| Chap. 30. |
Conventicles.
' If any Subject of Sixteen years of age shall be
present at any meeting
' under pretence of Exercise of religion in any place, at which are
present
' Five persons, besides those of the House, if it be in a House inhabited,
' or if in a House, Field, or place where no Family is then, if above
' Five persons be present, any one or more Justices of that Liberty, or
the
' chief Magistrate upon proof of the Offence by Confession, or two Witnesses,
' or notorious evidence and circumstance of the Fact, to make a
' Record, which shall be a conviction, and to impose Five shillings a fine
' on every Offender, which shall be certified at the Quarter Session; and
' for the second Offence Ten shillings, which fines shall be levied by
Distress
' and Sale, and if poor, on any person present at such Conventicle,
' and convicted at discretion, so as such sum to be levied on any other,
' exceed not Ten pound at one meeting, 22 Car. 2. |
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' The Constable, Headborough, Tithingman, Church-warden,
or Overseer
' to levy it by Warrant, under the Hand and Seal of such Justice, or
' chief Magistrate, and to deliver it to the Justice, or chief Magistrate,
one
' part to the King, so paid to the Sheriff, viz. To be delivered
into Sessions,
' and they to deliver it to the Sheriff, and to make a Record of it,
' and to certifie it into the Exchequer, another third part to the poor,
and
' the other third part to such Informer, or other person as the Justices
shall
' appoint, having respect to their industry thereabouts. 22 Car.
2. |
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' Every Preacher in such Conventicle shall forfeit
Twenty pound to
' be levied by Distress and Sale, and if he be a stranger, or unknown,
or is
' fled, or cannot be found, or the Justices shall judge him unable to pay,
' the Justice may levy the same on the Goods of any persons then present,
' to be disposed of as aforesaid. And for the second Offence the
Preacher
' to forfeit Forty pound, to be levied and disposed of, as aforesaid.
22 Ca. 2. |
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' The person that suffers such Conventicle in his
House, &c. shall forfeit
' Twenty pound, to be levied and disposed of, as aforesaid. No person
' shall be liable to above Ten pound at any one meeting in respect
of hte
' poverty of any person. 22 Car. 2. |
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' Where any sum charged on such Offender exceeds
Ten shillings, he
' may within a week after it is levied, appeal in writing to the Sessions,
and
' leave it with the Justices, whither the party convicting shall return
the
' Money, and the whole record and Evidence under Hand and Seal, to
' which the Appellant may plead, and it shall be tried by a Jury, and if
he
' do not prosecute, or shall not be acquitted, or Judgment shall not pass
' for him; the Justices shall give treble costs, and no other Court shall
' meddle with Appeals, and the Appellant is to enter into a Recognizance
' before the person convicting to prosecute his Appeal, which shall be
also
' certified to the Sessions. 22 Car. 2. |
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' The Justices, or Constables, Tithingmen, and Headboroughs
by Warrant
' from them, with what aid they think fit, upon refusal enter the House
' or Place, and seize the persons, and upon a Certificate under a Justices
' Hand and Seal of his information or knowledge of a Conventicle, and
' that he cannot suppress it, any Commissionated Officer of the Militia,
' or other the Kings Forces, and other Ministers of Justice with Souldiers
' or other aid may prevent or dissipate them. But no Lords House
shall
' be searched, but by Warrant under the Kings Sign manual, or in presence
' of the Lord Lieutenant, or Deputy Lieutenant, or to Justices, Quorum
' unnus. 22 Car. 2. |
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' Any Constable, &c. knowing of a Conventicle,
and not giving information,
' but they or any other being called, refusing to go in aid of them,
' and thereof convicted in form aforesaid, shall forfeit Five pound to
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