make it liable to any other construction then what shall naturally flow from the Act it self Vide Co. 4. Inst 331. Vide Stat. 35 Eliz. cap. 2. Sect. 3. Without any other cause to be expressed Here is one difference between a Licence by the King or three of the Privy Counsel Necessary business where requisite to a Licence where not and a Licence by Justices of Peace For by these it ought not to be granted unless the Popish Recusant hath necessary occasions or business But the Kings or Privy Counsellors Licence may be granted in any Case at the Recusants request Seals and Subscription Vnder the Hands and Seals An Indictment was brought upon the Statute of 35 Eliz. 2. for travelling out of the compass of five miles The Recusant pleaded a Licence under the Seals of four Justices of Peace and exception was taken to the Plea For that the Licence ought to have been under their Hands as well as their Seals Cro. Mich. 12 Jac. 352. Maxfeilds Case And this is a good exception for a Licence by Justices of Peace although in Writing is not sufficient without Seals and Subscription both Rolles 1. 108. C. 47. Mucclefields Case Four Justices Peace Of four of the Iustices of Peace And a Licence from less then four will not now serve since the repeal of the aforesaid Branch of 35 Eliz. touching Licences Stat. 35 Eliz. 2 and therefore the Case of Mucclefield Mich. 12 Jac. in Rolles 1. 108. C. 47. is misreported in that particular For there mention is made of a Licence from two Justices of Peace as if no more were then requisite and that Case could not be grounded upon the Proviso in 35 Eliz. which required only two Justices as well for the distance of time being nine years after the Repeal of the said Proviso as for that in the said Case of Mucclefield there is mention of a Licence under the Seals of the Justices of Peace and of the Oath to be taken by the Recusant neither of which was appointed by the said Proviso in 35 Eliz. but by this Statute of 3 Jac. which must therefore necessarily be there intended and not any Statute of 1 Jac. which is another mistake in the Report of that Case Vide the Case and the objections urged against the Licence there in question With the privity and assent in Writing of the Bishop c. the Lieutenant or of any Deputy Lieutenant An Information was brought against a Popish Recusant Convict for removing above five miles from the place of his confinement who pleaded a Licence from four Justices of Peace but the Plea was disallowed saith the Reporter because he did not set forth that the Licence was granted with the privity of the Bishop or Lieutenant Mich. 12 Jac. Moore 836. C. 1127. Mansfields Case Assent of a Deputy Lieutenant sufficient But yet if it had been granted with the assent of any Deputy Lieutenant residing in the County there 's no doubt but it had been good enough The Bishop Lieutenant or Deputy Lieutenant Five persons viz. four to Licence and one to assent who gives his assent must be a distinct person from the Justices of Peace who grant the Licence And therefore if one and the same person be a Justice of Peace and Deputy Lieutenant he cannot Act herein in both Capacities For una persona non potest supplere vicem duarum And if he Sign and Seal the Licence as a Justice of Peace the assent of some other Deputy Lieutenant or of the Bishop or Lieutenant must be had thereto or the Licence is void Cro. Mich. 12 Jac. 352. Maxfields Case Moore 836. C. 1127. Mansfields Case Rolles 1. 108. C. 47. Mucclefields Case And although the Rule be Quando duo jura concurrunt in una persona aequum est ac si essent in diversis yet that Rule holds not in such Cases where distinct persons are necessarily required by the Law Co. 7. 14. Calvins Case and here four persons are necessarily required to grant the Licence and another person to assent to it In Maxfields Case B. R. one exception to the Licence was Licence and
Colledges that now are or hereafter shall be received into the same being under the Degrée of a Baron before the President Master Provost Warden or other head or chief Governour of that Colledge Hall or House whereinto he shall be received and in the open Hall And all Doctors of Physick Doctors and Practisers of Physick and all other who practise Physick that now are or hereafter shall be admitted into the Colledge of Physitians in London before the President of the same Colledge for the time being And all Aldermen Sheriffs or Vnder-Officers whatsoever of the Cities and Towns Corporate Aldermen Sheriffs Under-Officers and Freemen of Cities and Towns Corporate and all such as hereafter shall be made Fréemen of the said City or Town Corporate before the Mayor Bailiffs or other Chief Officer of the said City or Town in the open Hall And to the intent that due execution may be had of the premisses without delay When the said persons shall take the said Oath It is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all the persons beforenamed who have any certain time limited or expressed when to take the aforesaid Oath shall at the time therein prescribed take the same and the rest within six months next after the end of this present Session of Parliament And be it further Enacted by Authority of this present Parliament Stat. Sect. 4. Who may tender the said Oath and to whom That it shall and may be lawful to and for any one of the Privy Council of your Highness or of your Heirs and Successors and to and for every Bishop within his Diocess to require any Baron or Baroness of the age of Eightéen years or above to take the said Oath and to and for any two Iustices of Peace within any County City or Town Corporate whereof one to be of the Quorum to require any person or persons of the age of Eightéen years or above under the Degrée of a Baron or Baroness to take the said Oath And if any person or persons of or above the said age and degrée now stand or hereafter any time shall stand and be Presented Indicted or Convicted for not coming to Church or not