WE Your Majesties most Loyal Subjects the Commons of England in Parliament Assembl­ed, have taken into our most serious Conside­ration the Condition and State of this Nation in respect of France, and Foreign Alliances; In order to which we have Examined the Mischiefs brought upon Christendom in late Years by the French Ring, who, without any respect to Iu­stice, has by Fraud and Force endeavoured to subject it to an Arbitrary and universal Monarchy.

In Prosecution of this Design so pernicious to the Re­pose and safety of Europe, he has neglected none of those means how indirect soever, which his Ambition or Avarice could suggest to him. The Faith of Treaties among all Princes, especially Christian Princes, ever held most Invi­olable, has never been able to refir in him, nor the solem­nest Oaths to bind him, when any Occasion presented it self for Extending the Limits of his Kingdom, or Oppressing those whom his Interest inclined him to Qualifie by the Name of his Enemies. Witness his haughty and ground­less Declaration of Warr against the States General of the Unit­ted Provinces in the Year 1672, in which he assigned no other Reason for disturbing that profound Peace, which through Gods Mercy, all Europe enjoyed at that time, But his own glory and his Resolution to punish the Dutch, for some ima­ginary flights and disrespects, which he would have had the World believe they had put upon him: whereas the true Occasion of that War was nothing else but a formed design laid down and agreed upon by that King and his Accomp­lices, for the subversion of the Liberties of Europe, and for Abolishing the Common-Wealth of Holland, as being too dangerous an Example of Liberty to the subjects of neigh­bouring Monarchs. The Zeal for Catholick Religion which was pretended by him in this & the following wars, did afterwards sufficiently appear to the World, to be no other than a Cloak for his unmeasurable Ambition; For at the same time when the Persecution gre [...] h [...]t [...]est against the Protestants of France, Letters were intercepted (and Published) from him to Count Teckery, to give him the greatest Incouragement, and promise him the [...]most A­sistance in the War, which in Conjunction with the E [...]rk he then mannaged against the first and greatest of all the Roman Catholick Princes.

Witness also the many open infractions of the Treaties, both of Aix la Chapelle and Nimeguen (whereof Your Ma­jest is the strongest Guarranty) upon the most frivolous Pretences imaginable, of which the most usual was that of Dependancies; an Invention set on foot on purpose to serve for a pretext of Rupture with all his Neighbors, un­less they chose rather to satisfie his Endless Demands, by abandoning on̄e Place after another, to his insatiable appe­tite of Empire, & for maintaining whereof, the two Cham­bers of Metz and Brissach were, Erected to find out and forge Titles, and to invent Equivocal Constructions for eluding the plain meaning of Treaties Concluded and sworn with the greatest Solemnity, and than which nothing can be more Sacred among Mankind.

From hence it was also that Srasburg was so infamously Surprized by the French King in a time of full Peace, and though great Conditions were Agreed and promised to the Inhabitants of that City, yet no sooner was he in Possessi­on of it, but all Stipulations were forgotten, and that Ancient free City doth now groan under the same Yoke with the rest of that King's Subjects.

The building the Fort of Hunningen contrary to so many solemn Assurances given to the Switzes, and the Affair of Luxemburgh are too well known to need a particular De­duction. In a word, the whole Series of the French Kings Actions for many Years last past has been so ordered, as if it were his intention not only to render his own people extrem­ly miserable, by intollerable imposition of Tares, to be em­ployed in maintaining an incredible Number of Dragoons and other Souldiers, to be the instruments of his Cruelty upon such of them as refuse in all things to comply with his unjust Commands, but likewise to hold all the neighbour­ing Powers in perpetual Alarm and Expence for the main­taining of Armies and Fleets, that they may be in a posture to defend themselves against the Invador of their common safety and Liberties.

Examples of this sort might be innumerable, but his In­vasion of Flanders and Holland since the last Truce of 1684. and the Outrages committed upon the Empire by attack­ing the Fort of Philipsburg, without any Declaration of war at the same time that his Imperial Majesty was imploy­ing all his Forces against the common Enemy of the Chri­stian Faith, and his wasting the Palatinate with fire and sword and murdering an infinite number of innocent Persons for no other Reasons ▪ as himself has [Page 3]publickly declared, but because he thought the Electo [...] Pala­tine faithful to the interest of the Empire, and an Obstacle to the compassing his ambitious Designs, are sufficient Instances of this.

To these we cannot, but with a particular Resent­ment add the injuries done to your Majesty in the most un­just and violent seizing of your Principality of Orange, and the utmost Insolencies committed on the Persons of your Majesties Subjects there; and how to facilitate his Con­quests upon his Neighbour Princes, he ingaged the Turks in a war against Christendom at the same time.

