The Debate at Large, Between the House of Lords and House of Commons, at the Free Conference, held in the Painted Chamber, in the Session of the Convention, anno 1688

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[English Parliamentary History relating to the Glorious Revolution of 1688 also known as the Bloodless Revolution]; King James II. The Debate at Large, Between the House of Lords and House of Commons, at the Free Conference, held in the Painted Chamber, in the Session of the Convention, anno 1688 ; Relating to the Word, Abdicated, and the Vacancy of the Throne, in the Common’s Vote. London: Printed for J. Wickins; and to be sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster, 1695. First Edition. pp. 2, 19-176. 8vo. Contemporary quarter-brown suede over terracotta cloth boards, gilt lettering to the spine, red speckeld foredges, new endpapers. Light rubbing to the suede leather, hint of sunning to the front board, else, extremities remain in near fine condition. Contents remarkably well-preserved indicating only a touch of slight foxing, chiefly confined to the preliminary pages, otherwise, without blemish, markings, or notations. Overall, very good+. The British Library in their catalogued entry notes the presence of two variants of the imprint [‘The first line of the imprint has “And Sold”. Another edition has “And to be Sold” ‘]; our copy reads the latter. See ESTC Citation Nos. R224964 (006131506) & R14958 (006080775). See also Wing, Citation No. D506. Scarce in commerce. Leather Bound.

A remarkable and crucial historical account of the raging debates within the English parliament surrounding the events leading up to the Glorious Revolution of 1688, also known as the Bloodless Revolution [An Réabhlóid Ghlórmhar (Irish): Rèabhlaid Ghlòrmhor (Scottish Gaelic); Chwyldro Gogoneddus (Welsh); Glorieuze Overtocht (Dutch)], which witnessed the deposition of James II (also, James VII of Scotland) from the English Throne in favour of his daughter Mary II and her husband, “stadtholder and de facto ruler of the Dutch Republic”, William III of Orange. The Revolution would see the passage of the landmark Bill of Rights of 1689, ensured the exclusion of Catholics from the English throne, severely curtailed the monarch’s power, and witnessed the effective establishment of a constitutional monarchy, thereby, ensuring the supremacy of Parliament. It further led to the Act of Toleration of 1689, granting toleration to “Nonconformist Protestants” (but excluding Catholics whose emancipation would be delayed for a further 140 years). The present volume deals chiefly with Parliament’s resolution relating to whether James had forfeited, or, abdicated the throne by virtue of his having discarded the “Great Seal of the Realm” into the River Thames prior to fleeing for France, his subsequent capture at Kent, and later exile under the protection of Louis XIV of France. Ultimately, Parliament declared that: “King James II having endeavoured to subvert the constitution of the kingdom, by breaking the original contract between king and people, and, by the advice of Jesuits and other wicked persons, having violated the fundamental laws, and having withdrawn himself out of this kingdom, has abdicated the government, and that the throne is thereby vacant.” (#4528) $745.00