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Protestantism in Scotland - James Aitken Wylie

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thought it his duty to raise his voice and demand<br />

securities before committ<strong>in</strong>g the religion and<br />

liberties of England <strong>in</strong>to the hands of the new<br />

sovereign.[1]<br />

Know<strong>in</strong>g the wide distrust enterta<strong>in</strong>ed by the<br />

nation, and fear<strong>in</strong>g perhaps that it might break out<br />

<strong>in</strong> turmoil, <strong>James</strong> met his Council the same day on<br />

which his brother died, and voluntarily made <strong>in</strong><br />

their presence the follow<strong>in</strong>g declaration: -- " I shall<br />

make it my endeavor to preserve this government,<br />

both <strong>in</strong> Church and State, as it is now by law<br />

established. I know, too, that the laws of England<br />

are sufficient to make the k<strong>in</strong>g as great a monarch<br />

as I can wish; and as I shall never depart, from the<br />

just rights and prerogatives of the crown, so I shall<br />

never <strong>in</strong>vade any man's property." These words,<br />

pr<strong>in</strong>ted and diffused over the country, quieted the<br />

fears of the nation. They were accepted as an<br />

explicit promise of two th<strong>in</strong>g: first, that <strong>James</strong><br />

would not change the religion of the nation; and<br />

secondly, that lm would not tax the people but with<br />

the consent of his Parliament.<br />

528

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