Protest of King James II and VII against the Treaty of Ryswick, June 8, 1697

The Latin original of this document was printed at London in 1697 (Wing J152). The English translation is based upon a text on pages 68 - 69 of The Legitimist Kalendar for the Year of Our Lord 1895, edited by the Marquis de Ruvigny and Raineval (London: Henry & Co., 1895); I have corrected the more obvious errors of translation, but many improvements in translation could still be made.

Iacobus Secundus, Dei Gratiae, Magnae Britanniae, Franciae, et Hiberniae Rex, Defensor Fidei, omnibus regibus, principibus, rebuspublicis, etc.	James the Second, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, to all kings, princes, republics, etc.
Postquam diuturno tamque funesto toti Christianae Reipublicae bello Europa conflagravit; cum utrimque omnes ad pacem componendam parati, eamque, nulla nostri ratione habita, iam iam sancituri videantur: oportunum et necessarium existimavimus eo quod nobis solummodo superest praesidio uti, ad ius dignitatis nostrae tuendum, adversus omnia quaecumque ad illius imminutionem damnamque nostrum fieri poterunt, publice protestando.	After so long and ruinous a war to all of Christendom in Europe, being convinced that all contending parties are disposed to peace, and even on the point of concluding it, without our participation, we think it requisite in this conjuncture, to make use of the only means remaining in our power to assert our undoubted right by a solemn protestation against whatever may be done to our prejudice.
Et quidem rerum antea in nos inique gestarum seriem fusius prosequi non est animus, cum illae in oculis omnium transactae, atque adeo notissimae, narrari non indigeant: esse vero qui de causae nostrae aequitate dubitent, arbitrari non possumus.	It is not our design to enter into a discussion of what is past, since the notoriety of what has happened to us had rendered it unnecessary, nor can we suppose, that anyone can doubt of the justice of our cause.
Nec sane afflicissima rerum nostrarum conditione, ex quo Princeps Auriacus regna nostra per vim occupavit solum commovemur: amor enim erga cives subditos nostros mutrari nescius, facit, ut non sine acerbissimo animi sensu videamus, eorum sanguini non magis quam opibus huc usque parcitum: eoque tandem redactos esse, ut si, nobis praetermissis, pax sanciatur, alienigenarum praedam, atque illorum imperio subditos illos esse necesse sit, quamdiu iniusta dominatio stabilis atque inconcussa permanebit.	The condition we are reduced to since the Prince of Orange occupied our kingdom by force is not our only trouble, for such is our unalterable love to our people, that we cannot without sorrow see their blood and treasure lavished in so unjustifiable a cause, nor can we but further reflect, that if any peace be made in our wrong, that they must become a prey to foreigners, for to such they must be subject while this unjust rule lasts.
Permolestum quoque nobis accidit, quod etsi consiliorum dignitatisque nostrae rationes omnes eo protissimum spectaverint, ut pacis auctores et conciliatores, eam in Orbe Christiano conservaremus, quo inevitabiles ex bello publicae calamitates praeverterentur, eum tamen fructum consequi non potuerimus. Quia vero sparsus ab hostibus nostris rumor percrebuit, initum a nobis secretum cum Christianissimo Regis foedus: tale nullum cum illo rege, nulto minus adversius foederatos ad presentis belli societatem princeps factum a nobis esse, fide regia interposita, declaramus.	We are likewise sensibly concerned not to have been in a condition of pursuing our inclinations and interest in preserving the peace of Christendom, and preventing the many unavoidable mischiefs of war; and whereas it was maliciously pretended by our enemies, that we had made a secret league with the Most Christian King, we declare on the word of a king we never made any league with that king, much less against the Prince's confederates in this war.
