184 A DRAUGHT OF A PROCLAMATION 



is not accompanied with so much as any strangeness 

 in common speech. And although we never doubted, 

 neither ever heard that any other presumed to doubt, 

 but that the form and tenor of our regal stile and 

 title, and the delineation of the same, did only and 

 wholly of mere right appertain to our supreme and 

 absolute prerogative to express the same in such 

 words or sort, as seemed good to our royal pleasure : 

 yet because we were to have the advice and assent 

 of our parliament concerning other points of the 

 union, we were pleased our said parliament should, 

 amongst the rest, take also the same into their con 

 sideration. But finding by the grave opinion of 

 our judges, who are the interpreters of our laws, 

 that, in case that alteration of stile, which seemed 

 to us but verbal, should be established and enacted 

 by parliament, it might involve, by implication and 

 consequence, not only a more present alteration, but 

 also a further innovation than we any ways intended ; 

 or at least might be subject to some colourable 

 scruple of such a perilous construction : we rested 

 well satisfied to respite the same, as to require it by 

 act of parliament. But being still resolved and 

 fixed that it may conduce towards this happy end 

 of the better uniting of the nations, we have thought 

 good by the advice of our council to take the same 

 upon us by our proclamation, being a course safe 

 and free from any of the perils or scruples aforesaid. 

 And therefore we do by these presents publish, pro 

 claim, and assume to ourselves from henceforth, ac 

 cording to our undoubted right, the stile and title 



