That many of the wickedeft and meaneft of the People fhould remain, as it were, rewarded for their Treasons, rich and triumphant in the Spoils of the most eminent in Virtue and Loyalty, of all the Nobility and Gentry of the Kingdom. What generous Spirit can make Reflection on these things, and not find his Heart burn into Rage within him?

Here it is, my Lords, that we Sufferers have need of all our Philofophy.

But when I confider, that thefe are Mifchiefs only to the Sufferers, and that to infift upon a Remedy might, perhaps, expofe the Publick to an irreparable Inconvenience. I thank God I find in an inftant all my Refentments calmed and fubmitted to my primary Duty.

My Lords, we have here in our view, a Kingdom toffed and rolling ftill with the Effects of paft Tempests; and though, God be thanked, the Storm be miraculously ceafed, we cannot fay that the Danger is, until we get into ftill Water: That ftill, that smooth Water is only to be found in the Generalities, Security from their guilty Fears, and in the two Houfes, Union between themfelves, and with their Soveraign.

Whether the latter may not be endangered, if we fhould enter into Controverfy upon the particulars of this Bill, I leave unto your Lordships to judge. But certainly, as to the former, there can be no hopes of raifing Monies, or difbanding Armies, or of fettling that Happiness and Tranquility which we all figh for, of being governed under our Gracious Sovereign by the ancient and known Laws of the Land, whilft univerfal Fears fhall fubfift by the Delay in paffing this Bill.

My Lords,

I fhall fum up unto your Lordships my whole drift in a few Words.

I think that in this Bill there are many things wanting, which folid and important Reasons would require to be added, and many things inferted into it, which Juftice to his Majefty's Interefts, and to particular Perfons, would require to be omitted or rectified: But I conceive at the fame time that the Mifchiefs of the delay in paffing it do far outweigh all the Advantages of improving it.

My Lords,

Ifhall conclude my Difcourfe and your Lordships trouble with the Application to this Purpose, of a memorable Saying of that illuftrious Minister, the Cardinal Mezarine, at a Council in the Wars of France, whereunto I had the Honour to be called. It was, that in the great Affairs of the World he had not known any thing do more hurt then thefe two Words, Faifous Mieux, let us do better. For, faid he, whilft good Wits endeavour by Debates to bring good Councils to a greater Perfection, they do for the moft part lofe the Opportunity of timing things rightly, which in great Actions, is of far more Importance than the Preterence, according to refined Reafon betwixt Good and Better, SOM DEN

Upon this Ground, 'my Conclufion is, that that Part which concerns the King's Death being put in the way propofed, we thould proceed to the speedy paffing of this Bill, without lofing any time in Emendations; but if we be def tined to fo fatal a lofs by raveling into Particulars, I fhall in that cafe defire leave to offer unto your Lordships therein my Reflections also.

The

Id remain, as it poils of the moft the Kingdom. nd not find his

Philofophy. erers, and that an irreparable tments calmed

ad rolling ftill ed, the Storm we get into ftill ne Generalities, between them

r into Controhips to judge. ng Monies, or which we all e ancient and the Delay in

ords.

folid and imderted into it, ns, would rethat the Mif-s of improv

Application the Cardinal Honour to - known any better. For, ouncils to a y of timing han the Pre

oricerns the the fpeedy

we be def defire leave

The

TRACTS on all SUBJECTS.

The SPEECH which the SPEAKER of the I
COMMONS made unto the KING in the I
LORDS, at his paffing of the Bills therein m
the 29th of Auguft, in the Year of our Lo
Printed the fame Year.

Moft Gracious Soveraign,

NOT

L.

many Months fince, England was but a great Prifon, worst of Men were our Governors, and their vileft Lufts th which they governed.

The great and moft wife God, conveyed divine Intelligence into and pious Soul, and taught you how by Suffering for us, to deliver Sufferings; to knock off our Shackles, and fet your People at Lib neither Power, nor Policy could effect it. So foon as your Maje Foot upon your English Shore, our Prifon was turned into a Paradi fure, and the whole Nation filled with Joy, and Love, and Peace.

Sir, this great Bleffing is already registered in your Peoples thankful they defire that the Memory thereof might be perpetuated; and th have laid it up amongst their choiceft Jewels, and annext it to t Charta; which they are willing to pawn unto your Majesty, upon when they forget this, to forfeit that and all.

