A History of the English Poor Law; In Connection with the State of the Country and the Condition of the People Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 edition. Excerpt: ...delight. The first Act of her reign was the assertion of the supremacy of the Crown in matters ecclesiastical, and "abolishing all foreign power repugnant to the same." By the second Act, the Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, of the time of Edward VI., was re-established. The third Act formally recognised the queen's title, and the fourth the restitution of tenths and first-fruits to the Crown. These Acts were sufficiently indicative of a determination to prevent papal interference in England; but the Roman Catholics were still numerous, and after a time began to manifest discontent, and to stir up apprehensions and alarms among the people. Throughout the whole of her reign, indeed, the queen was disturbed by adverse intrigues in this quarter; and hence it may be truly said, that the legislative and 'other proceedings against the Komanists, partook more of a political than a religious character. "The position in which the queen was placed no doubt rendered her death a most important contingency, and the popish party made use of pretended conjurations and prophecies of that event, in order to unsettle the people's minds, and dispose them to anticipate another reaction." 1 1562-63. Against such practices, 5 Elizabeth, cap. 15, was iap If. directed. It imposed a penalty of one year's imprisonment and a fine of 10 for a first offence, and for a second offence imprisonment for life and the forfeiture of goods. Acts against the introduction " of Bulls and other Instruments from the See of Rome," and against "Jesuits and Seminary Priests and other like persons," and against "Popish Recusants," were subsequently enacted. But these and several measures originated in...