THE Ignoramus Iustices Being an ANSWER to the ORDER of SESSIONS at Hicks's-Hall Bearing Date the 13th of January 1681. Wherein it plainly appears the said ORDER is against Law ALSO A short Account of all the ACTS that relate to Protestant Dissenters At this day in force against them which will appear only two viz. The Act made in the 22 year of this King intituled An Act against Conventicles The other called The Oxford Act or Five mile Act made in the 17 of this King AND ALSO An Account of such Acts as are in force against Popish Recusants which are now so industriously endeavoured by those Justices as well as others to be turned against the Protestant Dissenters And wherein it will plainly appear there is no ground for such Proceedings And hereunto is also added A brief Account of the Penalties and Forfeitures of those Acts and some Directions to the Officers that may be threatned or persuaded to Act by such Unwarrantable Orders from such Ignoramus Justices By Drawde Kekatihw London Printed for Ab. Green 1681. THE Ignoramus Iustices Being an ANSWER to the ORDER of SESSIONS at Hicks's-Hall Bearing Date the 13th of January c. THE Author hath no other Design in publishing these Sheets than what the worthy Justices of Middlesex pretend by their ORDER The good Peace and Welfare of the Countrey And here because the ORDER comes out in Form of a Proclamation with the King's Arms in the Front I shall treat it with all the Modesty and Civil Terms imaginable yet I must needs reflect in the Latine as the Form For the Title though it be not above three lines yet one of them is lame Latin it saith in the second line viz. Post festum Epiphanie fcilicet tertio decimo die Januarii c. Now with Mr. Adderly's good leave that drew up the learned ORDER it might better have been decimo tertio die Januarii And that in an ORDER published in this Magisterial Form Mr. Adderly should take no more care but stumble at the very Threshold is very strange something like his being heretofore mistaken in a Cause of his own against the Earl of Shaftesbury wherein he as ignorantly confesses in open Court that he had bought the place of Clerk of the Peace some time ago for a great Sum of Money which the Court observing Michael Term Car. told him That instead of helping himself by the abusive Action he had brought against the Lord he had now abused himself by that confession of buying his Place for now by Law he could not hold it having forfeited it as by the Act made in the 5th and 6th of Edw. VI. cap. 16. But to let Mr. Adderly alone and come to the order in Substance having done with the title and therefore not to medle with what has been said before in a late paper Intituled An Answer to the Justices of Middlesex Order as to their insinuating to the people their tender care of his Majesties Gratious Order which the Justices made as a preamble to theirs nor to mention what was there hinted in that paper of the Justices Acting contrary to the Vote of Parliament and the many other absurdities in their former Order of which that paper sufficiently as well as justly condemns But my design is to lay these Gentlemen more open as their Merits deserve from the second excellent Order The first Order I suppose was put forth as a Tryal of Skill or more properly an experiment was intended to be made by them whether or no the Constables and other Officers would willingly be made Informers by Intreaty Force or Compulsion at their Arbitrary will and pleasure of these Worthy Justices under a pretence of Law and it may be 't was to try how fit the Officers backs were for a Pack-Sadle or their Feet for wooden Shoes against the time that some men fear should be tried upon English Bodies if the Justices had this reach with them it was most excellent and rare tho it did not absolutely satisfie their full desires as indeed by this Order now they seem to own in part that is that full Obedience was not paid to the former Order of the 22 of December last by some which appears by their own shewing in this second Order viz. To which Order obedience was given by many of the said Officers but others appearing in Court did contemn their Authority for which contempt several fines were by the Court set upon them c. So thus it appears by their own shewing a kind of party perpale some did obey and some did not some did pin their Faith upon the Justices's Sleeves where no Law commanded them so to do as the By-gott Church men do upon the Popes and Priest Sleeves but others did not therefore they were fined for their Obstinacy and for not learning more Manners and Obedience to the Justices Order I had almost said Bulls Well then since it is so that some did obey and some did not in charity to those that did not I must take leave to consider the Point for these Non-Conforming Officers for their Comfort I may assure them that neither the Justices at the Sessions when that Order of December was made nor the Justices at the quarter Sessions when this Order of the Thirteenth of January was made had any power by the Conventicle Act of the 22 of this King to medle or make therewith as a Court either by such Orders as these or any other wayes as a Court at the Sessions and that appears thus in the 22d of this King viz. It shall and may be Lawfull to and for any one or more Justices of the Peace of the County c. Wherein the Offence aforesaid shall be committed And he and they are hereby required c. Upon Proof to him or them respectively made of such Offence either by Confession of the party or Oath of two Witnesses c. 22 sect To make a Record of every such Offence under his or their hands and Selas respectively which Record so made c. Shall to all intents and purposes be in Law taken and adjudged to be a full and perfect Conviction of every such Offender c. Now what agreement the Reader can find in this Clause with this Order is worthy the Consideration for this Clause saith expresly One or more Justices of the Peace shall act upon the Oath of two Witnesses and so make a Record and thereupon Act. And the Order saith That for not executing their Order grounded upon the Act as the Justices would have the World believe they have fined those Officers for not obeying the same though there is not one word in the Order that makes mention of a Conviction of any particular person upon Oath or a Record made before them of the Offenders which ought to have been done before any Constable or other Officer can or ought to obey them upon this Clause In the next place it appears not in this Clause nor
