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Act against the crime of blasphemy

Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament, considering that hitherto there has been no law in this kingdom against the horrible crime of blasphemy; therefore, his majesty, with advice of his said estates, does hereby statute and ordain that whosoever hereafter, not being distracted in his wits, shall rail upon or curse God or any of the persons of the Blessed Trinity, shall be processed before the chief justice and, being found guilty, shall be punished with death. Likewise his majesty, with advice foresaid, finds, statutes and ordains that whosoever hereafter shall deny God or any of the persons of the Blessed Trinity, and obstinately continue therein, shall be processed, and being found guilty, that they be punished with death. As also, his majesty, with advice and consent foresaid, declares that all persons who have committed the foresaid crimes since 17 February 1649 shall be proceeded against according to this act and ratifies all bygone decreets and judicial proceedings against any person committer of the said crimes since the date foresaid, which have been pronounced and done against the said committers according to this present act, and declares that the pronouncers and executors of the said sentences shall never be questioned thereof in any manner of way, but are, and shall be hereby secured, no less than if this act had been of the foresaid date.