Lunæ, 3 die Martii, 14 Car.

Prayers.

Relief of Loyalists.

AN ingrossed Bill for Relief and Maintenance of such maimed Soldiers as have faithfully served his Majesty, or his Royal Father, was this Day read the Third time.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the said Bill do pass: And that the Title shall be, An Act * * * *.

And Sir William Lowther is to carry up this Bill to the Lords.

Packing Butter.

A Bill for the regulating Abuses in the Packing and Weighing of Butter, was this Day read the Second time.

And a Petition of divers Freemen and Inhabitants of the City of London, trading in Butter and Cheese, being tendered;

Resolved, That the said Bill and Petition be committed to Mr. Jones, Mr. Newport, Sir Lancelot Lake, Sir Tho. Allen, Sir Wm. Lowther, Sir Solomon Swale, Sir John Brampston, Dr. Burwell, Mr. Culleford, Mr. Chetwind, Sir John Tirrell, Sir Rich. Everard, Mr. Morris, Mr. Goodrick, Mr. Sandys, Sir Geo. Probert, Mr. Bullen Reames, Sir Tho. Gowre, Sir John Robinson, Sir James Smith, Sir Phil. Musgrave, Mr. Crouch, Mr. Henley, Sir Wm. Doyley, Sir Fra. Clarke, Sir Edw. Moseley, Sir Cha. Berkley, Sir Tho. Meres, Mr. Jolliff, Mr. Kent, Sir Robert Holt, Sir Adam Browne, Colonel Robinson, Mr. Knight, Mr. Jay, Sir Wm. Thompson, Mr. Lewes, Dr. Ryshton, Sir Theophilus Biddulph, Sir James Langham, Mr. Dunstar, Sir John Shaw, Mr. Seudamore, Sir Rich. Ford, Mr. Christopher Musgrave, Sir Rich. Browne, Mr. Coventry, Mr. Daniell, Lord Ancram, Mr. Ashburnham, Sir Wm. Lewes, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Thompson, Sir Tho. Bludworth, Mr. Turgis, Mr. Moore, Mr. Swinfen, and all the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, that serve for the Counties of Suffolke, Norfolke, and Yorke: And all the Members of this House that are Merchants: And they are to meet in the Speaker's Chamber To-morrow, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir John Covert have the Leave of this House to go into the Country.

Ordered, That Major Cornwall have the Leave of this House to go into the Country.

Ministers Maintenance.

Ordered, That the Bill for settling a Maintenance on Ministers, in Corporate and Market Towns, be read To-morrow Morning.

Receivers of Prizes.

Mr. Ashburnham reports from the Committee to which the Bill for calling Persons to an Account for Monies received upon Prizes, was committed, That they had perused the Bill; and found no Cause to make any Amendment or Alteration in the Body of it, but only to add two Provisoes: Which were opended by the Reporter; and after, delivered in at the Clerk's Table.

And the First being twice read, some Amendments were made therein, at the Clerk's Table.

And the said Amendments being also twice read, the said Proviso, so amended, was, upon the Question, agreed to.

The Second Proviso, being twice read, was, upon the Question, agreed unto.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the said Bill, with the Provisoes agreed to, be ingrossed.

The King's Speech.

Mr. Speaker did then acquaint the House, That he had attended his Majesty: And having craved his Majesty's Pardon for making Report of his Gracious Speech to this House, fearing that his Memory might not serve to do his Majesty that full Right which he desired, his Majesty was thereupon graciously pleased to deliver his Speech to him, written all with his own Hand.

Which being read in the House, by Mr. Speaker;

Resolved, That his Majesty's Gracious Speech be entered in the Journal of this House; and that his Majesty be desired to give Leave, that his Speech be printed and published.

And Mr. Ashburnham of his Majesty's Bed Chamber, is desired to attend his Majesty with this Address.

And his Majesty's said Gracious Speech was as followeth:

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Commons;

FINDING it necessary to say somewhat to you, I thought once of doing it by a Message, which hath been the most usual way: But when I considered, that speaking to you myself with that Plainness and Freedom I use to do, hath more of Kindness in it; and with what Affection you use to receive what I say to you; I resolved to deliver my Message to you myself; and have therefore sent for you hither, which hath been frequently done heretofore, though it be the first time I have done so.

I do speak my Heart to you, when I tell you, that I do believe, that, from the first Institutions of Parliaments to this Hour, there was never a House of Commons fuller of Affection and Duty to their King, than you are to me; never any that was more desirous and solicitous to gratify their King, than you are to oblige me; never a House of Commons in which there were fewer Persons without a full Measure of Zeal for the Honour and Welfare of the King and Country, than there are in This.

The wonderful Alacrity that you shewed at your first Coming together, in giving me so liberal a Supply, was an unquestionable Instance of this; and I assure you, made our Neighbours abroad look upon me, and you, with much the more Respect and Esteem; and I am persuaded, even broke the Heart of some desperate and seditious Designs at home: In a Word, I know most of your Faces and Names, and can never hope to find better Men in your Places.

