1Anno Regni
2
3et
4,
5regis & reginae
6, , & ,
7primo.
8On the Twenty fourth day of May, Anno
9Dom[ini] 1689. In the First Year of
10Their Majesties Reign this Act
11Passed the Royal Assent.
12
13,
14Printed by and , Printers
15to the and `s most Excellent Majesties, 1689.↑
16Anno Primo
17
18 & .
19
20An Act for Exempting Their
21Majesties Protestant Subjects
22Dissenting from the Church of
23 from the Penalties of
24certain Laws.↑
25
26Forasmuch as some
27Ease to Scrupulous
28Consciences in the
29Exercise of Religion
30may be an effectual
31means to Unite
32Their Majesties Pro-
33testant Subjects in
34Interest and Affection,
35Be it Enacted by the and
36most Excellent Majesties, by and with
37the Advice and Consent of the Lords,
38Spiritual and Temporal, and the Com-
39mons, in this present Parliament As-
40sembled and by the Authority of the
41same; That neither the Statute made
42in the Three and twentieth Year ofa the
43Reign of the late Queen , In-
44tituled, An Act to Retain the Maje-
45sties Subjects in their Due Obedience; Nor
46the Statute made in the Twenty ninth
47Year of the said , Intituled, An
48Act for the more Speedy and Due Execution
49of certain Branches of the Statute made in the
50Three and twentieth Year of the
51Majesties Reign, Vi[delicet] The aforesaid Act;
52nor that Branch or Clause of a Statute
53made in the First Year of the Reign of
54the said , Intituled, An Act for
55the Uniformity of Common Prayer and Service
56in the Church, and Administration of the Sa-
57craments; whereby all Persons, having
58no Lawful or Reasonable Excuse to be
59Absent, are required to Resort to their
60Parish Church or Chappel, or some usual
61Place where the Common Prayer shall
62be used, upon pain of Punishment by the
63Censures of the Church, and also upon
64pain that every Person so Offending shall
65forfeit for every such Offence Twelve
66pence; Nor the Statute made in the
67Third Year of the Reign of the late
68King , Intituled, An
69Act for the better Discovering and Repressing
70Popish Recusants; Nor that other Sta-
71tute made in the same Year, Intituled,
72An Act to Prevent and Avoid Dangers which
73may grow by Popish Recusants; Nor any
74other Law or Statute of this Realm
75made against Papists or Popish Recu-
76sants, Except the Statute made in the
77Five and twentieth Year of King
78, Intituled, An Act for Pre-
79venting Dangers which may happen from Po-
80pish Recusants; And Except also the Sta-
81tute made in the Thirtieth Year of the
82said King , Intitu-
83led, An Act for the more Effectual Preserving
84the Person and Government, by Disa-
85bling Papists from Sitting in either House
86of Parliament; Shall be Construed to
87Extend to any Person or Persons Dis-
88senting from the Church of ,
89that shall take the Oaths mentioned in
90a Statute made this present Parlia-
91ment, Intituled, An Act for Removing
92and Preventing all Questions and Disputes
93Concerning the Assembling and Sitting of
94this present Parliament; And shall Make
95and Subscribe the Declaration menti-
96oned in a Statute made in the Thir-
97tieth Year of the Reign of King
98, Intituled, An Act to Pre-
99vent Papists from Sitting in either House of
100Parliament; Which Oaths and Declara-
101tion the Justices of Peace at the Ge-
102neral Sessions of the Peace, to be held
103for the County or Place where such Per-
104son shall live, are hereby Required to
105Tender and Administer to such Persons
106as shall offer themselves to Take,
107Make, and Subscribe the same, and
108thereof to keep a Register; And like-
109wise none of the Persons aforesaid shall
110give or pay, as any Fee or Reward, to any
111Officer or Officers belonging to the
112Court aforesaid, above the Sum of Six
113pence, nor that more thanb once, for his or
114their Entry of his taking the said
115Oaths, and Making and Subscribing
116the said Declaration; Nor above the fur-
117ther Sum of Six pence for any Certifi-
118cate of the same, to be made out and
119Signed by the Officer or Officers of the
120said Court.
