PROT RELIGION AND LIBERTY IE MAINTIENDRAY   blazon or coat of arms THE DECLARATION OF HIS HIGHNESS WILLIAM HENRY, By the Grace of God PRINCE OF ORANGE, etc.  
Of the reasons inducing him, To Appear in Arms in the Kingdom of England, for Preserving of the Protestant Religion, and for Restoring the Laws and Liberties of ENGLAND, SCOTLAND and IRELAND.  
IT is both certain, and Evident to all men, that the Public Peace and Happiness of any State or Kingdom, can not be preserved, where the Laws, Liberties, and Customs established, by the Lawful authority in it, are openly Transgressed and Annulled: More especially where the alteration of Religion is endeavoured, and that a Religion which is contrary to Law is endeavoured to be introduced: Upon which those who are most Immediately Concerned in it, are Indispensably bound, to endeavour to Preserve and maintain the established Laws Liberties and Customs: and above all the Religion and worship of God, that is Established among them: And to take such an effectual care, that the Inhabitants of the said State or Kingdom, may neither be deprived of their Religion, nor of their Civil Rights. Which is so much the more Necessary because the Greatness and Security both of Kings, Royal families, and of all such as are in Authority, as well as the Happiness of their Subjects and People, depend, in a most especial manner, upon the exact observation, and maintenance of these their Law's Liberties, and Customs.  
Upon these grounds it is, that we cannot any longer forbear, to Declare that to our great regret, we see that those Counsellors, who have now the chief credit with the King, have overturned the Religion, Laws, and Liberties of those Realms: and subjected them in all things relating to their Consciences, Liberties, and Properties, to Arbitrary Government: and that not only by secret and Indirect ways, but in an open and undisguised manner.  
Those Evil Counsellors for the advancing and colouring this, with some plausible pretexts, did Invent and set on foot, the King's Dispencing power, by virtue of which, they pretend that according to Law, he can Suspend and Dispense with the Execution of the Laws, that have been enacted by the Authority, of the King and Parliament, for the security and happiness of the Subject, and so have rendered those Laws of no effect: Tho there is nothing more certain, then that as no Laws can be made, but by the joint concurrence of King and Parliament, so likewise laws so enacted, which secure the Public peace, and safety of the Nation, and the lives and liberties of every subject in it, can not be repealed or suspended but by the same authority.  
For though the King may pardon the punishment, that a Transgressor has incurred, and to which he is condemned, as in the cases of Treason or Felony; yet it cannot be with any colour of reason, Inferred from thence, that the King can entirely suspend the execution of those Laws, relating to Treason or Felony: Unless it is pretended, that he is clothed with a Despotic and Arbitrary power, and that the Lives, Liberties, Honours and Estates of the Subjects, depend wholly on his good will and Pleasure, and are entirely subject to him; which must infallibly follow, on the Kings having a power to suspend the execution of the Laws, and to dispense with them.  
Those Evil Counsellors, in order to the giving some credit to this strange and execrable Maxim, have so conducted the matter, that they have obtained a Sentence from the Judges, declaring that this Dispencing power, is a Right belonging to the Crown; as if it were in the power of the twelve Judges, to offer up the Laws, Rights, and Liberties, of the whole Nation, to the King, to be disposed of by him Arbitrarily and at his Pleasure and expressly contrary to Laws enacted, for the security of the Subjects. In order to the obtaining this Judgement, those Evil Counsellors did before hand, examine secretly, the Opinion of the Judges, and procured such of them, as could not in Conscience concur in so pernicious a Sentence, to be turned out, and others to be substituted in their Rooms till by the changes which were made, in the Courts of Judicature, they at last obtained that Judgement. And they have raised some to those Trusts, who make open Profession of the Popish Religion, though those are by Law Rendered Incapable all such Employments.  
