A collection of papers relating to the present juncture of affairs in England

Extract of the States General their Resolution. Thursday, 28th October, 1688.

UPon mature Deliberation, it is found sit, and resolved, that notice be given to all their Ministers abroad, of all the Reasons which induce their H. and M. to assist the Prince of Orange, going over to England in Person with Ships and Forces, with Orders to the said Ministers to make use thereof in the several Courts where they reside, as they shall think most convenient; and that it be also writ to the said Ministers, that it is known to all the World that the English Nation hath a good while very much mur∣mured and complained, that the King (no doubt with the Evil Counsel, and Inducement of his Ministers) had gained upon their Fundamental Laws, and laboured through the violation thereof; and by the bringing in the Roman Catho∣lick Religion, to oppress their Liberty, and to ruine the Protestant Religion, and to bring all under an Arbitrary Government: That as this inverted and unjust Conduct was carried on more and more, and the Apprehensions thereupon were still greater, and that thereby such Diffidence and Aversion was stirred up against the King, that nothing was to be expected in that Kingdom but general Disorder and Confusion. His Highness the Prince of Orange, upon the ma∣nifold Representations, and the reiterated and earnest De∣sire which was made to His Highness by several Lords, and other Persons of great Consideration in that Kingdom; as also upon the account that Her Royal Highness, and His High∣ness Himself, are so highly concerned in the Welfare of that Kingdom, could not well endure that through Strife and Disunion they should run the danger, however it went, of

being excluded from the Crown, held himself obliged to watch over the Welfare of that Kingdom, and to take care thereof; and also had the thoughts of assisting the Nation, and giving them a helping-hand, upon so many just and good Grounds, against the Government that oppressed them in all manner of ways that lay in his Highness's Power, for that His Highness was perswaded that the Welfare of this State (the Care whereof is also entrusted to him) was in the high∣est manner concerned, that the said Kingdom might continue in Tranquillity, and that all misunderstanding between the King and the Nation might be taken away. That His Highness well knowing, that to succeed in so Important and Laudable a Cause, and not to be hindred and prevented by those that were evil inclined towards it, it was necessary to pass over into that Kingdom accompanied with some Military Forces, hath thereupon made known his Intentions to their Highnesses, and desired Assistance from their Highnesses, that their High∣nesses having maturely weighed all things, and considered that the King of France and Great Britain stood in very good Cor∣respondence and Friendship one with the other, which their Highnesses have been frequently very well assured of, and in a strict and particular Alliance; and that their Highnesses were informed and advertised, that their Majesties had laboured upon a Concert, to divide and separate this State from its Alliances; and that the King of France hath, upon several occasions, shew'd himself dissatisfied with this State, which gave cause to fear and apprehend that in case the King of Great Britain should happen to compass his Aim within his Kingdom, and obtain an absolute Power over his People, that then both Kings, out of Interest of State, and Hatred and Zeal against the Protestant Religion, would endeavour to bring this State to Confusion, and if possible, quite to sub∣ject it, have resolved to commend His Highness in his un∣dertaking of the above said Designs, and to grant to him for his Assistance, some Ships and Militia, as Auxiliaries; that in pursuance thereof, His Highness hath declared to their Highnesses, that he is resolved, with God's Grace and Favour, to go over into England, not with the least insight or in∣tention to invade or subdue that Kingdom, or to remove the King from his Throne, much less to make himself Master

thereof, or to invert or prejudice the Lawful Succession, as also not to drive thence, or persecute the Roman Catholicks, but only and solely to help that Nation in re-establishing the Laws and Priviledges that have been broken, as also in main∣taining their Religion and Liberty; and to that end, to fur∣ther and bring it about, that a free and lawful Parliament may be call'd in such manner, and of such Persons, as are re∣gulated and qualified by the Laws and Form of that Go∣vernment; and that the said Parliament may deliberate upon, and establish all such Matters as shall be judged necessary to assure and secure the Lords, the Clergy, Gentry, and People, that their Rights, Laws and Priviledges, shall be no more vio∣lated or broken, that their High and Mightinesses hope and trust, that with God's Blessing, the Repose and Unity of that Kingdom shall be re-established, and the same be thereby brought into a Condition to be able, powerfully to concur to the common benefit of Christendom, and to the restoring and maintaining of Peace and Tranquillity in Europe. That Copies hereof be delivered to all their Foreign Ministers residing here, to be used by them as they shall see occasion.