are not only intrusted with the Peace of the Kingdom but more than probable are endowed from above with the Spirit of Prognostication too or at least a very great foresight far beyond our late Parliaments for they could not see one half so far though I dare not mention that too much for fear of the snarling Popish Curs the word Parliament or House of Commons being but once named unless to Ridicule it is enough in our days to be Termed a Whigg or a Phanatick at least But may not this question be put without offence to any that is Why how come this jealousie now all of a sudden or Alamode de France more now than it hath been these 19 or 20 years last past can the Justices instance in one Riot or Disturbance of the Government either in Church or State all this while they have been Tollerated both before and since the Declaration for Indulgence by the Conventiclers and pray how comes it The Justices at the Court of Hicks's-Hall did not foresee it sooner but it may be the late Blazing Star hath now enlightned their eyes which before were darkened however if it be so the Conventiclers have cause enough for ought I see to be very angry at the Blazing-Star for enlightning their eyes now against them when a Parliament is so far off from helping them however the Justices are very modest for they only give it as their opinion but this their opinion they tell us makes them not sit still indeed if they should sit still it might be a thing of dangerous Consequence even no less than the hazard of the Church and the whole Kingdom if their Prognostications be true but I do not wonder if they cannot sit still themselves when all is in danger for by and in another part of the Order you will finde they cannot so much as let the Bishop sit still neither as we shall see hereafter But let us proceed further as to this part of the Order and you will finde that all the great cause of these Justices fear arises but from a very small thing next to nothing for they tell you They cannot sit still because of a few obstinate Persons rather by noise than number do disturb the Peace Now if it betrue that it be but a few it may be answered then what need all this noise of the Justices sure a few of these Conventiclers may easily be dealt with without all this ado as if the King and Kingdom were at Stake And if it be true that they make more a noise than number methinks the Justices should by the course at the Common Law silence their noises and not be beholding to the Act that gives the Court of Sessions no power at all to act by and how is it possible that such a few making a noise can disturbe the Peace of the whole Kingdom and bring ruine upon it as the Order affirms But to make a full mends for all their Jealousies and Fears in the next place they tell us viz. They do esteem in a Duty incumbent upon them to use all lawful Experiments which may beget Vnion amongst His Majesties Subjects c. Now here they have hit the Point Vniting of Subjects that is prosecute the Constables and Under-Officers because they will not turn Informers contrary to Law and Present and Convict the sober Protestant Dissenters that go to Meetings in a peaceable manner this is the Justices way or rather the Courts Order to have Union among His Majesties Subjects but I suppose the Order means Popish Subjects for no Man of Sense can say this is to unite the Protestant Subjects Well but what follows in the next place that the Justices at the Court may be both amiable and admirable and a Pattern and good Example to all Justices of other Counties as well as their own as they were in the late Addresses and Presentment they have gone a great deal further than the common sort of Loyal Subjects for being jealous I suppose of their own power by the Law of the Land you will find in the next place to shew their great Zeal for the Uniting of His Majesties Subjects they have not stuck to set the Bishops Courts to work to Excommunicate these few noise Hereticks for in the next Part of the Order it follows viz. It is therefore by this Court desired That the Lord Bishop of London will please by such methods c. to direct c. as in wisdom he shall c. within his Jurisdiction to use his utmost endeavors that all such Persons may be Excommunicated who shall commit Crimes deserving Ecclesiastical Censure c. So that by this it seems the very Justices themselves then believed they had not Law enough to punish those Conventiclers or else by the Order it shews them most cruel and inhumane What must the Conventiclers be punished both ways at once both Common Law and Canon Law Lose their Estates by the Act and their Souls by the Spiritual Court too This is sure more inhumane than France to their Dissenters that are fled over here they do but take away their Estates and Children but not their Souls that they escape over here with Well since it is so that the English Dissenters must be thus dealt with it is time to look about them and consider the Bishop's power as well as the Justices But before we say any thing of that we must consider the Order a little more as to this Head and that is how the Clergy came to be stirred up by the Lay-men to prosecute the People about their Souls health It is true we often find in the Popish time that the Clergy and great Bishops have often incited and stirred up the Magistrates and Lay-men to burn the Hereticks and keep them in Prison up the Writs De Heretico Comburendo and De Excommunicato Capienda and to supplicate the Courts for these Writs and Process against the Excommunicated but never was it heard before that the common Lawyers or Justices sued to the Bishops for their Fellow-Subjects and Brethren to be sent to Hell If this be Law and to keep the Peace of Middlesex then pray let us complain no more of the French King using his Protestants hardly for sure to any unbyass'd Man this looks ten times worse than the French Persecution being little less than to incite the Bishops to disturb the Publick Peace and to use an Arbitrary Power like their own designs But now after this malicious incitation of this Order to shew the reason of their instructing or inciting the Bishop to send the Souls of Hereticks to Hell they make this further improvement of it in case they can get the thing done and they have this great design in it that all such as are so Excommunicated do not only lose their Souls being given up to Satan but also they lose all their earthly Freedom and Enjoyments as English-men as the Justices by this learned Order conceive and
