common prudence requires that his Majesty should make some suitable preparations that he may at least keep pace with his Neighbours if not out-go them in Number and Strength of Shipping For this being an Island both our Safety our Trade our Being and our Well-Being depend upon our Forces at Sea His Majesty therefore of his Princely Care for the Good of his People hath given order for the fitting out of Fifty Sayl of his Greatest Ships against the Spring besides those which are to be for Security of our Merchants in the Mediterranean As foreseeing if he should not have a considerable Fleet whilst his Neighbours have such Forces both at Land and Sea Temptation might be given to those who seem not now to intend it to give us an Affront at least if not to do us a Mifchief To which may be added That his Majesty by the Leagues which he hath made for the Common Peace of Christendom and the good of his Kingdoms is obliged to a certain Number of Forces in case of Infraction thereof as also for the Assistance of some of his Neighbours in case of Invasion And his Majesty would be in a very ill condition to perform his part of the Leagues if whilst the Clouds are gathering so thick about us he should in hopes that the Wind will disperse them omit to provide against the Storm My Lords and Gentlemen Having named the Leagues made by his Majesty I think it necessary to put you in mind That since the Close of the late War his Majesty hath made several Leagues to his own great Honour and infinite Advantage to the Nation One known by the Name of the Tripple Alliance wherein his Majesty the Crown of Sweden and the States of the United Provinces are ingaged to preserve the Treaty of Aix la Capelle concerning a Peace between the two warring Princes which Peace produced that effect that it quenched the Fire which was ready to have set all Christendom in a Flame And besides other great Benefits by it which she still enjoyes gave opportunity to transmit those Forces against the Infidels which would otherwise have been imbrued in Christian Blood Another between his Majesty and the said States for a Mutual Assistance with a certain number of Men and Ships in case of Invasion by any others Another between his Maiesty and the Duke of Savoy Establishing a Free Trade for his Majesties Subjects at Villa Franca a Port of his own upon the Mediterranean and through the Dominions of that Prince and thereby opening a Passage to a Rich part of Italy and part of Germany which will be of a very great advantage for the Vending of Cloth and other our home Commodities bringing back Silk and other Materials for Manifactures than here Another between his Majesty and the King of Denmark whereby those other Impositions that were lately laid upon our Trade there are taken off and as great Priviledges granted to our Merchants as ever they had in former Times or as the Subjects of any other Prince or State do now enjoy And another League upon a Treaty of Commerce with Spain whereby there is not only a Cessation and giving up to his Majesty of all their Pretensions to Jamaica and other Islands and Countries in the West Indies in the Possession of his Majesty or his Subjects but with all free Liberty is given to his Majesties Subjects to enter their Ports for Victuals and Water and safety of Harbour and Return if Storm or other Accidents bring them thither Priviledges which were never before granted by them to the English or any Others Not to mention the Leagues formerly made with Sweden and Portugal and the Advantages which we enjoy thereby nor those Treaties now depending between his Majesty and France or his Majesty and the States of tbe United Provinces touching Commerce wherein his Majesty will have a singular regard to the Honour of this Nation and also to the Trade of it which never was greater than now it is In a word Almost all the Princes in Europe do seek his Majesties Friendship as acknowledging they cannot Secure much less Improve their present condition without it His Majesty is confident that you will not be contented to see him deprived of all the advantages which he might procure hereby to his own Kingdoms nay even to all Christendom in the Repose and Quiet of it That you will not be content abroad to see your Neighbours strengthening themselves in Shipping so much more than they were before and at Home to see the Government strugling every year with Difficulties and not able to keep up our Navies equal with theirs He findes that by his Accounts from the year 1660 to the Late War the ordinary Charge of the Fleet Communibus annis came to about 500000 l. a year and it cannot be supported with less If that particular alone take up so much add to it the other constant Charges of the Government and the Revenue although the Commissioners of the Treasury have mannag'd it with all imaginable Thrift will in no degree suffice to take of the Debts due upon Interest much less give him a Fonds for the fitting out of this Fleet which by common Estimation thereof cannot cost less than 800000 l. His