Anno 3 Jac. II. 1688-9.

The Prince of

Orange's Letter to both Houses.

The Speaker's Speech thereupon.

your

My Lords and Gentlemen, I have endeavour'd to the ' utmost of my Power to perform what was defired from Me in order to the public Peace and Safety; and I dò not know that any Thing hath been omitted which might tend to the Prefervation of them, fince the Adminiftration of Affairs was put into my hands. It now lieth upon you to lay the Foundation of a firm Security for Religion, your Laws and your Liberties. I do not doubt, but that by fuch a full and free Reprefentative of the Nation, as is now met, the Ends of my Declaration will be attained: And fince it hath pleas'd God hitherto to bless my good Intentions with fo great Success, I trust in him, that he will complete his own Work, by fending a Spirit of Peace and Union to influence your Counfels, that no Interruption may be given to a happy and lafting

་

• Settlement.

The dangerous Condition of the Proteftants in Ireland requiring a large and fpeedy Succour, and the present State of Things abroad, oblige me to tell you, that next to the Danger of unreasonable Divifions among ourselves, nothing can be fo fatal as too great a Delay in your Confultations. The States, by whom I have been enabled to refcue this Nation, may fuddenly feel the ill Effects of it, both by being too long depriv'd of the Service of their < Troops, which are now here, and of your early Affistance against a powerful Enemy, who hath declared a War against them. And as England is by Treaty already engag'd to help then upon fuch Exigencies, fo I am confident, that their chearful Concurrence to preserve this < Kingdom with fo much Hazard to themselves, will meet with all the Returns of Friendship and Affiftance, which may be expected from you as Proteftants and Englishmen, whenever their Condition will require it. Given at St. James's the 22d Day of January, 1688-9.'

After the reading of this Letter, the Speaker reprefented to that Affembly, The dangerous State of the Nation, and the fatal Confequences of Anarchy; the deplorable Condition of the Proteftants in Ireland, and how much England might be affected by the Lofs of that Kingdom; and more particularly the Growth of the exorbitant Power of France, and the vaft Defigns of that turbulent and aspiring Monarch, not only the Perfecutor of the Proteftant Religion, but likewife the fworn Enemy of England; exciting the Affembly to put the Nation into a Pofture, not only to fecure themselves againft all his Attempts, but alfo to make fuch a powerful Diverfion in the very Bowels of his Dominions, as that they might recover their firft Conqueft of

France,

1688-9.

France, or re-unite the Provinces of Normandy and A- Anno 3Jac. II, quitain to the Imperial Crown of England, which, by an indifputable Right, appertain to it.' This Speech was receiv'd with univerfal Applaufe, and was feconded by feveral Members; who, at the fame Time, under a deep Sense of their past Dangers, and prefent Deliverance, and excited by a Meffage from the Lords, mov'd that a Day of public Thanksgiving to the Almighty fhould be appointed throughout the Kingdom; which was accordingly done, as will be farther remember'd. Then to his Highness they voted the following Addrefs, to which the Lords gave their unanimous Concurrence, and which was prefented to him that very Day in a full Body.'

We the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons The Addrefs of affembled at Weftmiafter, being highly fenfible of the both Houfes great Deliverance of this Kingdom, from Popery and Arbi- to the Prince. trary Power; and that our Prefervation is, next under God, owing to your Highnefs, do return our most humble Thanks and Acknowledgment to your Highnefs, as the glorious Inftrument of fo great a Bleffing. We do farther acknowledge the great Care your Highnels has been pleas'd to take, in the Administration of the public Affairs of the Kingdom, to this Time: And we do most humbly befeech your Highness, that you will take upon you the Adminiftration of public Affairs, both Civil and Military, and the Difpofal of the public Revenue, for the Prefervation of our Religion, Rights, Laws, Liberties, and Properties, and of the Peace of the Nation. And that your Highnefs will take into your particular Care the prefent State of Ireland, and endeavour, by the most speedy and effectual Means, to prevent the Dangers that threaten that Kingdom. Ali which we make our Request to your Highness to undertake and execute, till farther Application fhall be made by Us, which fhall be expedited with all convenient Speed: And we shall alfo ufe our utmost Endeavours to give Difpatch to the Matters recommended to us by your Highness's Letter."