Punishment for one and the same Fact but that they shall be prosecuted by them first and then Excommunicated and then pay 12 d. a week all at a time To shew their Error and better inform their Judgments if they please to consider all Laws made for or concerning any such Church-matters do provide That if the Parties offending be once punished by the Civil Magistrate or once punished by the Church-Censures the Party so punished by either of them shall plead to the other Court that he was Sued or Prosecuted before in another Court for the same thing which Plea shall abate the Action or Libel To prove this you will find it Enacted in the very Statute the Order mentions 1 Eliz. Cap. 2. Sect. 24. And since we are now upon this Act as a farther Confirmation of what has been before touched on That the Justices as a Court of Sessions have no Power to act upon the Conventicle Act there being in that Act no power given them in that Act aforesaid so to do as in other Acts there is to confirm it further in this Act of 1 Eliz. there is a Clause on purpose That the Justices of Oyer and Terminer and Gaol-Delivery and Sessions of the Peace shall have power in their Sessions to hear and determine all Offences committed against that Act. And if those Justices of Middlesex can find such a Clause in the Conventicle-Act then undoubtedly they are right and their Orders of Sessions and General Warrants of Sessions good but unless they can produce such a power in that Act I am sure their Orders and Warrants are Illegal and Arbitrary But as to the Union mentioned hereof the Protestants and the Charity they intend to the Poor by gathering the Forfeitures of the Act to be given to the Poor Was it ever known before that Force and Prosecution of Penal Laws against one another was a way to Union Doth not Natural Reason tell us That English-men are to be dealt with by Lenity Persuasion and strong Arguments Force did never yet work upon English-men but Flattery hath And doth these Justices think That because they are intrusted with the Peace of Middlesex they are intrusted with the Souls Minds and Consciences of Men Now if they have that Trust too then I confess all is well and an Union will be had by their forcing without doubt otherwise not But I have this reason to believe that an Union cannot be had this way by prosecuting Men because I well know that if their Commissions were as large again as they are yet they cannot force Love and Union nor they cannot make a Man believe by Force though they may make a Man for Fear say he believes And as to their Charity and Good-works as they call it of prosecuting the Conventiclers for not coming to Church it cannot sink into any reasonable Mans brains that the Poor will be much the better for that Charity which comes by Blood that is the forcing of Mens Consciences methinks it looks like strange Charity But as to the two Acts mentioned that of 1 Eliz. and 3 Jacobi and all other Acts that are made against Popish Recusants which are now by these Justices and divers others designed to serve a turn against Dissenting Protestants from the Church of England in defiance of the thing called Parliaments for they have declared the Laws before-mentioned and all others made against Popish Recusants ought not to be put in Execution against the Protestant Dissenters and to be farther assured of that see the Vote viz. Sabbati sexto die Novembris 1680. Resolved Nemine Contradicente That it is the Opinion of this House That the Acts of Parliament made in the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James against Popish Recusants ought not to be extended against Protestant Dissenters But we must have a care too that the naming of Parliament Votes especially the House of Commons do not make worse for the Protestant Cause for in Truth the House of Commons have been so run down that for any one now to but speak of them or their good Votes and Intentions is to be stigmatized for a down-right Disloyal Person Well then since those Laws are threatned to be turned against Protestant Dissenters from the Church of England which Church was made by an Act of Parliament called the Act of Uniformity in the 13th and 14th of this King it may not be amiss to understand them what they are and how many they are See St … 13 and Car. 2. and the occasion of making them against the Papist that so the Protestants may make the better Defence against them if those Justices or any other shall make use of them as this Order seems to drive at We will begin with the first which is that mentioned in the Order viz. 1 Eliz. cap. 2. c. This Act was made immediately after the Queens coming to the Crown when she found nothing but Papists and Protestants in general for the word Puritan in those days was not known the light was not then so clear but she being a good Protestant and resolved to support that Religion with her wise Council cast about how to do it that the indifferent and moderate sort of Papists might not be disgusted and frightned from a closing with the Protestant Religion and therefore on mature deliberation it was concluded to go on gently as to the Reformation and not throw off all the Superstitious Ceremonies at once and therefore having a Pattern of Protestant Discipline made in King Edwards time she follows those Steps as near as may be in the beginning grafting upon King Ed. 6 Stock or rather Foundation which he by his wise and honest Councel layd and therefore the first Act she passed was to take off the Jurisdiction of the See of Rome and all coercive Power whatsoever