WHEREAS by a Statute made in the Seventeenth year of the Reign of His Majeſty that now is amongſt other things it is enacted, that all ſuch Perſons, who take upon them to Preach in any unlawful Aſſembly, Conventicle or Meeting, under colour or pretence of any Exerciſe of Religion, contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom, ſhall not at any time come within Five miles of a Corporation, nor any perſon teach School, who ſhall not frequent Divine Service eſtabliſhed by the Laws of this Kingdom, as by the ſaid Statute more at large appeareth, under the penalty of Forty pounds for every offence. And whereas by another Statute made in the Two and twentieth year of the Reign of his ſaid Majeſty, it is amongſt other things enacted, That if any perſon of the age of ſixteen years and upwards, ſhall be preſent at any Aſſembly, Meeting, or Conventicle, under colour or pretence of any Exerciſe of Religion, in other manner than according to the Liturgy and practice of the Church of England, where there ſhall be aſſembled five perſons or more, over and beſides thoſe of the Houſhold: And every perſon who ſhall take upon him to preach or teach in any ſuch Meeting, Aſſembly, and Conventicle, ſhall forfeit for every ſuch offence, as in the ſaid Statute is provided: And whereas Papiſts, Seminary Prieſts and Jeſuits may likewiſe in Conventicles and Schools, withdraw his Majeſties Subjects from their Obedience, and corrupt them both in their Religion and duty to his Majeſty; And whereas the Juſtices are informed, that divers Houſes have been lately erected and built within this County, for ſuch Conventicles and Meetings, and frequented by great numbers of perſons inhabiting in the ſaid County and others, to the great diſturbance of the Government, and may be of dangerous conſequence, and if not timely ſuppreſſed, ſuch publick Conventicles not being permitted in any Chriſtian Country; no, not in theſe very Countries where moſt Religions are tollerated; And whereas the Juſtices are likewiſe informed, that divers perſons keep School within the ſaid County contrary to the ſaid Statute, and other Laws, by whom ill principles will be planted in young Children, which will grow up with them, and thereby continue the Separation and Diviſion which is in this Kingdom, to the certain ruine and deſtruction of his Majeſties Peace and the eſtabliſhed Government. Now for the prevention of the miſchiefs which may ariſe by the ſaid Conventicles and Schools, the Juſtices are of opinion that the ſaid Statutes of the Seventeenth and Two and twentieth of this King ought to be put in due Execution, and do eſteem themſelves obliged by the Oaths which they have taken, to ſee them duly executed; And that they may do, all that in them lies, in order thereunto, They do declare that all Houſe-keepers within this County who keep Alehouſes and other publick houſes for Entertainment by virtue of any Licenſe from the Juſtices of the Peace of this County, and ſhall not go to their Pariſh Church and receive the Sacrament according to the practice in the Church of England, and ſhall after the Nine and twentieth day of October inſtant go to any ſuch Conventicle as aforeſaid, contrary to the ſaid Statutes, ſhall have their Licences taken from them, and the Houſes of Entertainment ſuppreſſed; and if any ſuch for the future happen to be licenſed, as ſoon as they ſhall be diſcovered, they ſhall likewiſe be ſuppreſſed. The Juſtices further declare, that if the Church-wardens and Overſeers of the Poor, ſhall diſpoſe of any of the Pariſh money by way of Penſion or otherwiſe to poor people who frequent Conventicles, and do not come to their Pariſh Church, and receive the Sacrament there (except in caſe of ſickneſs and neceſſity to be allowed by a Juſtice of Peace) the mony paid to ſuch people ſhall not be allowed by the ſaid Juſtices in the Accounts of the Church-wardens and Overſeers of the Poor, becauſe ſuch perſons who never come to the Pariſh Church ought not to be reckoned of the Pariſh. The Juſtices further declare, that they will appoint ſome fitting perſons to proſecute all Offenders againſt the ſaid Statutes, ſuch publick houſes being the place where factious perſons meet to keep Clubs, and conſult together how to diſturb the Government. It is Ordered by this Court, that the aforeſaid Declaration made in Seſſions be publiſhed, that all perſons concerned may take notice of it, and that the Miniſters of each Pariſh in the County be deſired to publiſh it in his Pariſh Church. It is further Ordered, that an humble Addreſs be made to his Majeſty, humbly to beſeech him, in order for better ſettlement of the Peace of this County and his Majeſties eſtabliſhed Government, that all manner of perſons who now are, or hereafter ſhall be, in any Employment in this County under his Majeſty immediately, as likewiſe thoſe who act under them, or by any authority derived by or from them, may be ſuch as go to their Pariſh Church, and receive the Sacrament there according to law. And it is further Ordered, that the Chair-man Sir George Jeoffryes wait upon his Majeſty on Saturday morning next with this Addreſs, and that the Juſtices of Peace attend upon him; As likewiſe congratulate with his Majeſty upon his ſafe Return to London.