December, 1646
[14 December, 1646.]
Ordinance to justify the proceedings of Parliament.
Whereas the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament
have been necessitated to make and prosecute a War, in their
just and lawful Defence; and thereupon Oaths, Declarations, and
Proclamations, have been made against them and their Ordinances and Proceedings, and against others for adhering unto
them, and for executing Offices, Places, and Charges, by
Authority derived from them; and Judgements, Indictments,
Outlawries, Attainders, and Inquisitions, for the Causes aforesaid, have been had and made, against some of the Members of
the Houses of Parliament, and other His Majesty's good subjects; and Grants have been made of their Lands and Goods:
The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, taking the
same into their serious Considerations, have Declared, and
do hereby Declare, That all Oaths, Declarations, and Proclamations, heretofore had, or hereafter to be had, against both or
either of the Houses of Parliament, or any the Members of either
of them, for the Causes aforesaid, or against their Ordinances or
Proceedings, or against any for adhering unto them, or for doing
or executing any Office, Place, or Charge, by any Authority
derived from the said Houses, or either of them, and all Judgements, Indictments, Outlawries, Attainders, Inquisitions, and
Grants, thereupon made, and all other Proceedings for any the
Causes aforesaid had, made, done, and executed, or to be had,
made, done, or executed, whether the same be done by the
King, or any Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Ministers, or any others,
by His Majesty's Direction or Appointment, are void and of no
Effect, and are contrary to and against the Laws of this Realm:
And the said Lords and Commons do further Ordain, Order
and Declare, That all Judges, Justices of the Peace, Mayors,
Sheriffs, Constables, and other Officers and Ministers, do take
Notice hereof, and are hereby prohibited and discharged, in all
Time to come, from awarding any Writ, Process, Summons, or
Citation, or from pronouncing or executing any Judgement, Sentence, or Decree, or any Way proceeding against or molesting
any of the said Members of the Two Houses of Parliament, or
against any of the Subjects of this Kingdom, for any the Causes
aforesaid.