swerve from it and nothing can be proposed to manifest our Zeal and Affection for it to which we will not readily consent And we hope in due time our self so propose some what to you for the propagation of it that will satisfie the World that we have always made it both our care and our study and have enough observed what is most like to bring disadvantage to it HIS Majesty saw that it was the first 17. Religion as it was first in our thoughts so it was the Kings first and principal ca thing in all our thoughts and we cannot but Lord Keep Speech April 13. 1675. pag. 9. see that it hath been and still is the first and principal part of his care AND this Royal declaration of himself joyned to what 18. Therefore we need not doubt he hath since done carries in it self so evident an assurance and is stampt by so sacred an Authority that there remains no place for doubting nothing can scarce be added to the efficacy of it Id. ib. THEN after a repetition of the same words just above cited to the Speaker of the House of Commons in his Majesties Declaration concerning Ecclesiastical affairs He proceeds thus And the truth pag. 4. 5. 19. The King most fit to propose being the most competent Judg from his experience with the most learned of the reformed Churches abroad is we do think our self the more competent to propose and with Gods assistance to determine many things now in difference from the time we have spent and the experience we have had in most of the reformed Churches abroad in France in the Low Countries and in Germany where we have had frequent Conferences with the most learned men who have unanimously lamented the great reproach the Protestant Religion undergoes from the distempers and too notorious Schisins in matters of Religion 20. Our Religion suffers from the distempers and schisms that are in the Church in England And as the most learned amongst them have always with great submission and reverence acknowledged and magnified the established Government of the Church of England and the great Countenance and shelter the Protestant Religion received from it before these unhappy times so many of them have with great ingenuity and sorrow confessed that they were too easily misled by mis-information and prejudice into some dis-esteem of it as if it had too much complyed with the Church 21. Church of England the best fence against Popery in the World of Rome whereas they now acknowledge it to be the best fence God hath yet raised against Popery in the world and we are perswaded they do with great Zeal wish it restored to its old dignity and Veneration AND a little after in pag. 8 9. he further says We need 22. The Kings great esteem for the Church of England not profess the high Affection and Esteem we have for the Church of England as it is Established by Law the Reverence to which hath supported us with God's blessing against many temptations AS to the Opinion of the Presbyterians concerning Episcopacy hear how the King declares himself in this point When we were in Holland saith he we were attended by many grave and learned Ministers from hence who were looked upon as most able and principal assertors of the Presbyterian 23. Presbyterians affectionate to the King Zealous for the Peace of Church and State and no Enemies to Episcopacy Opinions with whom we had as much conference as the multitude of affairs which were then upon us would permit us to have and to our great satisfaction and comfort found them persons full of Affection to us of Zeal for the Peace of the Church and State and neither Enemies as they Pag. 5. Declar. conc Eccles affairs Octob. 25. 1660. at Whitehall have been given out to be to Episcopacy or Liturgy but modestly to desire such alalterations in either as without shaking Foundations might allay the present distempers which the indisposition of the time and the tenderness of some mens consciences had contracted AND We further find upon the full conference we 24. The Mischiefs the Church labours under as well as the State result from the passions and Interests of private persons have had with the learned men of several perswasions that the mischiefs under which both the Church and State do at present suffer do not result from any formed Doctrine or Conclusion Pag. 7. Of the same woich either party maintains or avows but from the passion and appetite and Interest of particular persons who contract greater prejudice to each other from those affections then would naturally arise from their Opinions FOR we must for the honour of all those of either persuasion 25. The professions and desires of both perswasions for the advance of Religion are the same with whom we have conferred declare that the professions and desires of all for the advancement of piety and true godliness are the same their professions of Zeal for the Peace of the Church the same of affection and duty to us the same they all approve Episcopacy they all approve a set form of Liturgy and they all disprove and dislike the sin of Sacriledge and the alienation of the Revenue of the Church and if upon these excellent foundations in submission to which there is such a harmony of affections any superstructures should be raised to the shaking Pag. 8. Of the same those foundations and to the contracting and lessening the blessed gift of Charity which is a vital part of Christian Religion we shall think our self very unfortunate and even suspect that we are defective in that administration of Government with which God hath intrusted us NOW we do not think that Reverence which we have 26. No Reverence for the Church of England lessened by dispensing with some Ceremonies in it for a while for the Church of England in the least degree diminished by our condescensions not peremptorily to insist on some particulars of Ceremony which however introduced by the piety and devotion and order of former times may not be so agreeable to the then present but may even lessen that piety and devotion for the improvement whereof they might happily be first introduced and consequently may well be dispensed with and we hope this Charitable compliance of ours will dispose the minds of all men to a cheerful submission to that Authority the preservation whereof is so necessary for the Vnity and 27. The support of Episcopacy the best support of Religion Peace of the Church and that they will Pag. 9. acknowledge the support of the Episcopal Authority to be the best support of Religion by being the means to contain the minds of men within the Rules of Government IF we had the command of as many tongues as his Majesty 28. His Majesty cannot be sufficiently thanked for his dispensing with some Ceremonies hath of hearts we could
and in time some prevalent Sect vvill at last contend for an Establishment vvhich for ought can be foreseen may end in Popery IT is a thing altogether vvithout Precedent and vvill take avvay all means of Convicting Recusants and be inconsistent vvith the Method and Proceedings of the Lavvs of England LASTLY it is humbly conceived that the Indulgence proposed vvill be so far from tending to the Peace of the Kingdom that it is rather likely to occasion great disturbance And on the contrary the asserting of the Lavvs and the Religion Established according to the Act of Uniformity is the most probable means to produce a Setled Peace and Obedience throughout your Kingdom because the variety of Professions in Religion vvhen openly indulged doth directly distinguish Men into Parties and vvithall gives them opportunity to count their Numbers vvhich considering the Animosities that out of a Religious Pride vvill be kept on foot by the several Factions doth tend directly and inevitably to open disturbance nor can your Majesty have any security that the Doctrine or Worship of the several Factions vvhich are all governed by a several Rule shall be consistent vvith the Peace of your Kingdom These Reasons vvere too povverful for his Majesty not to be 65. These Reasons o're-powred the King so that He yielded to them and He hoped that the Truly Religious and Peaceable would soon do so too overcome by them and therefore he yielded to their force and prevalency and doubted not but in a little vvhile The Truly Religious and the Peaceable vvould likevvise be brought over to a submissive Acquiescence and a dutiful compliance with them and that their minds would be better composed and the Peace of the Church Established And though he was verily perswaded That the great Piety and Devotion the Moderation Wisdom Charity and Hospitality of the Bishops would in a short time recover the Weak and the Misled to 66. And that by the Bishops Care and Example the Weak would be brought over to their Primitive Temper of Obedience to Laws and Government their Primitive Temper of a chearful Obedience and Submission to Laws and Government and so to be the best Neighbours and the best Friends and the best Subjects of the World yet was he not also insensible that the forwardness and pride of some might not be yet enough subdued The Humours and Spirits of such Men being too rough and boisterous and therefore was willing that there should be prepared sharper Laws and Penalties to contend with those Refractory Persons and to break that stuborness which would not bend to gentler 67. That those who would not must feel the weight of sharper Laws Applications and it is great reason that they upon whom Clemency cannot prevail should feel that severity they have provoked but still the Execution of those sharp Laws depends upon the Wisdome of the King who is the most discerning 68. But yet the Execution of those Laws depended on the King who was merciful and of a tender conscience himself generous and merciful Prince in the world and of so excellent a Nature and so tender a Conscience himself that he hath the highest compassion for all Errours of that kind as before is said But his constant zeal for the Church hath been visible throughout the whole course of his Reign scarce can he admit a Speech to come from him unless it hath in it some 69. His constant zeal the Church went above all things earnest request that his Parliament would take care of the Protestant Religion That they would see to secure the Church of England and to keep that up in all its just and Antient Rights THIS Zeal of his for the Church after the Dreadful Conflagration of his great City of London made the King so earnest with them soon after to get up some of their Churches Reedified that so the Service of God in the publick Worship might be performed and that we might there mourn for those our grievous sins which was the cause of Gods so heavy a judgment upon us These are his words We do heartily recommend it to the Charity and Magnanimity of all well-disposed Persons 70. How instant the King was to have Churches Rebuilt after the Fire of London that some might have publick places to worship and serve God in and we heartily pray unto Almighty God that he would infuse into the hearts of Men speedily to endeavour by degrees to Reedifie some of those many Churches which in this Lamentable Fire have been burnt down and defaced that so men may have those publick places of God's Worship to resort to to humble themselves together before him upon this his heavy dipsleasure and joyn in their Devotion for his future mercy blessing upon us as soon as we shall be informed 71. The King invites his People to it by the promise not only of his assistance and direction but of his Bounty too any readiness to begin such a good work we shall not only give our assistance and direction for the Model of it and freeing it from Buildings at so near a distance but shall encourage it by our own Bounty and all other ways we shall be desired Is not this sufficiently expressive of his zeal for upholding the True Religion What after this astonishing Judgment of Fire upon the Metropolitan City of this Kingdom was the King's first care ought to have been that of us all to endeavour to have God worshipped in his Sanctuary for this makes up the Beauty of Holyness and declares our great desires for what we all do at least outwardly profess to believe the Communion of Saints NOR did his Majesty rest here his zeal for the Church was his zeal for the service of it and he was resolved that nothing justly belonging to it should be lost Says He Our Care and Endeavours for the Preservation 72. His Majesty hath all along shewâ—d his care to preserve the Rights and Interests of the Church of the Rights and Interests His Majesties Declaration to all his Loving Subjects March 15. 1671. pag. 3. 4. of the Church have been sufficiently manifested to the World by the whole course of our Government since our happy Restauration and by the many and frequent ways of Coercion that we have used for reducing all erring or dissenting persons and for composing the unhappy differences in matters of Religion which we found among our Subjects upon our Return but it being evident by the sad experience of twelve years that there is very little 73. By the way the Supream Power in Ecclesiastical Matters is not only inherent in the King but is Recognised so by divers Acts of Parliament Fruit of all those forcible Courses We think our Self obliged to make use of that Supreme Power in Ecclesiastical Matters which is not only inherent in us but hath been declared and recognized to be so by several Statutes and Acts of Parliaments and
therefore we do now accordingly Isiue this our Declaration as well for the quieting the minds of our good Subjects in these Points for inviting Srangers in this Conjuncture to come and 74. Therefore to quietminds invite strangers to live here and to encourage Trade He is now by himself with the advice of his Privy Council resolv'd to declare live under us and for the better encouragement of all to a chearful following of their Trade and Callings from whence we hope by the blessing of God to have many good and happy advantages to our Government as also for preventing for the future the danger that might otherwise arise from private Meetings and seditious Conventicles AND In the first place we declare our express resolution 75. That the Church shall be kept entire in its Doctrine Discipline and Government meaning and intention to be That the Church of England be preserved and remain intire in its Doctrine Discipline and Government as now it stands Established by Law and that this be taken to be as it is the Basis Rule and Standard of the general and publick worship of God and that the Orthodox Conformable Clergy do 76. Clergy to receive their just Revenues receive and enjoy the Revenues belonging thereunto and that no person though of a different Opinion and Perswasion shall be exempt from paying his Tythes or other Dues whatsoever And further we declare that no person 77. None exempt from paying Tythes shall be capable of holding any Benefice Living or Ecclesiastical Dignity or Preferment of any kind in this 78. None capable of any Church Preferments but those that are exactly conformable our Kingdom of England who is not exactly conformable pag. 5. BUT notwithstanding all this great Reverence to and Care 79. He has a tender regard likewise of those that dissent from the Church provided they will live peaceably and orderly of the Church of England yet you shall see what a tender regard his Majesty hath to those too that cannot come up to a thorough compliance with the Church for his eyes are over all and his thoughts and heart extend to all his Subjects as long as they will keep themselves within the due bounds of an honest peaceableness and an orderly subjection WE do in the next place saith he declare our will and pleasue to be that the execution of all and all manner of penal Laws in Matters Ecclesiastical against 80. All Penal Laws against all Nonconformists hereby suspended whatsoever sort of Nonconformists or Recusants be immediately suspended and they are hereby suspended And all Iudges Iudges of Assize and Gaol-delivery Sherifs Iustices of the Peace Mayors Bailifs and other Officers whatsoever whether Ec-clesiastical or Civil are to take notice of it and pay due Obedience thereunto pag. 6. AND that there may be no pretence for any of our 81. A sufficient number of publick places to be allow'd for Nonconformists to meet in Subjects to continue their illegal Meetings and Conventicles We do declare that we shall from time to time allow a sufficient number of places as they shall be desired in all parts of this our Kingdom for the use of such as do not conform to the Church of England to meet and assemble in inorder to their publick worship and devotion which places shall be open and free to all persons pag. 6. BUT to prevent such disorders and inconveniences as 82. But none to meet in any place until such place be allowed and the Teacher approved of may happen by this our indulgence if not duely regulated and that they may be the better protected by the Civil Magistrate Our express will and pleasure is that none of our Subjects do presume to meet in any place until such place be allowed and the Teacher of that Congregation be approved by us pag. 7. AND lest any should apprehend that this Restriction 83. This allowance of places and approbation of Teachers to extend to all sorts of Nonconformists but the Papists should make our said allowance and approbation difficult to be obtained We do further declare that this our indulgence as to the allowance of the publick places of worship and approbation of the Teachers shall extend to all sorts of Nonconformists and Recusants except the Recusants of the Roman Catholick Religion c. of which more anâ—n in its due place pag. 7. AND now what methinks every one should readily agree to and be very careful punctually to observe this injunction with which his Majesty is pleased to conclude saith He If after this our Clemency and Indulgence any of our Subjects shall presume to abuse this Liberty and shall 84. Now none must abuse this Liberty by seditiously or reflectingly preaching against the Eastblished Church preach seditiously or to the derogation of the Doctrine Discipline or Government of the Established Church or shall meet in places not allow'd by us We do hereby give them warning and declare we will proceed against them with all imaginable severity and We will let them see we can be as severe to punish such Offenders when so justly provoked as we are indulgent to truly tender Consciences BUT to return where most the King's heart is set I mean to the Church of England you shall hear what he says to his House of Commons of it Gentlemen saith he I hear you are zealous for the Church and very 85. House of Commons zealous for the Church solicitous and even jealous that there His Speech to the House of Commons at the Banquetting House March 1. 1661. pag. 7 8. is not expedition enough used in that Affair I thank you for it since I presume it proceeds from a good Root of Piety and Devotion but I must tell you I have 86. The King suspected to be a Presbyterian the worst luck in the world if after all the Reproaches of being a Papist whilst I was abroad I am suspected of being a Presbyterian now I am come 87 The King as zealous for the Church as any of his House of Commons and as much in love with the Common Prayer Book home I know you will not take it unkindly if I tell you that I am as zealous for the Church of England as any of you can be and am enough acqainted with the Enemies of it on all sides that I am as much in love with the Book of Common Prayer as you can wish and have prejudice enough to those who do not love it 88. Desires to see an Uniformity settled and they may rely upon it that he will expedite it with all convenient speed who I hope in time will be better informed and change their minds and you may be confident I do as much desire to see an Vniformity setled as any amongst you I pray trust me in that Affair I promise you to hasten the dispatch of it with all convenient speed you may rely upon
