Act of Uniformity (Explanation) Act 1663

II. Recital that divers Persons of eminent Loyalty and known Affection to the Church of England were out of the Realm at the passing of the said Act, and had no Notice thereof until after the Feast of St. Bartholomew, and others by reason of Sickness, &c. had not complied with the said Act; whereby such Persons were disabled and deprived of their Benefices; all such Persons declared to be restored;

And may hold their Benefices.

And whereas diverse persons of eminent Loyaltie to His Majestie and of knowne affection to the Liturgie of the Church of England who by the said Act were required to subscribe the said Declaration or Acknowledgement at the time of the passeing of the said Act were out of this Realme in Ireland or other parts beyond the Seas upon lawfull and justifyable Occasions and had noe knowledge or notice thereof untill their returne into England being after the said Feast of Saint Bartholomew, And diverse other of the said Loyall and well affected persons by reason of sicknes imprisonment disabilitie of body or otherwise could not, or did not resorte unto their respective Archbishops Bishops or Ordinaries or Vice Chauncellours of the respective Universities before whom such Subscription was appointed by the said Act to be made All which said persons are by force of the said Act utterly disabled and ipso facto deprived of their respective Deanries Canonries Prebendryes Mastershipps Fellowshipps Parsonages Vicarages or other Ecclesiasticall Benefices or Promotions by reason of such their ommission, For remedy whereof and for the releife of such persons Be it enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by Authoritie of the same That all Deanes Canons Prebendaries Masters and Fellowes of any Colledges Halls or other Houses of Learning and all Parsons Vicars and other Ecclesiasticall persons aforesaid who at the time of the passeing of the said Act being in Ireland or any the parts beyond the Seas did not returne into this Kingdome before the said Feast of Saint Bartholimew One thousand six hundred sixtie and two, or who being in England by Imprisonment Sicknes Disabilitie of Body or otherwise did not resorte unto their respective Archbishop Bishop Ordinary or Vice Chauncellour of the said respective Universities to subscribe the said Declaration and Acknowledgement before the said Feast in the yeare of our Lord aforesaid shall be and are hereby declared to be restored unto and preserved in their respective Deanryes Canonryes Prebends Masterships Fellowships Parsonages Vicarages and other Ecclesiasticall Benefices and Promotions whereunto noe other person or persons before the first day of August in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred sixtie and three were or shall be lawfully instituted inducted collated or placed, And shall and may hold and enjoy the same according to his and their former right, The aforesaid Act or any thing therein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.