Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, 1642-1660

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.

British History Online (no series). Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1911.

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Table of Contents

Title Page(s)
February 1649: An Act to prevent the printing of any the Proceedings in the High Court of Justice, Erected for Trying of James Earl of Cambridge, and others, Without leave of the House of Commons, or the said Court. 1
February 1649: An Act for the form of an Oath to be administred to every Freeman at his Admission to his Freedom in the City of London, and in all Cities, Boroughs and Towns Corporate in England and Wales. 2
February 1649: An Act of this Present Parliament for Constituting a Counsell of State for the Comonwealth of England. 2-4
February 1649: Act for Allowances to Sheriffs upon passing their Accompts. 5
February 1649: An Act for Further inabling and authorizing Justices of Peace Sheriffs and other Ministers of Justice therein named, to act and proceed in the execution of their Offices and Duties, until their several Commissions shall come unto them. 5-6
February 1649: An Act for better settling of Proceedings in Courts of Justice According to the present Government. 6-9
February 1649: An Act for encouragement of Officers and Mariners, and Impresting Seamen. 9-13
February 1649: An Act repealing the Power formerly given to the Lord Admiral and transferring it to the Councel of State. 13-14
February 1649: An Act concerning the Sequestration of South-Wales, and County of Monmouth. 14-16
February 1649: An Act for authorizing Col. Blake, Col. Popham, and Col. Dean or any two of them, to be Admiral and General of the Fleet now at sea. 17
February 1649: A Supplemental Act for Encouragement of Officers and Mariners, and Impresting of Seamen. 18
March 1649: An Act for the abolishing the Kingly Office in England and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging. 18-20
March 1649: An Act of the Commons Assembled in Parliament, For setling the Militia of the City of Westminster, and Liberties thereof, etc. 20-23
March 1649: An Act for the Abolishing the House of Peers. 24
April 1649: An Act For Raising Ninety thousand pounds per Mensem, For the Maintenance of the Forces raised by Authority of Parliament, for the Service of England and Ireland, For Six Moneths, from the 25th of March, 1649 to the 29th of September, 1649. 24-57
April 1649: An Act Prescribing certain Times to Delinquents For perfecting their Compositions Effectually, under several penalties 57-63
April 1649: An Act appointing Treasurers at War, for receiving and issuing forth of the Moneys to be Assessed, Levyed, and Paid, by vertue of an Act of the Seventh of April instant, for Ninety thousand pounds per Mensem. 63-65
April 1649: An Act declaring the grounds and causes of making Prize the Ships and Goods that shall be taken from time to time by the Parliament Ships at Sea, and for the Encouragement of Officers, Mariners and Seamen. 66-75
April 1649: An Act for appointing Commissioners for Sale of Prize goods. 75-78
April 1649: Ordinance empowering the Court of Admiralty to proceed to Sentence, notwithstanding Prohibitions. 78-79
April 1649: An Act For setting apart A Day of Solemn Fasting and Humilation, And Repealing the former Monethly Fast. 79-81
April 1649: An Act for abolishing of Deans, Deans and Chapters, Canons, Prebends and other offices and titles of or belonging to any Cathedral or Collegiate Church or Chappel within England and Wales. 81-104
May 1649: An Act for the Relief and Imployment of the Poor, and the Punishment of Vagrants, and other disorderly Persons, within the City of London, and the Liberties thereof. 104-110
May 1649: An Act for the more certain and constant Supply of the Soldiery with Pay, and the preventing of any further Oppression or Damage to the People by Free-quarter or Billet. 110-118
May 1649: An Additional Act of Commissioners for the Assessment of the Ninety Thousand pounds per Mensem. 118-120
May 1649: An Act Declaring what Offences shall be adjudged Treason. 120-121
May 1649: An Act Declaring and Constituting the People of England to be a Commonwealth and Free-State. 122
May 1649: An Order of the Commons Assembled in Parliament, For a further supply of Commissioners for the Assessment of Ninety thousand pounds per mensem. 122-123
May 1649: An Act For settling the Militia Within the Hamblets of the Tower of London. 123-125
May 1649: An Act for the present Examining and stating the Accompts of the Officers and Soldiers now in the Parliaments service within this Nation. 125-130
