+Source.+--_Statutes of the Realm_. Vol. vi., pp. 142-145.
Whereas the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, assembled at
Westminster, lawfully, fully, and freely representing all the estates of
the people of this realm, did, upon the thirteenth day of February, in
the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred eighty-eight, present unto
their Majesties, then called and known by the names and style of William
and Mary, Prince and Princess of Orange, being present in their proper
persons, a certain declaration in writing, made by the said Lords and
Commons, in the words following; viz.:--
Whereas the late King James II., by the assistance of diverse evil
counsellors, judges, and ministers employed by him, did endeavour to
subvert and extirpate the Protestant religion, and the laws and
liberties of this kingdom:--
1. By assuming and exercising a power of dispensing with and suspending
of laws, and the execution of laws, without consent of Parliament.
2. By committing and prosecuting divers worthy prelates, for humbly
petitioning to be excused from concurring to the same assumed power.
3. By issuing and causing to be executed a commission under the Great
Seal for erecting a court, called the Court of Commissioners for
Ecclesiastical Causes.
4. By levying money for and to the use of the Crown, by pretence of
prerogative, for other time, and in other manner than the same was
granted by Parliament.
5. By raising and keeping a standing army within this kingdom in time of
peace, without consent of Parliament, and quartering soldiers contrary
to law.
6. By causing several good subjects, being Protestants, to be disarmed,
at the same time when Papists were both armed and employed contrary to
law.
7. By violating the freedom of election of members to serve in
Parliament.
8. By prosecutions in the Court of King's Bench, for matters and causes
cognizable only in Parliament; and by diverse other arbitrary and
illegal courses.
9. And whereas of late years, partial, corrupt, and unqualified persons
have been returned and served on juries in trials, and particularly
diverse jurors in trials for high treason, which were not freeholders.
10. And excessive bail hath been required of persons committed in
criminal cases, to elude the benefit of the laws made for the liberty of
the subjects.
11. And excessive fines have been imposed; and illegal and cruel
punishments inflicted.
12. And several grants and promises made of fines and forfeitures,
before any conviction or judgment against the persons upon whom the same
were to be levied.
All which are utterly and directly contrary to the known laws and
statutes, and freedom of this realm.
And whereas the said late King James II. having abdicated the
government, and the throne being thereby vacant, his Highness the Prince
of Orange (whom it hath pleased Almighty God to make the glorious
instrument of delivering this kingdom from popery and arbitrary power)
did (by the advice of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and diverse
principal persons of the Commons) cause letters to be written to the
Lords Spiritual and Temporal, being Protestants, and other letters to
the several counties, cities, universities, boroughs, and cinque ports,
for the choosing of such persons as represent them, as were of right to
be sent to Parliament, to meet and sit at Westminster upon the
two-and-twentieth day of January, in this year one thousand six hundred
eighty and eight, in order to such an establishment, as that their
religion, laws and liberties might not again be in danger of being
subverted; upon which letters, elections have been accordingly made.
And thereupon the said Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons,
pursuant to their respective letters and elections, being now assembled
in a full and free representation of this nation, taking into their most
serious consideration the best means for attaining the ends aforesaid,
do in the first place (as their ancestors in like case have usually
done), for the vindicating and asserting their ancient rights and
liberties, declare:--
1. That the pretended power of suspending of laws, or the execution of
laws, by regal authority, without consent of parliament, is illegal.
2. That the pretended power of dispensing with laws, or the execution of
laws by regal authority, as it hath been assumed and exercised of late,
is illegal.
3. That the commission for erecting the late Court of Commissioners for
Ecclesiastical causes, and all other commissions and courts of like
nature, are illegal and pernicious.
4. That levying money for or to the use of the Crown, by pretence of
prerogative, without grant of parliament, for longer time or in other
manner than the same is or shall be granted, is illegal.
5. That it is the right of the subjects to petition the king, and all
commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal.
6. That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in
time of peace, unless it be with consent of parliament, is against law.
7. That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their
defence suitable to their conditions, and as allowed by law.