121
122And be it further Enacted by the Au-
123thority aforesaid, That all and every
124Person and Persons, already Convicted
125or Prosecuted in order to Conviction of Re-
126cusancy, by Indictment, Information,
127Action of Debt, or otherwise, grounded
128upon the aforesaid Statutes, or any of
129them, that shall take the said Oaths
130mentioned in the said Statute made
131this present Parliament, and Make and
132Subscribe the Declaration aforesaid, in
133the Court of Exchequer, or Assizes, or
134General or Quarter Sessions to be
135held for the County where such Person
136lives, and to be thence respectively
137Certified into the Exchequer, shall be
138thenceforth Exempted and Discharged
139from all the Penalties, Seizures, Forfei-
140tures, Judgments, and Executions, In-
141curred by Force of any the aforesaid Sta-
142tutes, without any Composition, Fee,
143or further Charge whatsoever.
144
145And be it further Enacted by the Au-
146thority aforesaid, That all and every
147person and persons that shall, as aforesaid,
148take the said Oaths, and Make and
149Subscribe the Declaration aforesaid,
150shall not be liable to any Pains, Penal-
151ties, or Forfeitures, mentioned in an Act
152made in the Five and thirtieth Year of
153the Reign of the Late Queen ,
154Intituled, An Act to Retain the Ma-
155jesties Subjects in their due Obedience; Nor
156in an Act made in the Two and twenti-
157eth Year of the Reign of the late King
158, Intituled, An Act to
159Prevent and Suppress Seditious Conventicles;
160Nor shall any of the said Persons be Pro-
161secuted in any Ecclesiastical Court, for or
162by reason of their Nonconforming to the
163Church of .
164
165Provided always, and be it Enacted by
166the Authority aforesaid, That if any
167Assembly of persons Dissenting from the
168Church of shall be had in any
169place for Religious Worship with the
170Doors Locked, Barred, or Bolted, during
171any time of such Meeting together, all
172and every person or persons, that shall
173come to and be at such Meeting, shall
174not receive any benefit from this Law,
175but be liable to all the Pains and Penal-
176ties of all the aforesaid Laws recited in
177this Act, for such their Meeting, not-
178withstanding his taking the Oaths, and
179his Making and Subscribing the Decla-
180ration aforesaid.
181
182Provided always, That nothing here-
183in contained shall be Construed to Ex-
184empt any of the persons aforesaid from
185paying of Tythes or other Parochial
186Duties, or any other Duties to the
187Church or Minister, nor from any Pro-
188secution in any Ecclesiastical Court or
189elsewhere, for the same.
190
191And be it further Enacted by the Au-
192thority aforesaid, That if any person
193Dissenting from the Church of ,
194as aforesaid, shall hereafter be Chosen or
195otherwise Appointed to bear the Office
196of High Constable, or Petty Constable,
197Church Warden, Overseer of the Poor,
198or any other Parochial or Ward Office,
199and such person shall Scruple to take
200upon him any of the said Offices in re-
201gard of the Oaths, or any other Mat-
202ter or Thing required by the Law to be
203taken or done in respect of such Office,
204Every such person shall and may execute
205such Office or Employment by a suffici-
206ent Deputy, by him to be provided, that
207shall Comply with the Laws on this
208behalf.
209
210Provided always, the said Deputy be
211Allowed and Approved by such person
212or persons, in such manner as such Of-
213ficer or Officers respectively should by
214Law have been Allowed and Appro-
215ved.
