Debates in 1688: Preface and December debates

DEBATES IN THE House of Commons, From the year 1667 to the Year 1694.

[THE Prince of Orange having published, at the Hague, October 24, 1688, a Declaration of the Reasons inducing him to appear in Arms in the Kingdom of England, for preserving of the Protestant Religion, and for restoring the Laws and Liberties of England, Scotland, and Ireland, (which see in the Journal) his Highness landed with his Forces at Torbay, on November the 5th following; and making from thence directly towards the City of London, he arrived there on Tuesday, December 17; and, on the 23d of the same month, he issued forth an Order, desiring all such persons as had served in any of the Parliaments of King Charles II. to meet him at St James's on Wednesday, December 26; and that the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and fifty of the Common-Council of the City of London, would attend there likewise. According to which Order, many of the persons above-mentioned met at St James's, at the time prefixed; when his Highness, in a short Speech, told them, "that he desired them to meet him there, to advise the best manner how to pursue the ends of his Declaration, in calling a free Parliament, for the preservation of the Protestant Religion, &c." His Highness being departed, the Members then present adjourned to the Commons House at Westminister, where the Right Hon. Henry Powle, Esq; was appointed to take the Chair. The Assembly then taking into consideration what had been proposed to them by the Prince of Orange, after some Debate, came to several Resolutions; one of which was, "to return Thanks to his Highness, for coming into this Kingdom, exposing his person, and adventuring so great hazards for the preservation of our Religion, Laws, and Liberties." Another was "to desire him to take upon him the Administration of public Affairs, both Civil and Military, and the disposal of the public Revenue;" and a third was, "to desire him to cause Letters to be written, subscribed by himself, to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and to the several Counties, Boroughs, &c. for calling a Convention to meet on the two and twentieth of January next." And an Address was ordered to be drawn up accordingly. The Association entered into by several Lords and Gentlemen at Exeter, December 19, was afterwards brought in, and signed by all the Members present.