An open air religious meeting. See CONVENTICLE 4 c.
1678. Marvell, Corr., ccclxi. Wks. 1872–5. II. 631. The patience of the Scots, under their oppressions, is not to be parelleled in any history. They still continue their extraordinary and numerous, but peaceable, field conventicles.
a. 1715. [see CONVENTICLE sb. 4 c].
a. 1806. C. J. Fox, Hist., 129. To extend the punishment of death, which had formerly attached upon the preachers at field conventicles only, to all their auditors, and likewise to the preachers at house conventicles.
transf. 1711. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), I. 20–1. If we had a sort of Inquisition, or formal Court of Judicature, with grave Officers and Judges, erected to restrain Poetical Licence … We shou’d have Field-Conventicles of Lovers and Poets.
Hence Field-conventicle v., intr., to frequent or hold field-conventicles. Field-conventicler, one who attends or frequents field-conventicles.
1680. G. Hickes, Spirit of Popery, Pref., 3. That Jesuits were sent into Scotland about the same time that they began to Field-Conventicle, to encourage them to Rebel, and disturb the Ministery of the Duke of Lauderdale. Ibid., 67. Jus populi vindicatum, and Naphthali are the Pocket-books of the Field-Conventiclers.
1687. Lond. Gaz., No. 2221/1. Those Enemies of Christianity as well as Government and Humane Society, The Field Conventiclers.
