failing in their trust. 6. That no Representative may in any wise render up, or give, or take away, any of the foundations of common right, liberty, and safety contained in this Agreement, nor level men's estates, destroy property, or make all things common; and that, in all matters of such fundamental concernment, there shall be a liberty to particular members of the said representatives to enter their dissents from the major vote.

:

Ninthly. Concerning religion, we agree as followeth. 1. It is intended that the Christian Reli- Relation of the governgion be held forth and recommended as the public ment to profession in this nation, which we desire may, by Christian the grace of God, be reformed to the greatest purity Religion. in doctrine, worship and discipline, according to the Word of God; the instructing the people thereunto in a public way, so it be not compulsive; as also the maintaining of able teachers for that end, and for the confutation or discovering of heresy, error, and whatsoever is contrary to sound doctrine, is allowed to be provided for by our Representatives; the maintenance of which teachers may be out of a public treasury, and, we desire, not by tithes provided, that Popery or Prelacy be not held forth as the public way or profession in this nation. 2. That, to the public profession so held forth, none be compelled by penalties or otherwise; but only may be endeavoured to be won by sound doctrine, and the example of a good conversation. 3. That such as profess faith in God by Jesus Christ, however differing in judgment from the doctrine, worship or discipline publicly held forth, as aforesaid, shall not be restrained from, but shall be protected in, the profession of their faith and exercise of religion, according to their consciences, in any place except such as shall be set apart for the public worship; where we provide not for them, unless they have leave, so as they abuse not this liberty to the civil injury of others, or to act

olic church.

ual disturbance of the public peace on their parts. Exclusion of Nevertheless, it is not intended to be hereby proRoman Cath- vided, that this liberty shall necessarily extend to Popery or Prelacy. 4. That all laws, ordinances, statutes, and clauses in any law, statute, or ordinance to the contrary of the liberty herein provided for, in the two particulars next preceding concerning religion, be, and are hereby, repealed and made void.

To prevent military despotism.

Tenthly. It is agreed, that whosoever shall, by force of arms, resist the orders of the next or any future Representative (except in case where such Representative shall evidently render up, or give, or take away the foundations of common right, liberty, and safety, contained in this Agreement), he shall forthwith, after his or their such resistance, lose the benefit and protection of the laws, and shall be punishable with death, as an enemy and traitor to the nation. Of the things expressed in this Agreement: the certain ending of this Parliament, as in the first Article; the equal or proportionable distribution of the number of the representers to be elected, as in the second; the certainty of the people's meeting to elect for Representatives biennial, and their freedom in elections; with the certainty of meeting, sitting and ending of Representatives so elected, which are provided for in the third Article; as also the qualifications of persons to elect or be elected, as in the first and second particulars under the third Article; also the certainty of a number for passing a law or preparatory debates, provided for in the fourth Article; the matter of the fifth Article, concerning the Council of State, and of the sixth, concerning the calling, sitting and ending of Representatives extraordinary; also the power of Representatives to be, as in the eighth Article, and limited, as in the six reserves next following the same: likewise the second and third Particulars under the ninth Article concerning

religion, and the whole matter of the tenth Article; all these we do account and declare to be fundamental to our common right, liberty, and safety: and therefore do both agree thereunto, and resolve to maintain the same, as God shall enable us. The rest of the matters in this Agreement we account to be useful and good for the public; and the particular circumstances of numbers, times, and places, expressed in the several Articles, we account This docunot fundamental; but we find them necessary to be ment was completed on here determined, for the making the Agreement Jan. 15, 1649, certain and practicable, and do hold these most and preconvenient that are here set down; and therefore Rump Pardo positively agree thereunto. By the appointment liament five of his Excellency the Lord-General and his General days later. Council of Officers.

JOHN RUSHWORTH, Sec.

The Instrument of Government (1653)

sented to the

1417-1426.