Majesty in his most gracious Speech hath expressed the great sence he hath of your zeal and affection for him and as he will ever retain a grateful memory of your former readiness to supply him in all Exigencies so he doth with particular thanks acknowledge your frank and chearfull Gift of the New Duty upon Wines at your last Meeting But the same is likely to fall very short in value of what it was conceived to be worth and should it have answered expectation yet far too short to ease and help him upon these Occasions And therefore such a Supply as may enable him to take off his Debts upon Interest and to set out this Fleet against the Spring is that which he desires from you and recommends it to you as that which concerns the Honour and Support of the Government and the Wellfare and Safety of your Selves and the whole Kingdome My Lords and Gentlemen You may perceive by what his Majesty hath already said that he holds it requisite that an End be put to this Meeting before Christmas It is so not only in reference to the Preparation for his Fleet which must be in readiness in the Spring but also to the Season of the Year It is a time when you would be willing to be in your Countries and your Neighbours would be glad to see you there and partake of your Hospitality and Charity and you thereby endear your selves to them and keep up that Interest and Power among them which is necessary for the service of your King and Country and a Recesse at that time leaving your business unfinished till your Return cannot either be convenient for you or suitable to the condition of his Majesties Affaires which requires
had by that Treaty of Aix la Chapelle agreed to acquiess in their former Conquests in Flanders and that the English Svvede and Hollander were reciprocally bound to be aiding against whomsoever should disturbe that Regulation besides the League Offensive and Defensive which his Majesty had entered into with the States General of the United Provinces all which was by this Conjunction with France to be broken in pieces So that what is here declared if it were reconcileable to Truth yet could not consist with Possibility which two do seldom break company unless by one only Expedient that the English who by this new League with France were to be the Infractors and Aggressors of the Peace of Aix la Chapelle and with Holland should to fulfill their Obligations to both Parties have sheathed the Sword in our own Bowels But such was the Zeal of the Conspirators that it might easily transport them either to say what was untrue or undertake what was impossible for the French Service That King having seen the English thus engaged beyond a Retreat comes now into the War according to agreement But he was more Generous and Monarchal than to assign Cause true or false for his Actions He therefore on the 27th of March 1672 publishes a Declaration of War without any Reasons Only The ill satisfaction vvhich his Majesty hath of the Behaviour of the States General tovvards him being risen to that degree that he can no longer vvithout diminution to his Glory dissemble his Indignation against them c. Therefore he hath resolved to make War against them both by Sea and Land c. And commands all his Subjects Courir sus upon the Hollauders a Metaphor which out of respect to his own Nation might have been spared For such is our pleasure Was ever in any Age or Nation of the World the Sword drawn upon no better Allegation A stile so far from being Most Christian that nothing but some vain French Romance can parallel or justify the Expression How happy were it could we once arrive at the same pitch and how much credit and labour had been saved had the Compilers of our Declaration in stead of the mean English way of giving Reasons contented themselves with that of the Diminution of the English Honour as the French of his Glory But nevertheless by his Embassador to the Pope he gave afterwards a more clear account of his Conjunction with the English and that he had not undertaken this War against the Hollanders but for extirpating of Heresie To the Emperour That the Hollanders were a People who had forsaken God were Hereticks and that all good Christians were in duty bound to associate for their extiapation and ought to pray to God for a blessing upon so pious an enterprise And to other Popish Princes that it was a War of Religion and in order to the Propagation of the Catholick Faith And in the second Article of his Demands afterward from the Hollanders it is in express words contained That from thenceforvvard there shall be not only an intire Liberty but a Publick Exercise of the Catholick Apostolick Romane Religion throughout all the United Provinces So that vvheresoever there shall be more than one-Church another shall be given to the Catholicks That vvhere there is none they shall be permitted to build one and till that be finished to exercise their Divine Service publickly in such Houses as they shall buy or hire for that purpose That the States General or each Province in particular