[Overtures regarding the meeting of parliament]

1. That every member of parliament may be tied by oath faithfully and freely to speak and promote everything that they think in conscience tends to the good of the kirk and state and to maintain the peace of the three kingdoms.

2. That all papists be debarred from the house and that they give satisfaction and obedience to the church or that the censures thereof to pass punctually against them. And that the disobedient over and above to be fined in half their estates to be employed as the parliament shall determine.

3. That all such as have relinquished that country and the common cause be not admitted in the house until they give satisfaction.

4. That all all the registers be examined.

5. That no nobleman being an officer of state take place but according to his creation, except the chancellor.

6. That all penal statutes be regulated and men appointed as officers to cause them be observed.

7. That the power of the council be regulated.

†It is to be remembered regarding the fifth article of the overture, bearing that no nobleman being an officer of state take place but according to his creation, that this exception be extended, namely: except the chancellor.

It is also represented that an act may be made that no officer of state, except the chancellor, shall have place or voice in parliament.

These are to be added to the former overtures.

  1. NAS, PA6/7, 'Appendix, July 1641'. Back
  2. The remaining clauses are written on a separate document, although bound with the overtures written above. Back