German

Satirical book describing a fictional dialogue between Charles II and his successor and brother James II. In the dialogue he tells James that his death was caused by a poisoned piece of chocolate. The ghost of Charles tells James that his time to reign is short. James defends his reign, saying that he eliminated the Test and Penal Acts but the English still dislike him. Charles tells him that the People no longer trust the King, since James' French ally treated the Huguenots so poorly. Charles suggests that James commit suicide and disappears, leaving James in desperation and thinking of nothing except his downfall and eventual death. (anonymously written)

[“Political considerations and state comments about the letter from Lord Fagel, councilor and Pensioner of Holland, in which he answers the letter from Lord James Stewart.”] Regarding the ongoing correspondence between Lord Fagel and (King James II) James Stewart about the repeal of the Test Act and penal laws. Original in French; no English version available. 1688.

[“Council inquiry to the Oraculum by the potentates of the earth, to determine whether the God-given Prince of Wales was a changeling, or if he was the legitimate son?”] Whitehall; Translated from the English to French, and from the French into High German; printed in the year 1688. Regarding the conflict over the legitimacy of the son of James II, James Francis Edward Stuart (1688-1766). When he was born, a rumor was spread (by supporters of the Williamites, or supporters of William III) that James F.E. Stuart was a changeling smuggled into the birth chamber after the true heir was stillborn. Although this rumor was most likely untrue, it persisted throughout his life.

[“Response by Father Peterson, Confessor to the King of England, responding to the June 10, 1688 letter from Father la Chaise, Confessor to the King of France. Regarding the details of the discovery and birth of the young Prince of Wales, as well as other political issüs. Printed…in the year 1688, the same year the betrayal was discovered.”] Ongoing correspondence between Father Peterson of England and Father de la Chaise of France, 1688.

[Declaration of His Royal Majesty by the Grace of God William Henry, Prince of Orange.] The Declaration of His Highness William Henry, by the Grace of God, Prince of Orange, etc., of the reasons inducing him to appear in arms in the Kingdom of England, and for preserving the Protestant religion, and for restoring the laws and liberties of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Translated from Dutch, printed in the year 1688. Reasons given are that James II had undermined the rule of laws in England, that the counsellors of James II were corrupt and providing him with bad advice and had encouraged him to overturn religious laws and subject the citizens of England to arbitrary governing. William's chief complaints were that James had agreed to uphold religious toleration of Protestants and the Church of England, but James was a Catholic and replaced many Protestant civil servants with Catholics who had not been required to take the oath mandated by the Test Act.

[Newly discovered Jesuit attacks on the Protestants of England, in the two following recent letters between B. Petersen (Jesuit and Director of Alms to the King of Great Britain) and Father de la Chaife, Confessor to the Most Christian King of France. Wherein England's current circumstances and ongoing reformation, abolition of Test and Penal Laws and other strange things to be found within. Year 1688.] Most likely falsified letters between two Jesuits (de la Chaise and Edward Peter) planning a "popish plot" to eliminate the "heretic" Protestants from England. Peter was a close advisor to the Catholic James II (deposed King of England). Peter was a Catholic living in a Protestant English court under William & Mary and was highly unpopular. It was alleged that these men, among others, were plotting to overthrow King William and reestablish James II to the throne of England.

Includes a copperplate illustration of the English Parliament in session. Figure A: the King standing from his throne in his royal garb and the crown on his head. Figure B. The Prince of Wales, or in absence thereof, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Figure C. The Duke of York or the Archbishop of York. Figure D. The Imperial Justice/ Professor of Law and the State Secretary. Figure E. The Speaker of the House of Commons (Lower House). Figure F. The members of the House of Lords (Upper House) in their proper order. The pamphlet describes how the Parliament is currently run, and then proposes how it should be run, via a free and open Parliament that is more representative of the People.

Two letters: 1. From “N.” to James II (then Prince of Orange) of England…..William, Prince of Orange, enters England armed; King James II of Great Britain fled with his wife and son the Prince of Wales to France……….2. From James II of England (then Prince of Orange) to Louis de Duras, 2nd Earl of Feversham. Written the day before he fled to France after being deposed. TEXT: “Whitehall, December 11 [22nd new style], 1688: Things being come to that extremity that I have been forced to send away the Queen and my son the Prince of Wales, that they might not fall into my enemies' hands (which they must have done had they stayed), I am obliged to do the same thing, and to endeavour to secure myself the best I can, in hopes that it will please God, out of his infinite mercy to this unhappy passion, to touch their hearts again with true loyalty and honour. If I could have relied on all my troops I might not have been put to this extremity I am in, and would, at least, have had one blow for it. But though I know there are amongst you very many loyal and brave men, both officers and soldiers, yet you know that both yourself and several of the general officers of the Army told me it was no ways advisable for me to venture myself at their head or to think to fight the Prince of Orange with them. And there remains only for me to thank you and all those, both officers and soldiers, who have stuck to me and been truly loyal, and hope you will still retain the same fidelity to me. And though I do not expect you should expose yourselves by resisting a foreign army and a poisoned nation, yet I hope your former principles are so rooted in you, that you will keep yourselves free from associations and such pernicious things. Time presses me so that I can say no more. J.R. I must add this, that as I have always found you loyal, so you have found me a kind master as you shall still find me.“

Depositions by the Council Chamber at Whitehall regarding the legitimate birth of James Francis Edward Stuart ("Jacobite Pretender") on June 10, 1688. Son of James II (deposed 1688); raised in France and recognized by King Louis XIV as King of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

A copy of the laws regarding religion, as they were highly debated but "scarce one in ten of the eager contenders truly knows what these penal laws and tests are." Printed by George Larkin, 1687. Written by Henry Care.