shall appoint a reasonable Salary for a Curate or Priest in each of the said Churches out of such Revenues as have formerly appertained to the Church or othervvise Which was conformable to what he published now abroad that he had entered into the War only for Gods Glory and that he would lay down Armes streightwayes would the Hollanders but restore the True Worship in their Dominions But he made indeed twelve Demands more and notwithstanding all this devotion the Article of Commerce and for revoking their Placaets against Wine Brandy and French manufactures was the first and tooke place of the Catholick Apostolick Romane Religion Whether all these were therefore onely words of course and to be held or let lose according to his occasions will better appeare when we shall have heard that he still insists upon the same at Nimegen and that although deprived of our assistance he will not yet agree with the Dutch but upon the termes of restoring the True Worship But whatever he were it is evident that the English were sincere and in good earnest in the Design of Popery both by that Declaration above mentioned of Indulgence to the Recusants and by the Negotiation of those of the English Plenipotentiaryes whom for their honour I name not that being in that year sent into Holland pressed that Article among the rest upon them as without which they could have no hope of Peace with England And the whole processe of affaires will manifest further that booth here and there it was all of a piece as to the project of Religion and the same threed ran throw the Web of the English and French Counsells no lesse in relation to that then unto Government Although the issuing of the French Kings declaration and the sending of our English Plenipotentiaries into Holland be involved together in this last period yet the difference of time was so small that the anticipation is inconsiderable For having declared the VVarre but on the 27th of March 1672. He struck so home and followed his blow so close that by July following it seemed that Holland could no longer stand him but that the swiftnesse and force of his motion was something supernatural And it was thought necessary to send over those Plenipotentiaries if not for Interest yet at least for Curiosity But it is easier to find the Markes than Reasons of some mens Actions and he that does only know what happened before and what after might perhaps wrong them by searching for further Intelligence So it was that the English and French Navies being joyned were upon the Tvventieighth of May One thousand six hundred seventy tvvo Attaqued in Soule Bay by De Ruyter with too great advantage For while his Royal Highness then Admiral did all that could be expected but Monsieur d' Estree that commanded the French did all that he was sent for Our English Vice-Admiral Mountague was sacrificed and the rest of our Fleet so mangled that there was no occasion to boast of Victory So that being here still on the losing hand 't was fit some body should look to the Betts on the other side of the Water least that Great and Lucky Gamster when he had won all there and stood no longer in need of the Conspirators should pay them with a Quarrel for his Mony and their ill Fortune Yet were they not conscious to themselves of having given him by any Behaviour of theirs any cause of Dissatisfaction but that they had
such Alliances To which the Speaker re-assuming the Chair and this being reported the House agreed and appointed the Committee And Adjourned over Asâ—…nsion day till Friday In the interim the Committee appointed met and drew the Address according to the above mentioned Order a true Coppy of which is here annexed May it please your Most excellent Majesty YOur Majesties most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects 〈◊〉 Commons in Parliament assembled have taken into their serious consideration your Majesties gracious Speech and do beseech your Majesty to believe it is a great affliction to them to find themselves obleiged at present to decline the granting your Majesty the supply your Majesty is pleased to demand conceiving it is not agreeable to the usage of Parliament to grant Supplyes for mainteance of Wars and Alliances before they are signified in Parliament which the too Wars against the States of the Vnited Provinces since your Majesties happy Restoration and the League made in January 1668 for preservation of the Spanish Nether Lands sufficiently proved without ling your Majesty with Instances of greater antiquity from which usage if we might depart the president might be of dangerous consequence in future times though your Majesties Goodnesse gives us great security during your Majesties Raign which we beseech God long to continue This Consideration prompted us in our last Addresse to your Majesty before our last Recesse humbly to mention to your Majesty our hopes that before our meeting again your Majesties Alliances might be so fixed as that your Majesty might begraciously pleased to impart them to us in Parliament