taken in only such as are convicted it would have been eluded and rendred ineffectual for want of a Conviction of the greater part of such ubiquitary Recusants The want of due consideration of this Statute in each of these parts of it hath occasioned some mistakes in those who have handled it And Wingate tit Crown numb 78. restrains both parts of it as well relating to those that have no certain place of abode as those whose place of abode is certain to Recusants convicted and makes no mention that this later sort must be in England at the time of their Conviction And in the late Additions to Dalton cap. 81. tit Recusants Sect. 14. 't is not only said that both sorts must be convicted but that they must be in England at the time of their Conviction which two things are only requisite in such who have a certain place of abode and not in the other sort who are within the meaning and danger of this Law without any precedent Conviction for Recusancy See more of this matter Licence to Travel Stat. 3 Jac. 5. and how a Popish Recusant shall be licensed to Travel out of his compass of five miles Stat. 3 Jac. cap. 5. Sect. 8. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Stat. Sect. 4. A Popish Recusant Copy-holder That every such Offender as is before mentioned which hath or shall have any Lands Tenements or Hereditaments by Copy of Court Roll or by any other customary tenure at the will of the Lord according to the Custom of any Mannor shall forfeit all and singular his and their said Lands Tenements and Hereditaments so holden by Copy of Court Roll or customary tenure as aforesaid for and during the life of such offender if his or her Estate so long continue to the Lord or Lords of whom the same be immediately holden if the same Lord or Lord or Lords be not then a Popish Recusant and convicted for not coming to Church to hear Divine Service but forbearing the same contrary to the Laws and Statutes aforesaid nor seized or possessed upon Trust to the use or behoof of any such Recusant as aforesaid And in such Case the same forfeiture to be to the Quéens Majesty Provided always Stat. Sect. 5. Popish Recusants shall notifie their coming and deliver in their names and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all such persons as by the intent and true meaning of this Act are to make their repair to their place of dwelling and abode or to the place where they were born or where their Father or Mother shall be dwelling and not to remove or pass above five miles from thence as is aforesaid shall within twenty days next after their coming to any of the said places as the Case shall happen notifie their coming thither and present themselves and deliver their true names in writing to the Minister or Curate of the same Parish and to the Constable Headborough or Tithingman of the Town and thereupon the said Minister or Curate shall presently enter the same into a Book to be kept in every Parish for that purpose Which shall be certified to the Sessâ—ons and enrolled there And afterwards the said Minister or Curate and the said Constable Headborough or Tithingman shall certifie the same in writing to the Iustices of the Peace of the same County at the next general or Quarter Sessions to be holden in the same County and the said Iustices shall cause the same to be entred by the Clerk of the Peace in the Rolls of the same Sessions Goods and Lands where not forfeited A Popish Recusant repairs to the place appointed him by this Act and keeps within his compass of five miles but doth not present himself or deliver in his name he doth not forfeit his Goods or Lands For there is no particular penalty inflicted in this part of the Act for that omission nor yet in the subsequent Branch for him that hath clearly twenty marks per annum in Freehold or Goods and Chattels worth forty pounds But yet such person may be Indicted for such neglect and fined upon the general words of the Statute which commands the thing to be done For where an Act of Parliament commands any thing to be done and inflicts no penalty an Indictment lies against the person who ought to do it for his neglect or omission Co. 2. Inst. 55. 163. Vide Cro. Hill 41 Eliz. 655. Crouthers Case Stat. Sect. 6. The penalty of a Popish Recusant of small ability offending against this Act. And to the end that the Realm be not pestered and overcharged with the multitude of such Seditious and dangerous people as is aforesaid who having little or no ability to answer or satisfie any competent penalty for their contempt and disobedience of the said Laws and Statutes and being committed to Prison for the same do live for the most part in better Case there then they could if they were abroad at their own liberty The Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled do most humbly and instantly beséech the Quéens Majesty that it may be further Enacted That if any such person or persons being a Popish Recusant not being a Feme Covert and not having Lands Tenements Rents or Annuities of an absolute Estate of Inheritance or freehold of the clear yearly value of twenty marks above all charges to their own use and behoof and not upon any secret trust or confidence for any other or Goods and Chattels in their own right and to their own proper use and behoof And not upon any such secret trust and confidence for any other above the value of forty pounds shall not within the time before in this Act in that behalf limited and appointed repair to their place of usual dwelling and aboad if they have any or else to the place where they were born or where their Father or Mother shall be dwelling according to the tenor and intent of this present Act And thereupon notifie their coming and present themselves and deliver their true Names in writing to the Minister or Curate of the Parish and to the Constable Headborough or Tithingman of the Town within such time and in such manner and form as is aforesaid or at any time after such their repairing to any such place as is before appointed shall pass or remove above five miles from the same And shall not within three months next after such person shall be apprehended or taken for offending as is aforesaid conform themselves to the obedience of the Laws and Statutes of this Realm in coming usually to the Church to hear Divine Service and in making such publick Confession and Submission as hereafter in this Act is appointed and expressed being thereunto required by the Bishop of the Diocess or any Iustice of the Peace of the County where the same person shall happen to be or by the Minister or
