William III of England Quotes

[T]he Greatness and Security, both of Kings, Royal Families, and of all such as are in Authority, as well as the Happiness of their Subjects and People, depend in a most especial manner, upon the exact observation and maintenance of these their Laws, Liberties, and Customs.

[T]he Flourishing of Trade, the Supporting of Credit, and the Quiet of Peoples Minds at home, will depend upon the Opinion they have of their Security; and to preserve to England the Weight and Influence it has at present on the Councils and Affairs Abroad, it will be requisite Europe should see you will not be wanting to your selves.

It is fit I should tell you, the Eyes of all Europe are upon this Parliament, all Matters are at a stand till your Resolutions are known, and therefore no Time ought to be lost.
You have yet an opportunity, by God's Blessing, to secure to you and your Posterity the quiet Enjoyment of your Religion and Liberties, if you are not wanting to your selves, but will exert the Ancient Vigor of the English Nation: But I tell you plainly My Opinion is, If you do not lay hold on this Occasion, you have no Reason to hope for another.

In order to obviate the general Calamity with which the rest of Christendom is threatned by this Exorbitant Power of France, I have concluded several Alliances, according to the Encouragement given Me by Both Houses of Parliament; which I will direct shall be laid before you, and which I do not doubt you will enable Me to make good.

Our Naval Force being increased to near double what it was at my Accession to the Crown, the Charge of Maintaining it will be proportionably augmented; and it is certainly necessary for the Interest and Reputation of England, to have always a great Strength at Sea.
The Circumstances of Affairs Abroad are such, that I think my self oblig'd to tell you My Opinion, That for the present, England cannot be Safe without a Land Force, and I hope We shall not give those who mean Us Ill, the opportunity of Effecting that, under the Notion of a Peace, which they could not bring to pass by a War.

The Owning and Setting up the Pretended Prince of Wales for King of England, is not only the highest Indignity offered to Me and the whole Nation, but does so nearly concern every Man, who has a Regard for the Protestant Religion, or the present and future Quiet and Happiness of your Country, that I need not Press you to lay it seriously to Heart, and to consider what further effectual Means may be used for securing the Succession of the Crown in the Protestant Line, and Extinguishing the Hopes of all Pretenders, and their open or Secret Abettors.

And We for our Part, will concur in every thing that may Procure the Peace and Happiness of the Nation, which a free and lawfull Parliament shall determine; since We have nothing before our Eyes in this our Undertaking, but the Preservation of the Protestant Religion, the covering of all Men from Persecution for their Consciences, and the securing to the whole Nation the free Enjoyment of all their Laws, Rights and Liberties, under a just and legal Government.

[T]his our Expedition is intended for no other Design, but to have a free and lawful Parliament assembled, as soon as possible.

We do in the last place invite and require all Persons whatsoever, all the Peers of the Realm, both Spiritual and Temporal, all Lord Lieutenants, Deputy Lieutenants, and all Gentlemen, Citizens, and other Commons of all Ranks, to come and assist us in order to the executing of this our Design, against all such as shall endeavour to oppose us, that so we may prevent all those Miseries which must needs follow upon the Nations being kept under Arbitrary Government and Slavery; and that all the Violences and Disorders which have overturned the whole Constitution of the English Government, may be fully redressed in a <small>FREE AND LEGAL PARLIAMENT.</small>

I think My Self obliged to take Notice, how well the Army there [Ireland] have behaved themselves on all Occasions, and born great Hardships with little Pay, and with so much Patience and Willingness, as could not proceed but from an Affectionate Duty to My Service, and a Zeal for the Protestant Religion.

I did recommend to the last Parliament the Forming some good Bill for the Encouragement and Increase of Seamen; I hope you will not let this Session pass without doing somewhat in it; and that you will consider of such Laws as may be proper for the advancement of Trade, and will have a particular regard to that of the East-Indies, lest it should be lost to the Nation.

By the French King's placing his Grandson on the Throne of Spain, he is in a Condition to oppress the rest of Europe, unless speedy and effectual Measures be taken. Under this pretence, he is become the real Master of the whole Spanish Monarchy; he has made it to be entirely depending on France, and disposes of it as of his own Dominions, and by that means he has surrounded his Neighbours in such a manner, that though the Name of Peace may be said to continue, yet they are put to the Expence and Inconveniences of War.
This must affect England in the nearest and most sensible Manner, in respect to our Trade, which will soon become precarious in all the valuable Branches of it; in respect to our Peace and Safety at Home, which we cannot hope should long continue; and in respect to that part which England ought to take in the Preservation of the Liberty of Europe.

Let Me conjure you to disappoint the only Hopes of Our Enemies, by your Unanimity. I have shewn, and will always shew, how desirous I am to be the Common Father of all My People: Do you in like manner lay aside Parties and Divisions; Let there be no other Distinction heard of among Us for the future, but of those who are for the Protestant Religion and the present Establishment, and of those who mean a Popish Prince and a French Government.
I will only add this, If you do in good earnest desire to see England hold the Balance of Europe, and to be indeed at the Head of the Protestant Interest, it will appear by your right improving the present Opportunity.

I shall conclude with telling You, That as I have, with the Hazard of every Thing, Rescued your Religion, Laws and Liberties, when they were in the Extremest Danger; so I shall place the Glory of My Reign in Preserving them Entire, and leaving them so to Posterity.

Those great and insufferable Oppressions, and the open Contempt of all Law, together with the apprehensions of the sad Consequences that must certainly follow upon it, have put the Subjects under great and just Fears, and have made them look after such lawfull Remedies as are allowed of in all Nations; yet all has been without Effect. And those Evil Counsellours have endeavoured to make all Men apprehend the loss of their Lives, Liberties, Honours, and Estates, if they should go about to preserve themselves from this Oppression by Petitions, Representations, or other Means authorized by Law.