Chap. VIII. 7he HIS T 0 R Y of tbe PuRITANS, 683 " have ufed for reducing all erring or di.ffenting perfons, and for corn.: Cl King JI "ffi . f 1" . h" h fi d larles • " pofing the unhappy di erences Ill matters? re .IgJOn,. w IC we oun 1671 . " among our fubjects upon our return; b~lt It bei~g evide~t by the fad~· " experience of twelve years, that there IS very little fruit of all thefe " forcible courfes, we think ouifelves obliged to make uft of that jitpream ) cc power in ecclejitiflical matters, which is not only inherent in us, but hath . cc been declared and recognized to be Jo, by ftveraljtatutes and acts of par- ~ " liament ; and therefore we do now accordingly i.ffue this our declaration, " as well for the quieting of our good fubjects in thefe points, as for inviting " fl:rangers in this conjuncture to come and live under us; and for the bet- " ·ter encouragement of all to a chearful following of their trades and " callings, from whence we hope, by the bleffing of God, to have " many good and happy advantages to our government; as alfo for pre- " venting for the future the danger that might otherwife arife, from pri- " vate meetings and feditious conventicles. " And in the firil: place, we declare our exprefs refolution, meaning " and intention to be, that the church of England be preferved, and re– " main entire in its doctrine, difcipline and govenmenr, as now it fl:ands " eil:abliilied by law ; and that this be taken to be, as it is, the bafis, " rule, and fl:andard of the general and public wodhip of God, and " that the orthodox conformable clergy, do receive and enjoy the reve– " nues belonging thereunto, and that no perfon, though of a different cc opinion and perfuafion, !hall be exempt from paying his tithes, or other cc dues whatfoever. And farther we declare, that no perfon !ball be ea– " pable of holding any benefice, living, or ecclefiail:ical dignity or pre– " ferment, of any kind in this our kingdom of England, who is not cc exactly conformable. '' We do in the next place declare our will and pleafure to be, " that the execution of all, and all manner qf penal laws in matters cc ecclffitiflical, againfl whatfoever fort qf non-conformijls or recufants, " ~e immediately jitjpended, and they are hereby fo.Jpended; and all :: JUdges, jud&e.s.of ailize and gaol delivery, !heriffs, jufl:ices of peace, mayors, bailiffs, and other officers whatfoever, whether ecclefiafl:i– " ea! or civil, are to take notice of it, and pay due obedience there– " unto. " And that there may be no pretence for any of our fubjeCl:s to conti– " nue their illegal meetings and conventicles we do declare that we !hall cc from time to time allow a fufficient number of places ~s they !hall be " defired, in all parts of this our kingdom, for the ufe ~f fuch as do not " conform to the church of England to meet and a.ffemble in order to " to their public wodhip and devoti~n, which places !hall be open and ,., free to all perfons, 4 S 2 "But
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