And as if violating of Treaties, and ravaging the Coun­tries of his Neighbours States were not sufficient means of advancing his exorbitant Power and Greatness, he has con­stantly had recourse to the vilest and meanest Arts, for the Ruine of those, whom he had taken upon him to subdue to his will and power, insinuating himself by his Emissaries un­der the sacred Name and Character of Publick Ministers, into those who were intrusted in the Government of Kingdoms and States, suborning them by Gifts and pensions, to the selling their Masters and betraying their Trusts, and de­scending even to Intrigues by women, who were sent or married into the Countries of diverse potent Princes, to lie as Snakes in their Bosoms to eat out of their Bowels, or to instil that Poyson into them which might prove the De­struction of them and their Countries, of which Poland, Sav­oy and Spain, to mention no more at present, can give but too ample Testimonies.

The insolent Vse he has made of his ill-gotten Greatness has been as Extravagant as the means of procuring it, for this the single Instance of Genoa may suffice; which with­out the least notice or any Ground of a quarrel whatsoever was bombarded by the French Fleet, and the Doge and four Principal Senators of that Free: State constrained in person to humble themselves at that Monarchs Feet; which in the Style of France was called Chastising Soveraigns for casting Umbrage upon his Greatness.

His Practises against England have been of the same nature, and by corrupt means he has constantly and with too much Success en­deavoured to get such Power in the Court of England, in the time of King Charles the Second and the late King Iames, as might by degrees undermine the Government and true Interest of this flouri­shing Kingdom.

Another Art which he has used to weaken England, and subject it to his aspiring Designs, was never to admit an equal Bal­lance of Trade, nor consent to any just Treaty or Settlement of Com­merce, by which he promoted our Ruine at our own Charge.

When from a Iust Apprehension of this formidable growing Power of France, the Nation became zealous to right themselves; and the House of Commons, in the year. 1677. being assured they should have an actual War against France, cheerfully raisēd a great Sum of Money, and an Army as readily appeared to carry on the War; that Interest of France had still power enougd to render all this ineffectual, and to frustrate the Nation of all their Popes and Expectations.

Nor did France only tender this desired War ineffectual, but had Power enough to make us practice their Injustice and Irregulari­ties, (some years before) by turning our Force against out next Neighbours, by assaulting their Smirna Fleet.

Nor were they more Industrious, by Corrupt Means, to obtain this Power, than careful, by the same ways to support it; and knowing that from Parliaments only could probably proceed an Ob­struction to their Secret Practises, they attempted to make a Bar­gain, That they should not meet in such a time; in which they might hope to perfect their Designs of enslaving the Nation.

In the same Confidence of this Power they violently seized upon part of Hudson's Bay; and when the matter was complained of by the Company, and the Injury offered to be proved, the best Expedi­ent France could find to cover their Injustice, and prevent Satisfa­ction, was to make use of their great Interest in the Court of Eng­land to keep it from ever coming to be heard.

The French King, in pursuance of his usual Methods, of laying hold of any Opportunity that might increase his Power, and give Disturbance to others, has now carried on an actual War in Ire­land, sending thither a great number of Officers with Money, Arms and Ammunition, and under the pretence of assisting the late King Iames, he has taken the Government of Affairs into his Hands, by putting all Officers into [...], and managing the whole Bu [...]ness by his Ministers, and has already begun to use the same Cruelties and Violences upon your Majesty's Subiects, as he has lately practised in his own Dominions, and in all other places, where he has got Power enough to destroy.

Lastly, The French King's Declaration of War against the Crown of Spain, is wholly grounded upon its Friendship to your Maiesty's Royal Person, and no other cause of denouncing War a­gainst it is therein alledged, than the Resolution taken in that Court, to favour your Maiesty, whom he most injuriously terms, the V [...]per of England, an Insolence never-enough to be resented and detested by your Ma [...]esty's Subiects.

After our humble Representation of all these Particulars to your Ma­jesty, your Majesty sh [...]l think fit to enter into War against France, We [...] assure Your Majesty, That we will give you such Assistance in a Parliamentary way, as shall enable your Maiesty to support and go through the same; and we shal not doubt, but by the Blessing of God upon your Majesty's prudent Conduct, a [...]p may be put to that growing Greatness of the French King, which [...]aties all Chri­stendom with [...] absolute Sla [...]y, the incredible quantity of Innocent Bloodshed may [...]venged, his Oppressed Neighbours restored to their Ius [...] Rights and [...], your Majesty's Alliances and the [...]e [...]ty of N [...]e [...]n supported to that degree, that all Eu­rope in General, and this Nation in Particular may for [...]ve [...] have [...] Majesty, as the great [...] of Iustice and Liberty, and the [...]ser and [...]er [...]er of all Violence, Cruelty and [...] Power.