THE PRESENTMENTS OF The Grand-Jury for the County of NORTHAMPTON, AT Lent-Assizes, Anno Tricesimo quinto Regis Caroli Secundi.  
WE have seen the Presentments of the Grand-Jury Sworn for the Body of this County at Easter-Sessions last passed, in these words following: AD Generalem Sessionem Pacis Domini Regis tent' apud Northampton pro come predict' die Martis prox' post Festum Epiphan' Dom' Anno Regni Domini nostri Caroli Secundi Dei gratia Angl' Scoc' Franc' & Hiberniae Regis Fidei Defensor' etc. Tricesimo quart.  
The Presentments of the GRAND-JURY of the County of Northampton.  
WE present it as a necessary Duty upon all Magistrates, to put all the Laws in Execution which are made to Suppress Unlawful Associations, Conventicles, Clubbs and Cabals, because we find by daily Experience, that in those Nests have been hatched all the Seditious Practices which of late have much endangered the Peace of the Nation.  
Item, More particularly we present all Unlicensed Coffeehouses or Places wherein False and Seditious News are invented and spread abroad to delude and poison the People.  
Item, We present all Public Meetings of any considerable number of people who may be suspected of disaffection to the Government, to be very Dangerous to the Public Peace, and expedient to be Suppressed, Saving where there shall appear any lawful warrantable occasion of such meeting.  
Item, We present as a thing absolutely convenient and necessary, that all Laws be duly put in execution against all Dissenters from the Church of England, as it is by Law established, of what persuasion soever, it being impossible to distinguish Papists from others, Both extremes being equally dangerous and destructive to the Established Government; And seeing that several of them take it upon themselves to Teach and Preach in Unlawful Assemblies, Conventicles and Meetings, and there Seduce many of his Majesty's Subjects from their Duty and Allegiance, We do therefore desire that the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy may be tendered and administered to them and to all the Persons before spoken of, and to all other Persons of suspected Faith and Allegiance to his Majesty and his Lawful Heirs and Successors, for the better Discovery of men illaffected to the King and the State of this Realm, and consequently for the Prevention and Disappointment of their Evil Purposes.  
And we do desire such further and effectual care may be taken for the Preservation of the Public Peace and the Tranquillity of his Majesty's good Subjects, as in your Judgements you shall think legal and meet.  
Upon delivering the Presentments above mentioned into the Court by the Grand-Jury sworn to inquire for the Body of the County, it was Ordered, That they have the Hearty Thanks of the Court for their Loyal and Seasonable Presentments, and Sir Roger Norwich Baronet is desired to acquaint some of the Ministers of State with the Contents, humbly to beseech his Majesty to grant his Commission to certain Persons authorising them to give the Oaths aforesaid, and receive his further Command.  
We do fully concur with them in Sense and Judgement, and are credibly informed, that his Majesty hath well approved the said Presentments, and thereupon hath given Commission and Power to several Lords and Gentlemen to tender and give the Oath accordingly.  
Upon Consideration thereof, we think it our duty to present it as necessary and expedient for the Good of the King and Kingdom in General, and this County in particular, that it be forthwith tendered to all Persons suspected to be Papists, or of Popish Principles, and to all and other Recusants and Dissenters from the Church of England, of what persuasion soever. And whereas we find by experience, that ill men for the supporting of Faction and the obstructing of Justice, do endeavour to get themselves into public Offices, Trusts and Employments, the better to compass their wicked Designs; For the prevention thereof, and to the end that good and lawful men may be encouraged and employed, We do therefore present it as a necessary and previous Test, That all Officers whatsoever, and namely High-Constables, Petty-Constables, Bailiffs, Churchwardens, Overseers of the Poor, and other Officers and Ministers, before they enter upon the Execution of their Authority, may take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and produce a Certificate under the hand of the Minister of the Parish wherein they live, That they are persons conformable to the Church Government, and have received the Sacrament according to the Rites of the Church of England within Twelve months' last passed.  
And further, Whereas all Ale-house-keepers and Victuallers, and other Persons keeping public houses, have a great advantage of spreading Seditious News in respect all sorts of People frequent those places, and have a great temptation likewise so to do in regard of the Custom it draws to them; We do therefore present it as Expedient, that none be Licenced for the time to come but those that shall take the aforesaid Oaths, and in all things testify their conformity to the Government in Church and State.  
And whereas several Robberies have been of late committed within this County, to the great grievance and burden of his Majesty's good Subjects, and that the said Robbers and Thiefs are aided and encouraged by several Ale-house-keepers and Victuallers who are Confederates with them and Setters for them, We therefore desire for the future, That all Inns, Alehouses and other public houses of Entertainment, do give notice to their Constables or other Officers, of all suspicious Persons that shall come to their houses, to the End that Account may be taken of them; And on fayler hereof they may be suppressed.  
And whereas several good men who would willingly perform and execute their Duties, yet for want of knowledge or information know not how to perform the same, and others pretending ignorance, will not do it, We therefore present, That it is convenient and necessary for the due execution of the Laws, that all Officers at Assizes and Sessions of the Peace, have certain Articles comprehending their Duties exhibited to them before they make their Presentments, and may be enjoined to answer upon Oath particularly to them.  
Subscribed by the whole Grand-Jury.