that so our earnest desires of supplying your Majesty for prosecuting those great ends we had humbly laid before your Majesty might meet with no impediment or obstruction being highly sensible of the necessity of supporting as well as making the Alliances humbly desired in our former Addresses and which we still conceive so important to the safety of your Majesty and your Kingdomes That we cannot without unfaithfulnesse to your Majesty and those we Represent omit upon all occasions humbly to beseech your Majesty as we now do To enter into a League offensive and defensive vvith the States General of the United Provinces against the grovvth and povver of the French King and for the preservation of the Spanish Nether-Lands and to make such other Alliances vvith such other of the Confiderates as your Majesty shall think fit and usefull to that end in doing which That no time may be lost we humbly offer to his Majesty these Reasons for the expediting of it 1. That if the entering into such Alliances should draw on a War with the French King it would be lest detrimental to your Majesties Subjects at this time of the year they having now fewest effects within the Dominion of that King 2. That though we have great reason to believe the power of the French King to be dangerous to your Majesty and your 〈◊〉 when he shall be at more leisure to molest us yet we conceive the many Enemies he has to deal with at present together with the scituation of your Majesties Kingdoms the Unanimity of the People in the Cause the care your Majesty hath been pleased to take of your ordinary Guards of the Sea together with the Credit provided by the late Act for an additional Excise for three years make the entering into and declaring Alliances very safe until we may in a regular way give your Majesty such further Supplies as may enable your Majesty to support your Allyances and defend your kingdoms And because of the great danger and charge which must necessarily fall upon your Majesties kingdomes if through want of that timely encouragement and assistance which your Majesties joyning with the States General of the United Provinces and other the Confederates would give them The said States or any other considerable part of the Confederates should this next Winter or sooner make a Peace or Truce with the French King the prevention vvhereof must 〈◊〉 be acknovvledged a singular effect of Gods goodness to us which if it should happen your Majesty would be afterwards necessitated with fewer perhaps with no Alliances or Assistance to withstand the power of the French king which hath so long and so succesfully contended with so many and so potent Adversaries and whilest he continues his over-ballancing greatness must alwayes be dangerous to his Neighbours since he would be able to oppress any one Confederate before the rest could get together and be in so good a posture of offending him as they novv are being joyntly engaged in a War And if he should be so successful as to make a Peace or 〈◊〉 the present Confederation against him it is much to be feared whether 〈◊〉 would be possible ever to reunite it at least it would be work of so much time and difficulty as would leave your Majesties Kingdomes exposed to much misery and danger Having thus discharged our duty in laying before your Majesty the Dangers threatning your Majesty and your Kingdomes and the onely Remedyes we can think of for the preventing securing and queting the minds of your Majesties People with some few of those Reasons which have moved us to this and our former Addresses On these Subjects We most humbly beseech your Majesty to take the matter to your serious Consideration and to take such Resolutions as may not leave it in the power of any neighbouring Prince to rob your People of that happinesse which they enjoy under your Majesties gracious Governement beseeching your Majesty to â—…fident and assured that when your Majesty shall be 〈◊〉 to declare such Alliances in Parliament We shall hold our selves obliged not only by our promises and assurances given and now which great Unaninity revived in a full House but by the Zeal and desires of those whom we represent and by the Interests of all our safetyes most chearfully to give your Majesty from time to time such speedy Supplyes and Assistances as may fully and plentifully answer the Occasions and by Gods blessing preserve your Majesty Honour and the safty of the People All which is most humbly submitted to your Majesties great Wisdome Friday May 25th 1677 Sir John Trevor reported from the said Committee the Addresse as 't was drawn by them which was read Whereupon it was moved to agree with the Committee but before it was agreed to there was a debate and division of the House It was observed and objected that there was but one reson given herein for declining the granting money and that is the Unpresidentednesse and as to one of the Instances to this purpose mentioned Viz. the Kings first Dutch War it was said to be mistaken for that the 2500000 l. was voted before the War declared But it was answred that if the Declaration was not before the grant of the money which Quaere yet 't was certain that the War it self and great Hostilites were before the money and some said there might be other reasons
