7. By burthening the nation with an army to maintain the violation of the rights of the fubjects.

8. By discountenancing the establish⚫ed reformed religion.

9. By forbidding the subjects the be⚫nefit of petitioning, and conftruing them libellers; fo rendering the laws a nose of wax, to ferve their arbitrary ends. • And many more fuch like, too long here

to enumerate.

WE being thus made fadly fenfible of ‹ the arbitrary and tyrannical government, that is, by the influence of jefuitical 'counfels coming upon us, do unanimoufly declare, that not being willing to deliver our pofterity over to fuch a • condition of popery and flavery, as the • aforefaid oppreffions inevitably threaten; we will, to the utmost of our power, oppose the fame, by joining with the " prince of Orange, (whom we hope God Almighty hath fent to rescue us from the oppreffions aforefaid) will use our utmost ⚫ endeavours for the recovery of our almost ' ruined laws, liberties and religion. And herein we hope all good proteftant fubjects will, with their lives and fortunes, 'be affiftant to us, and not be bug-beared with the opprobrious terms of rebels, by which they would fright us, to become perfect flaves to their tyrannical infolencies and ufurpations; for we affure

6 our

our felves, that no rational and unbiass'd perfon will judge it rebellion to defend our laws and religion, which all our princes have fworn at their coronations: which oath, how well it hath been ob<ferved of late, we defire a free parliament may have the confideration of.

"WE own it rebellion, to refift a king ⚫ that governs by law: but he was always ' accounted a tyrant, that made his will the law; and to refift fuch a one, we justly esteem no rebellion, but a neceffary defence. And in this confideration, we doubt not of all honeft mens affiftance; ⚫ and humbly hope for, and implore the great God's protection, that turneth the hearts of his people as pleafeth him beft; < it having been obferved, that people can never be of one mind without his infpiration, which hath in all ages confirmed that obfervation, that vox populi eft vox Dei.

THE present reftoring of charters, and reverfing the oppreffing and unjust judg'ment given on Magdalen-college fellows, is plain, are but to ftill the people, like plumbs to children, by deceiving them for a while; but if they fhall by this stratagem be fooled till this present storm that threatens the Papifts be paft, as 'foon as they fhall be refettled, the former oppreffion will be put on with greater rigour. But we hope, in vain

is the net spread in the fight of the birds.

• For,

5

Ift, THE Papifts old rule is, That <faith is not to be kept with hereticks, as they term Proteftants; though the popish religion is the greatest of heresy. And 2dly, Queen Mary's fo ill obferving 'her promises to the Suffolk men, that helped her to her throne. And above all, 3dly, The Pope's difpenfing with the breach of oaths, treaties, or promises at 'his pleasure, when it makes for the fervice of holy church, as they term it. Thefe, we fay, are fuch convincing reafons to hinder us from giving credit to the aforefaid mock fhews of redrefs; 'that we think our felves bound in con⚫ science to rest on no fecurity that shall

not be approved by a freely elected parliament, to whom, under God, we refer our cause.'

*

lords fpi

Dec. 11, 1688. was prefented to the Declaraprince a declaration of the lords fpiritual tion of the and temporal, affembled at Guild-kal in ritual and London, with their names thereunto fub- temporal. fcribed, viz.

'WE doubt not but the world believes, "that in this great and dangerous conjun&ture, we are heartily and zealously con'cerned for the proteftant religion, the laws of the land, and the liberties and * Fourth collection, p. 23.

pro

properties of the subject. And we did reasonably hope, that the king having iffued his proclamation, and writs for a free parliament, we might have rested fecure under the expectation of that meeting. But his majefty having withdrawn himself, and as we apprehend, in order to his departure out of this kingdom, by the pernicious counfels of perfons ill-affected to our nation and religion; we cannot, without being wanting to our duty, be filent under thofe calamities, wherein the popifb counfels, which so long prevailed, have miferably involved these realms.

• WE do therefore unanimoufly/refolve to apply our felves to his highness the prince of Orange; who, with fo great ⚫ kindness to these kingdoms, fo vaft expence, and fo much hazard to his own perfon, hath undertaken, by endeavouring to procure a free parliament, to refcue us, with as little effufion as poffi'ble of christian blood, from the imminent dangers of popery and slavery. ^l>

AND we do hereby declare, that we will, with our utmost endeavours, affift his highness in the obtaining fuch a parliament, with all speed, wherein our laws, our liberties and properties, may be secured, the church of England in particular, with a due liberty to proteftant Diffenters, and in general the proteftant religion

religion and intereft over the whole world, may be fupported and encouraged, to the glory of God, the happiness of the established government in these kingdoms, and the advantage of all prin'ces and states in christendom, that may 'be herein concerned.

In the mean time, we will endeavour to preserve, as much as in us lies, the peace and fecurity of thefe great and populous cities of London and Westminster, and the parts adjacent, by taking care to 'difarm all Papifts, and fecure all Jefuits and Romish priests, who are in and about 'the fame.

C

AND if there be any more to be performed by us, for promoting his high'nefs's generous intentions for the publick good, we fhall be ready to do it as occafion thall require.'

On the fame day was prefented to his highness the humble addrefs of the lieutenancy of the city of London, as follows:

May it please your Highness,

many

don's ad

WE can never fufficiently exprefs the Lieutenandeep fense we have conceived, and fhall of Lonever retain in our hearts, that your high- dress. 'ness has exposed your perfon to fo dangers both by fea and land, for the prefervation of the proteftant religion, ' and the laws and liberties of this king*Fourth collect. p. 30.

VOL. III.

• dom;