Declaration of Breda
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Breda in the Netherlands, where King Charles II of England resided during his exile, has given its name to his Declaration of Breda (1660). In this proclamation, issued on 4 April, Charles made known the conditions of his acceptance of the crown of England which he was to accept/resume later in the same year. Copies were delivered to both houses of the Convention Parliament by Sir John Grenville. Other copies were with separate letters were delivered to Lord General George Monck to be communicated to the Lord President of the Council of State and to the Officers of the Army under his command, and to the Generals of the "Navy at Sea", and the City of London.
The Declaration was drawn up by Charles and his three chief advisors Edward Hyde, the Marquis of Ormond and Sir Edward Nicholas. It guaranteed an amnesty to any old enemies of the King-to-be and of his father who recognized Charles II as their lawful monarch, with the exception of some of the regicides. It also promised religious toleration, and undertook to settle army pay arrears.
External links
- April 4, 1660. Old Parliamentary History, xxii. 238. See Masson's Life of Milton, v. 697 (http://www.constitution.org/eng/conpur105.htm)
- The Declaration of Breda. The original is in Journals of the House of Lords, XI, 7-8 (http://www.swan.ac.uk/history/teaching/teaching%20resources/Revolutionary%20England/Breda.htm)
- The Diary of Samuel Pepys (http://www.pepysdiary.com/p/729.php)
- UK Citizenship: Religious minorities (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/citizenship/rise_parliament/religious.htm)