August 1647: An Ordinance for declaring all Votes, Orders and Ordinances passed in one or both Houses since the Force on both Houses, July 26. until the sixth of this present August, 1647. be null and void.

August, 1647

[20 August, 1647.]

All Votes, Orders, Ords. passed from July 26 to Aug. 6, while Parlt. was under force, to be void.

Whereas there was a visible, horrid, insolent, and actual force upon the Houses of Parliament, on Munday the 26 of July last, whereupon the Speakers, and many Members of both Houses of Parliament were forced to absent themselves from the service of the Parliament; And whereas those Members of the Houses could not return to sit in safety, before Friday the sixth of August, It is therefore Declared by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Ordinance of Munday the said 26 of July, for the revoking and making void of the Ordinance of the 23 of the said July, for the setling of the Militia of the City of London, being gained by force and violence, and all Votes, Orders, Ordinances, passed in either or both Houses of Parliament since the said Ordinance of the 26 of July to the said 6 of August, are null and void, and were so at the making thereof, and are hereby declared so to be, the Parliament being under a force, and not free.

None to be punished for acting on above Ords., &c., unless parties to the force.

Provided always, and be it ordained, That no Person or Persons, shall be impeached or punished for his or their actings by, or upon, or according to the aforesaid Votes, Orders, or Ordinances, unless he or they shall be found guilty of contriving, acting, or abetting the aforesaid visible and actual force, or being present at, or knowing of the said force, did afterwards act upon the Votes so forced, or were guilty of entring into, or promoting the late engagement for bringing the King to the City upon the terms and conditions expressed in his Majesties Letter of the Twelfth of May last.