VVHereas the Parliament by their Declaration, upon the occasion of the barbarous and de­testable Murther of Doctor Dorislaus, did then Declare and pub­lish, That if the Ene­my should go on to per­petrate any such horrid and execrable Villa­nies, that then they would proceed to Execution [Page 914] of Iustice upon those of the Enemies Party, not being admitted to Compound; since which said Declaration and publique Manifestation of their just Resentment against such abominable Villa­nies, the Parliament hath understood of the late horrid and barbarous Assassination of Mr. An­thony Ascham, Agent for the Parliament to the King of Spain, and of his Servant, who within few days after their Arrival in Spain, were bar­barously and inhumanely murthered by armed men, suddenly coming into their Lodgings; the Actors of which execrable wickedness, as is suf­ficiently manifest, whereof that Party from whom all the Troubles of this Nation have formerly sprung: The Parliament in pursuance of their said Declaration, Do now Enact & Ordain, and be it by Authority of this present Parliament Enacted and Ordained, That Richard Keeble, one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England, and the rest of the persons named and appointed to be Commissioners in and by one certain Act made this present Parliament, enti­tuled, An Act for Establishing an High-Court of Justice; And Richard Aske and Robert Nicholas, two of the Iustices of the Vpper Bench; John Puleston and Peter Warburton, two of the Iustices of the Com­mon Pleas; Francis Thorp and Alexander Rigby, two of the Barons of the Exchequer; or any twelve or more of them, have further power and authori­ty, & are hereby further authorized and required, to hear and determine all Treasons, Murthers, Felonies, Crimes and Offences done or commit­ted by Sir John Stowel Knight of the Bath, David Jenkins Esq Walter Slingsby Esq Brown Bushel, Wil­liam Davenant, otherwise called Sir William Dave­nant, [Page 915] and Colonel Gerrard, now Prisoner in Carnar­van Castle, or any of them, in Levying War a­gainst the Parliament, or the Forces raised by au­thority of Parliament, or being voluntary ayding or assisting to the late King or his Party in the Wars, either in England, Wales or Ireland, against the Parliament of England, or the Forces raised by au­thority of Parliament; which several persons have not hitherto been admitted to Compound for their said Offences. And the said Commissioners in the said last recited Act named, and the said Iudges before named, or any twelve or more of them, have further power and authority, and are hereby further authorized, To proceed to Tryal, Condemnation and Execution of the said sir John Stowel, David Jenkins, Walter Slingsby, Brown Bushel, William Davenant, otherwise called Sir William Da­venant, and Colonel Gerrard, now Prisoner in Car­narvan Castle, and every of them, for the offen­ces abovesaid whereof they shall be found guilty, and to inflict upon them and every of them, such punishment either by death or otherwise, as the said Commissioners or the major part of them then present shal judge to appertain to Iustice, ac­cording to the nature of their respective offences and crimes aforesaid; and further, to act, do and execute all other powers and authorities for the hearing and determining the offences and Offen­ders abovesaid, to all intents and purposes, in as full maner and form, as in and by the said recited Act is appointed and declared for the offences in the said recited Act mentioned. And it is further Enacted and Ordained by Authority aforesaid, That the said Act, entituled, An Act for Establish­ing an High Court of Justice, and all the powers and [Page 915] authorities therein contained and mentioned, shall continue and be of force until the 29 ^th of De­cember, One thousand six hundred and fifty, and no longer.