It is also Manifest and Notorious, that as his Majesty was, upon his coming to the Crown, received and acknowledged by all the subjects of England, Scotland, and Ireland, as their King without the least opposition, though he made then open profession, of the Popish Religion so he did then Promise, and Solemnly Swear, at his Coronation, that he would maintain his subjects, in the free enjoyment of their Laws, and Liberties, and in particular, that he would maintain the Church of England as it was established by Law: It is likewise certain, that there have been at divers and sundry times, several Laws enacted for the preservation of those Rights, and Liberties, and of the Protestant Religion: and among other Securities, it has been enacted that all Persons whatsoever, that are advanced to any Ecclesiastical Dignity, or to bear Office in either University, as likewise all other, that should be put in any Employment, Civil or Military, should declare that they were not Papists, but were of the Protestant Religion, and that, by their taking of the Oaths of Allegange, and Supreamacy and the Test, yet these Evil Counsellors have in effect annulled and abolished all those Laws, both with relation to Ecclesiastical and Civil Employments.  
In order to Ecclesiastical Dignities and Offices they have not only without any colour of Law, but against most express Laws to the contrary, set up a Commission, of a certain Number of persons, to whom they have committed the cognisance and direction of all Ecclesiastical matters: in the which Commission there has been and still is, one of His Majesty's Ministers of State, who makes now public profession of the Popish Religion, and who at the time of his first professing it, declared that for a great while before, he had believed that to be the only true Religion. By all this, the deplorable State to which the Protestant Religion is reduced is Apparent, since the Affairs of the Church of England, are now put into the hands of Persons, who have accepted of a Commission that is manifesty Illegal; and who have executed it contrary to all Law; and that now one of their chief Members has abjured the Protestant Religion and declared himself a Papist; by which he is become Incapable of holding any Public Employment: The said Commissioners have hitherto given such proof, of their submission to the directions given them, that there is no reason to doubt, but they will still continue to promote all such designs as will be most agreeable to them. And those Evil Counsellors take care, ta raise none to any Ecclesiastical dignities, but persons that have no zeal for the Protestant Religion, and that now hid their unconcernednes for it, under the specious pretence of Moderation. The said Commissioners have suspended the Bishop of London, only because he refused to obey an order, that was sent him to suspend à Worthy Divine, without so much as citing him before him, to make his own Defence, or observing the common forms of Process. They have turned out a Precedent, chosen by the fellows of Magdalen College, and afterwards all the Fellows of that College, without so much as citing them before any Court that could take legal cognissance of that affair; or obtaining any Sentence against them by a Competent Judge. And the only reason, that was given, for turning them out, was their refusing to choose for their Precedent; a Person that was recommended to them, by the Instigation of those Evil Counsellors. Tho the right of a free Election belonged undoubredly to them. But they were turned out of their freeholds, contrary to Law, and to that express provision in the Magna Charta; that no man shall lose life or Goods, but by the Law of the land. And now these Evil Counsellors have put the said College wholly into the hands of Popists, though as is abovesaid, they are Incapable, of all such Employments, both by the Law of the Land, and the statutes of the College. These Commissioners have also cited before them all the Chancellors and Archdeacon's of England, requiring them to certify to them the names, of all such Clergymen, as have read the King's declaration for Liberty of Conscience, and of such as have not read it: without considering that the reading of it, was not enjoined the Clergy, by the Bishops, who are their Ordinaries. The Illegality and Incompetency of the said Court of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, was so notoriously known, and it did so Evidently appear, that it tended to the Subversion of the Protestant Religion, that the Most Reverend Father in God, William Archbishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitan of all England, seeing that it was raised for no other end, but to oppress such persons as were of Eminent Virtue, Learning, and Piety, refused to sit or to concur in it.  
And though there are many express Laws against all Churches or chapels, for the exercise of the Popish Religion, and also against all Monasteries and Convents, and more particularly against the order of the Jesuits, yet those Evil Counsellors have Procured orders for the building of several Churches und Chapels, for the Exercise of that Religion: They have also procuted divers Monasteries to be Erected, and in contempt of the Law they have not only set up several Colleges of Jesuits, in divers places, for the corrupting of the youth, but have raised up one of the Order, to be a Privy Counsellor and a Minister of State. By all which they do evidently show, that they are restrained by no rules or Law whatsoever; but that they have subjected the Honours and Estates of the subjects, and the Established Religion, to a Despotic power and to Arbitrary Government: In all which they are served and seconded by those Ecclesiastical Commissioners.  