May 1649: An Act for drayning the Great Level of the Fens, extending itself into the Counties of Northampton, Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincoln, Cambridge and Huntingdon, and the Isle of Ely, or some of them. 130-139
June 1649: An Act for Instructions for the Trustees Treasurer...for the Sale of the Deans and Chapter Lands, for the admitting such as have moneys owing them by the Parliament, to double the same upon the Credit of the Lands of the Deans and Chapters. 140-142
June 1649: An Act for Maintenance for Preaching Ministers, and other Pious Uses. 142-148
June 1649: Act concerning Foreign Salt. 148
June 1649: An Act for the Relief of all such persons as have been, are or shall be sued, molested, or any ways damnified contrary to Articles or Conditions Granted in time of War. 148-151
June 1649: An Act appointing Six pence in the pound, as a Salary to the Trustees and Contractors for Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands 152
June 1649: An Act for removing Obstructions in the Sale of Bishops Lands and Dean and Chapters Lands. 152-154
June 1649: An Additional Instruction to the Trustees, Contractors, Treasurers, and all others concerned in the Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands. 154
June 1649: An Act for Encouragement of Purchasers of Deans and Chapters Lands. 155-156
June 1649: An Act touching Letters of Marque. 157
June 1649: An Act touching the first 400,000l. charged on the Receipt of the Excise. 158
June 1649: An Act for borrowing 150,000l. upon the first 400,000l. charged on the Excise. 159-160
July 1649: An Act for sale of the goods and personal Estate of the late King, Queen and Prince. 160-168
July 1649: An Act for sale of the Honors, Manors, Lands heretofore belonging to the late King, Queen and Prince. 168-191
July 1649: An Act touching the Moneys and Coyns of England. 191-192
July 1649: An Act declaring what Offences shall be adjudged Treason. 193-194
July 1649: An Act of the Commons Assembled in Parliament, For setling the Militia of the Borough of Southwark...on the South-side the River Thames in the County of Surrey with the names of the persons entrusted therewith, 195-197
July 1649: An Act for the promoting and propagating the Gospel of Jesus Christ in New England. 197-200
July 1649: An Act for further Instructions to the Trustees, Contractors, Treasurers, and Registers for the Sale of the Lands and Possessions of the late Deans, Sub-deans, Deans and Chapters... 200-205
August 1649: An Act for taking the Accompts belonging to the Navy and Customs. 205-207
August 1649: An Act for the admitting of the Six Counties of North Wales to a General Composition for their Delinquency. 207-212
August 1649: An Act for the speed, raising and levying of Moneys by way of New Impost or Excise. 213-235
August 1649: An Act giving Power to the Committee of Indempnity to transmit the examination of all such Articles or Informations as shall be exhibited against any Malignant or Delinquent Magistrate... 235-236
August 1649: How the Accompts of Officers and Artificers of the Train, lately entertained for the Service of Ireland, shall be stated. 236-237
August 1649: An Act for admitting the Purchasers of Bishops Lands to pay their Whole Purchase-moneys by Weavers-Hall Bills. 237-238
August 1649: An Act touching the second Four hundred thousand pounds charged on the Receipts of the Excise and Goldsmiths-hall. 238-239
August 1649: The Importing of any Wines, Wooll or Silk from the Kingdom of France, prohibited. 239-240
September 1649: An Act for discharging Poor Prisoners unable to satisfie their Creditors. 240-241
September 1649: An Act concerning Oathes to Majors and other Officers. 241-242
September 1649: An Act for Relief of Feltmakers and Hat-band-makers against Aliens and Strangers importing such Wares to the hinderance of their Manufactures. 242-244
September 1649: An Act prohibiting to Brew for sale any Ale or Beer above Ten shillings the Barrel, besides the Excize. 244-245
September 1649: An Act against Unlicensed and Scandalous Books and Pamphlets, and for better regulating of Printing. 245-254
September 1649: An Act for the Publishing of Crimes Committed upon, or beyond the Seas. 254-256
September 1649: An Act For the continuance and maintenance of the School and Alms-houses of Westminster. 256-277
October 1649: An Act for taking and receiving the Accompts of the Commonwealth, with Instructions concerning the same. 277-281
