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tled condition of this nation, and the great expence which must attend such distractions; and do humbly beseech your majesty to accept an Aid from them, consisting of four entire Subsidies; two of which are to be paid by the 1st of Nov. next, and the other two by the 1st of May next following."

The King's Speech at the Prorogation.] After giving the royal assent to 14 public and 12 private Bills his majesty made the following Specch:

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many amongst us are of the sect of the gnostics, hunting after novelties and phantasms, till variety of notions makes them mad, Hence do arise all those sects and. schisms in the Church, which, being nursed up in pride, refuse to conform to any laws, and make religion itself the cloak of all their separations; whereas true religion is the band of society, the sinews that hold fast the joints of the body politic. If these be broken, the body must be dismembered; if they be but sprained, the whole body is in pain, and the members made My lords and gentlemen; I thank you for unuseful.--At the opening of this session, your the present you have made me this day; and majesty was most graciously pleased to call I hope your countries will thank you when upon us to prepare some laws for the preven- you come home for having done it. I am not tion of the Growth of Popery; and we have conscious of having brought the streights and heartily laboured therein, both to prevent the necessities I am in upon myself, by any improGrowth of Popery and all sorts of Sectaries vidence or ill husbandry of my own: I know and Non-Conformists. But, as the rankest the contrary; and, I assure you, I would not corn and the fullest cars are aptest to be laid, have desired or received the Supply you have so fares it in this matter: these fruits are not now given me, if it were not absolutely neces yet ready for the harvest. But we are con- sary for your peace and quiet as well as mine. fident, by the wisdom of your majesty's govern- And, I must tell you, it will do me very little ment, and the readiness of your faithful sub-good, if I do not improve it by very good husjects to support it by the just and due exe-bandry of my own, and by retrenching those cution of the laws (especially if such persons very expences which in many respects may be intrusted with the execution of the laws as be thought necessary enough. But you shall do love them), these persons will either be per-see, I will much rather impose upon myself suaded to conformity, or forced into a peace- than upon my subjects; and if all men will ably and orderly conversation.-To this pur- | follow my example in retrenching their expose, I am commanded, by the knights, citi- pences, which (it may be) they may do with zens, and burgesses of the commons bouse of much more convenience than I cau do mine, parliament, humbly in their name to beseech the kingdom will in a very short time gain your majesty, that you will be pleased to issue what you have given me this day.-1 am very out your Proclamation, for the putting those glad you are now going into your several counlaws which now are in force, against the Popish tries, where your presence will do much good? Recusants, Sectaries, and Non-conformists, in and I hope your vigilance and authority will effectual execution.-I am likewise com- prevent those disturbances which the restless manded to desire your majesty, that you will spirits of ill and unquiet men will be always be pleased to issue out another Proclamation, contriving, and of which, I do assure you, for the Prevention of that Prophaneness, De- they promise themselves some effects this sumbauchery, and Licentiousness, which, to the nier.-There have been more pains and unusual high displeasure, of Almighty God, the disho- ways taken to kindle the old fatal fears and nour of your majesty's government, and the jealousies than I thought I should ever have grief of all good men, is now practised amongst lived to have seen, at least to have seen so us and, for the better securing the peace of countenanced.-1 do desire you and conjure the nation against the united counsels of all you, my lords and gentlemen, to watch this the Dissenters to our Religion and established evil spirit and temper with your utmost care discipline, we have prepared an additional Bill and prudence, and secure the persons of those for the ordering the Forces of the kingdom, whom you find are possessed with it, that the whereby your majesty's lieutenants and their peace of the kingdom be not sacrificed to deputy lieutenants will be enabled to train, their pride, humour and madness.-I did exdiscipline, and keep together, such a party pect to have had some Bills presented to me as will be able to prevent disorders, and suth- against the several Distempers in Religion, cient to check any insurrections, till the great against seditious Conventicles, and against the body of the Militia can come in to their assist- Growth of Popery: but, it may be, you have ance. During the late unhappy wars in this been in some fear of reconciling those contranation, our neighbours eyes were open, to spy dictions in religion, in some conspiracy against out all advantages of spoiling our Trade, and the public peace, to which, I doubt, men of to advance their own; but, by the several the most contrary motives in conscience are good bills made ready for your majesty's inclinable enough, I do promise you to lay this royal assent, we hope, we shall restore and business, and the mischiefs which may flow increase the flourishing Trade of this nation.- from the licenses, to heart. And if I live to Great Sir, I have but one word more; and that meet with you again, as I hope I shall, f will is by command from your majesty's loyal and myself take care to present two Bills to you dutiful subjects the commons of England. to that end. And, as I have already given it They have duly considered the present unset- in charge to the Judges, in their several cir