They have also followed the same methods with Relation to Civil affairs: For they have procured Orders, to examine all Lords Lieutenants, Deputy Lieutenants, Sheriffs, Justices of Peace, and all others that were in any Public Employment, if they would concur with The King in the Repeal of the Test and Penal Laws: and all such, whose Consciences did not suffer them, to comply with their designs, were turned out; and others were put in their places, who they believed would be more Compliant to them; in their Designs of defeating the Intent and Execution of those Laws; which had been made with so much care and caution, for the Security of the Protestant Religion. And in many of these places they have put professed Papists, though the Law has disabled them, and warranted the subjects not to have any regard to their Orders.  
They have also invaded the Privileges, and seized on the Charters of most of those Towns that have a right to be represented by their Burgesses in Parliament: and have procured surrenders to be made of them, by which the Magistrates in them have delivered up all their Rights, and Privileges, to be disposed of, at the pleasure of those Evil Counsellors: who have thereupon, placed new Magistrates in those Towns, such as they can most entirely confide in: and in many of them, they have put Popish Magistrates, notwithstanding the Incapacities under which the Law has put them.  
And whereas no Nation what soever can subsist without the administration of good and impartial Justice, upon which men's Lives, Liberties, Honours, and Estates, do depend; those Evil Counsellors have subjected these to an Arbitrary and Despotic power: In the most important affairs, they have studied to discover before hand, the Opinions of the Judges; and have turned out such, as they found would not conform themselves to their intentions: and have put others in their places, of whom they were more assured, without having any regard to their abilities. And they have not stuck to raise even professed Papists, to the Courts of Judicature, notwithstanding their Incapacity by Law, and that no Regard is due to any Sentences flowing from them. They have carried this so far, as to deprive such Judges, who in the common administration of Justice, shown that they were governed by their Consciences, and not by the directions, which the others gave them. By which it is apparent that they design to render themselves the absolute Masters of the Lives, Honours and Estates of the subjects, of what rank or dignity soever they may be: and that without having any regard either to the equity of the cause, or to the Consciences of the Judges, whom they will have to submit in all things, to their own will, and pleasure: hoping by such ways, to Intimidate those who are yet in Employment, as also such others, as they shall think fit, to put in the Rooms of those whom they have turned out; and to make them see, what they must look for, if they should at any time act in the least contrary to their good liking and that no failings of that kind, are pardoned, in any persons whatsoever. A great deal of blood has been shed in many places of the Kingdom, by Judges governed by those Evil Counsellors, against all the rules and forms of Law; without so much as suffering the persons that were accused, to Plead in their own Defence.  
They have also, by putting the administration of justice, in the hands of Papists, brought all the matters of Civil Justice into great uncertainties: with how much exactness and Justice soever that these Sentences may have been given. For since the Laws of the Land do not only exclude Papists from all places of Judicature, but have put them under an Incapacity, none are bound to acknowledge or to obey their Judgements, and all Sentences given by them, are null and void of themselves: so that all persons who have been cast, in Trials before such Popish Judges, may justly look on their Pretended Sentences, as having no more force, than the Sentences of any private and unauthorised person whatsoever. So deplorable is the case of the Subjects, who are obliged to answer to such Judges, that must in all things stick to the rules, which are set them by those Evil Counsellors, who as they raised them up to those Employments, so can turn them out of them at pleasure; and who can never be esteemed Lawful Judges; so that all their Sentences are in the Construction of the law, of no Force and Efficacy. They have likewise disposed of all Military Employments, in the same manner: For though the Laws have not only Excluded Papists, from all such Employments, but have in particular, Provided that they should be Disarmed; yet they in Contempt of these Laws, have not only armed the Papists, but have likewise raised them up to the greatest Military Trusts, both by Sea and Land, and that Strangers as well as Natives, and Irish as well as English, that so by those means, having rendered themselves Masters both of the affairs of the Church, of the Government of the Nation, and of the course of Justice, and subjected them all to a Despotic and Arbitrary power, they might be in a Capacity to maintain and Execute their wicked designs, by the assistance of the Army, and thereby to enslave the Nation.  
