C R

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE

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BY THE KING . ¶ A Proclamation against the Oppression of the Clergy by the Intrusion of Factious and Schismaticall Persons into their Cures , and inverting and detaining their Tithes and possessions by Orders of one or both Houses of Parliament , contrary to all Law and Justice .

WHEREAS by the Great Charter of the Liberties of England it is provided , that the Church should have all its Rights whole , and Liberties inviolable ; and amongst others the Church hath these Priviledges , That regularly no Ecclesiasticall Possessions may be extended , seized or sequestred but by the Ordinary , And that Distresses may not be taken of Lands wherewith Churches have been anciently endowed ; And that Churches presentative cannot be filled , and the Lawfull Incumbents thereof removed but by the Ordinary , nor the Cure of the Incumbents served by Curates , Lecturers or others , but by their own appoyntment , or in their default by the appoyntment of the Ordinary ; neither are any of Our Subjects of the Laity by the Common Lawes of Our Realme capable to take or receive Tithes ( which are the portion of the Clergy ) unlesse by demise from them , or such as are appropriate and made Lay-Fee : Neverthelesse by colour of Orders or pretended Ordinances of one or both Houses of Parliament , the Estates Reall and Personall as well of Our Clergy as Laity have been and are daily seized , sequestred and taken from them , and their Possessions distrayned for illegall Taxes and Contributions for supporting the Rebellion against Us ; Which being clearly against Law and unwarrantable , We did forbid by Our Proclamation of the seventh of Aprill last , and doe hereby forbid the same , under the penalties in that Our Proclamation contained . And whereas diverse of Our Clergy eminent for their Piety and Learning , because they publish Our lawfull and just Commands and Declarations , and will nor , against the known Lawes of the Land and their own Consciences , submit to Contributions , nor publiquely pray against Us and Our Assistants , but conforme themselves to the Book of Common-Prayer established by Law , and Preach Gods Word according to the purity thereof , and in their Sermons will not teach Sedition , nor will publish illegall Commands and Orders for fomenting the unnaturall Warre levied against Us , are some of them 〈◊〉 and found 〈◊〉 their Cares and Habitat●●●● , 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 and Persecuted , and their C 〈…〉 if O 〈…〉 ●ded and put in , to sow Sedition● 〈…〉 expresly contrary to the word of God , and the Lawes of the Land 〈…〉 of Right belonging to such Incumbents as 〈…〉 Parishes where such Arbitray power prevailes , and distributed part 〈…〉 the maintenance of this Warre , against Law and the Liberties of the Ch●●ch 〈…〉 and the Ple●sure therefore is , and We doe hereby straitly charge and Command all Our Subject as well Ecclesticall as Tempo●all , not to presume to intermeddle in discharging or hindering any of Our said Clergy for the cause afores●●d