Selected quad for the lemma: england_n
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B04800
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The presentments of the grand-jury for the county of Northampton, at Lent-Assizes, anno tricesimo quinto Regis Caroli Secundi.
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1683
(1683)
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Wing P3290A; ESTC R226404
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2,065
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1
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THE PRESENTMENTS OF The Grand-Jury for the County of NORTHAMPTON AT Lent-Assizes Anno Tricesimo quinto Regis Caroli Secundi WE have seen the Presentments of the Grand-Jury Sworn for the Body of this County at Easter-Sessions last past in these words following AD Generalem Sessionem Pacis Domini Regis tent ' apud Northampton pro Com' predict ' die Martis prox ' post Festum Epiphan ' Dom ' Anno Regni Domini nostri Caroli Secundi Dei gratia Angl ' Scoc ' Franc ' Hiberniae Regis Fidei Defensor ' c. Tricesimo quarte The Presentments of the GRAND-JURY of the County of Northampton WE present it as a necessary Duty upon all Magistrates to put all the Laws in Execution which are made to Suppress Unlawful Associations Conventicles Clubbs and Cabals because we find by daily Experience that in those Nests have been hatched all the Seditious Practices which of late have much endangered the Peace of the Nation Item More particularly we present all Unlicensed Coffee-houses or Places wherein False and Seditious News are invented and spread abroad to delude and poyson the People Item We present all Publique Meetings of any considerable number of people who may be suspected of disaffection to the Government to be very Dangerous to the Publique Peace and expedient to be Suppressed Saving where there shall appear any lawful warrantable occasion of such meeting Item We present as a thing absolutely convenient and necessary that all Laws be duly put in execution against all Dissenters from the Church of England as it is by Law established of what perswasion soever it being impossible to distinguish Papists from others Both extremes being equally dangerous and destructive to the Establisht Government And seeing that several of them take it upon themselves to Teach and Preach in Unlawful Assemblies Conventicles and Meetings and there Seduce many of his Majesties Subjects from their Duty and Allegiance We do therefore desire that the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy may be tendred and administred to them and to all the Persons before spoken of and to all other Persons of suspected Faith and Allegiance to his Majesty and his Lawful Heirs and Successors for the better Discovery of men ill-affected to the King and the State of this Realm and consequently for the Prevention and Disappointment of their Evil Purposes And we do desire such further and effectual care may be taken for the Preservation of the Publique Peace and the Tranquillity of his Majesties good Subjects as in your Judgments you shall think legal and meet Upon delivering the Presentments above mentioned into the Court by the Grand-Jury sworn to enquire for the Body of the County it was Ordered That they have the Hearty Thanks of the Court for their Loyal and Seasonable Presentments and Sir Roger Norwich Baronet is desired to acquaint some of the Ministers of State with the Contents humbly to beseech his Majesty to grant his Commission to certain Persons authorizing them to give the Oaths aforesaid and receive his further Command We do fully concurr with them in Sence and Judgment and are credibly informed that his Majesty hath well approved the said Presentments and thereupon hath given Commission and Power to several Lords and Gentlemen to tender and give the Oath accordingly Upon Consideration thereof we think it our duty to present it as necessary and expedient for the Good of the King and Kingdom in General and this County in particular that it be forthwith tendred to all Persons suspected to be Papists or of Popish Principles and to all and other Recusants and Dissenters from the Church of England of what perswasion soever And whereas we find by experience that ill men for the supporting of Faction and the obstructing of Justice do endeavour to get themselves into publique Offices Trusts and Employments the better to compass their wicked Designs For the prevention thereof and to the end that good and lawful men may be encouraged and employed We do therefore present it as a necessary and previous Test That all Officers whatsoever and namely High-Constables Petty-Constables Bayliffs Church-Wardens Overseers of the Poor and other Officers and Ministers before they enter upon the Execution of their Authority may take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and produce a Certificate under the hand of the Minister of the Parish wherein they live That they are persons conformable to the Church Government and have received the Sacrament according to the Rites of the Church of England within Twelve Months last past And further Whereas all Ale-house-keepers and Victuallers and other Persons keeping publique houses have a great advantage of spreading Seditious News in respect all sorts of People frequent those places and have a great temptation likewise so to do in regard of the Custome it drawes to them We do therefore present it as Expedient that none be Licensed for the time to come but those that shall take the aforesaid Oaths and in all things testifie their conformity to the Government in Church and State And whereas several Robberies have been of late committed within this County to the great grievance and burden of his Majesties good Subjects and that the said Robbers and Thieves are aided and encouraged by several Ale-house-keepers and Victuallers who are Confederates with them and Setters for them We therefore desire for the future That all Inns Ale-houses and other publick houses of Entertainment do give notice to their Constables or other Officers of all suspicious Persons that shall come to their houses to the End that Account may be taken of them And on fayler hereof they may be suppressed And whereas several good men who would willingly perform and execute their Duties yet for want of knowledge or information know not how to perform the same and others pretending ignorance will not do it We therefore present That it is convenient and necessary for the due execution of the Laws that all Officers at Assizes and Sessions of the Peace have certain Articles comprehending their Duties exhibited to them before they make their Presentments and may be enjoyned to answer upon Oath particularly to them Subscribed by the whole Grand-Jury