WHEREAS the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons As­sembled at Westminster, Lawful­ly, Fully, and Freely Representing all the Estates of the People of this Realm, did upon the Thirteenth day of February, in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred [Page 2]Eighty Eight, Present unto Their Majesties, then called and known by the Names and Style of William and Mary, Prince and Princess of Orange, being present in their proper Per­sons, a certain Declaration in Writing, made by the said Lords and Commons in the words following: Viz.

WHereas the Late King James the Second, by the Assistance of divers Evil Councellors, Judges and Ministers Employed by him, did endeavour to Subvert and Extirpate the Protestant Re­ligion, and the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom;

By Assuming and Exercising a Power of Dispensing with, and Suspending of Laws, and the Execution of Laws, without Consent of Parliament.

By Committing and Prosecuting divers Worthy Pre­lates, for humbly Petitioning to be Excused from Con­curring to the said Assumed Power.

By Issuing, and Causing to be Executed a Commis­sion under the Great Seal, for Erecting a Court called, The Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes.

By Levying Money for, and to the Use of the Crown by Pretence of Prerogative, for other Time, and in other Manner then the was same Granted by Parliament.

By Raising and Keeping a Standing Army within this Kingdom in time of Peace, without Consent of Parliament, and Quartering Souldiers contrary to Law.

By Causing good Subjects, being Protestants, to be disarmed at the same time, when Papists were both Ar­med and Employed, contrary to Law.

By Violating the Freedom of Election of Members to serve in Parliament.

By Prosecutions in the Court of Kings Bench, for Matters and Causes cognizable only in Parliament; and by divers other Arbitrary and Illegal Courses.

And whereas of late years Partial, Corrupt, and Un­qualified Persons, have been Returned and Served on Ju­ries in Trials, and particularly divers. Jurors in Trials for High Treason, which were not Freeholders.

And Excessive Bail hath been required of Persons Committed in Criminal Cases, to elude the Benefit of the Laws made for the Liberty of the Subjects.

And excessive Fines have been imposed.

And illegal and cruel Punishments inflicted.

And several grants and promises made of Fines and Forfeitures, before any Conviction or Judgment against the Persons, upon whom the same were to be Le­vyed.

All which are utterly and directly contrary to the known Laws and Statutes, and Freedom of this Realm.

And whereas the said late King James the Second having Abdicated the Government, and the Throne being thereby Vacant,

His Highness the Prince of Orange, (whom it hath pleased Almighty God to make the Glorious Instru­ment of Delivering this Kingdom from Popery and Arbitrary Power) did (by the Advice of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and divers Principal Per­sons of the Commons) cause Letters to be writ­ten to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, being Pro­testants; and other Letters to the several Counties, Cities, Universities, Boroughs, and Cinque-Ports, for the Choosing of such Persons to Represent them, as were of Right to be sent to Parliament, to meet and sit at Westminster, upon the Two and Twenti­eth day of January, in this Year One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty and Eight, in order to such an Establish­ment, as that their Religion, Laws and Liberties might not again be in danger of being subverted: Upon which Letters Elections having been accordingly made,

And thereupon the said Lords Spiritual and Tem­poral, and Commons, pursuant to their respective Letters and Elections, being now Assembled in a full and free Representative of this Nation, taking into their most serious Consideration the best Means for attaining the Ends aforesaid; Do in the first place (as their Ancestors in like Case have usually done) for [Page 5]the Vindicating and Asserting their Ancient Rights and Liberties, Declare;

That the pretended Power of Suspending of Laws, or the Execution of Laws by Regal Authority, with­out Consent of Parliament, is Illegal.

That the pretended Power of Dispensing with Laws, or the Execution of Laws, by Regal Au­thority, as it hath been Assumed and Exercised of late, is Illegal.

That the Commission for Erecting the late Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes, and all other Commissions and Courts of like nature, are Illegal and Pernicious.

That the Levying Money for, or to the Use of the Crown, by pretence of Prerogative, without Grant of Parliament, for longer time, or in other manner, then the same is or shall be granted, is Illegal.

That it is the Right of the Subjects to Petition the King, and all Commitments and Prosecutions for such Petitioning, are Illegal.

That the raising or keeping a standing Army with­in the Kingdom, in time of Peace, unless it be with Consent of Parliament, is against Law.

That the Subjects which are Protestants, may have Arms for their Defence, suitable to their Conditions, and as allowed by Law.

That Election of Members of Parliament ought to be free.

That the Freedom of Speech, and Debates or Pro­ceedings in Parliament, ought not to be impeached, or questioned in any Court or Place out of Parlia­ment.

That Excessive Bail ought not to be required, nor excessive Fines imposed, nor Cruel and Unusual Punish­ments inflicted.

