Chap.I. The HISTORY of the PURITANS. 461 " which the commiffion is authorized, has been found dangerous and in- Kingamesl. " convenient on many accounts : t r6V Firfi, " Becaufe it enables the making fuch commiffion to one fubjeët Reafons for " barn as well as more. amending the Secondly, " Becaufe under colour of fome words in the fiatute, where- m ofPIP"- by the commißioners are authorized to ad according to the tenor and ` " efeci of your highnefs's letters patent, and by letters patent grounded " thereon, they do fine and imprifon, and exercife other authorities not belonging to the ecclefiaflical jurifdiciion,- refiored to the crown by this " flatute; for by the fame rule your highnefs may by your letters patent " authorize them to fine without Clint, and imprifon without limitation of e< time ; as allo according to will and difcretion, without regard to any " laws fpiritual and temporal; they may impofe utter confifcation of 4° goods, forfeiture of lands, yea and the taking awayof limb and life it- " felt, and this for any matter appertaining tofpiritual jurifdidion, which " could never be the intent of the law. 'Thirdly, " Becaufe the king by the fame ftatute, may fet up an cede- " fiaflical commiffion in every diocefe, county, and parith of England; " and thereby all- jurifdiclion may be taken from bifhops- and transferred " to lay-men. Fourthly, " Becaufe every petty offence appertaining to fpiritual -ju- e° rifdiouion is by colour of the Paid words and letters patent made fubjell to excommunication, whereby the fmalleft offenders may be - obliged to travel from the moil remote parts of the kingdom to London; " to their utter ruin. Fifthly, " Becaufe it is very hard,- if not impoffible, to know what " matters or offences are included within their commiffion, as apper- c° taining to fpiritual andecclefiaflical jurifdiâion, it being unknown what " ancient canons or laws fpiritual are in force. " As for the common erclefia,/lical itfelf, grounded ontheflatute above= and for re- " mentioned, it is a very great grievance, becaufe forming the ecoleftallical a. " The fame men have both fpiritual and temporal jurifdiélion, and eommjiora. " may -force the party by oath to accule himfelf, and alto enquire " thereof by a jury; and laf.{ly, may infliét for the fame offence, -and " at the fame time, by one and the fame fentence, both a fpiritual and temporal punifhment. 2. Whereas upon fentences of deprivation or other fpiritual cenfures, " given by force of ordinary jurifdi&ion, an appeal lies for the party " 0 grieved; this is here excluded by exprefs words of the common. Allo, " here is to be a trial by a jury, but no remedy by traverfé or attaint. " Nor can a man have any writ oferror, though judgment be given againft " him amounting to the taking away all his goods, and imprifoning him " for
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