| PAGE | |||
| Introduction | [v] | ||
| 1660. | Declaration of Breda | Parliamentary History | [1] |
| 1660. | The Restoration | Clarendon's "History" | [3] |
| 1662. | The Act of Uniformity | Statutes of the Realm | [11] |
| 1665. | The Plague in London | Defoe's "Works" | [14] |
| 1666. | The Great Fire of London | Pepys's "Diary" | [22] |
| 1668. | The Triple Alliance | Sir W. Temple's "Letters" | [27] |
| 1672-73. | The Declaration of Indulgence and Test Act | Journals of the House of Commons | [30] |
| 1673. | Coffee Houses | Harleian Miscellany | [34] |
| 1673. | A Parliamentary Election | "Lives of the Norths" | [38] |
| 1675. | A Bogus "King's Speech" | "Contemporary Satire" | [40] |
| 1679. | Habeas Corpus Act | Statutes of the Realm | [43] |
| 1678-81. | The Popish Terror | Burnet's "Own Times" | [47] |
| 1680. | Stafford's Trial | Evelyn's "Diary" | [56] |
| 1681. | Character of Shaftesbury | Dryden's "Absalom and Achitophel" | [61] |
| Judge Jeffreys—a Character Sketch | "Lives of the Norths" | [63] | |
| 1688. | Trial of the Seven Bishops | Kennet's "Complete History" | [66] |
| 1688. | The Invitation to the Prince of Orange | British Museum MS. | [71] |
| 1688. | The Coming of the Prince of Orange | Burnet's "Own Times" | [75] |
| 1689. | The Bill of Rights | Statutes of the Realm | [83] |
| 1691. | Correspondence relating to Non-Jurors | "Letters of Bonwicke and Blechynden" | [90] |
| 1692. | Pacification of the Highlands | Domestic State Papers | [93] |
| 1696. | The Treasons Act | Statutes of the Realm | [95] |
| 1699. | The Colonial Post | Treasury Papers | [97] |
| 1701. | Act of Settlement | Statutes of the Realm | [99] |
| 1704. | Marlborough on Blenheim | "Marlborough's Letters" | [100] |
| 1707. | Act of Union of England and Scotland | Statutes of the Realm | [102] |
| 1710. | Impeachment of Dr. Sacheverell | Parliamentary History | [105] |
| 1712. | Marlborough's Reply to Peculation Charge | "Acton Library Pamphlets" | [108] |
| 1712. | Tories and the War | Swift's "Conduct of the Allies" | [112] |
| The Vicar of Bray | Old Song | [119] | |
A CONSTITUTION IN MAKING
(1485-1547)
DECLARATION OF BREDA (1660).
Source.—Parliamentary History. London, 1810. Vol. iv., pp. 16-18.
Charles R.
Charles, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. To all our loving subjects, of what degree or quality soever, greeting.
If the general distraction and confusion which is spread over the whole kingdom doth not awaken all men to a desire and longing that those wounds which have so many years together been kept bleeding, may be bound up, all we can say will be to no purpose; however, after this long silence, we have thought it our duty to declare how much we desire to contribute thereunto; and that as we can never give over the hope, in good time, to obtain the possession of that right which God and nature hath made our due, so we do make it our daily suit to the Divine Providence, that He will, in compassion to us and our subjects after so long misery and sufferings, remit and put us into a quiet and peaceable possession of that our right, with as little blood and damage to our people as is possible; nor do we desire more to enjoy what is ours, than that all our subjects may enjoy what by law is theirs, by a full and entire administration of justice throughout the land, and by extending our mercy where it is wanted and deserved.
And to the end that the fear of punishment may not engage any, conscious to themselves of what is past, to a perseverance in guilt for the future, by opposing the quiet and happiness of their country, in the restoration of King, Peers and people to their just, ancient and fundamental rights, we do, by these presents, declare, that we do grant a free and general pardon, which we are ready, upon demand, to pass under our Great Seal of England, to all our subjects, of what degree or quality soever, who, within forty days after the publishing hereof, shall lay hold upon this our grace and favour, and shall, by any public act, declare their doing so, and that they return to the loyalty and obedience of good subjects; excepting only such persons as shall hereafter be excepted by Parliament, those only to be excepted. Let all our subjects, how faulty soever, rely upon the word of a King, solemnly given by this present declaration, that no crime whatsoever, committed against us or our royal father before the publication of this, shall ever rise in judgment, or be brought in question, against any of them, to the least endamagement of them, either in their lives, liberties or estates, or (as far forth as lies in our power) so much as to the prejudice of their reputations, by any reproach or term of distinction from the rest of our best subjects; we desiring and ordaining that henceforth all notes of discord, separation and difference of parties be utterly abolished among all our subjects, whom we invite and conjure to a perfect union among themselves, under our protection, for the re-settlement of our just rights and theirs in a free Parliament, by which, upon the word of a King, we will be advised.