The dismal effects of this subversion of the established Religion, Laws and Liberties in England appear more evidently to us, by what we see done in Ireland: Where the whole Government is put in the hands of Papists, and where all the Protestant Inhabitants are under the daily fears of what may be justly apprehended, from the Arbitrary power which is set up there: which has made great numbers of them, leave that Kingdom and abandon their Estates in it, remembering well that Cruel and Bloody Massacre which fell out in that Island in the year 1641.  
Those Evil Counsellors have also prevailed with the King to declare in Scotland that he is clothed with Absolute power, and that all the subjects are bound to obey him without Reserve: upon which he has assumed an Arbitrary power, both over the Religion and Laws of that Kingdom, from all which it is Apparent, what is to be looked for in England, as soon as matters are duly prepared for it.  
Those great and insufferable Oppressions, and the open Contempt of all Law, together with the apprehensions of the sad Consequences that must certainly follow upon it, have put the subjects under great and just fears; and have made them look after such lawful Remedies as are allowed of in all Nations: yet all has been without effect. And those Evil Counsellors have endeavoured to make all men apprehend, the loss of their Lives, Liberties, Honours, and Estates, if they should go about to preserve themselves from this Oppression, by Petitions, Representations, or other means authorised by Law. Thus did they proceed with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the other Bishops, who having offered a most humble petition to the King, in terms full of Respect, and not exceeding the number limited by Law, in which they set forth in short, the Reasons, for which they could not obey that order, which by the Instigation of those Evil Counsellors, was sent them, requiring them to appoint their Clergy to read in their Churches the Declaration for Liberty of Conscience; were sent to prison and afterwards brought to a Trial, as if they had been guilty of some enormous Crime. They were not only obliged, to defend themselves in that pursuit, but to appear before Professed Papists, who had not taken the Test and by Consequence were men whose interest led them to condemn them: and the Judges that gave their opinion in their favours were thereupon turned out.  
And yet it can not be pretended, that any Kings; how great soever their power has been, and how Arbitrary and Despotic soever, they have been in the exercise of it, have ever reckoned it a crime for their Subjects to come, in all Submission and Respect, and in a due number, not exceeding the limits of the Law, and represent to them the Reasons that made it impossible for them to obey their orders. Those Evil Counsellors have also treated a Peer of the Realm, as a Criminal, only because he said that the subjects were not bound to obey the orders of a Popish Justice of Peace: though it is Evident, that they being by Law rendered incapable of all such trusts, no regard is due to their orders. This being the security which the people have by the Law for their Lives, Liberties, Honours and Estates, that they are not to be subjected to the Arbitrary proceedings of Papists, that are contrary to Law, put into any Employments Ciuîll or Military.  
Both We ourselves, and our Dearest and most Entirely Beloved Consort, the Princess, have endeavoured to signify in terms full of respect, to the King the just and deep Regret which all these Proceed have given us; and in Compliance with his Majesty's desires signified to us, We Declared both by word of mouth, to his Envoy, and in writing; what our Thoughts were touching the Repealing of the Test and Penal Laws; which we did in such a manner, that we hoped we had proposed an Expedient, by which the Peace of those Kingdoms, and a happy aggreement among the Subjects, of all Persuasions, might have been settled: but those Evil Counsellors, have put such ill Constructions on these our good Intentions, that they have endeavoured to alienate the King more and more from us: as if We had designed, to Disturb the quiet and Happiness of the Kingdom.  
