Conventicles Act 1670

XII. Act to be interpreted most beneficially for suppressing Conventicles.

Proceedings not void for Form.; Justices to certify as to Offenders Inhabitants of other Counties, or having fled thereto, to Justices of such other Counties.; who are to levy the Penalty.

And bee it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid That this Act and all Clauses therein contained shall be construed most largely and beneficially for the suppresseing of Conventicles and for the justification and encouragement of all persons to be employed in the execution thereof, And that noe Record, Warrant or Mittimus to be made by vertue of this Act, or any proceedings thereupon shall be reversed avoided or any way impeached by reason of any defaulte in forme, And in case any person offending against this: Act shall be an Inhabitant in any other County or Corporation or fly into any other County or Corporation after the offence committed the Justice of the Peace or cheife Magistrate before whom he shall be convicted as aforesaid shall certifiethe same under his Hand and Seale to any Justice of Peace or cheife Magistrate of such other County or Corporation wherein the said person or persons are Inhabitants or are fled into, which said Justice or cheife Magistrate respectively is hereby authorized and required to leavy the penalty or penaltyes in this Act mentioned upon the Goods and Chattells of such person or persons as fully as the said other Justice of Peace might have done in case he or they had beene Inhabitants in the place where the offence was committed.