Editing Conventicle Act 1664 (section)

== Provisions ==
Firstly, the act confirmed that the [[Religion Act 1592]] ([[35 Eliz. 1]]. c. 1) was still in force.

Secondly, it declared that if any person aged sixteen or over after the 1 July 1664 is present at any religious meeting other than of the Church of England where there are five persons or more assembled together (other than those of the same household), then they would be tried by two [[justice of the peace|justices of the peace]] or one [[chief magistrate]], without a jury. 

If found guilty, the penalties were as follows:
*first offence: imprisonment for up to three months without bail, or a five pounds fine (to be paid to the poor of the convicted person's parish).
*second offence: imprisonment for up to six months without bail, or a ten pounds fine (to be disposed of as above).
*third offence: transportation for seven years, or a one hundred pounds fine.

Subsequent sections of the act allowed for the breaking up of such meetings, if a warrant had been issued, and the arresting of the convenor of the meeting, and the owner of the venue, who were subject to the same penalties as above, if found guilty. There were penalties for officials not carrying out court orders. The prosecution had to occur within three months of the act, and no other prosecution could be brought for the offence. A special clause applied to [[Quakers]] who refused to swear an oath in court without due reason. They were immediately declared guilty and sentenced to transportation. Minor variations in procedure and penalties were also made for [[Peer_of_the_realm|peers of the realm]]. The act was to remain in force for three years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charles II, 1664: An Act to prevent and suppresse seditious Conventicles. {{!}} British History Online |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/statutes-realm/vol5/pp516-520 |website=www.british-history.ac.uk |access-date=17 April 2022}}</ref>