Sir, amongst your, many illuftrious Titles, which like fair an Flowers, do adorn and bedeck your Royal Crown, there is one excels all the reft, as well in Vertue as in Beauty, and that is yo Defender of the Faith. Sir, as that Title is your Honour, fo th it is our Happiness. Neither the higheft Provocations, nor the stron tations, that ever Prince met withal, have been able to fhake you Faith, nor abate your holy Zeal; witness your first Act, after your exercife of your Regal Power, in your early and timely fuppreffing nefs, and difcountenancing debauched Perfons, who know not how their Thankfulness unto God for Mercies, but by a finful drinking t a Practice your Soul abhors.

And as it is your highest Honour, to be the Defender of that I we profefs; fo it is the greatest Intereft, Prerogative, and Privilege y ean be endowed and invested withal in this World, and will be your Comfort in the World to come; that God, who hath hitherto bee direct you, will be a Shield to protect you; and that Faith which you defend you against all your Enemies, maugre.the Malice of the Devil wicked Inftruments.

Royal Sir,

Your eminent Virtues, and thofe excellent Qualifications that Go stowed upon you, to make you every way worthy and fit for Gove

3

vires us at this time, with joyful Hearts, to make our humble Addreffes unto your Majefty, and to give you a chearful Accompt of our Proceedings this Parliament, wherein we have fpent our whole time upon Publick Bills; fome we must confefs of very great Concernment to your Majefty, and of all your People, are not yet ripe, nor brought to Perfection: But though like an After-crop, yet with the fair Weather of your Majefty's wonted Patience, we hope likewife to ion them well at last, to your Majefty's full Satisfaction, and the great Contentment of all your loyal and faithful Subjects.

Some Bills are paffed both Houfes, and already lodged here, which attend and wait for your Majefty's Royal Affent, and I fhall humbly beg the Favour only but to touch upon fome of thofe of most publick Concernments, by the way, and in tranfitu, to that Bill here in my hand.

Sir, there is one Bill now before you, intituled, An Act for the Confirmation of Judicial Proceedings; the Scope and Intendment of that Bill, is to fettle Mens Eftates, which is the way to quiet their Minds; and when their Minds are at rest, there will be no fear of their breaking the Peace, or forfeiting their GoodBehaviour any more in time to come.

There is another Bill, intituled, An Act to prevent the taking of Exceffive Ufury. The reftraining Men of avaricious Minds, whofe Confciences are as large as their Bags, will be a great Eafe to your People, and an Inablement to your Merchants the better to go on with their Trades. They are the laborious Bees that bring in Honey into your Majefty's Hive; and Ufurers are the lazy, idle Drones, that rob your Hive of the Honey.

There is another Bill, intituled, An At for a perpetual Anniversary Thankf giving to be obferved and kept upon the 29th of May: A Day that God himfelf was pleafed to honour and adorn with a new additional Star, never feen before nor fince; a Star of rare Afpect, which declared to all the World at once, the happy News of your Majefty's bleffed Nativity, and as it was your Majesty's Birthday, fo it was the Day of your Restauration to your Kingdoms, Parliament, and People And likewife the Day of your People's Re-creation out of a Chaos of Confufion and Mifery. And therefore they humbly pray, that not only we (for there would need no Act for that fo long as we live) but that our Pofterity, and the Ages that fhall fucceed us, might for ever be obliged to fet apart that Day, as a Holy-day, to dedicate their Praifes and Thanksgivings up unto Almighty God for his miraculous Deliverance of this poor Nation, when it lay in Duft and Afhes, in a moft miferable, defperate, forlorn, and deplorable Condition.

There is another Bill, entituled, An Act of Free and General Pardon, Indemnity and Oblivion. It may well be called a Free Pardon: for your Majesty was pleased to offer it before we had Confidence enough to afk it, and at a time when your People had moft need of it: And it may as truly be called a General Pardon, in refpect of the Extenfivenefs of it. But looking over a long, black, prodigious, difmal Roll and Catalogue of Malefactors, we there meet not with Men, but Monsters, guilty of Blood, precious Blood, precious Royal Blood, never to be remembered without Tears; incomparable in all the kinds of Villany that ever was acted by the worst of Mifcreants, Perverters of Religion, Subverters of Government, falfe to God, difloyal to the beft of Kings, and perfidious to their Country: And therefore we found an abfolute and indifpenfable Neceffity incum

bent

bent upon us, to except and fet fome apart for Treacle, to expel the Poison of Sin and Rebellion out of others, and that they might be made Sacrifices to appeafe God's Wrath, and fatisfy Divine Juftice.

And now I am come to that Bill here in my Hand, which I am commanded humbly to present your Majefty withal.

