publishing perhaps fome plaufible Reafons of their coming September. "hither, as the fpecious, tho' falfe pretences of maintaining 'the Proteftant Religion, or afferting the Liberties and Pro'perties of Our People, do hope thereby to conquer this great ' and renowned Kingdom: But albeit the defign hath been 'carried on with all imaginable Secrefie and Endeavour to furprize and deceive Us, We have not been wanting on our part, to make fuch Provifions as did become Us, and by 'Gods Bleffing, We make no doubt of being found in fo good 'a Pofture, that Our Enemies may have caufe to repent fuch their rath and unjuft Attempt. We did intend (as we lately declared) to have met our "Parliament in November next, and the Writs are issued forth "accordingly, propofing to Our felves, amongst other things, that We might be able to quiet the minds of all Our People "in matters of Religion, pursuant to the feveral Declarations "We have publifhed to that effect; but in regard of this ftrange ' and unreasonable Attempt from our Neighbouring Country (without any manner of Provocation) defign'd to divert Our 'faid Gracious Purposes, We find it neceffary to recall Our *faid Writs, which We do hereby recall accordingly, com*manding and requiring Our loving Subjects to take notice 'thereof, and to furceafe all further proceedings thereon. And forafmuch as the approaching Danger which now is at "hand, will require a great and vigorous Defence, We do hereby ftrictly charge and command all Our loving Sub'jects both by Sea and Land (whofe ready Concurrence, Valour and Courage, as true English-men, We no way doubt in a juft caufe) to be prepared to defend their Country. And "We do hereby require and command all Lords-Lieutenants, and Deputy-Lieutenants, to ufe their beft and utmost endeavours to refift, repel, and fupprefs Our Enemies who come "with fuch Confidence and great Preparations to invade and conquer thefe Our Kingdoms. And lastly,We do moft expref"ly and ftrictly enjoin and prohibit all and every Our Subjects 'of what degree or condition foever, from giving any manner of Aid, Affiftance, Countenance or Succor, or from having 'or holding any Correspondence with thefe Our Enemies, or any of their Complices, upon pain of High Treafon, and being profecuted and proceeded against with the utmoft feverity. Given at Our Court at Whitehall the 28 of Septemb. 1688. September. October. The Reader may be pleafed to obferve,that foreign Forces, which must be French, were declined; which implies they were proffered, and perhaps it had been never the worfe for them,if the Irish, which confidering their Religion and temper towards the English, are as much Foreigners as the French,had been declined too; for we fhall fee they did him much Mifchief,and little or no Service. 2. That the meeting of the Parliament was discharged before ever there was any mention of reftoring the Charters of the Corporations. September the ༡༠. his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, the Earl of Lindsey, the Earl of Derby, and the Lord Germyns, and others of the Nobility were faid to have offered their Service to his Majefty, and feveral of them had Commiffions fent to them to raise men in their Countries. None of these, and very few other of the Nobility or Gentry coming up, but only fending Letters, which were now thought wonderful Obligations, fo dreadful was the thought of the Invafion at Court, and fo great the difcontent of the whole Body of the Nation for the late Tranfactions. On Tuesday the 2d. of October the King declared publickly in Council, that he would reftore the Charter of the City of London; fo that the next day the Bifhops turned that Request into Thanks, for having prevented their Petition. The Minifters by this time became fo fenfible of their Danger,and of the temper of the Nation,that the 2d. day of October they procured a General Pardon, in the beginning of which are these words; It has always been our earnest Defire fince Our Acceffion to the Crown, that all Our People fhould live at ease, and in full enjoyment of Peace and Happiness under Our Government, and nothing can be more agreeable unto Us, than that Offenders Should be reformed by Acts of Mercy extended towards them, rather than Punishment, Our open Enemies having upon Repentance found Our Favour; and altho' befides Our particular Pardons which have been granted to many Perfons, it be not long fince We iffued forth Our Royal Proclamation of General Pardon to all our People; yet foraf much as they who live moft peaceably, do often fall within the reach of fome of Our Laws, &c. Befides the ufual Exceptions, were excepted all Treafons committed or done in the parts beyond the Seas, or any other place out of this our Realm, and by name Robert Parfons, Edward Matthews, Samuel Venner, Andrew Fletcher, Colonel John Rumfey, Major John Mauly, Ifaac Manley, Francis Charleton, Ffq; John Wildman, Efq; Titus Oats, October. The Pardon here hinted at, came out fome few days before this; and in that all Corporations and Bodies Politicks were excepted, which looked fo like a defign against the Bishops, Deans and Colledges, that it was taken notice of; and this new Pardon fent after the former to fhew the World the Minifters were only a little too intent upon their own fecurity (as they had moft need of this Pardon) that they never thought of the other. On Wednesday, October the 3d. the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Bishops of London, Winchester, Afaph, Ely, Chichester, Rochester, Bath and Wells, and Peterborough, all in a Body waited upon the King, when the Archbishop fpoke thus to him. May it please Your Sacred Majefty, Bath & Wells. WHen I had lately the Honour to wait upon you, you