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  2. Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, 1642-1660

Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, 1642-1660

Edited by C H Firth and R S Rait. The full text of legislation passed into law during the Interregnum. Contains over 900 pieces of legislation. ranging from that concerning the trial and execution of William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury to the regulation of trade in currants, and from the propagation of the Gospel in the New World to the draining of the Great Fen. Originally published in three volumes, it is here given together, along with a table of acts passed and a substantial introduction.

Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1911.

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Citation:

Table of contents

Title Page(s)
November 1653: An Act For The Establishing An High Court of Justice. 780-782
November 1653: An Act for the Deafforestation, Sale and Improvement of the Forests and The Honors, Manors, Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments within the usual Limits and Perambulations of the same. Heretofore belonging to the late King, Queen and Prince. 783-812
December 1653: An Act for constituting Commissioners for Ordering and Managing the Affairs of the Admiralty and Navy. 812-813
December 1653: The Government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging. 813-822
December 1653: An Ordinance for continuing the Excise. 823
December 1653: An Ordinance for Continuation of one Act of Parliament Entituled An Act for Redemption of Captives. 824
December 1653: An Ordinance for the reviving of An Act of Parliament, Entituled An Act for Probate of Wills, and Granting Administratioiis 824
December 1653: An Ordinance for Alteration of several Names and Forms heretofore used in Courts, Writs, Grants, Patents, Commissions, &c., and settling of Proceedings in Courts of Law, Justice and Equity...according to the present Government. 825-828
December 1653: An Ordinance appointing Commissioners for the better ordering and bringing in the Duty of Excize, and the Arrears thereof. 828-829
December 1653: An Ordinance for continuing the Powers of Commissioners for compounding, &c. the Committee for Advance of Money, and Commissioners of Indempnity. 830
January 1654: An Ordinance for repealing of several Acts and Resolves of Parliament made for or touching the subscribing or taking the Engagement. 830-831
January 1654: An Ordinance Declaring that the offences herein mentioned, and no other, shall be adjudged High Treason within the Common-wealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging. 831-835
January 1654: An Ordinance appointing a Committee for the Army, and Treasurers at War. 835-839
February 1654: An Ordinance for the better ordering and disposing of the Estates under Sequestration. 839-842
February 1654: An Ordinance touching the Assessing, Levying, and Collecting of the latter three Moneths Assessment, appointed by an Act of the late Parlament, Entituled, An Act for an Assessment at the rate of 120,000l... 842-844
February 1654: An Ordinance of Explanation touching Treasons. 844
February 1654: An Ordinance for reviving the Jurisdiction of the County Palatine of Lancaster, and for holding an Assize there. 844-845
March 1654: An Ordinance for Continuing the Excise. 845-853
March 1654: An Ordinance for Continuation of an Act of Parlament intituled, An Act for the Continuation of the Customs until the 26th day of March, in the year 1653. 854
March 1654: An Ordinance for Continuation of an Act, Entituled, An Act for laying an Imposition upon Coles, towards the Building and Maintaining Ships for Guarding the Seas. 854
March 1654: An Ordinance for Passing Custodies of Idiots and Lunaticks. 854-855
March 1654: An Ordinance declaring that the proceedings in Case of Murther in Ireland, shall bee as formerly. 855
March 1654: An Ordinance for appointing Commissioners for approbation of Publique Preachers. 855-858
March 1654: An Ordinance for Continuing an Act for Impresting of Sea-men. 858
March 1654: An Ordinance for relief of Persons that have acted in the service of the Parliament. 859-860
March 1654: An Ordinance for the Suspending the proceedings of the Judges named in the Act, Intituled An Act for the Relief of Creditors and poor Prisoners. 860-861
March 1654: An Ordinance for prohibiting Cock-matches. 861