wholly employed upon the Publick and not taken up by such Considerations as are less meritorious 68. And a little time serves to make many excellent Laws if that time be wholly employed on the Publick IF therefore there be any without Doors that labour to disunite your Counsels or to render them ineffectual if they can hope that the occasions for this may arise from some difference within your selves or hope by those differences to disguise their own Disaffections to your good Proceedings it is in your power to defeat those hopes to pull off this Disguise and to secure 69. Therefore let none be able to disunite our great Councils a happy Conclusion of this Meeting by studying to preserve a good Correspondence and by a careful avoiding of all such Questions as are apt to engender Strife AND if ever there were a time when the Gravity and the Counsel the Wisdom and the good Temper of a Parliament 70 70 For it is in their power to preserve a good Correspondence 71 71 If ever a Parliament had need to be Grave and Temperate it is now were necessary to support that Government which only can support these Assemblies certainly this is the Hour YOU see with what Zeal the King hath recommended to 72. The King's Zeal to recommend a good Agreement among them you a good Agreement between your selves and that he doth it with all the Care and Compassion all the Earnestness and Importunity fit for so great a Prince to express who would be very sorry that any such misfortune as your Disagreement should either deprive him of your Advice and Assistance or 73. For the contrary would deprive him of their good Advice and Assistance and the people of good Laws his People of those good Laws which he is ready to grant you There is no other way our Enemies can think of by which it is possible for this Session to miscarry for Fears and Jealousies cannot enter here Calumnies and Slanders will find no place amongst wise and good Men. THEY that use these Arts abroad will quickly be discredited when the World shall see the Generous Effects of your Confidence 74. This the only way our Enemies can think of to make us miscarry Men will despair of attempting any Disturbance in the State when they see every step that tends that way serves only to give you fresh occasion to testifie your Loyalty and your Zeal 75. But Men will despair of attempting any disturbance in the State when they see the Parliament united YOU have all the reason in the World to make Men see this for you have the same Monarchy to assert the same Church to defend the same Interests of Nobility and Gentry to maintain the same excellent King to contend for and the same Enemies to contend against AND now you shall hear what my Lord Chancellor had to say to the Parliament concerning this Point He tells them There 76. And they have all the reason in the World to be so is little cause to be jealous of our Liberties and Properties nor do they believe themselves who pretend The Lord Chancellor's Speech Thursd May 23. 1678. pag. 14 15. to be afraid of either Can there be a greater Evidence of the moderation of a Prince and his 77. Little cause to be jealous of our Liberties and Properties tenderness of the Liberty of the Subject than to suffer as he does every day so much Licentious and Malitious Talk to pass unpunished If there be not any one instance to be 78. For who else would suffer such malicious Talkers to go unpunished found in a whole Reign of a Man that hath suffered against Law and but very few Examples of those that have suffered by it shall we endure them that dare say in Coffee-houses and in other publick places that the Nation is enslaved LET it be lawful to provoke and challenge the most discontented and the most unsatisfied Spirit in the Kingdom to shew 79. One may challenge the most discontented Spirits in the Kingdom to shew when there were less Grievances or less cause of Complaint than now that time if he can since the World began and this Nation was first inhabited wherein there were fewer Grievances or less cause of Complaint than there is at this present Nay give him scope enough and let him search all Ages and all places of the World and tell us if he can when and where there was ever found a happier People than we are at this day AND if Malice it self ought to blush when it makes this Comparison what strange Ingratitude both to God and Man are they guilty of who behave themselves so as if they could 80 80 Nay search all Ages and places of the World and none more happy than we are 81 81 Therefore how ungrateful both to God and Man are they who are ill at ease under so temperate a Government be ill at ease under so temperate a Government AND the King as if all he had hitherto spoken did not seem enough to him for the satisfaction of his People makes one apvance 82. The King declares he will with his Life defend the Laws of this Kingdom higher yet and says to his Parliament I do give you this Assurance that I will with my Life defend the Laws of this Kingdom and may The King's Speech Thursd March 6. 1678 9. pag. 7. he not then let us in cool Blood consider justly go on thus to them I do expect from you to be defended from the Calumny as well as danger of those 83. Therefore let us defend him from the Calumny of those who would render him and the Government odious to the People worst of Men who endeavour to render me and my Government odious to my People THAT there are such and especially at this time it is too notorious and if due Care and Circumspection be not taken they will quickly be in no small hopes to raise a Storm that nothing shall be able to allay SUCH are they who are industriously active in improving Fears and Jealousies among the Populace and in nourishing all 84. It is too notorious that there are such the base Suspicions which they can devise THESE should diligently be looked after who with their Ill meant distinctions between the Court and the 85. And they are those that improve Fears and Jealousies Country between the Natural and the Politick Capacity The Lord Chancellor's Speech Feb. 15. 1676 7. pag. 15 16. go about to perswade others that these are two several Interests 86. they have ill meant distinctions between the Court and the Country between the Natural and the Politick Capacity BUT saith the Lord Chancellor immediately after let such Men have a care of that Precipice to which such Principles may lead them for the first Men that ever began to distinguish of their Duty never left off
to posterity may be perpetual for the fruit it shall produce and for the commemoration that will follow it Ibid. THEN will this year be a true year of Jubilee and we shall have nothing left to wish or pray for in this World but the blessed continuance of his Majestie 's long and happy reign over us Ibid. BUT it seems this did not meet with that happy effect the King 135. Yet the ill designs of the Enemy were too prevalent against the good ones the King had proposed to himself in behalf of his People could have wish'd it had as it appears by his own Speech to them two months after which though much against his will caused him to make that Prorogation you shall hear of saith he The ill designs of our Enemies have been too prevalent against those good ones I had proposed to my self in behalf of my people and those unhappy differences between my two Houses are grown to such an height that I find no possible King's Speech 9. June 1675. pag. 4. means to put an end to them but by a Prorogation 136. But still the King is uneasie in making use of the expedient of a Prorogation It is with great unwillingness that I make use of this Expedient having always intended an Adjournment for the preserving of such Bills as were unfinished but my hopes are that by this means the present occasion of differences being 137. But hopes the old differences will be buried by it taken away you will be so careful hereafter of the publick as not to seek new ones nor to revive the old AND therefore when he met them next after this Prorogation with what warm affections for the good of his people doth he speak to them I meet you now with a more than usual concern 138. His warm affections to them at the next meeting for the Event of this Session and I know it is but what may reasonably be expected from that care I owe to the prefervation of the Government The causes of the last Prorogation and 139. He will remember nothing of former businesses himself and hopes his Parliament will follow his example hath he not here set a most generous Example indeed for all good Subjects to imitate as I for my part do not desire to remember so I hope no man else will unless it be to learn from thence how to avoid the like occasions King's Speech to both Houses Wednes 13 Oct. 1675. p. 3. for the future and I pray consider how fatal the consequences may be and how little benefit is like to redound to the people by it However if any 140. Or at least will defer them till publick Bills are perfected thing of that kind shall arise I desire you would defer those debates till you have brought such publick Bills to perfection as may conduce to the good and safety of the Kingdom NO King did ever meet a Parliament with juster cause of confidence 141. No King met a Parliament with more confidence in their affections and therefore relies upon it that they will never forsake him in their Affections AND therefore his Majesty will not suffer himself to doubt but relies firmly upon it that you will never forsake him when he is under any kind of difficulties FOR it is impossible that those Affections which Piety and Allegiance first planted which persecution could not abate 142. For it is impossible those affections of Piety and Allegiance they have ever had should now decay which the gracious influences of his Majestie 's happy Government have hitherto increased should now Lord Keepers Speech to the same p. 7. appear to wither and decay My Lords and Gentlemen THE happiness of this present Age and the fate and fortune 143. The happiness of both the present and next Age is much in the Parliaments hands of the next too is very much in your hands and at this time all that you would desire to settle and improve all that you would wish to secure and transmit to your Posterities Id. p. 8. may now be accomplished AND you see with what Zeal the King hath recommended to 144. The Kings Zeal in recommending to them a good agreement you a good agreement between your selves and that he doth it with all the care and compassion all the earnestness and importunity fit for so great a Prince to express who would be very sorry that any such misfortune as your disagreement should either deprive him of your Advice and Assistance or his People of those good Laws which he is ready to grant you Id. p. 10. WELL his Majesty did not think he had yet done enough or at least if more would rather induce and prevail with them he was resolved to spare no words to forget no arguments that had any cogency and weight in them to bring his Parliament over to that calmness of temper that necessary moderation so much desired by all good and honest men as might settle us upon the sure and lasting foundations of peace and happiness saith he My Lords and Gentlemen 145. His further earnestness after a long Prorogation I have called you together again after a long Prorogation that you might have an opportunity to repair the misfortunes of the last Session and to recover and restore the right use and end of Parliaments The time I have given you to recollect your selves in and to consider whither those differences tend which have been so unhappily managed and improved between you is King's Speech 15 Febr. 1676 7. pag. 1 2. enough to leave you without all excuse if ever you fall into the like again I am now resolved to let the World see that it shall not be 146. The Kings desire to have the People happy by his Parliaments consultations my fault if the people be not made happy by your consultations in Parliament Id. ibid. AND therefore that you may hear the sum of the whole matter and which the King was pleased to refer to his Parliament saith he in page the 4th To conclude I do recommend to you 147. He recommends to them the peace the safety and the prosperity of the Kingdom the peace of the Kingdom in the careful prevention of all differences the safety of the Kingdom in providing for some greater strength at Sea and the prosperity of the Kingdom in assisting the necessary charge and support of the Government And if any of these good ends should happen to be disappointed 148. And would have no disappointment of them if possible I call God and Men to witness this day that the misfortune of that disappointment shall not lie at my door Id. ibid. IF therefore there be any endeavours to renew nay if there 149. But would have all remembrances of former things extinguished be not all the endeavours that can be to extinguish the memory of all former
me in it I have transmitted the Book of Common Prayer with those Alterations and Additions which have been presented to me by the Convocation to the House of Peers with my approbation that the Act of Vniformity may relate to it so that I presume it will be shortly dispatched there and 89. It requires great prudence and discretion no passion and precipitation when we have done all we can the well-setling that Affair will require great prudence and discretion and the absence of all passion and precipitation You see how his Majesty promised that he would give up all his endeavours to compose the unhappy differences in matters of Religion and to restore the Languishing Church to Peace Vnity and Order Constantine himself hardly spent so much of 90. How mightily his Majesty has laid out himself to restore the Church to peace unity and order his own time in private and publick conferences to that purpose His Majesty Lord Chancellors Speech to both Houses of Parliament on Saturday Decemb. 29 1660. The Day of their Dissolution pag. 8. in private Conferred with the Learned Men and heard all that could be said upon several Opinions and Interests apart and then in the Presence 91. Constantine himself scarce spent so much time about it of both Parties himself moderating in the Debates and less care and diligence and authority would not have done the work And if after all this his Majesty doth not reap 93. If after all some will keep up old Breaches they must be reduced by Law to the obedience of the Law the full Harvest he expected from those Condescentions if some men by their Writing and by their Preachings endeavour to continue the old Breaches c. I shall say no more than that I hope their want of modesty and obedience will cause them to be disclaimed by all pious and peaceable men who cannot but be well contented to see them reduced by Law to the obedience they owe to Law ON Tuesday April 5. 1664. as if his Parliament were somewhat doubtful of it The King when he came then to give his Royal Assent to two Bills breaks out into these words to them I do assure you upon my word and I pray believe 9â— The King has no other thoughts or designs in his heart but to support the Religion Established and make us happy by it me That I have no other thoughts or designs in my heart but to make you all happy in the support of the Religion and Laws Established pag. 4. The Late King lost his Life in the defence of the Reformed Religion and his present Majesty whom God Almighty long continue among us hath manifested his affection to the Church of England as by Law Established in despight of all calumnies and through extream difficulties with the highest acts of Solemnity imaginable WHEN his Majesty met his both Houses of Parliament in 67. how instant was he to have them take it into their considerate thoughts how to settle Religion more to the quieting of his Peoples minds and His Majesties Speech to both Houses Monday 10 Feb. 1667. pag. 4. for the Establishment of Unity and Concord among them Saith he one thing more I hold my self obliged to recommend unto you at this 94. And therefore reminds his Parliament that they would think of some course to beget a better union among his Protestant Subjects as being the best way to support the Government present which is that you would seriously think of some course to beget a better union and composure in the minds of my Protestant Subjects in matters of Religion whereby they may be induced not only to submit quietly to the Government but also chearfully give their assistance to the support of it WHEN the King sent his Grace the then Earl of Lauderdail his Maiesties High Commissioner for the Parliament of Scotland You shall hear what he said to them concerning his Majesties 95. The Kings constant and unalterable zeal to maintain and defend the True Reformed Protestant Religion in Scotland Resolution to maintain the True Protestant Religion there It was by command from his Royal Master to say in his Name at the opening Earl of Lauderdail 's Speech to the Parliament of Scotland Oct. 19. 1669. pag. 3. 4. of that his Parlirment And first saith he I am to assure you of his Majesties constant and unalterable zeal for maintaining and defending the True Reformed Protestant Religion in this 96. That â—e will maintain and defend the autient Government of it being most suitable to Monarchy his Kingdom for which he will constantly lay out his whole power and authority as also for discouraging and punishing all Atheism and Prophanities and all that is contrary to true Religion and Godliness I am further particularly commanded to assure you that with no less zeal and constancy he will maintain and defend the Antient Government by Arch-Bishops 97. Episcopal Government the most Primitive and Apostolick and Bishops as now it is happily setled as a sure Fence for the True Refromed Protestant Religion a Government most suitable to Monarchy and well may I call it Antient for whoever 98. The King will refend the persons of the Archbishops Bishops all the Orthodox Clergy in their Functions will look into Antiquity shall find Episcopal Government hath continued in the whole Catholick Church both East and West even from the most Primitive and Apostolick Times and a little after in the said 4 pag. after he had just touched upon the sad Calamities and Confusions of the Late Times he says farther in his Majesties Name and by his special Command I do assure you he will employ his utmost power in the maintenance 99. Will not endure those numerous Conventicles that tend to Sedition and Schism of that Government and will protect the persons of my Lords the Archbishops and Bishops and of the Loyal Orthodox and Peaceable Clergy in the exercise of their Functions he will not endure those numerous and unlawful Conventicles 100. The King of late hath set up some that were peaceable men in vacant Churches though they came not up to the Rules Established They should therefore carry themselves worthy of that high favour which tend to Sedition and Schism which have been too frequent in some few Shires of this Kingdom Good Laws have been made and in prosecution of those Laws the Lords of his Majesties Privy Council have shewn their care for suppressing those Seditious Assemblies yea and of late his Majesty has graciously indulged the planting of some who were esteened peaceable men in vacant Churches though they came not up to the Rules Established it will be expected that they walk worthy of so great a favour but if after this removal of the very pretence of unlawful Conventicles any Factious People shall in contempt of his Majesties Laws yea 101. But if any factious people in contempt of his
