180. A Memorial from the Church of England to the Prince of Orange The encroachments of James upon the religious liberties of the people at last made the situation one impossible of continuance. There seemed to be no remedy but the second deposition of a Stuart. In this crisis, the people turned their gaze to the Prince of Orange, the one Protestant who had any claim of succession, though this claim was only by marriage. The clergy were especially solicitous that he should come to the aid of the Protestant faith, and to this end sent him the following earnest appeal for countenance and protection. Your Royal Highness cannot be ignorant that the Protestants of England, who continue true to their religion and government established by law, have been many ways troubled and vexed by restless contrivances and designs of Papists, under pretence of the royal authority, and things required of them unaccountable before God and man: Ecclesiastical benefits and preferments taken from them, without any other reason but the King's pleasure: That they have been summoned and sentenced by ecclesiastical commissioners, contrary to law, deprived of their birth-right in the free choice of their magistrates and representatives; divers corporations dissolved, the legal security of our religion and liberty, established and ratified by King and Parliament, annulled and overthrown by a pretended dispensing power: New and unheard-of maxims have been preached, as if subjects had no right but what depends on the King's will and pleasure; The militia put into the hands of persons not qualified by law, and a popish mercenary army maintained in the kingdom in time of peace, absolutely contrary to the law; the execution of the law against several high crimes and misdemeanors superseded and prohibited: The statutes against correspondence with the court of Rome, papal jurisdiction, and popish priests, suspended: That in courts of justice, those judges are displaced, who dare acquit them whom the King would have condemned; as happened to the judges Powel and Holloway, for acquitting the seven bishops: Liberty of chusing members of Parliament (notwithstanding all the care taken, and provision made by law on that behalf) wholly taken away, by Quo Warrantos served against corporations and the three known questions: All things carried on in open view for the propagation and growth of Popery, for which the courts of England and France have so long jointly laboured, with so much application and earnestness: Endeavours to persuade your Royal Highnesses to liberty of conscience, and abrogating the penal laws and tests; wherein they fell short of their aim. That they most humbly implore the protection of your Royal Highnesses, as to the suspending and encroachments made upon law, for maintenance of the Protestant religion, our civil and fundamental rights and privileges: And that your Royal Highnesses would be pleased to insist, that the free Parliament of England, according to law, may be restored; the laws against Papists, priests, papal jurisdiction, etc. put in execution, and the suspending and dispensing power declared null and void; the rights and privileges of the City of London, the free choice of their magistrates, and the liberties as well of that as of other corporations restored, and all things returned to their ancient channel, etc. (Kennett, ed. cit., III, 517.) 181. The Prince of Orange Reorganizes the Government (Dec. 23, 1688) After the flight of James, England was without a legal government. The Prince of Orange, after due invitation, proceeded to organize the administration. His first act was to provide for the calling of a Parliament, which he did in the following document. Whereas the necessity of affairs does require speedy advice; We do desire all such persons as have served as knights, citizens or burgesses, in any of the Parliaments that were held during the reign of the late K. Charles II. to meet Us at St. James's, on Wednesday the 26th of this instant December, by ten of the clock in the morning. And We do likewise desire, that the Lord-Mayor and Court of Aldermen of the City of London would be present at the same time: And that the Common-Council would appoint fifty of their number to be there likewise. And hereof we desire 'em not to fail. Given at St. James's, the 23d of December, 1688. W. H. Prince of Orange. (Kennett, ed. cit., III, 538.) 182. The Lords Invite William to Undertake the Government The first step toward the foundation of a free Parliament was taken when the Prince of Orange summoned the Commons to confer with him (No. 181). The next step was taken by the Lords. They met at Westminster on Dec. 25, 1688, and formally invited William to undertake the government of England until the first meeting of Parliament. We, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, assembled in this conjuncture, do desire your Highness to take upon you the administration of the public affairs, both civil and military, and the disposal of the public revenue, for the preservation of our religion, rights, laws, liberties, and properties, and of the peace of the nation: And that your Highness will take into your particular care, the present condition of Ireland; and endeavor, by the most effectual means, to prevent the dangers threatening that kingdom. All which, we make our request to your Highness to undertake and exercise, till the meeting of the intended convention, the 22d of January next. In which, we doubt not, such proper methods will be taken, as will conduce to the establishment of these things upon such sure and legal foundations, that they may not be in danger of being again subverted. Dated at the House of Lords, Westm. Dec. 25th, 1688. (Kennett, ed. cit., III, 539.) 183. The Manner of Summoning Parliament On Christmas Day, 1688, the Lords at Westminster drew up a second address containing suggestions as to the method for summoning and electing members of the Parliament to be held on the 22d of January, 1689. We, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, assembled at Westminster in this extraordinary conjuncture, do humbly desire your Highness to cause letters to be written, subscribed by yourself, to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal (being Protestants;) and to the several counties, universities, cities, boroughs, and cinque-ports of England, Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Twede. The letters for the counties, to be directed to the coroners of the respective counties or any one of them; and in default of the coroners, to the clerk of the Peace, of the respective counties: And the letters for the universities, to be directed to every Vice-Chancellor: And the letters to the several cities, boroughs, and cinque-ports, to be directed to the chief magistrate of each respective city, borough, and cinque-port; containing directions for the choosing, in all such counties, cities, universities, boroughs, and cinque-ports, within ten days after the receipt of the respective letters, such a number of persons to represent them, as are of right to be sent to Parliament: Of which elections, and the times and places thereof, the respective officers shall give notice, within the space of five days at the least. Notice of the intended elections for the counties, to be published in the churches, immediately after the time of divine service; and in all market-towns within the respective counties: And notice of the intended elections for the cities, universities, boroughs, and cinque-ports, to be published within the said respective places. The said letters, and the execution thereof, to be returned, by such officer and officers who shall execute the same, to the Clerk of the Crown in the Court of Chancery; so as the persons so to be chosen, may meet and sit at Westminster, on the two and twentieth day of January next. Dated at the House of Lords, Westm. Dec. 25, 1688. (Kennett, ed. cit., III, 539.) 184. Answer of the Prince to the Suggestions of the Lords (Dec. 28, 1688) In a brief but comprehensive address the Prince assured the Lords that he favourably regarded their suggestions concerning the method of calling Parliament together. I have considered of your advice; and, as far as I am able, I will endeavour to secure the peace of the nation, until the meeting of the convention in January next; for the election thereof, I will forthwith issue out letters, according to your desire. I will also take care to apply the public revenue to the most proper uses that the present affairs require: And likewise endeavour to put Ireland into such a condition, as that the Protestant religion, and the English interests, may be maintained in that Kingdom. And I further assure you, That as I came hither for the preservation of the Protestant |