March 1654: An Ordinance for the better amending and keeping in repair the Common High-ways within the Nation. 861-869
April 1654: An Ordinance for continuing one Act of Parliament, Entituled. An Act for Probate of Wills, and granting Administrations. 869
April 1654: An Ordinance for Adjourning part of Easter Term. 1654. 869-870
April 1654: An Ordinance Impowring Commissioners to put in Execution an Act of Parliament Intituled An Act prohibiting the planting of Tobacco in England. 870-871
April 1654: An Ordinance touching Surveyors of the Highwayes, for this present year, 1654. 871
April 1654: An Ordinance for uniting Scotland into one Commonwealth with England. 871-875
April 1654: An Ordinance of Pardon and Grace to the People of Scotland. 875-883
April 1654: An Ordinance for erecting Courts Baron in Scotland. 883-884
April 1654: An Ordinance for setling the Estates of several excepted Persons in Scotland, in Trustees, to the uses herein expressed. 884-888
April 1654: An Ordinance for further Suspending the proceedings of the Judges named in an Act, Entituled, An Act for the Relief of Creditors and poor Prisoners. 888-889
May 1654: An Additional Ordinance for the Excise. 889-890
May 1654: An Ordinance for further doubling upon and finishing the sale of Deans, Deans and Chapters Lands, and Manors of Rectories, Gleab-Lands, &c. 890-897
May 1654: An Ordinance for continuing an Ordinance Entituled 'An Ordinance for further suspending the proceedings of the Judges named in an Act of Parliament, Entitled, 'An Act for Relief of Creditors and poor Prisoners,' Untill the 31 day of May instant. 897
May 1654: An Ordinance of Explanation of a former Ordinance, Entituled An Ordinance for better Amending and keeping in Repair the Common Hiqh-Waies within this Nation. 897-898
May 1654: An Ordinance for Relief of Debtors in Scotland in some Cases of Extremity. 898-899
May 1654: An Ordinance Impowring the Commissioners appointed to consider of the matters contained in the Twenty Eighth Article of the Treaty, with the States General to adminster an Oath. 899
May 1654: An Ordinance for Preservation of the Works of the Great Level of the Fens. 899-902
June 1654: An Ordinance for an Explanation touching the Jurisdiction of the Court of Admiratty. 902
June 1654: An Ordinance for an Assessment for Six Moneths, from June 24, 1654, for maintenance of the Armies and Navies of this Commonwealth. 902-907
June 1654: An Ordinance for enabling the Judge or Judges of the Northern Circuit to hold an Assize and Gaol-delivery at Durham. 907-910
June 1654: An Ordinance for the further doubling of Two thousand pounds upon Deans, Deans and Chapters Lands, Manors of Rectories, Gleab-Lands &c. 910-911
June 1654: An Ordinance for relief of Creditors and Poor Prisoners. 911-915
June 1654: An Ordinance for Reviving the Court of the Dutchy of Lancaster. 916
June 1654: An Ordinance for Establishing a High Court of Justice. 917-918
June 1654: An Ordinance for bringing the Publique Revenues of this Commonwealth into one Treasury. 918-921
June 1654: An Ordinance appointing who shall be Justices of Assize for the County Palatine of Lancaster. 921
June 1654: An Ordinance for giving further time for Approbation of Publique Preachers. 922
June 1654: An Ordinance for the Regulation of Hackney-Coachmen in London and the places adjacent. 922-924
June 1654: An Ordinance for the Further Encouragement of the Adventurers for Lands in Ireland, and of the Soldiers and other Planters there. 924-929
June 1654: An Ordinance for Distribution of the Elections in Scotland. 930-932
June 1654: An Ordinance for distribution of the Elections in Ireland. 932-933
June 1654: An Ordinance for Indempnity to the English Protestants of the Province of Munster in Ireland. 933-937
June 1654: An Ordinance Against Challenges, Duels, and all Provocations thereunto. 937-939
June 1654: An Ordinance for continuing the Committee for the Army and Treasurers at War. 939-940
June 1654: An Ordinance impowering the Commissioners of the Customs and others, for the better suppressing of Drunkenness and prophane Cursing and Swearing in persons imployed under them. 940-941
July 1654: An Ordinance prohibiting Horse-Races for Six Moneths. 941-942
July 1654: An Ordinance appointing a Committee of the Adventurers for Lands in Ireland, for determining differences among the said Adventurers. 942-943
August 1654: An Additional Ordinance for the Relief of Creditors and Poor Prisoners. 943-945
August 1654: An Ordinance for the better Redress of the abuses committed upon the River of Thames, and Waters of Medway. 945-946
