| Whereas credible information hath bin given
unto us of his Ma[jes]ties Commission for causes ecclesiasticall,
that there are at this present remaining in or neere the Cittie
of London or suburbs thereof and in manie other parts within this
kingdome of England sundrie sorts of Separatists and sectaries,
as namely Brownists, Anabaptists, Arrians, Thraskists, Famalists,
Sensualists, Antinomians, and some other sorts of sectaries &
schismatiques, who refuse upon Sondaies and other festivall daies
to come unto their parish churches, there to joyne and participate
with the parochiall Congregation in divine Service, Sacraments,
and hearing of Gods word preached, but have and doe ordinarily use
to meete together, in great numbers, on such daies and at other
times in privat houses and places, and there keepe and maintaine
privat Conventicales and exercises of Religion, by the lawes of
this Realme prohibited, to the corrupting and perverting of sundrie
his Ma[jes]ties good subiects, and the manifest contempt of his
Highnes lawes, and the disturbance of the peace of the Church. For
reformation whereof; These are to will and require you in his Ma[jes]ties
name, by vertue of his Highnes Commission for causes ecclesiasticall,
under the great seale of England, to us and others directed; that
taking with you, a high or pettie Constable, and such other convenient
assistance as you shall thinck meet, you doe enter into anie house
or place where you shall have intelligence or probably suspect that
any such privat Conventicles or meetings are held kept, and frequented
by anie such sectaries or schismatiques, and therein and everie
roome thereof you doe make diligent search for them, as [als]o for
all unlawfull and unlicenced bookes, and seditious and unlawfull
writings and papers. And all and everie such persons
writings papers and bookes so found, to seize apprehend and attache
or cause to be seized apprehended and attached, where[so]ever they
maie be found, as well in places exempt as not exempt, and that
thereupon you deteine them in safe custodie, and bring them forthwith
before us, or others our Colleagues, his Ma[jes]ties Commissioners
in that behalfe appointed, to be examined, dealt withall, and disposed
of, as shall be thought meet and agreeable to justice. And if it
so fall out, that you cannot presently bring unto us the said persons,
that then you committ them unto the next Prison or common Gaole
of the Countie or Cittie where anie such persons shall be found,
and forthwith to acquaint us therewith, that wee maie send for them,
or give order for their enlargement, as the cause in justice shall
require, Unles they shall forthwith enter good bond with sufficient
sureties to his Ma[jes]ties use, to appeare before us, or other
our Colleagues at a certaine daie to be by you limitted, according
to the distance of their abode; all which bonds, with your particular
informations against the severall parties, you shall in convenient
time att or before the daies of their apparances, retorne into the
office of our Register. And for the better performance
of this service Wee doe in his Ma[jes]ties name, by authoritie aforesaid,
straitly charge require and command all Justices of the peace, Maiors,
Sheriffs, Bayliffs, high and pettie Constables, and all other his
highnes officers ministers and subjects whatsoever, to yeilde you
their best aide, help, and assistance herein, as often and in such
manner and forme, as you shall see cause to require and direct the
same; And also all Gaolers and keepers of Prisons, to receive and
safely to keepe all such persons, as shal be by you committed and
brought or sent unto them, according to your direction aforesaid.
And these presents, shall be a sufficient warrant,
as well unto you, as all those that shall aide and assist you herein,
and also unto everie such Gaoler and keeper of prisons in that behalfe.
Geoven at Lambhith this twentithe of February Anno Domini, jus [part
of document damaged] |