their Iurisdictions and Authority and to punish the same by admonition excommunication sequestration or deprivation and other censures and process in like form as heretofore hath béen used in like Cases by the Quéens Ecclesiastical Laws Provided always and be it enacted None shall be punished twice for the same Offence That whatsoever persons offending in the premisses shall for their offences first receive punishment of the Ordinary having a Testimonial thereof under the said Ordinaries Seal shall not for the same Offence eftsoons be convicted before the Iustices And likewise receiving for the said first Offence punishment by the Iustices shall not for the same Offence eftsoons receive punishment of the Ordinary Any thing contained in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding This Clause being in the affirmative doth not abrogate the Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction not abrogated which was in the Ecclesiastical Judge before the making of the Statute for that no Negative words are here added as that he should proceed no otherwise or in no other manner or form than this Statute directs And therefore if any Parson Vicar c. deprave or observe not the Book of Common Prayer although this Act inflicts only the forfeiture of a years value and six months Imprisonment for the first Offence yet the Ecclesiastical Judge may for the first Offence deprive him notwithstanding this Act as he might have done if no form of punishment had been here appointed And the said Book being enjoined by Authority the Offence of depraving or non-observing it is punishable by the Ecclesiastical Judge according to the Ecclsiastical Law without the further aid of any Temporal Law then the commanding it to be observed Co. 5.5 6. Cawdries Case And in such Case the Sentence of Deprivation given by the Ecclesiastical Judge though it exceed the punishment inflicted by the Temporal Law is not to be questioned by the Temporal Judges but they ought to give Faith and Credit to it For cuilibet in sua arte perito est credendum Cawdries Case fol. 7. Co. 4.29 Bunting and Heppingwells Case Provided always and be it enacted Stat. Sect. 13. Ornaments of the Church and Ministers That such Ornaments of the Church and of the Ministers thereof shall be retained and be in use as was in this Church of England by Authority of Parliament in the second year of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth until other Order shall be therein taken by the Authority of the Quéens Majesty with the advice of her Commissioners appointed and authorized under the Great Seal of England for Causes Ecclesiastical or of the Metropolitan of this Realm And also That if there shall happen any Contempt or Irreverence to be used in the Ceremonies or Rites of the Church by the mis-using of the Orders appointed in this Book the Queéns Majesty may by the like advice of the said Commissioners or Metropolitan ordain and publish such further Ceremonies or Rites as may be most for the advancement of Gods Glory the Edifying of his Church and the due Reverence of Christs holy Mysteries and Sacraments All Laws and Ordinances made for other Service shall be void And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all Laws Statutes and Ordinances wherein or whereby any other Service Administration of Sacraments or Common Prayer is limited established or set forth to be vsed within this Realm or any other the Queéns Dominions or Countries shall from henceforth be utterly void and of none effect Stat. v Eliz. cap. i. An Act for the Assurance of the Queens Majesties Royal Power over all States and Subjects within her Dominions FOR preservation of the Queéns most Excellent Highness her Heirs and Successors Stat. and the Dignity of Sect. 1 the Imperial Crown of this Realm of England And for the avoiding both such hurts perils dishonors and inconveniencies as have before time befallen as well to the Quéens Majesties noble Progenitors Kings of this Realm as for the whole Estate thereof by means of the Iurisdiction and Power of the Sée of Rome unjustly Claimed and Vsurped within this Realm and the Dominions thereof and also of the dangers by the fauters of the said usurped Power at this time grown to marvelous outrage and licentious boldness and now requiring more sharp restraint and correction of Laws than hitherto in the time of the Queéns Majesties most mild and merciful Reign have béen had used or established Be it therefore Enacted Ordained and Established Stat. by the Quéen our Soveraign Lady and the Lords Spiritual and Sect. 2 Temporal The Penalty for maintaining the Authority of the Bishop or See of Rome and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by Authority of the same That if any Person or Persons dwelling inhabiting or resiant within this Realm or within any other the Quéens Dominions Seigniories or Countries or in the Marches of the same or elsewhere within or under her Obeysance and Power of what Estate Dignity Preheminence Order or Condition soever he or they be after the first day of April which shall be