Charles II, 1670: An Act authorizing certaine Commissioners of the Realme of England to treate with Commissioners of Scotland for the Weale of both Kingdomes.

Reasons for passing this Act.

His Majesty may name Commissioners to treat with Commissioners of Scotland concerning a Union between both Realms.; Their Proceedings to be reduced into Writings tripartite, one for the King, one for the Parliament of England, and the Third for the Parliament of Scotland; and thereupon further Proceedings had as King and Parliament may think fit.

Whereas the Kings most Excellent Majestie out of his Princely Zeale and Fatherly Care for the Welfare and Happinesse of his Subjects persisting in the same pious and prudent Resolution of his Royall Grandfather King James of ever blessed memory to endeavour a nearer and more compleate Union between his two Kingdomes of England and Scotland, hath recommended it to the Parlyaments of both Kingdomes that Coo[m]missioners might be nominated to treate and consult concerning this Union To the end that his Majestyes Royall and Gracious Purposes therein may be accomplished, and such a further Union may be treated and agreed upon as may compleate and confirme for ever a constant mutuall Love and Friendshipp betweene the Subjects of both Realmes Bee it enacted by the Kings most excellent Majestie by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and of the Commons in this present Parlyament assembled and by the authoritie of the same That such persons to be nominated by his Majestie under his Great Seale of England, Or such and soe many of them as shall in that behalfe be appointed by his Majestie to be of the Quorum shall by force of this Act have full Power Commission and Authority at such time and times and in such place or places as his Majestie shall please to appoint to assemble and meete, and thereupon to treate and consult according to the Tenoure or Purporte of their Authority or Commission in that behalfe, with certaine Commissioners to be authorized by Authority of the Parlyament of Scotland of and concerning such an Union of the said Realmes of England and Scotland and of and concerning such other matters causes and things whatsoever as upon mature deliberation and consideration the greatest part of the said Commissioners assembled as aforesaid, and the Commissioners authorized or to be authorized by the Parlyament of Scotland according to the Tenoure or Purporte of their Commission in that behalfe shall in their Wisedomes thinke convenient and necessary for the Honour of his Majestie and the weale and common Good of both the said Kingdomes dureing his Majestyes Life (which Almighty God long preserve) and of his Heires and lawfull Successors for ever, Which Commissioners of both the said Realmes shall according to the Tenor or Purporte of their said Authorityes or Commissions in that behalfe, reduce their doeings and proceedings therein into Writeings, or Instruments Tripartite every part to be subscribed and sealed by them, to the end that one part thereof may in all humblenesse be presented to his most Excellent Majestie; Another part thereof to be offered to the consideration of the Parlyament for the Realme of England, and another to be offered to the consideration of the Parlyament for the Realme of Scotland at their next Sessions which shall be held in each Kingdome respectively after such Writeings or Instruments shall be subscribed and sealed by the said Commissioners; that thereupon such further Proceedings may be had as by His Majestie and both the said Parlyaments shall be thought fitt and necessary for the weale and common Good of both the said Kingdomes, to whom the intire Consideration of the whole and the allowing or disallowing thereof, or any part thereof as they shall thinke fitt is wholly reserved.

II. Nothing of force till confirmed by Parliament of England.

[Provided alsoe, and bee it enacted and declared That noe matter or thing to be treated of, agreed or proposed by the said Commissioners by vertue of this Act shall have any force or effect or be put in Execution untill it be confirmed and established by Act of the Parlyament of England. (fn. 1) ]