870 Proposed Repeal of the Test and Penal Statutes 



to Instructions received by direction from your Ma tie , and the most IIono ble Lords 

 of y 1 ' Committee tor regulating Corporations. 



They have discovered all sorts of men in the countrey, as to your Ma ties most 

 gracious intentions for Repealing the Tests and Penal Lawes for concience in 

 matters of Religion, and doe find many of the Church of England, moderate and 1 

 well inclined to part with those Tests and Lawes ; their Religion being secured 

 according to your Ma tiee Declarac'on ; and soe are the Presbiterians. 



The Roman Catholiques, Independants, Anabaptists, and Quaquers, that are 

 numerous in many places, are generally in your Ma ties interest, notwithstanding 

 the many rumours, and suggestions to divide and create jealousies among them. 

 These are unanimously agreed to elect such members of Parliament, as will abolish 

 these Tests and Lawes. 



We also finde, that Mouns r . Fagells letter, and other Pamphletts are industri- 

 ously spread through all parts, with discourses and endeavo rs to prejudice the 

 mindes of those who are faithfull, or inclined to your Ma ties interest, and that 

 theres noe way yet settled to spread a sufficient number of such other books, as 

 may informe and furnish the countrey with arguments to discover and detect the 

 fallacious subtleties of these pernicious pamphlets ; those few we have sent downe 

 and clisperst, have had very good effect. This we humbly submitt to your Ma ties 

 consideration to give effectuall order therein. 



We have also settled fitt and proper correspondents in each of those Counties, 

 Corporations, and Borroughs for all services relating to this affaire, by whom we 

 can in a short time be truely informed of any person or thing, and influence any 

 Election, which service, (we doubt nott), they will, from time to time, faithfully 

 and heartily performe, without putting your Ma tie to any greater charge, than 

 the nature of the worke requires, the effect whereof will farr surmount that charge. 



We do not finde that your Ma ties Revenue Officers have, or doe, improve their 

 power for your Ma ties service in promoting this service, but on the contrary, 

 severall of them, and of the Post Masters are utterly averse thereunto. 



Upon our most strict enquiries, conferences, and information, we finde upon 

 the regulations and measures propos'd for those counties and places, which elect 

 a hundred and forty members, that when your Ma tie shall please to call your 

 Parliam 1 , you may expect above a hundred will be chosen, that will readily 

 concurr with your Ma tie in abrogating those Tests and Lawes, and we doubt not 

 but many, if not the most of the others, will also declare their consents thereunto. 



By the further accounts from those of our number, that are not yett returned, 

 we have good ground to believe, that the same proportions of such like men will 

 at least be chosen in Hampshire, Sussex, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire, where 

 Eighty eight are chosen, of which upon their returne, yo r Ma tie . shall have a more 

 distinct account. 



The farr greatest part of the Elections in Cornwall, Wales, and the Cinque 

 Ports, which are Eighty four, may allso be secured for your Majesty. 



As a further satisfaction to your Ma tie ., we humbly tender an account (soe farr 

 as we could learne from the Electors), who they intend to choose in each of those 

 Counties, Corporations, and Borroughs, from whence those of our number are re- 

 turned, and what their inclinations are respectively, (viz 1 ) 



Wiltsheiee, The County will incline to John Hall Esq r , who hath an un- 

 doubted intrest to be chosen, who is esteemed right ; and S r 



