Sophia Naturalization Act 1705

AN Act for the Naturalization of the Most Excellent Princess Sophia, Electress and Duchess Dowager of Hanover, and the Issue of her Body.

WHEREAS the Imperial Crown and Dignity of the Realms of England, France and Ireland, and the Dominions thereuno belonging, after the Demise and Death of your Majesty, our most gracious Sovereign, without Issue of your Body, is limited by Act of Parliament, to the most Excellent Princess Sophia, Electress and Duchess Dowager of Hanover, Granddaughter of the late King Janes the First, and the Heirs of her Body, being Protestants: And whereas your Majesty by your Royal Care and Concern for the Happiness of these Kingdoms, reigns in the Hearts and Affections of all your People, to their great Comfort and Satisfaction, and will be a glorious Example to your Royal Successors in future Ages: And to the end the said Princess Sophia, Electress and Duchess Dowager of Hanover, and the Issue of her Body, and all Persons lineally descending from her, may be encouraged to become acquainted with the Laws and Constitutions of this Realm, it is just and highly reasonable that they, in your Majesty's Life Time (whom God long preserve) should be naturalized, and be deemed, taken, and esteemed natural born Subjects of England: We your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Lords Spiritual, Temporal, and Commons, in Parliament assembled, do most humbly beseech your Majesty that it may be enacted; and therefore be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same. That the said Princess Sophia, Electress and Duchess Dowager of Hanover, and the Issue of her Body and all Persons lineally descended from her, born or hereafter to be born, be and shall be, to all Intents and Purposes whatsoever, deemed, taken and esteemed natural born Subjects of this Kingdom, as if the said Princess and the Issue of her Body, and all Persons lineally descending from her, born or hereafter to be born, had been born within this Realm of England; any Law, Statute, Matter, or Thing whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding.

II. Provided always, and be it further enacted and declared by the Authority aforesaid, That every Person and Persons, who shall be naturalized by virtue of this Act of Parliament, and shall become a Papist, or profess the Popish Religion, shall not enjoy any Benefit or Advantage of a natural born Subject of England; but every such Person shall be adjudged and taken as an Alien, born out of the Allegiance of the Queen of England, to all Intents and Purposes whatsoever; any Thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.