in the year of our Lord God One thousand five hundred sixty thrée shall by Writing Typhering Printing Preaching or Teaching Déed or Act advisedly and wittingly hold or stand with to extol set forth maintain or defend the Authority Iurisdiction or Power of the Bishop of Rome or of his Sée heretofore claimed used or usurped within this Realm or in any Dominion or Country being of within or under the Queéns Power or Obeisance or by any Spéech open Déed or Act advisedly and wittingly attribute any such manner of Iurisdiction Authority or Preheminence to the said Sée of Rome or to any Bishop of the same Sée for the time being within this Realm or in any the Quéens Dominions or Countries that then every such Person or Persons so doing or offending their Abbettors Procurers and Counsellors and also their aiders assistants and comforters upon purpose and to the intent to set forth further and extol the said usurped Power Authority or Iurisdiction of any of the said Bishop or Bishops of Rome and every of them being thereof lawfully Indicted or Presented within one year next after any such Offences by him or them Committed and being lawfully Convicted or Attainted at any time after according to the Laws of this Realm for every such Default and Offence shall incur into the dangers penalties pains and forfeitures Ordained and Provided by the Statute of Provision and Praemunire made in the Sixtéenth year of the Reign of King Richard the Second Hold or stand with c. or attribute The Printers of any Book which attributes to the Pope or See of Rome any such Authority or Jurisdiction within this Realm Printing bringing in offering and delivering of Books c. and the utterers thereof in most Cases are within the danger of this Law and if any man bring over such Books Written beyond the Seas knowing the
Contents thereof or secretly deliver out such Books to others he knowing the Contents thereof unless in this last Case he be a Trader in them and deliver them out upon that Account without any act or attribution by conference or allowance he is an Offender within this Act by the words Hold and stand with to maintain c. and so is the receiver likewise if he afterwards Reads and Confers upon any such Book with any other person and in his Conference by any Words or Speeches allows the Book to be good or conveys it secretly to his Friend to the intent he should Read it and be perswaded to be of that Opinion or if a man hear of the Contents of such Book by the report of others and doth by any overt Speech commend or affirm it to be good In all these Cases the Person so doing especially he that reads it and then allows of it is an Offender within this Act and shall for the first Offence incur a Praemunire and for the second be Guilty of high Treason So likewise if any Book to that effect be made and Written within the Realm and sent over Seas as if it were made out of the Realm and be afterwards Bought Read or Conference be had thereupon ut supra such Offences are within the danger of this Law Dyer 11 El. 281. 282. vide Co. l. 6. Praefat ' Vpon purpose and to the intent The intent material A. was Indicted upon this Statute and that of 13 Eliz. cap. 2. of a Praemunire for aiding one B. knowing him to be a principal maintainer of the Authority and Jurisdiction of the Bishop and See of Rome contra formam Statut ' praedict ' and the Indictment was certified into the Kings Bench And it was held by the greater part of the Justices that the Indictment was insufficient for want of those words Vpon purpose and to the intent to set forth and extol the Authority c. And contra formam Statut ' will not supply that defect Trin. 20 Eliz. Dyer 363. Note in the Report of this Case the Statute of 1 Eliz. is mistaken for this of 5 Eliz. there being no mention of the intent in that of Primo Stat. 1 Eliz. 1. The intent is a hidden thing and lies in the Heart and therefore there must be some overt Act or Speech which declares the intent for the intent it self is not traversable What traversable but that by which it is made manifest as was adjudged in Boothes Case Co. 5. 77. And it is also Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Stat. That as well Iustices of Assize in their Circuits as Iustices of Peace within Sect. 3 the limits of their Commission and Authorities What Justices may inquire of and certifie the Offences aforesaid or two of every such Iustices of Peace at the least whereof one to be of the Quorum shall have full Power and Authority by vertue of this Act in their Quarter or open Sessions to inquire of all Offences Contempts and Transgressions perpetrated committed or done contrary to the true meaning of the Premises in like manner and form as they may of other Offences against the Quéens Peace and shall certifie every Presentment before them or any of them had or made concerning the same or any part thereof before the Queén her Heirs and Successors in her or their Court commonly called the Kings Bench within forty days next after any such Presentment had or made if the Term be then open and if not at the first day of the full Term next following the said forty days upon pain that every of the Iustices of Assize or Iustices of the Peace The Penalty for default of Certificate of the said Offences before whom such Presentment shall be made making default of such Certificate contrary to this Statute to lose and forfeit for every such default One hundred pounds to the Quéens Highness her Heirs and Successors And it is Enacted by the Authority aforesaid The Justices of the Kings Bench may hear and determine the Offences aforesaid That the Iustices of the Kings Bench as well upon every such Certificate as by enquiry before themselves within the limits of their Authorities shall have full Power and Authority to hear order and determine every such Offence done