State tracts, being a farther collection of several choice treaties relating to the government from the year 1660 to 1689 : now published in a body, to shew the necessity, and clear the legality of the late revolution, and our present happy settlement, under the auspicious reign of their majesties, King William and Queen Mary.

To the King's Most Excellent Majesty,

The Humble Petition of William Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, and divers of the Suffragan Bishops of that Province (now present with him) in behalf of themselves, and others of their absent Brethren, and of the Clergy of their respective Diocesses.

Humbly sheweth,

THAT the great averseness they find in themselves to the distributing and pub∣lishing in all their Churches, your Majesty's late Declaration for Liberty of Con∣science, proceeds neither from any want of Duty and Obedience to your Majesty, (our Holy Mother the Church of England, being both in her Principles and in her constant Practice unquestionably Loyal; and having to her great Honour, been more than once publickly acknowledg'd to be so by your Gracious Majesty;) Nor yet from any want of due tenderness to Dissenters, in relation to whom they are willing to come to such a Temper as shall be thought fit, when that Matter shall be considered and settled in Parliament and Convocation. But among many other Considerations, from this especially, because that Declaration is founded upon such a Dispensing Pow∣er, as has been often declared Illegal in Parliament, and particularly in the years 1662, and 1672. and in the beginning of your Majesty's Reign; and is a matter of so great Moment and Consequence to the whole Nation, both in Church and State, that your Petitioners cannot in Prudence, Honour, or Conscience, so far make themselves Parties to it, as the distribution of it all over the Nation, and the solemn Publication of it once and again, even in God's House, and in the Time of his Di∣vine Service, must amount to in common and reasonable Construction.

Your Petitioners therefore most Humbly and Earnestly beseech your Majesty, that you will be ciously pleased, not to insist upon their Distributing and Reading your Majesty's said Declaration.

And Your Petitioners, as in Duty bound, shall ever Pray.

• Will. Cant.
• Will. Asaph.
• Fr Ely.
• Jo. Cicestr.
• Tho. Bathon. & Wellen.
• Tho. Peterburgen.
• Jonath. Bristol.

His Majesties Answer was to this effect.

I Have heard of this before, but did not believe it! I did not expect this from the Church of England, especially from some of you. If I change my Mind, you shall hear from me; if not, I expect my Command shall be obeyed.