cuits, to use their utmost endeavours to prevent and punish the scandalous and seditious Meetings of Sectaries, and to convict the Papists; so I will be as watchful, and take all the pains I can, that neither the one or the other shall disturb the peace of the kingdom.-I shall not need to desire you to use all diligence in levying and collecting the Subsidies you have given me; and heartily wish the distribution may be made with all equality and justice, and without any animosity or faction, or remembering any thing that hath been done in the late ill times, which, you know, we are all obliged to forget, as well as to forgive. And indeed, till we have done so, we can never be in perfect peace; and therefore I can never put you too much in mind of it.—I think it necessary to make this a session, that so the current of justice may run the two next terms without any obstruction by privilege of parliament; and therefore I shall prorogue you till the 16th day of March, when I doubt not, by God's blessing, we shall meet again to our joint satisfaction, and that you shall have cause to thank me for what I do in the interval."

our old enemies still are, notwithstanding all our mercy. I do assure you, we are not yet at the bottom of that business. This much appears inanifestly, that this conspiracy was but a branch of that which I discovered as well as I could to you about two years since, and had been then executed nearer-hand, if I had not, by God's goodness, come to the knowledge of some of the principal contrivers, and so secured them from doing the mischief they intended. And if I had not by the like providence, had timely notice of the very hour and several places of their rendezvous in the North, and provided for them accordingly, by sending some of my own troops, as well as by drawing the trained bands together, their conjunction would have been in greater numbers than had been convenient.--You will wonder, but I tell true, they are now even in those parts, and at this time, when they see their friends under trial and execution, still pursuing the same consultations. And it is evident they have correspondence with desperate persons in most counties, and a standing council in this town, from which they receive their directions, and by whom they were advised to defer their last intended insurrection; but those orders served

His majesty, having ended his aforesaid Speech, called unto him the Lord Privy Seal, who was Speaker this day, and gave him direc-only to distract them, and came too late to tions what to say further; who returning to his place pronounced these words: "My lords and gentlemen; The king doth prorogue this parliament until the 16th day of March next. And accordingly this parliament is prorogued until the 16th day March next, 1663."

THIRD SESSION OF THE SECOND PARLIAMENT. The King's Speech on opening the Session.] March 16, 1663-4. This day both houses met, and on the 21st, the king opened the Session with a Speech from the throne, as follows:

prevent their destruction. I know more of their intrigues than they think I do, and hope I shall shortly discover the bottom; in the mean time, I pray, let us all be as watchful to prevent, as they are to contrive, their mischief. -I cannot omit, upon this occasion, to tell you, that these desperate men in their counsels (as appears by several examinations) have not been all of one mind in the ways of carrying on their wicked resolutions. Some would still insist upon the authority of the Long Parliament, of which, they say, they have members enough willing to meet; others have fan"My Lords and Gentlemen; You see, God cied to themselves, by some computation of be thanked, you have inet together again at their own upon some clause in the Triennial the time appointed: and I do assure you, I Bill, that this present parliament was at an have been so far from ever intending it should end some months since; and that, for want of be otherwise, that I do not know one person new writs, they may assemble themselves and who ever wished it should be otherwise choose members of parliament; and that this Think, therefore, I pray, what good meaning is the best expedient to bring themselves togethose men could have, who, from the time of ther for their other purposes.-For the Long the prorogation to the day of your meeting, Parliament, you and I can do no more than have continually whispered, and industriously we have done, to inform and compose the infused into the minds of the people, that the minds of all men. Let them proceed upon parliament should meet no more; that it their peril. But methinks there is nothing should be presently dissolved; or so continued done to disabuse them in respect of the Triby prorogation, that they should be kept with- ennial Bill. I confess to you my lords and out a parliament. I pray, watch these whis- gentlemen, I have often myself read over that perers all you can, as men who use their ut- bill: and though there is no colour for the most endeavours to sow jealousies between you fancy of the determination of this parliament, and me. And I do promise you, they shall yet I will not deny to you, that I have always not prevail with me; and I do promise my-expected that you would, and even wondered self, they shall not prevail with you. And the truth is, we are both concerned they should not; and we shall then, with God's blessing, prevent all the mischief they intend. You may judge by the late Treason in the North, for which so many men have been executed, how active the spirits of many of VOL. IV.

that you have not considered the wonderful clauses in that bill, which passed in a time very uncareful for the dignity of the crown, or the security of the people.I pray, Mr. Speaker, and you gentlemen of the house of commons, give that Triennial Bill once a reading in your house; and then, in God's