The Prince's Anfwer was as follows:

My Lords and Gentlemen, I am glad, that what I have His Answer. done has pleas'd you; and fince you defire me to continue the Adminiftration of Affairs, I am willing to accept it. I muft recommend to you the Confideration of Affairs abroad, which makes it fit for you to expedite your Bufinefs; not only for making a Settlement at home, upon a good Foundation, but for the Safety of all Europe.'

The fame Day, a Motion was made for printing the Votes ; which, after fome Debate, pafs'd in the Negative. Dd

TOME II.

About

Anno 4 Jac .H. 1688-9.

The King's

Letter to the

mons.

:

About this time, the King, now at St. Germains, directed the following Letter to both Houfes; in which, with great Concern, he told them, That he thought himself oblig'd in Confcience to do all he cou'd to open his People's Eyes, that they might fee the true Intereft of the Nation in this Lords and Com-important Conjuncture: That finding he cou'd no longer ftay with Safety, nor act with Freedom, he had left the Reafons of his withdrawing from Rochester, under his own Hand That understanding that Letter [here repeated at length] was not taken to be his, but was malicioufly fupprefs'd by the Prince of Orange, he wrote to several of his Privy-Council, and directed Copies thereof to divers of them, the Peers of the Realm, believing none durft intercept or open any of his Letters: That of all thefe he had no Account, nor did he wonder that all Arts were used to hinder them from knowing his Sentiments: That he was refolv'd nothing fhou'd be omitted on his Part, that could contribute towards the Redrefs of all former Errors, or prefent Disorders, or add to the fecuring of the Proteftant Religion, or the Property of the Subject; intending to refer the whole to a Parliament legally call'd, freely elected, and held without conftraint: And that none might defpair of his Mercy, he declared on the Word of a King, that his Pardon fhou'd be extended even to thofe that betray'd him, (fome few excepted) refolving in that Parliament, by an Act of Oblivion, to cover all Faults.*

Not receiv'd.

The State of

bated.

This Letter was fent by the Lord Prefton to the House of Commons, and directed to their Speaker: But the Houfe understanding that it came from King James, they did not think fit to take any notice of it, and fo rejected it unopened.

On the 28th, The Houfe being full, they proceeded to the Nation de- the great Confideration of the State and Condition of the Nation; whereupon they refolv'd themfelves into a Committee of the whole Houfe, and Mr. Hampden was put into the Mr. Hampden. Chair. The first that stood up was Mr. Dolben, Son to the

Mr. Dolben.

Sir Richard
Temple.
Sir Robert
Sawyer.

Sir Robert
Howard.

late Archbishop of York, who made a long Speech, to prove That King James's deferting the Kingdom, and his not appointing any Perfon to adminifter the Government in his Abfence, amounted in Reafon and Judgment of Law to a Demife of that Prince: And he concluded with a Motion to the fame Effect; which was feconded by Sir Richard Temple, and fupported by Sir Robert Sawyer. After whom, firft Sir Robert Howard afferted the Vacancy of the Throne, and the Breach of the Original Contract by a continu'd Series of illegal Acts, (many of which he

enlarg'd

1688-9.

enlarg'd upon) throughout the whole Courfe of King Anno 4 Jac. I. James's Reign. His Allegations were maintain'd by Mr. Garraway, Sir Thomas Lee, Mr. Sacheverell, Mr. Pollex

fen, Sir George Treby, and Mr. Sommers. Several of them Mr. Garraway objected against Mr. Dolben's Motion of a Demife, as Sir Thomas not taking in King James's Male-adminiftration, and be- Lee. caufe a Demife infers a Defcent of the Crown to the next Mr.Sacheverell, Hereditary Succeffor; whereas in this Cafe the Throne Mr. Pollexfen, was not defcended, but (as they infifted) Vacant.' Mr. Sir George Finch contradicted the Doctrine of the Vacancy: Treby.

He extoll'd the Courage, Conduct and Magnanimity Mr. Sommersa of the Prince of Orange, who was to be compared to Mr. Finch. those ancient Heroes that were contented with the Glory of freeing, Nations, and deftroying Tyrants, without any particular Defign upon their Crowns. He urg'd farther, That the moft advifable Courfe would be, to come to fuch a Refolution as fhould meet with a moft general Concurrence; and that, in his Opinion, the Establishing a Regency during the Life of King James, would give much greater Satisfaction to the Kingdom, than the Declaring

the Throne to be Vacant. Sir Chriftopher Mufgrave in- Sir Chriftopher fifted, That, to vote the Throne, is Vacant, would be Musgrave. actually to depofe the King; and he defired to know from the Gentlemen of the long Robe, whether that could be

legally done.' And Sir Edward Seymour spoke with great Sir Edward Warmth to the fame Effect.

Seymour.

Towards the Clofe of this grand Debate, the Lord Fan- Lord Fanshaw shaw mov'd that it might be adjourn'd to another Day, in regard of its very great Importance, and of the Mifchief that might be occafion'd by taking too hafty Steps in a Matter of fo much Weight. This not being feconded, the Committee, without dividing, came to the following complicated. Refolution, which, when ratify'd by both Houfes, was perhaps one of the most memorable in all the English Records:

Refolved, That King James the Second, having endea- Their grand vour'd to fubvert the Conftitution of the Kingdom, by Vote of the breaking the Original Contract between King and People; Vacancy of the and by the Advice of Jefuits, and other wicked Perfons, Thron having violated the Fundamental Laws, and withdrawn himself out of the Kingdom, hath Abdicated the Government, and that the Throne is thereby become Vacant.'

This Refolution was the next day reported to the Houfe, and being agreed to, it was fent up to the Lords for their Concurrence. And having thus got over their grand Point, they found others more eafy; and the next Day they fold, That it hath been found by Experience, to be in- Other Votes, confiftent with this Proteftant Kingdom to be govern'd by

• Re

a Popish Prince;' which Refolution was likewife fent up to

Dd 2

the

1688 9.

Anno 4 Jac. II. the Lords for their Concurrence. At the fame time they presented an Addrefs to the Prince of Orange, For the immediate Stopping of all Ships that were going to France. Two days after, Feb. 2. they voted, That the Thanks of the Houfe be given to the Clergy of the Church of England, who had preach'd and written against Popery, and had refus'd to read in the Churches the King's Declaration for Toleration, in oppofition to the pretended_Difpenfing Power claim'd in the late Reign of King James the Second, and had oppos'd the illegal Ecclefiaftical Commiffion. They farther Voted, on the fame day, That the Thanks of the Houfe be given to the Officers, Soldiers and Mariners of the Army and Fleet, for having teftify'd their ready Adherence to the Proteftant Religion, and being inftrumental in delivering this Kingdom from Popery and Slavery; and to all fuch who had appear'd in Arms to that Purpose. These two laft Votes pass'd nemine contradicente, and without the leaft Oppofition.

Debate on the Word abdicate begun.

A Meffage from the Lords to the Commons, by Sir Miles Cook and Mr. Methuin, two Masters in Chancery attending the House of Lords;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have confidered of the Vote of this Houfe of the 28th of January laft, to which they concur with Amendments; and unto which Amendments they defire the Concurrence of this House.

The Amendments made by the Lords to the Votes fent up to them from this House the 28th of January, were read and are as followeth ;

L. 8. Instead of the Word abdicated, read deferted.

L. 9. Leave out thefe Words, And that the Throne is thereby vacant.

Feb. 4. To the firft Amendment propofed by the Lords to be made to the Vote of the Commons, of the 28th of January, instead of the Word abdicated, to infert the Word deferted, the Commons do not agree; becaufe the Word deferted doth not fully exprefs the Conclufion neceffarily inferred from the premiffes, to which your Lordships have agreed; for your Lordships have agreed, That King James the fecond hath endeavoured to fubvert the Constitution of the Kingdom, by breaking the Original Contract between King and People, and hath violated the fundamental Laws, and withdrawn himself out of the Kingdom. Now the Word. deferted refpects only the withdrawing, but the Word abdicated refpects the whole; for which purpofe the Commons made choice of it. The Commons do not agree to the fecond Amendment, to leave out the Words, And that the Throne is thereby vacant.

Firft, Because the conceive, that, as they may well infer from