A DECLARATION Of the PARLIAMENT Assembled at Westminster.  
January 23. 1659.  
ORdered by the Parliament, That this Declaration be forthwith Printed and Published.  
THOMAS St NICHOLAS, Clerk of the Parliament.  
LONDON, Printed by John Streater and John Macock, Printers to the Parliament, 1659.   

A DECLARATION Of the PARLIAMENT Assembled at Westminster.  
THe people of England having been necessitated to take up Arms in the just defence of their Laws and Liberties against the late King: And it having pleased God after a long War, and many Battles fought in the Field, so to bless their Armies, and to bring the War to such an issue, that if they were not wanting to themselves, they might reap the fruit of all the Blood and Treasure exhausted in that Quarrel, and not only be restored to their Freedom for the present, but secured against all the like attempts for the future. The Parliament hereupon, as the trusties of the People for the accomplishing of those ends, did Declare and Enact, That the people of England, and of all the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging, should be thenceforth Governed as a Commonwealth and Free State, by the Representatives of the people in Parliament, and that without any King, or House of Lords; Judging this not only to be the undoubted Right of the people, but that the Office of a King in these Nations, or to have the power thereof in any Single person, as also the House of Lords, was burdensome and dangerous to the Safety and Liberty of the people: And by this means the Foundations of a Public Interest being laid in the place of that which was only private and personal, this people might grow up (through the goodness of God) into perfect Freedom, being Governed in the Supreme Power by their own Representatives; and in the Executive Power, by their known Laws and Judicatory; the best measure and Standard of Liberty: their Navigation and Trade encouraged and promoted, which in all Monarchies is stinted and restrained. The true Protestant Religion both at home and abroad owned and countenanced, which under the former Constitution was clogged with vain and Superstitious Ceremonies, and corrupt opinions touching Faith and Worship, imposed upon all, without any regard had to tender Consciences, and the Ministers of the Gospel, and the Professors thereof, with Godliness itself, discountenanced and persecuted.  
To this state of things did the Parliament judge it their Duty to bring this Nation, and the free people thereof, and no man can reasonably doubt, but that long before this time▪ the Parliament (through the same good and gracious presence that had accompanied their Undertake) would have accomplished their Intentions in these things, and settled the Commonwealth upon the Basis and Foundation aforesaid, if they had not been so often interrupted, and thereby prevented hitherto from doing that, which always was and is the utmost desire and intention of their hearts.  
And yet the Parliament cannot but take notice of the Artifices that are used to  their Intentions, and to blemish their Proceed before the people, unjustly charging them with a Design to perpetuate themselves now Sitting, to subject the people to Arbitrary Power, and to Govern them by Force. And as to matters of Religion on one hand, That they are enemies to the Ministry, their Maintenance by Tithes, to the Universities and Learning, and encouragers of Fanatique Principles; on the other hand, That the Parliament is too severe, and of Imposing Principles in matters of Religion; not being ignorant, that those who by these means do industriously labour to dis-affect the people to the Parliament, are such, who by specious pretences would first put out their eyes, that they might not see the way to their own true liberty, and then bring them back again into their old servitude.  
The Parliament therefore, to omit nothing in their power that may undeceive honest and well meaning men, have thought it necessary in this conjuncture of Time and Affairs, to Declare and Manifest (as they do hereby) what their Intentions are, as to the Government of these Nations, with some other particulars relating thereunto; wherein they are Resolved (through the Goodness and Assistance of God) to remain constant and .  
1. That the Parliament will provide forthwith to perfect those beginnings which are already made for settling the Government of these Nations and the People thereof in the way of a Commonwealth and Free-State, without a King, Single Person, or House of Lords, in such manner, that they may be governed from time to time by Representatives in Parliament chosen by themselves, in whom alone the Supreme Authority of these Nations doth and aught to reside, and by such as they shall appoint and Constitute as Officers and Ministers under them for the good of the People; And that the Parliament will make it their Care to form the Army and Forces of these Nations in such manner, that whilst it shall be sound necessary for them or any of them to be kept up for the Safety of the Commonwealth, they may be wholly subject and obedient to the Civil Authority.  
2. There being nothing more essential to the Freedom of a State, then that the people should be governed by the Laws, and that Justice be administered by such only as are accountable for maladministration, It is hereby further Declared, That all proceed touching the Lives, Liberties, and Estates of all the Free People of this Commonwealth, shall be according to the Laws of the Land. And that the Parliament will not meddle with the ordinary administration, or the executive part of the Law: It being the principal care of this, as it hath been of all former Parliaments, to provide for the freedom of the people against arbitrariness in Government.  
3. And that they will make effectual provision for the Countenancing of a Learned and Pious Gospel-Ministry through all the three Nations, and for the encouraging and protecting them in the work of their Ministry against disturbances. And as to their maintenance, that by Tithes shall be continued, it being already established by Law, and is in itself the most certain convenient and comfortable way of maintenance, that in the Judgement of the Parliament can be settled. And therefore they do expect and require, That the Judges, Justices of the Peace, and others whom it concerns, do take care, that the Laws touching the same be put in effectual execution. And for a further increase of maintenance than hath been anciently settled upon preaching Ministers, The Parliament doth Declare, That the Augmentations by the Impropriations of the late King, Bishops, Deans and Chapters, and Delinquents not compounded for, as likewise by Tenths and First-Fruits, shall be continued and settled upon the Preaching Ministry, not to be aliened or altered from that use; and distributed in such manner, as they may be applied to such places as stand in most need, that every place in the Land may have a preaching Minister, who may be able to teach the people the good knowledge of the Lord, and may have a comfortable livelihood and encouragement among them: As also that provision shall be made for due Liberty of Conscience in matters of Religion, according to the Word of God.  
4. The Parliament do Declare, That they will uphold the Public Universities, and Schools of this Land, and not only continue to them the Privileges and Advantages they now Enjoy, but shall be ready to give them such further Countenance as may Encourage them in their Studies, and Promote Godliness, Learning, and Good Manners amongst them.  
5. The Parliament being very sensible of the great Decay of the Trade of these Nations, will apply themselves to such Counsels and Means, as shall be found most proper both for the speedy restoring and increasing thereof; Judging, That there is no one thing in the Affairs of State more important to the Welfare, Strength, and Glory of a Commonwealth, especially of this being an Island, than the Encouragement of Trade and Navigation.  
6. As to the present Burdens which are upon the Nation, The Parliament is very sensible thereof, and of those Extravagant Counsels and Actions which having aged the Nation in so great a Debt and Charge, the guilt whereof will not rest upon them, though the Danger and Burden thereof doth. And it is one of the greatest Cares they have upon them, how to give the People that Ease which their Condition calls for, and also provide for their Safety, and answer the pressing necessities of the State; Which the Parliament hopes in some measure to do in a very short time, in case the unreasonable Dissatisfactions and turbulent Actings of unquiet men do not Continue the Charge longer than otherwise will be necessary.   

Monday, Jan. 23. 1659.  
ORdered by the Parliament, That this Declaration be forthwith Printed and Published.  
Thomas St. Nicholas Clerk of the Parliament.   

London, Printed by John Streater, and John Macock, Printers to the Parliament, 1659.