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The King's Speech upon repealing the Triennial Act.] April 5. In compliance with these instructions from the throne, the house immediately set about repealing the obnoxious Triennial Bill, which they stigmatized as derogatory to the prerogative of the crown, and, as a short compensation. prepared another short one, which provided that parliaments should not be intermitted above three years. This was no sooner ready, than his majesty went to the house on purpose to give the royal assent to it: which he accompanied with the ensuing Speech:

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My Lords and Gentlemen; You will easily believe that I have come very willing to give my assent to this bill. I do thank you very heartily for your so unanimous concur rence in it, and for your desiring me speedily to finish it. And if I understand any thing that concerns the peace and security of the kingdom, and the welfare of my subjects (all which I study more than my prerogative, and indeed I consider my prerogative in order only to preserving the other) every good Englishman will thank you for it: for the Act you have repealed could only serve to discredit parlia

name, do what you think fit for me, and yourselves and the whole kingdom. I nced not tell you how much I love parlaments. Never king was so much bebolden to parlaments as I have been; nor do I think the crown can ever be happy without frequent parliaments. But, assure yourselves, if I should think otherwise, I would never suffer a parliament to come to gether by the means prescribed by that Bill. -My Lords and Gentlemen; I must renew my thanks to you, for the free Supply you gave me this last session, of 4 subsidies: yet I cannot but tell you, that that supply is fallen much short of what I expected, or you intended. It will hardly be believed, yet you know it to be true, that very many persons, who have estates of 3 or 4000l. a year, do not pay for those 4 subsidies 16. so that, whereas you intended and declared that they should be collected according to former precedents, they do not now arise to half the proportion they did in the time of queen Elizabeth; and yet sure the crown wants more now than it did then, and the subject is at least as well able to give. The truth is, by the license of the late ill time, and ill-humour of this, too many of the people, and even of those who make fair pro-ments, and to make the crown jealous of parfessions, believe it to be no sin to defraud the crown of any thing that is due to it. You no sooner give me Tonnage and Poundage, than men are devising all the ways they can to steal custom; nor can the farmers be so vigilant for the collection, as others are to steal the duties. You give me the Excise, which all people abroad believe to be the most insensible imposition that can be laid upon a people. What conspiracies and combinations are entered into against it by the brewers, who, I am sure, bear not that burden themselves, even to bring that revenue to nothing, you will hear in Westminster hall. You have given me the chimney-money, which you have reason to believe is a growing revenue, for men build at least fast enough; and you will therefore wonder that it is already declined, and that this half year brings in less than the former did. I pray, therefore, review that bill; and since I am sure you would have me receive whatsoever you give, let me have the collecting and husbanding of it by my own officers; and then I doubt not but to improve that receipt, and will be cozened of as little as I can.-I will conclude with desiring and conjuring you, my lords and gentlemen, to keep a very good correspondence together, that it may not be in the power of any seditious or factious spirits to make you jealous of me, till you see me pretend one thing and do another, which I am sure you never have yet done. Trust me, it shall be in nobody's power to make me jealous of you. I pray, contrive any good short bills which may improve the industry of the nation. And, since the season of the year will invite us all shortly to take the country air, I desire you would be ready for a session within two months or thereabouts; and we will meet next earlier in the year. And so God bless Your councils."

liaments, and parliaments of the crown, and persuade neighbour princes that England was not governed under a monarch. It could never have been the occasion of frequent parliaments. I do promise you, I will not be an hour the less without one for this act of repeal, nor I am sure will you be the less kind to me in parliament. I do again thank you for your excellent temper and respect to me, and desire you so to proceed, that the session may be within the time I proposed to you last. And I do assure you upon my word, and I pray believe me, that I will have no other thoughts or designs in my heart, but to make you all happy in the support of the religion and laws established: and if my own wants and necessities are at any time grievous to me, it is only as I apprehend I may not be able sufficiently to provide for those, and for the peace and security of the kingdom. And therefore I am confident, that you and I, who agree in the end, shall never differ in the way."

Resolution of both Houses against the Dutch.] April 22. The following Resolution passed both houses, viz. "That the wrongs, dishonours, and indignities done to his majesty by the subjects of the United Provinces, by invading his rights in India, Africa, and elsewhere; and the damages, affronts, and injuries done by them to our merchants, are the greatest obstructions of our foreign Trade: and that the same be humbly and speedily presented to his majesty: and that he be most humbly moved to take some speedy and effectual course for redress thereof, and all other of the like nature, and for prevention of the like in future: and in prosecution thereof, they will, with their lives and fortunes, assist his majesty against all oppositions whatsoever."