receiving the Holy Communion or Sacrament of the Lords Supper according to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm before the Ordinary or other having lawful power to take such Presentment or Indictment Then thrée of the Privy Council of your Highness your Heirs and Successors whereof the Lord Chancellor Lord Treasurer Lord Privy Seal or Principal Secretary to be one upon knowledge thereof shall require such person or persons to take the said Oath And if any other person or persons whatsoever of and above the said age and under the said degrée now stand or at any time hereafter shall stand and be Presented Indicted or Convicted for not coming to Church or receiving the Holy Communion or Sacrament of the Lords Supper according to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm before the Ordinary or any other having lawful power to take such Presentment or Indictment Or if the Minister Petty Constable and Church-wardens or any two of them shall at any time hereafter complain to any Iustice of Peace near adjoyning to the place where any person complained of shall dwell and the said Iustice shall find cause of suspition That then any one Iustice of Peace within whose Commission or Power such person or persons shall at any time hereafter be or to whom complaint shall be made as aforesaid shall upon notice thereof require such person or persons to take the said Oath For any two Iustices of Peace within any County City or Town Corporate c. The two Justices of Peace may require this Oath of any person that shall happen to be within their Jurisdiction although his habitation be in another County or Liberty For the Oath of Allegiance sequitur personam non locum This Oath sequitur personam non locum Bulstrode 2. 155. The King against Griffith al' To require any person or persons This is an enlargement of the power given to two Justices of Peace Power of Justices of Peace enlarged by 3 Jac. cap. 4. For thereby they could have required the Oath but only in some particular Cases vide that Statute Sect. 10. But by this Statute they may require it of any person whatsoever of competent age and under the degree of a Baron or Baroness Warrant to bring the party The Justices of Peace in this Case or the Justice of Peace in the following Case may make his or their special Warrant to the Constable to bring the party before the said Justice or Justices to take the Oath For the Statute by giving them power to require the Oath doth implicitely authorize them to make such a Warrant Quando lex aliquid alicui concedit conceditur id sine quo res ipsa esse non potest And it is against the Office of the Justices of Peace and the Authority hereby given them to go and seek the party Co. 12. 130. But the Constable cannot by virtue of such Warrant break the House Breaking the House where the party is For he is no Offender before he refuse the Oath or commit some Contempt to the King Ibid. And if any person or persons of or above the said age and degreée That is of the said age and above the said Degree of a Baron Persons above the degree of a Baron or Baroness For so the words must be taken viz. conjunctively and not of such who are of the degree of a Baron or Baroness and no more For the precedent words appointed that the Oath may be tendred to such by any Privy Counsellor or the Bishop of the Diocess in all cases although they were never Convicted Indicted or Presented But to such Noblemen or Noblewomen as are above that degree it cannot be tendred by virtue of this Act unless they have been before Convicted Indicted or Presented for not coming to Church or not receiving the Sacrament And in those Cases no less then three Privy Counsellors Quorum unus c. can tender it Co. 12. 130 131. And if any other person or persons whatsoever c. under the said Degreé A Baroness or any Woman above that Degree Noblewoman by Marriage who is not Noble by birth but only by Marriage becomes a Widow and takes a second Husband under the Degree of Nobility and is Convicted Indicted or Presented of Recusancy or complained of by the Minister c. to a Justice of Peace who finds cause of suspition The Justice of Peace may require her to take this Oath although she were once Noble For by her second Marriage she hath lost her Nobility and name of Dignity together with the priviledges of her Nobility Quando mulier Nobilis nupserit ignobili desinit esse Nobilis which is to be understood of Nobility acquired by Marriage For that which was gotten by
to any person or capable of any Legacy or Deéd of Gift or to bear any Office within the Realm and shall lose and forfeit all his Goods and Chattels and shall forfeit all his Lands Tenements and Hereditaments Rents Annuities Offices and Estates of Fréehold for and during his natural Life Stat. Sect. 2. He that conforms shall not incur the penalties aforesaid Provided always That no person sent or conveyed as aforesaid that shall within Six months after his Return into this Realm conform himself unto the present Religion established in this Church of England and receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper according to the Statutes made concerning conformity in other Cases required from Popish Recusants shall incur any the penalties aforesaid Within Six months after his return And not within Six weeks as Wingate tit Crowne numb 157. erroneously Stat. Sect. 3. What Justices shall hear and determine these offences And it is Enacted That all and every of the offences against this Statute may be inquired heard and determined before the Iustices of the Kings Bench or Iustices of Assize or Goal delivery or of Oyer and Terminer of such Counties where the Offenders did last dwell or abide or whence they departed out of this Kingdom or where they were taken Or of Oyer and Terminer Justices of Peace Justices of Peace here excluded cannot take an Indictment upon this Statute for no inferior Court shall take Authority by any Statute unless it be specially named