Bill Of Rights 1688 (pdf)
From Austlii
https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/act/consol_act/bor16881wams2c2306/index.html (url Australian with all sections)
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – LONG TITLE
An Act declaring the rights and liberties of the subject and settling the succession of the Crown
Whereas the lords spiritual and temporal and commons assembled at Westminster lawfully fully and freely representing all the estates of the people of this realm did upon the thirteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty-eight present unto their Majesties then called and known by the names and style of William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange being present in their proper persons a certain declaration in writing made by the said lords and commons in the words following:
Whereas the late King James the Second by the assistance of divers evil councillors, judges and ministers employed by him did endeavour to subvert and extirpate the Protestant religion and the laws and liberties of this kingdom.
1 By assuming and exercising a power of dispensing with and suspending of laws and execution of laws without consent of Parliament.
2 By committing and prosecuting divers worthy prelates for humbly petitioning to be excused from concurring to the said assumed power.
3 By issuing and causing to be executed a commission under the great seal for erecting a court called the court of commissioners for ecclesiastical causes.
4 By levying money for and to the use of the Crown by pretence of prerogative for other time and in other manner than the same was granted by Parliament.
5 By raising and keeping a standing army within this kingdom in time of peace without consent of Parliament and quartering soldiers contrary to law.
6 By causing several good subjects being protestants to be disarmed at the same time when papists were both armed and employed contrary to law.
7 By violating the freedom of election of members to serve in Parliament.
8 By prosecutions in the Court of King’s Bench for matters and causes cognizable only in Parliament and by divers other arbitrary and illegal courses.
9 And whereas of late years partial, corrupt and unqualified persons have been returned and served on juries in trials and particularly divers jurors in trials for high treason which were not freeholders.
10 And excessive bail has been required of persons committed in criminal cases to elude the benefit of the laws made for the liberty of the subjects.
11 And excessive fines have been imposed; and illegal and cruel punishments inflicted.
12 And several grants and promises made of fines and forfeitures before any conviction or judgment against the persons upon whom the same were to be levied.
All which are utterly and directly contrary to the known laws and statutes and freedom of this realm:
And whereas the said late King James the Second having abdicated, the government and the throne being thereby vacant, his Highness the Prince of Orange (whom it has pleased Almighty God to make the glorious instrument of delivering this kingdom from popery and arbitrary power) did (by the advice of the lords spiritual and temporal and divers principal persons of the commons) cause letters to be written to the lords spiritual and temporal being protestants and other letters to the several counties, cities, universities, boroughs and cinque ports for the choosing of such persons to represent them as were of right to be sent to Parliament to meet and sit at Westminster upon the two and twentieth day of January in this year one thousand six hundred and eighty-eight in order to such an establishment as that their religion, laws and liberties might not again be in danger of being subverted, upon which letters, elections having been accordingly made:
And thereupon the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons pursuant to their respective letters and elections being now assembled in a full and free representative of this nation taking into their most serious consideration the best means for attaining the ends aforesaid do in the first place (as their ancestors in like case have usually done) for the vindicating and asserting their ancient rights and liberties, declare:
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – SECT 1
Suspending power
That the pretended power of suspending of laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without consent of Parliament is illegal.
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – SECT 2
Late dispensing power
That the pretended power of dispensing with laws or the execution of laws by regal authority as it has been assumed and exercised of late is illegal.
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – SECT 3
Ecclesiastical courts illegal
That the commission for erecting the late court of commissioners for ecclesiastical causes and all other commissions and courts of like nature are illegal and pernicious.
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – SECT 4
Levying money
That levying money for or to the use of the Crown by pretence of prerogative without grant of Parliament for longer time or in other manner than the same is or shall be granted is illegal.
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – SECT 5
Right to petition
That it is the right of the subjects to petition the King and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal.
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – SECT 6
Standing army
That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace unless it be with consent of Parliament is against law.
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – SECT 7
Subjects’ arms
That the subjects which are protestants may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law.
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – SECT 8
Freedom of election
That election of members of Parliament ought to be free.
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – SECT 9
Freedom of speech
That the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament.
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – SECT 10
Excessive bail
That excessive bail ought not to be required nor excessive fines imposed nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – SECT 11
Juries
That jurors ought to be duly empannelled and returned.
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – SECT 12
Grants of forfeiture
That all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction are illegal and void.
