August, 1647
[23 August, 1647.]
Whereas divers Ministers in the several Counties of this
Kingdome, for notorious Scandals and Delinquency, have been
put out of their Livings by Authority of Parliament, and Godly,
Learned, and Orthodox Ministers placed in their rooms: And
whereas the said Scandalous and Delinquent Ministers by force
or other ways have entred upon the Churches, and gained
the possession of the Parsonage-houses, Tythes, and Profits
thereunto belonging, and have obstructed the payment of the
Tythes and other Profits due by the Parishioners unto the
Ministers placed in the said Churches by Authority aforesaid.
Sequestred Ministers interrupting such as are placed in their Livings shall be apprehended.; Imprisonment.; Tythes to be paid to them.; Committee for plundered Ministers and for complaints.
The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament do therefore order and ordain, and be it ordained by the said Lords
and Commons, That all Sheriffs, Majors, Bailiffs, Justices of
the Peace, Deputy-Lieutenants, and Committees of Parliament
in the several Counties, Cities, and Places within this Kingdome, do forthwith apprehend, or cause to be apprehended
all such Ministers as by authority of Parliament have been
put out of any Church or Chappel within this Kingdom, or
any other Person or Persons who have entred upon any such
Church or Chappel, or gained the possession of such Parsonagehouses, Tythes, and Profits thereunto belonging, or have obstructed the payment of the Tythes and other Profits due by
the Parishioners to the said Ministers there placed by Authority
of Parliament, or Sequestrators appointed, wherein no Ministers
are setled to receive the same, and all such Persons as have
been Aiders, Abettors, or Assisters in the Premisses, and commit
them to Prison, there to remain until such satisfaction be made
unto the several Ministers placed by the said Authority of
Parliament, for his or their damages sustained, as to the said
Sheriffs, Majors, Bailiffs, Justices of Peace, Deputy-Lieutenants,
or Committees of Parliament, or any two of them, shall appear
to be just, upon hearing and proof made upon the Oath of
two sufficient Witnesses (which they or any two of them are
hereby authorized to administer) who are likewise required
to restore, settle, and quiet the possession in such Ministers
as have been placed by the said Authority of Parliament;
and they or any two of them have hereby Power to raise
Trained Bands, or any other Forces within the said several
Counties, Cities, and Places, to put this Ordinance in execution:
And the said Sheriffs, Majors, Bailiffs, Justices of the Peace,
Deputy-Lieutenants, and Committees of Parliament respectively,
are hereby required to take effectual course according to the
several Orders and Ordinances of Parliament in that behalf
made, that all men do pay their Tythes or Profits due unto
the said respective Ministers. And it is hereby further ordered
and ordained, That the Committee appointed for plundered
Ministers, have Power to see this Ordinance put in execution. And it is further ordained, That the Committee of
complaints do give the like remedy to all such Ministers put
in by the said Authority of Parliament, and Sequestrators of the
Profits, against whom any Action shall be brought by any such
Delinquent, or scandalous Ministers, or any other claiming by
or under them, for their Livings, Tythes, and Profits, as they
are authorized unto by any Order or Ordinance in other cases.
Imprisonment of disturbers.
It is lastly ordered and Ordained, That if any such scandalous
or Delinquent Minister put out as aforesaid, their Aiders or
Abettors, shall at any time hereafter disturb, molest, or hinder
such Minister as is put into such Church or Chappel as aforesaid, in the exercising of the Office of his Ministry, upon proof
thereof made upon the Oath of two Witnesses, before the said
Sheriffs, Majors, Bailiffs, Justices of Peace, Deputy-Lieutenants,
or Committees of Parliament, or any two of them; it shall and
may be lawfull to and for the said Sheriffs, Majors, Bailiffs,
Justices of the Peace, Deputy-Lieutenants, or Committees of
Parliament, or any two of them, to commit such Offendor or
Offendors to Prison for one Moneth, so often as he or they shall
so offend.