Mutiny Act 1692

Reasons for passing this Act.

Soldier mutinying or deserting, &c; Punishment.

Whereas the raiseing or keeping a Standing Army within this Kingdom in time of Peace unlesse it be with consent of Parliament is against Law And whereas it is judged necessary for their Majesties and this present Parliament that dureing this time of War several of the Forces which are now on foot should be continued and others raised for the safety of this Kingdom for the common defence of the Protestant Religion and for the carrying on the War against France And whereas no man may be forejudged of Life or Limb or subjected to any kind of Punishment by Martial Law or in any other manner then by the Judgment of his Peers and according to the known and established Laws of this Realme yet neverthelesse it being requisite for the retaining such Forces as are or shall be raised dureing this exigence of Affairs in their Duty that an exact Discipline be observed and that Soldiers who shall mutiny or stirr upp Sedition or shall desert Their Majesties Service bee brought to a more exemplary and speedy punishment then the usuall Forms of the Law will allow Bee it therefore enacted by the King and Queens most excellont Majesties by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That from and after the Tenth day of March in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety two every Person being in Their Majesties Service in the Army and being mustered and in pay as an Officer or Soldier who shall at any time before the First day of March in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety three excite cause or joyne in any Mutiny or Sedition in the Army or shall desert Their Majesties Service in the Army shall suffer Death or such other punishment as by a Court Martial shall be inflicted or being a Soldier actually listed in any Regiment Troop or Company shall list himselfe into any other Regiment Troop or Company without a discharge produced in writeing from the Captain or the Officer commanding the Troop or Company in which he last served as a listed Souldier shall suffer Death or such other Punishment as by a Court Martial shall be inflicted