Mutiny Act 1690

Standing Army, without Consent of Parliament, against Law.

Reasons for passing this Act.; Exciting or joining in mutiny; punishment. Soldier enlisting in other Regiments without Discharge from his own; Punishment.

Whereas the Raising or Keeping a Standing Army within this Kingdome in time of Peace unlesse it be with Consent of Parlyament is against Law And whereas it is Judged Necessary by Their Majestyes and this present Parlyament That dureing this time of Warr severall of the Forces which are now on Foot should be Continued and others Raised for the Safety of the Kingdome for the Common Defence of the Protestant Religion and for the Intire Reduceing of Ireland and for the Carrying on the Warr against France And whereas noe Man may be Forejudged of Life or Limb or Subjected to any kinde of Punishment by Martiall Law or in any other manner then by the Judgment of his Peeres and according to the knowne and Established Laws of this Realme Yet nevertheless it. being requisite for the retaining such Forces as are or shall be Raised dureing this Exigence of Affaires in their Duty That an Exact Discipline be observed and that Soldiers who shall Mutiny or Stirr up Sedition or shall Desert Their Majesties Service be 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 Excellent Majestyes by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this present Parlyament Assembled and by the Authoritie of the same That from and after the Twentyeth day of December in the Yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred and ninety every Person being in Their Majestyes Service in the Army and being Mustered and in Pay as an Officer or Soldier who shall at any time before the Twentyeth day of December in the Yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety one 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 Martiall shall be Inflicted Or being a Soldier actually listed in any Regiment Troope or Company shall list himselfe into any other Regiment Troope or Company without a Discharge produced in Writeing from the Captaine or [X1 the] Officer Commanding the Troope or Company in which he last Served as a Listed Souldier shall suffer Death or such other Punishment as by a Court Martiall shall be Inflicted

Editorial Information

X1 interlined on the Roll.