Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	england_n	people_n	2,804	4	4.5265	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60663	A true, short, impartial relation, containing the substance of the proceedings at the assize held the 12th and 13th day of the moneth called August, 1664, at the town of Hertford (Orlando Bridgman being judge) chiefly with and against nine prisoners called Quakers : as it was then noted and observed first in short-writing, and now made publick, partly to prevent various reports, and partly to inform people of the illegal proceedings of the said court against the prisoners aforesaid, eight of which were sentenced to be transported beyond the seas, there to remain for seven years / W.S.	Smith, William, d. 1673.; G. W.	1664 (1664)	Wing S4341; ESTC R8663	9,398	12

A True Short Impartial RELATION Containing the Substance of the PROCEEDINGS At the Assize held the 12 th and 13 th day of the Moneth called August 1664. at the Town of Hertford Orlando Bridgman being Judge Chiefly with and against Nine Prisoners called Quakers as it was then Noted and Observed first in short-writing And now made publick Partly to prevent various Reports And partly to Inform People of the Illegal Proceedings of the said Court against the Prisoners aforesaid Eight of which were Sentenced to be Transported beyond the Seas there to Remain for Seven Years W. S. And Judgment is turned away backward and Justice standeth afar off for Truth is fallen in the street and Equity cannot enter Isa 59. 14 15. And see Chap. 10. 1 2. And Micah 7. 4. Printed in the Year 1664. Hertford August 12 13. ON the 12th day those Nine Prisoners and many others who are called Quakers were called over The others had the Oath of Allegiance read to them and because they would not kiss the Bible and swear were Returned to Prison again where some of them have been Prisoners some years Then an Indictment being framed against those Nine Prisoners for being at an unlawful Meeting under colour and pretence of Religion the Witnesses were examined who agreed in their Evidence That they were took at such times at such places met together above the number of five and that they heard them say nor speak no words nor saw them do any thing it their Meeting but sit still The Indictment was delivered to the Grand Jury who did not agree in their Verdict that day but on the thirteenth day in the morning early they came into the Court and brought in their Verdict Ignoramus Judge Bridgeman standing up seemed to be angry with them and spake to them after this manner My Masters what do you mean to do will you make a nose of wax of the Law and suffer the Law to be bafled those that think to deceive the Law the Law will deceive them One of the Jury-men said to him when he asked them how it could be they did not find the Bill that it concerned them to beware and be well satisfied in what they did for they were upon mens lives for what they knew No said the Judge I desire not their lives but their Reformation then one of the Justices reflected upon and upbraided the Jury-man as not being purged from his old dregs so the Judge giving them some Directions drawn as he said from the meaning and intent of the Law how to find the Bill his Instructions and Directions to this Grand Jury was like his Instructions to the Petty Jury which follows at large therefore may be omitted here Then he caused them to go forth again who returned soon and found the Bill At which the Court seemed to be well pleased Then were four of those Nine Prisoners called to the Bar and their Indictment read and the Prisoners being asked whether they were Guilty or not Guilty they answered Not Guilty but Innocent and that they had transgressed no just Law J. B. spake and said but you have Transgressed this Law having the late Act in his hand and you have been twice Convicted already upon Record and if you are found Guilty by the Jury this time I must pass the Sentence of Transportation upon you Now therefore you shall see that we do not desire to strain the Law to the highest severity neither do I believe that was the aim of the Law-makers to be severe but for Conformity If you will promise that you will not go or be at any more such Meetings I will shew you this favour as to acquit you for what is past this favour you may receive before the Jury is Charged with you but afterwards I cannot do it And know also if the Jury for want of punctual Evidence should not find you guilty yet if you are taken again you will be in the same case you now are in what say you Will you promise to meet no more Pris We can promise no such thing J. B. Call a Jury So a Jury was called sworn and charged to bring in their Verdict according to Evidence And then the Indictment was read the second time the substance of which was for being at an Unlawful Meeting at such a time and place the first second and third time The Witnesses were called and sworn whose Testimony agreed in this only That they took the Prisoners at the Bar at such times at such places met together above the number of Five but that they saw any thing they did or heard any thing they said or spake at the Meetings they did not nor could not witness Then J. B. spake to the Jury after this manner My Masters the Jury You hear what Evidence the Witnesses give how they took them at such times at such places which are places they use to meet in And that they were above the number of Five besides the persons of the Family where they met And that they are twice Convicted upon Record already And this is the third Offence which incurs the Sentence of Transportation if you finde them Guilty Now I have this to say to you first reading that clause in the Act which saith That if any after the first day of July shall be present at any Conventicles Assembly or Meeting c. My Masters you are not to expect a plain punctual Evidence against them for any thing they said or did at their Meeting for they may speak to one another though not with or by Auriculer sound but by a Cast of the Eye or a Motion of the Head or Foot or Gesture of the Body for dumb men may speak to one another so as they may understand each other by signs And they themselves say that the Worship of God is inward in the Spirit and that they can discern Spirits and know one another in Spirit So that if you find or believe in your hearts that they were in the Meeting under colour of Religion in their way though they saie still onely and looked upon each other seeing they cannot say what they did there It was an Unlawful Meeting and their use and practice not according to the Lyturgie of the Church of England for it allows and commands when people meet together in the Church That Divine Service shall be read c. And you must find the Bill for you must have Respect to the meaning and intent of the Law which the King and Parliament have in wisdom and policy made not only against Conventicles but the words Assembly and Meeting was added for we have had late experience of the danger of such Meetings under colour of Religion And it is an easie matter at such Meetings to conspire and consult mischief Therefore the Wisdom and Policy of the King and Parliament lest they should be undermined have made this Law