But that the French King should Invade Our Charibbee Islands, and possess himself of Our Territories of the Province of New-York and of Hudson's-Bay in a Hostile manner, seizing Our Forts, burning Our Subjects Houses, and enriching his People with the Spoil of their Goods and Merchandizes, detaining some of Our Subjects under the Hardship of Imprisonment, causing others to be inhumanely kill'd, and driving the rest to Sea in a Small Vessel, without Food and Necessaries to support them, are Actions not becoming even an Enemy; and yet he was so far from declaring himself so, that at that very time he was Negotiating here in England by his Ministers, a Treaty of Neutrality and good Correspondence in America.
The Proceedings of the French King against Our Subjects in Europe are so Notorious, that We shall not need to enlarge upon them; His countenancing the Seizure of English Ships by French Privateers, forbidding the Importation of great part of the Product and Manufactures of Our Kingdom, and imposing exorbitant Customs upon the rest, notwithstanding the vast Advantage he and the French Nation reap by their Commerce with England, are sufficient Evidences of his Designs to destroy the Trade, and consequently to ruine the Navigation, upon which the Wealth and Safety of this Nation very much depends.
The Right of the Flag, Inherent in the Crown of England, has been Disputed by his Orders in Violation of Our Sovereignty of the Narrow Seas, which in all Ages has been Asserted by Our Predecessors, and We are resolv'd to Maintain for the Honour of Our Crown, and of the English Nation.
But that which must nearly touch Us, is his unchristian Prosecution of many of Our English Protestant Subjects in France, for matters of Religion, contrary to the Law of Nations, and express Treaties, forcing them to abjure their Religion by strange and unusual Cruelties, and Imprisoning some of the Masters and Seamen of Our Merchant Ships, and Condemning others to the Gallies, upon pretence of having on Board, either some of his own miserable Protestant Subjects, or their Effects; And Lastly, as he has for some years last past, endeavoured by Insinuations and Promises of Assistance to overthrow the Government of England; So now by open and violent Methods, and the actual Invasion of Our Kingdom of Ireland, in support of Our Subjects in Arms, and in Rebellion against Us, he is promoting the utter Extirpation of Our good and Loyal Subjects in that Our Kingdom.
Being therefore thus necessitated to take up Arms, and Relying on the help of Almighty God in Our just undertaking, We have thought fit to Declare, and do hereby Declare War against the French King, and that We will in Conjunction with Our Allies, Vigorously Prosecute the same by Sea and Land (since he hath so unrighteously begun it) being assured of the hearty Concurrence and Assistance of Our Subjects in support of so good a Cause; Hereby Willing and Requiring Our General of Our Forces, Our Commissioners for Executing the Office of High Admiral, Our Lieutenants of Our several Counties, Governours of Our Forts and Garisons, and all other Officers and Soldiers under them, by Sea and Land, to do, and execute all acts of Hostility in the Prosecution of this War against the French King, his Vassals and Subjects, and to oppose their Attempts, Willing and Requiring all Our Subjects to take Notice of the same, whom We henceforth strictly forbid to hold any Correspondence or Communication with the said French King, or his Subjects; And because there are remaining in Our Kingdoms many of the Subjects of the French King; We do Declare and give Our Royal Word, that all such of the French Nation as shall demean themselves dutifully towards Us, and not Correspond with Our Enemies, shall be safe in their Persons and Estates, and free from all molestation and trouble of any Kind.
Given at Our Court at Hampton-Court, the Seventh Day of May, 1689. In the First Year of Our Reign.
God Save King William and Queen Mary.
London, Printed by Charles Bill, and Thomas Newcomb, Printers to the King and Queen's most Excellent Majesties, 1689.
1 p. folio. There are three issues, varying slightly in set-up. Copies in Antiq., Bodl., B. M., Ch., Crawf., Dalk., Guild., P. C., P. R. O., and Q. C.; also in John Carter Brown Library. Printed in "London Gazette," no. 2452.