Savile 135. C. 212. Agard and Candish And although Justices of Peace have in their Commission an express Clause ad audiendum terminandum and by that are Justices of Oyer and Terminer yet forasmuch as there is a Commission of Oyer and Terminer known distinctly by that name and the Commission of Peace is known distinctly by another name they shall not be included under the general words of Justices of Oyer and Terminer as was adjudged Hill 30 Eliz. B. R. in the Case of Richard Smith who was Indicted at the Sessions of the Peace in the County of Oxon upon the Statute of 5 Eliz. cap. 14. Stat. 5 Eliz. 14 of forging Deeds which impowers the Justices of Oyer and Terminer to inquire of hear and determine that offence and yet the Indictment before the Justices of Peace was quashed as taken coram non Judice Co. 9.118 Co. 3. Inst. 103. Cro. Eliz. 87. vide Cro. Mich. 39 40 Eliz. 601. Wilsons Case Ibid. Mich. 41 42 Eliz. 697. Hunts Case Or where they were taken Vide Stat. 3 Jac. cap. 4. 3 Jac. 4. Sect. 21. Provided also That if any person or Child Stat. Sect. 4. In what Case the offenders Lands shall be restored again so passing or sent or now being beyond the Seas shall after his return into this Realm conform himself to the present Religion established in this Church of England and receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper according to the Statutes made for or concerning conformity in other Cases required from Popish Recusants for and during such time as he or she shall so continue in such conformity and obedience occording to the true intent and meaning of the said Laws and Statutes shall have his or her Lands restored to them again Addendum Stat. xxv Car. ii c. ii An Act for Preventing Dangers which may happen from Popish Recusants FOR preventing Dangers which may happen from Popish Recusants and quieting the minds of His Majesties good Subjects Be it Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by Authority of the same That all and every person or persons as well Péers as Commoners that shall bear any Office or Offices Civil or Military or shall receive any Pay Salary Fée or Wages by reason of any Patent or Grant from His Majesty or shall have Command or Place of Trust from or under His Majesty or from any of His Majesties Predecessors or by His or their Authority or by Authority derived from Him or them within the Realm of England Dominion of Wales or Town of Berwick upon Tweed or in His Majesties Navy or in the several Islands of Jersey and Guernsey or shall be of the Houshold or in the Service or Imployment of His Majesty or of his Royal Highness the Duke of York who shall inhabit reside or be within the City of London or Westminster or within Thirty miles distant from the same on the first day of Easter Term that shall be in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred seventy threé or at any time during the said Term all and every the said person and persons shall personally appear before the end of the said Term or of Trinity Term next following in His Majesties high Court of Chancery or in His Majesties Court of Kings Bench and there in publick and open Court between the hours of Nine of the Clock and Twelve in the Forenoon take the several Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance which Oath of Allegiance is contained in the Statute made in the third Year of King James by Law established and during the time of the taking thereof by the said person and persons all Pleas and Procéedings in the said respective Courts shall cease And that all and every of the said respective persons and Officers not having taken the said Oaths in the said respective Courts aforesaid shall on or before the First day of August One thousand six hundred seventy thrée at the Quarter Sessions for that County or place where he or they shall be inhabit or reside on the Twentieth day of May take the said Oaths in open Court betwéen the said hours of Nine and Twelve of the Clock in the Forenoon And the said respective Officers aforesaid shall also receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper according to the Vsage of the Church of England at or before the First day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred and seventy thrée in some Parish Church upon some Lords day commonly called Sunday immediately after Divine Service and Sermon And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every person or persons that shall be admitted entred placed or taken into any Office or Offices Civil or Military or shall receive any Pay Salary Fée or Wages by reason of any Patent or Grant of his Majesty or shall have Command or Place of Trust from or under his Majesty his Heirs or Successors or by his or their Authority or by Authority derived from him or them within this Realm of England Dominion of Wales or Town of Berwick upon Tweed or in his Majesties Navy or in the several Islands of Jersey and Gernsey or that shall be admitted into any Service or Imployment in his Majesties or Royal Highnesses Houshold or Family after the First day of Easter Term aforesaid and shall inhabit be
