2ᵒ Decembris. 1646.  
AN ORDINANCE OF THE Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament for the better Observation of the monthly FAST.  
THE LORDS and COMMONS in Parliament Assembled, Taking notice of the great neglect and profanation of the monthly Fast, in diverse places of this kingdom, do for prevention thereof in time to come, Order and ordain, and be it Ordained by the said LORDS and COMMONS, that all Justices of the Peace, Mayors, bailiffs, Constables, and other Officers and Ministers whatsoever in their respective places shall put in Execution all Orders, and Ordinances of PARLIAMENT heretofore made for the due observation of the said monthly Fast, and are hereby authorized and required to use and exercise the same power, and to inflict penalties upon the offenders therein in such manner and form as is limited and appointed by any Statute Law, Order, or Ordinance whatsoever now in force for the Sanctification of the Lord's Day, or against the profanation thereof: And for the better encouragement of all such Persons as have or shall testify their good affections to the State by their readiness in observing and putting in Execution of this and other the Ordinances of this PARLIAMENT, and for prevention of causeless and contentious suits against them; It is further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons that if any Action, Bill, Plaint, or suit upon the Case, trespass, Battery, or false Imprisonment now be or hereafter shall be brought, for or concerning any matter, cause, or thing done, or to be done hereafter by any Person or Persons whatsoever, by virtue of any Ordinance of PARLIAMHNT or by any Person or Persons in their aid and assistance or by their Commandment, according to any such Ordinance of PARLIAMENT, the said Action, Bill, Plaint, or suit shall be laid within the County where the trespass or Fact was or shall be done, and committed and not elsewhere; and that it shall be lawful to and for all and every Person, and Persons aforesaid to plead thereunto the General issue that he or they are not Guilty, And for their Justification to give in Evidence to the Jury which shall try the same, any Ordinance, or Ordinance of PARLIAMENT which they or any of them shall produce, by virtue whereof the Fact Complained of was done or Committed. And that if upon the trial of any such Action, bill, Plaint, or Suit the Plaitiffe or Plaintiffs therein shall not prove to the Jury which shall try the same, that the Trespass, Batterv, Imprisonment, or other Fact or Cause of his, her, or their said Action, bill, Plaint, or Suit was or were, had, made, committed, or done, within the County wherein such Action, bill, Plaint, or Suit, is or shall be laid, That then in every such Case the Jury which shall Try the same, shall find the Defendant or Defendants in every such Action, bill, Plaint, or Suit not Guilty without having regard or respect to any evidence given by the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs therein touching the Trespass, Battery, Imprisonment, or other Cause for which the same Action, bill, Plaint, or Suit, is or shall be Brought: And if the verdict shall Pass with the Defendant or Defendants in any such Action, bill, Plaint, or Suit, or the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs therein become Non-suits or suffer any discountenance thereof, that in every such Case the Justices, or Justice, or such other Judge, before whom the said Matter shall be tried, shall by force, and virtue of this Ordinance allow unto the Defendant, or Defendants, his, or their double Costs, which he or they shall have sustained by reason of their wrongful vexation in Defence of the said Action, or Suit, for which the said Defendant or Defendants shall have remedy as in other Cases, where Costs, by the Laws of the Realm are given to the Defendants.  

Die Mercurii 2ᵒ Decembr. 1646.  
ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Ordinance for the better Observation of the Fast Day be forthwith Printed, and that the Knights and Burgesses, Members of this House, do take Care of the sending down convenient Numbers of the said Ordinances unto the several Counties and Places for which they serve.  
Hen. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.    

LONDON, Printed for Edward Husbands, Printer to the Honourable House of COMMONS. 1646.