Section VIII On all Trials for Life or Death, Officers present to take Oath.

Provided alwayes and bee it Enacted That in all Tryalls of Offenders by Courts Martiall to be held by vertue of this Act where the Offence may be punished by Death every Officer present at such Tryall before any Proceeding be had thereupon shall take an Oath upon the Evangelists before the Court And the next Justice of the Peace Judge Advocate or his Deputie or one of them are hereby Authorized to Administer the same in these words (That is to say)

Form of Oath.

You shall well and truely Try and Determine X1according to your Evidence the Matter now before you betweene our Soveraigne Lord and Lady the King and Queens Majestyes and the Prisoner to be Tryed Soe helpe you God.

Number of Officers to be present on Trial at which Sentence of Death pronounced.; Hours of such Proceedings.

And noe Sentence of Death shall be given against any Offender in such case by any Court Martiall unlesse Nine of Thirteene Officers present shall concurr therein And if there be a greater number of Officers present then the Judgement shall passe by the Concurrence of the greater part of then soe Sworne which major part shall not be lesse then Nine and not otherwise And noe Proceedings Tryall or Sentence of Death shall be had or given against any Offender but betweene the Hours of Eight in the Morning and One in the Afternoone