WE have seen the Presentments of the Grand-Jury Sworn for the Body of this County at Easter-Sessions last past, in these words following: AD Generalem Sessionem Pacis Domini Regis tent' apud Northampton pro Com' predict' die Martis prox' post Festum Epiphan' Dom' Anno Regni Domini nostri Caroli Secundi Dei gratia Angl' Scoc' Franc' & Hiberniae Regis Fidei Defensor' &c. Tricesimo quarte.

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 Coffee-houses or Places wherein False and Seditious News are invented and spread abroad to delude and poyson the People.

Item, We present all Publique Meetings of any considerable number of people who may be suspected of disaffection to the Government, to be very Dangerous to the Publique 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 perswasion soever, it being impossible to distinguish Papists from others, Both ex­tremes being equally dangerous and destructive to the Establisht 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 Majesties Subjects from their Duty and Allegiance, We do therefore desire that the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy may be tendred and administred 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 ill-affected 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 Publique Peace and the Tranquillity of his Ma­jesties good Subjects, as in your Judgments you shall think legal and meet.

Upon delivering the Presentments above mentioned into the Court by the Grand-Jury sworn to enquire 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 authorizing them to give the Oaths aforesaid, and receive his further Command.

We do fully concurr with them in Sence and Judgment, 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 tendred 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 perswasion 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 publique 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, Bayliffs, Church-Wardens, 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 past.

And further, Whereas all Ale-house-keepers and Victuallers, and other Persons keeping publique 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 Custome it drawes to them; We do therefore present it as Expedient, that none be Licensed for the time to come but those that shall take the aforesaid Oaths, and in all things testifie 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 Majesties good Subjects, and that the said Robbers and Thieves 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, Ale-houses and other publick 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 enjoyned to answer upon Oath particularly to them.