were pleafed briefly to acquaint me with what had paffed two days before between your Majesty and thefe my Reverend Brethren : by which, and by the Account which they themselves gave me, I perceived, that in truth, there passed nothing, but in very general Terms and Expreffions of your Majefties gracious and favourable Inclinations to the Church of England, and of our reciprocal Duty The Bishop of and Loyalty to your Majefty: Beth which were fufficiently underftood and declared before; and (as one of my Brethren then told Jou) would have been in the fame ftate, if the Bishops had not ftir'd one foot out of their Dioceffes. Sir, I found it grieved my Lords the Bishops to have come fo far, and to have done fo little; and I am affured they came then prepared to have given your Majefty fome more particular Inftances of their Duty and Zeal for your Service, bad they not apprehended from fome words which fell from your Majesty, That you were not then at leifure to receive them. It was for this Reafon that I then befought your Majefty to command us once more to attend you all together, which your Majesty was pleafed graciously to allow and encourage. We therefore are "here now before you, with all Humility, to beg your Permiffion, that we may fuggeft to your Majesty fuch Advices as we think proper at this Seafon, and conducing to your Service, and fo leave them te October. to your Princely Confideration. Which the King being graciouf ly pleafed to permit, the Archbishop proceeded as followeth, 1. Our firft bumble Advice is, That your Majefty will be graciously pleased to put the Management of your Goverment, in the feveral Counties, into the Hands of fuch of the Nobility and Gentry there, as are legally qualified for it. II. That your Majesty will be graciously pleased to annul your Commiffion for Ecclefiaftical Affairs; and that no fuch Court as that Commiffion fets up, may be erected for the future. III. That your Majesty will graciously be pleased, That no Difpenfation may be granted or continued, by Virtue whereof, any perfon not duly qualified by Law, bath been, or may be put into any Place, Office, or Preferment in Church or State, or in the Univerfities, or continued in the fame, efpecially fuch as have Cure of Souls annexed to them; and in particular, that you will be gracionfly pleafed to restore the Prefident and Fellows of St. Mary Magdalen Colledge in Oxford. IV. That your Majesty will graciously be pleased to fet afide all Licenfes or Faculties already granted; by which any perfons of the Romish Communion may pretend to be enabled to teach Publick Schools; and that no fuch be granted for the future. V. That your Majesty will be graciously pleased to defift from the Exercife of fuch a Difpenfing Power, as bath of late been used; and to permit that Point to be freely and calmly debated and argued, and finally fetled in Parliament. VI. That your Majefty will be graciously pleased to inhibit the four Foreign Bfhops, who ftile themselves Vicars Apoftolical, from further invading the Ecclefiaftical Jurifdiction which is by Law vefted in the Bishops of this Church. VII. That your Majefty will be pleafed graciously to fill the va cant Bishopricks, and other Ecclefiaftical Promotions within your Gift, both in England and Ireland, with men of Learning and Piety; and in particular (which I must own to be my peculiar boldness, for 'tis done without the privity of my Brethren) That you will be graciously pleafed forthwith to fill the Archiepifcopal Chair of York (which hath fo long stood empty, and upon which a whole Province depends) with fome very worthy Perfon: For which (pardon me, Sir, if I am bold to fay) you have now here before you a very fair Choice. VIII. That VIII. That your Majesty will be graciously pleased to fuperfede October. all further Profecution of Quo Warranto's against Corporations, and to restore to them their ancient Charters, Priviledges, and Franchifes, as we hear God hath put into your Majefties Heart to do for the City of London, which we intended to have made otherwife one of our principal Requests. IX. That if it fo please your Majefty, Writs may be issued out with convenient fpeed, for the calling of a free and regular Parliament, in which the Church of England may be fecured according to the Acts of Uniformity; Provifion may be made for a due Liberty of Confcience, and for fecuring the Liberties and Properties of all your Subjects; and a mutual Confidence and good Understanding may be established between your Majesty and all your People. X. Above all, That your Majefty will be graciously pleafed to permit your Bishops to offer you fuch Motives and Arguments as (we trust) may, by God's Grace, be effectual to perfuade your Majecty to return to the Communion of the Church of England, into whofe most holy Catholick Faith you were baptised, and in which you were educated, and to which it is our daily earnest Prayer to God, that you may be re-united. Thefe, Sir, are the humble Advices, which out of Conscience of the Duty we owe to God, to your Majesty, and to our Country, we think fit at this time to offer to your Majesty, as fuitable to the prefent State of your Affairs, and moft conducing to your Service; and fo to leave them to your Princely Confideration. And we heartily befeech Almighty God, in whole hand the Hearts of all Kings are, fo to difpofe and govern yours, that in all your Thoughts, Words and Works, you may ever feek his Honour and Glory, and ftudy to preferve the People committed to your Charge, in Wealth, Peace and Godlinefs, to your own both temporal and eternal Happiness. Amen. We do heartily concur W. Cant. Fran. Ely. Fo. Ciceftr. H. London, Tho. Roffen. P. Winchester. Tho. Bath & Wells. We |