or committed contrary to the true meaning of this present Act according to the Laws of this Realm in such like manner and form to all intents and purposes as if the Person or Persons against whom any Presentment shall be had upon this Estatute had beén Presented upon any matter of offence expressed in the said Estatute made in the said Sixteenth year of King Richard the Second All Offences c. contrary to the true meaning of the Premises That is the Offences in holding or standing with to extol c. the Jurisdiction of the See or Bishop of Rome or attributing such Jurisdiction c. or Procuring Counselling c. which is here for the first Offence made a Praemunire For these are the only Premises in the Act and this Clause extends not to the Oath of Supremacy or any Offence in refusing of it much less to all Offences against this Act as 't is mistaken in the late Additions to Dalton cap. 140. tit High Treason Sect. 11. Nor doth it seem to be the intent of the Statute to give the Justices of Peace any Power to inquire of any Offence made High Treason thereby The Power of Justices of Peace herein For the Power here given to the Justices of Peace is only to inquire of Offences contrary to the true meaning of the Premises and the Premises extend only to those Offences made a Praemunire And this clearly appears by the subsequent words viz. That the Presentment thereof shall be certified into the Kings Bench who shall hear and determine every such Offence as if the Offender had been Presented upon any matter in the Statute of 16 R. 2. Now that cannot be intended of High Treason And of Justices of Assize The like may be said of Justices of Assize for as they are meerly Justices of Assize they cannot by force of this Act inquire of either the first or second Offence in refusing the Oath of Supremacy nor of the second Offence in extolling the Bishop of Romes Authority only for the first Offence of this last kind they may inquire and take Indictments thereof and certifie them into the Kings Bench but then by their Commission of Oyer and Terminer they may not only inquire of the first or second Offence in extolling the Bishop of Romes Authority or refusing the Oath of Supremacy but may hear and determine them And accordingly were Slade and Bodye Indicted Arraigned and Tried in the County of Southampton of a Praemunire for the first Offence in extolling the Bishop of Romes Authority upon which they were Attainted and afterwards of Treason for the second Offence before Sir Roger Manwood and Justice
publick and open Submission and Declaration of his and their Conformity to her Majesties Laws and Statutes as hereafter in this Act is declared and appointed That then the same Offender shall thereupon be clearly discharged of and from all and every the penalties and punishments inflicted or imposed by this Act for any of the Offences aforesaid The former part of this Statute appoints the Conformity and Submission to be at any Church Submission where to b◠made Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer but this limits it to be at some Parish Church the meaning whereof seems to be That if a man be an Offender against this Act and convicted he may within the three months after his Conviction conform and submit in any Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer where there is Common Prayer and either a Sermon or the Gospel read But if he be required within the three months to Conform and make Submission and he refuses so to do but the three months expire then his Conformity and Submission must be more solemn and publick viz. in some Parish Church where it is presumed there will be the greatest number of People to be Witnesses thereof And by this construction the seeming difference between these two branches of the Statute one whereof limits the Offender to a Parish Church and the other leaves him at large to any Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer is reconciled And this construction naturally flows from the Order wherein these two branches are placed For the Statute speaks of a Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer before it mentions the parties refusal to conform and submit within three months next after Conviction But when it hath mentioned such refusal then it speaks of the Parish Church only And the second time here limited to the Offender when he may conform and submit viz. before he be warned or required to abjure presupposes his refusal to conform and submit within the three months For otherwise he could not be required to abjure But if the Offender be not required within the three months according to this Act to conform and submit it seems he is not afterwards limited to some Parish Church but may do it according to the former branch of this Act in any Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer for he is then in no danger of Abjuration and his Conformity and Submission is then to no other end but to free himself from the Imprisonment inflicted on him upon his Conviction And in that Case the Act saith he may conform and submit in any Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer Of this difference between the places of Conformity and Submission no notice is taken in the late Additions to Dalton but any Church or Chappel is made to serve the turn in all Cases cap. 81. tit Recusants Sect. 13. What is a Parish Church By Parish Church is to be understood not only that which hath been always the Mother Church and never belonged to any other but every Church which hath the Administration of Sacraments and Sepulture For that in Law is a Parish Church although it anciently belonged to another Church Co. 2. Inst. 363. where the issue was whether it had Baptisterium Sepulturam And the Church of Stoke Goldenham though the Town was parcel of the Rectory of Hinckley whose Church was