Preface

Statutes of the Realm: Volume 6, 1685-94. Originally published by Great Britain Record Commission, s.l, 1819.

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'Preface', in Statutes of the Realm: Volume 6, 1685-94, (s.l, 1819) pp. iv. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/statutes-realm/vol6/iv [accessed 23 April 2024]

PREFACE TO THIS VOLUME.

The Sixth Volume of The Statutes of the Realm contains the Statutes from the Commencement of the Reign of King James the Second, A. D. 1685, to the End of the 6th and 7th Years of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary, A. D. 1694.

This Volume has been printed, and the Chronological Table and Index have been framed, in strict conformity with the Principles referred to in the Preface to the Fifth Volume; and it is therefore unnecessary to repeat them here: it may however be proper to mention, that although Queen Mary appears to have died between the passing of the Statutes Chapter II. and Chapter III. of the 6th and 7th Years of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary, yet the Heading is continued throughout those Years "6 & 7 Gul. & Mar.," as the Record affords no Authority for breaking the Year: Indeed it seems probable, had the Attention of the Legislature at that time been called to the Subject, that the Statute which now stands as Chapter III. 6 & 7 William and Mary, would have followed a corresponding Heading upon a new Parliament Roll as Chapter I. 1 William III.; as it is obvious that no Year or Chapter from the last Act of the Reign of William and Mary could have been correctly designated as a continuing Year or Chapter of the Reign of William the Third.

Three Engravings, the First, of the Act for removing and preventing Questions and Disputes concerning the assembling and sitting of the then present Parliament, 1 William and Mary; the Second, of the Act for establishing the Coronation Oath, 1 William and Mary; and the Third, of the Act for recognizing King William and Queen Mary, and for avoiding all Questions touching the Acts made in the Parliament assembled at Westminster the 13th Feb. 1688, 2 William and Mary, are inserted respectively at Pages 23, 56, and 156 of this Volume.

London,
March 1819.

JOHN RAITHBY,
Sub-Commissioner.