from Ecclesiastical Persons and all was annext to the Imperial Crown of England so the Act 1 Eliz. cap. 1. The Title of that Act is viz. An Act to restore to the Crown the Antient Jurisdiction over the Estate Ecclesiastical and Spiritual and abolishing all Forreign Powers Repugnant to the same And in this Act power is given to the Queen to grant Commissions under the Broad Seal of England to such Bishops and Laymen as she should appoint to hold Ecclesiastical Courts and none might do it without upon pain of a Premunire see more of this Sect 15 16 17 18. and by this Act was repealed all Laws made in the time of Queen Mary for setling the Popes Authority in England The next Act was that mentioned in the Order which is called viz. An Act of Vniformity and Common Prayer and Service in the Church and Administration of the Sacraments Now this Common Prayer Book was composed and taken out of the Mass used before Ed. 6. Time and the way that was then taken to bring the Papists over to conform to it was to tell them as in truth it was but the Mass turned
into English for their better understanding and till the People were a little used to the Protestant Religion it was not thought rational to leave off all the Ceremonies at once but by degrees see the wise Courses of those times Now to prove that this Act was only intended against Papists is most plain because the whole Act runs for the beating down of Popish Fopperies and Superstitions of the Church of Rome and then again it is impossible it could be intended against any sort of Protestants for at that time a day there was but two sorts of People in England viz. Protestants and Papists now for the penalty of this Act it is very various but as to the coming to Church it is 12 d. a Week and this to be levied by the Church-Wardens and Over-seers of the Poor but I confess Church-Wardens c. must have a Warrant before they can distrein and that the Sessions have power to do upon Conviction see sect 14 and 15. But other offences Committed against the Act must be tryed by Peers see Sect 21. So that upon the whole matter if the Justices shall Execute this Act upon the Protestant Dissenters from the now Established Church of England yet the labour is more than the profit and therefore can do no great hurt The next Law in Force against Popish Recusants is the 23 Eliz. cap. 1. Intituled An Act to retain the Queens Majesties Subjects in their due obedience which begins thus viz. Where since the Statutes made in the 13 year of the Reign of the Queen our Sovereign Lady Intituled An Act against the bringing in and putting in Execution of Bulls Writings and Instruments and other superstitious things from the See of Rome c. And in the 5th Section of the said Act it goes on after divers Commands against Popish Recusants too viz. Be it also Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that every one above the Age of Sixteen Years which shall not repair to some Church Chapel 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 c. And being thereof lawfully Convicted shall forfeit c. for every month c. which he or she shall forbare Twenty Pounds c. 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 unto the Commissioners commonly called the Kings-Bench by the Ordinary of the Diocess Justices of Assize Gaol-delivery or Justices of Peace of the County where the Offender shall dwell be bound with two sufficient Sureties in the Sum of 200 l. at least to the good Behavior c. So that the whole drift and design of these two Acts appears most clear to be against Papists and Popish Superstitions for every Clause of the Act plainly speaks the same and to put this Act in Execution against the Protestants would be most absurd Sect. 9. The Justices at the quarter-Quarter-Sessions shall have power to inquire into the Offences against this Act except Treason And in case a person were Indicted upon this Act yet if he would conform in open Court c. that should discharge him of all but Treason mentioned in the Act so that the conforming were before Judgment given Sect. 10. The next Statute is of 29 Eliz. cap. 6. Intituled 29 Eliz. cap. 6. An Act for the more speedy and due Execution of certain Branches of the Statute made in the 23 year of the Queens Majesties Reign Intituled An Act to retain the Queens Majesties Subjects in their due Obedience This Statute is a further Explanation of the two former and only makes the Penalties greater for Popish Recusants Convicted in not frequenting Divine Service once a month And whereas the former Statute of the 23 was to be only 20 l. a month and bound to the good Behavior after Conviction this gives power to the Queen and her Heirs to take 20 l. per month for every month after such Conviction till they shall Conform and if default be made of payment of the 20 l. per mensem then the Queen may seize all their Goods and two parts of the Real and Personal Estate See the Act Sect. 4. And in the next Paragraph of this Statute Power is given That after the Indictment found by the Grand Jury that Proclamation shall be made at the Assizes Sessions or Gaol-delivery for the Person to appear and if he do not appear the next Assizes Sessions c. he shall stand absolutely Convicted See Sect. 5. more at large The next Statute against Popish Recusants is 1 Jac. cap. 4. 