Principles of western civilisation

486 WESTERN CIVILISATION Cn

have any hand or voice in, such elections who hath adhered unto or assisted the King against the Parliament in any of the late wars or insurrections, or who shall make or join in, or abet, any forcible opposition against this Agreement. 2. That such persons, and such only, may be elected to be of the Representative, who, by the rule aforesaid, are to have voice in elections in one place or other. Provided, that of those none shall be eligible for the first or second Representative who have not voluntarily assisted the Parliament against the King, either in person before the 14th of June 1645, or else in money, plate, horse, or arms, lent upon the Propositions, before the end of May 1643; or who have joined in, or abetted the treasonable engagement in London in 1647; or who declared or engaged themselves for a cessation of arms with the Scots that invaded this nation the last summer; or for compliance with the actors in any insurrections of the same summer; or with the Prince of Wales, or his accomplices, in the revolted fleet. Provided also, that such persons as, by the rules in the preceding Article, are not capable of electing until the end of seven years, shall not be capable to be elected until the end of fourteen years next ensuing. And we desire and recommend it to all men, that, in all times the persons to be chosen for this great trust may be men of courage, fearing God, and hating covetousness; and that our Representatives would make the best provisions for that end. 3. That whoever, by the rules in the two preceding Articles, are incapable of electing, or to be elected, shall presume to vote in, or be present at, such election for the first or second Representative; or, being elected, shall presume to sit or yote in either of the said Representatives, shall incur the pain of confiscation of the moiety of his estate, to the use of the public, in case he have any visible estate to the value of £50, and if he has not such an estate, then shall incur the pain of imprisonment for three months. And if any person shall forcibly oppose, molest, or hinder the people capable of electing as aforesaid, in their quiet and free election of representers, for the first Representative, then each person so offending shall incur the penalty or confiscation of his whole estate, both real and personal ; and, if he has not an estate to the value of 450, shall suffer imprisonment during one whole year without bail or mainprize. Provided, that the offender in each such case be conyicted within three months next after the committing of his offence, and the first Representative is to make further provision for the avoiding of these evils in future elections. 4. That to the end all officers of state may be certainly accountable, and no faction