WHEREAS the late King James the Second , by the Assistance of divers Evil Counsellors , Judges , and Ministers Employ'd by Him , did endeavour to Subvert and Extirpate the Protestant Religion , and the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom ;

By Assuming and Exercising a Power of Dispensing with , and Suspending of Laws , and the Execution of Laws , without Consent of Parliament .

By Committing and Prosecuting divers Worthy Prelates , for humbly Petitioning to be Excused from concurring to the said assumed Power .

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 .

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 .

By raising and keeping a standing Army within this Kingdom in time of Peace , without Consent of Parliament ; and Quartering Soldiers contrary to Law .

By causing several Good Subjects , being Protestants , to be Disarmed at the same time , when Papists were both Armed and Imployed contrary to Law .

By violating the Freedom of Election of Members to serve in Parliament .

By Prosecutions in the Court of Kings-Bench for Matters and Causes cognizable only in Parliament ; and by divers other Arbitrary and Illegal Courses .

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 ;

And Excessive Bail hath been required of persons committed in Criminal Cases , to elude the benefit of the Laws made for the Liberty of the Subjects .

And Excessive Fines have been imposed .

And Illegal and Cruel Punishments inflicted .

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 hath 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 , Burroughs , and Cinque-Ports , for the Chusing of such Persons to represent them , as were of Right to be sent to Parliament , to Meet and Sit at Westminster upon the 22d day of January in this year 1683 , 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 ,

That the pretended Power of Suspending of Laws , or the Execution of Laws , by Regal Authority , without Consent of Parliament , is Illegal .

That the pretended Power of Dispensing with Laws , or the Execution of Laws , by Regal Authority , as it hath been assumed and exercised of late , is Illegal .

That the Commission for erecting the late Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes , and all other Commissions and Courts of the like nature , are Illegal and Pernicious .

That levying of 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 .

That it is the Right of the Subjects to Petition the King , and all Commitments and Prosecutions for such Petitioning , are Illegal .

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 .

That the Subjects which are Protestants may have Arms for their Defence suitable to their Condition , and as allowed by Law .

That Election of Members of Parliament ought to be free .

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 .

That Excessive Bail ought not to be required , nor Excessive Fines imposed , nor cruel and unusual Punishments inflicted .

That Jurors ought to be duly empannell'd and return'd , and Jurors which pass upon Men in Trials for High-Treason ought to be Freeholders .

That all Grants and Promises of Fines and Forfeitures of particular persons before Conviction , are Illegal and Void .

And that for redress of all Grievances , and for the amending , strengthening and preserving of the Laws , Parliaments ought to be held frequently

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 intire 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 ;

The said Lords Spiritual and Temporal , and Commons assembled at Westminster 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 Ann 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 said Lords Spiritual and Temporal , and Commons , do pray the said Prince and Princess of Orange to accept the same accordingly .

And that the Oaths hereafter mentioned be taken by all persons of 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 .