August 1654: An Ordinnce for appointing Commissioners to survey the Forest, Honors, Manors, Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments within the usuall Limits and Perambulations the same, heretofore belonging to the late King, Queen and Prince. 946-949
August 1654: An Ordinance for the better Regulating and Limiting the Jurisdiction of the High Court of Chancery. 949-967
August 1654: An Ordinance for ejecting Scandalous, Ignorant and insufficient Ministers and Schoolmasters. 968-990
August 1654: An Ordinance Appointing the Excise of Allum and Copperas. 990
August 1654: An Ordinance for taking an Accompt of the moneys received upon the Act for the better propagation and preaching of the Gospel in Wales, &c. 990-993
August 1654: An Ordinance for sale of Four Forests or Chases reserved for Collateral security to the Soldiers. 993-999
September 1654: Au Ordinance for the better maintenance and encouragement of Preaching Ministers, and for uniting of Parishes. 1000-1006
September 1654: An Ordinance enabling such Soldiers as have served the Commonwealth in the late Wars to exercise any Trade. 1006-1007
September 1654: An Ordinance touching the Office of Postage of Letters, Inland and Foreign. 1007-1013
September 1654: An Ordinance for the Giving Libertie for the Carrying of Mill-Stone, Timber, Stone, &c. 1013
September 1654: An Ordinance touching Fines on Writs of Covenant and Writs of Entry. 1013-1014
September 1654: An Ordinance for Further doubling upon Deans and Chapters Lands. 1014-1015
September 1654: An Ordinance for admitting Protestants in Ireland to Compound. 1015-1016
September 1654: An Ordinance for bringing Several branches of the Revenue under the managing and Government of the Commissioners for the Treasury and Court of Exechequer. 1016-1019
September 1654: An Ordinance for reviving and continuing an Act of Parliament for recovery and preservation of many thousand Acres of Ground in Norfolk and Suffolk surrounded by the rage of the Sea. 1019
September 1654: An Ordinance for continuance and maintenance of the Alms-houses and Alms-men, called Poor Knights, and other Charitable and Pious Uses, whereof the late Dean and Canons of Windsor were Feoffees in Trust. 1019-1025
September 1654: An Additional Ordinance to the Ordinance appointing Commissioners for approbation of Publique Preachers. 1025-1026
September 1654: An Ordinance for appointing Visitors for the Universities. 1026-1029
February 1655: An Order and Declaration of His Highness the Lord Protector with the Advice of his Council, for an Assessment of three-score thousand pounds by the Moneth, for six Moneths... 1029-1035
February 1655: An Order and Declaration of His Highness the Lord Protector, with the Advice of his Council; Touching the Continuance of the Duty of Excize and New Impost. 1035-1036
November 1656: The passing of Bills shall not determine this Session of Parliament. 1036
November 1656: The pretended Title of Charles Stuart, &c, Renounced and Disannulled. 1036-1038
November 1656: An Act for the Security of His Highness the Lord Protector His Person, And Continuance of the Nation in Peace and Safety. 1038-1042
November 1656: An Act for the taking away the Court of Wards and Liveries. 1043
November 1656: An Act for the Exportation of several Commodities of the Breed, Growth and Manufacture of this Commonwealth. 1043-1048
May 1657: To His Highness the Lord Protector of the commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland...The humble Petition and Advice of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses now assembled in the Parliament, of this Commonwealth. 1048-1056
June 1657: An Act for the taking away of Purveyance and Composition for Purveyance. 1057
June 1657: An Act for limiting and setling the prices of Wines. 1057-1058
June 1657: An Act for an Assessment upon England at the Rate of Sixty thousand Pounds by the Moneth, for three Moneths. 1058-1097
June 1657: An Act for the three Moneths Assessment in Ireland, for the maintenance of the Spanish War, and other Services of the Commonwealth. 1097-1098
June 1657: An Act against Vagrants and wandring, idle dissolute persons. 1098-1099
June 1657: An Act for giving Licence for Transporting of Fish in Forein bottoms. 1099-1100
June 1657: An Act for the assuring, confirming, and setling of Lands and Estates in Ireland. 1100-1110
June 1657: An Act for setling the Postage of England, Scotland and Ireland. 1110-1113