anciently the Mother Church yet having all Parochial Rights and Church-wardens was adjudged a Parish Church and within the meaning of the Statute of 43 Eliz. cap. 2. of the Poor Hutton 93. Hilton and Paules Case Stat. Sect. 5. The same Submission to be as hereafter followeth that is to say The form of the Submission I A. B. do humbly confess and acknowledge that I have grievously offended God in contemning her Majesties godly and lawful Government and Authority by absenting my self from Church and from hearing Divine Service contrary to the Godly Laws and Statutes of this Realm and in using and frequenting disordered and unlawful Conventicles and Assemblies under pretence and colour of Exercise of Religion And I am heartily sorry for the same and do acknowledge and testifie in my Conscience that no other person hath or ought to have any Power or Authority over her Majesty And I do promise and protest without any dissimulation or any colour or means of any Dispensation That from henceforth I will from time to time obey and perform her Majesties Laws and Statutes in repairing to the Church and hearing Divine Service and do my uttermost endeavour to maintain and defend the same Or any colour or means of any Dispensation Dispensation These words are omitted by Wingate tit Crown numb 72. And the form there set down faulty in several other particulars and not to be relied upon Her Majesties Laws and Statutes The Queens Laws Stat. 27 Eliz. 2. What is meant by her Majesties Laws Vide Stat. 27 Eliz. cap. 2. Sect. 7. And that every Minister or Curate of every Parish where such Submission and Declaration of Conformity shall hereafter be so made by any such Offender as aforesaid Stat. Sect. 6. The Minister shall enter the Submission into a Book shall presently enter the same into a Book to be kept in every Parish for that purpose and within ten days next following shall certifie the same in writing to the Bishop of the same Diocess Provided nevertheless The Offender submitting and falling into Relapse That if any such Offender after such Submission made as is aforesaid shall fall into Relapse or eftsoons obstinately refuse to repair to some Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer to hear Divine Service and shall forbear the same as aforesaid or shall come or be present at any such Assemblies Conventicles or Méetings under colour or pretence of any exercise of Religion contrary to her Majesties Laws and Statutes That then every such Offender shall lose all such benefit as he or she might otherwise by virtue of this Act have or enjoy by reason of their said Submission And shall thereupon stand and remain in such plight condition and degrée to all intents as though such Submission had never beén made And for that every person having House and Family Stat. Sect. 7. The forfeiture for relieving or keeping a Recusant after notice Rep. 3 Jac. 4. is in duty bounden to have special regard to the good Government and ordering of the same Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any person or persons shall at any time hereafter relieve maintain retain or keép in his or their House or otherwise any person which shall obstinately refuse to come to some Church Chappel or usual place of Common Prayer to hear Divine Service and shall forbear the same by the space of a mouth together contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm That then every person which shall so relieve maintain retain or keép any such person offending
Curate of every Parish where such Submission and Declaration of Conformity shall hereafter be so made by any such Offender as aforesaid Stat. Sect. 14. The Minister shall enter the Submission into a Book shall presently enter the same into a Book to be kept in every Parish for that purpose and within ten days then next following shall certifie the same in writing to the Bishop of the same Diocess Provided nevertheless Stat. Sect. 15. A Recusant submitting and falling into Relapse That if any such Offender after such Submission made as is aforesaid shall afterward fall into Relapse or eftsoons become a Recusant in not repairing to Church to hear Divine Service but shall forbear the same contrary to the Laws and Statutes in that behalf made and provided That then every such Offender shall lose all such benefit as he or she might otherwise by virtue of this Act have or enjoy by reason of their said Submission And shall thereupon stand and remain in such plight condition and degrée to all intents as though such Submission had never beén made Such Relapse with the Indictment thereof Relapse where to be certified is to be certified into the Court of Exchequer as was done by the Justices of the Kings Bench in the Case of Francis Holt. Pasch 9 Jac. Bulstrode 1. 133. Stat. Sect. 16. Married Women bound by this Act saving in the Case of Abjuration Provided always and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every Woman married or hereafter to be married shall be bound by all and every Article branch and matter contained in this Statute other then the Branch and Article of Abjuration before mentioned And that no such Woman married or to be married during marriage shall be in any wise forced or compelled to abjure or be abjured by virtue of this Act Any thing therein contained to the contrary thereof notwithstanding Stat. i Jac. cap. iv An Act for the due execution of the Statutes against Jesuits Seminary Priests Recusants c. FOr the better and more due execution of the Statutes heretofore made aswell against Iesuits Stat. Sect. 1. All Statutes made against Jesuits Priests and Recusants shall be put in Execution Seminary Priests and other such like Priests as also against all manner of Recusants Be it Ordained and Enacted by Authority of this present Parliament That all and every the Statutes heretofore