Page:The statutes of Wales (1908).djvu/306

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174
THE STATUTES OF WALES
[A.D. 1649

his dwelling-house or ordinary place of abode, and that notice proved by oath to be made by the space of ten days before the day of appearance in the said warrant mentioned (no just cause being made and proved to excuse the not appearing), and likewise after answer made by such as shall appear according to summons, then the said Commissioners, or any five or more of them, are hereby enabled and authorized to proceed to examination of witnesses on oath; the said examinations and depositions of such witnesses to be put in writing, as well on the behalf of the Commonwealth to prove such articles, as on the behalf of the parties articled against to make good their answers; which oaths the said Commissioners, or any two or more of them, have hereby power to administer; and after due examination and proof made by confession of the party complained of, or by the oath of two credible witnesses, actually to amove, discharge, and eject all such ministers and other persons from their respective cures, benefices, places, and charges, as they the said Commissioners, or any five or more of them, upon such hearing shall adjudge to be guilty of any of the crimes aforesaid, in the said articles contained and comprised; and after such judgment given, in case any person shall find himself aggrieved with such judgment so given, then it shall and may be lawful to and for any twelve or more of the said Commissioners, upon petition preferred to them by the party grieved, to review, examine, and reverse the same, if they or the greater part of them see just cause so to do; and if notwithstanding the said ejected person shall not find relief within six weeks after his petition so preferred, then the said Commissioners, or any five or more of them, shall at the request of the parties aggrieved respectively, certify the respective proceedings and proofs in such cases respectively, to the Committee of Parliament for Plundered Ministers; who are hereby authorized, upon the return of such certificates, and view of such proceedings and proofs, without further examination of witnesses in such cases, to examine the grounds of the said respective judgments appealed from, and to afifirm or revoke the same, as they shall find it most agreeable to justice, and the tenor of this Act.

"And be it further enacted and declared, that the said Commissioners, or any five or more of them, have hereby power and authority to allow the wife and children of such minister or ministers so ejected and amoved, for their maintenance, a proportion not exceeding a fifth part of the living, parsonage, benefice, vicarage,