THE LAWS and ACTS MADE IN THE FIRST PARLIAMENT, Of our moſt High and Dread SOVERAIGN, CHARLES THE SECOND,
By the Grace of GOD, King of Scotland, England, France and Ireland Defender of the Faith. Begun at Edinburgh the firſt of January, 1661.
I.
ACT concerning the Preſident and Oath of Parliament.
Oraſmuch as it hath pleaſed Almighty GOD, to compaſſionat the troubles and confuſions of this Kingdom, by returning the Kings moſt Excellent Majeſty to the exerciſe of that Royal Government, under which, and its excellent conſtitution, this Kingdom hath for many ages injoyed ſo much happineſs, peace and plenty. And it being upon good and important conſiderations, an inviolable practice in this Government, before theſe troubles, that the perſon nominat by His Majeſty, to be His Chancellor within this Kingdom, did of right, and as due to his place, preſide in all Meetings of Parliament; and other publick Judicatories of the Kingdom, where he was preſent tor the time. And His Majeſty now conſidering the great advantages do accreſs to the publick good of His Subjects, by the due obſervance of ſuch ancient and well grounded Cuſtoms and Conſtitutions, and the prejudices that do accompany a change thereof: Therefore His Majeſty, with advice and content of His Eſtates of Parliament, doth Declare, That the preſent Lord Chancellor, and ſuch as hereafter ſhall be nominate by His Majeſty, or His Royal Succeſſors, to ſucceed in that place; and in caſe of their abſence, ſuch as ſhall be nominate by His Majeſty, are by vertue and right of the ſaid office and ſuch nomination reſpictive, to preſide in all meetings of His Majeſties Parliaments or other publick Judicatories of the Kingdom, where they ſhall happen to be preſent, and that they are now and in all time coming to enjoy this priviledge. And in diſcharge of this truſt, they are at the firſt down-ſitting of every Parliament, to adminiſter to all the Members thereof the Oath of Alledgiance, whereof the tenor follows;
I, for teſtification of my faithful obedience to my moſt gracious and redoubted Soveraign, CHARLES King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. Affirm, teſtiſie and declare, by this my ſolemn Oath, That I acknowledge my ſaid Soveraign only ſupream Go-
