April 1645: An Ordinance for enabling of the Commissioners of the Great-Seal, and the other Committees in their several Counties, to tender an Oath to all such persons of what degree or quality soever, that shall come into the protection of the Parliament

April, 1645

[5 April, 1645.]

All that come into Protection of Parliament to take an

Be it Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That all and every person of what degree or quality soever, that hath lived or shall live within the Kings Quarters, or been Ayding, Assisting, or Adhering unto the Forces raised against the Parliament, and hath or shall come to inhabite or reside under the power and protection of the Parliament, shall swear upon the holy Evangelist in maner following:

Oath.; Commissioners of Great Seal to administer Oath to Peers.

I A. B. do swear from my heart, that I will not directly nor indirectly adhere unto or willingly assist the King in this War, or in this cause against the Parliament, nor any Forces raised without the consent of the two Houses of Parliament in this Cause or War. And I do likewise swear that my coming and submitting my self under the power and protection of the Parliament, is without any manner of design whatsoever to the prejudice of the proceedings of the two Houses of this present Parliament, and without the direction, privity or advice of the King, or any of His Councel or Officers, other then what I have now made known. So help me God, and the Contents of this Book.

Who to administer Oath to all other persons.

And be it further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That the Commissioners for keeping of the Great-Seal of England for the time being, shall have power, and are hereby Authorized to tender and administer the said Oath unto any Peer, or Wife, or Widow of any Peer, so coming to inhabite as abovesaid.

Penalty for not taking Oath.

And it shall be lawful to and for the Committee of the House of Commons for Examination, the Committee for the Militia in London and all Committees of Parliament in the several Counties and Cities of the Kingdom, to tender and Administer the said Oath unto every other person so coming to inhabite as abovesaid. And if any person (not being a Member of, or assistant unto either of the Houses of Parliament) shall refuse or neglect to take ths said Oath so duly tendred unto him or her as abovesaid, the said Commissioners and Committees respectively, shall and may commit the same person to some prison, there to remain without Bail or Mainprize until he shall conform thereunto.