William and Mary, 1688: An Act for preventing vexatious Suits against such as acted in order to the bringing in their Majestyes or for their Service. [Chapter VIII. Rot. Parl. pt. 3. nu. 7.]

Reasons for passing this Act.

Prosecutions against any Persons for having done any thing in bringing in their Majesties, void; Defendant may plead General Issue, and recover Double Costs.

WHEREAS about the time of his Majestyes glorious Enterprize for delivering this Kingdome from Popery and Arbitrary Power and in aid and pursuance of the same diverse Lords Gentlemen and other good People well affected to their Country did act as Lieutenants Deputy Lieutenants Justices of the Peace or other Officers Civill or Military though not sufficiently authorized thereunto and did apprehend and putt into Custodie severall criminous and suspected persons and did seize and use diverse Horses Arms and other things and did enter into the Houses and Possessions of severall persons and did quarter and cause to be quartered Soldiers and others there In which Proceedings some Force and Violence and defect of Forme was unavoidable which in a time of Peace and Common Safety would not have beene warrantable, And alsoe since their Majesties happy Accession to the Crowne by reason of the Warrs and Troubles raised and occasioned by the [Enimies (fn. 1) ] of their Majestyes and this Kingdome diverse like Matters and Things have beene acted and done all which were necessary and allowable in reguard of the exigence of publique Affaires and ought to be justifyed and the parties [concerned (fn. 2) ] therein indemnified Neverthelesse some persons ill affected to their Majesties Government and the Safety and Welfare of this Kingdome have commenced and prosecuted and threaten to commence and prosecute Actions and Suits against their Majesties good Subjects for and by reason of their Actings and Doeings aforesaid Therefore for the preventing the Trouble and Charges which the said good Subjects might be putt to by the means of such vexatious Suites Bee it enacted by the King and Queens most excellent Majesties by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this present Parlyament assembled and by the authoritie of the same That all personall Actions Suites Molestations and Prosecutions whatsoever and Judgements had thereupon if any be for or by reason of any of the Premisses or any Matter or Thing advised commanded appointed happened or done in order to the bringing in their Majesties to this Kingdome or for their Service or for the Safety of the Government be and are hereby discharged and made void And if any Action or Suite hereby declared or intended to be discharged shall be commenced or prosecuted every person soe sued may pleade the Generall Issue and give this Act and the Speciall Matter in Evidence And if the Plaintiffe shall become Nonsuite or forbeare further Prosecution or suffer Discontinuance or if a Verdict passe against him the said Defendant shall recover his double Costs for which he shall have the like Remedy as in Case where Costs by Law are given to Defendants.