Quanti vero etiam adversus illos ipsos periculi plenum sit exemplum, quod in nobis statuunt, eos etiam atque etiam perpendere velimus; et quandoquidem non modo privata nostra, sed communis omnium prinipum res agitur, ut quo in regna nostra restituamur auxilio nos iuvent, aequum est ut postulemus. Perpendant animo gloriam quae in eos redundabit ex tam salubri consilio, omnium principum, quibus iura sanguinis regnum deferunt, saluti et dignitati congruo. Tandem videant an antiqua foedera quae cum illis redintegratuir sumus, non maiorem omnino firmitatem habitura sint, paxque longe certior nobis fideiussoribus futura non sit, quam si ab eo principe oblatas similes conditiones acceprent, qui ut iure omni, ita omni liberorum stirpe caret, quos, licet habuerit, etiam per abnormem illam legem quae post invasionem regni facta est, in illius locum succedere prohibentur.	We desire those princes will weigh how dangerous, the precedent they make, may prove to themselves, and since ours is the common cause of all Sovereigns, we call for their assistance in the recovery of our kingdoms: let them reflect how glorious such a resolution would be, and how suitable to the true interest of those who are born to govern, let them judge whether the former treaties (which we offer to renew with them) will not prove more lasting; and whether the peace now treated of, will not be better secured by our guarantee, than if they accept of the like offers from a prince, who has neither title nor succession, for should he have children hereafter, they stand excluded from the immediate claim to those crowns even by the pretended present settlement made since his usurpation.
Cum tamen foederatos intelligamus id agitare ut invasio illa, quasi pacis propositae fundamentum statuatur, postulat officii nostri ration, ut quod nobis ipsis, posteris, subdititque nostris debemus, quantum licet demus operam, ne silentio nostro, quasi tacita quadam consensione, omnibus quaecumque in nostri praeiudicim, legitimorumque haeredum regnorumque nostrorum fieri poterunt, auctoritas accedat.	But since we perceive the confederate potentates insist to have that usurpation made as a ground of a future peace, we find ourselves obliged not to let our silence be interpreted as a tacit acquiescence, to what may be concluded in prejudice of us or our lawful heirs.
Protestamur etiam adversus tractatus omnes foederis, confoederationis, aut commercii cum Anglia factos aut faciendos, ab invasionies tempore, utpote qui eadem auctoritate cum destituantur, irriti quoque et nulli sunt; atque ita neque nos, neque haeredes legitimosve successores, aut subditos nostro obligare ullatenus queant.	We protest in particular against all treaties of alliance, confederation and commerce, made with England since the usurpation, as being null by the same want of authority, and consequently incapable of binding us, our lawful heirs or successors, or subjects.
Protestamur pariter adversus omnia acta quaecumque confirmare, roborare, approbare, directe vel indeirecte possunt invasionem a Principe Auriaco factam; acta quoque omnia sub nomine parlamenti falso dicti, ab eo convocati, et praesertim illa, quibus leges regnorum nostrorum fundamentales, circa lineam successionis regiae, evertere conati sunt.	We further protest in general, against all acts whatsoever that pretend to confirm, authorise, or approve directly or indirectly the usurpation of the Prince of Orange, against all the proceedings of his pretended parliaments and whatever tends to the subversion of the fundamental laws of our kingdoms, particularly those relating to the succession to our crown.
Iterum protestamur et declaramus, defectus huius protestationis, si qui in forma fuerint, neque nobis, neque haeredibus legitimis nostris, rengis aut subditis, nocere aut damnum afferre posse atque his litteris sigillo nostro maiori munitis, nobis omnia iura nostra actionesque in integrum reservamus, easque salvas et integras manere et mansuras ese declaramus: adeo ut ultima quaeque experiri potius quam ab iure nostro decedere aut illud alieno iudicio committere, fixum apud nos et ratum sit.	We protest likewise and declare, that no omission or defect in forms, are, or can be of prejudice to us, our lawful heirs, crowns, or subjects, reserving and asserting by these presents under our great seal all our rights, and claims which remain, and shall remain in their full force, and no extremity shall oblige us to renounce our compromise.
Protestamur tandem coram Deo et homnibus immunes nos ab omni culpa aut reprehensione fore, neque in nos conferri posse causam calamitatum, quas iniuriae iam nobis illatae, vel si quae deinceps nobis infereantur, in regna nostra, totamque Christianam Rempublicam possunt accersere. Datum apud Sanctum Germanum die 8. iunii Anno Dom. 1697, regni nostri decimo tertio.	To conclude, we protest that after this we shall not think ourselves answerable before God nor men, for the ill consequences, the injustices already done, or hereafter may be done to us, will draw on our Kingdoms and all Christendom. Given at St. Germains, on the eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord 1697, in the thirteenth year of our reign.
Per ipsum regem manu propia.	By the King in his own hand.