Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/45

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DISCOURSE.
xxxix

ved even of the franchiſes of Engliſhmen, reduced to the moſt abject ſtate of ſlavery, and left without hopes or means of redreſs but from your majeſty or God.

Deign then, Moſt Gracious Sovereign, to liſten to the prayer of the moſt faithful of your Majeſty’s ſubjects; and to baniſh from your royal favour, truſt, and confidence, for ever, thoſe evil and pernicious counſellors, who have endeavoured to alienate the affection of your Majeſty’s moſt ſincere and dutiful ſubjects, and whoſe ſuggeſtions tend to deprive your people of their deareſt and moſt eſſential rights, and who have traiterouſly dared to depart from the ſpirit and letter of thoſe laws which have ſecured the crown of theſe realms to the houſe of Brunſwick; in which we make our moſt earneſt prayers to God, that it may continue untarniſhed to the lateſt poſterity.”

(Copy)

Signed by

1565 Freeholders.

We ſhall now diſmiſs this diſcourſe, with our ſincere wiſhes, that a ſpeedy end may be put to the preſent national diviſions, and that the vigour of the Britiſh conſtitution may remain unimpaired

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