FOr as much as the Lawes have not of late time been effectually put in Executi­on against Seminaries, Iesuits, and Romish Priests, whereby they have lately, more than heretofore, taken the boldness to come in­to this Commonwealth in great numbers, to the intent to stirr up and move Sedition, Re­bellion, and open Hostility therein, to the en­dangering of the peace of this Nation, and se­ducing of the good People thereof from the true Religion established in this Commonwealth, to the Romish Idolatry and Superstition. The Parliament taking the same into their conside­ration, do hereby Publish and Declare, That all Laws and Statutes in force against all Ie­suits, Seminary-Priests, or other such Priests, Deacons, or Religious or Ecclesiasticall Per­sons whatsoever, made, ordained, or professed, or hereafter to be made, ordained, or professed by any Authority or Iurisdiction, derived, chal­lenged, or pretended from the See of Rome, by or of what Name, Title, or Degree soever the same shall be called or known, shall be put in­to speedy and effectual Execution, and against the Harbourers, Concealors, Abettors, and [Page 4] Aiders of them. And the Parliament doth here­by further require all Iudges, Iustices, Ma­gistrates, Sheriffs, and other Officers and Ministers intrusted with the Execution of the Laws, to take notice hereof, and to put the same in Execution accordingly. And for the more effectual putting the premisses in Executi­on, and better encouragement of any discovery of any the persons aforesaid: Be it hereby En­acted and Declared, That he or they that shall hereafter first discover to any Iudge or Iustice of Peace any the Persons aforesaid, and that by reason thereof any of the said Offenders be taken, convicted, or attainted, That then he or they, that have made such Discovery, shall, im­mediately after such Conviction, have a Certi­ficate from the Iudge or Iustice, before whom such Conviction shall happen, to be directed to the Sheriff, or other Officer of any County, Limit, or Place where such Conviction shall be; commanding the Sheriff, or other Officer, to pay him or them that shall first make such dis­covery, twenty pounds; which Warrant and Payment shall be effectual in the Law for that purpose, and a sufficient discharge in that behalf for the Sheriff or other Officer, upon his Ac­compt, and that the Discoverer of such persons shall be free from the Penalties which he may have incurred by any of the said Laws and Statutes.