He allegedly warned his people to beware of
a relapse into popery. Ward was convicted of depraving the
liturgy, tending toward schism, frightening the people, and
encouraging the overthrow of all manner of government. He was
removed from his position, deprived of his ministerial function,
suspended and silenced during the King's pleasure. He was ordered
to make submission and recantation both in court and in his church
and to give bond for 200 pounds. When he did not do this, he was
sent to prison and lay there nearly four years, and died a few
months later. In another case, a Mrs. Traske was imprisoned for at
least eleven years for keeping Saturday as her sabbath. Many
people were excommunicated and books censored for essentially
political reasons.
In 1637, the king proclaimed that the common law courts could not
intervene in ecclesiastical courts.
The Court of High Commission was abolished by the Long Parliament.
Justices of the Peace had general and quarter sessions, the latter
of which were held four times a year with all Justices of the
Peace attending. It was primarily a court of appeal from penal
sentences. But it was also an administrative body to determine
taxes and make appointments of officials and grant licenses for
businesses.
In 1638, in distributing a deceased person's estate, the Chancery
court upheld a trust for an heiress which would not become her
husband's property.
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