or reside when he or they is or are so admitted or placed within the Cities of London or Westminster or within Thirty Miles of the same shall take the said Oaths aforesaid in the said respective Court or Courts aforesaid in the next Term after such his or their Admittance or Admittances into the Office or Offices Imployment or Imployments aforesaid betwéen the hours aforesaid and no other and the Procéedings to cease as aforesaid And that all and every such person or persons to be Admitted after the said First day of Easter Term as aforesaid not having taken the said Oaths in the Courts aforesaid shall at the Quarter Sessions for that County or Place where he or they shall reside next after such his admittance or admittances into any of the said respective Offices or Imployments aforesaid take the said several and respective Oaths as aforesaid and all and every such person and persons so to be admitted as aforesaid shall also receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper according to the Vsage of the Church of England within Thrée Months after his or their admittances in or receiving their said Authority and Imployment in some publick Church upon some Lords-day commonly called Sunday immediately after Divine Service and Sermon And every of the said persons in the respective Court where he takes the said Oaths shall first deliver a Certificate of such his receiving the said Sacrament as aforesaid under the Hands of the respective Minister and Church-warden and shall then make proof of the truth thereof by two credible Witnesses at the least upon Oath All which shall be inquired of and put upon Record in the respective Courts And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every the person or persons aforesaid that do or shall neglect or refuse to take the said Oaths and Sacrament in the said Courts and places and at the respective times aforesaid shall be ipso facto adjudged uncapable and disabled in Law to all intents and purposes whatsoever to have occupy or enjoy the said Office or Offices Imployment or Imployments or any part of them or any matter or thing aforesaid or any profit or advantage appertaining to them or any of them and every such Office and Place Imployment and Imployments shall be void and is hereby adjudged void And be it further Enacted That all and every such person or persons that shall neglect or refuse to take the said Oaths or the Sacrament as aforesaid within the times and in the places aforesaid and in the manner aforesaid and yet after such neglect and refusal shall execute any of the said Offices or Imployments after the said times expired wherein he or they ought to have taken the same and being thereupon lawfully Convicted in or upon any Information Presentment or Indictment in any of the Kings Courts at Westminster or at the Assizes every such person and persons shall be disabled from thenceforth to Sue or use any Action Bill Plaint or Information in Course of Law or to prosecute any Suit in any Court of Equity or to be Guardian of any Child or Executor or Administrator of any person or capable of any Legacy or Déed of Gift or to bear any Office within this Realm of England Dominion of Wales or Town of Berwick upon Tweed and shall forfeit the sum of Five hundred pounds to be recovered by him or them that shall Sue for the same to be prosecuted by any Action of Debt Suit Bill Plaint or Information in any of His Majesties Courts at Westminster wherein no Essoign Protection or Wager of Law shall lie And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the names of all and singular such persons and Officers aforesaid that do or shall take the Oaths aforesaid shall be in the respective Courts of Chancery and Kings Bench and the Quarter Sessions Inrolled with the day and time of their taking the same in Rolls made and kept only for that intent and purpose and for no other The which Rolls as for the Court of Chancery shall be publickly hung up in the Office of the Pettybag and the Roll for the Kings Bench in the Crown Office of the said Court and in some publick place in every Quarter Sessions and there remain during the whole Term every Term and during the whole time of the said Sessions in every Quarter Sessions for every one to resort to and look upon without Fée or Reward and likewise none of the person or persons aforesaid shall give or pay as any Fée or Reward to any Officer or Officers belonging to any of the Courts as aforesaid above the sum of Twelve pence for his or their Entry of his or their taking of the said Oaths aforesaid And further That it shall and may be lawful to and for the respective Courts aforesaid to give and Administer the said Oaths aforesaid to the person or persons aforesaid in manner as aforesaid and upon the due tender of any such person or persons to take the said Oaths the said Courts are hereby required and enjoyned to Administer the same And be it further Enacted That if any person or persons not bred up by his or their Parent or Parents from their Infancy in the Popish Religion and professing themselves to be Popish Recusants shall Bréed up Instruct or Educate his or their Child or Children or suffer them to be Instructect or Educated in the Popish Religion every such person being thereof Convicted shall be from thenceforth disabled of hearing any Office or Place of Trust or Profit in Church or State And all such Children as shall be so brought up instructed or educated are and shall be hereby disabled of bearing any such Office or Place of Trust or Profit until he and they shall be perfectly Reconciled and Converted to the Church of England and shall take the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance aforesaid before the Iustices of the Peace in the open Quarter Sessions of the County or place where they shall inhabit and thereupon receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper after the Vsage of the Church of England and obtain a Certificate thereof under the Hand of two or more of the said Iustices of the Peace And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That at the same time when the persons concerned in this Act shall take the aforesaid Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance they shall likewise make and subscribe this Declaration following under the same Penalties and Forfeitures as by this Act is appointed I A. B. do Declare That I do believe that there is not any Transubstantiation in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper or in the Elements of Bread and Wine at or after the Consecration thereof by any person whatsoever Of which Subscription there shall be the like Register kept as of the taking the Oaths aforesaid Provided always That neither this Act nor any thing therein contained shall extend be judged or interpreted any ways to