That Jurors ought to be duly Impannelled, and Re­turned, and Jurors which pass upon Men in Trials for High-Treason, ought to be Free-holders.

That all Grants and Promises of Fines and Forfeitures of particular Persons before Conviction, are Illegal and Void.

And that for Redress of all Grievances, and for the Amending, Strengthening, and Preserving of the Laws, Parliaments ought to be held frequently.

And they do Claim, Demand, and Insist upon all and singular the Premisses, as their Undoubted Rights and Liberties; and that no Declarations, Judgments, Doings, or Proceedings, to the Prejudice of the Peo­ple in any of the said Premises, ought in any wise to be drawn hereafter into Consequence or Exam­ple.

[Page 7] To which Demand of their Rights, they are par­ticularly Encouraged by the Declaration of His High­ness the Prince of Orange, as being the only means for obtaining a full Redress and Remedy therein.

Having therefore an intire Confidence, That his said Highness the Prince of Orange will perfect the Deliverance so far advanced by him, and will still preserve them from the Violation of their Rights, which they have here Asserted, and from all other Attempts upon their Religion, Rights and Li­berties.

The said Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Com­mons Assembled at Westminster do resolve,

That William and Mary Prince and Princess of O­range be, and be Declared, King and Queen of England, France and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto be­longing, to hold the Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdoms and Dominions, to them the said Prince and Princess, during their Lives, and the Life of the Survivor of them; And that the Sole and full Exercise of the Regal Power be only in, and executed by the said Prince of Orange, in the Names of [...] said Prince and Princess during their joint Lives; a [...] after their Deceases, the said Crown and Royal Dignity of the said Kingdoms and Dominions to be to the Heirs of the Body of the said Princess; And for default of such Issue, to the Princess Anne of Denmark, and the Heirs of her Body; And for default of such Issue to the Heirs of the Body of the said Prince of Orange.

And the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Com­mons, do pray the said Prince and Princess to accept the same accordingly.

And that the Oaths hereafter mentioned be taken by all persons of whom the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy might be required by Law, instead of them; And that the said Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy be abrogated.

‘I A. B. Do sincerely Promise and Swear, That I will be Faithful, and bear true Al­legiance to their Majesties, King WILLIAM and Queen MARY; So help me God.’

Upon which their said Majesties did Accept the Crown and Royal Dignity of the King­doms of England, France, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging, accor­ding to the Resolution and Desire of the said Lords and Commons, contained in the said Declaration.

And thereupon Their Majesties were pleased, That the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, being the Two Houses of Parliament, should continue to Sit, and with Their Majesties Royal Concurrence make effectuall Provision for the Settlement of the Re­ligion, Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom, so that the same for the future might not be in danger again of being Subverted; To which the said Lords Spiri­tual and Temporal, and Commons, did Agree and Proceed to Act accordingly.

Now in pursuance of the Premisses, the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in Parliament Assembled, for the Ratifying, Confirming and Establi­shing the said Declaration, and the Articles, Clauses, Matters and Things therein contained, by the Force of a Law made in due Form by Authority of Parliament, do Pray that it may be Declared and Enacted, That all and singular Rights and Liberties Asserted and Clai­med [Page 10]in the said Declaration, are the True, Ancient, and Indubitable Rights and Liberties of the People of this Kingdom, and so shall be Esteemed, Allowed, Adjudged, Deemed and Taken to be; And that all and every the Particulars aforesaid, shall be Firmly and Strictly Hol­den and Observed, as they are expressed in the said De­claration; And all Officers and Ministers whatsoever, shall Serve their Majesties and Their Successors ac­cording to the same in all times to come.

And the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Com­mons, Seriously Considering how it hath pleased Al­mighty God, in his Marvellous Providence, and Merci­ful Goodness to this Nation, to provide and Preserve Their said Majesties Royal Persons most happily to Reign over us upon the Throne of Their Ancestors, for which they render unto Him from the bottom of their Hearts their humblest Thanks and Praises, do Truly, Firmly, Assuredly, and in the Sincerity of their Hearts Think, and do hereby Recognize, Acknowledge and Declare, that King James the Second having Ab­dicated the Government, and Their Majesties having Accepted the Crown and Royal Dignity, as aforesaid, Their said Majesties did become, were, are, and of Right ought to be, by the Laws of this Realm, our Sove­reign Leige Lord and Lady, King and Queen of England, France and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto be­longing, in and to whose Princely Persons, the Royal State, Crown and Dignity of the said Realms, with all Honours, Styles, Titles, Regalities, Prerogatives, Pow­ers, Jurisdictions and Authorities to the same belong­ing and appertaining, are most Fully, Rightfully and Intirely Invested and Incorporated, United and Annexed.

