THe Subject of the Ensuing Narrative being chiefly matter of Fact, and the Design of it being only to give the World an Account of the Pro­ceedings of the Ecclesiastical Court against several hundred of his Majesties Subjects, and in particular against James Jones; I shall without any Preface acquaint you, That upon the 16th of November last there was a Citation left at his House, by an Ecclesiastical Officer, the form where­of was that which followeth:

From this Citation the said Jones doth observe these following things, and desireth others to consider and well improve them.

1. That this Citation is not in the Kings Name, (only, I Cite you.)

2. Though there is Mention made of a Process under Seal, by vertue of which the said Jones was Cited, it is not said, By vertue of a Commission from his Majesty, given to Impower that Court so to proceed.

3. Though there is mention made of Law and Justice in the said Citation, that is no Demonstration of the Legallity of the aforesaid Court; and how much of Law and Justice hath been managed there, let those Judge that have been [Page 2] handled in the said Court, and what may yet be expected of Law and Justice must be very patiently waited for, by those that suffer.

The next day, being the 17th day of November aforesaid, the said Jones with others of his Protestant Neighbours, did appear before the said Doctor Pinfold, thinking thereby to avoid a strange thing called Cotumacy or Contempt in that Court; Supposing he should have had further Citations, before any further Proceedings; but he found himself greatly mistaken, for the said Doctor was very nimble with the honest Neighbours of the said Jones, as they were parti­cularly called by their Names, and presently concluded them Guilty of the matters in the Church-Wardens Presentment, viz. of not coming to Church, and not Receiving the Sacrament, without Positive Proof, of those matters by Persons appearing Face to Face; though the Truth is, the said Doctor did not put any of those before him to accuse themselves, but did presently proceed to Admonish them, To come to Church, and to take the Sacrament in their own Pa­rish Church, and bring a Certificate, they had so done from the Doctor of the said Parish, by the 6th day of December following. And when most of the said Jones's Neighbours had been called, the Clark called for one Mr. Jones; The said Jones Replyed, His Name was Jones, and he was come to see whether he was the man intended in the Presentment.

The Doctor concluded that, (because the Citation was left at his house:) Jones confessed there was a Citation left at his house, but that was no Proof that he was the same Person intended; Especially considering that his Whole Name was not in the Citation, only Mr. Jones, and there might be other Jones's in the said Parish.

Then the Doctor inquired of the Apparitor, who said that one of the Church-Wardens did direct him to the house of the said Jones, where he left the Cita­tion, and said he was the same Jones in the Presentment.

Jones then told the Doctor, That if he were the Person, he would not needlesly contend; but however he thought the Citation was not legally served, it being not given into his own hand, neither had he seen the Seal of the Court mentioned in the Citation.

To which Doctor Pinfold Replying, Allowed that it was not a Legal Ci­tation, and that if the said Jones had not then appeared, the Court would have sworn their Officer, who if upon Oath he had said he could not find the said Jones, then they would have set up a Viis & Modis upon the Church door, or upon his own door, requiring him to appear in the Ecclesiastical Court, but being the said Jones did appear, the Citation was at an end, and there was no need of any more Citations.

Then the said Jones perceived that he was got into a Trap, by being so ready to go with his honest Neighbours to that Court, upon a Supposition that the Citation being not served upon his Person, nor his full Name in, the Citation was not right, and therefore thought he should have had a Dismission for that time till a new Citation was sent and served upon him; he very well knowing that the Ecclesiastical Courts did formerly proceed very slowly; but it seems Sir Thomas's day was near at hand, for the Citizens of London to choose a New Common Conncil, and it was high time to hasten Excommunications, thereby if it were possible, to prevent the Priviledge of such Persons in their E­lection of that Honourable Court of Common Council; but this is a happy­ness to the Loyal City of London, that the Citizens of London do understand the Statute Law, by which the Kings Power and the Peoples Priviledge is main­tained, though they may not so well understand the Roaring Cannons of Ec­clesiastical [Page 3] Courts, viz. The Canon Law; and now the said Jones doth hum­bly desire his fellow Protestants to bear with this Digression, and not count it a Transgression; but he thinks it advisible that such as are not cited with a Ci­tation upon their own Persons, need not make so much haste to the Ecclesiasti­cal Courts as to break their Shins. And so the said Jones will return to his so­ber Discourse with Doctor Pinfold.

Then the said Doctor soberly proceeded, telling the said Jones that he was under the same Circumstances with his Neighbours, viz. Presented by the Church-Wardens, for not coming to his Parish Church, and for not receiving the Sacrament; and added, I think it in vain to ask when you were at Church, but I will hear what you have to say.

Then the said Jones Replyed, Doctor, I perceive you will deal with me as with my Neighbours, presently proceed to an Admonition.

The Doctor said, You may be sure of that.

Jones replied, Sir, I desire you to hear me a few words, before you proceed to Admonition; for I am not come to Provoke you, and I hope you will not Oppress me.

Then the Doctor consented to hear what Jones had to say.

Sir, I am ready to receive and comply with an Admonition to receive the Sacrament, provided you will give me such an Admonition, and in such a Spirit as the Apostle Paul gave in his days, (at this word the Doctor looked somewhat strangely, as if Pauls Admonitions were strange things in that Court; but Jones went on, saying that) Paul did Admonish Persons to examine themselves and come to that Ordinance, and in another place, Paul did Admo­nish Persons to take heed they did not partake with Whore-mongers, and Drunkards, and Railers; in the first Admonition, Persons are taught to look after their Own Fitness; and in the other Admonition Persons are taught to take heed of the Vnfitness of others, and such an Admonition I am willing to Receive.

You are a very Uncharitable man; what do you Judge your Neigh­bours to be Whore-mongers?

Sir, I do but speak what Paul said a great while ago, which is Instru­ction to us now; and though I will not say, my Neighbours are Whore-mon­gers, yet this I will say, and Appeal to your Conscience, that there is some Persons mentioned in one of those Scriptures, in most, if not in all the Parishes of London, viz. Drunkards, and Railers, and I may add, Dreadful Swearers, and such as call upon God to damn them; for Wickedness is grown bold in all our Streets.

Sir you must look to your own self.

Sir, that I learn from the first Admonition of Paul; and must take heed I do not communicate with wicked persons, from the other Admonition of Paul.

I Admonish, I Admonish you to come to Church, and to take the Sacrament in your own Parish-Church, between this and the 6th day of De­cember next, and bring a Certificate from the Doctor of your Parish, that you have so done.

Sir, seeing you have proceeded to Admonish me, I pray tell me whe­ther you Admonish me as a Minister, or as a Magistrate?

I Admonish you as a Magistrate.

Sir, then I suppose you have the Kings Commission for your thus pr [...] ­ceeding with me and my Neighbours.

What Sir! Do you call the Authority of this Court into Question?