The King's Answer thereto.] April 27. Upon this occasion both houses waited upon his majesty at the Banquetting-House, and the next day received the following Answer in writing: "His majesty, having considered the Address made to him by his two houses of parliament, is very well pleased with the great zeal they have expressed for the advancement of the Trade of this kingdoin, and removing all obstructions which may hinder the same; being wholly convinced, that it is that which contributes most to the honour and glory of the nation, and the prosperity of his people: and therefore his majesty will examine and peruse the particular Complaints which have been represented to his parliament; and thereupon, according to their advice, appoint his minister at the Hague to demand speedy justice and reparation from the States-General, and also use his utmost endeavours to secure his subjects from the like violences for the future: in the prosecution of which, or upon the denials of justice, he depends upon the promises of both houses to stand by him, and returns them his hearty thanks for their frank declaration therein."

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Mr.Prynne censured for altering the Draught of a Bill.] May 13. Mr. Prynne, having taken the liberty to alter the draught of a Bill relating to Public-Houses, having urged in his excuse, That he did not do it out of any ill intent, but to rectify some matters mistaken in it, and to make the Bill agree with the sense of the house; the house ordered him to withdraw, and after debate, being again called in, the Speaker acquainted him, That the house was very sensible of this great mistake in so ancient and knowing a member as he was, to break so material and essential an order of the house, as to alter, amend, or interline a bill after commitment; but the house had considered of his Answer and Submission, and were content at this time, in respect thereof, to remit the offence.'

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The Speaker's Speech to the King at the Prorogation.] May 17. The business of the Session being now brought to a period, the king came to the house of peers, and being seated on the throne, the Speaker made the following Speech to his majesty :

"May it please your most exc. majesty; At the opening this session, your maj. was pleased to recommend several things to the care of your two houses of parliament; the which we have deliberately considered, and unanimously presented our humble advice thereupon. The first thing we took into consideration was, the Act made in the 16th year of the late king of glorious memory, for Triennial Parliaments: when we had given it a reading, we found it derogatory to the essential prerogative of the crown, of calling, holding, and dissolving parliaments; we found it unpracticable, and only useful to learn the people how to rebel: therefore we melted it down, extracted the pure metal from counterfeit and drossy alloys, and then presented it to your majesty, to be new

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stamped, and made current coin, for the use of the nation. We do return our most humble thanks to your maj. that you were pleased to accept our advice, and to pass our Bill; but more especially for those gracious expressions your maj. was pleased to use at that solemnity, whereby we are assured, not only of your personal affection to parliaments, but of your judgment also, that the happiness of the crown consists in the frequency of parliaments —In the next place, we reviewed the Act for Chimney-money, which we intended a great brauch of your majesty's Revenue, although by some mistakes it is fallen short: and, in hopes your maj. may improve that receipt, we have prepared a Bill for the collecting that duty by such officers as your maj. and your successors shall from time to time think fit to appoint.Whilst we were intent upon these weighty affairs, we were often interrupted by petitions, and letters, and motions, representing the unsettled condition of some countries, by reason of Fanatics, Sectaries, and Non-conformists. They differ in their shapes and species, and accordingly are more or less dangerous; but in this they all agree, they are no friends to the established government either in Church or State; and if the old rule hold true, Qui Ecclesiæ contradicit non est pacificus,' we have great reason to prevent their growth, and to punish their practice. To this purpose, we have prepared a Bill against their frequenting of Conventicles, the seed-plots and nurseries of their opinions, under pretence of religious worship. The first offence we have made punishable only with a small fine of 54. or three months imprisonment, and 10/. for a peer. The second offence with 101. or 6 months imprisonment, and 201. for a peer. But for the third offence, after a trial by a jury at the general quarter sessions or assizes, and the trial of a peer by his peers, the party convicted shall be transported to some of your majesty's foreign plantations, unless he redeem himself by laying down 100l.: Immedicabile vulnus ense rescindendum, ne pars sincera trahatur.'-We have had much thought how to improve the industry of the nation, and prevent that idleness and licentiousness which too fast grows upon us, especially by excessive and disorderly Gaming. Men are not contented to sport away their precious time, and play away their ready money; but to lose or pawn their houses and lands, their manors, and their honours also. For the prevention of the growth of this disease, we have prepared a bill, to make all Securities for Money won at play, whether real or personal, to be void.-We have examined also the reasons of the Decay of Trade. In the first place, we found our merchants are undermined by fraud and practice, and sometimes beaten out, in the East and West Indies, in Turkey and in Africa, by our neighbours the Dutch, who, besides the unsufferable indignities offered to your royal maj. have in a few years spoiled your subjects to the value of 7 or 800,000l.; for remedy where