The last and great Remedy for all those Evils, Is the Calling of a Parliament, for securing the Nation, against the evil practices of those wicked Counsellors: but this could not be yet compassed, nor can it be easily brought about. For those men apprehending that a lawful Parliament, being once assembled, they would be brought to an account, for all their open violations of Law, and for their Plots and Conspiracies against the Protestant Religion, and the Lives and Liberties of the Subjects, they have endeavoured under the specious Pretence of Liberty of Conscience; first to Sow divisions among Protestants, between those of the Church of England and the Dissenters: The design being laid to engage Protestants; that are all equally Concerned, to pteserve themselves from Popish Oppression; into mutual quarrelings; that so by these, some advantages might be given to them to bring about their Designs; and that both in the Election of the Members of Parliament, and afterwards in the Parliament itself. For they see well that if all Protestants, could enter into a mutual Good Understanding, one with another, and Concur together, in the Preserving of their Religion, it would not be possible for them to compass their wicked ends. They have also required all Persons in the several Counties of England, that either were in any Employment, or were in any Considerable Esteem, to declare before hand, that they would concur in the Repeal of the Test and Penael Laws; and that they would give their voices in the Elections to Parliament, only for such as would concur in it: Such as would not thus Preingage themselves were turned out of all Employments: And others who entered into those engagments, were put in their places, many of them being Papists: And contrary to the Charters and Privileges of those Burroughs, that have a Right to send Burgesses to Parliament, they have ordered such Regulations to be made, as they thought fit and necessary, for assuring themselves of all the Members, that are to be chosen by those Corporations: and by this means they hope to avoid that Punishment which they have Deserved: though it is apparent, that all Acts made by Popish Magistrates are null, and Void of themselves; So that no Parliament can be Lawful, for which the Elections and Returns are made by Popish Sheriffs and Majors of Touns; and Therefore as long as the Authority and Magistrary is in such hands, it is not possible to have any Lawful Parliament. And though according to the Constitution of the English Government, and immemorial Custom, all Elections of Parliament men ought to be made with an Entire Liberty, without any sort of force, or the requiring the Electors to choose such Persons as shall be named to them, and the Persons thus freely Elected, aught to give their Opinions freely, upon all Matters, that are brought before them, having the good of the Nation ever before their Eyes, and following in all things the dictates of their Conscience, yet now the People of England can not expect a Remedy from a free Parliament, Legally Called and Chosen. But they may perhaps see one Called, in which all Elections will be carried by Fraud or Force, and which will be composed of such Persons, of whom those Evil Counsellors hold themselves well assured, in which all things will be carried on according to their Direction and Interest, with out any regard to the Good or Happiness of the Nation. Which may appear Evidently from this, that the same Persons tried the Members of the last Parliament, to gain them to Consent to the Repeal of the Test and Penal Laws, and procured that Parliament to be dissolved, when they found that they could not, neither by promises nor Threaten, Prevail with the Members to Comply with their wicked Designs.  
But to Crown all, there are Great and Violent Presumptions, Inducing us to Believe, that those Evil Counsellors, in order to the carrying on of their ill Designs, and to the Gaining to themselves the more time for the Effecting of them, for the encouraging of their Complices, and for the discouraging of all Good Subjects, have published that the Queen hath brought forth a Son: though there have appeared both during the Queen's pretended Bigness, and in the manner in which the Birth was managed, so many just and Visible grounds of suspicion, that not only we ourselves, but all the good Subjects of those Kingdoms, do Vehemently suspect, that the pretended Prince of Walss was not born by the Queen. And it is notoriously known to all the world, that many both doubted of the Queen's Bigness, and of the Birth of the Child, and yet there was not any one thing done to Satisfy them, or to put an end to their Doubts.  
