Signing the Association, etc. Act 1698

Recital that divers Persons who, under Stat. 7 W.III. c.27., were obliged to subscribe the Association, had been prevented, by Causes herein mentioned, from so doing, but that they nevertheless ought not to be subject to Penalties, &c.

Members of Corporations to be indemnified in respect thereof.

Whereas divers Persons Members of Corporations within this Realme who by virtue of an Act of Parliament made in the Seaventh Yeare of His present Majesties Reigne intituled An Act for the better Security of His Majesties Royall Person and Government were obliged to subscribe the Association in the said Act conteined have notwithstanding through mistake or by the not regular holding the Courts where the same ought to have been subscribed or for other such like Reasons neglected to doe the same as the said Act requires, and are neverthelesse very well affected to His Majesties Royall Person and Government and therefore it is not reasonable they should be any Waies subject to the Disabilities Incapacities and Penalties in the said Act contained Be it therefore enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That all and every Member and Members of any Corporation who subscribed the Voluntary Association before the makeing of the said Act of Parliament or hath or have already subscribed or shall subscribe the said Association before the First Day of August One thousand seaven hundred in any Court of Record although it were not done according to the strict Letter of the said Act of Parliament shall neverthelesse for such Neglect only be indempnified against all the Incapacities Disabilities and Penalties in the said Act Any thing in the same contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding

II. Reciting that Disputes had arisen whether certain Officers, &c. were within Stat. 25 Car. II. c. 2. and Stat. 1 W. & M. c.8.

Certain Officers, &c. indemnified in respect thereof.

And whereas some Disputes have arisen whether some certaine Officers and Members of Corporations (not being Justices of the Peace Recorder or Towne-Clerke for such Corporations) are comprehended within the Act of Parliament made in the Five and twentieth Yeare of the Reigne of King Charles the Second intituled An Act for preventing Dangers which may happen from Popish Recusants And alsoe an Act made in the First Yeare of His present Majesty and the late Queene Mary intituled An Act for the abrogating of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance and appointing other Oaths and some such Officers and Members (except as aforesaid) not thinking themselves comprehended within the said Acts have neglected to take the Oaths and subscribe the Declaration as in the said Acts is prescribed Bee it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every such Officer and Member (except as aforesaid) who hath since his being an Officer or Member of such Corporation already taken the said Oaths and subscribed the said Declaration or shall take and subscribe the same before the First Day of August One thousand seaven hundred in the Courts and in the Manner prescribed by the said last mentioned Acts shall for such Neglects only be indempnified against all the Incapacities Disabilities and Penalties in the said Acts contained as if he or they had formerly fully observed the Directions of the said Acts of Parliament Any thing in the same contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding

III. Proviso for Offices lost, which have been filled up.

Provided alwaies That nothing in this Act contained shall extend or be construed to extend to restore any such Officer or Member to any Office or Membership who hath for such Neglect been removed and any other Person hath been duely elected in his Roome or Place.