The Bristol address, to the Right Worshipful Sir Richard Hart, kt. and Thomas Earle, esq., now chosen representatives in Parliament for this city of Bristol

The Bristol Address.

To the Right Worshipful Sir RICHARD HART, Kt. and THOMAS EARLE, Esq NOW CHOSEN Representatives in Parliament For this City of BRISTOL.

WE Citizens and Freeholders of this City, hold our selves obliged to return you our hearty thanks for your exemplary Loyalty to the King, and present establishment in Church and State, notwithstanding all the Designs, here or elsewhere, to vilifie or subvert them under the specious pretences of Arbitrary Power and Popery, hoping you will act with all expressions of Duty and Allegiance to the King, of whose good affections to his people and the established Religion, we have no doubt, though ill men have indeavoured to suggest other opi∣nions to his Subjects. And, as you are our Representatives, we lay before you these severals.

I. That some expedient by Law may be endeavoured to pu∣nish such as shall insinuate into the people any designs in our King or Government to set up Arbitrary Power, or shall calumniate the pro∣fessed Sons of the Church of England (His Majesties most Dutiful and Loyal Subjects) as Papists, and men of Arbitrary Principles.

II. That no Laws be Repealed whereby the Church or State may be less secured against their Enemies, but such new Laws may be added to those now in force that may effectually defend them from the Horrid and Hellish Plots of the Papists, and from a second Ruin and Desolation by the underhand-contrivances, and restless endeavours, of ambitious and Fanatical Parties.

III. That you preserve the Prerogatives of the Crown, and the Propety of the People: That the King and His Successors may be assured of our Duty and Allegiance, and we receive from them Mercy and Justice: Then will God bless us whilst we serve him and his Anointed, and Righteousness and Peace shall kiss each other.

IV. That you endeavour to preserve us from illegal Impri∣sonments and exactions of Fees by our Fellow-Subjects, lest we be enslaved under Arbitrary Power (as in the late Rebellion) contra∣ry to Magna Charta, and other good Laws; but if any shall offend let them be punished in such sort as the Law directs.

V. That the King be supplied with money to secure us from the power of France at Land and Sea, that what Alliances the King hath or shall make for defence of Europe, and the Protestant Religi∣on, may be performed; and our Merchants encouraged to send forth those large Adventures they are inclined unto, if they could be secured by good Fleets in the four Seas and remoter parts: They be∣ing at present greatly apprehensive that the French may possess their Estates at pleasure at Sea, as he doth those of the Subjects to the Em∣pire on Land, from whence cometh a Diminution of Trade in the Kingdom.

In endeavouring these particulars you will truly represent Us.

Bristol, this 7th. March 1680.

Subscribed by most of the Aldermen, Council, and several Hundreds of His Majesties Loyal Subjects of the same City.