And since our Dearest and most Entirely Beloved Consort, the Princess, and likewise we Ourselves, have so great an Interest in this Matter, and such a Right, as all the world knows, to the Succession to the Crown, Since also the English did in the year 1672. when the State's General of the United Provinces, were Invaded, in a most Injust war, use their uttermost Endeavours to put an end to that War, and that in opposition to those who were then in the Government: and by their so doing, they run the hazard, of losing, both the favour of the Court, and their Employments; And since the English Nation has ever testified a most particular Affection and Esteem, both to pur Dearest Consort the Princess, and to Ourselves, WE cannot excuse ourselves from espousing their Interests, in a matter of such high Consequence, and from Contributing all that lies in us, for the Maintaining both of the Protestant Religion, and of the Laws and Liberties of those Kingdoms, and for the Securing to them, the Continual Enjoyment of all their just Rights. To the doing of which, we are most Earnestly Solicited by a Great many Lords, both Spiritual and Temporal, and by many Gentlemen and other subjects of all Ranks.  
THEREFORE it is, that we have thought fit, to go over to England, and to Carry over with us a force, sufficient by the blessing of God, to defend us from the Violence of those Evil Counsellors. AND WE being desirous that our Intentions in this, may be Rightly Understood, have for this end prepared this Declaration, in which as we have hitherto given a True Account of the Reasons Inducing us to it, So we now think fit to DECLARE that this our Expedition, is intended for no other Design, but to have a free and lawful Parliament assembled, as soon as is possible: and that in order to this, all the late Charters by which the Elections of Burgesses are limited contrary to the Ancient custom, shall be considered as null and of no force: and likewise all Magistrates who have been Injustly turned out, shall forthwith resume their former Employments, as well as all the Borroughs of England shall return again to their Ancient Prescriptions and Charters: And more particularly that the Ancient Charter of the Great and famous City of London, shall again be in Force: and that the Writts for the Members of Parliament shall be addressed to the Proper Officers, according to Law and Custom. That also none be suffered to choose or to be chosen Members of Parliament but such as are qualified by Law: And that the Members of Parliament being thus lawfully chosen they shall meet and sit in Full Freedom; That so the Two Houses may concur in the preparing of such Laws, as they upon full and free debate, shall Judge necessary and convenient, both for the confirming and executing the Law concerning the Test and such other Laws as are necessary for the Security and Maintenance of the Protestant Religion; as likewise for making such Laws as may establish a good aggréement between the Church of England, and all Protestant Dissenters, as also for the covering and securing of all such, who will live Peaceably under the Government as becomes good Subjects, from all Persecution upon the account of their Religion, even Papists themselves not excepted; and for the doing of all other things, which the Two Houses of Parliament shall find necessary for the Peace, Honour, and Safety of the Nation, so that there may be no more danger of the Nations falling at any time hereafter, under Arbitrary Government. To this Parliament we will also refer the Enquiry into the birth of the Pretended Prince of Wales, and of all things relating to it and to the Right of Succession.  
And We for our part will concur in every thing, that may procure the Peace and Happiness of the Nation, which a Free and Lawful Parliament shall determine; Since we have nothing before our eyes in this our undertaking, but the Preservation of the Protestant Religion, the Covering of all men from Persecution for their Consciences, and the Securing to the whole Nation the free enjoyment of all their Laws, Rights and Liberties, under a Just and Legal Government.  
This is the design, that we have Proposed to ourselves, in Appearing upon this occasion in Arms: In the Conduct of which, We will keep the Forces under our Command, under all the Strictness of Martial Discipline: and take a special Care, that the People of the Countries thro' which we must march, shall not suffer by their means: and as soon as the State of the Nation will admit of it, We promise that we will send back all those Foreign Forces, that we have brought along with us.  
We do therefore hope that all People will judge rightly of us, and approve of these our Proceed: But we chief rely on the blessing of God, for the success of this our undertaking, in which We place our whole and only Confidence.  
We do in the last place invite and require all Persons whatsoever, All the Peers of the Realm, both Spiritual and Temporal, all Lords Lieutenants, Deputy Lieutenants, and all Gentlemen, citizens and other Commons of all ranks, to come and assist us, in order to the Executing of this our Design; against all such as shall Endeavour to Oppose us; that so we may prevent all those Miseries, which must needs follow upon the Nations being kept under Arbitrary Government and Slavery: And that all the Violences and disorders, which have overturned the whole Constitution of the English Government, may be fully redressed, in a FREE AND LEGAL PARLIAMENT.  
