The
government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the
dominions thereunto belonging.
I. That the
supreme legislative authority of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and
Ireland, and the dominions thereunto belonging, shall be and reside in one
person, and the people assembled in Parliament; the style of which shall be the
Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
II. That
the exercise of the chief magistracy and the administration of the government
over the said countries and dominions, and the people thereof, shall be in the
Lord Protector, assisted with a council, the number whereof shall not exceed
twenty-one, nor be less than thirteen.
III. That all writs, processes, commissions,
patents, grants, and other things, which now run in the name and style of the
keepers of the liberty of England by authority of Parliament, shall run in the
name and style of the Lord Protector, from whom, for the future, shall be
derived all magistracy and honours in these three nations; and have the power of pardons (except in the case of
murders and treason) and benefit all forfeitures for the public use; and shall
govern the said countries and dominions in all things by the advice of the
council, and according to these presents and the laws.
IV. That
the Lord Protector, the Parliament sitting, shall dispose and order the militia
and forces, both by sea and land, for the peace and good of the three nations,
by consent of Parliament; and the Lord Protector, with the advice and consent
of the major part of the council, shall dispose and order the militia for the
ends aforesaid in the intervals of Parliament.
V. That the
Lord Protector, by the advice aforesaid, shall direct in all things concerning
the keeping and holding of good correspondency with foreign kings, princes, and
states; and also, with the consent of the major part of the council, have the
power of war and peace.
The
Instruments of Government (December 16, 1653)[1]
[1] “The Instruments of Government” in Samuel Rawson Gardiner, ed., The
Constitutional Documents of the Puritan Revolution 1628-1660 (Oxford:
Clarendon Press, 1889 [Franklin Classics
Reprint]), p. 314.
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