Sir, I rather conclude it; if you be a Magistrate, then you must have a Commission for what you do, and I desire to see it.

Now I see what you are, if you had Opportunity you would question the Kings Authority or Title to the Kingdom.

Sir, that is unworthily spoken of you, and though you be a greater man than I am, I cannot bear this, it is Unsufferable, and you cannot answer this thing. Sir do you sit here as a Judge of a Court; and Insinuate so base an Accusation against any of his Majesties Leige People? I would have you to know, and I do here declare, that I do own the Kings Authority, as King of this Realm; and if you have the Kings Commission for this Court, show it me, and I will own the Kings Authority in you.

Sir, I will not show it you.

I have humbly desired it, but now I demand you to show me the Kings Commission for your keeping this Court, for I desire to Reverence the Kings Authority wherever I see it, and I will Reverence you as the Kings Commissioner, if you show your Commission.

I do not use to carry it in my my Pocket, I will not shew it you. Clark go on.

Well Sir, then I demand a Copy of my Libel, and time to plead to it.

I cannot deny you a Copy, you may have it at the Registers Office.

Sir I demand time to plead to it when I have it.

Sir I will not give you time.

What Sir, will you choak me with the Sacrament? I do own and Re­verence the Sacrament as a holy thing, and an Ordinance of God, but you ought not to force it down my Throat after this manner at your Pleasure; this is not the way to bring People to a Right Conformity to the Church of England, that should be done by good Arguments and gentle Reasoning.

I have had talk enough with this man.

Doctor, I beseech you let me have a few gentle words with you in Coolness of Spirit.

Why I was not angry.

Truly Sir, you seemed to be angry just now, however I do now in­treat a kindness of you.

Speak on, what is it?

Sir I intreat you to tell me the worst of this matter, what will be my danger if through ignorance, or neglect, or any thing else, I should not take the Sacrament at the time appointed by you?

What need that Sir, seeing I am before the Judge of this Court who can tell me all the Proceedings of his own Court? And therefore Doctor, I pray tell me, that I may not be an ignorant Offender, nor an ignorant Sufferer, an Obstinate one I will not be.

Then I will tell you, If you do not come to Church and take the Sacrament by the time appointed, you will be Excommunicated, and after­wards laid up in a Jail.

But pray Doctor, is there any such Law of God in the New Testa­ment, concerning the Sacrament, to lay up People in Jail for not taking of it?

I have done with you. And so bid the Clark go on, and call some bo­dy else. And thus the matter ended for that day.

Now the said Jones further saith, That he could not see any marks of Honour or Power belonging to a Court held by the Kings Commission, for he could not see the Kings Arms in the said Tabernacle; and whether the former Dis­course were Pertinent or Impertinent, is submitted to the Consideration and censure of all sober Persons when they have well considered of the Statute of the 1st. of Edward the 6th. Chap. 2. which take as followeth,

ANd whereas the Arch-Bishops and Bishops, and other Spiritual Persons in this Realm do use to make and send out their Summons Citations, and other Processes, in their own names, and in such Form and manner as was used in the time of the Vsurped Power of the Bishop of Rome, contrary to the Form and Order of the Summons and Process of the Common-Law used in this Realm, seeing that all Authority of Iu­risdiction Spiritual and Temporal is derived and deducted from the Kings Majesty as Supream Head of these Churches and Realms of England, and Ireland; and so, justly acknowledged by the Clergy of the said Realms) That all Courts Ecclesiastical within the said two Realms be kept by no other Power or Authority, either Forreign or within the Realm, but by the Authority of his most excellent Majesty, Be it therefore further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, that all Summons and Citations, or other Process Ecclesiastical in all Suits and Causes of instance, be­twixt party and party, and all Causes of correction, and all Causes of Basterdy or Bigamy, or Inquiry de Jure Patronatus, Probates of Testa­ments, and Commissions of Administrations of Persons deceased, and all Acquittances of, and upon Accounts made by the Executors, Admini­strators or Collectors of goods of any dead Person, be from the first day of July next Following made in the Name and with the Style of the King as it is in Writs Original, or Iudicial, at the Common Law, and that the Teste thereof be in the Name of the Arch-bishop or bishop, or other, having Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction, who have the commission and Grant of the Authority Ecclesiastical, immediately from the Kings Highness, and that his Commissary, Official, or Substitute, Exercising Iurisdiction under him shall put his name in the Citation or Process after the Teste.

Furthermore be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that all manner of person or persons who have the Exercise of Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction, shall have from the first day of July before expressed in their Seals of Office the Kings Highnesses Arms decently set with certain Characters under the Arms for the Knowledge of the Diocess, and shall use no other Seal of Iurisdiction but wherein his Majesties Arms be ingraven, upon pain that if any person shall use Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction (after the day expressed) in this Realm of England, Wales, or other his Dominions or Territories, and not send or make out the Citation or Process in the Kings Name, or use any Seal of Iuri sdiction other then before Limited, that every such Of­fender shall incur and run in the Kings Majesties Displeasure and Indigna­tion, and suffer Imprisonment at his Highnesses Will and Pleasure.

Now whether the Ecclesiastical Courts have such Authority from the Kings Majesty by Commission under the great Seal of England, and do proceed in the Exercise thereof, according to the recited Statute of the 1 Edw. 6. the said Jones doth humbly leave it with Doctor Pinfold to give a Satisfactory Demon­stration of it. [Page 6] However the said Jones hath yet no cause to conclude that the Ecclesiastical Courts have such Power, or have so Legally Proceeded with him, and many o­ther Persons, first, because the first step of Proceeding, viz. the Citation, was not in the Kings Name.

Secondly, Because Doctor Pinfold refused to show the Kings Commission when humbly desired, and honestly demanded in the place where he held his Court, which if the said Doctor had been impowered according to the former Statute, it had been very easy for him to have given some convincing Demon­stration thereof, and then the said Jones would have so declared the matter to others of his fellow Protestants, as might have prevented many People from finding fault with the said Court, and have caused them to give the more Re­verence and Respect because of his Majesties Authority according to Law.

But it may be some will say, that the aforesaid Statute of 1 Edw. 6. 2. hath been Repealed. The said Jones doth grant that to be true, but then let it be well considered by whom it was Repealed, and that was by Queen Mary, a shee-Po­pish Successor, an Enemy to the Protestent Religion, and to Protestants of all sorts, who made a change in Ecclesiastical Courts, as well as in other Courts, Popish Persons being made Judges, Officials, and Surrogates to manage Ec­clesiastical Affairs, according to the Popish way, and then were the poor Pro­testants, the Dissenters of that time, and were handled accordingly, being Ci­ted to the Ecclesiastical Courts, and Excommunicated, and then delivered up to the Temporal Power for Imprisonment and death also, because they were the Non-Conformists of that day, and did not in all things submit themselves to the Government as Established by Law; though they had the holy word and Law of God on their sides. This may teach all Persons to take heed of in­sisting too much upon National Laws, in matters of Religion, because they who are the Conformists in one Kings Raign, may be the Non-Conformists in his Successors Raign; and they would not think it a sufficient Argument against them, that their Opinions and Practices are contrary to the Government Esta­blished by Law: But whether the men of Doctors-Commons may not believe that a change of Religion Established by Law, is not a sufficient Argument to keep their places, and plead Conformity, shall be left for time to manifest.