now suffer Sit Ecclesia Anglicana libera habeat libertates suas illaesas Magna Charta IN order to this great work the Commons have prepared 113 A Bill brought by the Commons to Repeal the Act fâ—â— exclusion of the Bishops from sitting in the House a Bill to repeal that Law was made in 17. Car whereby the Bishops were excluded this House These Noble Lords have all agreed and now we beg your Majesty will give it life speak but the word Great Sir and your Servants yet shall live TO which his Majesty presently was pleased to return this 114. The great thanks the King gives them for the Repeal of that Act as being an unhappy Act in an unhappy time most gracious Answer I thank you with all my heart indeed as much as I can The King's Speech to both Houses July 30. 1661. pag. 4 5. do for any thing for the Repeal of that Act which excluded the Bishops from sitting in Parliament it was an unhappy Act in an unhappy time passed with many unhappy circumstances and attended with miserable events and therefore I 115. It has restored Parliaments to their Primitive Institutions do again thank you for repealing it You have thereby restored Parliaments to their Primitive Institutions AND his Majesty was so greatly pleased with this Act of Repeal that he found it as it were impossible for him to forbear coming to his House of Lords even the very first day of their meeting after the Adjournment and what was it for you shall immediately know from his own words I know the Visit saith he I make you this day is not ne necessary is not of course yet if there were no more in 16. How the King visits them the first day of their next Meeting to give them thanks again and how he rejoyces to see the Lords Spiritual and Temporal House of Commons met together c. it it would not be strange that I come to see what You and I have so long desired to see The Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons of England met together to consult for the peace and safety of Church and State by which Parliaments The King's Speech to both Houses on Wednesday Novemb. 20. 1661. pag. 1. are restored to their Primitive Lustre and Integrity I do heartily congratulate with you for this day THIS surely was a signal evidence of his true love to the Church his hearty joy to behold the great Supporters and Pillars of it restored to their rightful Seats in Parliament And this both the King and the Parliament knew was one ready way to restore to them their due honour and reverence from the People If the Authority of the Church should not carefully be upheld how quickly should we come to have no Church at all and into what sad Calamities should we lapse by such an abandonment which in some sense but little differs from a Persecution LET us suppose that possible which the piety and goodness of the Kng hath made next to impossible says the 117. What would become of the Church if her Authority were despiled Lord Keeper in his Speech to both Houses of Parliament but let it be for once supposed Lord Keepers Speech April 13. 1675. pag 12 13. that the Church of England were forsaken her Authority made insignificant her Government precarious suppose her disarmed of all those Laws by which she is guarded denied all Aid from the Civil Magistrate and that none were obliged to obey her commands but those that have a mind to it would not this turn a National Church into nothing else but a Tolerated Sect or Party in the Nation Would it not take away all appearance of Establishment from it would it not drive the Church into the Wilderness again where she should be sure to find her self encompassed with all sorts of Enemies if at least she should find her self at all in the midst of so many Tolerations THEREFORE is it not most fitting that a strict Rule should be observed and that we could have the Law to be that Rule and not to leave every Man to be a Law and Rule unto himself WELL then may the King say to his Parliament what 118. His Majesties assurance that he will preserve the True Reformed Protestant Religion and the Church as now established he has said since in almost every one of his Speeches to them I will conclude with this assurance to you that I will preserve the True His Majesties Speech to both Houses Feb. 5. 16672. pag. 4. Reformed Protestant Religion and the Church as it is now Established in this Kingdom and in the whole course of my indulgence to Dissenters I do not intend that it shall any ways prejudice the Church but I will support its Rights and it in its full power THE Church of England and all good Protestants says 119. The Church and all good Protestants have reason to rejoyce in this their Defendour the Lord Chancellor to this Speech of the King in his own pag. 12 13. have reason to rejoyce in such a Head and such a Defendour His Majesty doth declare his care and concerns for the Church and will maintain them in all their Rights and Priviledges equal if not beyond any of his Predecessours He was born and bred up in it It was that his Father died for 120. Good reasons to induce his Majesty to it We all know how great temptations and offers he resisted abroad when he was in his lowest condition and he thinks it the honour of his Reign that he hath been the Restorer of 121. He hopes to bring it into greater lustre than ever yet it has been the Church 'T is that he will ever maintain and hopes to leave to posterity in greater lustre and upon surer grounds than our Ancestours ever saw it but his Majesty is not convinced That violent ways are the interest of Religion or the Church 122. violent ways not conducing to it AND after his Majestie 's conclusion of his Speech let me 123. Let us then all bless God and the King conclude nay let us all conclude with blessing God and the King Let us bless God that he Idem pag. 14. 15. hath given us such a King to be the Repairer of our Breaches both in Church and State and the Restorer of our paths to dwell in LET us bless the King for taking away all our fears and 124. That God hath given us such a King who makes the Church of England his great care leaving no room for jealousies for those assurances and promises he hath made us Let us bless God and the King that our Religion is safe that the Church of England is the care of our Prince what more hath a good English Man to ask but that this King may long Reign 125. Long therefore should we pray that this King may Reign WHEN He met his Parliament
about eight months after you shall see the King keeps close to the same Text as being that which he can never find in his heart to forget and therefore he may very well begin thus I Ihope need not use many words to perswade you that I am steady in maintaining all the professions and promises I have 126. The King steady to all his professions and promises made you concerning Religion King's Speech to both Houses Monday Octob. 27. 73. pag. 4. and I shall be very ready to give you fresh instances of my zeal for 127. Is ready to give fresh inuances of it preserving the Established Religion and Laws as often as any occasion shall require BY this you cannot but take notice that as to Religion 128. His Majesties heart with those of his people His Majesties heart is with the hearts of his people perfectly with their hearts Lord Chancellors Speech to the same pag. 9. 129. If therefore any thing be wanting to secure Religion all reasonable proposals shall be kindly received AND therefore about three months after that says the King again to his Parliament If there be any thing else which you think King's Speech January 7. 73. pag. 4. wanting to secure Religion there is nothing which you shall reasonably propose but I shall be ready to receive it One would wonder with ones self what can be expected more from a Prince to be said than such a hearty and generous Declaration as this It is delivered with so obliging and so satisfactory an Accent that he whose affections are not raised by that discourse he who cannot acquiesce in the fulness of this Lord Keepers Speech to the same pag. 7 130. He who cannot acquiesce in this assurance will never be prevailed upon by any other expedient assurance he whose heart is not Established by it in such a belief as may entirely dispose him to the service of the Crown will hardly be recovered to a better disposition by any other expedient IS not this an ample demonstration of his willingness to repair the Hedge about our Vineyard and to make it a Fence indeed against all those who are Enemies to the planing of it Who would be glad to see it trodden Id pag. 8. down or rooted up and study how to sapp and undermine our very Foundations THE King calls his Parliament to examine and concur with 131. The King calls his Parliament to examine and to concur with him in the best ways to preserve the Protestant Religion him in the best expedients for the Preservation of the Protestant Religion The Lord Keeper's Speech to both Houses April 13. 1675. pag. 8. and for securing the Establishment of it by a due execution of the Laws HE gives them leave to study and contrive their own assurance and if they think they want any further security if any 132. And will be perswaded by them in all reasonable things thing hath escaped his Majesties care who meditates nothing more than The Lord Keeper's Speech to both Houses January 7. 73. pag. 10. our preservation you see they have free leave to make any reasonable proposition 133. This surely should satisfie all our wiâ—â—es and his gracious promise that he will receive it THIS one would think were a satisfaction equal to all our wishes and that there wanted no more to the improvement of this happiness but the wisdom of the Id ibid. Parliament to use these advantages with a due moderation AND still his Majesty seems to be dissatisfied with himself and that he has not yet done enough for the interest of Religion no he must be further solicitous and importunate his chief design of Assembling his Parliament is again to refresh their memories with it and as he thinks it can never be too much in his thoughts so likewise it can never be too often repeated 134. The Kings chief end in calling the Parliament to think what yet may be wanting to secure Religion by him THE principal end saith he of my calling you now is to know what you His Majesties Speech April 13. 1675. pag. 3 4. think may be yet wanting to the security of Religion and to give my self the satisfaction of having used the utmost of my endeavours 135. And will leave nothing undone to shew his Zeal for it to procure and settle a right and lasting understanding between us I will leave nothing undone that may shew the world my zeal to the Protestant Religion as it is established in the Church of England from which I will never depart AND may he not then very justly begin his next Speech to his Parliament after this manner and say I think I have given sufficient evidence to the World that I have not 136. The King not wanting in his endeavours to establish our Religion and our property been wanting on my part in my endeavours to procure the full satisfaction of Kings Speech June 9. 1675. pag. 3. all my Subjects in the matters of both Religion and property I have not only invited you to those considerations at our first meeting but I have been careful through this whole Session that no concern of my own should divert you from it WELL the next Speech of his Majesty to them is still to provide what they shall think fitting to make us all safe in our Religion And particularly saith he 137. 'T is his particular recommendation to his Parliament to secure the Protestant Religion I recommend to you whatever may Wednes Octo. 13. 1675. The Kings Speech p. 4. tend to the security of the Protestant Religion as it is now established in the Church of England TO that you cannot but plainly take notice that his Majesty hath so often recommended to his Parliament the Considerations of Religion so very often desired them to assist him in his care and protection of it Lord Keepers Speech to the same p. 6. that the defender of the Faith is become 138. The Defender of the faith is the Advocate for it the Advocate for it too and hath left all those without excuse who still remain under any kind of doubts or fear AGAIN does that noble and eloquent Lord thus say speaking to both Houses of Parliament in pag. 8. and 9. WOULD you raise the due estimation and reverence of the Church of England to its just height Would you provide for the safety and establishment of it ALL your Petitions of this kind will be grateful to the King and you may with ease effect this and much more which your great wisdomes will suggest to you WHEN the King met his Parliament after as he himself is there pleas'd to call it a long Prorogation he still keeps up the same language to them as you have heard him speak all along 139. The King stil putting Parliament in mind to make his people happy I am now resolved saith he to
let the world see that it shall not be my fault if The Kings Speech to both Houses Feb. 15. 1679. pag. 1 and 2. they be not happy by your Consultations in Parliament AND how shall the world see this why saith he in the 140. By securing the Protestant Religion to them very next words For I declare my self very plainly to you that I come prepared to give you all the satisfaction and security in the great concerns of the Protestant Religion as it is established in the Church of England that shall reasonably be asked or can consist with Christian prudence TO be sure his Majesty when he said this was sufficiently sensible of what the Lord Chancellor at the same time had in command to say viz. that The Peace of the Church is harder to preserve than the 141. For the Peace of the Church is harder to be preserved than that of the State peace of the State for they who desire Innovations in the State most commonly Lord Chancellors Speech to the same p. 6. begin the attempt upon the Church AND by this means it comes to pass that the peace of 142. Hence it is so oft disturbed by two sorts of persons by mistaken souls and by malicious designing men the Church is so often disturbed not only by these poor mistaken souls who deserve to be pittied but by malicious and designing men who deserve to be punisht And while things continue in this State it cannot be avoided but that the Laws which are necessary to restrain the malicious must and will sometimes disquiet and wound those that are weak Yet the Phanaticks Sectaries and Nonconformists as the 143. How Phanaticks no friends to the established Government Speaker of the Honourable House of Commons then said as they differ in their shapes and species accordingly are more or less dangerous but in this they all agree they are no friends to the established Sir Edward Turnors Speech Tuesday May 14. 1664. pag. 9. Government either in Church or State And if the old Rule hold true Qui Ecclesiae contradicit non est pacificus we have great reason to prevent 144. Therefore was the Bill against Conventicles their growth and to punish their practice Therefore was the Bill then prepared against their frequenting of Conventicles the Seed-plots and Nurseries of their Opinions under pretence of Religious Worship BUT yet by such Bill no man is hindered the use of his own Judgement in the exercise of Religion by himself or in his own Family or in the presence of 145. But by it none are hindred the use of their own Judgement in their families four strangers but because the peace Sir Edward Turnors Speech to the King Monday April 11. 1670. Vpon the Parliaments adjournment p. 5. of the Nation may be endangered by more populous meetings contrary to the Liturgy and practice of the Church of England therefore from a prudent prospect of such a destructive inconvenience to the weal of the State did the Parliament prepare such a Cautionary prevention AND yet for all this their great care and wisdom 't is somewhat an unpleasant observation to see how slow many inferiour Magistrates are in the 146. How slow the inferiour Officers are in this to discharge their duty discharge of this part of their duty Lord Keepers Speech to both Houses April 13. 75. p. 11 12. which refers to the safety of the Church against the Enemies on both sides of it the Papists and the Dissenters For this is that which opens men's mouths to object against the Laws themselves This is that which encourages offenders to dispute that 147. This encourages Offenders to dispute Authority and to judg the Laws Authority which they should obey and to judge those Laws by which they ought to be judged They have found a way to make even Justice it self criminal by giving it a hard name and calling it persecution IT is no doubt a duty which we owe to God and to our 148. It is the duty of us all to improve the opportunities God gives us to fence our Vineyard selves to the present Age and to posterity to improve the opportunities God gives us of fencing Lord Chan. Speech Thursd May 23. 1668. p. 13 14. our Vineyard and making the hedge about it as strong as we can And therefore goes the Lord Chancellor on saying The King hath commanded me to tell you i. e the Parliament that he is ready to concur with you in any thing of this kind which shall be found wanting and which the Christian Prudence and Justice of a Parliament can propose as expedient LET not any then give themselves up to complain of the danger 149. Let none complain of the dangers of Religion of Religion for fear lest they should and that too justly too be thought to complain only for complaining sake id ibid. FOR what can possibly be said to satisfie any people as to 150. What more can be said to satisfie the people of the security of the Protestant Religion than what the King hath said to his Parliament the security of the Protestant Religion than what the King said to his Parliament When he gave them all his most hearty thanks for the great and extraordinary care they had already taken and still did continue to shew for the safety and preservation of his Royal Person in these times of danger NOR saith he do I think it enough to give you my thanks only but I hold my self obliged to let you see withall that I do as much study your preservation too as I can possibly and that I am as ready to joyn with you in all the ways and means that 151. Our own hearts can't with for more than what he is ready to do for us that way may establish a firm security of the The Kings Speech to both Houses Nov. 9. 78. p. 3 4. Protestant Religion as your own hearts can wish AND this not only during my time of which I am 152. He would secure it to us for ever sure you have no fear but in all future ages even to the end of the world HE proceeds in the next Speech to give them a further demonstration of his Zeal and he saith I meet you here with the most earnest desire that Man can have to unite the minds of all my Subjects both to me and to one another and I resolve it shall be your faults if the success be not suitable to my desires I have done many great things already in order to that end as the Exclusion of the Popish Lords from their Seats in Parliament 153. He has excluded the Popish Lords the House c. And above all I have commanded His Majesties Speech to both Houses on Thursday March 6. p. 3 4. my Brother to absent himself from me because I would not leave 154. Commanded his Brother to absent
