General Pardon Act 1746
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1746 c. 52 |
(20 Geo. 2) C A P. LII.
G E O R G E R.
THE King's most Excellent Majesty having already shewed his Royal Inclination to Mercy, by many particular Instances of Grace to such as had rendered themselves obnoxious to the Laws, and subject to the highest Penalties, by being concerned in the late unnatural Rebellion; and his Majesty being desirous of quieting the Minds of his Subjects in general, bath, upon mature Deliberation, resolved and determined to grant his general and free Pardon, in a large and bountiful Manner; not doubting but that, however it may be received by those who are obstinately bent on the Ruin of their Country, it will raise a due Sense of Gratitude in all who have been artfully misled into treasonable Practices against his Person and Government, and preserve them and others from standing in Need of the like Mercy for the future, when such Clemency may not be so expedient for the publick Welfare, as it would be agreable to his Majesty's Inclinations; and hoping that all his Subjects, by this Act of Grace, will be induced henceforth more carefully to observe the Laws, and live in a loyal and dutiful Obedience to his Majesty, therefore his Majesty is well pleased and contented, that it be enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament; And be it enacted by the Authority of the same, in Manner and Form following (that is to say) Thatall and every his Majesty's Subjects, as well Spiritual as Temporal of this his Majesty's Realm ofGreat Britain , their Heirs, Successors, Executors and Administrators, and every of them, and all and singular Bodies Politick and Corporate, and their Successors, and all Cities, Boroughs, Shires, Stewartries, Ridings, Hundreds, Lathes, Rapes, Wapentakes, Towns, Villages, Hamlets and Tythings, and every of them, shall be, by the Authority of this present Parliament, acquitted, pardoned, released and discharged against the King's Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, and every of them, of, and from all, and all Manner of Treasons, Misprisions of Treasons, Felonies, treasonable and seditious Words or Libels, Leasing-making, Misprisions of Felony, seditious and unlawful Meetings and Conventicles, and all Offences, whereby any Person may be charged with the Danger and Penalty of Premunire ; and also of and from all Riots, Routs, Offences, Contempts, Trespasses, Entries, Wrongs, Deceipts, Misdemeanors, Forfeitures, Penalties and Sums of Money, Pains of Death, Pains Corporal and Pains Pecuniary, and generally of and from all other Things, Causes, Quarrels, Suits, Judgments and Executions, in this present Act hereafter not excepted or foreprized, which may be, or can be by his Majesty in any or by any Means pardoned, and have been had, made, done, committed, omitted, perpetrated, incurred or forfeited, before and unto the fifteenth Day of June in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-seven.
II. And also the King's most Excellent Majesty is contented, that it be enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament, and be it enacted by the Authority of the same, That this his Majesty's Free Pardonshall be as good and effectual in Law to every of his said Subjects, Bodies Corporate, and others before rehearsed, in, for and against all Things aforesaid, and not hereafter in this present Act excepted and foreprized, as the same Pardon would have been, if all such Offences, Contempts, Forfeitures, Causes, Matters, Suits, Quarrels, Judgments, Executions, Penalties and other Things not hereafter in this Act particularly excepted and foreprized, had been particularly, singularly, specially and plainly named, rehearsed and specified, and also pardoned by proper and express Words and Names; and that his said Subjects, or any of them, the Heirs, Executors or Administrators of any of them, or the said Bodies Corporate, and others, before named and rehearsed, or any of them, be not, nor shall be sued, vexed or unquieted in their Bodies, Goods, Chattles, Lands or Tenements, for any Matter, Cause, Contempt, Misdemeanor, Forfeiture, Trespass, Offence, or any other Thing, suffered, done, or committed, or omitted, before the said fifteenth Day ofJune one thousand seven hundred and forty-seven, against his Majesty, his Crown, Dignity, Prerogative, or the Laws or Statutes of this Realm, but only for such Causes, Matters and Offences as be rehearsed or mentioned in the Exceptions of this present Act, to be excepted and foreprized, and for none other; any Statute or Statutes, Laws or Customs heretofore had, made, or used to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.
III Penalties and Forfeitures remitted.