BILL OF RIGHTS 1688 1 WILL AND MARY SESS 2 C 2 – SECT 13
Frequent Parliaments
And that for redress of all grievances and for the amending, strengthening and preserving of the laws, Parliaments ought to be held frequently.
I Undoubted rights and liberties
And they do claim, demand and insist upon all and singular the premises as their undoubted rights and liberties and that no declarations, judgments, doings or proceedings to the prejudice of the people in any of the said premises ought in any wise to be drawn hereafter into consequence or example.
To which demand of their rights they are particularly encouraged by the declaration of his Highness the Prince of Orange as being the only means for obtaining a full redress and remedy therein.
Having therefore an entire confidence that his said Highness the Prince of Orange will perfect the deliverance so far advanced by him and will still preserve them from the violation of their rights which they have here asserted and from all other attempts upon their religion, rights and liberties.
II Tender of crown
The said lords spiritual and temporal and commons assembled at Westminister do resolve that William and Mary Prince and Princess of Orange be and be declared King and Queen of England, France and Ireland and the dominions thereunto belonging to hold the crown and royal dignity of the said kingdoms and dominions to them the said prince and princess during their lives and the life of the survivor of them.
And that the sole and full exercise of the regal power be only in and executed by the said Prince of Orange in the names of the said prince and princess during their joint lives and after their deceases the said crown and royal dignity of the said kingdoms and dominions to be to the heirs of the body of the said princess and for default of such issue to the Princess Anne of Denmark and the heirs of her body and for default of such issue to the heirs of the body of the said Prince of Orange.
And the lords spiritual and temporal and commons do pray the said prince and princess to accept the same accordingly.
III New oaths of allegiance
And that the oaths hereafter mentioned be taken by all persons to whom the oaths of allegiance and supremacy might be required by law instead of them and that the said oaths of allegiance and supremacy be abrogated.
I, A B, do sincerely promise and swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to their Majesties King William and Queen Mary.
So help me God.
I, A B, do swear that I do from my heart abhor, detest and abjure as impious and heretical this damnable doctrine and position that princes excommunicated or deprived by the Pope or any authority of the see of Rome may be deposed or murdered by their subjects or any other whatsoever.
And I do declare that no foreign prince, person, prelate, state or potentate has or ought to have any jurisdiction, power, superiority, pre-eminence or authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, within this realm.
So help me God.
IV Acceptance of crown
Upon which their said Majesties did accept the crown and royal dignities of the kingdoms of England, France and Ireland and the dominions thereunto belonging according to the resolution and desire of the said lords and commons contained in the said declaration.
V Two houses to sit
And thereupon their Majesties were pleased that the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons being the two Houses of Parliament should continue to sit and with their Majesties’ royal concurrence make effectual provision for the settlement of the religion, laws and liberties of this kingdom so that the same for the future might not be in danger again of being subverted, to which the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons did agree and proceed to act accordingly.
VI Subjects’ liberties to be allowed
Now in pursuance of the premises the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons in Parliament assembled for the ratifying, confirming and establishing the said declaration and the articles, clauses, matters and things therein contained by the force of a law made in due form by authority of Parliament do pray that it may be declared and enacted that all and singular the rights and liberties asserted and claimed in the said declaration are the true, ancient and indubitable rights and liberties of the people of this kingdom and so shall be esteemed, allowed, adjudged, deemed and taken to be and that all and every the particulars aforesaid shall be firmly and strictly holden and observed as they are expressed in the said declaration.
And all officers and ministers whatsoever shall serve their Majesties and their successors according to the same in all times to come.
VII William and Mary declared King and Queen
And the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons seriously considering how it hath pleased Almighty God in his marvellous providence and merciful goodness to this nation to provide and preserve their said Majesties’ royal persons most happily to reign over us upon the throne of their ancestors for which they render unto him from the bottom of their hearts their humblest thanks and praises do truly, firmly, assuredly and in the sincerity of their hearts think and do hereby recognise, acknowledge and declare that King James the Second having abdicated the government and their Majesties having accepted the crown and royal dignity as aforesaid their said Majesties did become, were, are and of right ought to be by the laws of this realm our sovereign liege lord and lady King and Queen of England, France and Ireland and the dominions thereunto belonging in and to whose princely persons the royal state crown and dignity of the said realms with all honours, styles, titles, regularities, prerogatives, powers, jurisdictions and authorities to the same belonging and appertaining are most fully and rightfully and entirely invested and incorporated, united and annexed.
VIII Limitation of crown
And for preventing all questions and divisions in this realm by reason of any pretended titles to the crown and for preserving a certainty in the succession thereof in and upon which the unity, peace, tranquillity and safety of this nation doth under God wholly consist and depend the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons do beseech their Majesties that it may be enacted, established and declared that the crown and regal government of the said kingdoms and dominions with all and singular the premises thereunto belonging and appertaining shall be and continue to their said Majesties and the survivor of them during their lives and the life of the survivor of them and that the entire, perfect and full exercise of the regal power and government be only in and executed by his Majesty in the names of both their Majesties during their joint lives and after their deceases the said crown and premises shall be and remain to the heirs of the body of her Majesty and for default of such issue to her royal Highness the Princess Anne of Denmark and the heirs of her body and for default of such issue to the heirs of the body of his said Majesty.
And thereunto the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons do in the name of all the people aforesaid most humbly and faithfully submit themselves, their heirs and posterities for ever and do faithfully promise that they will stand to maintain and defend their said Majesties and also the limitation and succession of the crown herein specified and contained to the utmost of their powers with their lives and estates against all persons whatsoever that shall attempt any thing to the contrary.
IX Papists debarred the crown
And whereas it has been found by experience that it is inconsistent with the safety and welfare of this protestant kingdom to be governed by a popish prince or by any King or Queen marrying a papist the said lords spiritual and temporal and commons do further pray that it may be enacted that all and every person and persons that is, are or shall be reconciled to or shall hold communion with the see or church of Rome and shall profess the popish religion or shall marry a papist shall be excluded and be for ever incapable to inherit, possess or enjoy the crown and government of this realm and Ireland and the dominions thereunto belonging or any part of the same or to have, use or exercise any regal power, authority or jurisdiction within the same.
And in all and every such case or cases the people of these realms shall be and are hereby absolved of their allegiance and the said crown and government shall from time to time descend to and be enjoyed by such person or persons being protestants as should have inherited and enjoyed the same in case the said person or persons so reconciled, holding communion or professing or marrying as aforesaid were naturally dead.
X All Kings etc to take the declaration
And that every King and Queen of this realm who at any time hereafter shall come to and succeed in the imperial crown of this kingdom shall on the first day of the meeting of the first Parliament next after his or her coming to the crown sitting in his or her throne in the House of Peers in the presence of the lords and commons therein assembled or at his or her coronation before such person or persons who shall administer the coronation oath to him or her at the time of his or her taking the said oath (which shall first happen) make, subscribe and audibly repeat the declaration required by law.
But if it shall happen that such King or Queen upon his or her succession to the crown of this realm shall be under the age of twelve years then every such King or Queen shall make, subscribe and audibly repeat the said declaration at his or her coronation or the first day of the meeting of the first Parliament as aforesaid which shall first happen after such King or Queen shall have attained the said age of twelve years.
XI King assent
All which their Majesties are contented and pleased shall be declared, enacted and established by authority of this present Parliament and shall stand, remain and be the law of this realm for ever.
And the same are by their said Majesties by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal and commons in Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same declared, enacted and established accordingly.
XII Non obstantes made void
No dispensation by non obstante of or to any statute or any part thereof shall be allowed but the same shall be held void and of no effect except a dispensation be allowed of in such statute.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/WillandMarSess2/1/2/introduction (url UK)
Bill of Rights [1688]
1688 CHAPTER 2 1 Will and Mar Sess 2
An Act declareing the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Setleing the Succession of the Crowne.
X1Whereas the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons assembled at Westminster lawfully fully and freely representing all the Estates of the People of this Realme did upon the thirteenth day of February in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred eighty eight present unto their Majesties then called and known by the Names and Stile of William and Mary Prince and Princesse of Orange being present in their proper Persons a certaine Declaration in Writeing made by the said Lords and Commons in the Words following viz
The Heads of Declaration of Lords and Commons, recited.
Whereas the late King James the Second by the Assistance of diverse evill Councellors Judgesand Ministers imployed by him did endeavour to subvert and extirpate the Protestant Religionand the Lawes and Liberties of this Kingdome.
Dispensing and Suspending Power.
By Assumeing and Exerciseing a Power of Dispensing with and Suspending of Lawes and the Execution of Lawes without Consent of Parlyament.
Committing Prelates.
By Committing and Prosecuting diverse Worthy Prelates for humbly Petitioning to be excused from Concurring to the said Assumed Power.
Ecclesiastical Commission.
By issueing and causeing to be executed a Commission under the Great Seale for Erecting aCourt called The Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiasticall Causes.
Levying Money.
By Levying Money for and to the Use of the Crowne by pretence of Prerogative for other timeand in other manner then the same was granted by Parlyament.
Standing Army.
By raising and keeping a Standing Army within this Kingdome in time of Peace without Consentof Parlyament and Quartering Soldiers contrary to Law.
Disarming Protestants, &c.
By causing severall good Subjects being Protestants to be disarmed at the same time when Bapists were both Armed and Imployed contrary to Law.
Violating Elections.
By Violating the Freedome of Election of Members to serve in Parlyament.
Illegal Prosecutions.
By Prosecutions in the Court of Kings Bench for Matters and Causes cognizable onely in Parlyament and by diverse other Arbitrary and Illegall Courses.
Juries.
And whereas of late yeares Partiall Corrupt and Unqualifyed Persons have beene returned and served on Juryes in Tryalls and particularly diverse Jurors in Tryalls for High Treason whichwere not Freeholders,
Excessive Bail.
And excessive Baile hath beene required of Persons committed in Criminall Cases to elude the Benefitt of the Lawes made for the Liberty of the Subjects.
Fines.
And excessive Fines have beene imposed.
Punishments.
And illegall and cruell Punishments inflicted.
Grants of Fines, &c. before Conviction, &c.
And severall Grants and Promises made of Fines and Forfeitures before any Conviction or Judgement against the Persons upon whome the same were to be levyed. All which are utterly directly contrary to the knowne Lawes and Statutes and Freedome of this Realme.
Recital that the late King James II. had abdicated the Government, and that the Throne was vacant, and that the Prince of Orange had written Letters to the Lords and Commons for the choosing Representatives in Parliament.
And whereas the said late King James the Second haveing Abdicated the Government and the Throne being thereby Vacant His [X2Hignesse] the Prince of Orange (whome it hath pleased Almighty God to make the glorious Instrument of Delivering this Kingdome from Popery andArbitrary Power) did (by the Advice of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and diverse principall Persons of the Commons) cause Letters to be written to the Lords Spirituall and Temporallbeing Protestants and other Letters to the severall Countyes Cityes Universities Burroughs and Cinque Ports for the Choosing of such Persons to represent them as were of right to be sent toP arlyament to meete and sitt at Westminster upon the two and twentyeth day of January in thisYeare one thousand six hundred eighty and eight in order to such an Establishment as that their Religion Lawes and Liberties might not againe be in danger of being Subverted, Upon which Letters Elections haveing beene accordingly made.
The Subject’s Rights.
And thereupon the said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons pursuant to their respective Letters and Elections being now assembled in a full and free Representative of this Nation takeing into their most serious Consideration the best meanes for attaining the Ends aforesaid Doe in the first place (as their Auncestors in like Case have usually done) for the Vindicating and Asserting their sentient Rights and Liberties, Declare
Dispensing Power.
That the pretended Power of Suspending of Laws or the Execution of Laws by Regall Authority without Consent of Parlyament is illegall.
Late dispensing Power.
That the pretended Power of Dispensing with Laws or the Execution of Laws by Regall Authoritie as it hath beene assumed and exercised of late is illegall.
Ecclesiastical Courts illegal.
That the Commission for erecting the late Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiasticall Causes and all other Commissions and Courts of like nature are Illegall and Pernicious.
Levying Money.
That levying Money for or to the Use of the Crowne by pretence of Prerogative without Grant of Parlyament for longer time or in other manner then the same is or shall be granted is Illegall.
Right to petition.
That it is the Right of the Subjects to petition the King and all Commitments and Prosecutions for such Petitioning are Illegall.
Standing Army.
That the raising or keeping a standing Army within the Kingdome in time of Peace unlesse it be with Consent of Parlyament is against Law.
Subjects’ Arms.
That the Subjects which are Protestants may have Arms for their Defence suitable to their Conditions and as allowed by Law.
Freedom of Election.
That Election of Members of Parlyament ought to be free.
Freedom of Speech.
That the Freedome of Speech and Debates or Proceedings in Parlyament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any Court or Place out of Parlyament.
Excessive Bail.
That excessive Baile ought not to be required nor excessive Fines imposed nor cruell and unusuall Punishments inflicted.
Juries.
That Jurors ought to be duely impannelled and returned
Grants of Forfeitures.
That all Grants and Promises of Fines and Forfeitures of particular persons before Conviction are illegall and void.
Frequent Parliaments.
And that for Redresse of all Grievances and for the amending strengthening and preserveing of the Lawes Parlyaments ought to be held frequently.
The said Rights claimed. Tender of the Crown. Regal Power exercised. Limitation of theCrown.
And they doe Claime Demand and Insist upon all and singular the Premises as their undoubted Rights and Liberties and that noe Declarations Judgements Doeings or Proceedings to the Prejudice of the People in any of the said Premisses ought in any wise to be drawne hereafter into Consequence or Example. To which Demand of their Rights they are particularly encouraged by the Declaration of this Highnesse the Prince of Orange as being the onely meanes for obtaining a full Redresse and Remedy therein. Haveing therefore an intire Confidence That his said Highnesse the Prince of Orange will perfect the Deliverance soe farr advanced by him and will still preserve them from the Violation of their Rights which they have here asserted and from all other Attempts upon their Religion Rights and Liberties. The said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons assembled at Westminster doe Resolve That William and Mary Prince and Princesse of Orange be and be declared King and Queene of England France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging to hold the Crowne and Royall Dignity of the said Kingdomes and Dominions to them the said Prince and Princesse dureing their Lives and the Life of the Survivour of them And that the sole and full Exercise of the Regall Power be onelyin and executed by the said Prince of Orange in the Names of the said Prince and Princesse dureing their joynt Lives And after their Deceases the said Crowne and Royall Dignitie of the said Kingdoms and Dominions to be to the Heires of the Body of the said Princesse And for default of such Issue to the Princesse Anne of Denmarke and the Heires of her Body And for default of such Issue to the Heires of the Body of the said Prince of Orange. And the LordsSpirituall and Temporall and Commons doe pray the said Prince and Princesse to accept the same accordingly.
New Oaths of Allegiance, &c.
And that the Oathes hereafter mentioned be taken by all Persons of whome the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy might be required by Law instead of them And that the said Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy be abrogated.
Allegiance.
I A B doe sincerely promise and sweare That I will be faithfull and beare true Allegiance to their Majestyes King William and Queene Mary Soe helpe me God.
Supremacy.
I A B doe sweare That I doe from my Heart Abhorr, Detest and Abjure as Impious and Hereticall this damnable Doctrine and Position That Princes Excommunicated or Deprived by the Pope orany Authority of the See of Rome may be deposed or murdered by their Subjects or any other whatsoever. And I doe declare That noe Forreigne Prince Person Prelate, State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction Power Superiority Preeminence or Authoritie Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall within this Realme Soe helpe me God.
Acceptance of the Crown. The Two Houses to sit. Subjects’ Liberties to be allowed, and Ministers hereafter to serve according to the same. William and Mary declared King and Queen. Limitation of the Crown. Papists debarred the Crown. Every King, &c. shall make the Declaration of 30 Car. II. If under 12 Years old, to be done after Attainment thereof. King’s and Queen’s Assent
Upon which their said Majestyes did accept the Crowne and Royall Dignitie of the Kingdoms of England France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging according to the Resolution and Desire of the said Lords and Commons contained in the said Declaration. And there upon their Majestyes were pleased That the said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons being the two Houses of Parlyament should continue to sitt and with their Majesties RoyallConcurrence make effectuall Provision for the Setlement of the Religion Lawes and Liberties of this Kingdome soe that the same for the future might not be in danger againe of being subverted, To which the said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons did agree and proceede to act accordingly. Now in pursuance of the Premisses the said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in Parlyament assembled for the ratifying confirming and establishing the said Declaration and the Articles Clauses Matters and Things therein contained by the Force of a Law made in due Forme by Authority of Parlyament doe pray that it may be declared and enacted That all and singular the Rights and Liberties asserted and claimed in the said Declaration are the true auntient and indubitable Rights and Liberties of the People of this Kingdome and soe shall be esteemed allowed adjudged deemed and taken to be and that all and every the particulars aforesaid shall be firmly and strictly holden and observed as they are expressed in the said Declaration And all Officers and Ministers whatsoever shall serve their Majestyes and their Successors according to the same in all times to come. And the said LordsSpirituall and Temporall and Commons seriously considering how it hath pleased Almighty Godin his marvellous Providence and mercifull Goodness