hath most piously desired may be prevented and so the Peace 2. Because of the Resort of so many Jesuites and Popish Priests both in Church and State may be insensibly disturbed to the great danger of both WHICH was the reason of both the Houses of Parliaments Humble Suit to the King That he would be pleas'd to Issue out his Proclamation to command all Jesuites and Popish 3. Therefore the Parliament desire the King to issue out his Proclamation for their departure Priests c. to depart this Kingdom by a day under the penalties of the Laws to be inflicted on them but saith his Majesty to them presently in his Speech at the reception of that Petition pag. 5. It may be the general jealousie of the Nation hath 4. His Majesties present answer to them made this Address necessary and indeed I believe nothing hath contributed more to that jealousie than my own confidence that it was impossible there should be any such jealousie and the effects of that confidence but saith he in the next words I shall give you satisfaction and then I am sure you will easily satisfie and compose the minds of the Nation Answer to this Representation and Petition he 5. Afterwards his more deliberate return AND in his April 1. 1663. pag. 7. 8. saith having seriously considered it and having made some reflections upon himself and his own actions he is not a little troubled that his Lenity and Condescensions towards many of the Popish Perswasion which were but natural effects of his generositie and good nature c. have been made so ill use of and so ill deserved that the Resort of Jesuites and Priests into this Kingdom hath been thereby encreased with which his Majesty is and hath long been highly offended and therefore his Majesty readily concurs with the Advice of his Two Houses of Parliament and hath given order for the preparing and issuing 6. That he readily concurs with the advice of his Parliament to grant a Proclamation and that to be more effectual than any of that kind have ever been out such a Proclamation as is desired and his Majesty will take farther care that the same shall be effectual at least to a greater degree than any Proclamation of this kind hath ever been AND his Majesty further declares and assures both his Houses of Parliament and all his Loving Subjects of all his Dominions that as his affection and zeal for 7. For nothing is greater than his zeal for the Protestant Religion and to hinder the Growth of Popery the Protestant Religion and the Church of England hath not been concealed or untaken notice of in the world so he is not nor will ever be so sollicitous for the setling his own Revenue or providing any other expedients for the Peace and Tranquillity of the Kingdom as for the advancement and improvement of the Religion Established and for the using and applying all proper and effectual 8. That being the best way to Establish the Peace c. of all his Kingdoms remedies to hinder the Growth of Popery both which he doth in truth look upon as the best expedient to Establish the Peace and Prosperity of all his Kingdoms AND when it was as artificially as the King himself truly phrases it as maliciously divulged throughout the whole Kingdom That at the same time we deny a fitting liberty to those other His Majesties Declaration to all his Loving Subjects December 26. 1662. pag. 3. Sects of our Subjects whose consciences will not allow them to conform 9. The Malicious Scandal of his being more favourabie to Papists than other Dissenters to the Religion Established by Law We are highly indulgent to Papists not only in exempting them from the penalties of the Law but even to such a degree of countenance and encouragement as may even endanger the Protestant Religion As to that most pernicious and injurious scandal so artificially spread fomented of our favour to Papists saith 10. A Repetition of the same detestable Arts of the late Rebellious Times the King as it is but a repetition of the same detestable arts by which all the The same Declaration pag. 9 10 11 12. late calamities have been brought upon this Kingdom in the time of our Royal Father of Blessed Memory who though the most pious and zealous Protestant that ever Reign'd in this Nation could never wash off the stains cast upon him by that malice but by his 11. And therefore we should all be prepared against such poison Martyrdom We conceive our Subjects should be sufficiently prepared against that poison by memory of those disasters especially since nothing is more evident than that the wicked Authors of this scandal are such as seek to involve all good Protestants under the odious name of Papists or Popishly affected yet we cannot but say upon this occasion that our Education and course of Life in the True Protestant Religion hath been such and our constancy in the Profession of it so eminent in our most desperate condition abroad among Roman Catholick Princes 13. Yet the Education of the King in the Protestant Religion hath been such that should any but believe this Scandal it would be a most impardonable offence when as the appearance of receding from it had been the likeliest way in all humane forecast to have procured us the most powerful assistances of our Re-establishment that should any of our Subjects give but the least admission of that scandal into ☞ their beliefs We should look upon it as the most impardonable offence that they can be guilty of towards us 'T is true that as we shall always according to justice retain so we think it may become us to avow to the world a due sense we have of the greatest part of our Roman Catholicks 14. 'T is true the Roman Catholicks did adhere to the King his Father with their Lives and Fortunes against those who employed both against him of this Kingdom having deserved well from our Royal Father of blessed Memory and from us and even from the Protestant Religion it self in adhering to us with their Lives and Fortunes for the maintainance of our Crown in the Religion Established against those who under the name of zealous Protestants employed both fire and Sword to overthrow them both We shall with as much freedom profess unto the world that it is not in our intention to exclude our Roman Catholick Subjects 15. Therefore ought not to be excluded from all share in the benefit of the Act of Indemnity who have demeaned themselves well who have so demeaned themselves from all share in the benefit of such an Act viz. the Act of Indemnity as in pursuance of our promises the wisdom of our Parliament shall think fit to offer unto us for the ease of tender Consciences It might appear no less than injustice that those who deserved well and continued to
England Sir Edward Turner 's Speech to the King Fryday January 13. 1666. pag. 3. But your Majesty by your gracious Answer to the desire of both your Houses your command for all Officers and Souldiers in your Majesties pay to take the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy and your Proclamation for the departure of Priests and Jesuits out of this Nation have in a great measure secured us against those fears WHEN his Majesty was pleased to declare his indulgence as 26. If the King allowed Publick places of Worship to all Nonconformists but the Papists to the allowance of publick places of worship and approbation of the Teachers he said it should extend to all sorts of Nonconformists and Recusants His Majesties Declaration to all his Loving Subjects March 15. 1672. p. 7. except the Recusants of the Roman Catholick Religion to whom we 27. They only to have their share in the common exemption from the execution of penal laws shall in no wise allow publick places of Worship but only indulge them their share in the com 〈…〉 exemption from the execution of the penal Laws and the exercise of their worship in their private houses only In the King's Speech to both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday February 5. 1672. He tells them how he had been forced to a most important and necessary war and that some few daies saith he before I declared the War I put forth my Declaration that which is mentioned just above for indulgence to Dissenters and have hitherto found a good effect of it by securing peace at home when I had War abroad There is one part in it that hath been subject to misconstruction which is that concerning the PAPISTS as if more liberty were granted them than to the other Recusants when it is plain there is less 28. They only to have the freedom of their Religion in their own houses without the concourse of others for the others have Publick Places allowed them and I never intended that they should have any but only have the fradom of their Religion in their own Houses without any concourse of others And I could not grant them less than this when I had extended so much more grace to others and in the whole course of this Indulgence I 29. And this no way to prejudice the Church do not intend that it shall any way prejudice the Church but I will support its Rights and it in its full power WHEN he made his Speech to the Parliament at their Prorogation he saith to them In the mean while I will not be wanting to let all my Subjects see that no care can be greater than my own in the The Kings Speech Nov. 4. 1673. p. 4. 30. When he prorogued his Parliament he said No Care shall be greater than mine to suppress Popery do you as much in your own Countries effectual Suppressing of Popery and it shall be your faults if in your several Countries the Laws be not effectually executed against the growth of it A Year and a half after he comes again to them and then he plainly acknowledges that as he had before given them a strong assurance of his care so now he has de facto made it good to them saith he I have done as much as on my part was possible to extinguish the fears and Iealousies of Popery 31 And when he met them again he told them he had done what he could to extinguish the fears of Popery and will leave nothing undone that may shew the World my Zeal to the Protestant The Kings Speech April 1675. pag. 4. and 5. Religion as it is established in the Church of England from which I will never depart SO That you see His Majesty hath so fully vindicated himself from that Calumny concerning the Papists that no reasonable scruple 32. Therefore no reasonable scruple can be made by any good man can be made by any good man saith my Lord Chancellor in his Speech to both the Houses on the 5 Feb. 1672. He hath awakened all the Laws against the Papists there is not one Statute extant in all the Volume of our Laws 33. All the laws are awakened against them but His Majesty hath now put it in a way of The Lord Keep Sp. April 13. 75. p. 9 and 10. taking its full course against them The Laws against the Papists are edged and the execution of them quickened by new rewards proposed to the Informers This was so necessary to be inserted here that I could not forbear repeating it again although I have before mentioned it in another place but to proceed HIS Majesty having on February the Third 1674 5 been pleased to Command an Order made then in Council to be forthwith published that was for the execution of the Laws against Popish Recusants c. he did likewise on the 12th day of the said February publish a Declaration for inforcing that Order and therein saith More particularly we Require and Command 34. The King commands the Convictions of Popish Recusants to be every where incouraged c. that the Convictions of Popish Recusants be every where encouraged quickned and made effectual and that all Convictions as soon as they shall be perfected be forthwith certifyed into the Exchequer and that speedy process do issue upon all such Convictions as are or shall be certifyed and that care be taken that no persons of Quality who shall be suspected to 35. And speedy process to issue thereupon be Popish Recusants be omitted to be presented and that no delay be used nor any practise suffered which may hinder or obstruct the compleating of such Convictions as are now preparing 36. None should be omitted to be presented And we do strictly Charge and Command that no Mass be said in any part of this Kingdom the Chappels of our dearest Consort the Queen and the Chappels of Forreign 37. No Mass to be said in this Kingdom only the Queens and Forreign Ministers Chappels excepted Ministers only excepted And to prevent all extraordinary resort to those Chappels by such who are not menial Servants to the Queen or to Forreign Ministers we declare that every such offendor shall incur the forfeiture of one hundred Marks provided by the Statute made in the twenty third year of Queen Elizabeth whereof one third part shall 38. Whoever not Menial Servants resort to them shall forfeit 100 Marks be given to the Informer for his further reward and encouragement And we require all Officers and Ministers of Iustice to cause diligent search to be made in all other places where they shall hear or suspect that Mass is said and to cause all Offendors in this kind to be apprehended and proceeded 39. All suspected places are to be searched by the Justices c. and where found all Offendors to be apprehended c. with according to Law And we forewarn all our Subiects that they presume
yet makes 3. His Majesty's Care of them hath been so much that we are obliged to all Acknowledgments so loud a noise in the World GOD knows these are as the great Diana of the Ephesians to us of these we are fond even to Superstition and you shall find the King as affectionate to you and as desirous to preserve them all in their just Measures as you can possibly with any Conscience wish he should be 4. The Annals of our most happy times scarce have one Year in them but what is more severe than a whole Reign hath yet produced NAY The Care of your Civil Rights and Liberties hath been so much His Majesty's that the more The Lord Keepers Speech on the 13th of October 1675. pag. 6 7. you reslect upon these Concerns the more you will find your selves obliged to acknowledge His Majesty's Tenderness of you and Indulgence to you SEARCH your own Annals the Annals of those Times you account most happy you will scarce find one Year without an Example of something more severe and more extraordinary 5. Statues have been erected for those Princes in Foreign Nations that never had half that Moderation which we have lived to enjoy than a whole Reign hath yet produced PERUSE the Histories of Forreign Nations and you shall find Statues and Altars too have been erected to the Memories of those Princes whose best Vertues never arrived to half that Moderation which we let me add for these twenty Years have lived to see and to enjoy AND Let us all evermore remember this unexceptionable A Letter from His Majesty at Breda Apr. 4 14 1660. to the Speaker of the House of Commons pag. 4. Truth which His Sacred Majesty was pleas'd 6. This Liberty is best preserved by preserving the King's Honour himself to lay down to us long ago that Our Liberty and Property is best preserved by preserving the Honour of the King FOR the Greatness and Dignity of the King The Lord Keeper's Speech Wednesd Oct. 13. 1675. p. 7. The Lord Chancellor's Speech to Baron Thurland at the taking of his Oath January 24. 1672 3. pag. 3 7. The King's Greatness the Peoples Safety is the Greatness and Safety of his People Therefore LET not the King's Prerogative and the Law be 8. Therefore the King's Prerogative and the Law should not be two things with us two things with you For the King's Prerogative is Law and the principal part of the Law and therefore in maintaining that you maintain the Law The Government of England is so excellently interwoven that every part of the Prerogative hath a broad mixture of the Interest of the Subject the Ease and Safety of the People being inseparable from the Greatness and Security of the Grown THE knowing of our own Interest will secure June 26. 1673. pag. 4. 9. The knowledg of our own Interest secures us to the King 's and Nations us to the King 's and the Nation 's I repeat them thus together saith the Lord Chancellor in his Speech upon the Lord Treasurer 's taking his Oath in the Exchequer because none but Mountebanks in State Matters can think of them asunder 10. Prerogative not extended beyond its due Limits AND if the not extending his Prerogative beyond The Lord Keeper's Speech to both Houses January 7. 1673 4. pag. 9. its due Limits can secure our Liberties then surely we have no need to fear the least Diminution of them For 11. The King only considers his Prerogative in order to preserve the Peace and Security of the Kingdom SAITH The King The Peace and Security The King's Speech April 5. 1664. pag. 3. of the Kingdom and the Welfare of my Subjects I study more than my Prerogative Indeed I consider my Prerogative only in order to preserving the other DO We not see that the King hath made it his The Lord Keeper's Speech Jan. 7. 1673 4. pag. 8. Care and his Business to do all that is possible to 12. The Laws of the Kingdom the Measures of both his Power and Prudence preserve us in our Civil Rights that he makes the Laws of his Kingdom the Measures not only of his Power but his Prudence that he suffers no Man to be wiser than the Law that he thinks he cannot judge of the Health or Sickness of his State by any better Indication than the Current 13. Their Current gives the best Judgment either of the Health or Sickness of the State of his Laws and suffers nothing to remain that may in the least measure hinder Justice from flowing in its due and proper Channels NOW The Administration of Iustice according His Majesty's Declaration for inforcing a late Order made in Council Feb. 12 1674 5. pag. 3. to the setled and known Laws of the Land is certainly the most reasonable and 14. Administration of Justice according to the known Laws of the Land proper Method for attaining and preserving the Peace and Safety both of Church and State FOR Laws are the Strength of a Kingdom the Walls and Bulwarks of a Nation without which Places are but as the Forests 15. What Laws are to a Kingdom of Wild Beasts to dwell in and the Ends of the Law are to bridle Men's wild and loose Exorbitances and to be instructive and to direct to Duty Now you shall hear what His Majesty hath 16. Their end been pleased to say as to this Point And first If you will but look into that Letter which he sent to the Speaker of the Honourable House of Commons you will find there these words SAITH He If you desire that Reverence and Obedience may be paid to the Fundamental April 4 14 1660 pag. 6. 7. 17. Reverence and Obedience to the Fundamental Laws of the Land is that the King desires to be sworn to and all Persons in Authority Laws of the Land and that Iustice may be equally and impartially Administred to all Men it is that which we desire to be sworn to Our Self and that all Persons in Power and Authority shall be so too In a word There is nothing that you can propose that may make the Kingdom happy which we will not contend with you to Compass And upon this Confidence and Assurance we have thought fit to 18. Nothing can be proposed to make the Kingdom happy but he will contend with us to compass send you this Declaration that you may as much as is possible at this Distance see our Heart AND In the Declaration that was inclosed therein His Majesty thus delivers himself Ve do not desire more to enjoy what is Ours than that all Our The Declaration pag. 2. Subjects may enjoy what by Law is theirs 19. The King desires no more to enjoy his own than to have his Subjects enjoy what by Law is theirs by a full and entire Administration of Iustice throughout the Land and
