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562 Renzo Sabbatini

Appendice A

Declaration of James the third King of England, Scotland and Ireland, &c.
To all his Subjects of the three Nations and to all foreign Princes and States
to serve as a foundation for a lasting peace in Europe.
JAMES REX
The obligations which we owe to our own honour and to the Safety and
tranquility of our native Country, which above all ty’s is the dearest to us, and
the tenderest: the steps which are so apparently taken to enslave our people:
the late un-exampled violation of the freedom of Elections by which the British
Constitution is entirely subverted; and à new sort of Tyranny introduced
unknown to any other Nation: conspiracies invented on purpose to give
pretence for new Oppressions, and to arm the Nation against it self, at a time
when it was well known all attempts were imaginary and impracticable: the
Lives, Liberty’s, and fortunes of our Subjects at the mercy of infamous
informers, cruelly exposed every day to subornation and perjury, and every
honest well meaning man in a state of proscription.
These and many other considerations of the highest importance to the
repose and security of our people, exciting our compassion have engaged us
to enter seriously into ourself, to examine and consult our heart what sacrifice
to make on our part for the publick peace, and to consider earnestly of some
method of restoring tranquility, especially to those Kingdoms of which we are
the natural and undoubted Father.
To express there fore and signify in the most publick manner our ardent
desire to compose all present differences, and to avert all future Evils; that no
blame may be now, or hereafter imputed to us, bat that whatever Calamity’s
shall [2] happen may be onely and soly chargeable upon obstinacy or ambition
of others, we declare that provided the Elector of Hanover will deliver quietly
to us the possession of our own Kingdoms, we will make no inquisition for any
thing that is past; we will acknowledge him in the same dignity of King in his
native Dominions, inviting all other Princes and States to do the same, we will
live in brotherly amity with him, and contribute all our endeavours to establish
him, and his family in prosperity and Royal Grandeur, where an un-contested
right will free him from the Crime and Reproach of Tyranny and Usurpation,
and a quiet conscience make à Crown sit easy upon his head: leaving at the
same time his succession to our Dominions secure, wehenever [sic] in due
Course his natural right shall take place.
Let him compare a calm undisturbed Reign over a willing and obedient
people his natural born Subjects, with the restless unquiet possession of an
Usurper in a strange Land, where authority forcing the inclinations of the
people, can only be supported by blood, violence, and rapine; eternally Subject
to fears and allarms, even when no danger appears, for guilt can never rest.
Let him consider a fixt and solid E[s]tablishment of Regal power in him self
and his posterity, exposed to no chance, with the frail and uncertain settlement
of un usurped title, which must and Shall, whilst we have breath, or any
Descendants in being, be for ever disputed. Let him reflect that the Divine
Justice never fails sooner or later to chastise the oppressor, and to redress the
innocent and injur’d. Instead of advising with an Imperious Ministry, as much
his Tyrants as the Nation[’]s, Let him consult his reason, let him ask his

Mediterranea - ricerche storiche - Anno XV - Dicembre 2018 n.44
ISSN 1824-3010 (stampa) ISSN 1828-230X (online)