Royal Sir, your Commons, the Knights, Citizens and Burgeffes now affembled in Parliament, taking into Confideration the great and unfupportable Burden of the Armies and Navy, that your People do now groane under; and knowing, as Money is the Sinews of War, fo as the State of Affairs now ftand, that it is likewise the best Medium that can be used, in order to the attaining that end we have all so much desired, and fo long prayed for, the Settlement of a Happy Peace; and therefore they have paffed this Bill, entituled, An A&t for a fpeedy Provifion of Money, to pay off and disband all the Forces of this Kingdam both by Sea and Land, upon which they hope fuch a Sum will be advanced and brought in, as may be fufficient to discharge and dispatch that. Work. And they humbly pray your Majefty's gracious Acceptance thereof, and your Royal Affent thereunto.

I am further to inform and affure your Majefty, that your People have paffed another Supply and Revenue unto your Majefty, which far furmounteth all they have already done in value, and that is, their Hearts and Affections; haying their Hearts, your Majefty may command their Purses.

Moft Royal Soveraign, we have nothing more to offer, or to afk at this time, but your Majesty's gracious Favor, fo foon as your Service, and the Publick Affairs will permit, that we might have leave to go into our Countries, where we shall make your People fenfible of their Happiness, in having fuch a King to govern and rule over them; as we praise your Majefty, fo likewife to pray for your Majefty, that you may live long, and reign profperously.

His Majefty's gracious SPEECH to both Houses of PARLIAMENT, on the 29th Day of August 1660. At the paffing of the Act of Free Pardon, Indemnity and Oblivion, and feveral other Acts. Printed in 1660.

I

Published at the Defire of the Lords in Parliament, and by bis Majesty's Allowance.

My Lords, and Gentlemen of the House of Commons,

HAVE been here fome times before with you, but never with more Willingness, than I am at this time: And there be few Men in the Kingdom, who have longed more impatiently to have thefe Bills paffed, than I VOL. III. D

have

have done to pass them; and I hope they will be the Foundation of much Security and Happiness to us all.

I do very willingly pardon all that is pardoned by this Act of Indemnity, to that time which is mentioned in the Bill; nay, I will tell you, that from that Time to this Day, I will not ufe great Severity, except in fuch Cafes where the Malice is notorious, and the publick Peace exceedingly concerned. But for the Time to come, the fame Difcretion and Confcience which difpofed me to the Clemency I have expreffed, which is most agreeable to my Nature, will oblige me to all Rigor and Severity, how contrary foever it be to my Naaure, towards those who fhall not now acquiefce, but continue to manifeft their Sedition and Diflike of the Government, either in Action or Words. And I must conjure you all (my Lords and Gentlemen) to concur with me in this juft and neceffary Severity; and that you will in your feveral Stations be fo jealous of the publick Peace, and of my particular Honour, that you will cause exemplary Juftice to be done upon those who are guilty of feditious Speeches or Writings, as well as thofe who break out into feditious Actions: And that you will believe thofe who delight in reproaching and traducing my Perfon, not to be well affected to you and the publick Peace. Never King valued himfelf more upon the Affections of his People than I do; nor do I know a better way to make myself fure of your Affections, than by being juft and kind to you all: And whilft I am fo, I pray let the World fee that I am poffeffed of your Affections.

For your Poll-Bill, I do thank you as much as if the Money were to come into my own Coffers; and wifh with all my Heart, that it may amount to as great a Sum as you reckon upon. If the Work be well and orderly done, to which it is defigned, I am fure I fhall be the richer by it in the end; and upon my word, if I had wherewithal, I would myfelf help you, fo much I defire the Bufinefs done. I pray very earneftly, as faft as Money comes in, discharge that great Burthen of the Navy, and difband the Army as fast as you can; and till you can difband the reft, make a Provifion for their Support.

I do conjure you, as you love me, let me not hear the Noife of Free-quarter, which will be imputed to my want of Care and Government, how innocent foever I am; and therefore be fure you prevent it.

I am fo confident of your Affections, that I will not move you in any thing that immediately relates to myfelf, and yet I must tell you, I am not richer, that is, I have not fo much Money in my Purfe as when I came to you; the truth is, I have lived principally ever fince upon what I brought with me, which was indeed your Money for you fent it to me, and I thank you for it. The Weekly Expence of the Navy eats up all you have given me by the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage. Nor have I been able to give my Brothers one Shilling fince I came into England, nor to keep any Table in my House but what I eat myself. And that which troubles me moft is, to fee many of you come to me to Whitehall, and to think that you must go fome where elfe to feek your Dinner.

I do not mention this to you, as any thing that troubles me, do but take Care of the Publick, and for what is neceffary for the Peace and Quiet of the Kingdom, and take your own Time for my own particular, which I am fure you will provide for with as much Affection and Franckness as I can defire. His