109. ACT ESTABLISHING THE COMMONWEALTH (1649)

An act declaring and constituting the people of England to be a commonwealth and free state. Be it declared and enacted by this present parliament and by the authority of the same that the people of England, and of all the dominions and territories thereunto belonging, are and shall be, and are hereby constituted, made, estabhshedi and confirmed, to be a commonwealth and free state, and shall from henceforth be governed as a commonwealth and free state by the supreme authority of this nation — the representatives of the people in parliament, and by such as they shall appoint and constitute as officers and ministers under them for the good of the people, and that without any king or house of lords.

Ibid., II, 122.