III. And the King's Majesty, of his bounteous Liberality, and by the Authority of this present Parliament, doth grant, and freely give to every of his Subjects, every of the said Bodies Corporate, and others before rehearsed, and every of them, all Goods, Chattles, Debts, Fines, Issues, Profits, Amerciaments, For feitures and Sums of Money by any of them forfeited, which to his Majesty do or shall appertain, by reason of any Offence, Contempt, Trespass, Entry, Misdemeanor, Matter, Cause or Quarrel, suffered, done or committed by them or any of them, before the said fifteenth Day ofJune one thousand seven hundred and forty-seven, not hereafter in this present Act foreprized and excepted.
IV Grants of Forfeitures, &c.
IV. Provided nevertheless, and be it enacted, That all Grants thereof; or of any Part thereof, made by any such as have so forfeited the same, and are hereby restored as aforesaid, and all Executions thereof, or of any Part thereof, had against any such, after such Forfeiture thereof committed or made, shall be of such Force and Effect, as if no such Forfeiture had been had or made, and of no other, the same Forfeiture, or any thing in this Act before to the contrary notwithstanding.
V Persons not excepted may plead this Act, without Fee.
V. And be it further enacted, That all and every of his Majesty's Subjects, and all and singular Bodies Corporate and others before rehearsed, may by him or themselves, or by his or their Deputy or Deputies, or by his or their Attorney or Attorneys, according to the Laws of this Realm, plead and minister this Act of Free Pardon, for his of their Discharge, of or for any thing that is by virtue of this Act pardoned, discharged, given or granted, without any Fee, or any other Thing paying to any Person or Persons for the Writingor Entering of the Judgments, or other Cause concerning such Plea, Writing or Entry, but only sixteen Pence to the Clerk or Officer that shall enter such Plea or Matter for Judgment, or the Parties Discharge in that Behalf; any Law, Custom or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding.
VI His Majesty's Free Pardon to be construed in the most beneficial Sense.
VI. And further the King's Majesty is contented and pleased, that it be enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That this his Majesty's Free Pardon, by the general Words, Clauses and Sentences before rehearsed, shall be reputed, deemed, adjudged, expounded, allowed and taken, in all Manner of Courts of his Majesty, and elsewhere, most beneficial and available to all and singular the said Subjects, Bodies Corporate, and others before rehearsed, and to every of them, in all Things not in this present Act excepted and foreprized, without any Ambiguity, Question, or other Delay whatsoever, to be made, pleaded, objected or alledged by the King's Majesty, his Heirs or Successors, or by his or any of their General Attorney or Attorneys, Advocate or Advocates, or by any Person or Persons, for his Majesty, or any of his Heirs or Successors. Exceptedand foreprized out of this Act of General and Free Pardon, all Persons being on the said fifteenth Day of in the Service of, or any Ways employed by the Person, who since the Death of the late King James hath taken upon himself the Stile and Title ofKing of England , or King of Great Britain , or who have been in the Service of, or employed by the King of Spain , since the nineteenth Day of December in the Year one thousand seven hundred and thirty-nine, being two Months after his Majesty's Declaration of War against the said King of Spain , or who have been in the Service of or employed by the French Kingsince the twenty-ninth Day ofApril in the Year one thousand seven hundred and forty-four, being one Month after the said French King's Declaration of War against his Majesty.
VII Persons beyond the Seas, concerned in levying War;
VII. And also excepted out of this Pardon, all Offences of levying the War against his Majesty, which began in this Realm in the Year one thousand seven hundred and forty-five, by any Person or Persons who has or have been, or shall be beyond the Seas, at any Time between the twentieth Day ofJuly one thousand seven hundred and forty-five, and the said fifteenth Day of June one thousand seven hundred and forty-seven.
VIII or assisting in the Invasion of this Kingdom, or in the late Rebellion;
VIII. And also excepted out of this Pardon, all Offences of conspiring, carrying on, consenting to, assisting or being concerned in any Design or Proposal for invading, or procuring an Invasion of this Realm, by the Forces of theFrench King, or by any other Foreign Force, or for raising or carrying on a Rebellion within the same, committed by any Person or Persons who have been, or shall be beyond the Seas, at any Time between the said twentieth Day of July one thousand seven hundred and forty-five, and the said fifteenth Day of June one...
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