service, who will not contribute towards establishing the peace and greatness of their country, which we most earnestly desire, as unbiassed men may see by the whole conduct of our government, and by the condition of our 5 fleet, and of our armies, which with good management shall be constantly the same, and greater, if the safety or honour of the nation require it. We recommend these considerations to all our subjects, and that they will reflect on their present ease and happiness, how for above three 10 years that it hath pleased God to permit us to reign over these kingdoms, we have not appeared to be that prince, our enemies would have made the world afraid of; our chief aim having been not to be the oppressor, but the father of our people; of which we can give no better 15 evidence, than by conjuring them to lay aside all private animosities, as well as groundless jealousies, and to choose such members of parliament, as may do their parts to finish what we have begun for the advantage of the monarchy, over which Almighty God has placed us; being resolved to call a parliament, that shall meet in November next at furthest. Given at our court at Whitehall the 27th day of April MDCLXXXVIII. in the fourth year of our reign.

20

CLXIV.

Archiepisc. Cant.

GUIL. SANCROFT II.

Anno Christi
1688.

Reg. Angliæ
JACOB. II. 4.

The petition of William Sancroft, archbishop of Canterbury, William Lloyd, bishop of St. Asaph, Thomas Kenn, bishop of Bath and Wells, Francis Turner, bishop of Ely, John Lake, bishop of Chichester, Thomas White, bishop of Peterborough, and Jonathan Trelawny, bishop of Bristol, against publishing the king's declaration for liberty of conscience, presented to the king May 18, MDCLXXXVIII.

To the king's most excellent majesty.

The humble petition of William, archbishop of Canterbury, and of 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 dioceses, 5 Humbly sheweth,

THAT the great averseness they find in themselves to the distributing and publishing in all their churches your majesty's late declaration for liberty of conscience, proceeds neither from any want of duty and obedience to 10 your majesty (our holy mother the church of England

The petition of William Sancroft] This petition, which was followed by the trial and acquittal of the seven bishops named in it, and may be considered as the one act, above all others, decisive of the fortunes of king James II., is memorable not only as giving its support at a critical 15 moment to a great constitutional principle, but also as alleging reasons, which would seem to be inconclusive and inadequate to the occasion. It states that "such a dispensing power as the king had been exercising had been often declared illegal in parliament, and particularly in the years 1662 and 1672 and in the beginning of his majesty's reign," 20

You petitioners the rf, most humbly, & earnestly bezruch you not to insist upo will be graciously pleased to sapsode & If Brevoke •Matyibs ite, Distributing & Pearling to by wch this heavy Borthen is imposit upo impositupo of you Matapa them of proclaimg Libly of Conse. tall of World Diclaron: And you you met with manifest Vichove to fly of stown, petition's & they who have been allwaits in y` highest ermost hazardous In-stances, & resolve by y Grace of God Evento continue, the Yo Matie's most faithfull, to ial & obed Subjects, & Servants, the Clingpet yich of Engld by Law stablished.

1

See No CLXIV.

muy 23: William Norwich.

may. 21158

WAsaph