1702: 1 Anne c.8: An Act for Enabling Her Majesty to Appoint Commissioners to Treat for an Union between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland.

WHEREAS the Parliament of Scotland did in the Reign of their late Majesties King William and Queen Mary, shew Their Desire of an Union between the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, and in Order thereunto did Pass an Act, Nominating Commissioners to Treat concerning the Union of the Two Kingdoms. And whereas the Queens most Excellent Majesty, out of her Princely Zeal and Care for the Welfare and Happiness of her Subjects, is desirous of a nearer and more Complete Union between Her Two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, and hath Recommended to Her Parliament of England, from the Throne, to Consider of Proper Methods for Obtaining the same: To the end therefore that her Majesties Royal and Gracious Purposes may be Accomplished, and such a farther Union may be Treated and Agreed upon, as may Complete and Confirm for ever a Constant Mutual Love and Friendship between the Subjects of both Realms; Be it enacted by the Queens most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and of the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That such Persons as shall be Nominated by Her Majesty, under Her Great Seal of England, or such and so many of them, as shall in that behalf be Appointed, by Her Majesty to be of the Quorum, shall, by Force of this Act, have full Power, Commission and Authority, at such time and times, and in such Place or Places, as Her Majesty shall Please to Appoint, to Assemble and Meet, and thereupon to Treat and Consult, according to the Tenor or Purport of their Authority or Commission in that behalf, with certain Commissioners as shall be Authorised by Authority of the Parliament of Scotland, of and concerning such an Union of the said Realms of England and Scotland, and of and concerning such other Matters, Clauses and Things whatsoever, as upon Mature Deliberation and Consideration of the greatest part of the said Commissioners Assembled, as aforesaid, and the Commissioners to be Authorised by the Parliament of Scotland, according to the Tenor or Purport of their Commission in that behalf, shall in their Wisdoms think Convenient and Necessary, for the Honour of Her Majesty, and the Weal and Common Good of both the said kingdoms for ever; Which Commissioners of both the said Kingdoms shall, according to the Tenor or Purport of their said Authorities or Commissions in that behalf, reduce their Doings and Proceedings therein into Writings or Instruments Quadrupartite, every part to be Subscribed and Sealed by them: To the end that one part thereof may, in all Humbleness, be presented to the Queens most Excellent Majesty, Two other Parts thereof to be Offered to the Consideration of the Parliament for the Realm of England, and another part to be Offered to the Consideration of the Parliament for the Realm of Scotland, at their next Sessions, which shall be held in each Kingdom respectively, after such Writings or Instruments shall be Subscribed and Sealed by the said Commissioners: That thereupon such further Proceedings may be had, as by Her Majesty and both the said Parliaments shall be thought fit and necessary, for the Weal and Common Good of both the said Kingdoms; to whom the entire Consideration of the whole, and the Allowing or Disallowing the whole, or any part thereof, as they shall think fit, is wholly referred.

II. Provided also, and be it enacted and Declared, That no Matter or Thing to be Treated of, Agreed or Proposed by the said Commissioners, by Virtue of this Act, shall have any Force or effect to be put in Execution, until it be Confirmed and Established by Act of Parliament of England.

Source: Ruffhead, Statutes at Large, volume 9.

Note: The regnal follows the Statutes of the Realm. The Statutes at Large has it as 1 Anne Session 1 c.14.

See also: 1706: 5 Anne c.8: Union with Scotland Act.