And now the said Jones will return to the Repeal of the former Statute, An­no Primo Mariae Sessio Secunda chap. 2. A Repeal was made of the Statute of the first of Edw. 6. 2. called an Act for the Election of Bishops which is the afore­cited Statute.

But then it must be again considered, the Statute of Repeal of 1 Mary 2. was repealed by King James; see Anno 1 Jacobi Regis Chap. 25. in these very words. And be it [...]urther enacted. by the Authority of this present parliament, that an Act made in the first year of the Reign of Queen Mary, Entituled, An Act for the Repeal of certain Statutes made in the time of King Edward the sixth, shall stand Repealed and Void.

So that now it is Evident that Queen Maries repealing Statute being repeal­ed and made void by King James, those Statutes of King Edward the sixth, are now in full force, they being left in the same Life and Strength as when they were first made, unless it can be proved that a Repeal of them hath been made since the Statute of 1 Jacobi Chap. 25.

And so the said Jones will return to give a further Account of his owne Case and further saith, that between the time of the Admonition, and the time ap­pointed by Doctor Pinfold, for him to take the Sacrament, he did advise with such as were learned in the Laws of England, and had a Plea in Law, prepared [Page 7] and drawn up as an Answer, to what he was charged with in the Presentment of the Church-wardens of his said Parish.

A Copy of which Presentment take as followeth.

And as touching the aforesaid Presentment, the said Jones doth verily believe that the Church-wardens did not do it as an Act of Envy or ill will to their Neighbours, for as much as the names of the before mentioned Parishoners were carried to Doctors-Commons by some body else, and then the Church-Wardens were sent for to Doctors-Commons, and required to put them into a Present­ment, and the said Church-wardens did then forbear to do so, but about a week after they did it, at the importunity of some person at Doctors-Commons. How­ever the said Jones cannot but take notice, that the Church-wardens were very sparing of their words, in the Presentment, there is no harsh Expressions against any of their Neighbours, neither have they made it a Positive charge, thereby demonstrating they were men cautious of what they did in matters of Accu­sation, but it seems any small hint at things of an Accusing nature, may serve as a Foundation of the Proceedings of that Court.

And the said Jones further saith, that if the aforesaid Church-wardens had not consented to make this Presentment, they could not have been punished by that Court: And seeing the names were carried into Court by some other person, they might have left him to be Prosecutor who was so forward to turn Informer.

But this matter being done, it cannot be now undone, and poor Jones doth yet hope he shall not be quite undone by it.

And for the Benefit and help of Church-wardens, who are required by the Ecclesiastical Courts to take an Oath, to make Presentments of Crimes and Ofences, let the Statute of Anno Decimo Sexto Caroli Prim. Chap. 11. Paragr. 4. be well considered, that so they may not be Imposed upon in such matters. The words of the Statute are as followeth,

And be it also Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that no Arch-bishop, Bishop, nor Vicar General, nor any Chancellor, Official, nor Commissary of any Arch-bishop, or Vicar General, nor any Ordinary whatsoever: Nor any other Spiri­tual or Ecclesiastical Iudge, Officer or Minister of Iustice, nor any other Per­son or persons whatsoever, exercising Spiritual or Ecclesiastical power, Autho­rity, or Iurisdiction, by any grant Licence, or Commission of the Kings Maje­sty, [Page 8] his Heirs or Successors, or by any Power or Authority derived from the King his Heirs or Successors, or otherwise, shall from and after the first day of August, which shall be in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and forty one; Award impose or inflict any pain, penalty, Fine amerciament, Imprisonment, or other Corporal Punishment, upon any of the Kings Subjects, for any Con­tempt, Misdemeanour, Crime, Offence, Matter or thing whatsoever, belonging to Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Cognizance, or Iurisdiction, or shall Ex-Officio, or at the Instance or Promotion of any other person whatsoever, urge, Enforce, Tender, give or minister unto any Church-Warden, Sideman, or other per­son whatsoever, any Corporal Oath whereby he or she shall or may be charged, or Obliged to make any Presentment, of any Crime or offence, or to confess, or to Accuse himself or herself, of any Crime, Offence, Delinquency, or Misdemea­nour or any Neglect, matter, or thing whereby, or by Reason whereof, he or she shall or may be Liable or Exposed to any Censure, pain, penalty, or punishment whatsoever, upon pain and Penalty, that every person who shall Offend contrary to this Statute, shall forfeit and pay Treble Damages, to every person thereby grieved, and the sum of one hundred pounds, to him or them who shall first de­mand and Sue for the same, which said Treble Damages, and sum of one hun­dred pounds shall and may be demanded, and Recovered by Action of Debt, Bill and plaint, in any Court of record, wherein no priviledge, Essoine, protection, or Wager of Law, shall be admitted or Allowed, to the Defendant.

But it will be objected by some that this Statute is repealed; unto which it is answered, by the said Jones, that the first part of the afore-recited Statute is repealed; but the second part, viz, that in which mention is made, of imposing the Oath Ex-Officio or any other Oath to the damage of any of the Kings Sub­jects, is repeated and Confirmed by the Statute of Decimo tertio-Caroli Secundi. Chap. 12. Paragraph. 4.

Provided also, and it is hereby further Enacted, that it shall not be Lawful for any Arch-bishop, Bishop, Vicar General, Chancellor, Commissary, or any other Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Iudge, Offices or Minister, or any other person having or Exercising Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction, to Tender or Administer unto any person whatsoever the Oath usually called the Oath Ex-Offic [...]i, or any other Oath, whereby such person to whom the same is tendered, or Administred, may be charged or Compelled, to confess or Accuse, or to purge him or herself of any Criminal matter or thing whereby he or she may be Liable to Censure or punishment; any thing in this Statute, or any other Law, Custom or Vsage heretofore to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding.

And for a better Understanding what Power or Authority Ecclesiastical Per­sons have or have not, consider well the last clause o [...] the before recited Statute.

Provided always, That this Act or any thing therein contained, shall not extend or be construed to Extend, to give unto any Arch-bishop, Bishop, or any other Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Iudge, Officer, or other person, or persons, aforesaid any power or Authority to Exercise, Execute, Inflict, or Determine any Eccle­siastical Iurisdiction, Censure or Coertion, which they might not by Law have done before, the year of our Lord 1639. nor to Abridge or Diminish the Kings Majesties Supremacy, in Ecclesiastical Matters and Affairs, not to confirm the Canons in the year 1640. nor any of them, nor any other, Ecclesiastical Laws or canons not formerly confirmed, Allowed, or Enacted by parliament, or by the Established Laws of the Land, as they stood in the year of our Lord 1639.

