and disposed in such manner as both Houses shall agree on, and as is proposed on His Ma∣jesties
behalf.
And also to an Act to prevent the practises of Papists against the State; and for put∣ting
the Laws in execution; and for a stricter course to prevent hearing and saying of
Mass.
But as to the Covenant, His Majesty is not yet therein satisfied that He can either sign
or swear it, or consent to impose it on the Consciences of others; nor doth conceive it
proper or useful at this time to be insisted on.
Touching the Militia; His Majesty conceives that your Proposition demands a far
larger power over the Persons and Estates of His Subjects than hath ever hitherto been
warranted by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm: yet considering the present Distra∣ctions
require more, and trusting in His two Houses of Parliament, that they will make
no further use of the Power therein mentioned, after the present Distempers setled, than
shall be agreeable to the Legal exercise thereof in times past, or just necessity shall re∣quire,
His Majesty will consent to an Act of Parliament,
That the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of England now assembled, or here∣after
to be assembled, or such as they shall appoint during the space of ten years, shall
Arm, Train and Discipline, or cause to be Armed, Trained or Disciplined, all the Forces of
the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and Dominion of Wales, the Isles of Gernesey and
Jersy, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, already raised, both for Sea and Land-ser∣vice;
and shall from time to time, during the space of ten years, raise, levy, arm, train
and discipline, or cause to de raised, levied, armed, trained and disciplined, any other
Forces for Land and Sea-service, in the Kingdoms, Dominions and places aforesaid,
as in their judgments they shall from time to time during the said space of ten years think
fit to appoint: And that neither the King, His Heirs, or Successors, or any other but
such as shall act by the Authority or approbation of the said Lords and Commons, shall
during the said space of ten years exercise any of the Powers aforesaid.
That Moneys be raised and levied for the maintenance and use of the said Forces for
Land-service, and of the Navy and Forces for Sea-service, in such sort, and by such
ways and means as the said Lords and Commons shall from time to time, during the
said space of ten years, think fit and appoint, and not otherwise.
That all the said Forces both for Land and Sea-service so raised or levied, or to be rai∣sed
or levied, and also the Admiralty and Navy, shall from time to time during the said
space of ten years be imployed, managed, ordered and disposed by the Lords and Com∣mons
in such sort and by such ways and means as they shall think fit and appoint, and
not otherwise.
And the said Lords and Commons, or such as they shall appoint, during the said space
of ten years shall have power,
1. To suppress all Forces raised, or to be raised, without Authority and Consent of
the said Lords and Commons, to the disturbance of the Publick Peace of the Kingdoms
of England and Ireland, Dominion of Wales, the Isles of Gernesey and Jersey, and the
Town of Berwick upon Tweed, or any of them.
2. To suppress any Foreign Forces who shall invade, or endeavour to invade, the
Kingdoms of England and Ireland, Dominion of Wales, the Isles of Gernesey and Jersey,
and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, or any of them.
And after the expiration of the said ten years, neither the King, His Heirs or Suc∣cessors,
or any person or persons by colour or pretence of any Commission, Power, De∣putation,
or Authority to be derived from the King, His Heirs or Successors, or any of
them, shall, without the Consent of the said Lords and Commons, raise, arm, train,
discipline, employ, order, manage, disband, or dispose any the Forces by Sea or Land,
of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, the Dominion of Wales, Isles of Gernesey and
Jersey, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, nor exercise any of the said Powers or
Authorities herein before mentioned, and expressed to be during the space of ten years
in the said Lords and Commons, nor do any act, or any thing concerning the execu∣tion
of the said Powers or Authorities, or any of them, without the Consent of the said
Lords and Commons first had and obtained.
And with the same Provisoes for saving the ordinary Legal Power of Officers of
Justice, not being Military Officers, as is set down in your Propositions.
And with a Declaration, That if any persons shall be gathered and assembled toge∣ther
in a Warlike manner, or otherwise, to the number of thirty persons, and shall not
forthwith disperse themselves, being require thereto by the said Lords and Commons, or