A LETTER From His EXCELLENCY Sir Thomas Fairfax, TO The Honoble William Lenthal Eſq; Speaker of the Honorable Houſe of Commons, Conceraing the Abuſes and Injuries done to certain Godly Miniſters placed in Livings by Authority of PARLIAMENT.
Together with an Ordinance of the LORDS and COMMONS aſſembled in Parliament, for preventing the like for the future.
ORdered by the Commons aſſembled in Parliament, That this Letter and Ordinance be forthwith printed and publiſhed:
London, Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the Honorable Houſe of Commons. Aug. 26. 1647.
HAving received ſeveral Complaints againſt divers Delinquent Miniſters, who have abuſed my ſelf and the Councel of VVar, by publiſhing a falſe Pamphlet in the Name of the Army, whereby many Miniſters ſetled by Ordinance of Parliament, have been diſquieted, moleſted and turned out of poſſeſsion of their Houſes by force and arms, having alſo their goods poſſeſſed and ſpoiled, ſome taking the Corn upon the Gleab; and this practice of theirs having greatly diſturbed the peace of the Kingdom, and4 may be a great inconvenience, if not timely prevented; I do therefore humbly deſire, That you will be pleaſed to preſent the Petitions and Papers incloſed (of thoſe Miniſters who have been thus injured) unto the Honourable Houſe, that their conditions may be taken into conſideration ſpeedily for reparation; and that theſe principal Offendors may be queſtioned for their ſaid Miſcarriages, that others may be deterred for the future from the like practices. I lately put forth a Declaration againſt the ſaid Pamphlet; but fearing that may not be effectual, I do humbly recommend them to the conſideration of the Houſe, and remain,
VVHereas divers Miniſters in the ſeveral Counties of this Kingdom 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.
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, Bayliffs,6 Juſtices of the Peace, Deputy-Lieutenants, and Committees of Parliament in the ſeveral Counties, Cities and places within this Kingdom, 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 Parſonage-houſes, 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, where no Miniſters are ſetled to receive the ſame, and all ſuch perſons as have been Ayders, Abettors or Aſſiſters in the premiſes, 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, Bayliffs, Juſtices of the Peace, Deputy-Lieutenants, or Committees of Parliament, or any two of them ſhall appear to be juſt, upon7 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 bin 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, Bayliffs, 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 plundred 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 profits8 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.
It is laſtly Ordered and Ordained, That if any ſuch Scandalous or Delinquent Mlniſter, put out as aforeſaid, their Ayders 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 Miniſtery, upon proof thereof made upon the Oath of two Witneſſes, before the ſaid Sheriffs, Majors, Bayliffs, Juſtices of Peace, Deputy-Lieutenants, or Committees of Parliament, or any two of them, It ſhall and may be lawful to and for the ſaid Sheriffs, Majors, Bayliffs, 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.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A84772)
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