From which two Statutes these things are to be Considered:

1. That the Statute of 1 Eliz. Chap. 1. Sect. 18. by which some Power and Authority extraordinary, was Exercised by Ecclesiastical Persons to the great wrong and damage of his Majesties Subjects, is repealed and made void by Car. 1. and Car. 2.

[Page 9] 2. That though the Repealing Statute of Car. I. chap. 11. be Repealed by 13th Car. II. chap. 12. yet the Ecclesiastical Party have thereby no power or Authority given or left unto them, but such ordinary power as they had before the making the Re­pealed Statute.

3. That the Imposing of Oaths by Ecclesiastical persons to the damage of any of His Majesties Subjects is plainly forbiden by the Statutes of 16 Car. I. chap. 11. and 13 Car. II. chap. 12

4. That the Ecclesiastical Party have not any power to proceed against any of His Majesties Subjects, or to make or confirm any Cannon or Ecclesiastical Laws, other­wise then was Allowed and Confirmed to them by Acts of Parliament, and the Established Laws of the Land, as they stood in the Year 1639. and how much or how little that was, shall be left to further Search.

And since the making of the aforesaid Statute of 13 Car. II. viz. in the 27th year of his Majesties Reign, one Thomas Watersfeild, Church-Warden of the Parish of Arundel, in the County of Sussex, was Imposed upon by the Bishop of Chichester, to take an Oath, That be should with his utmost dilligence, Present every person, which then or lately was inhabiting within the said Parish of Arundel, who hath done any Offence, or neglected any Duty, men­tioned in certain Articles, contained in a certain printed Book: In which book, amongst other things, there was contained this Question, viz. Whether every person inhabiting, or sojourning within the Parish of Arundel aforesaid, did daily resort every Lords day and Festival daies Appointed for Divine Service, to the Church? And whether they did there remain the whole time of Divine Service, quietly, with Reverence, order and decency?

Which Oath the said Church-Warden did refuse to take, and for it was afterward Excommunicated by the said Bishop. But the said Watersfeild brought his Case before His Majesties Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, who relieved and released him by a Pro­hibition; in which and wherein it is plainly Declared on the behalf of the Kings Ma­jesty, as followeth viz. That by the Laws of this our Realm of England, no person ought to be cited to appear in any Court Christian; before any Judge Spiritual, to take any Oath, unless it be only in Cases Matrimonial or Testamentary. And the aforesaid Bishop is in the said Prohibition Charged with Breach of the aforesaid Statute of 13 Car. II. and of the Common Law of this Realm, and therefore was required to Release and dissolve▪ all De­crees and Sentences against the said Thomas Watersfeild. And for your further satis­faction pray go and look the Prohibition. But to teturn to our Narrative.

The said Jones further saith, That upon the Sixth day of December, instead of car­rying a Certificate of his taking the Sacrament, he carried his Plea in Law, to Doctor Pinfold's Court, then held in the Tabernacle, in Old-Fish-street, London; and took wit­nesses with him, and presented his Plea to the Doctor; but he refused to take it, say­ing he would go thorrow what he was then upon. The said Jones bid the Doctor take notice he was there and he would wait; which he did above an hour, till the Doctor spoke of Adjourning the Court.

Then Jones spoke to the Doctor as followeth, Doctor, this Paper is a Plea in Law against the Presentment of the Church-Wardens: I desire you to receive it, and of Right demand you to Record it in your Court Book, and Doctor I pray do not take what I am now going to say to you as an Angry word proceeding from my own breast, but I am Advised to say: Excommunicate me at your peril; this is my Plea, and I will stand by it. Then the Doctor said, Leave it; and Jones said, Record it: this was spoken several times over by each; at which Instant somebody pulled off a Gentlemans Hat; and some busle was like to be in the Court: and Jones desired the Doctor to Record his Plea, and he would be gone, and not be concerned with any Tumult. The Doctor said, Leave it, and I will presently Adjourn the Court; which was done accordingly.

THE said Jones having thus proceeded, he waited several daies, thinking he should be Cited to have some kind of Answer to his Plea: whether it was Accepted or Rejected; but not hearing any thing at all, upon the Eleventh of December, the said Jones went again to Doctor Pinfolds Court in the Tabernacle of Old-Fish-Street, London; that so he might observe Proceedings, and to make answer if he should be called upon. Which day many Pleas were delivered into the said Court; which the Doctor re­ceived with great civillity, and promised a Hearing of them all, the next Fryday fol­lowing. The said Jones being not that day called, kept silence, and did not urge his own Case, least he should be counted a Troubler of that Court; and therefore resolved to attend Doctor Pinfold the Fryday following: concluding that then he should have opportunity to have his Plea debated as well as others. Especially considering that his Plea was one of the first that was delivered into that Court.

When Fryday came, which was the Fourteenth of December; the said Jones, with a great number of His Majesties Protestant Subjects, went to Doctors Commons; for Doctor Pinfold had ordered the Hearing of the Pleas to be there in, a very large place, like a great Hall, which looked somewhat more like a Court than the Tabernacle. At which time Doctor Pinfold appeared as Judge. And Counsellor Welden and Coun­sellor Hooke, and one of the Doctors belonging to the same Court, viz. Doctor Rains, appeared to Plead for them that had put in their Pleas. And the Cause of Mr. Morty­mer, and one Mr. Duberry, were debated, with great Soberness and strength of Argu­ment: touching the Errors of the Presentments, and that Courts Imposing the Sa­crament at such particular times as the the Law doth not Impose it upon any of His Majesties Subjects. Doctor Pinfold saw he was hard put to it, in the beginning of this work, and therefore, after a little Debate of the matter, between him and the Coun­sellers: he spread forth his hands and said, he would hear no more Pleas, but he would Answer them all by the Seal of the Court to morrow morning. And so the Doctor went away without any Formal Adjourning the Court, or dismissing that great As­sembly; not any Officer appearing to open his mouth, so much as to say, God save [Page 11] the King. And so that great Assembly departed, in very peaceable manner, as be­came His Majesties peaceable Subjects, though greived in their minds at such proceed­ings. The said Jones was ready to appear in his own Case, if he had been called, or if there had been opportunity: he being prepared with a Supplyment to his Plea: drawn up by the Learned in the Law. A Copy whereof take as followeth.

An Addition to the Supplyment.

AND furthermore the said Jones saith, That besides all that is contained in his Plea, and Supplyment to the said Plea, he had more Matter to be Argued in his Defence against the aforesaid Presentment, to show the deficiency and insufficiency thereof. A brief account of which take as followeth.