Assigned against giving money before the Alliances but they rather desired to spare them onely in general said t was not resonable to grant money before there was a Change they 〈◊〉 not say of Counsellors but of Counsells and an harâ—…â—…dertaking these Alliances would be the best demonstration of that Change For the swerving from this Interest and part was the step by which we went awry and the returning thereto would restore us to our right place and way And a Gentleman produced and read the Kings Speech made Monday the 10th of February 1667. wherein he speak chiefly of the League which afterwards when the Svvede came into it was called the Tripple League My Lords and Gentlemen I Am glad to see you hear again to tell you what I have done in this Intervall which I am consident you will be pleased with since it is so much to the Honour and security of the Nation I have made a League Offensive and Defensive with the States of the United Provinces and likewise a League for an efficacious mediation of Peace between the two Crowns into which League that of Svveden by its Ambassador hath offered to enter as a principal I did not at our last Meeting move you for any Aid though I lye under great Debts contracted by the last War but now the posture of our Neighbours abroad and the consequence of this new Alliance will oblige me for our security to set out a considerable fleet to Sea this Summer and besides I must build more great Ships and t is as necessary that I do something in order to the fortifying some of our Ports I have begun my self in order to these ends but if I have not your speedy assistance I shall not be able to go thorow with it wherefore I do earnestly desire you to take it into your speedy consideration c. Which shews the proper course and practice That Kings first communicate their Alliances made before they demand Supplies upon the account of them So the Exception was let fall But the grand Objection mannaged against it was upon the main point of the Address wherein they desired his Majesty to make a League Offensive and Defensive with the Dutch and such other Alliances with the rest as he should think sit Those who were against this particular or particularizeing in the Address spoke to this effect This is an Invasion upon his Majesties Prerogative of making Peace War and Leagues and it is the worse for the Distinction that is used in respect of the Dutch and the rest by which you giving him express directions as to the Dutch and referring to his discretion as to the others it looks and gives an Umbrage as if what he was to do was by your leave The Antient Land-mark the Boundaries between King and People must not be removed This power is one of the few things reserved entirely to the Crown Parliaments are summoned to treat de Arduis but He de quibusdam Arduis this is unpresidented The Marriages of the Royal Family is such a peculiar thing reserved to the King and the matter of the Lady Arrabella is an Instance Queen Elizabeth resented it high that the Parliament should propound her marrying and she said that however it is well they did not name the person if they had named the person it had been intolerable now here you name the person whom you would have the King Ally If you may go so far you may come to draw a Treaty and propose to the King to sign it By this you would put a great Indecorum upon the King he is now concerned as a Mediator at Nimmegen and it would be an indecent thing for him at the same time to declare himself a party It is believed the House of Austria though they sent full powers to Nimmegen for the purpose yet never intended to conclude a Peace But it was an absurd thing for them to declare so in Publick There must be publick decorum This is the way for the King to have the worse bargain with the Confederates for they observing how he is importuned and as it were driven to make these Alliances will slacken and lessen those advantagious offers which other wise they would be forced to make And again and again they said his Majesty did agree with this House in the End and they did not doubt but he would prosecute it by the same means as was desired But his Prerogative was not to be incroacht upon This manner of proceeding would never obtain with the King nay it would make the Address miscarry with the King On the other Side several spoke to this effect We ought to consider we are upon the Question of agreeing an Address drawn by our Committee by our Order If they have not in matter and manner corresponded with our direction or intention we have cause to disagree But here the Exception taken and cause pressed why we should not agree with them is because they have observed the very words and substance of our Order which exactly justifieth this Draught This passed on Wednesday upon a full