Laws in full force and power and hath not 32. Our Safety most consists in being govern'd by Law Justice been equally and impartially administred to all ever since the happy Restoration of the King LET There be then no Complaining in our Streets no Murmurings 33. And if our Civil Rights can be yet made more firm to us the King's Heart is full of gracious Intentions for our general Satisfaction in our Borders if we have not Laws enough to secure and please us if we think our Liberties and Civil Rights can be yet more firmly established to us then let us lay down our just Necessities before him Who saith God knows Our Heart is full of Gracious Intentions The King's Declaration to all his Loving Subjects Dec. 26. 1662. pag. 13. not only for the Plenty and Prosperity but for the Vniversal Satisfaction of the Nation And no doubt but he will concur with us in all things which may advance our Peace and preserve our Just Rights to us THIS We may stedfastly believe when he assures his Parliament 34. For nothing can be reasonably proposed but he will readily receive That If there be any thing you think wanting to secure Property there is nothing The King's speech Jan. 7. 1671 4. pag. 4. which you shall reasonably propose but I shall be ready to receive it THEREFORE Be but pleased your selves 35. Therefore being pleased our selves he is best pleased and perswade others to be so contrive all the ways â—â—e Lord Chanâ—â—llor's Speech â—eptemb 13. â—â—60 pag. 23. imaginable for your own Happiness and you will make him the best pleased and the most happy Prince in the World NOW nothing recommends the present Age 36. Nothing so much recommends the present Age as the good Laws made in it unto Posterity so much as the Wisdom and the The Lord Keepers Speech Apr. 13. 1675. p. 15. Temper of the Laws that are made in it for all succeeding Ages judge of our Laws as we do of our Ancestors by the true and unerring Rule of Experience IN Making of Laws therefore it will import us to consider that too many Laws are a Snare for Id. ibid. 37. But too many Laws are a Snare Mr. Grivel in 35 Eliz. said in Parliament as Sir Robert Filmer reports it in his Freeholders Grand Inquest he wished not the making of many Laws since the more we make the less Liberty we have our selves Her Majesty not being bound by them 38. Too few a Weakness in the Government pag. 49 50. too few are a weakness in the Government too gentle are seldom obeyed too severe are as seldom executed And Sanguinary Laws are for the most part either the Cause 39. And Sanguinary Laws either the Cause or Effect of a Distemper in the State or the Effect of a Distemper in the State TO establish this State there seems not to need Id. ibid. many new Laws some will always be wanting And therefore saith the King to his Parliament in his Speech before this of my Lord Chancellor's The principal End of my Calling you now is to know what The King's Speech Apr. 13. 1675. pag. 3. 40. Some Laws will always be wanting you think may be yet wanting to the Security of Religion and Property THIS Speech of the King 's as my Lord Chancellor says very 41. Therefore the King calls his Parliament to know what is wanting truly Was in order to unite the Hearts of his The Lord Chancellor's Speech Apr. 13. 1675. pag. 8. Parliament and People to himself by all the Emanations of Grace and Goodness that from a great and generous Prince can be expected And here 42. And this in order to unite the Hearts of both Parliament and People to him The King is pleased to add the Consideration of your Id. ibid. Liberties and Properties And while he does so you may be sure that he who is so careful of your Rights will be mindful of his own too for he that does Justice to all can never be wanting to himself AND Saith the King about two Months after I think I 43. And he that is so careful of our Rights sure ought to mind his own have given sufficient Evidence to the World that I have not been wanting on my part The King's Speech to both Houses Jun. 9. 1675. pag. 3. in my Endeavours to procure the full Satisfaction of all my Subjects in the matters 44. The King not wanting in his endeavours to have all his people satisfied in matters both of Religion and Property both of Religion and Property I have not only invited you to those Considerations at our first Meeting but I have been careful through this whole Session that no Concern of my own should divert you from them RELIGION and Liberty stand secured by The Lord Keepers Speech Jan. 7. 1673 4. p. 19. the most Sacred Ties that are Nay the King 45 45 He invited his Parliament to those Considerations not only at first but all along 46 46 Religion and Liberty secured by the most sacred Ties that are 47 47 The King's Interest to prefer both greater than ours hath a greater Interest in the preservation of both than you your selves for as Religion the Protestant Religion commands your indispensable Obedience so it is a just and lawful Liberty which sweetens that Command and endears it to you DOTH not every man see that the King hath 48. The King hath given new life and motion to Laws given new Life and Motion to such Laws as were The Lord Keeper's Speech Jan. 7. 1673 4. pag. 19. long dead or fast asleep HATH he not commanded a rigorous and severe Prosecution at Law of all the Officers and Soldiers in His 49. All Officers and Soldiers severely to be prosecuted when they misbehave themselves Majesty's ordinary Guards when they mis-behave themselves towards the meanest Subject And doth not this secure your Properties ARE not all the Priviledges from Arrests which were claimed by His Majesty's Servants extraordinary Id. ibid. who are very numerous abrogated And doth not this 50. All Priviledges of Arrests claimed by any of the King's Servants abrogated prevent the Delays and Obstructions of Justice THESE are not single and transient Acts but such Acts as flow from Habits These are not Leaves Id. ibid. and Blossoms but true solid and lasting Fruits Long long may that Royal Tree Live and Flourish upon which these Fruits 51. These not single and transient Acts but such as flow from Habits do grow BUT the King doth not think this yet sufficient but he will go further on and give us new Assurances that nothing can be more welcome to him than the receiving of such Bills from his Parliament as may truly tend to the Happiness and Ease of his 52. The King ready to gratifie his People in further securing
till they had quite distinguished themselves out of all their Allegiance AND I wish with all my heart that That known Truth of my Lord Keeper's was imprinted into the hearts of all His Majesty's Subjects and which I am sure would keep us then within the 87. But let such have a care of a Precipice decent Bounds of our Loyalty and Obedience to him That there is no distinct Interest between the King and his People but the Good of one is the Good 88. There is no distinct interest between the King and his People The Lord Keeper's Speech Octob. 10. 1667. pag. 8. of both AND for the publick Good the King will give no intermission to his own thoughts Away The Lord Chancellor's Speech Sept. 13. 1660. pag. 18. then with all the vain Imaginations of those who labour 89. For the Publick Good the King will give his thoughts no Intermission to infuse a misbelief of the Government WE that have the happiness to live under so excellent The Lord Chancellor's Speech Feb. 15. 1676 7. pag. 15. a Monarchy so admirable a Constitution and Temper of Government we that remember what the want of this Government cost us and the miserable Desolations which attended it have all 90. We that have the happiness to live under so temperate a Government have all the Motives that can be to secure the Interests of it Id. pag. 14. the Motives and are under all the Obligations that can be to secure and advance the Interest of it THE King on his part as the Lord Chancellor 91. The King meets his Parliament with an open and full heart and is resolved to glad the hearts of his People by all things he is able to do for them admirably well speaks to both Houses of Parliament Id. Ibid. meets you with so open and so full a heart and is so absolutely resolved and determined to do all that in him lies to glad the hearts of his People that it must be the strangest infelicity in the World if either he or his Subjects should meet with any disappointments here FOR the King hath no desires but what are publick no Ends or Aims which terminate in himself Id. pag. 15. all his Endeavours are so entirely bent upon the Welfare of all 92. The King hath no desires but what are publick all his endeavours are for the Welfare of his People his Dominions that he doth not think any Man a good Subject who doth not heartily love his Country and therefore let no Man pass for a good Patriot who doth not as heartily love and serve his Prince PRIVATE Men indeed are subject to be misled by private Interests and may entertain some vain Ibid. and slender hopes of surviving the Misfortunes of the Publick 93. And he thinks none good Subjects who do not heartily love their Country but a Prince is sure to fall with it and therefore can never have any Interests divided from it TO live and die with the King is the highest Profession a Subject can make and sometimes it is Ibid. a Profession only and no more but in a King it is an absolute 94. Private Men may be misled by private Interests Necessity 't is a Fate inevitable that he must live and die with his People To be sure then the King will do any reasonable thing to cherish and maintain the Rights and Interests of his People since by 95. But a Prince is sure to fall with his People that means he knows he does the more firmly establish himself in all their Affections and that he hath always accounted his Best Security He hath said it himself in a Letter to his Parliament in Scotland assembled October 19. 1669. pag. 2. That By the 96. For it is an absolute necessity in a King to live and die with them Vnion of the Hearts and Hands of our People our Throne shall be strengthened and they have Peace and Love setled amongst them for ever AND in his Declaration to all his Loving Subjects two Years after his happy Restoration to us saith he We are very sure 97. By the Union of the People's Hearts and Hands the Throne is strengthened that what Guards soever may be found necessary for us to continue as in former times Decemb. 26. 1662. pag. 6 7. for the Dignity and Honour of our Crown the sole Strength and Security we shall ever conside in shall be the Hearts and Affections of our Subjects 98. Therefore the sole Strength and Security the King shall confide in shall be the hearts of his Subjects endeared and confirmed to him by the steady Government according to Law indeared and confirmed to us by our Gracious and steady manner of Government according to the Antient known Laws of the Land there being not any one of our Subjects who doth more from his Heart abhor than we our selves all sorts of Military and Arbitrary Rules HERE you see is Liberty and Property assured to you upon 99. Here is Liberty and Property assured to us upon the Word of a King the Word of a King for no Government is so dear to him as that which is upheld by the Ancient Laws of his Ancestors And as there is Nothing in the World which ought to be held so Sacred and Inviolable among Kings and Soveraigns as the true and exact Observation of their Words so this His Majesty very well knew and this it was that made him say I do value my 100. Who values himself much on keeping his Word self much upon keeping my Word upon The King's Speech at the Opening of the Parliament May 8. 1661. pag. 1. making good whatsoever I promise to my Subjects WHAT Reason then is there for so strange a 101. What reason then for any distrust Diffidence and Distrust which like a general Infection begins to spread it self into almost all the The Lord Chancellor's Speech Feb. 15. 1676 7. pag. 11. Corners of the Land Arbitrary Rule and Government you find the King can no more endure to think of than you your selves He tells you It is that which his Soul abhors perfectly abhors 102. What the King hath thus freely spoken surely he will as fully maintain and justifie and therefore consequently it must be that which you are never likely to see him take up THIS methinks should confirm our Faith and make us confident that what the King hath freely spoken he will as fully maintain and justifie LET us then readily and unanimously give to the King our 103. Let us then give the King our hearts who is always opening his arms to us Hearts Who is continually opening and stretching his Arms to all who are worthy to be his Subjects The Lord Chancellor's Speech Thurs Sep. 13. 1660. pag. 11. worthy to be thought English Men. How would he extend his Heart with a pious and a grateful Joy
to find all his Subjects at once in his Arms and himself in theirs SAITH this Gracious Majesty in his Declaration to all his 104. The King accounts his Dignity and Greatness more happily founded on his Clemency and his Subjects Loves than in their Fears and his Power Loving Subjects It hath been always a constant Profession of ours that we do and Decemb. 26. pag. 5. shall ever think our Royal Dignity and Greatness more happily and securely founded on our own Clemency and our Subjects Loves than in their Fears and our Power WHICH most sincere Profession of ours goeth he on may suffice also to expose the Id. ibid. Wickedness and Falshood of that Malice concerning 105. What malice is that to talk of his Arbitrary Government the Design of introducing a way of Government by Military Power NO He knows a better way of Ruling than by that of the Sword it is both more easie and more suitable and agreeing with his Nature his Clemency He had rather come to you in Love than in Power 'T is in your Hearts he aims to live for there he finds his Surest Rest THE King of Spain's Mines will sooner deceive him than that Revenue will fail him for his The Speech of the Speaker of the House of Commons to the King Saturd Decemb. 29. 1660. at their Dissolution pag. 31. Mines have Bottoms but the deeper His Majesty sinks himself into the Hearts and Affections of his People the greater he will find his Wealth to be and the more invincible his Strength THEREFORE did the King ingenuously deal 106. Never any King valued himself more on his People's Love than he doth with us all when he said Never King valued himself more upon the Affections of his People The King's Speech Aug. 29. 1660. p. 5. than I do nor do I know a better way to make my self sure of your Affections than by being just and kind to you all and whilst I am so I pray let the World see that I am possessed of your 107. And the best way to have their Loves is by being just to them all Affections AND saith the Lord Chancellor The King thinks himself the happiest and the greatest Prince of the World not from the Scituation of his Dominions and the The Lord Chanceller's Speech Decemb. 29. 1660. p. 17 18. 108. The King thinks himself the happiest Prince of the World from being possessed of his People's Hearts and Affections Power of his great Navy with which he can visit his Neighbours and keep them from visiting him or from the Noble Revenue you have setled upon him which he will improve with all good Husbandry But from being possessed of the Affections and Hearts of such Subjects that ☜ he doth so entirely love them and depend upon them that all his Actions and all his Counsels shall tend to no other end but to make them happy and prosperous that he thinks 109. And all his Actions and Counsels shall tend to no other end but to make them happy and prosperous his Honour and his Interest principally to consist in providing for and advancing the Honour and Interest of the Nation that he is so confident in the multitude of his very good and faithful Subjects that he is very hard to be perswaded that his few ill and unfaithful Subjects can do him much harm that he so much depends upon the Affection of honest Men and their Zeal for his Security that he is not so sollicitous and vigilant for his own Safety as he ought to be amidst so many Combinations of which he is so well informed that his Servants who with Grief and Anguish importune him not to take so little care of his own safety can obtain no other Answer from him than what Caesar heretofore gave to his jealous Friends Mori se male quam timeri or timere He will die any death rather than live in fear of his own Subjects or that they should live in fear of him 110. His Lenity and Mildness is remarkable HIS Lenity and Mildness and his great and wonderful Condescentions to his People do plainly testifie that all his Endeavours have been and his Resolutions are to make his Kingdom a 111. Therefore let other Princes glory in their Subjects Obedience the King only values himself on his People's Affections Kingdom of Loves to them LET other Princes glory in the most refined The Lord Keeper's Speech Jan. 7. 167◠4. pag. 19 20. Obedience of their Vassals His Majesty values himself upon the Hearts and Affections of his People and thinks his Throne when seated there better established than the most exalted Soveraignty of those who tread upon the Necks of them that rise up against them SINCE the World stood never had any King so great a 112. Never had any King such cause to rest on this Security cause to rest upon this Security THEY were your Hearts that mourned in secret for the absence of the King They were your Hearts and Affections to the King which tired out all the late Usurpations by your invincible Patience and Fortitude It was you that taught our English 113. For the People's hearts have been seen all along towards him World to see and know that no Government could be setled here but upon the true Foundations of Honour and Allegiance WHAT may not the King now hope for from you What may not you assure your selves from him Can any thing be 114. Therefore what may not the King hope for from them and what may not they assure themselves of from him difficult to Hearts so united to Interests so twisted and interwoven together as the King 's and yours are BEFORE ever he touched the English Shore of his own free motion how graciously was he pleased to declare that he granted a free and general Pardon to all his Subjects how hainous soever any of their Offences had been to him excepting only some few Persons as should afterwards be excepted by Parliament 115. How readily did he pass the Act of Oblivion so that no Crime should be remembred against them to the prejudice of their Lives Liberties Estates or Reputations and how readily did he pass the Act of Indemnity and Oblivion when it was presented to him To the intent as the Act in the Preamble expresses it that no Crime whatsoever committed against His Majesty or his Royal Father should hereafter rise in Judgment or be brought in question against any of them to the least Endammagement of them either in their LIVES LIBERTIES or ESTATES or to the prejudice of their Reputations by any Reproach or term of distinction and to bury all Seeds of future Discords and remembrance of the former as well in his own Breast as in the Breasts of his Subjects one towards another and that so there should be a firm Resettlement of both his own just Rights and the Rights of his People I say
all possible Earnestness Id. pag. 3 4. and do conjure you to provide for as speedily as is possible and in such a manner as may give us Security at home and some Reputation abroad I make this Discourse to you with some Confidence because I am very willing and desirous that you should throughly examine whether these Necessities I mention be Real or Imaginary or whether they are fallen upon us by my Fault my own ill Managery or Excesses and provide for them accordingly I am very willing that you make a full Inspection into my Revenue as well the Disbursements as Receipts and if you find it hath been ill managed by any Corruption in the Officers I trust or by my own Vnthriftiness I shall take the Information 138. But not to believe any loose discourses of giving away vast sums of Money in a Morning and Advice you shall give me very kindly I say if you find it for I would not have you believe any loose Discourses how confidently soever urged of giving away Fourscore Thousand Pounds in a Morning and many other Extravagancies of that kind 139. For he is sorry he can reward his faithful Servants no better I have much more reason to be sorry that I have not to reward those who have ever faithfully served the King my Father and my self than ashamed of any Bounty I have exercised towards any Man HERE you find is plain dealing The King comes to ask of 140. Thus if the King ask for Money it is to provide for our Safety and Interest his Parliament some Supply but it is to this end that the Nation may be the better by it that some necessary Provisions for the very Safety of the Kingdom may be made without delay that we may have cause to rejoyce in our own Peace and Quietness being under the Covert of his Wings whose Princely Heart and Head cannot no more than it ought to be free from cares and thoughts of our Protection and Happiness NOR unless upon serious Examination these pressing Necessities be found real and that they have not happened by any fault in him who is perfectly willing that they should enter into the strictest Search in the Case does he require any thing And he would take the Information kindly from them if they would be so free as to tell him upon the Enquiry that they do find Corruption in any of the Officers that he trusts WHEN His Majesty met the House of Commons in the Banquetting-House at Whitehall in March and told them That 141. And he is exceedingly deceived if whatever he hath had given him be any otherwise given than to be laid out for the publick use and benefit and so it shall and we shall find we are the richer by our giving in truth he did not know they were any whit nearer setling his Revenue than they were The King's Speech to the House of Commons Mar. 1. 1661 2. pag 5 6. at Christmas Saith he I am sure I have communicated my Condition to you without Reserve what I have coming in and what my necessary Disbursements are and I am exceedingly deceived if whatever you give me be any otherwise given to me than to be issued out for your own use and benefit Trust me it shall be so and if you consider it well you will find that you are the richer by what you give since it is all to be laid out that you may enjoy the rest in Peace and Security GENTLEMEN I need not put you in Id. ibid. pag. sequente 142. Miserable have been the effects that attended the Wants of the Crown mind of the miserable Effects which have attended the Wants and Necessities of the Crown I need not tell you that there is a Republical Party still in the Kingdom which hath the Courage to promise themselves another Revolution and methinks I 143. Therefore to have such Provision made for the Crown as that it might be able to support it self and secure us is all the King desires and that only for our Preservation should as little need to tell you that the only way with God's Blessing to disappoint their hopes and indeed to reduce them from those extravagant Hopes and Desires is to let them see that you have so provided for the Crown that it hath where withal to support it self and to secure you which I am sure is all I desire and desire only for your Preservation Therefore I do conjure you by all the Professions of Affection you have made to me by all the Kindness I know you have for me after all your Deliverations betake your selves to some speedy Resolutions and settle such a real and substantial Revenue upon me as may hold some proportion with the necessary Expences I am at for the Peace and Benefit and Honour of the Kingdom that they who look for Troubles at home may have that Esteem and Value of us as may secure the Interest and Honour of the Nation and make the Happiness of this Kingdom and of this City once more the Admiration and Envy of the World THUS you see the Peace and Benefit the Interest and Honour and Happiness of this Nation the King's Heart is full of Gracious Intentions to procure and support This is it he greatly desires and desires it for our sakes as well as his own Under his 144. Well when the Parliament had given the King Moneys how does he thank them for it and tell them he will apply it all to the greatest advantage for the Peace and Happiness of the Kingdom Protection he would have us to enjoy our Safety not only that our Persons should be safe but that all that belongs or is dear to us should be so likewise our Religion our Liberties and all our Civil Rights And what more is it possible for a King to do to win over all the Hearts of his Subjects to him And shall he so deserve our Affections and we ever grudge him our Purses BUT to return to the King 's own further Words Saith he to his Parliament My Lords and Gentlemen You have so much obliged me not only in the The King's Speech to both Houses at their Prerogation Mond May 19. 1662. pag 4. matter of those Bills which concern my Revenue but in the manner of passing them 145. And with the best Advice and good Husbandry he can he will contract his Expences with so great Affection and Kindness to me that I know not how to thank you enough I do assure you and I pray assure your Friends in the Country that I will apply all you have given me to the utmost Improvement of the Peace and Happiness of the Kingdom and will with the best Advice and 146. How the King found the Crown when he came to it good Husbandry I can bring my Expences within a narrower Compass THE Lord Chancellor in his Speech after this of the King 's said