1. He the said Jones saith, That there is no mention of what Diocess the aforesaid Pa­rish (and he as Inhabitant thereof) is, which should have been plainly Expressed in the said Presentment.

2. The said Jones saith, That he was Prosecuted for Non-conformity, before His Majesties Justices of the Peace, in the County of Surrey, and particularly for not com­ing to Church: which is the same thing mentioned in the Church-Wardens Present­ment, and for which the said Jones is Excommunicated. Now for the said Jones to be punished in the Temporal Courts and in the Ecclesiastical Court, at or about the same time, seems be contrary to the Statute of Anno primo Regni Eliz. Chap. 2. which saith,

Provided alwaies, and be it Enacted, That whatsoever persons Offending in the premises▪ shall for their Offences first receive Punishment of the Ordinary, having a Testimonial there­of under the said Ordinaries Seal: shall not for the same Offencee eftsoons be Convict be­fore [Page 12] the Iustices: and likewise Receiving for the said Offence punishment, first 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.

3. And he the said Jones saith, That the Church-Wardens did not in their Pre­sentment Alledge against him, That he had not any Lawful or Reasonable Cause to show why he had not been at Church or Sacrament of so long a time, mentioned in the presentment. See 1 Eliz. Cap. 2. Paragraph 14.

4. And he the said Jones saith, That whereas Errors in an Indictment at Sessions or Assizes, or Errors in a Mittimus whereby a man is Committed to prison, will when Legally Pleaded, overthrow and make void such Indictment or Commitment, and so relieve the Indicted and Committed person; Even so and much more should the said Jones by reason of a Deficient and Insufficient Presentment, be Discharged from the Ecclesiastical Court, as he prayed in his aforesaid plea and Supplyment, and therefore the said Jones doth conclude, that it is better to be concerned with the Kings Justices, and Judges, who Sitt by Commission from the King, in the Kings Courts of Record, than to be concerned with any Ecclesiastical Court, and such as are Doctors and Judges in the said Courts.

The said Jones further saith, he heard no more from Doctors-Commons till the Twen­tieth of December, and then the Doctor of his Parish, viz. St. Bartholomew Exchange, did in very friendly manner acquaint the said Jones, that an Excomunication against him was come from Doctors Commons. and that the said Doctor was ordred to publish the said Excommunication next morning, being St. Thomas's day: unto which the said Jones Reply'd, That the Ecclesiastical Court had proceeded Illegally in going so far as an Excommunication, and demonstrated the same in two Particulars, First, that he the said Jones had given a Plea in Law to that Court against the aforesaid Present­ment, and was never admitted to be heard upon his Plea, which is contrary to the Laws of England, to have any Sentence pass upon any man to his damage, without his Cause be Legally heard and Debated. Secondly, That it was not in the power of the Ecclesiastical Court Legally to Excommunicate the said Jones for not taking the Sa­crament at any such time as that Court should at their pleasure Appoint, there being but one time of the year named for Receiving the Sacrament, viz: Easter. The afore­said Doctor reply'd, he was sorry things were brought to such a point, but he could not avoid obeying the Order of Doctors Commons, and so the next day being Dec. 23. called St. Thomas day, the Excommunication was published in the Parish Church called St. Barth [...] ­lomew Exchange: and upon the Twenty third day of the same Month, the said Jones went with a Witness with him to the Registers Office, and demanded a Copy of the Libel against him, but the said Jones could not have it though he offered payment for the said Libel. And upon the Twenty Sixth of the same Month, the said Jones took wit­ness with him and demanded a Copy of all the Proceedings of the Court, and parti­cularly a Copy of his Plea: the Clerk did promise a Copy of the proceedings of the Court, but could not let him have them at that time. And upon the Thirtieth day of the same Month, the said Jones went and a witness with him for the aforesaid Copy, but it was not done; the said Jones then allowed the Clerk till the next Monday, and the Clerk would not promise to have those things copied by that time, pleading it was Ho­ly-daies, and that was the reason they were not done; the said Jones replyed, That it was a strange thing to him, they could not write their own proceedings upon a Ho­ly-day, as well as Excommunicate him upon a Holy-day. The said Jones waited till Wedensday the Third of January, and then went with his friend for the aforesaid Copy, and then the Clerk said, That he whom he had appointed to draw out the aforesaid Copy was out of the way, himself was going from the Office at that time, and so the said Jones came away without what he so much endeavored to have, going more times to the Office than he was bound to do.

Thus things remained till about a fortnight before Hilary Term, and then the said Jones went and made Affidavit, before Judge Charleton: the form of the said Affidavit is as followeth, James Jones of London, Merchant-Taylor, deposeth upon Oath, That he was Cited into the Ecclesiastical Court, before Doctor Pinfold, and made his appea­rance, and since hath been at the Registers Office, and there demanded a Copy of his Libel, but could not obtain it, though he offered payment for the same.

[Page 13] And after this upon the twenty third day of January, 1682. being the first day of the Term, the said Jones with a few others moved the Honourable Judges of the Kings Court of Common Pleas, for Prohibitions, upon the not obtaining Copies of their Libels, when demanded, and payment offered for the same; the particular Affi­davits of that matter being read in Court, and moved by several Serjeants at Law: the Judges were pleased to grant Prohibitions with a Nisi causa, viz. if Doctor Pinfold could not shew cause against them, and a Rule of Court was served upon Doctor Pin­fold to Appear before the Judges of the Common Pleas, on Fryday the twenty Sixth of the same Month, but the said Jones thought it expedient to move the honourable Judges of the Kings-Bench for a Prohibition, and therefore made Affidavit of not obtaining a Copy of his Libel, before the honourable Judge Dolben; and it was read before the Judges of the Kings Bench upon the twenty fifth of the same Month, and that honourable Bench was pleased to grant a Prohibition for the said Jones, but the next day being the twenty sixth of January, Doctor Pinfold engaged Sir George Jefferies, who is well known to be a Lawyer that will stoutly defend and maintain the cause he is engaged in, either for the King, or any of his own Clients, against the plaintiff or defendant, on the other side, and in this Case, there was no want of words by Sir George, to overthow the Prohibitions, both at Kings Bench and Common Pleas: but the said Jones, doth take it a little unkindly that Sir George Jefferies should with such sharpness of Spirit reflect upon him, before the honourable Judges, as if he had surreptitiously obtained the grant of a Prohibition, and highly blamed the said Jones for moving in two of His Majesties Courts for the said Prohibition; but if the said Jones had been then in Court, he would have ventured by humble desire to the honourable Judges, to make a modest and honest reply to that Gentleman without being so sharp upon him, and therein have shewed, that the obtaining that Grant of a Prohibition, could not fairly be counted Surreptiti­ous, because the honourable Judges granted it upon the Affidavit of the said Jones then read in Court, the truth of which Affidavit the said Jones would have sworn be­fore all the Judges of England, viz. that he had been at the Registers Office and de­manded a Copy of his Libel, and could not obtain it, though he offered paymnent for the same, and in this very case the Law hath provided a Prohibition, for the the re­leif of the Kings Subjects, who are too often vexed by the Ecclesiastical Courts: See the Statute of the 2 Hen. V. chap. 3. the words are these,

