The PRESENTMENTS Of the Grand-Juries for the City of Westminster and County of Mid , Jan. 1682. Civitas, Burgus & Villa Westm ' in come Midd'. Ad Generalem Quarterialem Sessionem Pacis Dom' Regis tent' apud Westm' pro libertat' Decani & Capitali Ecclesiae Collegiate beati Petri Westm' Civit' Burghi & Ville Westm' in come Midd' & Sancti Martini le grand London, die Lune (scilicet) octavo die Januarii, anno Regni Domini Caroli secundi Dei gratia Angliae, Scotiae, Franciae, & Hiberniae Regis, Fidei Defensor', etc. 34. THis Court having (amongst other material things) given in charge to the Grand-Jury then sworn the due Prosecution of all persons dissenting from the Government of the Church: received the Presentments of the said Grand-Jury, under their hands, written and subscribed as followeth: Add Session' Pacis 8. Januarii, 1682. WE present, That all Popish, and Other Recusants, aught to be prosecuted according to Law; and that all Seditious Conventicles, Assemblies and Meetings ought to be suppressed, as dangerous to the Peace of the Kingdom, His Majesty's Royal Authority, and the Protestant Religion as by Law Established; And that Mr. Stephen Lob, and Mr. John Humphreys, of the Parish of St. Martin's in the Fields, and Mr. _____ Alsop, of the Parish of St. Margaret's, and all other persons who Preach or Teach at the aforesaid Conventicles or Meetings, aught to be prosecuted as Seditious persons, and such who (living in manifest contempt of His Majesty's Government and Laws) do pervert and entice the hearts and minds of His Majesty's good people from their duties to God and the King. (And thereupon this Court did immediately order Indictments against the particular persons in the Presentment named, and many more Eminent Papists and Protestant Dissenters within this Liberty; which being found by the Grand-Jury afore-named, the Court have caused Proclamation to be made thereupon, to render themselves, or stand Convicted.) We having at this time before us a certain Pamphlet, Entitled, A Defence of the Charter, and Municipal Rights of the City of London; written by Tho. Hunt. and printed by Rich. Baldwin: we do present the same as a Dangerous and Seditious Libel against the King and Government; and that the Author and Printer of the same aught to be punished according to Law. Per Cur ' Hardesy. Will. Bridgeman, Ni. Baxter, N. Arnold, John Cook, James Supple, Giles Champneys, Spencer Hickman, Wil Grove, Will. Stevens, Jos. Talcoate, J. Leegir, Ralph Sayer, Hugh Squire, Wil Francklyn. W. Stone, and Tho. Sutton. The PRESENTMENT of the Grand-Jury for the County of Middlesex. To the Right Worshipful Charles Lee Knt. and the rest of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, sitting at Hicks's-hall in the said County. WE the Grand-Jury summoned and sworn for this present Sessions of the Peace, do humbly present, That it is our opinion, that all Papists and Conventicles or Meetings whatsoever, on pretence of Religion, contrary to the Act of Uniformity, are absolutely against the known wholesome Laws and Statutes of this Realm, and tend to the Subverting the Monarchy, and Religion established in Church and State, the hazard of His Majesty's most Sacred Person, and the Ruin and Overthrow of His Majesty's most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects; And that such Schism is promoted by the pretenders to Religion, either out of Pride. Covetousness, or to occasion or promote a Rebellion, or which can be named worse, in a good and settled Government, to compass their wicked Design; And that those that are Promoters of such Schism, are or were either Rebels, Atheists, Papists, Democraticks, Enthusiasts, and are at present the Pest of the Nation. And we do humbly take notice, and applaud the Wisdom of that House of Commons, who on the 25thâ–ª of February in the 15th. year of His Majesty's Reign that now is, where it was Resolved nemine contradicente, That the humble Thanks of that House should be presented to His Majesty, for His Resolution to maintain the Act of Uniformity. And in the next Vote, Resolved, That it be presented to the King's Majesty, as the humble advice of that House, That no Indulgence be granted to the Dissenters from the Act of Uniformity. Which humble advice the said House of Commons humbly presented to His Majesty; with their reasons, which we take to be undeniable, considering that the same was the principal occasion of the late Rebellion, and the Inconvencies that did attend the same; and also how near the fanatics came to a second Rebellion, since the Discovery of the Popish-Plot. We also humbly present, That all those that are any ways concerned in the Government, that do not their utmost endeavours to suppress such Papists, or Conventicles and Unlawful Assemblies, are Enemies to His Majesty, and the Established Government in Church and State. And we do render our hearty thanks to those Gentlemen that sit on this Bench, that have effectually put the Laws in execution against the Papists, and other the pretended Protestant Dissenters; and do esteem their measures as the only way to render Peace and Happiness to His Majesty, His Royal Successors, and, to His and Their Loyal and Obedient Subjects. And whereas there are several persons that have been bred and educated according to the Doctrine of the Church of England, and profess themselves of the Church; but in their Lives and Conversations, by their Swearing, Debauchery, and open profaneness, are become Scandals to their Religion; and that even in time of Divine Service they do frequent Taverns and other public Houses, even to the Scandal of our Religion. We do therefore humbly present, That due enquiry may be made after such persons, and that they may be presented according to Law, that the Debauchery of such Vicious persons be not accounted a Scandal to our Religion; and also, that there may be a more strict Observance of the Lordsday. Upon this humble Presentation of our sense in the premises, we pray that effectual care be taken for the suppressing of all Papists and Conventicles and Unlawful Meetings whatsoever; as also, any open Profaneness. It is ordered by this Court, That this Presentment be forthwith Printed and Published. Per Cur ' ADDERLEY. London Printed for W. Cudeman in the New-Exchange, and sold, by W. Davis in Amen-Corner, 1682.