Page:The Hardships of the English Laws in Relation to Wives. Bodleian copy.pdf/8

 We hope that this inetimable Privilege is not wholly confined to the Male Line, but that we his Majety's faithful Female Subjects, may alo helter ourelves under his mot gracious Protection, our Condition being of all others in his Dominions the mot deplorable, we being the leat able to help ourelves, and the mot expoed to Oppreion.

Thi is certainly true, in every State of Life, but in none o notoriouly, and without all Redres, as when we put ourelves in a Condition of adding to his Majety's Subjects by becoming Wives, under which Character we humbly addres his mot acred Majety, and the honourable Houes of Parliament, for an Alteration or a Repeal of ome Laws, which, as we conceive, put us in a wore Condition than Slavery itelf.

We are now apprehenive of more frequent Oppreion from thee Laws, as this is an Age in which the Foundation of all the noble Principles of Chritianity (which are our only Protection) are broken up, and Deim, that Underminer of all that is truly laudable, with its Legions of Immorality, Prophanenes, and conummate Impudence are let in upon us. All