The debate at large, between the House of Lords and House of Commons, at the free conference, held in the Painted Chamber, in the session of the convention, anno 1688 relating to the word, abdicated and the vacancy of the throne in the Common's vote.

Lunae 4 die Feb. 1688.

To the First Amendment, Proposed by the Lords to be made to the Vote of the Commons of the 28th. of Janu∣ary, instead of the Word Abdicated, to insert the Word Deserted, the Com∣mons do not agree; because the Word Deserted doth not fully express the Conclusion necessarily inferred from the Premises, which your Lordships have agreed; for your Lordships have agreed, That King James the Second hath Endea∣voured to Subvert the Constitutions of the Kingdom, by breaking the Original Con∣tract between King and People, and hath Violated the Fundamental Laws, and With∣drawn himself out of the Kingdom. Now the Word Deserted respects only the With-drawing, but the Word Abdica∣ted respects the whole; for which Purpose the Commons made choice of it. The Commons do not agree to the Second Amendment to leave out the Words, And that the Throne is there∣by Vacant.

1st. Because they conceive, that, as they may well infer from so much of their own Vote as your Lordships have agreed unto, That King James the Second has Abdicated the Government, and that the Throne is thereby Vacant; so that if they should admit your Lord∣ships Amendment that he hath only De∣serted the Government; yet, even thence, it would follow that the Throne is Va∣cant as to King James the Second, Deser∣ting the Government, being in true Construction, Deserting the Throne.

2dly. The Commons conceive they need not prove unto your Lordships, That, as to any other Person, the Throne is also Vacant; your Lordships (as they conceive) having already admitted it, by your Addressing to the Prince of Orange the 25th. of December last, To take upon him the Administration of Pub∣lick Affairs, both Civil and Military; and to take into his Care the Kingdom of Ireland, till the meeting of this Conventi∣on. In pursuance of such Letters, and by your Lordships renewing the same

Address to his Highness, (as to Publick Affairs, and the Kingdom of Ireland,) since you met, and by Appointing Days of Publick Thanksgivings to be Observed throughout the whole Kingdom, all which the Commons conceive to apply that it was your Lordships Opinion, That the Throne was Vacant, and to sig∣nify so much to the People of this Kingdom.

3dly. It is from those who are upon the Throne of England (when there are any such) from whom the People of Eng∣land ought to receive Protection; and to whom, for that cause, they owe the Allegiance of Subjects; but there being none now from whom they expect Re∣gal Prrotection, and to whom, for that cause, they owe the Allegiance of Sub∣jects, the Commons conceive, The Throne is Vacant.

Resolved,

That the Earl of Wiltshire do go up to the Lords to desire a Conference upon the Subject matter of the Amendments.

The Earl of Wiltshire Reports, That, he having attended the Lords to desire

a Conference, they had given Answer, That they did consent to a Conference im∣mediately in the Painted Chamber.

Resolved,

That the Comittee to whom it was referred to prepare Heads of Reasons at a Conference with the Lords, be the Managers of the said Conference.

Mr. Hamden, Reports from the Com∣mittee appointed to Manage the Con∣ference with the Lords, That they had Attended the Lords at the Conference, and Communicated unto their Lord∣ships the Reasons why this House doth not Concur with their Lordships in the said Amendments.