It absolutely prohibited " all public or private conventicles or assemblies as are without the wonted (and only allowed by God's word) Reformed and appointed assembly of the Reformed Religion, in conformity with the synod of Dort, here, in this land, in our Fatherland and in other Reformed Churches observed and followed, under the penalty of one hundred pounds Flemish, to be incurred by all those persons who in such public or private assemblies, without the wonted and authorized assembly, whether on the Sunday or

' any other day, being unauthorized, shall presume to exercise the profession of Preaching, Prelection or singing ; and twenty-five pounds, alike Flemish, to be incurred over and above by every male and female, married and single, who may be found in such assembly." It is curious that while the Dutch authorities thus interdicted all religions but their own, they protested in this ordinance that they intended no " prejudice to any patent heretofore given by them, or any lording over the conscience, or prohibiting the reading of God's holy word, or the domestic praying and reading of each one in his family; but all public and private conventicles and assemblies, whether in public or private houses, without the aforesaid wonted and established Reformed Divine worship."

When the English regime began, it evinced more liberality to every sect except the Roman Catholics. The articles of capitulation expressly provided that "the Dutch here shall enjoy the liberty of their consciences in divine worship and church discipline." Noue but Protestant ministers were allowed to ofticiate within the government, but difference of judgment was allowed to all who professed Christianity. The English made the maintenance of the ministry and poor a chief care of their admininistration, and their laws and edicts relating thereto are multifarious. They appointed overseers for each parish to levy assessments for the building of churches, the payment of the clergy and the maintenance of paupers, and while they tolerated other forms of faith, they compelled every person to pay the rates of the