s for proceeding by martial law may be
revoked and annulled; and that hereafter no commissions of like nature
may issue forth to any person or persons whatsoever, to be executed as
aforesaid, lest by colour of them any of your Majesty's subjects be
destroyed or put to death, contrary to the laws and franchise of the
land.

All which they most humbly pray of your Most Excellent Majesty, as
their rights and liberties according to the laws and statutes of this
realm: and that your Majesty would also vouchsafe to declare, that the
awards, doings, and proceedings to the prejudice of your people, in
any of the premises, shall not be drawn hereafter into consequence or
example: and that your Majesty would be also graciously pleased, for
the further comfort and safety of your people, to declare your royal
will and pleasure, that in the things aforesaid all your officers and
ministers shall serve you, according to the laws and statutes of this
realm, as they tender the honour of your Majesty, and the prosperity
of this kingdom.

[Which Petition being read the 2d of June, 1628, th eKing gave the
following evasive and unsatisfactory answer, instead of the usual one,
given below.]

The King willeth that right be done according to the laws and customs
of the realm: and that the statutes be put in due execution, that his
subjects may have no cause to complain of any wrong or oppressions,
contrary to their just rights and liberties, to the preservation
whereof he holds himself as well obliged as of his prerogative.

On June 7 the King decided to make answer in the accustomed form, Soit
droit fait comme est desir'e. [Equivalent to the form of royal assent,
"Le roi (or la reine) le veult," meaning "the King grants it." On the
Petition of Right, see Hallam and compare Gardiner's "England"; and
his "Documents of the Puritan Revolution."]

The Bill of Rights, 1689.

This Bill consists of thirteen Articles, of which the following is an
abstract. It begins by stating that "Whereas the late King James II,
by the advice of divers evil counsellors, judges, and ministers
employed by him, did endeavor to subvert and extirpate the Protestant
religion, and the laws and liberties of this kingdom:" 1. By
dispensing with and suspending the laws without consent of Parliament.
2. By prosecuting worthy bishops for humbly petitioning him to be
excused for concurring in the same assumed power. 3. By erecting a
High Commission Court. 4. By levying