WHereas the Parliament , his Highness the Lord Protector and the Council , by reason of some late Rebellions and Insurrections within this Common-wealth , and upon occasion of many dangers and troubles threatned from beyond the Seas , have been necessitated to imploy divers Persons in their Service for suppressing the said rebellious Insurrections , and for securing the Peace , and carrying on the Publick Service of these Nations , which the said Persons have willingly engaged in ; whereof his Highnesse and Parliament well approving , and being fully satisfied of their Fidelity and Integrity in such their Actings , and that their Endeavors tended only to the Security and Advantage of the Publick , and Reformation of these Nations , without any sinister respects of their own ; and therefore conceive themselves to be obliged in Honor and Iustice , that they be protected and acquitted from any Suit , Action , Prosecution or Molestation , for or in respect of such Service .

Be it therefore Enacted by his Highnesse the Lord Protector and this present Parliament , and the Authority thereof , That all and every person and persons , who have before the twentieth day of June , One thousand six hundred fifty and seven , mediately or immediately , acted or done , or commanded or appointed to be acted or done , or by command or appointment have acted or done any matter or thing whatsoever by Vertue or Authority of Parliament , his Highnesse the Lord Protector or the Councill , by any Commission or Instructions from them , or any of them , That every such person and persons shall be , and are hereby fully Acquitted , Pardoned , and Discharged of and from all Actions , Suits , Indictments , Informations , Prosecutions , Iudgements , Executions , and Molestations whatsoever , for or concerning the same ; but that such their Actings and Service , and whatsoever hath ensued thereupon , shall in no time hereafter be called in question , whatsoever be the Quality of the person , or of whatsoever kind or degree , Civil or Criminal , the Offence or Injury is supposed to be ; And that no mention be made thereof in time to come , in Iudgment or Iudicial Proceedings , but that the same be had and put in perpetual Oblivion ; And that the said Council for all Acts done , or advised to be done by them as aforesaid , shall be and are hereby likewise Acquitted , Pardoned , and Discharged , to all intents and purposes aforesaid .

And it is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid , That Richard Hill Esq ; Samuel Wilson , John Sparrow , Humphrey Blake , Robert Turpin , and Richard Blackwal , the late Commissioners for Prize-Goods , and John Carleton Treasurer , and every of them shall be , and are hereby Indempnified and Discharged , for and concerning the Payment of all such Sum and Sums of Money , which by Order of his Highnesse and Council , they , or any of them have paid in to the use of the Commonwealth ; And that the said late Commissioners for Prize-Goods , and the said Treasurer , shall not be lyable to any Suit or Action for the Payment of the said Sums of Money , or any part thereof .

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid , That all Acts , Ordinances and Orders of Parliament , which have heretofore been made for the Encouragement , Indempnity , and saving harmless of such persons as have in any sort , either by Sea or Land , Engaged , Acted , or done any matter or thing whatsoever , by Authority , or for the service or benefit of the Parliament ; and every Clause , Article and Sentence in them , or any of them contained , shall stand and remain , and be in full force , effect and vertue , and be put in practice and execution , and be pleadable and made use of in all Courts of Iustice , as fully and absolutely to all intents and purposes , as if the same had been now made particularly for such purpose .

And be it Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid , That all and every the Words , Clauses and Sentences in this Act , and in all and every other the Acts , Ordinances and Orders of Parliament , shall be adjudged , expounded , and taken in all Courts and proceedings of Iustice , and else-where , most beneficial and available unto all and singular the persons that have so acted or done by any Authority as aforesaid , or for the service or benefit of the Parliament , or otherwise as aforesaid . And for further relief and ease of the persons aforesaid , It is likewise Enacted ; That if upon any Tryal or Proceedings in any Court of Iustice , it shall appear unto the Iudge or Iudges before whom such tryal or proceedings shall be had or made , that the party that hath so acted by the Authority as aforesaid , or for the service or benefit of the Parliament , or otherwise as aforesaid , hath not had or cannot have such full benefit and just relief , as by this and other Acts , Ordinances , and Orders of Parliament , was intended or provided , Then such Iudge and Iudges shall , and are hereby required to make Certificate thereof to the Barons of the Exchequer ; upon which Certificate the said Barons , or any two of them shall have Authority , and are hereby impowered , authorized and required , upon such Certificate and Complaint of the party grieved , to proceed and do therein to all intents and purposes ; And they have hereby given unto them the same and like Powers , Authorities , Iurisdictions , and Course of Proceedings in all Causes for relief of such party or parties grieved , in any the premises , as any Committee or Commissioners of or for Indempnity appointed by Authority of Parliament , had or might have lawfully exercised .

And it is hereby lastly Ordained , That all and every the matters and things in this Act mentioned and intended shall be adjudged and deemed to be within all and every the said Acts , Ordinances , and Orders of Parliament , as if the same had been particularly expressed and comprised in the same , and to have relief , and be proceeded in accordingly .

Provided , That nothing in this Act be construed or understood to revive the Power of the said Committees in any of the former Acts or Ordinances of Parliament named , so as to enable the said Committees to intermeddle in the execution of any of the said Acts or Ordinances .