January 1649: An Act prohibiting the proclaiming any person to be King England or Ireland, or the Dominions thereof.

January, 1649

[30 January, 1648/9]

None to Proclaim Ch. Stuart or any other person, King,; without the free consent of the people in Parliament,

Whereas Charls Stuart King of England, being for the notorious Treasons, Tyrannies and Murthers committed by him in the late Unnatural and Cruel Wars condemned to death; Whereupon, after Execution of the same, several Pretences may be made, and Title set on foot unto the Kingly Office, to the apparent hazard of the Publique Peace: for prevention thereof, Be it Enacted and Ordained by this present Parliament, and by Authority of the same, That no person or persons whatsoever do presume to Proclaim, Declare, Publish, or any way promote Charls Stuart, Son of the said Charls, commonly called, The Prince of Wales, or any other person to be King, or Chief Magistrate of England, or of Ireland, or of any the Dominions belonging to them, or either of them, by colour of Inheritance, Succession, Election, or any other Claim whatsoever, without the free consent of the People in Parliament first had, and signified by a particular Act or Ordinance for that purpose, Any Statute, Law, Usage or Custom to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding.

on penalty of being judged a Traitor.

And be it further Enacted and Ordained, and it is hereby Enacted and Ordained, That whosoever shall contrary to this Act, Proclaim Declare, Publish, or any way promote the said Charls Stuart, the Son. or any other person to be King, or Chief Magistrate of England or of Ireland, or of any the Dominions belonging to them, or to either of them, without the said consent in Parliament signified as aforesaid, shall be deemed and adjudged a Traitor to the Commonwealth, and shall suffer pains of Death, and such other punishments as belong to the Crime of High Treason. And all Officers, as well Civil as Military, and all other well-affected persons, are hereby authorized and required forthwith to apprehend all such Offenders, and to bring them in safe Custody to the next Justice of the Peace, that they may be proceeded against accordingly.