You will wonder now, after I have willingly made this just Acknowledgment to you, that I should lament, and even complain, that I, and you, and the Kingdom, are yet without that present Fruit and Advantage which we might reasonably promise ourselves from such a Harmony of Affections, and a Unity in Resolutions, to advance the publick Service, and to provide for the Peace and Security of the Kingdom; that you do not expedite those good Counsels which are necessary for both. I know not how it comes to pass, but for these many Weeks past, even since your last Adjournment, private and particular Business have almost thrust the Consideration of the Publick out of Doors; and, in Truth, I do not know that you are nearer settling my Revenue, than you were at Christmas: I am sure I have communicated my condition to you, without Reserve; what I have coming in, and what my necessary Disbursements are: And I am exceedingly deceived, if whatever you give me, be any otherwise given to me, than to be issued out for your own Use and Benefit.

Trust me, it shall be so; and, if you consider it well, you will find, that you are the richer by what you give; since it is all to be laid out, that you may enjoy the rest in Peace and Security.

Gentlemen, I need not put you in mind of the miserable Effects which have attended the Wants and Necessities of the Crown: I need not tell you, that there is a Republical Party still in the Kingdom, which have the Courage to promise themselves another Revolution: And, methinks, I should as little need to tell you, that the only way, with God's Blessing, to disappoint their Hopes, and indeed to reduce them from those extravagant Hopes and Desires, is, to let them see that you have so provided for the Crown, that it hath wherewithal to support itself, and to secure you; which, I am sure, is all I desire, and desire only for your Preservation.

Therefore I do conjure you, by all the Professions of Affection you have made to me, by all the Kindness I know you have for me, after all your Deliberations, betake yourselves to some speedy Resolutions; and settle such a real and substantial Revenue upon me, as may hold some Proportion with the necessary Expences I am at, for the Peace, and Benefit, and Honour of the Kingdom; that they who look for Troubles at home, may despair of their Wishes; and that our Neighbours Abroad, by seeing that all is well at Home, may have that Esteem and Value of us, as may secure the Interest and Honour of the Nation, and make the Happiness of this Kingdom, and of this City, once more the Admiration and Envy of the World.

Gentlemen, I hear you are very zealous for the Church, and very solicitous, and even jealous, that there is not Expedition enough used in that Affair: I thank you for it, since, I presume, it proceeds from a good Root of Piety and Devotion: But I must tell you, I have the worst Luck in the World, if, after all the Reproaches of being a Papist, whilst I was abroad, I am suspected of being a Presbyterian now I am come home.

I know you will not take it unkindly, if I tell you, that I am as zealous for the Church of England, as any of you can be; and am enough acquainted with the Enemies of it, on all Sides; that I am as much in Love with the Book of Common Prayer as you can wish, and have Prejudice enough to those who do not love it; who, I hope, in time, will be better informed, and change their Minds: And you may be confident, I do as much desire to see a Uniformity settled, as any amongst you: I pray, trust me, in that affair; I promise you to hasten the Dispatch of it, with all convenient Speed; you may rely upon me in it.

I have transmitted the Book of Common Prayer, with those Alterations and Additions which have been presented to me by the Convocation, to the House of Peers, with my Approbation, that the Act of Uniformity may relate to it: So that I presume it will be shortly dispatched there; and when we have done all we can, the well settling that Affair will require great Prudence and Discretion, and the Absence of all Passion and Precipitation.

I will conclude with putting you in mind, that the Season of the Year; the Convenience of your being in the Country, in may respects for the Good and Welfare of it (for you will find much Tares have been sowed there, in your Absence); the Arrival of my Wife, who I expect some time this Month; and the necessity of my own being out of Town to meet her, and to stay some time before she comes hither, makes it very necessary that the Parliament be adjourned before Easter, to meet again in the Winter: And that it may do so, I pray lay aside private Business, that you may, in that time, dispatch the Publick: And there are few things I reckon more publick, than your providing for the Security of the Fen Lands, which I have so often recommended to you; and do it now, very earnestly. I pray let no private Animosities or Contests endanger a Work of so great a Benefit and Honour to the Nation; but first provide for the Support of the Work, and then let Justice be done for Determination of particular Interests.

The Mention of my Wife's Arrival puts me in mind to desire you to put that Compliment upon her, that her Entrance into the Town may be with more Decency than the Ways will now suffer it to be: And, to that Purpose, I pray you would quickly pass such Laws as are before you, in order to the mending those Ways; and that she may not find Whitehall surrounded with Water.

I will detain you no longer, but do promise myself great Fruits of this Conversation with you; and that you will justify the Confidence I have in your Affection, by letting the World see, that you take my Concernments to Heart, and are ready to do whatsoever I desire for the Peace and Welfare of the Kingdom.

Hearth Tax.

A Bill for laying an Imposition upon Chimney Hearths was this Day read the Second time.

Resolved, upon the Question, That this Bill be committed to a Committee of the whole House: And that this House do resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the said Bill.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Sir John Brampston took the Chair of the Committee.
Mr. Speaker again took the Chair: And

Sir John Bramston made Report, that the Committee of the whole House had made some Progress in the Bill: And desired the House would again resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House on Wednesday next, to resume the Debate of the said Bill.

Resolved, upon the Question, That this House do, on Wednesday next, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to resume the Debate of the said Bill.

London, &c. Streets.

Ordered, That the Committee to which the Bill for the Streets and Highways, in and near London and Westminster, is committed, have Leave to sit this Afternoon.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, at Eight of the Clock.