to this Nation to provide and preserve their said Majestyes Royall Persons most happily to Raigne over us upon the Throne of their Auncestors for which they render unto him from the bottome of their Hearts their humblest Thanks and Praises doe truely firmely assuredly and in the Sincerity of their Hearts thinke and doe hereby recognize acknowledge and declare That King James the Second haveing abdicated the Government and their Majestyes haveing accepted the Crowne and Royall Dignity [X4as]aforesaid Their said Majestyes did become were are and of right ought to be by the Lawes of this Realme our Soveraigne Liege Lord and Lady King and Queene of England France and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging in and to whose Princely Persons the Royall State Crowne and Dignity of the said Realmes with all Honours Stiles Titles Regalities Prerogatives Powers Jurisdictions and Authorities to the same belonging and appertaining are most fullyrightfully and intirely invested and incorporated united and annexed And for preventing all Questions and Divisions in this Realme by reason of any pretended Titles to the Crowne and for preserveing a Certainty in the Succession thereof in and upon which the Unity Peace Tranquillity and Safety of this Nation doth under God wholly consist and depend The said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons doe beseech their Majestyes That it may be enacted established and declared That the Crowne and Regall Government of the said Kingdoms and Dominions with all and singular the Premisses thereunto belonging and appertaining shall bee and continue to their said Majestyes and the Survivour of them dureing their Lives and the Life of the Survivour of them And that the entire perfect and full Exercise of the Regall Power and Government be onely in and executed by his Majestie in the Names of both their Majestyes dureing their joynt Lives And after their deceases the said Crowne and Premisses shall be and remaine to the Heires of the Body of her Majestie and for default of such Issue to her Royall Highnesse the Princess Anne of Denmarke and the Heires of her Body and for default of such Issue to the Heires of the Body of his said Majestie And thereunto the said Lords Spirituall andTemporall and Commons doe in the Name of all the People aforesaid most humbly and faithfully submitt themselves their Heires and Posterities for ever and doe faithfully promise That they will stand to maintaine and defend their said Majesties and alsoe the Limitation and Succession of the Crowne herein specified and contained to the utmost of their Powers with their Lives and Estates against all Persons whatsoever that shall attempt any thing to the contrary. And whereas it hath beene found by Experience that it is inconsistent with the Safety and Welfaire of this Protestant Kingdome to be governed by a Popish Prince F2… the said Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons doe further pray that it may be enacted That all and every person and persons that is are or shall be reconciled to or shall hold Communion with the See or Church ofRome or shall professe the Popish Religion F3… shall be excluded and be for ever uncapeable to inherit possesse or enjoy the Crowne and Government of this Realme and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging or any part of the same or to have use or exercise any Regall Power Authoritie or Jurisdiction within the same [X5And in all and every such Case or Cases the People of these Realmes shall be and are hereby absolved of their Allegiance] And the said Crowne and Government shall from time to time descend to and be enjoyed by such person or persons being Protestants as should have inherited and enjoyed the same in case the said person or persons soe reconciled holding Communion or Professing F4… as aforesaid were naturally dead [X6And that every King and Queene of this Realme who at any time hereafter shall come to and succeede in the Imperiall Crowne of this Kingdome shall on the first day of the meeting of the first Parlyament next after his or her comeing to the Crowne sitting in his or her Throne in the House of Peeres in the presence of the Lords and Commons therein assembled or at his orher Coronation before such person or persons who shall administer the Coronation Oath to him or her at the time of his or her takeing the said Oath (which shall first happen) make subscribe and audibly repeate the Declaration mentioned in the Statute made in the thirtyeth yeare of the Raigne of King Charles the Second Entituled An Act for the more effectuall Preserveing the Kings Person and Government by disableing Papists from sitting in either House of Parlyament But if it shall happen that such King or Queene upon his or her Succession to the Crowne ofthis Realme shall be under the Age of twelve yeares then every such King or Queene shall make subscribe and audibly repeate the said Declaration at his or her Coronation or the first day of the meeting of the first Parlyament as aforesaid which shall first happen after such Kingor Queene shall have attained the said Age of twelve yeares.] All which Their Majestyes are contented and pleased shall be declared enacted and established by authoritie of this present Parliament and shall stand remaine and be the Law of this Realme for ever And the same are by their said Majesties by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in Parlyament assembled and by the authoritie of the same declared enacted and established accordingly.