August 1650: An Act giving further Power to the High Court of Justice.

August, 1650

[27 August, 1650.]

Further powers given to High Court of Justice.

Whereas by an Act of this present Parliament (Entituled, An Act for Establishing, an High Court of Justice) Power is given to the Commissioners therein nominated, to hear and determine all such Matters, Crimes and Offences contrary to Articles in the said Act mentioned: And whereas by a subsequent Act, other persons are therein nominated and appointed to be Commissioners, to do and execute all and every the Powers and Authorities given by the said Act to the Commissioners therein named; Be it declared and Enacted by the present Parliament, and by the Authority of the same, That the said Commissioners in the said recited Acts named, or any Twelve or more of them, have full Power and Authority, and are hereby authorized to hear and determine all Misprisions or Concealments of Treasons, mentioned or contained in any of the said Articles or Acts of Parliament, And shall and may, and are hereby authorized and required to pronounce Judgement, and Award Execution against such Offenders, as by the Laws or Statutes of this Commonwealth have been or may be inflicted for any Misprision or Concealment of Treason. And whereas for Offences of Treason, and other Crimes in the said Act of Parliament mentioned, Sentence of Death is to be pronounced, Be it Enacted, That it shall be in the Power of the said Commissioners, or any twelve or more of them; And they are hereby authorized to cause such Sentence or Sentences of Death to be given and executed, by appointing such Offender or Offenders to be Beheaded or hanged onely, as to them shall seem meet, having regard to the nature of the Offence, Any Law or Statute to the contrary notwithstanding.

Proviso.

Provided, That the said Commissioners or any of them, shall not by force or vertue of this present or any of the former Acts, or any Power thereby given unto them, Examine, Try or Proceed against any person or persons, other then such who shall be first by Name appointed by the Parliament or Councel of State to be by them so Examined, Tryed or Proceeded against.