VVHereas the Parliament hath Abolished the Kingly Office in Eng­land and Ireland, and in the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging, and hath Resolved & Declared, That the People shall for the future be Go­verned by its own Re­presentatives, or National Meetings in Coun­cel, Chosen and Entrusted by them for that pur­pose, [Page 238] Hath setled the Government in the way of a Commonwealth and Free State, without King or House of Lords; Be it Enacted by this present Parliament, and by the authority of the same, That if any person shall maliciously or ad­visedly publish by Writing, Printing, or openly Declaring, That the said Government is Ty­rannical, Vsurped or Vnlawful; or that the Commons in Parliament assembled are not the Supreme Authority of this Nation; or shall Plot, Contrive or Endeavor to stir up or raise Force against the present Government, or for the subversion or alteration of the same, and shall de­clare the same by any open deed, That then every such Offence shall be Taken, Deemed and Ad­judged, by the Authority of this Parliament, to be High Treason. And whereas the Keepers of the Liberty of England, The Councel of State, constituted, and to be from time to time consti­tuted by Authority of Parliament, and are to be under the said Representatives in Parliament, Entrusted for the maintenance of the said Go­vernment, with several Powers and Authorities limited, given and appointed unto them by the Parliament; Be it likewise Enacted by the au­thority aforesaid, That if any person shall mali­ciously and advisedly plot or endeavor the subver­sion of the said Keepers of the Liberty of Eng­land, or the Councel of State, and the same shall declare by any open deed; or shall move any per­son or persons for the doing thereof, or stir up the People to rise against them, or either of them, their or either of their Authorities, That then every such Offence and Offences shall be Ta­ken, Deemed and Declared to be High Treason And whereas the Parliament, for there just and [Page 239] lawful Defence, hath raised and levyed the Ar­my and Forces now under the Command of Tho­mas Lord Fairfax, and are at present necessitated, by reason of the manifold Distractions within this Commonwealth, and Invasions threatned from abroad, to continue the same, which un­der God, must be the Instrumental means of preserving the well affected people of this Na­tion in Peace and Safety; Be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any person, not being an Officer, Soldier or Memb (er)s [...]f the Army, shall plot, contrive, or endeavor so stir up any Mutiny in the said Army, or withdraw any Soldiers or Officers from their Obedience to their Superior Officers, or from the present Government as aforesaid; or shall procure, in­vite, ayd or assist any Foraigners or Strangers to Invade England or Ireland, or shall adhere to any Forces raised by the Enemies of the Par­liament, or Commonwealth, or Keepers of the Liberty of England; or if any person shall coun­terfeit the Great Seal of England (for the time being) used and appointed by authority of Par­liament, That then every such Offence and Of­fences shall be Taken, Deemed and Declared by the authority of this Parliament to be High Treason: And every such person shall suffer pains of Death; and also Forfeit unto the Keepers of the Liberty of England, to and for the use of the Commonwealth, all and singular his and their Lands, Tenements and Heredi­taments, Goods and Chattels, as in case of High Treason hath been used by the Laws and Statutes of this Land to be forfeit and lost. Provided alwayes, That no persons shall be Indicted and Arraigned for any of the Of­fences [Page 240] mentioned in this Act, unless such Of­fenders shall be Indicted or Prosecuted for the same, within one year after the Offence com­mitted.