to them You know how our Soveraign Lord 147. How he gave more Money to the People than he hath received from them the King found the Crown at his blessed Return to The Lord Chancellor's Speech to the same p. 12 it You can tell the World that as soon as he came hither besides the infinite that he forgave he gave more Money to the People than he hath since received from them That at least two parts of three that they have since given 148. How the Moneys have been laid out that were given him him have issued for the disbanding Armies never raised by him and for payment of Fleets never sent out by him and of Debts never incurred by him AND after a great deal more of much what to the same purpose 149. The Charge the Crown is at both by Sea and Land for our Peace and Security may he not very well go on and say You may with a very good Conscience assure your selves and your Friends and Neighbours that the charge the Crown Id. pag. 13. is now at by Sea and Land for the Peace and Security and Wealth and Honour of the Nation amounts to no less than eight 150. God in giving us this King hath given us the most chearful Giver that hath given us all we have asked all he hath to give hundred thousand Pounds a Year all which did not cost the Crown before these Troubles fourscore thousand Pounds the Year and therefore they will never blame you for any Supply you have given or Addition you have made to the Revenue of the Crown FOR Besides all other Stupendious Blessings that God Almighty hath conferred upon us he hath Id. pag. 20. in this our King given us the most chearful Giver that ever 151. He only retains what we give him for our sakes that we might be the better by it People have been blessed with A King that hath with all imaginable chearfulness given us all we have asked of him all he hath to give who would not take or retain any thing we give to him but for our own sakes that by receiving and retaining it he may give it to us again in more abundance in abundance of Peace and Plenty and Honour and all the Comforts which 152. The Greatness of the King is the greatness of the People can make a Nation happy THUS spake that Noble Lord and did we not see the Fruits and Effects of it The Greatness of the King is the Greatness and Safety of his People The Springs The Lord Keeper's Speech Octob. 13. 1675. pag. 7. 153. The King's thanks to the Parliament for their Present to him and Rivers which pay Tribute to the Ocean do not lessen but preserve themselves by that Contribution SAITH the King and oh how full upon every Occasion is his heart of Generous Gratitude when the Parliament 154. The Necessities of the Crown not coming by the King's Improvidence or Ill-Husbandry had presented him with a Money-Bill I thank you for the Present you have made me this Day and I hope your Countries will thank you when The King's Speech to both Houses at their Prorogation Mond July 27. 1663. p. 3 4. you come home for having done it I am not Conscious of having brought the Straights and Necessities I am in upon my self by any 155. Nor would the King have had the Supply if it were not necessary for our Peace and Quiet Improvidence or Ill-Husbandry of my own I know the contrary and I do assure you that I would not have desired or received the Supply you have now given me if it were not absolutely necessary for your Peace and Quiet as well as mine And I must tell you it will do me very little good if I do not improve 156. He will rather impose upon himself than upon his Subjects it by very good Husbandry of my own and by retrenching those very Expences which in many respects may be thought necessary enough But you shall see I will much rather impose upon my self than upon my Subjects 157. Nothing more of publick consideration than to support the Dignity of the Crown And if all Men will follow my Example in retrenching their Expences which it may be they may do with much more Convenience than I can do mine the Kingdom will in a very short time gain what you have given me this day NOTHING is or can be of a more publick The Lord Chancellor's Speech to both Houses Octob. 21. 1678. pag. 16. 158. It is unsafe as well as dishonourable for the King's Revenue to fall short of his most necessary â—pences Consideration than to support the Dignity of the Crown which is in truth the Dignity of the Nation Besides it is unsafe as well as dishonourable that the King's Revenue should fall short of his most necessary and most unavoidable Expences 159. It is fit there should be such a constant growing Revenue as may preserve the Crown from scandalous Wants and Necessities as formerly it lay under WHEN the Parliament like the richest and the noblest Soil a Soil manured and enriched by the bountiful Hearts of the best Subjects in the World had yielded the King two full Harvests in one Year Saith the Chancellor to them on the Day of their Prorogagation You have not only supplied the Crown to a good degree for discharging many Debts and The Lord Chancellor's Speech Monday May 19. 166â— pag. 8 9. Pressures under which it even groaned and enabled it to struggle with the present Straits and Necessities Debts not contracted and Necessities not run into by Improvidence and Excess You may when you please 160. Our late Distractions may be imputed much to the Poverty of the Crown receive such an Account as will clear all such Reproaches But you have wisely very wisely provided such a constant growing Revenue as may with God's Blessing preserve the Crown from those scandalous Wants and Necessities as have heretofore exposed it and the Kingdom to those dismal Miseries as he said 161. The want of Power the effect of want of Money then from which they are but even now Buoyed up For whatsoever other Humane Causes may be assigned according to the several Fancies and Inclinations of Men of our late miserable Distractions they cannot be so reasonably imputed to any one 162. The Militia Bill and the Additional Revenue the Foundation of our Peace and Security Cause as to the extream Poverty of the Crown the want of Power could never have appeared if it had not been for the want of Money AND I am confident both the present and succeeding Ages will bless God and celebrate your Memories for those two Bills of putting the Militia into the King's Hands and supplying the 163. Treasures the Sinews of War and the Bonds of Peace Crown by an Additional Revenue as the Foundation of their Peace Quiet and Security
those Moneys to the ends for which they were presented 175. And upon this Supplying him how doth he thank and assure them that he will make it go as far as he can towards the satisfying of his Debts him saith he I heartily thank you for the Supply you have given me and I assure The King's Speech April 11. 1670. p. 9. you I will make it go as far as I can towards the Satisfying of my Debts THE Lord Chancellor most admirably speaks to both the Houses saying His Majesty is resolved to give his People as much respite from Payments and Taxes as The Lord Chancellor's Speech Feb. 5. 1672 3. pag. 5. the necessity of his Business or their Preservation will permit You see it is only absolute Necessity 176. The King resolved to give his People much respite from Payments and Taxes even as much as ever he could and a Paternal Princely Regard to the Security Peace and Quietness of his People that puts the King at any time to ask a Supply of his Parliament WHEN you consider we are an Island it is not Riches nor Greatness we contend for yet those The Lord Chancellor's Speech Octob. 27. 1673. pag. 8 9. must attend the Success but it is our very Beings are in Question We fight pro aris focis in this War We are no longer Free-men being Islanders and Neighbours if they master us at Sea there is not so Lawful or Commendable a Jealousie in the World as an English Man's of the growing Greatness of any Prince or State at Sea If you permit the Sea our British Wife to be ravished an Eternal Mark of Infamy will stick upon us THE King declares and shall we not believe him 177. The King not in love with War for War's sake that He is very far from being in Love with The King's Speech Jan. 7. 1673 4. pag. 4 5. War for War's sake And as that cannot be well made without a Supply so neither can Peace be had without being in a posture of War Therefore the way to a good Peace is to set out a good Fleet and if after a good Peace should follow saith he yet the Supply 178. The Supply well given and the reason why would be well given And why so perhaps some may be apt to say Why the King gives you a very good reason for goeth he on whatever remains of it I am willing should be appropriated for building more Ships No putting into his Coffers no but all should be disbursed the more to secure us and to keep up the Honour Ease and Happiness of the Nation This is the best Account of our Supply 179. Our Enemies cannot be gratified more than by our denying a Supply our Hearts can wish and there cannot be a higher The Lord Keeper's Speech to the same p. 17. Gratification of our Enemies than to be backward in this point which we are sure shall be so well laid out for us THE Safety and Honour of the State are then best provided for when we keep up the Strength and Reputation of our Fleet. SO the Roman State thought when as the Orator tells us they decreed Non solum praesidii sed etiam The Lord Keeper's Speech Apr. 13. 1675. pag. 14. ornandi Imperii causa Navigandum esse AS for his own Debts saith the King to his Parliament 180. The King's Debts great You know me to be under a great burthen of Debts and how hard a shift I The King's Speech Thurs Feb. 15. 1676 7. pag. 3. am making to pay them off as fast as I can NOW as the Lord Chancellor's Words are Justice 181. And Justice and Honour obliges the King not to forsake them who have assisted him with their Estates for the publick Good and Honour oblige the King not to forsake those who have assisted him with their Estates in the The Lord Chancellor's Speech to the same pag. 10. Defence of the Publick And although the necessary Issues of his Revenue in the many new and chargeable Emergencies of State did for a while postpone their Satisfaction yet His Majesty hath now gone very far in it and hath provided for the Security and Payment of an Immense Sum with such difficulties as none but a Just and Generous Prince would ever have undergone WHEN the King came and told his Houses that We cannot 182. We cannot have less than Ninety Sail of Capital Ships constantly maintained nor less than 30 or 40000 Land-Men have less on our parts than ninety Sail of Capital Ships constantly maintained nor The King's Speech Mond Jan. 28. 167â— â— pag. 5 6. less than thirty or forty thousand Land-Men with their Dependencies to be employed upon our Fleets and elsewhere Now mark how he is pleased to go on And because there shall be no fear of mis-employing what you shall give to these Vses I am contented that such Money be appropriated to those ends 183. And therefore what shall be given to these Uses shall be appropriated to those ends as strictly as we can desire as strictly as you can desire I have given testimony enough of my Care in that kind by the Progress I have made in building the new Ships wherein for the making them more useful I have directed such larger Dimensions as will cost me above one hundred thousand Pounds more than the Act allows I have gone as far as I could in repairing the old Fleet and in buying of necessary Stores for the Navy and Ordnance And so he proceeds giving his Parliament an exact Account how just he hath been in laying out all their Moneys and a great deal more of his own for his People's Good and Welfare ALAS Saith His Majesty in another Speech 184. The King's Revenue under great Anticipations My Revenue is under great Anticipations The King's Speech to both Houses Mond Octob. 21. 1678. pag. 5. and indeed all things conâ—â—dered how can it be otherwise Seeing as the King himself protests it was at the best never equal to the constant 185. Never was equal to the constant and necessary Expence of the Government and necessary Expence of the Government whereof I intend to have the whole State laid before you and require you to look into it and consider of it with that Duty and Affection which I am sure I shall always find from you I think now by all this that has been repeated to you it is evident that there is no real Cause why any fears of our Liberties or Properties should disturb us for what hath the King done himself to secure them to us upon the best and most lasting Foundations How often hath he invited and conjured his Parliament if it be possible to find out more ways to satisfie his People that it is only their Good and a firm Establishment of all their Civil 186. Our Kingdom likely to continue a long time safe and happy
she comes to Solomon to commune with him of all that was in her Heart Great Sir whilst this your Native Country was unworthy of you Foreign Nations were made happy in the Knowledge of your Person your Piety and your Wisdom and now the Lord our God hath brought you home and set you on your Throne your Subjects long to see you WHAT Striving and Rejoycing was there at Id. ibid. 19. What rejoycing at the King 's Landing your first Landing to see our Rising Sun WHAT Striving was there at your Coronation to see the Imperial Crown set upon your Royal Head WHAT Striving hath here lately been in all 20. What at his Coronation the Counties Cities and Burroughs of this Nation Id. Ibid. who should be sent up to hear your Wisdom and confer with 21. What Striving to be Parliament-Men to hear his Wisdom and confer with him there you in Parliament ROYAL Sir These Chosen Worthy Messengers are not come Empty Handed they are laden Id. ibid. they are sent up to you heavy-laden from their several Counties Cities and Burroughs IF the Affections of all English Men can make 22. How Happy Great and Considerable the King may be both at home and abroad by his Parliament you happy if the Riches of this Nation can make Id. pag. 12. you Great if the Strength of this Warlike People can make you Considerable at home and abroad be assured you are the greatest Monarch in the World Give me leave I beseech you to double my words and say it again I wish my Voice could reach to Spain and to the Indies too You are the greatest Monarch in the World HAVING thus at large given you the Speaker's Words as it were in Extasie of a Parliament I shall now return to give you the King 's which you will find full of a tender and endeared Affection to them 23. The King's Aims have been such as were most agreeable to the antient Order of Parliament and he hopes they will reduce the Proceedings to those ancient Rules and Orders AND what have the Aims and Endeavours of the King been but such as he hath Thought most agreeable to the ancient Order of Parliaments And The King's Speech Thursd Septemb. 13. 1660. pag. 5. I hope you will all joyn with me saith he in reducing the Proceedings of Parliaments to the Ancient Rules and Orders of Parliaments the Deviation from which hath done us no good And when they desired a Recess though he had then some Inclination to have made a Session yet upon Id. ibid. the desire and Reasons given by the House of Commons for an Adjournment without a Session he did very willingly depart from that Inclination And did not this testifie a very great Kindness BUT you shall hear more Gracious Words from him saith he three Months after this I will tell you that when 24. When God restored the King he brought along with him an extraordinary Affection for Parliaments God brought me hither I brought with me an extraordinary Affection and Esteem for The King's Speech Decem. 29. 1660. at the Dissolution pag. 3 4. Parliaments I need not tell you how much it is improved by your Carriage towards me You have outdone all the good and obliging Acts of your Predecessors towards the Crown and therefore you cannot but believe my Heart is exceedingly enlarged with the Acknowledgment MANY former Parliaments have had particular Denominations from what they 25. Former Parliaments have had particular Denominations let this be called The Healing and the Blessed Parliament Id. ibid. have done They have been styled Learned and Unlearned and sometimes have had worse Epithits I pray let us all resolve that this be for ever called The HEALING and the BLESSED PARLIAMENT AND in the Absence of a Parliament which he promises shall not be long how he will carry and behave himself he hath been pleased to give us a very open and ingenuous Confession in these his following Words AS I thank you though not enough for what you have done so I have not the least doubt by the Blessing of God but when I shall call the next Parliament which I shall do as soon as you can reasonably expect or desire I shall receive your Thanks for what 26. The King will not more propose any Rule to himself in his Actions and Counsels than what the Parliament is like to think of them I have done since I parted with you For I deal truly with you I shall not more propose any one Rule to my self in my Actions and my Counsels than this What is a PARLIAMENT like to think of this ACTION or this COUNSEL And it shall be want of Vnderstanding in me if it will not bear that Test Id. Ibid. A PARLIAMENT is such an Assembly My Lord Chancellor hath said that for which the 27. The King hath a kind of Reverence for a Parliament The Lord Chancellor's Speech Thursd 13. Septem 1660. pag. 6. King him self hath even a kind of Reverence as well as an extraordinary Kindness IT will very easily appear so if you will mind what the King tells you that He hath caused two Bills to be prepared for you i. e. the new Parliament on the 8th of May at their Opening which are pag. 2. for Confirmation of all that was enacted at our last Meeting AND as the Chancellor said he commends the Dispatch of those to you with some earnestness The Lord Chancellor's Speech May 8. 1661. pag. 8 9 10. The Truth is it is a great part of the Business of this Parliament to celebrate the Memory of the last by confirming or re-enacting all that was done by that Parliament which though it was not called 28. The last Parliament though not called by the King 's Writ yet seems to have been called by God himself by the King 's Writ may be reasonably thought to have been called by God himself upon the Supplication and Prayer of the King and the whole Nation as the only means to restore the Nation to its Happiness to its Self to its Honour and even to its Innocence How glad the King was of it appears by what he writ to them from Breda when he referred more to them than ever was referred to Parliament He referred 29. He refers to them more than ever was referred to Parliament in truth upon the matter all that concerned himself all that concerned Religion all that concerned himself all that concerned Religion all that concerned the Peace and Happiness of the Kingdom to them And to their Honour be it spoken and to their Honour be it ever remembred that the King Religion and the Kingdom have no reason to 30. The Kingdom have no reason to be sorry for it be sorry that so much was intrusted to them nor they to be ashamed of the Discharge of their Trust It would have been a very