216
217And be it further Enacted by the Au-
218thority aforesaid, That no person Dis-
219senting from the Church of in
220Holy Orders, or pretended Holy Orders,
221or pretending to Holy Orders, nor any
222Preacher or Teacher of any Congregati-
223on of Dissenting Protestants, that shall
224Make and Subscribe the Declaration
225aforesaid, and take the said Oaths at
226the General or Quarter Sessions of the
227Peace to be held for the County, Town,
228Parts, or Division where such person
229lives, which Court is hereby impowered
230to Administer the same, and shall also
231Declare his Approbation of and Sub-
232scribe the Articles of Religion mention-
233ed in the Statute made in the Thir-
234teenth Year of the Reign of the late
235Queen , Except the Thirty
236fourth, Thirty fifth, and Thirty sixth,
237and these words of the Twentieth Ar-
238ticle, Vi[delicet] [The Church hath power to De-
239cree Rights or Ceremonies, and Authority in
240Controversies of Faith, And yet], shall be li-
241able to any of the Pains or Penalties
242mentioned in an Act made in the Seven-
243teenth Year of the Reign of King
244, Intituled, An Act for Re-
245straining Non-Conformists from Inhabiting in
246Corporations; Nor the Penalties mention-
247ed in the aforesaid Act made in the Two
248and twentieth Year of his said late
249 Reign, for or by reason of such per-
250sons Preaching at any Meeting for the
251Exercise of Religion; Nor to the Penal-
252ty of One hundred pounds mentioned
253in an Act made in the Thirteenth and
254Fourteenth of King ,
255Intituled, An Act for the Uniformity of
256Publick Prayers, and Administration of Sacra-
257ments, and other Rites and Ceremonies: And
258for Establishing the Form of Making, Ordain-
259ing, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and
260Deacons in the Church of , for Offi-
261ciating in any Congregation for the Ex-
262ercise of Religion permitted and allowed
263by this Act.
264
265Provided always, That the Making
266and Subscribing the said Declaration,
267and the Taking the said Oaths, and
268Making the Declaration of Approbati-
269on and Subscription to the said Articles,
270in manner as aforesaid, by every respe-
271ctive person or persons herein before men-
272tioned, at such General or Quarter Ses-
273sions of the Peace as aforesaid, shall be
274then and there Entred of Record in the
275said Court, for which Six pence shall be
276paid to the Clerk of the Peace, and no more.
277Provided that such Person shall not at
278any time Preach in any Place, but with
279the Doors not Locked, Barred, or Bolted,
280as aforesaid.
281
282And Whereas some Dissenting Prote-
283stants Scruple the Baptizing of In-
284fants; Be it Enacted by the Authority
285aforesaid, That every Person in pre-
286tended Holy Orders, or Pretending to
287Holy Orders, or Preacher, or Teacher,
288that shall Subscribe the aforesaid Arti-
289cles of Religion, Except before Excepted,
290and also Except part of the Seven and
291twentieth Article touching Infant Baptism,
292and shall take the said Oaths, and Make
293& Subscribe the Declaration aforesaid, in
294manner aforesaid, every such Person shall
295enjoy all the Priviledges, Benefits, and
296Advantages, which any other Dissenting
297Minister, as aforesaid, might have or en-
298joy by vertue of this Act.
299
300And be it further Enacted by the Au-
301thority aforesaid, That Every Teacher
302or Preacher in Holy Orders, or pretended
303Holy Orders, that is a Minister, Preach-
304er, or Teacher of a Congregation, that
305shall take the Oaths herein Required,
306and Make and Subscribe the Declarati-
307on aforesaid, And also Subscribe such
308of the aforesaid Articles of the Church of
309, as are Required by this Act in
310manner aforesaid, shall be thenceforth
311Exempted from serving upon any Jury,
312or from being Chosen or Appointed to
313bear the Office of Church Warden, Over-
314seer of the Poor, or any other Parochial
315or Ward Office, or other Office in any
316Hundred of any Shire, City, Town, Pa-
317rish, Division, or Wapentake.