made in the Reign of the late Quéen of famous memory Elizabeth as well against Iesuits Seminary Priests and other Priests Deacons Religious and Ecclesiastical persons whatsoever made ordained or professed or to be made ordained or professed by any Authority or Iurisdiction derived challenged or pretended from the Sée of Rome as those which do in any wise concern the withdrawing of the Kings Subjects from their due obedience and the Religion now professed and the taking of the Oath of obedience unto the Kings Majesty his Heirs and Successors together with all those made in the said late Quéens time against any manner of Recusants shall be put in due and exact execution Oath of Obedience By the Oath of Obedience Oath of Obedience Stat. 1 Eliz. 1. is here meant the Oath of Supremacy in the Stat. of 1 Eliz. cap. 1. which see there Sect. 7. and by that name it is here called afterwards Sect. 3. Provided nevertheless Stat. Sect. 2. A Recusant conforming himself shall be discharged and be it Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That if any that is or shall be a Recusant shall submit or reform him or her self and become obedient to the Laws and Ordinances of the Church of England and repair to the Church and continue there during the time of the Divine Service and Sermons according to the true meaning of the Statutes in that behalf in the said late Quéens time made and provided That then every such person for and during such time as he or she shall so continue in such conformity and obedience shall from thenceforth be freed and discharged of and from any the penalties and losses which the same person might otherwise sustain and bear in respect or by reason of such persons Recusancy According to the true meaning of the Statutes in that behalf It hath been doubted whether these words do refer only to the manner of the Recusants conformity or to the time likewise when it is to be done as well as to the manner For if they refer to the time then the Recusant is still bound notwithstanding this Statute to conform before Judgment according to the Statute of 23 Eliz. cap. 1. Stat. 23 Eliz. 1 or his conformity afterwards shall not discharge him of the penalty But the better opinion is that by these words according to the true meaning of the Statutes is to be intended only that the Recusant must conform in such manner as is there appointed but as to the time the general words here have inlarged the time limited by 23 Eliz. If the Recusant conforms after Judgment 't is sufficient For this Statute is made in further favor of the Recusant So that now if he conforms after Judgment 't is time enough and he shall be discharged of all penalties in respect of his Recusancy And if an Information tam pro Domino Rege quam pro seipso be brought upon the Statute of 23 Eliz. against the Recusant and after Judgment had against him thereupon he conforms he shall be discharged of the Judgment but first his Conformity must appear of Record otherwise the Court cannot take notice of it and as for that his remedies against the King and the Informer must be several His remedies against the King and informer Audita Quaerela Plea for against the Informer he must bring his Audita Quaerela and against the King he must plead his conformity which he may do in this Case after Judgment for that no Audita Quaerela lies against the King 11 H. 7. 10. and if he should not be admitted to plead he would be without any legal Remedy to discharge himself of the forfeiture and Judgment as to the Kings part whose execution will not be hindred by the Audita Quaerela against the Informer But if the Defendant neglect to put in his Plea and Execution issues for the King and he be taken in Execution he comes too late to plead his Conformity and hath then no other way left to relieve himself as to the Kings part but by his Petition Petition to the King to pardon the Debt Bulstrode 2. 324 325. Dr. Fosters Case Rolles 1. 95. C. 41. the same Case Vide Savile 23. C. 56. Tirringhams Case Stat. Sect. 3. And if any Recusant shall hereafter die his heir being no Recusant that in every such Case every such heir shall be freed and discharged of all and singular the penalties charges and incumbrances happening upon him or her In what Cases a Recusants heir shall be
meét to be Executors or Administrators to any person or persons whatsoever nor to have the Education of their own Children much less of the Children of any other of the Kings Subjects nor to have the marriage of them Be it therefore Enacted by the Authority aforesaid A Recusant shall not be Executor or Administrator That such Recusants convicted or which shall be convicted at the time of the death of any Testator or at the time of the granting of any Administration shall be disabled to be Executor or Administrator by force of any Testament hereafter to be made or Letters of Administration hereafter to be granted Or Guardian nor shall have the custody of any Child as Guardian in Chivalry Guardian in Socage or Guardian in nurture of any Lands Tenements or Hereditaments being Fréehold or Copyhold but shall be adjudged disabled to have any such Wardship or Custody of any such Child or of their Lands Tenements or Hereditaments being Fréehold or Copyhold as aforesaid Who shall have the Wardship And that for the better Education and Preservation of the said Children and of their Estates the next of the kin to such Child or Children to whom the said Lands Tenements or Hereditaments of such Child or Children cannot lawfully descend who shall usually resort to some Church or Chappel and there hear Divine Service and receive the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper thrice in the year next before according to the Laws of this Realm shall have the Custody and Education of the same Child and of his said Lands and