1 Jacob cap. 4. which confirms all the former Statutes made against Popish Recusants in the Queens time with some small additions touching their being discharged though Convicted upon their Conformity to hear Divine Service as by those former Acts of Hers directs and that it plainly appears to mean and intend none but Jesuits and Popish Priests and other Popish Recusants appears manifestly not only in the Title but in the first Section of the Act it self and so throughout the Title is viz. An Account for the due Execution of the Statutes against Jesuits Seminary Priests Recusants and begins tus viz. For the better and more due Execution of the Statutes heretofore made as well against Jesuites Seminary Priests as also against all manner of Recusants Be it Ordained and Enacted by this present Parliament That all and every the Statutes heretofore made in the Reign of the late Queen of famous Memory Elizabeth as well against Jesuits Seminary Priests and other Priests Deacons Religious and Ecclesiastical persons whatsoever made ordained or professed or to be made ordained or professed by any Authority or Jurisdiction derived challenged or pretended from the See of Rome c. together with all those made in the said Queens time against any manner of Recusants shall be put in due and exact Execution c. So that by this Act and all the Clauses in it can mean nor intend nothing but what the former did which was against Popish Recusants The next Act against Popish Recusants is 3 Jacob. cap. 4. viz. Intituled An Act for the better discovering and repressing Popish Recusants it begins thus Forasmuch as it is found by daily Experience that many of His Majesties Subjects that adhere in their hearts to the Popish Religion by the Infection drawn from thence and by the wicked and devilish Counsels of Jesuits Seminary Priests and other like persons dangerous to the Government of the Church and State c. as evidently appears by that more than barbarous and horrible attempt to have Blown up with Gun-powder the King Queen Prince Lords and Commons in the Houses of Parliament assembled c. This shews plainly the Act was designed against the Papists only not only by the Title and the words of the Act rehearsed but that the reason of making this
no other in the whole Act that the Order is rightly grounded for the general or quarter Sessions have no power in the least to make any Orders upon the Act nor indeed to act upon this Law unless by way of Appeal of the Defendant and at his instance against the Justices actings upon the Convicting of any one by the Witnesses this appears most plain in the sixth Section viz. Provided c. That in all Cases of this Act where the Penalty or Summe charged upon any Offender exceeding the Summe of ten shillings and such Offender shall find himself agrieved it shall and maybe lawful See se … c. To appeal in Writing c. To the judgment of the Justices of the Peace in the next quarter Sessions c. Now here is all that is mentioned in the Act that Relates to the Sessions and whether this will any way support the Order or is directly opposite to the Order let the Reader be judge and certainly if those Justices as they pretend have fined any person for not obeying their former Order by which the Officers were commanded to turn Informers and to give in their Information at the next Sessions I doubt not but these Persons so fined or Imprisoned will Traverse those Fines and take a legal Course with those Justices that Committed them because they would not Act upon such unlawful Warrants and Orders which have no Coherence with the Act. And this I must observe by the way that all Penal Statutes especially such an one as this which convicts a man without Juries must be exactly observed to the very Letter and not to the extravagant sence of Petty Justices which will pull business into their Courts of Sessions that they have not the least warrant or colour for and against the express Law they pretend to Act by In the next place the Order goes on viz. And whereas this Court hath thought fit to make another Order to the same end and purpose and hath given the said Officers time to make their return upon it the first day of the next quarter Sessions c. Which mild way of proceedings this Court hopes will prevail upon the mimdes of all Sober Persons both Preachers and Hearers in Conventicles to avoid all occasions which may induce this Court to inflict such Penalties upon them as by Law are appointed to such Offenders c. Now be pleased to marke the Coherence of this wise Order not only in that there is no semblance with the Act but how it is jumbled together as if the Constables and Officers c. were not the persons spoke to for to do the Justices Work but as if their Order should hit the Conventicles through those under Officers or as if by threatning the sending of Thunder-bolts amongst the Constables c. Under the name of a Court should hit every man else whom they imagine are Conventiclers let us consider a little this wise Order in this part for as it saith Since they did not do their Duty before but was obstinate some of them now they shall have longer time and why longer time because the Conventiclers being supposed Sober men may thereby take warning by the Court Now I would know of those Justices if in the whole Act any mention is made of a Court to have any such power in the next place what have the Conventiclers if Sober men to do between the Constables c. And the Justices certainly if the Conventiclers be sober or not sober they have no concern in the Justices and the Constables quarrels at least till by name they are convicted but how can this stand with reason that the Justices pretend viz. Thai Seditious Conventiclers are disturbers of the Peare as by the Order and the Act seemes to confirm and yet at the same time the Order calls such Sober men certainly it was the first time that ever any Court called Disturbers of the Peace sober Men but if it shall be admitted by the Justices that all Conventiclers are sober Men now will that agree with the same Order in the next Part that calls Breakers of the Peace and a danger even to the Monarchy it self and keep up the Divisions that are amongst us certainly no sober Man can do such things yet all such Men as do meet in a Seditious Riotous manner under colour of Religion with Force and Arms do break the Peace and therefore cannot be called sober Men. But I suppose the Justices have this reach with them that since they have made the first learned Order and no notice taken of it they are resolved by this Order to shew themselves moderate Men such as would do something to continue their places though it be but to make a noise in the County Therefore I shall say no more to them as to this part of the Order only but that if sober Men do meet to worship and serve God by singing of Psalms Praying and Preaching not under a pretence of serving of God but in reality then both as a Court or as single Justices nor yet their Officers whom they so hotly pursue can meddle or touch such by this Act or any other Law And if they have any