AN ORDINANCE OF THE Lords and Commons Assembled in PARLIAMENT, For Excluding such MEMBERS OF Either House of Parliament, As have deserted the Parliament, and adhered to those that Leavie War against the Parliament.
ORdered by the Commons in Parliament, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed & published:
London, Printed for Edward Husbands, and are to be sold at his shop in the Middle-Temple. Iuly 9. 1644.
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, for the excluding of the Members of either House of Parliament, that have deserted the Parliament, and adhered to those that leavie VVarre against the Parliament.
THe Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament, taking into consideration, That divers Members of both their Houses, have since the beginning of the unhappy distractions now depending, in breach of their duties, withdrawn themselves from that attendance upon the [Page 4] Publ [...] [...]s of [...]gdom in Parliament: To which the necessities of the Kingdom, and the trust in them reposed, have obliged them; and have also joyned with, and repaired unto that party that is now in Arms against the Parliament, and seriously weighing the great inconvenience and prejudice which hath arisen, and may further arise in respect thereof, the same tending to the scandall and dishonour of the Parliament, the discouragement of such as are well-affected, and the subversion of Religion, Laws and Liberty; by means whereof the whole Kingdom is neerly interested and concerned in their said departure and offence: And whereas divers Members of the House of Commons, which have deserted the Parliament, and adhered unto those that leavie War against the Parliament, have by Iudgement of the House of Commons, been justly disabled [Page 5] from sitting or continuing any longer Members of the said House during this present Parliament; By which Iudgement the severall and respective Counties, Cities, Boroughs and places for which they served, have right to Elect new Members for the Parliament, upon a Warrant under the hand of the Speaker of the House of Commons, directing a Writ to issue under the Broad-Seal to that purpose. And whereas divers Members of the House of Peers have also deserted the said House of Peers, and adhered to those that leavie War against the Parliament:
The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, do Ordain and Declare, That whatsoever Member of the said House of Peers hath so offended, or hereafter shall so offend as aforesaid, shall be disabled from having any voice, or sitting in the said House of Peers during this present [Page 6] Parliament, untill his readmittance shall be approved of, and consented unto by both Houses of Parliament.
Provided alwayes, and it is hereby Ordained and Declared, That whatsoever Member of the House of Commons, that heretofore hath deserted, or hereaftet shall desert the Parliament, and adhere to those that leavie War against the Parliament, is and shall be absolutely disabled from sitting in the said House of Commons during this present Parliament.
It is this Day Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That this Ordinance bee forthwith printed and published: