6g6 The H 1ST 0 RY of the PuRITANs. VoL. II.' Cl King li 5th. Another afl to prevent and {upprefsftditious conventicles, 22 Car. II. ':6~;. · Ch. 5· Whereby any perfons who teach in fuch conventicles, are fubj~Cl: ~ to a penalty of twenty pounds for the fidl:, a.nd forty pounds for every fubfequent offence; and any perfon who permits fuch a conventicle to be ~eld in their boufe, is liable to a fine of twenty pounds; and jufiices of peace are empowered to break open do<;m where they are informed {uch conventicles are held, and take the offenders into cufiody. 6th. An a/J for prewnting dangers which may happen from popijh recu4 fonts, commonly called the tdf o!J, whereby (as aforementioned), every perfon is incapacitated from holding a place of trufi under tbe govern– ment, without taking the facrament according to the rites of the church of England. Confiquences By the rigorous execution of thefe laws, the non-conformifi miniil:ers of tltp· were feparated ftom their congregations, from their maintenance, from ~~~ i. pl.c:~. their houfes and families, and their people reduced to difirefs and mifery, or obliged to worfhip God in a manner contrary to the dictates of their confciences, on penalty of heavy fines, or of l::eing fhut up in a prifon among thieves and robbers. Great numbers retired to the plantations; but Dr. Owen, who was Chipping off his effects for New- England, was for– bid to leave the kingdom by exprefs orders from king CbarleJ himfelf. If there had been treafon or rebellion in the cafe, it had been jufiifiable; but when it was purely for non-conformity to certain rites and ceremonies, and a form of church government, it can deferve no better name than that of perjecution. Duke of• The houfe of commons from their apprehenfions of the growth of York's 2d. popery, and of a papifh fucceifor to the crown, petitioned the king marriage. againll: the duke's fecond marriage with the princefs of Modena, an italian papifi, but his majefiy told them, they were too late. Upon which the commons ftopt their money bill, voted the !landing army a grievance, and were proceeding to other vigorous refolutions, when the king Jent for them to the houfe of peers, and with a !11ort fpeech proro– gued them to January 7• after they had fat o.nly nine days. In the ?1ean time the duke's marriage was confummated, wah the conf:nt o~ the /rencb kincr which raifed the expectation of the roman cathoiics h1gber than t:l> ever. Further This induced the more zealons protefiants to think of a firmer union with fruitlejj atthe difienters ; accordingly Mr. Baxter, at the requefi of the earl of Or– ~:;~~:{;;J. rery, drew up fame propofals for a comprehenfion,. agreeably to t?ofe al– '"· ready mentioned. " He propofed that the meetmg-boufts of d1ifenters Baxter, part" thould be allowed as cbapels, till there were vacancies for them in the lll. P· uo." churches - and that thofe who had no meeting houfes fhould be " fchool-
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