Information of any other Meetings they will do well to extend their power for the suppressing them so far as the Act of the 22 of this King or the Common Law allows them And if they venture farther let them look to it there is the same Law against them as against other Men. There is another passage cannot be omitted to be taken notice of in that Order which is viz. Which in all probability will destroy both Church and State This is the Opinion of this Court and of the Justices with whom His Majesty hath been pleased to intrust the Peace of this County which makes them not sit still and suffer a few obstinate Persons rather by noise than Number to disturb the peace of it Well done careful Justices of Middlesex what a Comfort must it needs be to His Majesty that He hath been blessed with such good Justices careful diligent foreseeing men But now I would fain know if these good Justices of Middlesex are only intrusted with the Peace of the County or if the High Sheriff of Middlesex and the Lieutenants Deputy Lieutenants High Constables Petty Constables c. Are not as well trusted with the care of keeping the Peace as well as the Justices though indeed they are not Justices upon the Bench yet sure as great a Trust if not greater is reposed in these Officers as well as these worthy Justices and therefore in Civility sure it had not been amiss if these Justices had given a little Honour to others as well as all to themselves but let them a lone at present and let us come to the matter more fully than to dispute their Stewardship They tell us Conventicles in all probability will destroy both Church and State from whence we may perceive that they
as you will see was because of the Powder-Plot and the purport of this Act all along is only to reinforce all the rest of the Acts against Popish Recusants in not coming to Church and to discover them by the Test and receiving the Sacrament once a year as an additional Tryal of the reality of the Papists Conforming For that it appears in the next Section of the Act That some of them did come to Church and heard Divine Service to save the Penalties in the former Acts and yet continued Papists in their hearts Therefore by this Act they were all to take the Sacrament once a year See Sect. 3. which Enacts viz. And if any Recusant of conformed shall refuse to take the said Sacrament of the Lords Supper accordingly he or she shall for such not refusing lose and forfeit for the first year 20 l. and for the second year for such not receiving 40 l. and for every year after for such not receiving 60 l. until he or she shall have received the said Sacrament c. And by the fourth Section of this Act the Church-Wardens and Constables are to Present the Monthly Absence from Church of all and all manner of Popish Recusants within their Town c. Which by the way it is to be observed from this Act that no man can be Prosecuted or Presented upon this Act or any other it intends which are all the former rehearsed unless they be Popish Recusants for so are the express words of the Act and without doubt should any busie Officer whatsoever Present or Prosecute any Person other than a Popish Recusant the Person so Presented may join Issue that he is no such Person as these Acts intend being not a Papist Now these Acts also give the Justices at their Sessions Power to inquire into the Offences committed against the Acts but in the Justices Order they have quite forgot the Popish Recusants where they have a Power to do and meddle with that wherein they have no Power and therefore ought to make that good Confession in the Book of Common-Prayer viz. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done and have done those things which we ought not to have done and there is no truth in us These are all the Acts that are now in Force against Popish Recusants for not coming to Parish Churches and taking the Sacrament as the Act directs and because it may as well appear what is or hath been made against the Puritan Sectaries and Conventicle I shall here briefly set them down in order and to begin with the first and that is the Statute of 33 Eliz. cap. 1. Intituled An Act to retain the Queens Majesties Subjects in their due Obedience 35 Eliz. cap. 1. And the Reader will find that this is the first Law that ever was made against Sectaries and Seditious Conventicles and this Act is indeed beyond all dispute only made against them and the Popish Recusants are excepted out of it as will appear by the Act And because the Reader may the better judg the true difference between this Act and those made against Popish Recusants as to the very express Terms I have hereinserted verbatim the first Paragraph of the Act. The Act begins thus viz. For the preventing and avoiding of such great inconveniences and perils as might happen and grow by the wicked and dangerous practices of Seditious Sectaries and Disloyal Persons Be it Enacted by the Queens most Excellent Majesty and by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled and by the Authority of the same That if any Person or Persons above the Age of sixteen years which shall obstinately refuse to repair to some Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer to hear Divine Service established by Her Majesties Laws and Statutes in that behalf made and shall forbear to do the same by the space of one Month next after without any lawful cause shall at any time after forty days next after the end of this Session of Parliament by Printing Writing or Express Words or speak advisedly or purposely Practice or go about to make or perswade any of Her Majesties Subjects or any other within Her Highnesses Realms or Dominions to deny withstand or impair Her Majesties Power and Authority in Cases Ecclesiastical United and Annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm or to that end and purpose shall advisedly or malitiously move or perswade any other Person whatsoever to forbear or abstain from coming to Church to hear Divine Service or to receive the Communion according to Her Majesties Laws and Statutes aforesaid or to come to or be present at any unlawful Assemblies Conventicles or Meetings under colour or pretence of any Exercise