[A1705/6/17]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Overture for limitations on the successors of her majesty dying without heirs of her body, who shall be likewise kings of England
I. That elections shall be made at every Michaelmas [29 September] head-court for a new parliament every year, to sit 1 November next following, and adjourn themselves from time to time, until next Michaelmas; that they choose their own president, and that everything shall be determined by balloting in place of voting.
II. That so many lesser barons shall be added to the parliament as there have been noblemen created since the last augmentation of that number of the barons, and that, in all time coming, for every nobleman that shall be created there shall be a baron added to the parliament.
III. That no man have vote in parliament but a nobleman or elected member.
IV. That the king shall give the royal assent to all laws offered by the estates, and that the president of the parliament be empowered by his majesty to give the royal assent in his absence, and have £10 sterling a day salary.
V. That a committee of 31 members, of which 9 to be a quorum, chosen out of their own number by every parliament, shall, during the intervals of parliament, under the king, have the administration of the government, be his council and accountable to the next parliament, with power in extraordinary occasions to call the parliament together; and that in the said council all things be determined by balloting in place of voting.
VI. That a king, without consent of parliament, shall not have the power of making peace and war or that of concluding any treaty with any other state or potentate.
VII. That all places and offices, both civil and military, and all pensions formerly conferred by our kings, shall ever after be given by parliament.
VIII. That no regiment or company of horse, foot or dragoons be kept on foot in peace or war but by consent of parliament.
IX. That all the fencible men of the nation, between 60 and 16, be armed with bayonets and firelocks all of a calibre, and continue always provided in such arms with suitable ammunition.
X. That no general indemnity, nor pardon for any transgression against the public, shall be valid without consent of parliament.
XI. That the 15 senators of the college of justice shall be incapable of being members of parliament, or of any other office or any pension, but the salary that belongs to their place to be increased as the parliament shall think fit. That the office of president shall be in three of their number to be named by parliament, and that there be no extraordinary lords. And also, that the lords of the justice court shall be distinct from those of the session, and under the same restrictions.
That if any king break in upon any of these conditions of government, he shall by the estates be declared to have forfeited the crown.