An extract from a letter sent from the ‘Immortal Seven’ to the Prince of Orange inviting him to become King of England, 30 June 1688. Catalogue ref: SP 8/1/224.
This extract comes from a document that was written in June 1688. This letter was written by a group that later became known as the ‘Immortal Seven’. This included: Edward Russell, Henry Sidney, Lord Richard Lumley, Henry Compton, Bishop of London, Charles Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, William Cavendish, Earl of Devonshire, and Thomas Osborne, Earl of Danby. In this letter, they invite William of Orange to invade England and promise that they will support him when he arrives.
Transcript
June the 30th 1688
We have great satisfaction to find by 35, and since by M. Zulestein, that your Highness is so ready and willing to give us such assistances as they have related to us. We have great reason to believe that we shall be every day in a worse condition than we are and less able to defend ourselves, and therefore we do earnestly wish we might be so happy as to find a remedy before it be too late for us to contribute to our own deliverance; but although these be our wishes yet we will by no means put your Highness into any expectations which may misguide your own counsels in this matter, so that the best advice we can give is to inform your Highness truly both of the state of things here at this time and of the difficulties which appear to us. As to the first, the people are so generally dissatisfied with the present conduct of the Government in relation to their religion, liberties, and properties (all which have been greatly invaded), and they are in such expectation of their prospects being daily worse that your Highness may be assured there are nineteen parts of twenty of the people throughout the Kingdom who are desirous of a change[…]
- Why do the writers of this letter ask William to invade England? Find specific evidence from the source to support your point.
- How do the writers reassure William that he will be supported in England?
This letter was written by a group that later became known as the ‘Immortal Seven’. This included: Edward Russell, Henry Sidney, Lord Richard Lumley, Henry Compton, Bishop of London, Charles Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, William Cavendish, Earl of Devonshire, and Thomas Osborne, Earl of Danby.
- How representative of the English people would you describe this group?
- The writers discuss their ‘religion, liberties, and properties’. What are they referring to?