of Religion contrary to Her Majesties Laws and Statutes or if any Person or Persons which shall obstinately refuse to repair to some Church by the space of one Month to hear Divine Services as it aforesaid shall after the said forty days either of him or themselves or by the motion perswasion inticement or allurement of any other willingly joyn in or be present at any such Assemblies Conventicles or Meeting under colour or pretence of any such Exercise of Religion contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm as is aforesaid that then every such Person so offending as aforesaid and being thereof lawfully Convicted shall be committed to Prison and there to remain without Bail or Mainprise until they shall conform and yield themselves to come to some Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer and hear Divine Service c. The next Clause is if they did not Conform within three months after Conviction they were to be banished and so the Act goes on to Felony at last as you may see more at large in the Statute And to shew that this Act was wholly intended against the Sectaries or Puritans so called in those days and not against the Popish Recusants is clear by what hath been laid down but that it may not be objected by the Enemies of the Dissenting Protestants now that all those Acts as well as this are to be taken and Construed in Law to be one and the same and that all the aforementioned Acts of Eliz and King James are equally to be applyed to all Dissenters from the Established Church of England I do say and affirm that cannot be for the Popish Recusants by this Act are not at all-touched nor could be Prosecuted upon it For that in the 12 Sect. of this Act 〈◊〉 12. it is there particularly provided that no Popish Recusant or Feme-Covert shall be compelled or bound to abjure by vertue of this Act. Then it necessarily follows certainly if the Popish Recusants shall not be punished by this Act made against Sectaries and Seditious Conventicles That these Sectaries and Conventiclers being Protestant Dissenters as their Adversaries will have it Protestant Recusants for that is it they aim at to
colour the laying the other Acts upon them That then these Protestant Sectaries Conventiclers or Protestant Recusants shall not be Prosecuted upon those Laws made only against Popish Recusants for if it should be then you leave the Protestant Recusants in a far worse Condition than the Papist the one being provided for and not the other But that I have said about this Act comparing it with the other made against Popish Recusants is only to shew the unreasonableness of the Justices opinion for the Reader must know that I have only mentioned this Act of the 35th of Eliz. but to shew the nature of the one as well as the other for that this Act of the 35th Eliz. is not in force now although it is confessed it was thought to be in force until the expiration of the Conventicle Act made in the 16th Year of this King but both expired about one Year since for that of Eliz. and the Act of the 16th of this King were in nature one and the same And that of the 16th of this King did as some think revive the 35th of Eliz. by declaring it in force but how long Why it could not be declared for a longer time than it self lived which dyed about the time aforesaid both being but Temporary Acts. And indeed it was a happy turn for this Nation for had those two Acts been in force which were sanguinary Laws much mischief might have accrued to the People of this Kingdom but God be thanked they are gone and have left none behind them to punish the Conventiclers and the Nonconformist Ministers who did not conform to the Act of Uniformity made in this Kings Reign But the Conventicle Act made the twenty second of this King and the Act commonly called the Five Mile or Oxford Act which is all can be raked up against the Dissenting Protestants by Law as I conceive at this day which two Acts I shall a little consider and first for the Oxford or Five Mile Act made in the 17th of this King Cap. 2. Intituled Car. 2. 〈◊〉 2. An Act for restraining Nonconformists from Inhabiting in Corporations by this Act all such Persons as are in Holy Orders Ecclesiastical Persons as well as others that did not conform to the Act of Uniformity made the 14th of this King and shall take upon them to Teach or Preach c. in any Meeting Parish-Church c. shall forfeit for every such Offence the summ of 40. l. to be inquired of in any Court at Westminster or Oyer and Terminer Great Sessions of Wales or Justices of the several quarter-Quarter-Sessions of the Peace the forfeiture one third to the King one third to the Poor and one third to the Informer and in the same Act Sect. 3. and 4. No such Minister Teacher c. shall teach School or live inhabit or abode in any Corporation or within five Miles of the same or where he last had a Benefice or near any Borrough that sends any Members to Parliament upon the Penalty of 40. l. c. But note that if on a Jury he may pass or live in any such Corporation or appear upon Summons or Sub-pena In the 5th Section two Justices together in any County where the Offence is committed upon Oath to them made of the Offence against this Act to commit the Offender to Prison for six Moneths without Bayl c. unless the Party so brought before the Justices will take the Oath mentioned in the Act which is viz. I A. B. do swear that it is not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take Arms against the King and that I do abhor that Trayterous position of taking Arms by his Authority against his Person or against those that are commissioned by him in pursuance of such Commissions and that I will not endeavour any alteration of Government either in Church or State These are the Penalties of this Act and if a Person be so convicted before the Justices if he takes this Oath he saves himself from their Power and from the Imprisonment which is all they can do out of a Court of Sessions the two Justices having not Power to convict as to the 40. l. Penalty And as for the Act of the twenty second of this King for suppressing seditious Conventicles under pretence of Religious Worship where the Conventiclers meet