in their Countenance at the Dissolution as when they met at the Convention of Parliament It is an unquestionable Evidence that they are exceedingly satisfied in what they have done towards each other that they have very well done all the Business they came about This is now your Case You have so well satisfied your own Consciences that you are sure you have satisfied the King's Expectation and his Hope and the Desires and Wishes of the Country 41. They have asked nothing of the King but what he hath readily granted and his Majesty hath scarce wished any thing which they have not done for him It was very justly observed by you Mr. Speaker That you have never asked any one thing of the King which he hath not with all imaginable chearfulness granted and in truth his Majesty doth with great comfort acknowledge That you have been so far from denying him any thing he hath asked that he hath scarce wished any thing that you have not granted The King and you have given such Earnest to each other of your mutual Affection you have been so exact and punctual in your proceedings towards each other that you have made no promise no profession to each other of the making good and performing of which the World is not witness Id. p. 7. AND I cannot here forbear inserting the most admirable words of that Chancellor to the Noble Lords and Honourable Members of the House of Commons then in particular but yet which at all times may be repeated to and it were well if they were duly remembred by any succeeding Parliament They are these Your Lordships will easily recover that Estimation and Reverence 42. By the Lords exercise of that Virtue from whence their Honours sprang they will enflame the peoples hearts and from thence they will make a Judgment of the King himself that is due to your High Condition by the exercise and practice of that Virtue from whence your Honours first sprang the example of your Justice and Piety will enflame the hearts of the people towards you and from your practice they will make a Judgment of the King himself They know very well that you are not only admitted to his Presence but to his Conversation and even in a degree to his Friendship for you are his great Council by your Example they will form their own Manners and by Yours they will make some guess at the Kings Therefore under that obligation you will cause your Piety your Justice your Affability and your Charity Id. p. 15 16 17. to shine as bright as is possible before them They are 43. They are too much in love with England who believe it the best Country in the World but it is but just to say England iâ— an Enclosure of the best People in the World too much in love with England too partial to it who believe it the best Country in the World there is better Earth and a better Air and a better that is a warmer Sun in other Countries but we are no more than just when we say that England is an Enclosure of the best people in the World when they are well informed and instructed a people in Sobriety of conscience the most devoted to God Almighty in the Integrity of their affection the most dutiful to the King in their good Manners and Inclinations most regardful and loving to the Nobility no Nobility in Europe so entirely loved by the people there may 44. No Nobility in Europe so beloved by the People be more awe fear and terrour of them but no such love towards them as in England I beseech your Lordships do not undervalue this Love they have looked upon your Lordships and they will look upon your Lordships again as the greatest examples and patterns of duty to the King as their greatest security and protection from Injury and Injustice and for their enjoying whatever is due to them by the Law and as the most proper Mediators and Interposers to the King if by any failure of Justice they should be exposed to any Oppression and Violence and this exercise of your Justice and Kindness towards them will make them the more abhor and abominate that parity upon which a Commonwealth must be founded because it would extirpate or suppress or deprive them of their beloved Nobility which are such a support and security to their full happiness 45. As the Commons came up the Peoples Deputies to the King so he returns them his Deputies to the People AND you Gentlemen of the House of Commons you are now returning to your Countrey laden with a Trust not inferiour or weighty than that you brought from thence you came up their Deputies to the King and he returns you now his Deputies to them his Plenipotentiaries to inform and assure them that he thinks himself the happiest and the greatest Prince of the World from being possess'd of the affections and hearts of such Subjects And that you may have the more credit in what you say he will not take it unkindly if you publish his Defects and Infirmities You may tell them as a great Infirmity that a troubled 46. A troubled countenance so afflicts the King that he would remove it at his own charge and discontented countenance so afflicts him that he would remove it from them at his own charge as if he himself were in the fault And when he hath been informed of any less kind or jealous thing said amongst you as your Windows are never so close shut but that the sound of your words goes to the several corners of the Town His Majesty hath been heard to say no more but What have I done I wish that Gentleman 47. The King wishes his People knew him better and I were acquainted that he knew me better Id. p. 18. Oh Gentlemen you cannot be your selves nor you cannot make your Friends too zealous or too jealous for such a Prince's safety or too solicitous for such a Prince's satisfaction and content to whom we may very justly say as the King of Tyre writ to Solomon Because that God hath loved his people he hath made 48. Where the King's defects are necessary towards the full measure of our prosperity thee King over them even his Defects and Infirmities are very necessary towards the full measure of our prosperity AND though the Speaker could that day affirm in the Speech he made to his Majesty that No man can say that hath made the 49. As that Parliament was very good so whilst we have this good King we may see such onother most curious search into Books or Records that there ever was such a Parliament as this yet he could add further what since has been sufficiently known And it s our unspeakable joy and comfort that no man can say so long as your Majesty lives but we may have such another And he gives us a very good Id. p. 32.
50. For the King hath set his Royal heart to do his People good Reason why we may expect it For saith he You have set your Royal heart upon it to do your people good WHAT this next Parliament was in the King's thoughts you will quickly find if you have but a due regard to his own words for saith he to them at their opening I think there are not many 51. And he is sure that there will be a mutual concurrence between him and them in all things that may advance the Nations happiness of you who are not particularly known to me there are very few of whom I have not heard so King's Speech to both Houses 8 May 1661. pag. 2. much good that I am as sure as I can be of any thing that is to come that you will all concur with me and that I shall concur with you in all things which may advance the peace plenty and prosperity of the Nation I shall be exceedingly deceived else SAITH my Lord Chancellor to this Parliament The King hath called you hither by his Writ to assist him with your Information and Advice in the greatest and weightiest affairs of the Kingdom By his Writ which is the Lord Chanc. Speech to the same pag. 7. 52. The King 's Writ is the only good and lawful way for the meeting of a Parliament only good and lawful way to the meeting of a Parliament and the pursuing that Writ the remembring how and why they came together is the only way to bring a happy end to Parliaments WHAT the work of this Parliament was you shall hear him in the same Speech tell them thus My Lords and Gentlemen Though the last Parliament did great and wonderful things 53. And a Parliament have very great things to do indeed as much as in that time they could yet they have left very great things for you to do You are to finish the Structure of which they but laid the Foundation indeed Idem pag. 11. 12. they left some things undone which it may be they thought they had finished the inspection into which things will become your wisdoms YOU need not question but this their care to perform and perfect made his Majesty thus say to his House of Commons I do 54. Never a more Loyal Parliament than that elected in 1661. speak my heart to you when I tell you that I do believe that from the first Institutions of Parliaments to this hour there was never a House of Commons fuller King's Speech to the House of Commons Mar. 1. 1661. pag. 4. of affection and duty to their King than you are to me never any that was more desirous and solicitous to gratifie the King than you are to oblige me never a House of Commons in which there were fewer persons without a full measure of zeal for the honour and welfare of the King and Country than there are in this HOW glad was He to hear they had repealed that Act which 55 By repealing the Act which excluded the Bishops from sitting in the House Parliaments are restored to their primitive Institutions excluded the Bishops from sitting in Parliament because saith he You have thereby restored Parliaments to their primitive Institutions THIS was an effect to be sure of his great kindness and affection to them and this doubtless made him go on as he did saying I hope my Lords and Gentlemen you will in a short 96. To restore Parliaments to their primitive order is to restore them to its primitive veneration with the People which the King wishes they may always have time restore them to the primitive order and gravity of debates and determinations which the license of King's Speech 30 July 1661. pag. 2 3. the late distempered times had so much corrupted which is the only way to restore Parliaments to its primitive veneration with the people which I heartily wish they should always have AND how well they acquitted themselves in all things tending to the happiness of both King and Kingdom Sir Edward Turnor tells his Majesty in these words Since your Majesty did convene the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament they have with unwearied Speakers Speech 30 July 1661. pag. 1. 57. And see how they acted labour consulted for the Service of your Majesty and the good of this Nation VERY justly then might the Lord Chancellor begin his Speech as he did with refreshing their memories with what the King first said to them It is now little more than a year that the King first called you to attend him here at the opening of the Parliament then you may remember he told you that he thought 58. The King was not deceived in his confidence of them there were not many of you who were not particularly known to him that there were very few of whom he had not heard so much good that he was he said as Lord Chanc. Speech 19. May 1662. p. 7. 8. sure as he could be of any thing that was to come that you would all concur with him and that he should concur with you in all things which might advance the peace plenty and prosperity of the Nation His Majesty said he should be exceedingly deceived else IT was a Princely declaration and a rare confidence which could flow from no other Fountain but the sincerity and purity of his own Conscience which admitting no other designs or thoughts into his Royal breast but such as must tend to the unquestionable prosperity and greatness of his people could not but be assured of your full concurrence and co-operation with him It was a happy and a blessed Omen which at the instant 59. This was a happy Omen to defeat those that thought to get advantage by their differences struck a terrour into the hearts of those who promised themselves some advantages from the differences and divisions in your Counsels and hoped from thence to create new troubles and molestations in the Kingdom and God be thanked the King hath been so far from being exceedingly deceived that he doth acknowledge He hath been exceedingly complied with exceedingly gratified in all he hath desired and he hopes he hath not in the least degree disappointed your expectation THEY had so exceedingly gratified him and he had such an extraordinary kindness and affection for them that though he had designed to have Prorogued them four days sooner because of the arrival of the Queen yet for the good of his people who 60. And he was so pleased with them that he staid four days longer than he would have done because their Bills should be perfected are always dear to him he was pleased to condescend to tarry so long until they had fully perfected the work they were about and prepared all their Bills for the Royal assent And there cannot be a more transcendent instance of the King's love and passion for his
Interest it should be so but because the King did Prorogue his Parliament from July 1663. to March 1663 4. some ill-affection'd persons to the peace and quiet of the State and Government would fain have had their seditious whispers credited of their never seeing them to meet again but their malice could not be hid for at the stated day the doors were open and the Houses full saith the King to them My Lords and Gentlemen 92 Whatever peoples surmises be of him the King would not have his Parliament think any thing ill of him as to any disaffection for them You see God be thanked you have met together again at the time appointed and I do assure you I have been so far from ever intending it should be otherwise that I do not know one person who ever wished it should be otherwise Think therefore I pray what good meaning those men could have who from the time of the Prorogation to the day of your meeting have continually whispered and industriously infused into the minds of the people that the Parliament should meet no more that it should either be presently dissolved or so continued by Prorogation that they should be kept without a Parliament I pray watch these whisperers all you can as men 93. He would have his Parliament to watch all those who make it their business to sow jealousies between them and him King's Speech to both Houses Mond 21 Mar. 63 4. pag. 3 4. who use their utmost endeavours to sow Iealousies between you and me and I do promise you they shall not prevail with me and I do promise my self they shall not prevail with you and the truth is we are both concerned they should not and we shall then with God's blessing prevent all the mischief they intend NAY so sensible was the King of this same evil Spirit among some at his receiving of the Parliaments Petition concerning Romish 94. The King extremely angry at those who talk of his resolutions to dissolve his Parliament Priests and Jesuits a year before this that saith he then in his Speech to them I confess my Lords and Gentlemen I have heard of one Iealousie which I will never forgive the Authors of that I had a Iealousie of your affections that I was offended with the Parliament to that degree that I intended King's Speech 1 Apr. 1663. pag. 5. 6. to dissolve it They say men are naturally most 95. Which he saith reflects much upon his understanding angry with those reproaches which reflect upon their understanding which makes them thought weak men truly I should appear a very weak man if I should have any such passion any such purpose No my Lords and Gentlemen I will not 96. For none so much obliged to Parliaments as He was and his love to them shall be proportionable part with you upon those terms never King was so much beholding to a Parliament as I am to you and if my kindness to you and my confidence in you be not proportionable I am behind-hand with you which God willing I will not be AND as he hath laid out very great endeavours that there might not be any mis-understanding between him and his people so in a more peculiar manner hath his Majesty shewn himself industrious in his carefulness to preserve a right correspondence between him and his Parliament and hath been continually engaging them by all the earnest expressions of an affectionate and endearing tenderness to preserve the same towards each other as you shall see from these following instances I am sorry to find that the general temper and affections of 97. The King sorry to find the Nation no better composed the Nation are not so well composed as I hoped they would have been after so signal blessings from God Almighty upon us all and after so great indulgence and condescentions from me towards all Interests There are 98. Many ill persons labour night and day to disturb the publick peace King's Speech 20 Nov. 1661. pag. 4 5. many wicked Instruments still as active as ever who labour night and day to disturb the publick peace and to make all people jealous of each other it will be worthy of your care and vigilance to provide proper remedies 99. Find out fit remedies for such and we shall do well enough for the diseases of that kind and if you find new diseases you must study new remedies Let us not be discouraged if we help one another we shall with God's blessing master all our difficulties And a few lines lower saith he I shall not need to recommend 100. A good correspondence necessary for us all or put you in mind of the good correspondence that ought to be kept between you for the good of your selves and Me and the whole Kingdom and I may tell you it is very necessary for us all You will find whoever doth not love me doth not love you and they who have no Reverence for you have little 101. Who have no reverence for Parliaments have no kindness for the King Kindness for me therefore I pray let us adhere fast to each other and then we shall with the help of God in a short time perswade o oblige all men to that submission and obedience to the Law as may constitute a full measure of happiness to Prince and People and perswade our Neighbours to that esteem and value they have formerly had for us THIS Harmony of tempers is certainly the best way in Humane 102. Harmony of affections between the King and his Parliament the best way to make both Church and State happy foresight to bring down blessiings upon us all and to cause both the Church and the Statc to return to that Vnity Lord Chanc. Sp. 13 Sept. 1660. p. 22. and Vnanimity which will make both King and People as happy as they can hope to be in this World 1660. p. 22. THIS his Majesties adopted Parliament very well understood and therefore behaved themselves accordingly for their hearts were set upon it after so long distractions if it were possible to restore the Nation to its former felicity and this could no way be so well done as by the sweet agreement of their Spirits and their mutual kindnesses and respects each to other THIS as they observed it did the King observe too and by his Chancellor renders them very kind acknowledgments for it Saith that Noble Lord in the same Speech at the very beginning of the next page My Lords and Gentlemen I shall conclude 103. And therefore the Chancellor thanks them as from the King for the good correspondence and respect to each other with the King 's hearty thanks to you not only for what you have done towards him which hath been very signal but for what you have done towards each other for the excellent correspondence you have maintained for the very seasonable deference and condescention you have