And We do likewise resolve that as soon as the Nations are brought to a state of Quire, We will take care that a Parliament shall be called in Scotland, for the restoring the Ancient Constitution of that Kingdom, and for bringing the Matters of Religion to such a Setlement, that the people may live easy and happy, and for putting an end to all the Injust Violences that have been in a course of so many years Committed there.  
We will also study to bring the Kingdom of Ireland to such a state, that the Setlement there may be Religiously observed: and that the Protestant and British Interest there, may be secured. And we will endeavour by all possible means, to procure such an establishment in all the Three Kingdoms that they may all live in a happy Union and Correspondence together; and that the Protestant Religion, and the Peace, Honour, and Happiness of those Nations, may be established upon Lasting Foundations.  
Given under our Hand and Seal, at our Court in the Hague, the Tenth day of October in the year 1688. WILLIAM HENRY, PRINCE OF ORANGE. By his Highness' special command C: HUYGENS.   

His Highnesses Additionall Declaration.  
AFter we had prepared and printed this our Declaration, we have understood, that the subverters of the Religion and Laws of those Kingdoms, hearing of our Preparations, to assist the People against them, have begun to retract some of the Arbitrary and Despotic powers, that they had assumed, and to vacate some of their Jujust Judgements and Decrees. The sense of their Gild, and the distrust of their force, have induced them to offer to the City of London some seeming relief from their Great Oppressions: hoping thereby to quiet the People, and to divert them from demanding a Secure Reestablishment of their Religion and Laws under the shelter of our Arms: They do also give out that we Intent to Conquer and Enslave the Nation, And therefore it is that we have thought fit to add a few words to our Declaration.  
We are Confident, that no persons can have such hard thought of us, as to Imagine that we have any other Design in this Undertaking, then to procure a setlement of the Religion and of the Liberties and Properties of the subjects upon so sure a foundation, that there may be no danger of the Nations relapsing into the like miseries at any time hereafter. And as the forces that we have brought along with us, are utterly disproportioned to that wicked design of Conquering the Nation, if we were Capable of Intending it, so the Great Numbers of the Principal Nobility and Gentry, that are men of Eminent Quality and Estates, and persons of known Integrity and Zeal both for the Religion and Government of England, many of them being also distinguished by their Constant fidelity to the Crown, who do both accompany us in this Expedition, and have earnestly solicited us to it, will cover us from all such Malicious Insinuations: For it is not to be imagined, that either those who have Invited us, or those that are already come to assist us, can join in a wicked attempt of Conquest, to make void their own lawful Titles to their Honours, Estates and Interests: We are also Confident that all men see how little weight there is to be laid, on all Promises and Engagments that can be now made: since there has been so little regard had in time past, to the most solemn Promises. And as that Imperfeit redress that is now offered, is a plain Confession of those Violations of the Government that we have set forth, So the defectiveness of it is no less Apparent: for they lay down nothing which they may not take up at Pleasure: and they reserve entire and not so much as mentioned, their claims and pretences to an Arbitrary and Despotic power; which has been the root of all their Oppression, and of the total subversion of the Government. And it is plain, that there can be no redress nor Remedy offered but in Parliament: by a Declaration of the Rights of the Subjects that have been invaded: and not by any Pretended Acts of Grace, to which the extremity of their affairs has driven them. Therefore it is that we have thought fit to declare, that we will refer all to a Free Assembly of the Nation, in a Lawful Parliament.  
Given under our Hand and Seal, at our Court in the Hague, the 24. day of October in the year of our Lord 1688. WILLIAM HENRY, PRINCE OF ORANGE. By his Highness' special Command C: HUYGENS.   

Printed at the Hague by ARNOUT LEERS, By his Highness' special Order. 1688.