General Pardon Act 1694

A Pardon of all Crimes to all Subjects.

Pains of Death, &c; not hereafter excepted; before and unto 29th April 1695.

WILLIAM. R.

The Kings most excellent Majesty observing that his Royal inclination to mercy (which hath appeared as well by a most general and free pardon as by many particular instances of grace extended to such as had made themselves obnoxious to the Laws) hath not had soe good an effect as might justly bee expected but on the contrary diverse obstinate and incorrigible persons have been thereby rather encouraged and emboldened to enter into treasonable and seditious designes and practices hath heretofore upon mature deliberation found it necessary in order to the peace and quiet of his Kingdomes and the happy estate of his good Subjects and hath accordingly resolved and determined for the future that such wicked and ill disposed persons who are not to bee reclaimed by mercy should bee deterred from offending and retained in their duty by a strict and impartial execution of his Laws yett neverthelesse his Majesty being still desirous to pursue his Princely disposition to forgive and resolving that his clemency shall precede his justice thereby to leave utterly without excuse all such of his Subjects who after soe publick a warning and soe full a declaration of his Royal purpose attended with his repeated Act of grace shall hereafter presume to violate their duty and allegiance and break the Laws and hath accordingly thought fitt to grant his general and free pardon in a more large and bountiful manner than hath been heretofore done. And therefore his Majesty is well pleased and contented that it bee enacted by the authority of this present Parliament and bee it enacted by the authority of the same in manner and forme following that is to say That all and every his Majesties Subjects as well Spiritual as Temporal of this his Majesties Realme of England Dominion of Wales and Towne of Berwick upon Tweed their heires executors and administrators and every of them and all and singuler Bodies in any manner of wise corporated Cities Burroughs Shires Ridings Hundreds Lathes Rapes Wapentakes Townes Villages Hamletts and Tythings and every of them and the successor and successors of every of them shall bee by authority of this present Parliament acquitted pardoned released and discharged against his Majesty his heires and successors and every of them of and from all manner of treasons felonies misprisions of treason treasonable and seditious words or libels misprisions of felony seditious and unlawfull meetings and conventicles, and all offences whereby any person may bee charged with the penalty and danger of premunire. And alsoe of and from all riots routs offences contempts trespasses entries wrongs deceits misdemeanors forfeitures penalties and su[m]ms of money pains of death pains corporal and pains pecuniary and generally of and from all other things causes quarrels suites judgements and executions in this present Act not hereafter excepted or foreprized which may bee or can bee by his Majesty in any wise or by any means pardoned had done comitted omitted perpetrated incurred or forfeited before and unto the Twenty ninth day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety five.