November 1649: Act empowering the Council of State to administer an Oath unto the Jury for the making of two standard pieces of gold and silver. 281-282
November 1649: An Act for further Instructions to the Treasurers, Trustees, Contractors, Register, Surveyors and other persons imployed in the Sale of the Honors, Manors and Lands belonging to the late King, Queen and Prince, and for Stating of Accompts. 282-285
December 1649: An Act for an Assessment for six Moneths, from the Five and twentieth of December, 1649, for maintenance of the Forces raised by Authority of Parliament for the Service of England and Ireland... 285-319
December 1649: An Act Disabling the Election of Divers persons to any Office or Place of Trust, within the City of London, And the Votes of such persons in full Elections. 319-320
December 1649: An Act Concerning the Election of Quest-men, Constables, And All other subordinate Officers whatsoever, within the City of London and Liberties thereof. 320-321
December 1649: An Act for discharging from Imprisonment poor Prisoners unable to satisfie their Creditors. 321-324
January 1650: An Act For Subscribing the Engagement. 325-329
January 1650: An Act for the better Ordering and Managing the Estates of Papists and Delinquents. 329-335
February 1650: Act Constituting a Council of State. 335-338
February 1650: An Act for removing of Obstructions in the Sale of the Honours, Manors and Lands of the late King, Queen and Prince. 338-342
February 1650: An Act for the better Propagation and Preaching of the Gospel in Wales, and redress of some Grievances. 342-348
February 1650: An Act for giving a further time for subscribing the Engagement. 348
February 1650: An Act for removing all Papists, and all Officers and Soldiers of Fortune, and divers other Delinquents removed from London and Westminster, and confining them within five miles of their dwellings... 349-354
March 1650: An Act for Impresting of Sea-men. 354-355
March 1650: An Act for the better Advancement of the Gospel and Learning in Ireland. 355-357
March 1650: An Act for Redress of Delays and Mischiefs arising by Writs of Error in several Cases. 357-358
March 1650: An Act for the selling Fee-farm Rents belonging to the Commonwealth of England, formerly payable to the Crown of England, Dutchy of Lancaster, and Dutchy of Cornwal. 358-362
March 1650: An Act for the better Packing of Butter, and redress of abuses therein. 362-364
March 1650: An Act for Establishing an High Court of Justice. 364-367
March 1650: An Act for the Redemption of Captives. 367-368
March 1650: An Act touching the way of collecting the Excize for Ale and Beer brewed and spent in private Families. 368-369
April 1650: An Act for providing Maintenance for Ministers and other Pious uses. 369-378
April 1650: Further relief for poor Prisoners. 378-379
April 1650: An Act for preventing Injuries and Wrongs done to Merchants at Sea in their Persons, Ships or Goods, and prohibiting Mariners from serving Forein Princes or States without License. 379-382
April 1650: An Act impowering several Comissioners to put in Execution...for managing of all Estates under Sequestration, and to the Committee for advance of money formerly sitting at Haberdashers-hall. 382-383
April 1650: An Act for the better Observation of the Lords-Day, Days of Thanksgiving and Humiliation. 383-387
May 1650: An Act for suppressing the detestable sins of Incest, Adultery and Fornication. 387-389
May 1650: An Act for securing such Moneys as shall be Advanced and Lent for the Use of the Navy and Army...Remainder of the Four hundred thousand pounds charged upon the Grand Excize. 390
May 1650: An Act for the better payment of Augmentations out of The Impropriate Rectories, Vicarages and Tythes sequestered from Papists or Delinquents. 391
June 1650: An Act enabling the Militia of the City of London to raise Horse within the said City and Liberties, For defence of the Parliament, City of London, and Liberties thereof, and the parts adjacent. 391-392
June 1650: An Act for constituting of Oliver Cromwel Esq., to be Captaine Generall, and Commander in cheife of all the Parliaments Forces raised and to be raised, &c. 393
June 1650: An Act for the better preventing of prophane Swearing and Cursing. 393-396
July 1650: An Act for Sheriffs to appoint Deputies, who are to remove and transmit the Acts, Orders, and Directions of the Parliament and Councel of State...as they shall be enjoyned by the Parliament or Councel. 396-397
July 1650: An Act for Setling of the Militia of the Commonwealth of England. 397-402
August 1650: An Act concerning Mortgages, Extents, &c. upon Delinquents Estates. 402-403