Tenements being holden in Knights Service until the full age of the said Ward of one and twenty years And of his said Lands Tenements and Hereditaments being holden in Socage as a Guardian in Socage And of the said Lands Tenements and Hereditaments holden by Copy of Court Roll of any Mannor so long as the Custom of the said Mannor shall permit and allow the same and in every of the said Cases shall yield an Accompt of the profits thereof to the said Ward as the Case shall require And that if at any time hereafter any of the Wards of the Kings Majesty or of any other shall be granted or sold to any Popish Recusant Convict such Grant or Sale shall be utterly void and of none effect Convicted at the time of the death of any Testator or at the time of the granting of any Administration Granting of Administration These words are to be construed reddendo singula singulis viz. That the Recusant shall be disabled to be Executor if he be convicted at the time of the death of the Testator or to be Administrator if he be Convicted at the time of the granting of Letters of Administration For so these words at the time of the granting of any Administration are here to be understood And therefore if a man makes his Will and therein appoints a Recusant Convict to be his Executor Executor where not disabled and before the Testators death the Conviction is removed by Reversal of the Judgment or avoided or discharged for some defect in the Indictment Proclamation or other proceedings and then the Testator dies In such Case the Recusant is not by this Act disabled to be Executor For although the naming of an Executor is in Law a granting of Administration And if a man by his last Will grants the Administration of his Goods and Chattels to J. S. without more saying thereby J. S. is made his Executor Dyer 290. So that the naming of an Executor and the granting of Administration seem to be the same thing yet this is not a granting of Administration within the meaning of this Act Administration here relating only to an Administrator and not to an Executor besides the naming of an Executor amounts not to a compleat grant of Administration until the Testators death For then and not before the Will becomes in force And if the party stands not then convicted he is not disabled Much less shall he be disabled to be Executor who is not convicted at the time of the Testators death although he be convicted at the time of the Probate of the Will For if these words granting of Administration should relate to an Executor as well as to an Administrator which in truth they do not yet the power given to the Executor by the Ordinary or Ecclesiastical Judge upon the probate of the Will cannot be called a granting but only a committing of Administration Committing of Administration What the Ordinary grants to an Executor according to the Will of the deceased And in such Case all that the Ordinary or Ecclesiastical Judge can grant are Letters testifying what the Testator hath already given to the Executor and a Power or Authority to execute the Will As Guardian in Chivalry Although the Recusant seized in Chivalry and Convicted could not have been Guardian yet if he had granted the Seigniory Seigniory granted over to one who was no Recusant the Grantee should have been Guardian notwithstanding this Act for the mischief here intended to be prevented was removed when the Seigniory was granted to another who was no Recusant By Jones Justice C. B. Hill 20. Jac. Jones 19. So if the King had seized Seized by the King the Recusants Seigniory as part of his two parts the King should have had the Wardship and not the next of kin for the same reason Jones 21. Stat. Sect. 22. Popish Books And be it further Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That no person or persons shall bring from beyond the Seas nor shall Print sell or buy any Popish Primmers Ladies Psalters Manuels Rosaries Popish Catechisms Missals Breviaries Portalls Legends and Lives of Saints containing superstitious matter Printed or Written in any Language whatsoever nor any other superstitious Books Printed or Written in the English Tongue upon pain of forfeiture of Forty shillings for every such Book one third part thereof to be to the Kings Majesty his Heirs and Successors one other third part to him that will sue for the same and the other third part to the Poor of the Parish where such Book or Books shall be found to be recovered by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information in any of the Kings Majesties Courts of Record wherein no Essoin Protection or Wager of Law shall be admitted or allowed and the said Books to be burned Stat. Sect. 23. Popish Reliques and Books And that it shall be lawfull for any two Iustices of Peace within the Limits of their Iurisdiction or Authority and to all Mayors Bailiffs and Chief Officers of Cities and Towns Corporate in their Liberties from time to time to search the Houses and Lodgings of every Popish Recusant Convict or of every person whose Wife is or shall be a Popish Recusant Convict for Popish Books and Reliques of Popery And that if any Altar Pix Beads Pictures or such like Popish Reliques or any Popish Book
