blazon of the Commonwealth  
AN ORDINANCE For Relief of Persons that have acted in the service of the PARLIAMENT.  
WHereas many good and necessary Acts, Ordinances & Orders of Parliament have heretofore been made for the encouragement, Indemnity and saving harmless of such persons as have in any sort either by Sea or Land Engaged, or Acted, or Commanded to be done, any matter or thing whatsoever by Authority, or for the service or benefit of the Parliament; And Committees having been appointed to take care therein, And that justice should be done accordingly, the Power of which Committees being determined, and so no course settled for Parties grieved, His Highness, having a continued and lively Sense of such men's undertake and hazards for the Service of the Public in times of eminent danger and extremity, And being willing that full remedy should be provided for their safety, Doth, by and with the Consent and advice of His Council, Declare, Establish and Ordain, That all and every the said Acts, Ordinances and Orders of Parliament, and every Article, Clause and Sentence in them, or any of them contained, shall stand, remain, and be in full force, effect and virtue, and be put in practice and execution, and be pleadable and made use of in all Courts of justice, as fully and absolutely, to all intents and purposes, as if the same had been now particularly made for such purpose.  
And it is further Declared, Established and Ordained, That the words, Clauses and sentences, in all and every the said Acts, Ordinances and Orders of Parliament, shall be adjudged, expounded, and taken in all Courts and proceed of justice, and else where, most beneficial and available, to all and singular the Persons that have so Acted or done by Authority, or for the Service or benefit of the Parliament; And if, upon any Trial or Proceed, in any Court of justice, it shall appear unto the judge, or judges, before whom such Trial or Proceeding shall be had or made, That the Party, that hath so acted by the Authority, or for the service or benefit of the Parliament, hath not had, or cannot have such full and just Relief therein, as by the said Acts, Ordinances or Orders of Parliament was intended or provided, Then such judge, or judges shall, and are hereby Required to make Certificate thereof to the Barous of the Exchequer, upon which Certificate, the said Barons, or any two of them, shall have Authority, and are hereby Empowered, Authorized, and Required, upon such Certificate and complaint of the party grieved, to proceed, and do therein to all intents and purposes; And they have hereby given unto them the same and like Powers. Authorities, jurisdiction, and Course of proceeding, in all Causes for relief of such party or parties grieved in the premises, as any Committee or Commissioners of or for Indemptnity, appointed by Authority of Parliament, had, or lawfully might have exercised.  
And be it further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That where any person, that aught to have been Indemnified, by the true meaning of the said Acts and Orders of Indemnity, hath any judgement or Verdict already obtained against him at Law, for any matter or thing for which he ought so to have been indemnified, by reason whereof he is disabled to plead his matter of Indemnity before the said judges, before mentioned, that then in every such case, upon complaint exhibited before the said Barons of the Exchequer, setting forth his case, and alleging such matter for his Indemnity, as that Court shall judge sufficient; and also give in such Security, as the said Barons shall approve of, to pay Costs unto the party molested or drawn so in question before the said Barons, in case he shall not prove the suggestion of his said Complaint, The said Barons, in such special case, also may proceed to do therein, for Indempnifying the said party grieved, as hereby they are Authorized to do, upon the Certificate of the judges before mentioned.  
Provided always, That nothing in this Ordinance be Construed or understood to revive the power of the said Committees in any the former Ordinances or Acts of Parliament named, so as to enable the said Committees to intermeddle in the execution of any the said Acts or Ordinances.   

Thursday March 23. 1653.  
ORdered by his Highness the Lord Protector, and his Council, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed and published.  
Henry Scobell Clerk of the Council.   

London, Printed by William dugard and Henry Hills Printers to His Highness the Lord Protector, 1654.