The government of the Commonwealth of Eng- Translit.: land, Scotland, and Ireland, and the dominions The Parl. Hist. of Eng. thereunto belonging. (Hansard, I. That the supreme legislative authority of the 1808), III. Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, An attempt and the dominions thereunto belonging, shall be to establish and reside in one Person, and the people assembled an executive in Parliament; the style of which person shall be the tutional and Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, not a military Scotland, and Ireland.

on a consti

basis.

II. That the exercise of the chief Magistracy The council and the administration of the government over the were ap pointed by said countries and dominions, and the people there- the Proof, shall be in the Lord Protector, assisted with a tector, but council, the number whereof shall not exceed 21, movable by

nor be less than 13.

were irre

him save by consent of

III. That all writs, processes, commissions, the vote of patents, grants, and other things, which now run in the members. the name and style of the Keepers of the Liberty

in-chief of army and navy by consent of Council.

of England by Authority of Parliament,' shall run in the name and style of the Lord Protector, from whom, for the future, shall be derived all magistracy and honours in these three nations; and have the power of pardons (except in case of murders and treason) and benefit of all forfeitures for the public use; and shall govern the said countries and dominions in all things by the advice of the council, and according to these presents and the laws.

IV. That the Lord Protector, the Parliament sitCommander- ting, shall dispose and order the militia and forces, both by sea and land, for the peace and good of the three nations, by consent of Parliament; and that the Lord Protector, with the advice and consent of the major part of the council, shall dispose and order the militia for the ends aforesaid in the intervals of Parliament.

International relationship with advice of Council.

Note Common Law

and Magna Charta.

Triennial

V. That the Lord Protector, by the advice aforesaid, shall direct in all things concerning the keeping and holding of a good correspondency with foreign kings, princes, and states; and also, with the consent of the major part of the council, have the power of war and peace.

VI. That the laws shall not be altered, suspended, abrogated, or repealed, nor any new law made, nor any tax, charge, or imposition laid upon the people, but by common consent in Parliament, save only as is expressed in the thirtieth article.

VII. That there shall be a Parliament summoned to meet at Westminster upon the third day of Sepsummons of tember, 1654, and that successively a Parliament a single shall be summoned once in every third year, to be chamber of Parliament. accounted from the dissolution of the present Parliament.

VIII. That neither the Parliament to be next summoned, nor any successive Parliaments, shall, during the time of five months, to be accounted from the day of their first meeting, be adjourned, prorogued, or dissolved, without their own consent.

IX. That as well the next as all other successive Parliaments, shall be summoned and elected in manner hereafter expressed; that is to say, the persons to be chosen within England, Wales, the Isles of Jersey, Guernsey, and the town of Berwickupon-Tweed, to sit and serve in Parliament, shall be, and not exceed, the number of four hundred. The persons to be chosen within Scotland, to sit and serve in Parliament, shall be, and not exceed, the number of thirty; and the persons to be chosen to sit in Parliament for Ireland shall be, and not exceed, the number of thirty.

X. That the persons to be elected to sit in Parliament from time to time, for the several counties of England, Wales, the Isles of Jersey and Guernsey, and the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and all places within the same respectively, shall be according to the proportions and numbers hereafter expressed: that is to say, ...

The list is omitted.

this docu

we reach the

XI. That the summons to Parliament shall be by The ordiwrit under the Great Seal of England, directed to nances of the sheriffs of the several and respective counties, ment are the with such alteration as may suit with the present sole attempt, government, to be made by the Lord Protector actually put into operation, and his council, which the Chancellor, Keeper, or at a general Commissioners of the Great Seal shall seal, issue, reform of the parliamenand send abroad by warrant from the Lord Pro- tary frantector. If the Lord Protector shall not give warrant chise, until for issuing of writs of summons for the next Parlia- Reform Bill ment, before the first of June, 1654, or for the of 1832. Triennial Parliaments, before the first day of August See Sumin every third year, to be accounted as aforesaid; mons to that then the Chancellor, Keeper, or Commissioners Chap. III. of the Great Seal for the time being, shall, without any warrant or direction, within seven days after the said first day of June, 1654, seal, issue, and send abroad writs of summons (changing therein what is to be changed as aforesaid) to the several and respective sheriffs of England, Scotland, and

Parliament.