had for each other which will restore Parliaments to the veneration they ought to have WHEN there is visible such a harmony of affections and a unity in resolutions to advance the publick service then they who look for troubles at home may despair of their wishes and our Neighbours abroad by seeing all is well at home 104. This will make our Enemies at home to despair and those abroad to have a just honour and esteem for us may have that esteem and value of us as may secure King's Speech to the House of Commons Mar 1. 1661. pag. 5. 7. the Interest and Honour of the Nation and make the happiness of this Kingdom and of this City once more the admiration and envy of the World WELL may the King therefore be solicitous to have this maintained since that the peace and security the honour and the happiness of these Nations is concerned in it This was a consideration 105. And this made the King to desire and conjure his Parliament again to keep a good correspondence together prevailing enough with him to desire and conjure both his Houses to keep a very good correspondence King's Speech to both Houses Mond 21 Mar. 1663 4. p. 8. together that it may not be in the power of any seditious or factious Spirits to make you jealous of each other or either of you jealous of Me till you see me pretend one thing and do another which 106. And not to be jealous of him till they see he pretends one thing and does another which shall never be I am sure you have never yet done trust me it shall be in no bodies power to make me jealous of you AND again saith his Majesty My Lords and Gentlemen I did desire and conjure you at the opening of this Session that you would keep a very good correspondence together that it might not be in the power of any seditious or factious Spirits to make you jealous of each other or either of you jealous of me I must confess to you you have 107. And they have done as his Majesty desired viz kept a very good correspondence towards each other and respect towards him King's Speech to both Houses Tuesd May 17. 1664. p. 3 4 complied very fully with me for which I can never thank you enough You have performed those good respects towards me and kept so very good correspondence towards each other that you have exceedingly disappointed those ill men who both at home and abroad had raised great hopes and expectation of neâ— troubles and confusions This harmony will with God's blessing make us all esteem'd abroad and secure at home ABOUT six years afterwards he comes to them and says One thing I must earnestly recommend to the prudence of hath Houses that you will not suffer any 108. Unity of Minds and Counsels brings happiness both to King and Nation King's Speech Mond 14 Feb. 1669 70. p. 4 5. occasion of difference between your selves to be revived since nothing but the unity of your Minds and Counsels can make this meeting happy either to Me or to the Nation AND on Monday the 11th of April 1670. upon the Adjournment of the Parliament the Speaker thus says to his Majesty By the blessing of God all differences are buried in 109. And they follow'd his Majesties wholsome advice oblivion your Majestie 's happy expedient hath Sir Edw. Turnor's Speech pag. 2. like a strong gale of Wind blown up the Rolling-Sands and filled up all Impressions Vestigia nulla Retrorsum and as your People will universally enjoy the fruit of this happy Union so our united prayers to God shall be that your Majesty may be crowned with the promised blessing Beati pacifici AND when about three years and a half after this the King had heard of some differences in Parliament which his Majesty thought fit to come and put a stop to by an immediate Prorogation how kindly and affectionately did he speak to both his Houses and say My Lords and Gentlemen I need not tell you how unwillingly I call you hither at this time being 110. How unwilling the King was to Prorogue his Parliament though it was to put a stop to some differences then risen enough sensible what advantages my Enemies King's Speech Nov. 4. 1673. p. 3. 4. both abroad and at home will reap by the least appearance of a difference nay being assured they expect more success from such a breach could they procure it than from their Arms. This I say shall whilst I live be my chief endeavour to 111. But it was but a short one that good men should recollect themselves prevent and for that reason I think it necessary to make a short Recess that all good men may recollect themselves against the next meeting AND the January following he tells them most affectionately 112. And therefore Enemies could not hope for a breach between the King and his Parliament from that short Recess When I parted with you last it was but for a little time and with a resolution of meeting suddenly again That alone was enough to satisfie my Friends that they need not fear and my Enemies that they could not hope for King's Speech Jan. 7. 1673 4. pag. 3 4. a Breach between us I then told you that the time of this short Recess should be employed in doing such things as might add to your satisfaction I hope I have 113. For in the mean time the King would do that which should be to their satisfaction done my part towards it and I do now expect you should do your parts too for our Enemies chief hopes are to dis-unite us at home 't is their common discourse and they reckon upon it as their best relief 114. All our Enemies aims are to disunite us My Lords and Gentlemen It is not possible for me to doubt your Affections at any time much less at such a time as this when the evidences of your 115. The King can never doubt the affections of his Parliament Affections are become so necessary to us all THE King hath spoken so fully so excellently well and so like himself that it is almost impossible to shew greater demonstrations of an earnest and tender affection and Lord Chanc. Sp. 5 Febr. 72 3. pag. 5. there is not a word in his Speech that hath not its full weight AND saith he in another The principal end of my calling you now 116. The Kings utmost endeavours to settle a right understanding is to give my self the satisfaction of having used the utmost of my endeavours to procure and settle a right and lasting understanding between us for I must tell you I find the contrary so much laboured and that the pernicious King's Speech Apr. 13. 1675. p. 3 4 designs of ill men have taken so much place under 117. For the contrary is much laboured
need of If you can weather this Storm and steer the Vessel into Harbour If you can find a way to quiet the Apprehensions of those who mean well without being carried away by the passions of others who mean ill If you can prevent the designs of those without doors who study nothing else but how to distract your Councels and to disturb all your Proceedings Then you will have performed as great and as seasonable a piece of Service to the King as ever yet he stood in need of AND when the World shall see that nothing hath been able to disappoint the King of the Assistance he had reason to hope from this Session but that there is a right understanding between the King and his Parliament and that again strengthned and increased by new Evidences of your Duty and Affection and raised above all possibility of being interrupted THEN shall the King be possessed of that true glory which 185. And he will be possest of the true glory which others vainly pursue others vainly pursue the glory of reigning in the hearts of his People Then shall the People be possessed of as much felicity as this World is capable of And you shall have the perpetual Honour and Satisfaction of having been the means to procure to 186. The People of the greatest felicity so much solid and lasting good to your Country as the Establishment of the Peace and Tranquillity of this Kingdom and 187. And themselves of perpetual Honour consequently of all his Majesties Dominions AND now what remains but that the Parliament when e're they sit again should have these most profitable words of the King continually in their Memories which he was pleased to deliver to both his Houses on Thursday 6th March 1678 9. p. 4. and 188. Parliaments to be imployed on the great concerns of the Nation 5. and carefully see that they Imploy their time upon the great concerns of the Nation and be not drawn to promote private Animosities under pretences of the publick So will their proceedings be Calm and Peaceable in order to those good ends the King hath at all times and to be sure will recommend to his 189. And to curbthemotions of unruly Spirits Parliament and that they curb the motions of any unruly Spirits which would endeavour to disturb them For there can be no man that must not see how fatal differences amongst 190. The considerations to be laid before them as urgent and weighty as ever any Parliament had our selves are like to be at this time both at home and abroad FOR the considerations which are now to be laid before them are as urgent and as weighty as were ever yet offered to any Parliament or indeed ever can be so great and so 191. From our dangers at home and a broad surprising have been our dangers at home so formidable Lord Chanc. Speech to the same p. 10. are the appearances of danger from abroad that the most united Councels the most Sedate and 192 Therefore all need of united Councels Calmest temper and zealous Affections the Calmest temper together with the most dutiful and zealous Affections that a Parliament can shew are all become absolutely and indispensably necessary for our preservation AND therefore the King hopes the good understanding 193. And a good understanding between the King and his People between him and his People shall be for ever maintain'd by a perpetual Reciprocation of Grace and Favour on his part and duty and affection on yours Id. pag. 16. YOU will have now an opportunity of doing great things for 194. They have opportunity to do great things both for the King and Kingdom the King and Kingdom and it deserves your utmost care to make a right use of it For it is not in the power of a Parliament to recover a lost opportunity or to restore themselves again to the same Circumstances or the same condition which they had once a power to have improved Id. pag. 17. WOULD you secure Religion at home and strengthen it 195. This is the time to secure Religion at home and to strenghten it from abroad from abroad by uniting the Interests of all the Protestants in Europe This is the time Id. ibid. WOULD you let the Christian World see the King in a condition 196. To put the King in a condition to protect all his Adherents able to protect those who shall adhere to him or depend upon him This is the time Id. ibid. WOULD you extinguish all our Fears and Jealousies Would you lay aside all private Animosities and give them up to the 197. To extinguish all Fears and Jealousies quiet and Repose of the Publick This is the time Id. ibid. WOULD you lay the foundations of a lasting Peace and 198. And to lay the foundations of a lasting Peace secure the Church and State against all the future Machinations of our Enemies This is the time Id. ibid. My Lords and Gentlemen THE present face of things and the State wherein we now are is so well known and understood abroad that the whole 199. All the World in great expectation of the Resolutions of the Parliament World is in great expectation of those Resolutions which shall be taken here the results of this Counsel seem to be decisive of the fate of these Kingdoms for many Ages and are like to determine us either to happiness or misery of a very long duration Id. pag. 18. MAY then your Wisdom and Moderation be such that the King may never deny you any thing AND when ever you meet may you make it your business to 200. May our Parliament make it their business to repair the Hedge about our Vineyard repair the Hedge about our Vineyard and make it a fence indeed against all those who are Enemies to the Planting of it who would be glad to see it trodden Lord Keepers Speech 7. Ja. 73 4. pag. 8. down or rooted up and study how to sap and under-mine our very Foundations THE Heathens were wont to observe and envy the Christians for their Unity and Love of one Sir Ed. Turnor's Sp. to the King May 17. 1664. pag. 12. 201. May a happy Correspondence be kept between the King and both Houses another Ecce ut invicem se diligunt Christiani May this happy Correspondency between his Royal Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament increase and grow to be the Envy of the World till all his Majesties Enemies are forced to cry Ecce ut invicem se diligunt Anglicani THERE wants nothing more to the improvement 202. May their wisdoms use their advantages with a due moderation of our happiness but the wisdom of the Parliament Lord Keepers Speech Jan. 7. 71 4. pag. 10. to use their advantages with a due moderation AND if upon enquiry you shall think it needful to apply any 203. Few
Remedies are extremely to be wish'd other new Remedies it is extremely to be wish'd that those Remedies may be few and withall that they may be gentle and easie too Id. ibid. FOR they that are sick perish as often by too many Remedies 204. The Sick perish as oft by too many as by none at all as by none at all but none fall so fatally and finally as they who being entred into some degrees of convalescence resolve to recover in an instant and had rather make some great effort or try some bold experiment upon themselves than observe the methods or attend those gradual progressions which are necessary to perfect that health and compleat that recovery Id. ibid. DOUBTLESS the King will surpass himself at this time in 205. Doubtless the King will surpass himself in endeavouring the Kingdoms good may you excell your selves in enlarged Affections endeavouring to procure the good of the Kingdom do but you excell your selves too in the enlarged evidences of your Affections and then the glory of reviving this State will be entirely due â—â— your happy meeting as being attended with an unparallel'd Vnaâ—iâ—ity Constancy and Resolution beyond the president of former Parliaments Id. p. 20. THEN they who wait for the languishing and the declination 206. It will strike terrour and amazement in all ill persons of the present Government will be amazed to see so happy a Crisis so blest a Revolution Ibid. AND Ages to come will find cause to celebrate your memories 207. And future Ages will celebrate your memories as the truest Physicians the wisest Counsellors the noblest Patriots and the best Parliament that ever King or Kingdom met with Ibid. So that it may perfect what the last begun for the safety of 208 May it perfect what the last begun for the safety of the King and Kingdom this King and Kingdom that it may be ever famous for having established upon a durable foundation our Religion Laws and Properties that we may not be tossed with boisterous winds nor overtaken by a sudden dead calm but that a Lord Chanc. Sp. 27 Oct. 1673. p. 10. gentle fair gale may carry you in a steady even and resolved way into the Ports of Wisdom and Security AND since a whole Session of Parliament is in the Judgment 209. The whole Session of Parliament is but as one day and Construction of our Law but as one day may you all endeavour that the morning of it the first entrance upon it may be with such fair and such auspicious circumstances Lord Keepers Sp. Wcdnes 13 Oct. 75. p. 11 12. as may give the whole Kingdom an assurance of a bright and a chearful day LET no ill humours gather into Clouds to darken or obscure 210 May no ill humours gather into Clouds to darken it it for this day is a Critical day and more depends upon that Judgment of our affairs which will be made by it than can easily be imagined IT imports you therefore to take care that no part of this time 211. May no part of this time be lost be lost let every precious minute of this day be spent in receiving such Acts of grace and goodness as are ready to flow from the King and in making such retributions for them as may become the grateful hearts of the best Subjects to the best of Kings SO shall this day become a day of disappointment and discomfort 212. So this will be a day of disappointment to our Enemies and a joyful day to this and all future generations to our Enemies but to us and all good men a glorious day a day of triumph and deliverance a memorable and a joyful day to this present and to all future generations AND the God of Peace and Unity prosper all your Lord Chanc. Sp. Thursd 23 May 78. pag. 19. consultations to the honour and happiness of the 213. And the God of Peace and Unity prosper all your consultations King and the joy and comfort of all his good Subjects AND let us all pray that He who hath once more miraculously 214. And continue his Divine protection over us delivered the King the Church and the State would be pleased still to continue his Divine protection and give us thankful and obedient hearts And when we have offered up those hearts to God let us in the next place offer them again to the King 215. And may you have the honour of making him the greatest King and he the glory of making us the happiest people and lay them down at the footstool of his Throne that so the King may see himself safe in your Councels rich in your Affections victorious by your Arms and raised to such a Lord Chanc. Sp. Thursd 6 Mar. 7â— 9. p. 18 19. height by your Loyalty and Courage that you may have the honour of making him the greatest King and he the glory of making you the happiest People Neve major neve minor cura opera suscipiatur quà m causa postulet Tull. Offic. lib. 1. FINIS Addenda THE Title-page having it seems promised you the material substance of the several Speeches in Parliament upon the aforesaid Heads inclusively till the end of the last viz. in January 1680 1. I found my self in Duty bound to add these that follow by way of Appendix to make good the Promise because the Title Sheet was all wrought off before ever I had a view of it And so I hope my Generous Readers will accept of this as a reasonable Excuse in my favour HIS Majesty being very sensible how much our Divisions at home would be likely to render our Friendship less considerable abroad saith To prevent these as much as may be I think fit to renew His Majesties Speech to his two Houses Monday Octob. 21. 1680. p. 4 5. to you all the Assurances which can be desired that nothing shall be wanting on my part to give you the fullest satisfaction your hearts can wish for the Security of the Protestant Religion which I am fully resolved to maintain against all the Conspiracies of our Enemies and to concur with you in any new Remedies which shall be proposed that may consist with preserving the Succession of the Crown in its due and legal course of Descent AND in Order to this I do recommend it to you to pursue the further Examination of the PLOT with a strict and an Impartial Enquiry I do not think my self safe nor You neither till that matter he gone through with and therefore it will be Necessary that the Lords in the Tower be brought to their speedy Trial that Iustice may be done IN his next Speech to his Parliament the King is pleased to remember the same thing and saith I did promise you the fullest satisfaction your hearts could wish for the Security of the Kings Speech Wednesday December 15. 1680. pag. 4. Protestant Religion and to concur