‘_May it please the Queen_,
‘We, thy peaceable subjects, cannot but be sorrowfully affected
with a deep sense of the loss sustained by the death of our late
king William the Third, whom God made the instrument of much good
to these nations; a prince who indeed desired to be the common
father of his people, and as such did by his great example,
as well as precept, endeavour to unite them in interest and
affection, and promoted and confirmed a legal liberty to tender
consciences, by all which his reign was adorned, to the renown of
his memory.
‘And it having pleased the all-wise God, the disposer of
kingdoms, to preserve thee to succeed to the government of these
nations; and thereby to the maintaining and consummating those
great works so happily begun; we humbly beg leave to congratulate
thy free and peaceable accession to the throne, from whence we
observe the queen’s excellent declaration, manifesting her care
for the good of all her people, and therefore doubt not but we,
her Protestant dissenting subjects, shall partake of her royal
favour and protection.
‘We sincerely declare, that with the assistance of the grace of
God, we will always, according to our Christian duty, demonstrate
our good affection, truth, and fidelity to the queen and her
government; and heartily pray that his wisdom may direct, and
his blessing be upon the queen and her great council, to the
suppressing of vice and immorality, and the promoting of piety,
peace, and charity, to the glory of God, and the benefit of these
nations.
‘May the King of kings make thy reign long and glorious, to which
temporal blessing we shall pray for thy eternal happiness.
‘Signed on behalf and by appointment of the
aforesaid people, at a meeting in London, the
10th of the second month, 1702.’
This address was very favourably received by the queen, and after it
was read to her, she answered,
‘I thank you for your address, and I assure you of my protection.’
It was scarce a month after, when war was proclaimed in England against
France, which had been proclaimed in Holland also against that crown
some days before. Not long after followed the general yearly meeting of
those called Quakers, held at London, in which it was thought fit to
thank the queen for her declaration, that she would maintain the act of
toleration in favour of the dissenters; and therefore an address was
drawn up by the said assembly, which was as followeth: