Thursday, September 13th, 1660.
Prayers.
Excise.
THE House being informed, that the Commissioners
of Excise having given Eight several Judgments
against Edward Lightmaker, of London, Brewer, for neglecting to make true Entries, as not paying and clearing
the Excise of Leer and Ale, from the Twenty-third of
June 1660, to the Eighteenth of August following; and
that thereupon the said Lightmaker appealed to the
Commissioners of Appeals the Sixth of September; who,
upon full Hearing, affirmed the said Judgments; whereupon the Commissioners of Excise, by Warrant, did take
a Distress for the Fine, by way of Execution; upon
which Lightmaker brings a Replevin to the Sheriff of
London, to restore the Goods taken in Execution;
It is Ordered and Declared, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That the Goods, so adjudged, are not in this Case repleviable: And that the
Sheriff of the City of London is hereby required forthwith
to deliver the Goods so taken in Execution, to the proper
Officer of the Excise, for his Majesty's Use.
The Lords Concurrence is desired herein: And Mr.
Annesley is to carry it to the Lords.
Disbanding the Army.
Whereas, by Order of the Lords and Commons, in
Parliament assembled, bearing Date the Fourteen of
August, 1660, the Sum of Forty thousand Pounds was
appointed to be reserved out of the Monies coming
in of the Assessment commencing the Twenty-fourth
of June 1660, to be employed towards disbanding the
Army:
Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament
assembled, That Sir Thomas Player, Receiver General of
the said Assessment, do forthwith give Assignations, upon
the respective Receivers in the several Counties, for the
said Sum of Forty thousand Pounds, or so much as remains of the said Assessment, not otherwise charged by
Orders and Directions of both Houses of Parliament, according to such Warrants, Orders, or Directions, as he
shall receive, on that Behalf, from the Commissioners
for disbanding the Army:
That the Lords Concurrence be desired herein. And
Mr. Annesley is to carry it to the Lords; and to mind
the Lords of the Order for moving his Majesty, concerning a Commission for the Enabling of Commissioners to
treat with Purchasers of Bishops Lands.
Clerk of the House.
Mr. Annesley reports, That the Order of this House being presented to the King's Majesty, whereby Mr. William
Jessop is recommended to his Majesty, from this House,
to be Clerk of the House of Commons; and to have his
Majesty's Grant thereof, under the Great Seal, during his
Life; his Majesty was pleased to give his Consent thereunto; and gave Order, That a Warrant be prepared for
the same forthwith.
E. of Kildare.
That the Earl of Kildare be, and hereby is, discharged
of the Order of this House, of the Two-and-twentieth of
May 1660; whereby he was ordered to give Security for
the Forthcoming of certain Goods, therein mentioned to
belong to Mr. William Heveningham.
Officers of the House.
Resolved, That the several Sums of Money charged
on the Excise, for the Clerk, and other Officers, attending this House, as also for the Printers, Stationers, and
Provost Marshal, by several Orders sent up to the Lords,
to which they have signified their Concurrence, do stand
charged on the said Receipt, according to the Tenor thereof, by the Order of this House: And that the Commissioners of the Excise do forthwith pay the same accordingly; and charge the same to the Account of their incident
Charges: And that the same shall be allowed upon their
Account accordingly; viz.
Ordered, by the Commons, assembled in Parliament,
That the Sum of Five hundred Pounds be forthwith paid
to such Person as shall be appointed by Sir Harbottle
Grimstone Baronet, Speaker of this House, to receive the
same, to the Use of the Clerk of this House, the Serjeant
at Arms attending this House, the Under Clerks, and the
other Officers under the Serjeant at Arms, for their Service and Attendance there this present Parliament: And
Mr. Speaker is authorized and desired to distribute the
said Five hundred Pounds amongst them, in such Proportions, with respect to their several Services, he shall think
fit. And the Commissioners of the Excise are hereby authorized and required forthwith to make Payment thereof; and to charge the same to the Account of their
incident Charges: And this Order, together with the
Acquittance of the Person who shall be appointed to receive the same, shall be, to the Commissioners of Excise,
a sufficient Warrant and Discharge; and shall be allowed, upon their Account, accordingly.
Ordered, by the Commons, assembled in Parliament,
That the Sum of Two hundred Seventy-seven Pounds
Eleven Shillings Four-pence be forthwith paid and satisfied unto Lancelot Emot, Provost Marshal of Middlesex,
on the Behalf of himself, and his Six Men, for their Service in attending the Speaker of the honourable House
of Commons, for his Salary of One hundred Pounds per
Annum, and Twelve-pence per Diem apiece, for said Six
Men, due from the Twenty-seventh of May 1659, to
the Fourth of this instant September; and that the said
Two hundred Seventy-seven Pounds Eleven Shillings and
Four-pence be, and is hereby, charged upon the Receipt
of the Grand Excise: and the Commissioners for the Excise are hereby authorized and required forthwith to pay
and satisfy the said Two hundred Seventy-seven Pounds
Eleven Shillings and Four-pence to the said Lancelot Emot,
or his Assigns, accordingly; and to charge the same to
the Account of their incident Charges: And the Acquittance of the said Lancelot Emot, or his Assigns, testifying
the Receipt thereof, shall be a sufficient Discharge to
the said Commissioners in that Behalf; and the same
shall be allowed, on their Account, accordingly.
Ordered, by the Commons, assembled in Parliament,
That the Sum of One hundred Fifty-seven Pounds, due
upon the Account of Edward Husbands, and Thomas Newcombe, Printers to this House, be forthwith paid and satisfied unto them, or their Assigns; and that the said One
hundred Fifty-seven Pounds be, and is hereby, charged
upon the Receipt of the Grand Excise: And the Commissioners of Excise be and are hereby required and authorized forthwith to make Payment of the said One hundred Fifty-seven Pounds unto the said Edward Husbands,
and Thomas Newcombe, or their Assigns, accordingly;
and to charge the same to the Account of their incident
Charges: And their Acquittance, testifying the Receipt
thereof, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the said Commissioners of Excise, in that Behalt; and the same shall
be allowed, in their Account, accordingly.
Ordered, by the Commons assembled in Parliament,
That the Sum of Two hundred Pounds, of good and
lawful Money of England, be forthwith paid and satisfied unto Ralph Darnall Esquire, Clerk Assistant to this
House, or his Assigns, for his diligent and faithful Service in the said House, from the One-and-twentieth Day
of February 1659, unto this Day; and that the said Two
hundred Pounds be, and is hereby, charged upon the
Receipt of the Grand Excise: And the Commissioners
of the Excise be, and are hereby, authorized and required
forthwith to pay and satisfy the said Two hundred Pounds
unto the said Ralph Darnall, or his Assigns, accordingly;
and charge the same to the Account of their incident
Charges; and that the same shall be allowed, upon
their Account, accordingly.
Ordered, by the Commons, assembled in Parliament,
That the several Sums of Two hundred and Thirteen
Pounds, and Three hundred and Eighty-six Pounds, upon
several Accounts due unto John Owen Stationer, signed
by the Speaker, and by the Clerk of the House of Commons; and allowed by the said House; shall be forthwith
paid and satisfied unto the said John Owen, or his Assigns;
and be, and is hereby, charged upon the Receipt of the
Grand Excise: And the Commissioners of Excise are
hereby authorized and required forthwith to make Payment of the said several Sums of Two hundred and Thirteen Pounds, and Three hundred and Eighty-six Pounds,
unto the said John Owen, or his Assigns, accordingly;
and to charge the same to the Account of their incident
Charges; And this Order, with the Acquittance or Acquittances of the said John Owen, or his Assigns, testifying the Receipt thereof, shall be a sufficient Warrant and
Discharge in that Behalf: And the said Sums shall be
allowed, on their Account, accordingly.
Ordered, by the Commons, assembled in Parliament,
That the Sum of Sixty Pounds be allowed, and forthwith
paid, unto James Norfolk Esquire, Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for several Contingencies, since February 1659; and also the Sum of Fifty Pounds, for providing of Fire and Candles for the Use of the House of
Commons, at their next Sitting: And that the said Sixty
Pounds, and Fifty Pounds, be, and are hereby, charged
upon the Receipt of the Grand Excise: And the Commissioners of the Excise are hereby authorized and required
forthwith to make Payment of the said Sixty Pounds, and
Fifty Pounds, unto the said James Norfolk, or his Assigns,
accordingly; and to charge the same upon the Account
of their incident Charges: And this Order, together with
the Acquittance of the said James Norfolk, or his Assigns,
testifying the Receipt thereof, shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge in that Behalf; and the same shall
be allowed, upon their Account, accordingly.
Orders taken to Lords.
Mr. Annesley reports, That, according to the Order
of this House, he had delivered to the Lords the Order
of this Day, concerning Edward Lightmaker, and the
Forty thousand Pounds, charged on the Three Months
Assessments for the Army: To which they signified
their Concurrence.
Disbanding the Army.
Sir Wm. Doyley reports, That the Committee of the
Army have prepared Lots for the disbanding the Army;
and put them into a Glass, which was now placed upon
the Table: As also a List of the Regiments of Horse and
Foot, and of the Garisons of England: Which was read.
Life Guard.
A Letter from the Lord General Monck to the Committee for the Army, dated the Eleventh of September
instant, concerning the not appointing of the Life Guard
to come to the Lot, was read.
Poll Bill.
A Message from the Lords, by Dr. Bird and Mr.
Hobart, Masters of the Chancery;
Mr. Speaker, The Lords have commanded us to return to you this explanatory Bill for the Poll Money; to
which the Lords have given their Concurrence.
Message to attend the King.
* The House being informed, That the Usher of the
Black Rod was at the Door;
He was called in: And, coming up to the Middle of
the House, he delivered this Message;
Mr. Speaker,
The King commanded me to call yourself, and the
Members of this House, to him, presently, in the House
of Lords.
Mr. Speaker, and the Members of this House, went
to the Lords House to attend his Majesty there; Mr.
Speaker carrying with him the Act for Seventy thousand
Pounds, for Supply of his Majesty's Occasions; the Act
for Sevenscore thousand Pounds, to complete the Disbanding of the Army, and towards paying Part of the
Navy; and the Act for supplying and explaining some
Defects in the Bill for Poll Money.
Grants to Royal Family.
Resolved, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in
Parliament, That the Sum of Ten thousand Pounds be
presented to her Highness the Princess Royal; and that
the same be charged upon the Excise in Course, with Interest, after the Rate of Six Pounds per Cent.; and that the
said Ten thousand Pounds be paid to the said Princess
Royal, or her Assigns, next after the several Sums ordered
to be paid to their Highnesses the Duke of Yorke and
Gloucester: And that the Commissioners of Excise. . hereby authorized to make Payment thereof accordingly.
Resolved, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament
assembled, That if Alderman Backwell, or any other Person, will advance the said Sum of Ten thousand Pounds,
the same will be reputed an acceptable Service; and the
same shall be repaid to the said Person or Persons that
shall advance the same, with Interest, out of the Grand
Excise, in the Method expressed in the former Order.
Ordered, That the Lords Concurrence be desired to
these Votes. And the Lord Herbert is to carry them to
the Lords.
Resolved, That the Sum of Ten thousand Pounds be
presented to her Majesty the Queen of Bohemia; and
that the same be charged upon the Excise, in Course, with
Interest, after Six per Cent.; and that the same be paid to
her Majesty the Queen of Bohemia, or such as she shall
appoint to receive the same, next after the Ten thousand
Pounds charged on the Excise for her Highness the Princess Royal: And the Commissioners of Excise are hereby
required to make Payment thereof accordingly.
Ordered, That if Alderman Backwell, or any other
Person, shall advance this Money, the same shall be an
acceptable Service, and shall be repaid the same, with Interest, out of the Grand Excise, in the Method expressed
in the said former Order.
That the Lords Concurrence be desired to these Votes.
And the Lord Herbert is to carry them to the Lords.
Relief of Soldiers.
Resolved, That Four thousand Pounds be forthwith
charged on the Receipt of the Excise, and paid, in the
First Place, by the Commissioners of Excise, to Mr. Wm.
Ashby, Treasurer for the Hospitals of the Savoy and Ely
* All that follows from this Place, was transcribed from, and examined with, an accurate Transcript of this Journal, now in the Temple
Library, by reason this Part of the Original is perished and lost.
House, for the Discharge of the poor, sick, and maimed
Soldiers, and their Orphans and Widows, belonging to the
said Hospitals; and that the Committee to whom the
Business of the said Hospitals is referred, do take Order
for Paying and Distributing of the said Money among the
said Persons; and, to that Purpose, to issue their Warrants to Mr. Ashby; who is to observe the same accordingly, and thereon to take their several Releases: And
the said Committee are to send down the said several Persons (upon receiving their Monies) into their respective
Counties; recommending it to the Justices of the Peace,
to take care for the disposing and providing for them
according to Law.
Ordered, That the said Committee have Power to sit
any time during this Recess, for the putting this Order
in Execution: And Sir Geo. Downing, Sir John Temple,
Sir Edw. Massey, Sir Fra. Gerrard, Mr. Mallett, Sir John
Meers, and all the Citizens and Burgesses serving for the
City of London, Westminster, and Borough of Southwarke,
are added to the said Committee.
Lords concur in Orders.
The Lord Herbert reports, That he had delivered to
the Lords the Two Orders concerning the Princess
Royal, and the Queen of Bohemia; and that the Lords
gave Answer, That they concurred thereunto.
Impropriations.
Resolved, That the Committee for Impropriate Rectories do, against the Sitting of this House in November
next, prepare a State of all the Arrears of Monies which
shall be due for Augmentations (heretofore granted to
Ministers) upon the Twenty-ninth of September 1660;
and to cause an Account of all Arrears due for the Rents
and Revenues of the said Rectories, to be stated, whether
remaining in the Hands of Receivers, Treasurers, or
Tenants; and the Money thereupon due to be called in,
and received; and out of the same to pay such Augmentations then due, as are not yet discharged, so far as the
same shall extend unto: And the said Committee have
Liberty to sit at any Time, during the Recess, for the
putting of this Order in Execution.
Ordered, That Sir Tho. Meers, and Mr. Mallett, be
added to that Committee.
Captives in Algier.
Resolved, That the Committee to whom the Business
of Captives of Algier, and other Places, is referred, do,
against the Sitting of this House, in November next, prepare a State of the Cases of the several Persons pretending
an Interest in the Monies raised for Redemption of Captives; and to consider, what is fit to be done therein; and
to report it to the House: And the said Committee have
Power to meet from time to time, during the Recess, for
putting this Order in Execution: And Mr. Mallet, as
also the Citizens and Burgesses serving for the City of
London and Westminster, and Borough of Southwark, are
added to that Committee: And Sir John Frederick is
desired to take care hereof.
Disbanding the Army.
Resolved, That the Commissioners for disbanding the
Army do attend his Majesty's Privy Council this Afternoon, in order to the putting of the Act for disbanding
of the Army in Execution: And Mr. Secretary Morris
is desired to move the Lord Chancellor to be present; and
that the Council may then sit: At which time the Glass
wherein the Lots of the Regiments are put, be then delivered to the Lord Chancellor.
Answer to Addresses.
Sir Anth. Ash. Cooper reports, That, according to the
Order of this House, his Majesty had been attended with
the humble Desires of this House, concerning the Court
of Wards; to which his Majesty assented; as also with
that concerning Ministers, which shall be removed by virtue of the Act touching Ministers; to which his Majesty
gave a very gracious Return, that it should be done;
and that he had given Order therein to the Lord Chancellor; who was exceeding forward in the Thing: That, at
the same time, there was presented to his Majesty the
Order concerning the Letting of Land, at the full Moiety
of the Value; to which his Majesty gave Answer, That
he had given express Order to his Treasurer to the same
Effect, before the Message came, Leases being then upon
Letting: And to That concerning the Timber in the
Forest of Deane, and other his Demesnes and Forest, his
Majesty expressed his kind Acceptance of the Desire of
this House; and that he would give express Order therein accordingly.
Thanks for Answer.
Resolved, That the Members of this House, who are
of his Majesty's Privy Council, be desired to return his
Majesty the humble and hearty Thanks of this House, for
his gracious Acceptance of the Desires of this House.
Adjournment.
Resolved, That this House doth adjourn itself to the
Sixth of November next.
The House adjourned itself till the Sixth of
November next, Eight of the Clock.
* His Majesty's Speech.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
The King's Speech.
IF my Presence here had not been requisite, for the
Passing these many Bills, I did always intend to see you
together before your Adjournment, that I might again
thank you for the many good Things you have done for
Me, and the Kingdom: And, in Truth, I do thank you
more for what you have done for the Publick, than what
you have done for my own Particular; and yet I do thank
you too for That, with all my Heart: But, I confess
to you, I do thank you more for the Provision you have
made to prevent Free Quarter, during the Time the Army
shall be disbanding (which I take to be given for my Satisfaction) than I do for the other Present you have made Me,
for my own particular Occasions: And I do promise you
(which is the best Way I can take to gratify you) I will
not apply One Peny of that Money to my own particular
Occasions, what Shift soever I make, till it is evident to
Me, that the Publick will not stand in need of it: And,
if I do, every Peny of it shall be disbursed that Way; and,
I dare say, I shall not be the poorer for it. I cannot but
take Notice of One particular Bill I have passed, which
may seem of an extraordinary Nature, That concerning
the Duke of Somerset: But, you all know, it is for an
extraordinary Person, who hath merited as much of the
King my Father, and Myself, as a Subject can do:
And I am none of those who think that Subjects, by
performing their Duties in an extraordinary Manner, do
not oblige their Princes to reward them in an extraordinary Manner: There can be no Danger from such a Precedent; and, I hope, no Man will envy him; because
I have done what a good Master should do to such a
Servant.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
I will not deny to you, that I had some Inclination,
when I consented, upon your Desire, to your Recess, to
have made a Session; which I thought most agreeable to
the ancient Order of Parliaments: And, I hope, you will
all join with me, in reducing the Proceedings of Parliaments to the ancient Rules and Orders of Parliaments;
the Deviation from which hath done us no Good: And,
I think, there were never so many Bills passed together,
as I have this Day given my Assent to, without a Session: But, upon the Desire and Reasons given by the
House of Commons, for an Adjournment without a Session, I did very willingly depart from that Inclination;
and do as willingly give you Leave, and direct you,
that you adjourn yourselves till the Sixth of November:
When, I hope, you will all meet again; and, in the
mean time, that you will be all welcome to your Countries, and do much Service there. I have many other
Particulars to say, and recommend to you; in which I
cannot enough trust my own Memory: And, therefore,
I shall command the Chancellor to say the rest to you.
After his Majesty had ended his Speech, the Lord
Chancellor said as follows:
* This and the Chancellor's Speech have been compared with the
Originals bound up in the Journals of the House of Lords.
The Lord Chancellor's Speech.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
The King tells you, that he hath commanded me to
say many Particulars to you: And the Truth is, he
hath charged me with so many, that I have great Reason
to fear, that I shall stand in much Need of his Mercy,
for omitting many Things he hath given me in Command;
at least, for delivering them in more Disorder and Confusion, than Matters of such Moment and Importance
ought to be to such an Assembly; for which the King
himself hath even a kind of Reverence, as well as an extraordinary Kindness. I am to mention some Things he hath
done already, and many Things he intends to do, during
this Recess, that you may see (how well content soever He
is, that you should have Ease, and Pleasure, and Refreshment) He hath designed Work enough for Himself.
The King hath thanked you for the Provision you have
made, that there may be no Free Quarter during the Time
the Army shall be disbanding; and hath told you what
he will do with that Money you have given him, if there
should be Want wherewithal to disband it.
And now, I hope, you will all believe, that his Majesty will consent to the Disbanding.
He will do so; and yet he does not take it unkindly at
their Hands, who have thought that his Majesty would not
disband this Army: It was a sober and a rational Jealousy:
No other Prince in Europe would be willing to disband
such an Army; an Army to which Victory is entailed;
and which (humanly speaking) could hardly fail of Conquest wheresoever he should lead it: And, if God had not
restored his Majesty to that rare Felicity, as to be without
Apprehension of Danger at Home, or from Abroad, and
without any Ambition of taking from his Neighbours what
they are possessed of; Himself would never disband this
Army; an Army, whose Order and Discipline, whose
Sobriety and Manners, whose Courage and Success, hath
made it famous and terrible over the World; an Army
of which the King, and his Two Royal Brothers, may
say, as the noble Grecian said of Æneas;
- Stetimus tela aspera contra,
Contulimusque manus: Experto credite, quantus
In clypeum assurgat, quo turbine torqueat hastam.
They have all Three, in several Countries, found themselves engaged, in the Midst of these Troops, in the Heat
and Rage of Battle; and, if any common Soldier (as
no doubt, many may) will demand the old Romans Privilege for having encountered Princes single, upon my Conscience, he will find both Favour and Preferment. They
have all Three observed the Discipline, and felt, and admired, and loved, the Courage of this Army, when they
were the worse for it: And I have seen them, in a Season, when there was little else of Comfort in their View,
refresh themselves with Joy, That the English had done
the great Work; the English had got the Day; and then
please themselves with the Imagination, what Wonders
they should perform in the Head of such an Army. And
therefore, when his Majesty is so intirely possessed of the
Affection and Obedience of this Army, and when it hath
merited so much from him, can it be believed, or imagined, that he can, without some Regret, part with them?
No, my Lords and Gentlemen; he will never part
with them: And the only sure Way never to part with
them, is to disband them. Should it be otherwise, they
must be exposed to the daily Importunity of his great
Neighbours and Allies: And how could he refuse to lend
them his Troops, of which he hath no Use himself?
His Majesty knows they are too good Englishmen to
wish that a Standing Army should be kept up in the
Bowels of their own Country: That they who did but in
bello pacis gerere negotium, and who, whilst an Army,
lived like good Husbandmen in the Country, and good
Citizens in the City, will now become really such; and
take Delight in the Benefit of that Peace they have so
honestly and so wonderfully brought to pass.
The King will part with them, as the most indulgent
Parents part with their Children, for their Education and
for their Preferment: He will prefer them to Disbanding,
and prefer them by Disbanding; and will always retain
such a Kindness for them, and such a Memory of the
Service they have done him, that both Officers and Soldiers, after they are disbanded, shall always find such
Countenance, Favour, and Reward, from his Majesty,
that he doubts not but, if he should have Occasion to use
their Service, they will again resort to him, with the
same Alacrity as if they had never been disbanded: And
if there be any so ill amongst them (as there can be but
very few, if any) who will forfeit that Favour and Protection they may have from him, by any withstanding
his Majesty's Commands, and the full and declared Sense
of the Kingdom; his Majesty is confident they will be
as odious to their Companions, as they can be to any
other honest Men.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
I am, in the next Place, by the King's Command, to
put you in mind of the Act of Indemnity: Not of any
Grants, or Concessions, or Releases, he made to you in
that Act; I have nothing of that in Charge; no Prince
hath so excellent a Memory, to forget the Favours he
does: But of what he hath done against you in that
Act; how you may be undone by that Act, if you are
not very careful to perform the Obligations he hath laid
upon you in it. The Clause I am to put you in mind
of, is this: "And to the Intent and Purpose, that all
Names and Terms of Distinction may be likewise put
into utter Oblivion, Be it further enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Person or Persons, within
the Space of Three Years next ensuing, shall presume
maliciously to call, or allege, or object, against any other
Person or Persons, any Name or Names, or other Words
of Reproach, any way tending to revive the Memory of
the late Differences, or the Occasion thereof; that then
every such Person, so, as aforesaid, offending, shall forfeit, &c." It is no matter for the Penalty; it is too cheap
a one: The King wishes it had been greater; and therefore hath, by his just Prerogative (and it is well for us he
hath such a Prerogative), added another Penalty, more
insupportable, even his high Displeasure, against all who
shall swerve from this Clause in the Act.
Give me Leave to tell you, that, as any Name or
Names, or other Words of Reproach, are expressly against
the Letter, and punishable accordingly; so evil and envious Looks, murmuring and discontented Hearts, are
as directly against the Equity of this Statute; a direct
Breach of the Act of Indemnity; and ought to be punished too; and, I believe, they may be so. You know
Kings are, in some Sense, called Gods; and so they may,
in some Degree, be able to look into Mens Hearts; and
God hath given us a King, who can look as far into Mens
Hearts, as any Prince alive: And he hath great Skill in
Physiognomy too. You would wonder what Calculations
he hath made from thence; and, no doubt, if he be provoked by evil Looks, to make a further Inquiry into
Mens Hearts, and finds those corrupted with the Passions
of Envy and Uncharitableness, he will never chuse those
Hearts to trust and rely upon.
He hath given us a noble and princely Example, by
opening and stretching his Arms to all who are worthy
to be his Subjects, worthy to be thought Englishmen;
by extending his Heart, with a pious and a grateful Joy,
to find all his Subjects at once in his Arms, and himself
in theirs: And shall we fold our Arms towards one
another, and contract our Hearts with Envy and Malice
to each other, by any sharp Memory of what hath been
unneighbourly and unkindly done heretofore?
What is this but to rebel against the Person of the
King, against the excellent Example and Virtue of the
King, against the known Law of the Land, this blessed
Act of Oblivion?
My Lords and Gentlemen,
The King is a Suitor to you; makes it his Suit very
heartily, that you will join with him in restoring the
whole Nation to its primitive Temper and Integrity, to
its old good Manners, its old good Humour, and its old
goodNature; Good Nature! a Virtue so peculiar to you, so
appropriated to God Almighty, to this Nation, that it can
be translated into no other Language; hardly practised by
any other People: And that you will, by your Example,
by the Candour of your Conversation, by your Precepts,
and by your Practice, and by all your Interests, teach
your Neighbours, and your Friends, how to pay a full
Obedience to this Clause of the Statute, how to learn this
excellent Art of Forgetfulness. Let them remember, and
let us all remember, how ungracious, how indecent, how
ugly, the Insolence, the Fierceness, the Brutishness, of
their Enemies appeared to them: And we may piously
and reasonably believe, that God's Indignation against
them, for their want of Bowels, for their not being Englishmen (for they had the Hearts of Pagans and Infidels),
sent a Whirlwind in a Moment to blow them out of the
World; that is, out of a Capacity to do more Mischief
in the World; except we practise their Vices, and do That
ourselves, which we pretend to detest them for. Let us
not be too much ashamed, as if what hath been done amiss
proceeded from the Humour and the Temper and the
Nature of our Nation.
The Astrologers have made us a fair Excuse; and,
truly, I hope, a true one: All the Motions of these last
Twenty Years have been unnatural, and have proceeded
from the evil Influence of a malignant Star; and let us
not too much despise the Influence of the Stars: And the
same Astrologers assure us, that the Malignity of that Star
is expired; the good Genius of this Kingdom is become
superior, and hath mastered that Malignity; and our own
good old Stars govern us again: And their Influence is so
strong, that, with our Help, they will repair in a Year,
what hath been decaying in Twenty; and they only shall
have no Excuse from the Star, who continue their Malignity, and own all the Ill, that is past, to be their own, by
continuing and improving it, for the Time to come.
If any body here, or any where else, be too much exalted with what he hath done, or what he hath suffered,
and from thence thinks himself warranted to reproach
others; let him remember the Story of Nicephorus: It is
an excellent Story, and very applicable to such Distempers. He was a pious and religious Man; and, for his
Piety and Religion, was condemned to the Fire. When
he was led to Execution, and when an old Friend, who
had done him Injury enough, fell at his Feet, and asked
his Pardon; the poor Man was so elated with the Triumph
he was going unto, with the Glory of Martyrdom, that
he refused to be reconciled unto him: Upon which he
was disappointed of his End; and, for this Uncharitableness, the Spirit of God immediately forsook him; and
he apostatised from the Faith. Let all those who are too
proud of having been, as they think, less faulty than other
Men, and so are unwilling to be reconciled to those who
have offended, take heed of the Apostasy of Nicephorus;
and that those Fumes of Envy, and Uncharitableness, and
Murmuring, do not so far transport and intoxicate them,
that they fall into those very Crimes they value themselves for having hitherto declined.
But, my Lords and Gentlemen,
Whilst we conspire together to execute faithfully this
Part of the Bill, to put all old Names and Terms of Distinction, into utter Oblivion; let us not find new Names
and Terms to keep up the same, or a worse Distinction.
If the old Reproaches of Cavalier, and Roundhead, and
Malignant, be committed to the Grave, let us not find
more significant and better Words to signify worse
Things: Let not Piety and Godliness grow into Terms
of Reproach, and distinguish between the Court, and the
City, and the Country; and let not Piety and Godliness
be measured by a Morosity in Manners, an Affectation of
Gesture, a new Mode and Tone of speaking; at least, let
our Constitutions and Complexions make us be thought
of a contrary Party; and, because we have not an
affected Austerity in our Looks, that we have not Piety
in our Hearts. Very merry Men have been very
godly Men; and, if a good Conscience be a continual
Feast, there is no Reason but Men may be very merry
at it.
The Lord Chancellor's Speech.
You, Mr. Speaker, have this Day made a noble Present
to the King: Do you think, that, if you, and your worthy
Companions, had brought it up with folded Arms, downcast Looks, with Sighs, and other Instances of Desperation, it would not have been a very melancholy Present?
Have not your frank and dutiful Expressions, that Chearfulness and Vivacity in your Looks, rendered it much
more acceptable, much more valuable?
No Prince in Christendom loves a chearful Giver, so
well as God Almighty does; and he, of all Gifts, a chearful Heart: And therefore, I pray, let not a cloudy and
disconsolate Face be the only, or the best, Sign of Piety
and Devotion in the Heart. I must ask you Pardon for
misplacing much of this Discourse; which I should have
mentioned, when I came to speak of the Ministers Bill:
They, I hope, will endeavour to remove these new Marks
of Distinction and Reproaches, and keep their Auditories from being imposed upon by such Characters and
Descriptions. The King hath passed this Act very willingly, and done much to the End of this Act before; yet
hath willingly admitted you to be Sharers and Partners
with him in the Obligation.
I may say confidently, His Majesty hath never denied
his Confirmation to any Man in Possession, who hath
asked it; and they have all had the Effect of it, except
such who, upon Examination and Inquiry, appear not
worthy of it; and such who, though they are pardoned,
cannot yet think themselves worthy to be preferred. His
Majesty well knows, that, by this Act, he hath gratified
and obliged many worthy and pious Men, who have contributed much to his Restoration, and who shall always
receive fresh Evidence of his Majesty's Favour and Kindness; but he is not sure, that he may not likewise have
gratified some who did neither contribute to his coming
in, nor are yet glad that he is in.
How comes it else to pass, that he receives such
frequent Information of seditious Sermons in the
City, and in the Country; in which all Industry is
used, to alienate the Affections of the People, and
to infuse Jealousies into them of the King, and his
Government?
They talk of introducing Popery, of evil Counsellors,
and such other old Calumnies as are pardoned by this
Act of Indemnity.
His Majesty told you, when he was last here, what
Rigour and Severity he will hereafter use, how contrary
soever it is to his Nature, in these Cases; and conjured
you, my Lords and Gentlemen, to concur with him in
this just and necessary Severity: Which I am sure, you
will do with your utmost Vigilance; and that you will
believe, that too much Ill cannot befal those who do the
best they can to corrupt his Majesty's Nature, and to
extinguish his Mercy.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
I told you, I was to acquaint you with some things
his Majesty intends to do during this Recess; that you
may see, he will give no Intermission to his own Thoughts
for the publick Good, though for a time he dispenses with
your Assistance.
He doth consider the infinite Importance the Improvement of Trade must be to this Kingdom; and therefore
his Majesty intends forthwith to establish a Council of
Trade, consisting of some principal Merchants of the
several Companies; to which he will add some Gentlemen of Quality and Experience; and, for their greater
Honour and Encouragement, some of my Lords of his
own Privy Council.
In the next Place, his Majesty hopes, that, by a well-settled Peace, and God's great Blessing upon him and
you, this Nation will, in a short time, flourish to that
Degree that the Land of Canaan did, when Esau found
it necessary to part from his Brother; for their riches
were more than that they might dwell together; and the
Land, wherein they were, could not bear them because
of their Cattle.
The Lord Chancellor's Speech.
We have been ourselves very near this Pinacle of
Happiness; and the Hope and Contemplation that we
may be so again, disposes the King to be very solicitous
for the Improvement and Prosperity of his Plantations
Abroad; where there is such large Room for the Industry
and Reception of such who shall desire to go thither: And
therefore his Majesty likewise intends to erect and establish a Council for those Plantations; in which Persons
well qualified will be wholly intent upon the Good and
Advancement of those Plantations.
There are Two other Particulars, which I am commanded to mention, which were both mentioned and
recommended to you by his Majesty, in his Declaration
from Breda: The one for the Confirmation of Sales, or
other Recompence for Purchasers; the other, for composing those Differences and Distempers in Religion,
which have too much disturbed the Peace of the Kingdom: Two very weighty Particulars! in which his Majesty knows you have spent much Time; and concerning
which he should have heard from you before this Time,
if you had not met with great Difficulties in the Disquisition of either. For the First, His Majesty hath not been
without much Thought upon the Argument, and hath
done much towards the Accommodation of many particular Persons: And you shall not be at your Journey's
End, before his Majesty will put that Business concerning Sales, into such a Way of Dispatch, that he doubts
not you will find a good Progress made in it, before your
coming together again: And I believe, the Persons concerned will be very much to blame, if they receive not
good Satisfaction; and some of you, who stay in Town,
shall be advised and consulted with in that Settlement.
The other, of Religion, is a sad Argument indeed: It
is a Consideration, that must make every religious Heart
to bleed, to see Religion, which should be the strongest
Obligation, and Cement of Affection and brotherly Kindness and Compassion, made now by the perverse Wranglings of passionate and forward Men, the Ground of all
Animosity, Hatred, Malice, and Revenge: And this unruly and unmanly Passion (which, no Question, the Divine
Nature exceedingly abhors) sometimes, and, I fear, too
frequently, transports those who are in the Right, as well
as those who are in the Wrong; and leaves the latter
more excusable than the former, when Men who find their
Manners and Dispositions very conformable in all the necessary Obligations of human Nature, avoid one another's
Conversation, and grow first unsociable, and then uncharitable, to each other, because one cannot think as
the other doth: And from this Separation we intitle God
to the Patronage of, and Concernment in our Fancies
and Distinction; and purely for his Sake, hate one another
heartily. It was not so of old, when one of the most ancient
Fathers of the Church tells us, that Love and Charity was
so signal and eminent in the Primitive Christians, that it
even drew Admiration and Envy from their Adversaries;
Vide, inquiunt, ut invicem se diligant. Their Adversaries,
in That in which they most agreed, in their very Prosecution of them, had their Passions and Animosities amongst
themselves: They were only Christians that loved, and
cherished, and comforted, and were ready to die for one
another. Quid nunc illi, dicerent Christiani, si nostra
viderent tempora? says the incomparable Grotius. How
would they look upon our sharp and virulent Contentions
in the Debates of Christian Religion, and the bloody
Wars that have proceeded from those Contentions,
whilst every one pretended to all the Marks which are to
attend upon the true Church; except only That which
is inseparable from it, Charity to one another?
My Lords and Gentlemen,
This Disquisition hath cost the King many a Sigh,
many a sad Hour, when he hath considered the almost
irreparable Reproach the Protestant Religion hath undergone, from the Divisions and Distractions which have
been so notorious within this Kingdom. What Pains he
hath taken to compose them, after several Discourses
with learned and pious Men of different Persuasions, you
will shortly see by a Declaration he will publish upon that
Occasion: By which you will see his great Indulgence to
those who can have any Pretension from Conscience to
differ with their Brethren: And I hope God will so bless
the Candour of his Majesty, in the Condescensions he
makes, that the Church, as well as the State, will return
to that Unity and Unanimity, which will make both
King and People as happy as they can hope to be in
this World.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
I shall conclude 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
Condescension you have had for each other; which will
restore Parliaments to the Veneration they ought to have:
And, since his Majesty knows, that you all desire to please
him (you have given him ample Evidence, that you do);
so he hath appointed me to give you a sure Receipt to
attain that good End: It is a Receipt of his own Prescribing, and therefore is not like to fail: Be but pleased
yourselves, and persuade others to be so; contrive all
the Ways imaginable for your own Happiness, and you
will make him the best pleased, and the most happy
Prince in the World.
The Speaker's Speech.
The Speech which the Speaker of the House of Commons made unto the King, the Thirteenth of September,
1660, the Day of their Adjournment.
Most gracious and Royal Sovereign;
Your Commons, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, have commanded me to present your Majesty
with the Sacrifices of their Hearts most humble Thanks
for their often and frequent Admissions unto your Royal
Presence; and for the Freedom you have been pleased
to allow them, upon all Occasions, of making their Wants
and Desires known unto your Majesty.
Sir,
This Royal Favour, and Fatherly Kindness, unto Your
People, hath naturalized their Affections to Your Person,
and their Obedience to Your Precepts: And as it is their
Duty, so it is their Desires to manifest and evidence the
Truth and Reality thereof, by supporting and upholding
that Grandeur and Splendor which is due to the Majesty of so meritorious a Prince, as You Yourself: And
therefore they have resolved, uno flatu, et nemine contradicente, to make up Your Royal Majesty's constant and
ordinary Revenue Twelve hundred thousand Pounds
per Annum.
But finding, as to some Part of the Settlement of that
Revenue, that there will be a Necessity of making use of
the Legislative Power; and that the Bills, already brought
into the House, for that Purpose, cannot possibly be perfected, dispatched, and made ready, for Your Royal
Assent, until the next Meeting of Your Houses of Parliament again; therefore they have taken into their Consideration Your Majesty's present Supply: And, first,
how to raise it in the most expeditious Way, to answer
Your Majesty's present Occasions; and, then, how to
lay it, with the most Ease and Equality, upon Your
People: And, at last, wrapped up their Affections to Your
Majesty, and the Trust reposed in them by the People,
in one of these Bills here in my Hand, intituled, An Act
for the speedy Raising of One hundred thousand Pounds,
for the present supply of Your Majesty, to be levied by
way of Land Rate, within the Space of One Month, to
begin the Twenty-ninth of this instant September, and to
be paid in to Your Majesty's Exchequer before the End
of October following.
Sir,
They have likewise passed another Bill, with Rules and
Instructions, to impower and direct Your Commissioners,
how, and in what Manner, to disband Your Army and
Garisons, and to pay off some Part of Your Fleet, and
to begin with those Ships now in Harbour: But, not
knowing for certain, that the Monies upon the Poll Bill,
which is designed for that Purpose, will be sufficient fully
to defray that Charge; and being unwilling that any
thing should be wanting, on their Parts, to perfect and
complete so good a Work, so acceptable to Your Majesty, and so grateful to all Your People; they have passed
another Act for raising One hundred and Forty thousand
Pounds, Seventy thousand Pounds per mensem, to begin
the First of November, and to be paid to Your Majesty's
Treasurers, in that Bill nominated and appointed, before
the Twenty-fifth Day of December next ensuing: Both
which Bills I am commanded, in the Name of Your
Commons, humbly to present Your Majesty withal; and
to pray Your gracious Acceptance thereof, and Your
Royal Assent thereunto.
Sir,
There are other Bills likewise, which wait and attend
for Your Royal Assent; one intituled, An Act for regulating the Bay Trade; which is the only Way to keep
up the Credit of That, which at this Time is in some
Danger to be lost. When the Credit of Trade begins to
decline, the Trade itself decays with it, and is never
long-lived after it.
Sir,
Many Thousands of Your People depend wholly upon
that Trade for their Livelihood, and Sustenance of them
and their Families: And as the Loss of that Trade would
be a great Damage unto Your People, so your Majesty
would likewise find the Loss of it in Your Customs: for
that Commodity hath its Vent in Spain and Portugal,
from whence we have always rich and quick Returns:
And, to prevent the Loss of both, both Prince and People,
that Bill is humbly tendered to Your Majesty.
Sir,
There is another Bill, intituled, An Act for encourageing and increasing Shipping and Navigation; which will
enable Your Majesty to give the Law to Foreign Princes,
abroad, as Your Royal Predecessors have done before
You: And it is the only way to enlarge Your Majesty's
Dominions all over the World; for, so long as Your Majesty is Master at Sea, Your Merchants will be welcome
where-ever they come; and that is the easiest Way of
conquering, and the chiefest Way of making whatsoever is,
theirs: And when it is ours, Your Majesty cannot want it.
Sir,
There is another Bill, intituled, An Act for restoring
some Ministers into their Places, out of which they have
been long and injuriously ejected and exposed; and for
the confirming others in vacant Places. Crazy Titles
need Your Majesty's Help, as much as crazy Bodies
need the Help of Physicians: And what your Majesty
hath already done, in that Kind, to this Parliament, and
what You are now about to do, and what You have ever
expressed your Readiness, if we could be as ready to receive, as Your Majesty is to give, we hope to vanish and
banish all Fears and Jealousies out of Mens Minds for the
future; and teach them how, with much Confidence and
Contentedness, to rest, and wholly rely upon your Majesty's Grace and Goodness, for what may be thought
further necessary to be done hereafter, when a fitting
Opportunity shall be offered, at the next Meeting of
Your Houses of Parliament.
Royal Sir,
We humbly beg Your Pardon for making thus bold
with your Patience, and therefore, to pretermit, and
pass over, some other such Bills, which are not of such
publick Concernment as those I have already mentioned,
we most humbly crave Your Majesty's Favour and Leave
to conclude all our Work, at this Time, with that which
is our Delight, as well as our Duty, to pray for Your
Majesty's long life, and happy, blessed, and prosperous,
Reign over us.
Adjournment.
After which the House returned; and, according to
his Majesty's Leave and Direction, adjourned themselves
till the Sixth Day of November next.
And they adjourned to the Sixth of November
accordingly.