Parliament Act 1678

III. Peer or Member offending adjudged a Popish Recusant Convict.

Forfeiture as such, and Disability; and Penalty, £500.

And bee it further enacted by the Authoritie aforesaid That if any Person that now is or hereafter shall be a Peere of this Realme or Member of the House of Peeres or Member of the House of Commons shall presume to doe any thing contrary to this Act or shall offend in any of the Cases aforesaid That then every such Peere and Member soe offending shall from thenceforth bee deemed and adjudged a Popish Recusant Convict to all intents and purposes whatsoever and shall forfeite and suffer as a Popish Recusant Convict and shall be disabled to hold or execute any Office or Place of Proffitt or Trust Civill or Military in any of His Majestyes Realmes of England or Ireland Dominion of Wales or Towne of Berwicke upon Tweede or in any of His Majestyes Islands or Forreigne Plantations to the said Realmes belonging and shall be disabled from thenceforth to sitt or vote in either House of Parlyament or make a Proxy in the House of Peeres or to sue or use any Action Bill Plaint or Information in course of Law or to prosecute any Suite in any Court of Equity or to be Guardian of any Childe or Executor or Administrator of any person or capeable of any Legacie or Deed of Gift and shall forfeite for every wilfull Offence against this Act the summe of Five hundred pounds to be recovered and received by him or them that shall sue for the same, and to be prosecuted by any Action of Debt Suite Bill Plaint or Information in any of His Majestyes Courts at Westminster where noe Essoigne Protection or Wager of Law shall lye.