of, we have made our humble Address to your majesty, and received a gracious Answer; and have no cause to fear but a short time will produce a just and honourable satisfaction.-The next Obstruction to our Trade hath been, a base and dangerous practice of some seamen, who are willing to be robbed by pirates, that they may share in the prize. We have therefore prepared a bill for the punishment of such treacherous actions, and for the just reward of those honest seamen that shail preserve their owners goods, and manfully maintain the honour of our English nation.-Some other discoveries we have made, which may be the subject matter of future bills; but, in respect of your majesty's intimation of a short session, we were not willing to attempt more than we could reasonably dispatch.-And now, great sir, give me leave with joy to remember that unparalleled unanimity that hath this session attended our counsels. Our constancy and resolution hath been tried beyond the precedent of former parliaments, or any other session of this parliament. The heathens were wont to observe, and envy the Christians, for their unity and love of one another: Ecce ut invicem se diligunt Christiani!' and may this happy correspondence between your royal majesty and your two houses of parliament increase, and grow to be the envy of the world, till all your majesty's enemies are forced to cry, Ecce ut invicem se diligunt Anglicani!" The King's Speech at the Prorogation.] After passing the said Bills, the king made the following Speech:

"My Lords and Gentlemen; I did desire and conjure you, at the opening of this session, that you would keep a very good correspondence together, that it might not be in the power of any seditious or factious spirits to make you jealous of each other, or either of you jealous of me; and I desired you to be ready for a session within two months or thereabouts. I must confess to you, you have complied very fully with me, for which I can never thank you enough you have performed those good respects towards me, and kept so very good correspondence towards each other, that you have exceedingly disappointed those ill men, who both at home and abroad had raised great hopes and expectation of new troubles and confusions; you have gratified me in all I desired, and are now ready for a session within the time proposed. This harmony will (with God's blessing) make us all esteemed abroad, and secure at home; and these obligations cannot but make me think the time long till we meet again. The season of the year and your own affairs will invite you into the country; and your presence there is of great importance to my service, and to the public peace. You will watch those unquiet spirits, which are still lurking and ready to embrace all opportunities to involve the nation in new distractions, under what specious pretences soever; and you will carefully inform the people, how much it is in their own power to

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be as happy as they can wish to be': indeed, if they are truly sensible of their present happiness, it will quickly be improved. I will add no more, but that I thank you all and every one of you; and if God bless us till Nov. we will meet here again name Nov. to you, because, if nothing extraordinary fall out, Í resolve not to meet till then: but, because somewhat extraordinary may fall out, you shall be at present prorogued but till August; and before that day you shall have seasonable notice, by proclamation, not to give your attendance, except there be occasion; and then Nov. will be the time."

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FOURTH SESSION OF THE SECOND PARLIAMENT. The King's Speech at the opening of the Session.] Nov. 24. This day the parliament met, and the session was opened by his majesty, in a Speech from the throne, as follows: My Lords and Gentlemen; When we parted last in this place, I told you that I did not think we should meet here again till Nov. though I prorogued you but to a day in August. But I must now tell you, that if I could have suspected, or reasonably have imagined, that our neighbours would have dealt so unneighbourly with me, and have forced me to make such preparations as they have done for my defence, at so vast an expence; I say, if I could have foreseen in Aug. that they would have treated me thus, I should not have prevented your coming together then. Yet truly I have reason even to be glad that it bath been deferred thus long. You have had leisure to attend your own conveniencies in the country, and the public service there; and I have been able to let our neighbours see, that I can defend myself and my subjects, against their insolence, upon the stock of my own credit and reputation; and that, when I find it necessary for the good of my people, I can set out a fleet to sea, which will not decline meeting with all their naval power, even before the parliament comes together; which, I am persuaded, if they had believed possible, they would not so importunately have prest me to it. I will not deny to you, I have done more than I thought I could have done; which I impute to the credit your vote gave me, and to the opinion all men have, that I did what you wished I should do. By borrowing very liberally from myself out of my own stores, and by the kind and chearful assistance the city of London hath given me, I have a fleet now at sea worthy of the English nation, and (to say no more) not inferior to any that hath been set out in any age, and which (that I may use all freedom with you) to discharge to-morrow, and replenish all my stores, I am persuaded, would cost me little less than S00,000l.-What hath passed between me and the Dutch, and by what degrees, accidents, and provocations, I have been necessitated to the preparation and expence I have made, you shall be told when I have done. I shall only tell you, that if I had proceeded

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