Debate in a very full House two only contradicting but not one speaking or thinking the Kings Prerogative was toucht and therefore its strange it should be made the great Objection and Question of this day But the Prerogative is not at all intrencâ—…d upon we do not nor do pretend to Treat or make Alliances we only offer our advice about them and leave it with the King he may do as he pleaseth either make or not make them It is no more than other persons may do to the King or doubtless the Privy Council may Advise him in this particular and why not his Great Council This rate of discourse would make the Kings Prerogative consist meerly in not being advised by his Parliament of all People There are manifold Presidents of such Advices Leagues have been made by Advice of Parliament and have been ratified in Parliament In Edvv. 3. Râ—…ch 2. and especially in Henry the Fifths time and particularly with 〈◊〉 the Emperour and king of the Romans and Henry the fifth was a Magnanimous Prince and not to be â—…mposed upon 18. Jac. The Parliament Advised the King about making and mannaging a War Rushvv Coll. 36 41 42 45 46. And we may well remember our own advising the first Dutch War and making Leagues is less than War But if there was no President in this particular Case it was no Objection for matter of Advice is not to be circumsâ—…ribed by President If there be a 〈◊〉 case that a Prince should joyn in a War together with another Prince when that Prince was too potent before and that when this was discerned and a Peace made yet Succors should continually go out of the first Princes Dominions to the service of the other Prince and that notwithstanding several Addresses and advices to the contrary T is true as Objected that the Commons have sometimes declined advising in the
matter of War c. proposed to them But that shews not their want of right to meddle therewith but rather the contrary The very truth is it has been the desire and endeavour of kings in all Ages to engage their Parliaments in advising War c. That so they might be obliged to supply the King to the utmost for and through it but they out of a prudent caution have some times waved the matter lest they should engage further or deeper than they were aware or willing Since his Majesty is treating as Mediator at Nimmegen about the general Peace it is a great reason why he should specifiâ—… the Alliances desired as we have done that we might make it known we are far from desiring such Alliances as might be made by and with a general Peace but on the contrary coveting such as might prevent and secure us against that dangerous and formidable Peace Doubtless the Confederates will offer honourable and worthy Terms Their necessity is too great to boggle or take advantages nor will they think this League the less worth because we advise it but rather value it the more because it is done unanimously by the King with the Advise and applause of his People in Parliament We cannot suppose that our proceeding thus to his Majesty will pejudice our Address or endanger its miscarriage since it is for his Majesties advantage in that it obliges us to supply him to all degrees through this Affaire and the more particular it is the more still for the Kings advantage for if it had been more general and the King thereupon had made Alliances whatever they were men might have thought and said they were not the Alliances intended and it might be used as an excuse or reason for their not giving money to supply his Majesty hereafter but this as it is now doth most expresly strictly and particularly bind us up We reflect that a great deal of time and precious time has been spent since and in our Addresse on this Subject and finding no effectual fruit especially of our last Addresse we have cause to apprehend we are not clearly understood in what we mean Now it is the ordinary way of pursuing discourse in such Case and it is Proper and naturall for us to speak out more explicitely and particularly and tell 〈◊〉 Majesty That what we have meant is a League offensive and defensive And to perswad us again to Addresse on in more general Terms as before is to perswade us that as we have done nothing this ten weeks so we should do nothing still And said his Majesty in his late Message and last Speech has been pleased to demand 600000 l. for answering the purpose of our Addresses and assures us that the money shall not be imployed to other uses than we would have it imployed it is most seasonable for us to declare plainly the use and purpose we intend that so it may be concerted and clearly understood of all hands and therefore it is well done to mention to his Majesty these express Alliances we thinking no other Alliances worth the said Sum and we withal promising and undertaking that his Majesty shall have this and and more for these ends Nor have we any cause to apprehend that his Majesty will take amisse our advising Leagues in this manner We have presented more than one Addresse for Alliances against the growth and power of the French