Persons not
frequenting the established church were not allowed to teach in
any public or private school or forfeit 40 pounds.
By statute of 1670, anyone at least sixteen years old who is
present at any assembly, conventile [private meeting of religious
dissidents to pray and expound scripture], or meeting under
pretence of any exercise of religion in other manner than
according to the established Church of England at which there are
at least five persons present shall be fined 5s. for the first
offense and 10s. for the second offense. (This does not include
members of the same household meeting in their home.) Anyone who
preaches or teaches at such a meeting shall pay 20 pounds for the
first offense, and 40 pounds for further offenses. The householder
who permits such a meeting shall pay 20 pounds. A justice or
Justice of the Peace or chief magistrate may break open doors and
enter by force any house or other place where they have been
informed of any such meeting and take persons there into custody
for prosecution. This is to discourage the growing of dangerous
seditious persons under pretence of tender consciences.
Religious nonconformity continued especially among the humble
people. The penal statutes caused hundreds of these nonconformists
to be put in gaol. From time to time, the king would release them
and suspend these laws. Sometimes, Charles II allowed dissenters
to meet in private for worship if they got a license from him.
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