Chap: VU. Tl.Je HIST 0 R Y of the PuRITANS. 64-9 While the parliament were relieving the loyalifis, they encreafed the. ChKing I · burdens of the non-conformiils, for under colour of the late pretended ;f/~~ r · plots, they palied an aCt for Jitppr~/Jtizg Jeditious conventicies; the pre- ~ ._ amble to which having fet forth, that the feCl:aries, under pretence ofConventrcle d r· h · · 1 d · d · r: .o· h .o,ati16Car, ten er con,ctences, at t. etr m~eungs 1a c.ontnve w.urrec.c!Ons, t e ac• li. Chap. 4 • declares the 35th of queen E!tzabeth to be m full force, whtch condemns all perfons retufing peremptorily to come to church, after conviCtion, to banifhment, and in cafe of retllrn, to death without benefit of clergy. It enacts further, " that if any perfon above the age of lixteen, after the '' firft of July 1664, fball be prefent at any meeting, under colour or << pretence of any exerci(e of religion, in other manner than is allowed " by the liturgy or praCtice of the church of England, where i11all be " five or more perfons than the houfbold, fball for the firft offence fuf- " fer three months imprifonment, upon record made upon oath under " the hand and feal of a juftice of peace ; or pay a !urn not exceeding " five pounds; for the fecond offence fix months imprifonment, or ten " pounds; and for the third offence the offender to be banifbed to fome " of the american plantations ··(exceptit1g New England and Virginia), " for feven years, or pay one hundred pounds; and in cafe they return, " or make their efcape, fuch perfons are to be adjudged felons, and fuf- " fer death without benefit of clergy. Sheriffs, or juftices of peace, or " others commiOloned by them, are empowered to diliolve, diflipate, " and break up all unlawful Conventicles, and to take into cufiody fuch " of their number as they think fit. They who fuffer fuch conventicles " in their houfes or b.1rns, are liable to the fame forfeitures as other of- " fenders. The profecution is to be within three months. Married " women taken at conventicles are to be imprifoned for twelve months, " .unlefs their hufb1nds pay forty i11illings for their redemption, This " act to continue in force for th ree years after the next feffion of par- " liament." This was a terrible (courge over the laity, put into the hands of a Sad conjr·. fingle jufl:ice of peace, without the verdiCt of a J'ury, the oath of the quen;es ifrt 'zj b . { ffi . Th d fi f h . . tommijlers tfl or~er emg u Cle?t. .e e Jgn 0 t e P.arltament (~ays Rap:n), was andpeople. to dnve them to defpatr, and to force them Into real cnmes agamft the government. By virtue of this act, the gaols in the feveral counties were quickly filled with diffenting proteftants, while the papifis had the good fo~tt~ne to be covered under :he wing of the prerogative. Some of the mmtfters who went to church in fermon time, were difturbed for preaching to a few of their pariilioners after the public fervice was over; their houfe~ were broke ope~, and their hearers taken into cuftody ; warrants were tffued out for levy111g twenty pounds on the minifter, twenty pounds u.pon the houfe, and five [billings upon each hea-rer. If the money was VoL. Il. 4 0 dot
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