362 The HISTORY. of the PuMTANS. Chap. VIII. queen and a free people. It is entitled, an 11Eá for the punifhment of perfon ob. h, fitnately re/ufing to come to church, andperfitadingothers to impugn the queen's x592. LJ authority in ecclefla/iical caufes. It is here enacted, " That if any perfon 35 Etfa. " above the ageof fixteen (hall obflinately refufe to repair to fome church, cap. r. " chapel, or ufual place of common prayer, to hear divine fervice, for " the fpace of one month, without lawful caufe ; or (hall at any time, " ° forty days after the end of this fefion, by printing, writing, or ex- " prefs words, go about to perfuade any of her majefty's fubje&s to deny, " 0 withfland, or impugn her majefty's power or authority in caufes eccle- " fiaflical ; or (hall diffuade them from coming to church, to hear di- " vine fervice, or receive the communion according as the law directs; " or (hall be prefent at any unlawful affembly, conventicle, or meeting, " under colour or pretence of any exercife of religion, that every per- " ° fon fo offending, and lawfully convicted, fhall be committed to prifon " without bail, till they (hall conform and yield tiemfelves to come to " church, and make the following declarationof their conformity. TA B. do humbly confefs and acknowledge, that I have grievoufly " j, offended God, in contemning her majefly's godly and lawful go- a° vernment and authority, by abfenting myfelf from church, and from . hearing divine fervice, contrary to the godly laws and datutes of the realm, and in frequenting diforderly and unlawful conventicles, under pretence and colour ofexercife of religion ; and I am heartily forty for the fame, and do acknowledge and teftify in my confcience, that no " other perfon has or ought to have any power or authority over her ma- jefty. And I do promife and proteft without any di(ìmulation, or colour of difpenfation, that from henceforth I will obey her majefty's flatutes and laws in repairing tochurch and hearing divine fervice ; and to my utmoft endeavour will maintain and defegd the fame." But in cafe the offenders againft this fiatute, being lawfully convicted, u fhall not fubmit and fign the declaration within three months, then they " fhall ABJURE THE REALM AND GO INTO PERPETUAL BANISH :C MENT. And if they do not depart within the time limited by the " quarter feflions, or juflices of peace; or if they return at any time af- " terwards without the queen's licence, they (hall SUFFER DEATH 60 WITHOUT BENEFIT OF CLERGY." So that as the lord chancellor King obferved at the trial of Dr. Sacheverel, the cafe of the non-con- formifts by this act, was worfe than that of felons at common law, for thefe were allowed the benefit of clergy, but the others were not. This flatute was levelled again( the laity as well as the clergy; and the fevere executionof it with that of the aid of Elizabeth, in this and the follow- ing 6C ec t
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