Whereas the Act made in the first year of the Reign of King
William and Queen Mary For Exempting their Majesties
Protestant Subjects Dissenting from the Church of
England from the Penalties of certain Laws was wisely
designed as an Indulgence for the under and Ternpulous Consciences of
such Dissenters, and as a means to unite all the Protestants Subjects
in Interest and Affection. And Whereas it is notorious that
John Henley< no role > Clerk in Priests Orders according to the Form of the
Church of England Did about Three Years since here a large Room
ever the Market House in Newport Market within the City and
Liberty of Westminster , and cause the said Room to be Registred in
the Court of the Deck Deacon of Midlesex (pursuant to the said Act
of Toleration) as a Place for Religious Worship to be performed
therein by him the said John Henley who pretended to Dissent
from the Church of England on Account of Infant Baptism
(At the that has been the lease of his Exercises, Nor are his Audiences
of that Perswasion) and by his advertisements in the Publick Now
Papers Invited all Persons to come thither and take Seats for
twelve pence a Peice promising them Diversions under the Tytles
of Voluntarys Chimes of the Times Roundelays College Bobs
Madrigals & Operas & And Whereas It appears
was by Information upon Cash That the said John Henley
notwithstanding his professat Dissention and Seperation from the
Church of England, has usually appeared in the Habit worn by
Priests of the Church of England and in that Habit has for several
Months past upon one or more daies of the Week made use of the
said Room for purposes very different from those of Religious
Worship, and that he has that discoursed in several Subjects of
Burlesque and Ridicule and therein and in his Coments upon the
Publick News Papers and in his Weekly Advertisements has
uttered several indecent Liberties and Obscene Expressions and made
many base and malicious Reflections upon the Established Churches
of England and Scotland, Upon the Convocation and almost all
Orders and Degrees of Men and upon Particular Persons by name
and even those of the Highest Rank. And Whereas
it appears to us more Particularly by Information upon Oath
That