Neal - Houston-Packer Collection BX9333 .N4 1754 v1

2yo The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. VI. G¿,eea ment, whereby it is ena&ed, that " If anyperfon or perfons, fortydays Elizabeth, after the end of this feffion, (hall devife, or write, or rint or fet ISL vim) " forth any manner of book, rhyme, ballad, letter, or writing, contain- Siditio: " ing any falfe, feditious, or Ilanderous matter, to the defamation of the betters tofuf " queen's majefìy, or to the encouraging, furring, or movingof any in- fer death' " furreétion or rebellion within this realm, or any of the dominions to the 13 Eta% Y cap. 2. fame belonging : Or if any perfon or perlons (hall procure fuch books, rhimes, or ballads, to be written, printed, or publifhed, (the faid offence " not being within the compafsof treafon, by virtue ofany former flatute) " ° that then the faid offenders, upon fufficient proof by two witneffes, " (hall fufer deathand loft ofgoods, as in cafe of felony." This flatute was to continue in force only during the life of the prefent queen ; but within that compafs of time, fundry of the puritans were put to death by virtue of it. Statute a- In the fame feffion of parliament, another fevere law was made, which ga=aftfedu- like a two-edged fword cut down both papifls and puritans ; it was enti, yue,,;hefi,b_ tied, flu aFt to retain the queen'sfubfeas in their due obedience : By which .1etOs ea pepe- " it is made treafon, for any prieft or jefuit to feduce any of the queen's. ry. " ft) bjefis, from thee/lablifhed to the romifh religion. If any (hall recon- 3 Elie. `- cile themfelves to that religion, they (hall be guilty of treafon : And to cat'' " harbour fuch above twenty days, is mifprifionof treafon. Ifany one- " (ball fay mafs, he (hall forfeit two hundred marks and fuffer a year's im, prifonment ; and they that are prefent at hearing mats, (hall forfeit one " hundred marks and a year's imprifonment." But that the ad might be more extenfive, and comprehend proteflant non- conformifts, as well, .dad to oblige as papßs, it is further enaeled, " That all perfons that do not come to alLperfwtf sa "' church or chapel, or other place where common prayer is faid, ac, chore to cording to the ad of uniformity,. aorfeit twentypound ,. (hll forfei }? Ét er month to the queen, being thereof lawfully convicted, and fuffer imprifonment " till paid. Thole that are abfent for twelve months (hall,, upon certi- "" ficate made thereof into the King's-bench, betides their former fine, be " bound' with: two fufficient fureties in a bond of two hundred pounds, " for their good behaviour. Every fehoal-matter that does. not come to " commonprayer,, íha1l forfeit ten pounds a month, be difabled from teach, ]ti alter, " ing. fchool, and fuffer a year's imprifonment." This was. making IX. merchandize of the fouls of men (fays a reverend author).; for, it is P. rat a falcate, to fell mena licence to do,,that which the receivers of their mo, ney conceive to be unlawful. Bèfides the fine was unmerciful;. by the at of uniformity,, it was twelve pence a funday for not coming to.. church,, but now twenty pounds,a month; fo that the meaner peoplehad nothing_ to-expeél, but to rot in jails ; which made the officers unwilling to apt prehend.them., Thus the queen and her parliament tacked. the puritans to

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