December 1646: An Ordinance concerning the Cessation of Arms in Ireland, and Grants under the Great Seal of Ireland.

December, 1646

[14 December, 1646.]

Ordinance to annul the Cessation of Arms in Ireland, and Grants of Lands, Titles, &c., there since the making it.

Whereas the War of Ireland hath been maintained at the Charges of the Subjects of this Kingdom of England, and not of His Majesty; yet, without Consent or Privity of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, by Commission or other Authority, derived from the King, a Cessation of Arms hath been made with the bloody Rebels in Ireland, after the Effusion of so much innocent Blood, and Slaughter of above a Hundred Thousand Protestants, Men, Women, and Children, whereby those Rebels have received great Encouragement, and are the better enabled wholly to extirpate the remaining Protestants, and to endanger this Kingdom: The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament do hereby Declare and Ordain, That the said Cessation of Arms in the Kingdom of Ireland, and all Treaties and Conclusions of Peace wth the said Irish Rebels, made, or to be made, by the King, or by any Authority derived from Him without Consent of the Houses of Parliament, are void and of no Effect; and all Governors, Commanders, Officers, and Ministers, within the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, are to take Notice hereof, and accordingly to demean themselves in their respective Charges: And the said Lords and Commons do further Declare, Order, and Ordain That all Grants of Offices, Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, made or passed under the Great Seal of England, unto any Person or Persons, Bodies Politic or Corporate, since the Cessation made in Ireland the 15th Day of December, 1643, are and shall be null and void; and that all Honours and Titles in the said Kingdom of Ireland, conferred on any Person or Persons since the said Cessation, shall be null and void.