A30212:14
A true and impartial narrative of some illegal and arbitrary proceedings
A true and impartial narrative of some illegal and arbitrary proceedings by certain justices of the peace and others, against several innocent and peaceable nonconformists in and near the town of Bedford, upon pretence of putting in execution the late Act against conventicles together with a brief account of the late sudden and strange death of the Grand Informer, and one of the most violent malicious prosecutors against these poor people.
London : s.n., 1670
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The NARRATIVE.
ON Lords-day (May 15.) at the dwelling-house of one John Fen, a Haberdasher of Hats, many persons being assembled for Religious Exercise; One West and Feckman (two Apparitors ) by a Warrant from one Mr. Foster, who is a Justice of Peace, and the Commissaries Deputy, did enter the House, and force the Metres to Mr. Fosters House, who fined every one of them severally, according to their reputed abilities; and committed the Preacher to Prison, for words he spake against the Church of England, then occasioned by the discourse of Mr. Foster. The Apparitors charged (by virtue of their Warrant) a Constable, and a Churchwarden, to assist them; but they neglecting, (being not willing to the work, as they themselves declared) were fined each of them five pounds; though by intercession of friends, the Fines are not yet levied.
ON Lords-day (May 15.) at the dwelling-house of one John Fen, a Haberdasher of Hatts, many persons being assembled for Religious Exercise; One West and Feckman (two Apparitors ) by a Warrant from one Mr. Foster, who is a Justice of Peace, and the Commissaries Deputy, did enter the House, and force the Meeters to Mr. Fosters House, who fined every one of them severally, according to their reputed abilities; and committed the Preacher to Prison, for words he spake against the Church of England, then occasioned by the discourse of Mr. Foster. The Apparitors charged (by vertue of their Warrant) a Constable, and a Churchwarden, to assist them; but they neglecting, (being not willing to the work, as they themselves declared) were fined each of them five pounds; though by intercession of friends, the Fines are not yet levied.
On Friday following, one Thomas Battison another Churchwarden, and the most active and busy in the work, having with much labour and difficulty called together the Overseers of the Poor, and the Constables of the several Wards, to levy the several Fines upon the Goods of the Metres, did first attempt to levy the Fine of Ten pounds upon the Goods of one John Bardolf a Maltster, who having sold all his Malt before the Act commenced, and delivered his Malt and Malt-house into his possession to whom he had sold them, none of the Officers would join with Battison to break open the Door of the Malt-house, or to distrain the Malt, though he most importunately charged and besought them to do it, promising to bear them harmless.