Item, Forasmuch as divers of the Kings liege people, be daily Cited to appear in the Spi­ritual Court, before Spiritual Iudgee, there to Answer to divers pexsons, as well of things which touch Free-hold, Debts, Trespass, Covenants, and other things wherof cognisance partaineth to the Courts of our Lord the King, as of Matrimony and Testament, and when such persons so Cited appear and demand a Libel of that which against them is surmised to be informed to give their answer thereunto, or otherwise to purchase a Writ of our Lord the King, of Pro [...]ibition, according to their Case, which Libel to them is denied by the said Spiritual Iudges, to the intent that such persons should not be aided by any such Writ against the Law, and to the great damage of such persons so impleaded: our said Lord the King by the advice and assent of his Lords Spiritual, and Temporal and at the re­quest and i [...]stance of the said Commons, hath Ordained and established, that at what time the Libel is grantable by the Law, that it may be granted and delivered to the party without any difficulty. From which good Statute, let these things be considered,

1. That the Spiritual Courts ought to have Libels of those matters that are surmised against the Kings Leige people,

2. That upon demand, without any delaies, copies of such Libels ought to be given to such of the Kings Leige people as make a demand of them, that thereby they may be enabled to make a legal defence for themselves, either respecting the matter of fact sur­mised against them, or any illegal Proceedings in the mannagement thereof.

3. That such of the Kings leige people as are denied or cannot obtain a copy of such Libel when grantable by Law, shall have the Kings Writ of Prohibition, for their re­leif; or if the matters surmised against them in the Spiritual Court be such things where­of cognisance pertaineth to the Court of our Lord the King; besides those of Free­hold, Debt, Trespass or Covenants, they may have for their releif a Prohibition.

Now the said Jones humbly conceives that the matters surmised against him in the Spiritual Courts are such things whereof cognisance pertaineth to the Court of our [Page 14] Lord the King, viz. an uncertain Information of the Church-Wardens, saying in their Presentment, They could not of their own knowledge prove who of the Parishioners have, and who have not been at Church, and that they did not remember to have seen the said Jones at Church for some time past, or to have Received the Sacrament, for three Months past: and besides these things surmised, when they were in the Ecclesiasti­cal Court, a Copy of a Libel concerning them could not be obtained when demanded, upon which the said Jones moved for a Prohibition; but Sir George Jefferies in man­naging the cause for Doctor Pinfold, did plead there was no Libel in that case, and therefore the Ecclesiastical Court could not grant it when demanded, and that Doctor Pinfold had proceeded by the Presentment of the Church-Wardens. The said Jones doth not blame Sir George for making this Plea for the Doctor; but the question is, Whether Doctor Pinfold ought not to have a Libel in the Case, as well as a Presentment? the Statute mentioning a Libel of things surmised against the Kings liege people: however the Kings Subjects have good cause to esteem the Proceedings of the Kings Courts of Justice, where there is not only Presentments but afterwards Indictments, and time allowed to the Kings Subjects to defend themselves, and the Accusers brought to the face of the Accused, and upon not making substantial proof of matters of fact, the Kings accused subjects are by the Judges and the Law discharged: but the said Jones and a multitude of his fellow Protestants, have not had such fair dealings in Doctor Pinfold's Court, and therefore the said Jones hath cause to say, From such Courts, and such Proceedings, Good Lord deliver us. And whereas the said Jones is informed that Sir George did reflect upon him for moving in the Kings Court of Common Pleas, before he came to move in the Kings Bench, for a Prohibition: as being willing to have two strings to his Bow, the said Jones doth humbly desire Sir George to consider that it is every mans concern to do his best and use the utmost means in a legal way, to accomplish his relief: and the said Jones doth believe that if it had been his happiness to have engaged Sir George Jefferies as his Conncel in this case, it had not been lost for want of speaking to it, as it was by the Silence of some Serjeants at Law, that were expected to make some Reply in that Case; and the Lord Chief Justice Pemberton, then Sitting upon the Bench, was willing to hear a Reply. What was the cause of that silence, whether because they could not speak, or because they would not speak, or because they dared not to speak, or because they had not sufficient Fees to speak, Grand-father Time must shew. But whether because one Serjeant spoke so much, and others said nothing at all, Prohibitions weare over­thrown in Westminster-Hall, shall be lest to consideration. However the said Jones saith, That he was encouraged to take this way, because divers of the Kings Subjects have thereby had releif, formerly, from the power of the Ecclesiastical Courts, who were under the same circumstances, and therefore the said Jones doth humbly pray Sir George Jefferies to consider, that not every cause he hath mannaged, either for the Plaintiff or Defendant, hath gone currant before the Judges in Westminster-Hall, which is a suf­ficient evidence that either the cause undertaken was not right, or else that Sir George's Clients had some wrong; and therefore no marvel if one or other of these things have attended poor Jones, and others, who have proceeded by the Advice of the Learned in the Law: however this little victory over Jones and his fellow Protestants gave oc­casion to Doctor Pinfold to rejoice and boast and glory that night at Doctors Commons, as if his cause were fifty in the hundred the better for that daies work; but it is humbly desired by the said Jones, that the Doctor would seriously cousider that saying in a good old Book called, The Holy Bible: Let not him that girdeth on his harness, Boast himself as he that putteth it off, 1 Kings 20. 11.

Furtthermore, The said Jones doth certifie Doctor Pinfold, and all others concerned, That he hath a love and a reverent Esteem of the Holy Sacrament, called in holy Scrip­ture the Supper of the Lord, and hath solemnly as becometh a Christian, Taken the said holy Ordinance divers times within the time mentioned in the a [...]oresaid Presentment, and divers times since the aforesaid Admonition, and that in both kinds, of Bread and Wine, and in such manner, and to such ends, as is expressed in the Statute of 1 Edw. VI. chap. 1. in these words, Paragraph 1.

