The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

290 JUDICIAL CHARGE ON THE COMMISSION FOR THE VERGE.
as it hath laid unto ita plot of twelve miles round, times, and sacred places, are to be preserved in
which we call the verge, to be subject to a special reverence and divine respect.
and exempted jurisdiction depending upon his per- For contempts of our church and service, they
son and great officers. This is as a half-pace or car- are comprehended in that known name, which too
pet spread about the king's chair of estate, which, many, if it pleased God, bear, recusancy; which
therefore, ought to be cleared and voided more offence hath many branches and dependencies;
than other places of the kingdom: for if offences the wife-recusant, she tempts; the church Papist,
should be shrouded under the kiing's wings, what he feeds and relieves; the corrupt schoolmaster,
hope is there of discipline and good justice in he soweth tares; the dissembler, he conformeth
more remote parts. We see the sun, when it is and doth not communicate. Therefore, if any
at the brightest, there may be perhaps a bank of person, man or woman, wife or sole, above. the
clouds in the north, or the west, or remote re- age of sixteen years, not having some lawful exgions, but near his body few or none; for where cuse, have not repaired to church according to the
the king cometh there should come peace and several statutes; the one, for the weekly, the
order, and an awe and reverence in men's other, for the monthly repair, you are to present
h earts. both the offence and the time how long. Again,
And this jurisdiction was in ancient time exe- such as maintain, relieve, keep in service of livery
cuted, and since by statute ratified, by the lord recusants, though themselves be none, you are
steward, with great ceremony, in the nature of a likewise to present; for these be like the roots of
peculiar king's bench for the verge; for it was nettles, which sting not themselves, but bear and
thought a kind of eclipsing to the ]king's honour, maintain the stinging leaves: so if any that
that where the king was, any justice should be keepeth a schoolmaster that comes not to church,
sought but immediately from his own officers. or is not allowed by the bishop, for that infec-But in respect that office was oft void, this com- tion may spread far; so such recusant as have
mission hath succeeded, which change I do not been convicted and conformed, and have not
dislike; for though it hath less state, yet it hath received the sacrament once a year, for that
more strengthlegally: therefore, I say, you, that is the touchstone of their true conversion: and
are a jury of the verge, should lead and give a of these offences of recusancy take you special
pattern unto other's in the care and conscience of regard. Twelve miles from court is no region for
yo'ar presentments. such subjects. In the name of God, why should
Concerning the particular points and articles not twelve miles about the king's chair be as free
wrhalreof you shall inquire, I will help your me- from Papist-recusants, as twelve from the city of
nmry and mine own with order: neither will I Rome, the pope's chair, is from Protestants.
load you, or trouble myself with every branch of There be hypocrites and atheists, and so I fear
several offences, but stand upon those that are there be amongst us; but no open contempt of
principal and most in use: the offences, there- their religion is endured. If there must be refore, that you are to present are of four natures. cusants, it were better they lurked in the country,
T. The first, such as concern God and his than here in the bosom of the kingdom.
church. For matter of division and breach of unity, it is
IL. The second, such as concern the king and not without a mystery that Christ's coat had no
his state. seam, nor no more should the church, if it were
III. The third, such as concern the king's possible. Therefore, if anyminister refuse to lse
people, and are capital. the book of common-prayer, or wilfully swerveth
IV. The fourth, such as concern the king's in divine service from that book; or if any person
people, not capital. whatsoever do scandalize that book, and speak
openly and maliciously in derogation of it; such
The service of Almighty God, upon whose men do but make a rent in the garment, and such
I)lessing the peace, safety, and good estate of are by you to be inquired of. But much more,
king and kingdom doth depend, may be violated, such as are not only differing, but in a sort oppoand God dishonoured in three manners, by profa- site unto it, by using a superstitious and corrupted
nation, by contempt, and by division, or breach form of divine service; I mean, such as say or
of unity. hear mass.
First, if any man hath depraved or abused in These offences which I have recited to you, are
word or deed the blessed sacrament, or disturbed against the service and worship of God: there rethe preacher or congregation in the time of divine main two which likewise pertain to the dishonour
service; or if any have maliciously stricken with of God; the one, is the abuse of his name by perweapon, or drawn weapon in any church or jury; the other, is the adhering to God's de*churchyard; or if any fair or market have been dlared enemies, evil and outcast spirits, by conkept in any churchyard, these are profanations juration and witchcraft.
within the purview of several statutes, and those For perjury, it is hard to say whether it be
you are to present: for holy things, actions, more odious to God, or pernicious to man; for an