318
319And be it further Enacted by the Au-
320thority aforesaid, That every Justice of
321the Peace may at any time hereafter
322Require any Person, that goes to any
323Meeting for Exercise of Religion, to
324Make and Subscribe the Declaration
325aforesaid, and also to take the said Oaths
326or Declaration of Fidelity herein after
327mentioned, in Case such Person scruples
328the taking of an Oath, and upon refusal
329thereof, such Justice of the Peace is here-
330by Required to Commit such Person to
331Prison without Bail or Mainprize, and
332to Certifie the Name of such Person to
333the next General or Quarter Sessions of
334the Peace to be held for that County, Ci-
335ty, Town, Part, or Division, where such
336Person then Resides; and if such Person
337so Committed shall upon a second tender
338at the General or Quarter Sessions re-
339fuse to Make and Subscribe the Decla-
340ration aforesaid, such Persons refusing
341shall be then and there Recorded, and he
342shall be taken thenceforth to all Intents
343and Purposes for a Popish Recusant
344Convict, and suffer accordingly, and in-
345cur all the Penalties and Forfeitures of
346all the aforesaid Laws.
347
348And whereas there are certain other
349persons, Dissenters from the Church of
350, who Scruple the taking of any
351Oath; Be it Enacted by the Authority
352aforesaid, That every such person shall
353Make and Subscribe the aforesaid Decla-
354ration, and also this Declaration of Fi-
355delity following, Vi[delicet]:
356
357I A. B. Do sincerely Promise and
358Solemnly Declare before God and
359the World, that I will be True and Faith-
360ful to King and Queen ;
361And I do Solemnly Profess and Declare,
362that I do from my Heart Abhor, Detest,
363and Renounce, as Impious and Heretical,
364that damnable Doctrine and Position,
365That Princes Excommunicated or De-
366prived by the Pope, or any Authority
367of the See of , may be Deposed
368or Murthered by Their Subjects, or any
369other whatsoever. And I do Declare,
370that no Foreign Prince, Person, Prelate,
371State, or Potentate hath or ought to
372have any Power, Jurisdiction, Superio-
373rity, Preeminence, or Authority, Ecclesi-
374astical or Spiritual, within this Realm.
375
376And shall Subscribe a Profession of
377their Christian Belief in these Words:
378
379I A. B. Profess Faith in God the Fa-
380ther, And in Jesus Christ his Eter-
381nal Son, the true God, And in the Ho-
382ly Spirit, one God blessed for evermore,
383And do acknowledge the Holy Scri-
384ptures of the Old and New Testament
385to be given by Divine Inspiration.
386
387Which Declarations and Subscription
388shall be made and Entred of Record at the
389General Quarter Sessions of the Peace
390for the County, City, or Place where every
391such Person shall then Reside. And eve-
392ry such Person that shall Make and Sub-
393scribe the Two Declarations and Pro-
394fession aforesaid, being thereunto Requi-
395red, shall be Exempted from all the Pains
396and Penalties of all and every the afore-
397mentioned Statutes made against Po-
398pish Recusants, or Protestant Noncon-
399formists, and also from the Penalties of
400an Act made in the Fifth Year of the
401Reign of the late Queen , Inti-
402tuled, An Act for the Assurance of the
403Royal Power over all Estates, and Subjects
404within Her Dominions, For or by reason of
405such Persons not taking or refusing to
406take the Oath mentioned in the said Act;
407And also from the Penalties of an Act
408made in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth
409Years of the Reign of King
410, Intituled, An Act for Preventing
411Mischiefs that may arise by certain Persons cal-
412led Quakers, refusing to take Lawful Oaths;
413And enjoy all other the Benefits, Privi-
414ledges, and Advantages under the like
415Limitations, Provisoes, and Conditions,
416which any other Dissenters shall or
417ought to enjoy by Virtue of this Act.