Which Sacrament was instituted of no less Author then of our Saviour, both God and Man, when at his last Supper amongst his Apostles; he did take the Bread into his holy hands, and did say, Take, Eat, this is my Body, which is given and Broken for you: and [Page 15] taking up the Chalice or Cup did give thanks and say, This is my Blood of the New Te­stament, which is shed for you, and for many, for the Remission of Sins; that whenso­ever we should do the same, we should do it in Remembrance of him, and to declare and set forth his Death and glorious Passion until his Coming: of the which bread whosoever Eateth, or of the which cup, whosoever drinketh unworthily, Eateth and Drinketh Condemnation and Iudgment to himself. And in Paragraph 7. there are these words,

Therefore be it Enacted by our Sovereign Lord the King, with the consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by Authority of the same, that the said most Blessed Sacrament be hereafter commonly delivered and administred unto the people, within this Church of England and Ireland, and other the Kings Dominions, under both the kinds, that is to say, of Bread and Wine, except necessity otherwise require: and also that the Priest which shall minister the same shall at the least one day before Exhort all persons which shall be present to resort and Prepare them­selves to Receive the same, and when the prefixed day cometh, after a Godly Exhortation, by the Minister made, wherein shall be further expressed the benefit and comfort, promised to them which worthily receive the holy Sacrament: and danger and indignation of Almighty God threatened to them which shall presume to receive the same unworthily, to the end that every man may try and examine his own conscience, before he shall receive the same. The said Minister shall not without a lawful cause, deny the same to any person, that will devoutly and humbly desire it: any Law, Statute, Ordinance or Custome, contrary thereunto in any wise notwithstanding, not condemning hereby the usage of any Church out of the Kings Majesties Dominions.

But it is supposed that Doctor Pinfold will say, That the said Jones hath not taken the said Sacrament in his own Parish Church, according to the Admonition, at the time there­in prefixed by the said Doctor: unto which the said Jones doth soberly reply, That he doth not know of any Statute Law, that impowereth the Doctor thus to proceed, or that bindeth the said Jones to obey, and is much more sure; that there is no Law of Jesus Christ, in all the New Testament for such proceedings: however the said Jones saith, That he hath taken the holy Communion, in such a Church as is declared and owned in the Nineteenth Article of the Church of England, viz. That the Visible Church of Christ is a company of faithful men, in which the pure Word of God is Preached, and the Sacraments be duly Administred, according to Christs Ordinance, in all things that of neces­sity, are requisite to the same.

And the said Jones saith, That himself and a vast number of His Majesties Protestant subjects, do exercise a Godly care, and maketh great Conscience to Wait upon God, in no other Assemblies then is expressed in the aforsaid Article, viz. A company of faithful people that have the pure Word of God truly preached, and the Ordinances of God duly administred.

But it may be the Doctor will say, That Jones meaneth the assemblies of Disenters.

To which Jones doth reply, That he honestly meaneth no other Assemblies, but such where Christ is preached, as he is declared in the holy Gospel:

1. As God and Man.

2. As being Conceived in the Virgins womb, by the Holy Ghost, and so brought forth into the world to be the Saviour of Sinners.

3. His Death as the Satisfaction of Divine Justice.

4. His Resurrection, for the Justification of all True Beleivers.

5. His Ascension into heaven, and making Intercession at the right hand of God, that so the Godly may be accepted of God, and be received into heaven.

6. The Second Coming of Christ to Judge the quick and the dead: at which time of Judgement, he will receive the Righteous into Eternal happiness, and send the wicked into Eternal misery, after the resurrection of the just and unjust.

And as touching the holy Sacraments the aforesaid Assemblies doth profess and practice water Baptism, as Gods holy Ordinance, and the Lords Supper in both kinds, of Bread and Wine, as a holy Remembrance of Christs Death till he come again, as it is expres­sed in the Holy Scripture, and in the before mentioned Statute of 1 Edw. 6. chap. 1. which Statute doth not compel any of the Kings subjects to come to that blessed Ordi­nance, to the damage of their own Souls, but strictly warneth to the contrary and re­quireth persons to come humbly and devoutly, of their owne desire.

[Page 16] Now therefore why the said Jone [...]s, or any other of the Kings Protestant subjects, should be prosecuted to the suffering Imprisonment, for not taking the Sacramnt in their re­spective Parish Churches, who are zealous for the holy Sacrament, & other parts of the Pro­testant Religion, in such assemblies as are for higher degrees of Reformation than is a­mong the common Protestants: it is humbly presented to Doctor Pinfold, and all others called Doctors and Judges, in Courts called Spiritual, whether they can produce any such Authority from Jesus Christ, who is the Spiritual Governour in his Church, and hath given Spiritual Laws for the government thereof.

The said Jones saith, he hath carefully read the Holy Scriptures for many years, and could never find that ever Christ did set up such a way of Government in his Church, viz. of Fines, Imprisonments, Banishment, or any other corporal punishment, to bring persons to conform unto his Gospel Ordinances, but Christs way was to aford plain and powerful preaching of his Word, to inlighten the mind, and perswade the Soul, to make a free choice of his Ttruths, from a cordial love to himself: but according to the proceedings of Doctor Pinfold, and other Ecclesiastical Judges, such as are consci­entiously afraid they shall miss the comforts and blessed benefits of the Sacrament, by coming to it at such times and places, with such Communicants, as imposed by the said Doctor, must be contented with the discomforts of a Jail, or else pay great sums of mony to get off.

And whereas the [...]aid Doctor did declare, in the publick Assembly of Doctors Com­mons, that he fixed the taking of the Sacrament, in his admonitions, that thereby the people might give a full demonstration of being true Protestants: it is humbly desired that the Doctor would consider, whether too many, who venture upon the Sacrament, are not a great Scandal to the Protestant Religion, by wicked conversations, in Swear­ing, Drinking, Cursing, and calling upon God to damn them: and the said Jones doth heartily desire, that the men of Doctors Commons, were quite free from all these sins, the least of which is enough for damnation, and that is ten thousand times worse than Excommunication: however it may be soberly and safely concluded, that such persons are very unfit to drive others to the Sacrament, or punish them for not running so head­long as they would have them unto such an holy Ordinance of God.

And besides all the former Relation, the said Jones saith, That upon the seventh of February, he went again to the Registers Office, belonging to the Ecclesiastical Court, and there demanded a Copy of his Excommunication, and all other proceedings of the Court, but the chief Register was very angry because rhose things had been besp [...]ke so long before, and were not fetch'd away, and reflected upon Jones as if he had not done honestly: unto which Jones replyed saying, Sir, I suppose you do not know that I have been more times for these papers, than I was bound to come, and could not have them, however if they are done, let me have them, and my money is ready for you: upon this great search was made to find the papers, but the Clerks could not find them, nor the Register neither, but one put it off to another, as being mislayed. Jones see­ing them in confusion, thought they might better find them in his absence, and therefore told them, he would go to some house hard by and come again, and about an hour after, Jones returned to the Office, but they were not found: notwithstanding all this, Jones was fo fair as to give them till the afternoon, and the under Register did promise that the papers should be sent by their Officer who brought the Citation; so the said Jones went away in farther Exercise of patience, but the papers did not come all that day. Jones waited for them all the next day, till near night, and because they were not sent, he went and made Affidavit before a Judge, That he had been four several times at the Registers, to have a Copy of his Excommunication, and all other proceedings of the Ecclesiastical Court, but could not have them, though he offered payment, and to leave part of payment in hand, and about an hour after the said Jones had been at home, the said papers were sent to his house, viz. about Seven a Clock at night, with a Note from one of the Clerks, to pay thirteen Shillings and four pence for them, which was payed and sent back by the messenger that brought them. Now the honest de [...]ign of Jones in thus labouring to have such papers, was to see whether any thing as matter of Law, might arise from them, sit for the consideration of the honourable Judges, where­by the said Jones might have some legal releif, but now the Term was very near ex­piring, and not sufficient time to consult with those Learned in the Law, to make [Page 17] any Progress, and so the said Jones remained in the Exercise of Patience.