King and his Majesty has received admitted and answered them without any exception and if we may Addresse for Alliances against a particular Prince or state Why not for Alliances with a particular Prince or state It cannot be lesse regular or Parliamentary then the former And moreover though we know that punctuall presidents are on our side besides our Commissions by our Writts to treat de arduis urgentibus Regem Statum Defensionem Regâ—… 〈◊〉 Anglicanae concernentibus And besides the Kings General intimations in his Printed Speech yet if it â—…e said to be a decent and proper thing to have his Majestys 〈◊〉 and consent before we proceed on such a matter in such a manner as we now do we say that that in effect is with us too for consider all our former Addresses and his Majestyes Answers and Messages thereupon and it will appear that his Majesty has engaged and encouraged us to upon this Subject and that which he expects and would have is not to limit or check our advise but to open and enâ—… our 〈◊〉 His Majesty appears content to be throughly advised provided he be proportionably furnished and enabled with money which we being now ready to do we clearly and conclusively present him our advice for the application of it To prevent those mistakes and distrusts vvhich his Majesty sayes he findes some are so ready to make as if he had called us together only to get money from us for other uses then vve vvould have it imployed And truly the advising these Allyances together with assuring his Majesty thereupon to assist and supply him presently and plentifully to prosecute the same is our only way of complying and corresponding with his last speech For those Leagues followed and supported by these Supplyes are the only means and methodes to put his Majestie in the best condition both to defend his Subjects and offend his Enemies and so there will be no sault in his Majesty nor Us but His and Our security vvill sufficiently provide for Besides it will be worse it will be a very bad thing indeed not to make the Addresse for this particular League now since we have resolved it already Our intention being to have the Dutch c. comforted encouraged and assured we did order this on Wednesday and there is publick notice taken of it abroad and beyond Sea If we should now up-upon solemn debate set the same aside it would beget a great doubt discomfort and discouragment to them It is one thing never to have ordered it another to retract it Also it was said that this was necessary but was not all that was necessary for suppose which was not credible that France should be prevailed with to deliver up all Lorraine Flanders Alsatia and other Conquered places Are we safe No He has too many hands too much Money and this money is in great measure a Million Sterling yearly at least supplyed him from hence We must depress him by force as far as may be but further we must have Leagues and Laws to impoverish him We must destroy the French Trade This would quiet and secure us this would make our Lands rise and this would enable us to set the king at ease After this long debate the House came to the Question Whether this particular of a League Offensive and Defensive vvith the Dutch should be left out of the Address upon which Question the House divided Yeas 142 Noes 182. So that it was carried by Forty that it should stand Then the main Question was
put for agreeing with their Committee this Address which passed in the Affirmative without Division of the House Then it was Ordered That those Members of the House who were of his Majestys Privy Counsel should move his Majesty to know his pleasure when the House might wait upon him with their Address Mr. Povvle reported from the Committee Amendments to the Bill for Recalling his Majestys Subjects out of the French Kings Service which were Read and Agreed to by the House and the Bill with the Amendments Ordered to be Ingrossed And then the House Adjourned to the morrow Saturday May 26 1677 in the morn The House being sate had notice by Secretary Coventry That the King would receive their Address at three in the afternoon The Bill for Recalling his Majesties Subjects c. being then Ingrossed was Read the Third time and Passed The effect of the Bill in short was this That all and every of the Natural born Subjects of his Majesty who should continue or be after the first of August next in the Military Service of the French King should be disabled to inherit any Lands Tenements or Hereditaments and be uncapable of any Gift Grant or Legacy or to be Executor or Administrator and being convicted should be adjudged guilty of Felony without benefit of the Clergy and not pardonable by his Majesty his Heirs or Successors except only by Act of Parliament wherein such Offenders should be particularly named The like appointment for such as should continue in the Sea-service of the French King after the first of May 1678. This Act as to the prohibiting the offence and incurring the penalties to continue but for two years but the executeing and