[Page 11] And for preventing all Questions and Divisions in this Realm, by reason of any pretended Titles to the Crown, and for Preserving a Certainty in the Succession thereof, in and upon which the Unity, Peace, Tran­quility and Sasety of this Nation doth under God, wholly Consist and Depend, The said Lords Spiritual and Tem­poral, and Commons, do Beseech their Majesties, that it may be Enacted, Established and Declared, That the Crown and Regal Government of the said Kingdoms and Dominions, with all and Singular the Premisses thereunto belonging and appertaining, shall be and con­tinue to their said Majesties, and the Survivor of Them, during Their Lives, and the Life of the Survivor of Them; And that the Entire, Perfect, and Full Exercise of the Regal Power and Government be only in, and executed by his Majesty, in the Names of both Their Majesties during Their joynt Lives; And after Their Deceases, the said Crown and Pre­misses, shall be and remain to the Heirs of the Body of Her Majesty; And for default of such Issue, to Her Royal Highness the Princess ANNE of Denmark, and the Heirs of Her Body; And for default of such Issue, to the Heirs of the Body of his said Majesty: And thereunto the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, do in the Name of all the People aforesaid, most Humbly and Faithfully Submit themselves, their H [...]irs and Posterities for ever; And do faithfully Promise, That they will Stand to Maintain, and Defend Their said Majesties; And also the Limitation and Succession of the Crown herein specified and contained to the ut­most of their powers, with their Lives and Estates, a­gainst all Persons whatsoever, that shall Attempt any thing to the contrary.

[Page 12] And whereas it hath been found by Expe­rience, that it is inconsistent with the Safety and Welfare of this Protestant Kingdom, to be Governed by a Popish Prince, or by any King or Queen Marrying a Papist, the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, do further Pray that it may be Eancted, That all and every Person and Persons that is, are, or, shall be Reconciled to, or shall hold Commu­nion with the See or Church of Rome, or shall Profess the Popish Religion, or shall Marry a Papist, shall be Excluded, and be for ever unca­pable to Inherit, Possess, or Enjoy the Crown and Government of this Realm and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging or any part of the same, or to Have, Use, or Ex­ercise any Regal Power, Authority, or Juris­diction within the same; And in all and eve­ry such Case or Cases, the People of these Realms shall be and are hereby Absolved of their Allegiance; And the said Crown and Government shall from time to time Descend to, and be Enjoyed by such Person or Persons, being Protestants, as should have Inherited and Enjoyed the same, in Case the said Per­son or Persons so Reconciled, holding Com­munion, [Page 13]or Professing, or Marrying as afore­said, were naturally Dead.

And that every King and Queen of this Realm, who at any time hereafter shall come to and succeed in the Impertial Crown of this Kingdom, shall on the first day of the meeting of the first Parliament, next after His or Her coming to the Crown, sitting in His or Her Throne, in the House of Peers, in the presence of the Lords and Commons therein Assembled or at His or Her Coronation, before such Person or Persons who shall Administer the Coronation Oath to him or Her, at the time of his or Her taking the said Oath, (which shall first happen) Make, Subscribe, and Audi­bly Repeat the Declaration mentioned in the Statute made in the Thirtieth Year of the Reign of King Char­les the Second, Entituled. An Act for the more effectual Preserving the Kings Person and Government, by Disa­bling Papists from sitting in either House of Parlia­ment.

But if it shall happen, that such King or Queen upon His or Her Succession to the Crown of this Realm, shall be under the Age of Twelve years, then every such King or Queen shall Make, Subscribe, and audibly Repeat the said Declaration at His or Her Coronation, or the first day of the meetting of the first Parliament, as aforesaid which shall first happen after such King or Queen shall have attained the said Age of Twelve Years.

[Page 14] All which their Majesties are contented and pleased, shall be Declared, Enacted, and Established by Authori­ty of this present Parliament, and shall stand, remain, and be the Law of this Realm for Ever; And the same are by Their said Majesties, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in Parliament Assembled and by the Au­thority of the same Declared, Enacted, and Establi­shed accordingly.

And be it further Declared, and Enacted, by the Au­thority aforesaid, That from and after this present Ses­sion of Parliament, no Dispensation by Non obstante of or to any Statute, or any part thereof, shall be allow­ed, but that the same shall be held void and of no effect, Except a Dispensation be allowed of in such Statute; and except in such Cases as shall be specially provided for by one or more Bill or Bills to be passed during this present Session of Parliament.

Provided that no Charter, or Grant, or Pardon granted before the Three and twentieth day of October, in the Year of our Lord One thousand Six hundred eigh­ty nine, shall be any ways Impeached or Invalidated by this Act, but that the same shall be and remain of the same force and effect in Law and no other than as if this Act had never been made.