CHAPTER XXIV "THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION" 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in time of peace, absolutely contrary to the law; the execution of the law against several high crimes and misdemeanors superseded and prohibited: The statutes against.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 |