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The English Bill of Rights (1689)
an act for declaring the rights and liberties
of the subject, and settling the succession
o f t h e c ro w n .
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 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, viz.:—
‘‘Whereas the late King James II., by the assistance of divers evil counsellors, 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 the 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
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