January 1654: An Ordinance for repealing of several Acts and Resolves of Parliament made for or touching the subscribing or taking the Engagement.

January, 1654

[19 January, 1653/4.]

Promissory Oaths and Engagements burthensom.; The Ac of 2 Jan. 1649. repealed.; Penalties for not taking the Engagement made void.; The Engagement not to be administered by itself, or with another Oath.; No place to be void for not subscribing.; Persons delayed or prejudiced in Suits, restored.

Whereas many general and promissory Oaths and Engagements, in former times imposed upon the People of this Nation have proved burthens and snares to tender Consciences, and yet have been exacted under several penalties, forfeitures and losses; upon consideration whereof, and out of a tenderness of requiring such obligations, Be it Ordained by His Highness the Lord Protector, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, That one Act of Parliament, published in print the second day of January, One thousand six hundred forty and nine, Entituled, An Act for subscribing the Engagement; And certain Orders, Entituled, Resolves touching the subscribing to an Engagement, &c. And all and every Clause, Branch, Article and Sentence in them, and every or any of them contained, shall from and after the nineteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred fifty and three, stand, and be absolutely repealed, and annulled; And that all and every Clause, Branch, Article, Proviso, or sentence contained in any other Act, Ordinance, Resolves or Order of Parliament, whereby the said Oath or Engagement is directed and appointed to be taken and administred, and all and every the penalties, losses, incapacities, disabilities and forfeitures for not taking, or subscribing the same, shall from and after the said nineteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred fifty and three, (as to so much onely (and no more) as concerneth the said Engagement, and the penalties, losses, incapacities, disabilities and forfeitures for not taking or subscribing the same) be, and are hereby utterly repealed, and made void: And that the said Oath or Engagement, where the same is appointed to be administered by it self, or where the same is inserted into any other Oath (as to so much onely as concerneth the said Engagement) shall not, from or after the said nineteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred fifty and three, be administred unto, or taken by any Officer, Minister of Justice, or other person whatsoever; but the same shall from thenceforth be wholly taken away and abolished, to all intents and purposes whatsoever. And that from and after the said nineteenth day of January, in the said year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred fifty and three, no place or Office of trust within this Commonwealth, shall be made void, by reason of the not taking or subscribing the said Engagement. And it is lastly Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That if any person or persons whatsoever have been delayed, hindred, or prejudiced in any Course or Proceedings of Law, Justice or Equity, or hath not or cannot have the full benefit thereof, by reason or means that such person or persons hath not or have not taken or subscribed the said Engagement, in such form, or at such time or times as hath or have been limited or appointed for the taking or subscribing thereof, such person or persons shall from henceforth be admitted unto, and have such Course, Pleadings and Proceedings in Law, Justice and Equitie, as if such person or persons had taken or subscribed the said Engagement, in such maner and form, and at such time or times, as was or were directed or appointed for the taking or subscribing thereof, and not otherwise.