But Doctor Pinfold went on to finish his Work, and to perform his Word to the said Jones, viz. That he should be laid up in a Jail, if he did not come to Church and take the Sacrament according to his Admonition; for in the close of the Term, the said Spiritual Doctor did pro­cure several Writs of Excommunicato Capiendo, from the Temporal Power, to apprehend a great Number of the Kings Protestant Subjects, and Substantial Citizens of London, and to carry them to Prison for not obeying his Admonitions, and thereby separate Husbands from Wives, Parents from Children, Masters from Servants, besides hindring many Persons from Managing their honest and Lawful Trades and Callings, to the damage of many good Fa­milies, the whole of which Punishment the said Jones doth hope he shall bear with Patience, as the Providence of God shall suffer it to come upon him, being well satisfied that Loyalty and Christianity will keep him Company, when in a Jail for Non-Conformity.

And now the said Jones doth think it may be of some Advantage to his fellow Protestants that they be acquainted with the several ways allowed and practiced by Doctor Pinfold, for Obtaining an Absolution, and so be discharged from the Writ Excommunicato Capiendo, af­ter it is out against, and served upon them.

I. Such persons may be absolved and discharged from the said Writ if they will pay all the Charges of the Court, which is sometimes Ordinary; and sometimes Extraordinary, the Or­dinary Charges is about forty shillings, but according as matters have been managed between the Prosecuted Party and the said Doctor, the Charges by the Doctors Bill may amount to five or Six Pounds, or more. And besides the payment of such Charges, the Party must depo­sit Ten Pound, or other such Sum as the Doctor will impose, and subscribe that the said Sum of Money shall be forfeited and disposed of as the said Doctor shall think meet, viz. If the Party do not come to Church and take the Sacrament at such times as the Doctor will ap­point; at which instant, viz. when the money is tendred down, he giveth his Admonition so to do.

II. Another way to be absolved and discharged from the said Writ, is, to pay the aforesaid Bill of Charges, and take an Oath to conform, viz. You shall swear that you will obey all the Kings Ecclesiastical Laws, and the Lawful Commands of your Ordinary.

Now such as think to deliver themselves this way, had best in the first place get a true Un­derstanding of the Ecclesiastical Laws, what they are, and what are the Lawful Commands of the Ordinary, least they should swear to such things as may be against their Consciences, and so be under a force either to Sin by keeping the Oath, or else Sin by Breaking the Oath; which if the latter, they must expect to hear of it from Doctor Pinfold with both their Ears.

III. Another way of Deliverance is to give Bond to Dr. Pinfold, to conform by such a time as shall be agreed with the said Doctor, or else to forfeit the Sum of Money expressed in the said Bond, which formerly was used to be but ten Pound, but now the said Doctor doth Re­quire a Bond of Thirty Pounds, and besides this, the aforesaid Bill of Charges must be present­ly paid, and at the sealing and delivering of the aforesaid Bond, the said Doctor will Admo­nish the party to come to Church and receive the Sacrament according to the time of the Bond. The Condition of which Bond take as followeth.

[Page 18] Now whether this and such like Bonds can be legally sued to recover the Penalty thereo [...] very Wise and Understanding men are of differing minds about it; however several Person [...] are in the ready Way to know the certain truth hereof, in a short time;

And besides all this, there are other ways for deliverance by the Comon & Statute Law, before the Kings Judges according as the Case may be Allowable by Law; and some are not without hopes of Relief, this Way, with the Expence of Money.

And as the said Jones is not willing to be imposed upon by others, so he will not impos [...] upon others, but will freely and friendly leave all his fellow Protestants to take that way, and use that means for their help, as is most agreeable to thier Circumstances, and Satisfa­ctory to their own minds, in the keeping of a good Conscience, humbly desiring it may be se­riously considered, That it is better to be punished in their Pursos, then their Spirits, and be damaged in their Coffers, rather then in their Consciences; and let it also be considered, Whether these and other Distressing Proceedings be not some cause of stopping the Silver Streams in the Golden Street of this great and Loyal City of London.

And now at last the said Jones is willing to leave a few Refreshing Considerations for the Comfort of his Fellow Distressed Protestants.

I. Consider, That His Majesty hath been Graciously pleased to Relieve his Distressed Dis­senting Subjects divers times when they have been violently Prosecuted by several Laws, un­der which they have Groaned; and hath favoured them with the Exercise of Religion accor­ding to their own Conciences, approving of this as the best way to quiet the minds of his Leige People, and promote Trade for the good of the Kingdom, as may be seen at [...]arge in His Majesties Declaration, Published by the advice of his Privy-Councel March 15. 167 [...].

II. Consider, That the Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal, and the Commons of En­gland Assembled in Parliament, provided a Bill to discharge the Kings Protestant Subjects from the Penalties of the 35. of Elizabeth, but it unhappily missed of coming to His Maje­sties Royal Hand for the Royal Assent; which was a bad Brown-business: However both Houses of Parliament did their Part.

III. Consider, That the Commons of England Assembled in Parliament have shewed a wil­lingness to free His Majesties Subjects, considered as Protestant Dissenters, from all the Penal Statutes in matters of Conscience.

IV. Consider that what hath been done by the King and Parliament, distinct one from a­nother, may be done by the King in Parliament, as a joint Act, which doubtless would be [...]e Joy of the whole Kingdom, and then would be a full and compleat fulfilling and Performance of his Majesties Royal Promise in his Royal Declaration from Breda, just before his happy Restauration in these following Words

We do declare a Liberty to Tender Consciences, and that no man shall be disquieted or called in question, for differences of Opinion in matters of Religion, which do not disturb the Peace of the kingdom, and that we shall be ready to consent to such an Act of Parliament, as upon mature De [...] ­ration shall be offered to Vs, for the full granting that Indulgence.

V. Consider all you that fear God, that Word of God in I saiah 2. 22. Cease ye from [...] whose breath is in his Nostrils; for wherein is he to be accounted of? Which sheweth man m [...] not be depended upon.

VI. Consider of, and in all your distresses feed upon, and refresh your Souls with the Word of God, Isa. 12. 5. For the Oppression of the Poor, and the Sighing of the Needy, now will arise saith the Lord, and set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.