Conventicles Act 1670

II. Penalty for further Offence.

Penalties in Cases of Poverty levied on the Goods of other Offenders.; Coustables, &c. to levy the same under Warrant, and pay it to the Justice immediately.; How Penalties to be divided.; Charge and Discharge of the King's Share to be certified together into the Exchequer.

And bee it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid That if such Offender soe convicted as aforesaid shall at any time againe committ the like Offence or Offences contrary to this Act and be thereof in manner aforesaid convicted, then such Offender soe convict of such like Offence or Offences shall for every such Offence incurr the penaltie of Ten shillings which Fine and Fines for the first and every other Offence shall be leavyed by Distresse and Sale of the Offenders Goods and Chattells, or in case of the povertie of such Offender upon the Goods and Chattells of any other person or persons who shall be then convicted in manner aforesaid of the like Offence at the same Conventicle at the discretion of the said Justice, Justices or cheife Magistrate respectively soe as the Summe to be leavyed on any one person in case of the povertie of other Offenders amount not in the whole to above the summe of Ten pounds upon occasion of any one Meeting as aforesaid. And every Constable Headburrough Tything man Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poore respectively are hereby authorized and required to leavy the same accordingly haveing first received a Warrant under the Hands and Seales of the said Justice, Justices or cheife Magistrate respectively soe to doe, the said Moneys soe to be leavyed to be forthwith delivered to the same Justice Justices or cheife Magistrate and by him or them to be destributed, the one third part [X1 thereof to the use of the Kings Majestie his Heires and Successors to be paid to the High Sheriffe of the County for the time being in manner following that is to say the Justice or Justices of Peace shall pay the same into the Court of the respective Quarter Sessions which said Court shall deliver the same to the Sheriffe and make a Memoriall on Record of the payment and delivery thereof, which said Memoriall shall be a sufficient and finall Discharge to the said Justice and Justices and a Charge to the Sheriffe, which said Discharge and Charge shall be certifyed into the Exchequer together and not one without the other, And noe Justice shall or may be questioned or accountable for the same in the Exchequer or elsewhere then in Quarter Sessions, and other third part thereof] to and for the use of the Poore of the Parish where such Offence shall be committed, And the other third part thereof to the Informer and Informers and to such person and persons as the said Justice, Justices or cheife Magistrate respectively shall appoint haveing reguard to their diligence and industry in the discovery, disperseing and punishing of the said Conventicles,

Editorial Information

X1 annexed to the Original Act in a separate Schedule.