together under a pretence of Religious Worship and not according to the Liturgy and Practice of the Church of England if any such there be the Justices knowing such by the Oath of two Witnesses may make a Record thereof and the Persons so offending and convicted before them the Justices have power to Issue out their Warrants to the under Officers to levy the summ of 5. s. a piece upon each Hearer and 20. l. upon the Preacher and 20. l. upon the House and in case of Insufficiency of the Hearers 10. l. upon any Person present at the same Meeting in lieu of such conceived not able to pay and it must appear upon Oath before those Justices by two Witnesses or confession of the Parties that it is a seditious Conventicle met together for the disturbance of the Peace under pretence of Religious Worship and it must also be sworn before any Conviction can be had against any man or Woman that the People that were met together was not according to the Liturgy and Practise of the Church of England which is next to impossibility to do in the Case of most Meetings in London and Middlesex and whoever acts upon that Act must be sure he goes not beyond the last but they that shall act as the Order of the Justices Commands outruns both the Law and the Constable that must answer for the same at the pleasure of him or her that is agrieved and all the Wit in the Justices head cannot save them that do act such things as in that Order is contained for the Law will find them out though for a time they may save themselves from the Power of a Parliament whom they seem to affront and scorn by acting contrary to the very sence of the Nation declared by their Representatives I shall only add some small Notes of Directions to the Constables and Vnder-Officers who may easily be led into a Snare by such Orders and General Warrants and when they are in will find it hard to get out And first I affirm That no Constable ought to execute any Order at all as an Order of Sessions or a General Warrant from the Sessions in prosecuting this Conventicle-Act for the Law has plainly prescribed another Prosecuon and they must exactly follow it and not meddle with any other form or manner than as the Law directs and the Constables are not to be afraid of the Justices for they are as well punishable if they act contrary to Law as the Constables and Under-Officers are either by Indictment or Action of the Party grieved And as for their General Warrants printed and dated the 21 of
January I conceive them to be as Arbitrary and Illegal as their Order of Sessions for that it commands them to turn Informers upon their Oath to the Justices at Hicks-Hall Now under their favor there is no such thing can be done for the Sessions as is before declared have no power in the matter and if they had they cannot force a man to be an Informer upon his Oath or otherwise whether they be Constables or other Officers or not In the next place General Warrants are not legal to apprehend any man upon suspicion of a Fact that may or is like to be committed and that Officer that acts by such General Warrant if he shall apprehend any Person thereon and it prove that the Person so apprehended be innocent of the Crimes charged upon him the Constables or other Officers are accountable for the same as false Imprisonment for that General Warrant will not bear the Officer harmless In the next place as to breaking open of Doors the Constable had best have a care of that too for if through a wrong Information he break open any door other than the Act directs which is only the Meeting-house in case of Refusal to enter the Constable may be undone notwithstanding his Warrant Nor will the Act bear any Constable or other Officer out for doing any thing about the Conventicles unless he have first a Certificate of such a Meeting from some Justice of Peace and then he may go and if he find any Seditious Conventicles which tends to the breaking the Peace he ought to execute his Warrant so far as is agreeable to the Act but to turn Informer Promoter or Eastee-man unless in case of a Riot or such like the Constable can do no such thing but at his own Peril In the next place the Warrant commands you the Constables to assemble the Headboroughs Churchwardens c. to agree together for putting the said Order in execution This you may do if you will or let it alone and much better than do it for this is to make your Office more burdensom than ever the Law intended it and is more than all or any Justice in England can command you for the thing they command you is not warranted by Law nor is it practicable nor indeed scarce possible and the very Justices themselves must own it if they consider this how impossible it is for any number of Men to be forced to agree together I would have the Justices explain themselves what they moan by it that you shall force them to agree with you Constables Will they order you to beat them or imprison them or put them in the stocks if they will not agree with you the Constables But if you have such an Order and are resolved to obey it take care you have good Security from the Justices to indempnisie you or else it may chance you may suffer as a Constable though not as a Justice Then in Case a Certificate shall come to your hands under the Justices Hands of a Meeting in such a place if you receive it you may go but if you find none you are not oblidged to go the second time upon the same Certificate without a fresh notice unless you want work and if you find any Meeting and see any persons there which are named in your Warrant you ought to bring them if you can but for the Justice to impose on you the Constables the proof against such as you find that the Justices cannot do unless you will your self and to force the Officer to swear that goes to seize is almost impossible for unless the Officer were there all the time of the Meeting he cannot swear it a Conventicle for he must swear what the people did and that there was nothing done all the whole time of the Conventicle but what was contrary to the Liturgy and practice of the Church of England and how any man can do that it ought to be well considered before it be done lest he pay for it another day FINIS