blazon of the Commonwealth  
AN ACT FOR The Trial of Sir john Stowel Knight of the Bath, David jenkin's Esq Walter Slingsby Esq Brown Bushel, William Davenant, otherwise called Sir William Davenant, and Colonel Gerrard.  
Whereas the Parliament by their Declaration, upon the occasion of the barbarous and detestable Murder of Doctor Dorislaus, did then Declare and publish, That if the Enemy should go on to perpetrate any such horrid and execrable Villainies, that then they would proceed to Execution of justice upon those of the Enemy's Party, not being admitted to Compound; since which said Declaration and public Manifestation of their just Resentment against such abominable Villainies, the Parliament hath understood of the late horrid and barbarous Assassination of Mr. Anthony Ascham, Agent for the Parliament to the King of Spain, and of his Servant, who within few days after their Arrival in Spain, were barbarously and inhumanely murdered by armed men, suddenly coming into their Lodgings; the Actors of which execrable wickedness, as is sufficiently manifest, whereof that Party from whom all the Troubles of this Nation have formerly sprung: The Parliament in pursuance of their said Declaration, Do now Enact & Ordain, and be it by Authority of this present Parliament Enacted and Ordained, That Richard Keeble, one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England, and the rest of the persons named and appointed to be Commissioners in and by one certain Act made this present Parliament, entitled, An Act for Establishing an High-Court of Justice; And Richard Ask and Robert Nicholas, two of the justices of the Upper Bench; John Puleston and Peter Warburton, two of the justices of the Common Pleas; Francis Thorp and Alexander Rigby, two of the Barons of the Exchequer; or any twelve or more of them, have further power and authority, & are hereby further authorized and required, to hear and determine all Treasons, Murders, Felonies, Crimes and Offences done or committed by Sir John Stowel Knight of the Bath, David Jenkins Esq Walter Slingsby Esq Brown Bushel, William Davenant, otherwise called Sir William Davenant, and Colonel Gerrard, now Prisoner in Carnarvan Castle, or any of them, in Levying War against the Parliament, or the Forces raised by authority of Parliament, or being voluntary aiding or assisting to the late King or his Party in the Wars, either in England, Wales or Ireland, against the Parliament of England, or the Forces raised by authority of Parliament; which several persons have not hitherto been admitted to Compound for their said Offences. And the said Commissioners in the said last recited Act named, and the said judges before named, or any twelve or more of them, have further power and authority, and are hereby further authorized, To proceed to Trial, Condemnation and Execution of the said sir John Stowel, David Jenkins, Walter Slingsby, Brown Bushel, William Davenant, otherwise called Sir William Davenant, and Colonel Gerrard, now Prisoner in Carnarvan Castle, and every of them, for the offences abovesaid whereof they shall be found guilty, and to inflict upon them and every of them, such punishment either by death or otherwise, as the said Commissioners or the major part of them then present shall judge to appertain to justice, according to the nature of their respective offences and crimes aforesaid; and further, to act, do and execute all other powers and authorities for the hearing and determining the offences and Offenders abovesaid, to all intents and purposes, in as full manner and form, as in and by the said recited Act is appointed and declared for the offences in the said recited Act mentioned. And it is further Enacted and Ordained by Authority aforesaid, That the said Act, entitled, An Act for Establishing an High Court of Justice, and all the powers and authorities therein contained and mentioned, shall continue and be of force until the 29th of December, One thousand six hundred and fifty, and no longer.   

Die Martis, 9ᵒ Julii, 1650.  
ORdered by the Parliament, That this Act be forthwith printed and published.  
Hen: Scobell, Cleric. Parliamenti.   

London, Printed by Edward Husband and john Field, Printers to the Parliament of England, 1650.