418
419Provided always, And be it Enacted
420by the Authority aforesaid, That in case
421any person shall refuse to take the said
422Oaths, when tendred to them, which eve-
423ry Justice of the Peace is hereby Im-
424powered to do, such person shall not be
425admitted to Make and Subscribe the
426Two Declarations aforesaid, though
427required thereunto either before any Ju-
428stice of the Peace, or at the General or
429Quarter Sessions, before or after any
430Conviction of Popish Recusancy, as afore-
431said, unless such person can, within Thir-
432ty one days after such tender of the De-
433clarations to him, produce Two sufficent
434Protestant Witnesses, to Testifie upon
435Oath, that they believe him to be a Pro-
436testant Dissenter, or a Certificate under
437the hands of Four Protestants, who are
438Conformable to the Church of ,
439or have taken the Oaths and Subscribed
440the Declaration above mentioned, and
441shall also produce a Certificate under the
442Hands and Seals of Six or more sufficient
443Men of the Congregation to which he
444belongs, owning him for one of them.
445
446Provided also, and be it Enacted by the
447Authority aforesaid, That until such
448Certificate, under the Hands of Six of his
449Congregation, as aforesaid, be produced,
450and Two Protestant Witnesses come to
451attest his being a Protestant Dissenter,
452or a Certificate under the hands of Four
453Protestants, as aforesaid, be produced,
454the Justice of the Peace shall and here-
455by is Required to take a Recognizance
456with Two Sureties in the Penal Sum
457of Fifty pounds, to be Levyed of his
458Goods and Chattels, Lands, and Tene-
459ments, to the Use of the and
460 Majesties, Their Heirs and
461Successors, for his producing the same;
462And if he cannot give such Security, to
463Commit him to Prison, there to remain
464until he has produced such Certificates,
465or Two Witnesses, as aforesaid.
466
467Provided always, and it is the true
468Intent and Meaning of this Act, That
469all the Laws made and provided for the
470frequenting of Divine Service on the
471Lord`s Day, commonly called Sunday,
472shall be still in Force, and Executed a-
473gainst all persons that offend against
474the said Laws, Except such persons
475come to some Congregation or Assembly
476of Religious Worship, allowed or permit-
477ted by this Act.
478
479Provided always, and be it further
480Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That
481neither this Act, nor any Clausec, Article, or
482Thing herein Contained, shall Extend or
483be Construed to Extend to give any Ease,
484Benefit, or Advantage to any Papist or
485Popish Recusant whatsoever, or any per-
486son that shall deny in his Preaching or
487Writing the Doctrine of the Blessed Tri-
488nity, as it is Declared in the aforesaid
489Articles of Religion.
490
491Provided always, and be it Enacted by
492the Authority aforesaid, That if any per-
493son or persons, at any time or times after
494the Tenth day of June, do and shall wil-
495lingly and of purpose, Maliciously or Con-
496temptuously come into any Cathedral or
497Parish Church, Chappel, or other Con-
498gregation permitted by this Act, and
499Disquiet or Disturb the same, or Misuse
500any Preacher or Teacher, such person or
501persons, upon proof thereof before any Ju-
502stice of Peace, by Two or more sufficient
503Witnesses, shall find Two Sureties to
504be bound by Recognizance in the Penal
505Sum of Fifty pounds, and in default of
506such Sureties shall be Committed to
507Prison, there to remain till the next Ge-
508neral or Quarter Sessions; And upon
509Conviction of the said Offence at the
510said General or Quarter Sessions, shall
511suffer the Pain and Penalty of Twenty
512pounds, to the Use of the and
513 Majesties, Their Heirs and Suc-
514cessors.
515
516Provided always, That no Congrega-
517tion or Assembly for Religious Worship
518shall be permitted or allowed by this Act,
519until the place of such Meeting shall be
520Certified to the Bishop of the Diocess, or
521to the Arch-Deacon of that Arch-Deaco-
522nary, or to the Justices of the Peace at
523the General or Quarter Sessions of the
524Peace for the County, City, or Place in
525which such Meeting shall be held, and
526Registred in the said Bishops, or Arch-
527Deacons Court respectively, or Recorded
528at the said General or Quarter Sessions;
529The Register or Clerk of the Peace
530whereof respectively is hereby Required
531to Register the same, and to give Certifi-
532cate thereof to such Person as shall De-
533mand the same, for which there shall be
534none greater Fee nor Reward taken, thand
535the Sum of Six pence.
536
537
538
539Finis.
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