or Books shall be found in their or any of their Custody as in the Opinion of the said Iustices Mayor Bailiff or Chief Officer as aforesaid shall be thought unméet for such Recusant as aforesaid to have or use the same shall be presently defaced and burnt if it be méet to be burned And if it be a Crucifix or other Relique of any price the same to be defaced at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace in the County where the same shall be found and the same so defaced to be restored to the owner again Shall be thought unmeét for such Recusant So that the Justices of Peace are not bound by this Act to deface all Reliques of price or to burn or deface Not all to be defaced or burnt all other Reliques or Popish Books as Wingate tit Crown numb 144. misleads them in this particular Unmeet sense of it here And although herein much is referred to the discretion of the Justices of Peace yet where the Husband is a Protestant and only the Wife a Popish Recusant it seems by these words that they are not to consider what is unmeet for the Husband but what is unmeet for the Recusant viz. the Wife and that it was not intended that they should seize burn or deface any Books of the Husbands though Popish unless such whereby the Wife might be aided or confirmed in her Superstition so that in this Case Books written in a Language or Stile unintelligible to the Wife are not within the meaning of this Act nor ought by colour thereof to be taken from the Husband who is no Popish Recusant At the General Quarter Sessions Vide Stat. 23 Eliz. cap. 1. Sect. 7. General Quarter Sessions Stat. 23 Eliz. 1 And be it also Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Stat. Sect. 24. A Popish Recusants Armour shall be seized That all such Armour Gunpowder and Munition of whatsoever kinds as any Popish Recusant Convict within this Realm of England hath or shall have in his House or Houses or elsewhere or in the hands or possession of any other at his or their disposition shall be taken from such Popish Recusants or others which have or shall have the same to the use of such Popish Recusant by Warrant of four Iustices of Peace at their General or Quarter Sessions to be holden in the same County where such Popish Recusant shall be resident other than such necessary weapons as shall be thought fit by the said four Iustices of Peace to remain and be allowed for the defence of the person or persons of such Recusants or for the defence of his her or their House or Houses and that the said Armour and Munition so taken shall be kept and maintained at the Costs of such Recusants in such places as the said Four Iustices of Peace at their said Sessions of the Peace shall set down and appoint And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid The forfeiture for not delivering it That if any such Recusant having or which shall have any such Armour Gunpowder and Munition or any of them or if any other person or persons which shall have any such Armour Gunpowder and Munition or any of them to the use of any such Recusant shall refuse to declare or manifest unto the said Iustices of Peace or any of them what Armour he she or they have or shall have or shall lett hinder or disturb the delivery thereof to any of the said Iustices or to any other person or persons authorized by their Warrant to take and seize the same then every such person so offending contrary to this Statute in this behalf shall forfeit and lose to the Kings Majesty his Heirs and Successors his and their said Armour Gunpowder and Munition and shall also be imprisoned by Warrant of or from any Iustices of Peace of such County by the space of thrée months without Bail or Mainprize General or Quarter Sessions Stat. 23 Eliz. 1 Where such Arms cannot be seized At their General or Quarter Sessions Vide Stat. 23 Eliz. cap. 1. Sect. 7. In the same County where such Popish Recusant shall be resident A Popish Recusant lives in one County and his Arms are kept in another County by one who is no Popish Recusant such Arms cannot be seized by force of this Act by the Justices of Peace of either County not by the Justices of the County where the Arms are kept for the seizure or taking is here limited to be by Warrant at the Sessions in the County where the Recusant resides and the Statute must be strictly pursued in that particular nor by the Justices of the County where the Recusant is resident for the Arms are in another County where they have nothing to do Power of a Justice of Peace out of his County And although in some Cases where a Statute appoints a Justice of Peace to do a thing he may do it out of his County Power of a Justice of Peace out of his County as to take an examination upon the Statute of Winton of a Robbery as was resolved in the Case of Helier and the Hundred of Benhust Pasch 7. Car. 1. B. R. Jones 239. Cro. Car. 213. yet he cannot exercise any coercive power out of his County as was resolved in that Case for his potestas Jurisdictionis is confined to his County as well as that of a Bishop is confined to his Diocess Vide Palmer 473. Ascuithes Case And here the taking of the Recusants Armor is a coercive Act and therefore can be executed by Warrant of the four Justices of Peace in that County only where they are Justices So that this is clearly Casus omissus and not provided for by this Act. Vide postea Four Justices In such places as the said four Iustices of Peace c. shall set down and appoint And not where one Justice shall appoint as is mistaken in the late additions to Dalton cap. 81. tit Recusants Sect. 40. Imprisoned by Warrant of or from any Iustices of Peace Any two Justices may grant their Warrant for Imprisoning the Offender Two sufficient and 't is sufficient in this Case for pluralis numerus est duobus contentus But a Warrant from any one Justice will not serve contrary to Wingate tit Crowne numb 145. Of such County County That is of the County where the Popish Recusant is resident for no other County was named before In what Case the party cannot be imprisoned A Popish Recusant lives in one County and his Arms are kept in another County by one who is no Popish Recusant The Justices of Peace of that other County cannot by force of this Act imprison him that keeps them for they are not named here but the power in this Case is expresly limited to other Justices and no other can intermedle therein neither will the Warrant of the Justices of Peace of the County where the Recusant is resident reach