proceeding upon it for Offences against the Act might be at any time aswell after as within the two years Then it was Ordered that Mr. Povvle should carry up this Bill to the Lords and withall should put the Lords in mind of a Bill for The better suppressing the grovvth of Popery which they had sent up to their Lordships before Easter which was forth with done accordingly As soon as this was ordered several other Bills were moved for to be Read c. But the Members generally said No. They vvould proceed on nothing but the French and Popery So they Adjourned to the afternoon when they attended the King with their Address at the Banqueting House in White-Hall Which being presented The King Answered That it was long and of great importance that he would consider of it and give them an Answer as soon as he could The House did nothing else but Adjourn till Monday morn Monday May 28 1677. The House being sate they received notice by Secretary Coventry that the King expected them immediately at the Banqueting-House Whether being come The King made a Speech to them on the Subject of their Address Which Speech to prevent mistakes his Majesty read out of his Paper and then delivered the same to the Speaker And his Majesty added a few words about their Adjournment The Kings Speech is as followeth Gentlemen Could I have been Silent I vvould rather have chosen to be so then to call to mind things so unfit for you to meddle vvith as are contained in some parts of your last Addresses vvherein you have entrenched upon so undoubted a Right of the Crovvn that I am confident it vvill appear in no Age vvhen the Svvord vvas not dravvn that the Prerogative of making Peace and War hath been so dangerously invaded You do not content your selves vvith desiring Me to enter into such Leagues as may be for the safety of the Kingdome but you tell Me vvhat sort of Leagues they must be and vvith vvhom and as your Addresse is vvorded it is more liable to be understood to be by your Leave then at your Request that I should make such other Alliances as I please vvith other of the Confederates Should I suffer this fundamental Povver of making Peace and War to be so far invaded though but once as to have the manner and circumstances of Leagues prescribed to Me by Parliament it 's plain that no Prince or State vvould any longer believe that the Soveraignty of England rests in the Crovvn Nor could I think My Self to signifie any more to Foreign Princes then the empty Sound of a King Wherefore you may rest assured that no Condition shall make Me depart from or lessen so essential a part of the Monarchy And I am vvilling to believe so vvell of this House of Commons that I am confident these ill Consequences are not intended by you These are in short the Reasons vvhy I can by no means approve of your Address and yet though you have declined to grans Me that Supply vvhich is necessary to the Ends of it I do again declare to you That as I have done all that lay in my povver since your last Meeting so I vvill still apply my self by all the means I â—…an to let the World see my Care both for the Security and Satisfaction of my People although it may not be vvith those Advantages to them vvhich by your Assistances I might have procured And having said this he signified to them that they should Adjourn till the 16th of July Upon hearing of this Speech read their House is said to have been greatly appalled both in that they were so severely Checked in his Majesties name from whom they had been used to receive so constant Testimones of his Royal Bounty and Affection which they thought they had deserved as also because there are so many Old and fresh Presidents of the same Nature and if there had not yet they were led into this by all the stepps of Necessity in duty to his Majesty and the Nation And several of them offering therefore modestly to have spoken they were interrupted continually by the Speaker contesting that after the Kings pleasure signified for Adjornment there was no further Liberty of speaking And yet it is certain that at the same time in the Lords House the Adjournment was in the 〈◊〉 forme and upon the Question first propounded to that House and allowed by them All Adjournments unlesse made by speciall Commission under his Majesties Broad Seal being and having alwaies been so an Act of the Houses by their own Authority Neverthelesse several of their Members requiring to be heard the Speaker had the confidence without any Question put and of his own motion to pronounce the House Adjourned till the 16th of July and sâ—…pt down in the middle of the floor all the House being astonished at so unheard of a violation of their inherent Priviledge and Constitution And that which more amazed them afterwards was that while none of their own transactions or Addresses for the Publick Good are suffered to be Printed but even all Written Coppies of them with the same care as Libells suppressed Yet they found this severe speech published in 〈◊〉 next days News Book to mark them out to their own and all