Neal - Houston-Packer Collection BX9333 .N4 1754

go Tbe H 1ST 0 RY of the PuRITANS. VoL. II. K. Charles I. " in the fervice if the king and parliament, with full power and liberty ~ « to fend for any witndfes, and to examine complaints upon oath. And " you are to certify the names of fuch minifl:ers, with the charge and. " proof againfl: them to me." E: of ManIt is to be obferved, that the ~varrant is pointed Qnly againfl: thofe who cheHe.r's in- are immoral, or d!fo.fj"efled to tbe parliament, or had dejerted tbeir cures; Jlru f' 0 '" up- and was accompanied with i'!ftruflions, and a letter, exhortmg them to: s~~,'cier. the faithful and effeCl:ual difcharge of their truil. The infl:ruCl:ions were p. 117. to this effeCl:. Firji, " That they !hould be fpeedy and effeCl:ual in executing the '' ordinan ces, and fit in fuch places within the county that all parties, " by the eaiinefs of accels, may be encouraged to addrefs themfelves to· " them with their complaints. Secon11/y, " That they !hould ilfue their warrants, to fummon before " them fuch minifl:ers and wi tneffi:s, as the articles preferred againfl: them " !hould rLquire. 'Thirdly, " That the party accufed ihould not be prefent at the tak– " ing the depoiitions, becaufe of difcountenancing the witnelfes, and " dillurbing the fervice*; but when the depolitions were taken uwon " oath the party accufed !hould have a copy, and h ave a day given him " to return his anfwer in writing, and to m<tke his ddence within four~· " teen days, or thereabouts. · Fourthly, " They were to return both the accufation and defence " to Mr. Good and Mr. Ajbe the earl's chaplains, and upon;fuclneceiptS· " they !hould have further direCl:ions. Huib. Col. Fiflbly, " If the party acculed would not appear to make his defence, p. 3' 1. " they were to certify the caufe of his abfence, becaufe if tbey were " non-Pejidents, or in arms againjt tbeparliament, the earl would proceed " againfl: them. Sixthly, " It being found by experience, that' pariihioners were not " forward to complain of thei r minifl:ers, though very fcandalous ;. •·' fome being enemies to the intended reformation, and others [paring " their minifters, becaufe they favoured them in their tithes, and were " therefore efl.eemed quiet men; therefore they were required to call unto " them, fome well affeCl:ed men within every hundred, who having no " private engagements, were to be encouraged by the committees to " enquire " This was owing to the infolen t and unmannerly behaviou r of fame of the clergy be· ft>re the commiilioners; for the ordinance of Sept. 6. 1643. appoints, that the witnelfcs !hall be cxamineJ in their prefence; and that (ufficicnt warning !hall be given of the time ~nd place where the charge again!\ them lhould l>e proved.

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