House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 8 March 1689

Veneris, 8 die Martii; 1° Willielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

The House attends His Majesty.

IN order for the House's attending his Majesty with the Address of both Houses,

The House adjourned till Ten of the Clock this Morning.

And Mr. Speaker, with the House, went to Whitehall accordingly: And being returned;

Mr. Speaker acquaints the House, That the House had attended his Majesty with their Address, agreed upon by both Houses; and that, after the same was presented, his Majesty was pleased to make a Speech to both Houses; which was very long: And that therefore he had (to avoid any Mistakes concerning it) desired a Copy of it: Which he should have presently; and then would report the same to the House.

Supply Bill; granting a present Aid.

The Order for the House to resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed further upon the Bill for granting a present Aid to his Majesty, was read.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Hamden took the Chair of the Committee.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Hamden reports from the Committee of the whole House, That they had made a considerable Progress in the Bill for granting a present Aid to his Majesty: And that they had directed him to move the House, that the House would again, To-morrow Morning, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed further in the Consideration thereof.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, at Eight a Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to proceed further in the Consideration of the Bill for granting an Aid to His Majesty.

Adjournment.

A Motion being made, that the House do adjourn;

Upon a Question put, That the House do adjourn accordingly;

It passed in the Negative.

The King's Speech reported.

Mr. Speaker acquaints the House, that he had now obtained a Copy of his Majesty's Speech: And he read the same to the House; and is as followeth:

My Lords and Gentlemen,

IF any thing could add to the Esteem and Affection I have for Parliaments, and particularly for This, they would be much increased by the Kindness you shew to Me, and the Zeal you express for the publick Good, in the Address you have made; which in the Manner, as well as the Matter, hath every Thing in it, that ought to recommend it to Me.

I will assure you, that I will never abuse the Confidence you shall put in Me; being fully persuaded, that there is no sure Foundation of a good Agreement between a King and his People, but by a mutual Trust. When that is once broken, a Government is half dissolved. It shall therefore be my chief Care never to give any Parliament Cause to distrust Me: And the best Method I can use for that Purpose, is, never to expect any Thing from Them, but That which shall be their own Interest to grant.

I came hither for the Good of the Kingdom; and, since it is at your Desire that I am in this Station, I shall still pursue the same Ends that brought Me.

God hath been pleased to make Me instrumental to redeem you from the Ills you feared; and it is still My Desire, as well as My Duty, to endeavour to preserve your Religion, Laws, and Liberties: Which were the only Inducements that brought Me into England: And to those I ascribe the Blessings that have attended this Undertaking.

When I spoke last to you, I told you of the Necessity of assisting our Allies; and more especially the States of Holland; whose Readiness to relieve you (at their so great Hazard and Expence) from the Extremities you lay under, needs no other Arguments, to move you to the Consideration of it.

As I was then a Witness of their Zeal and Affection to promote the Expedition, and to second my Endeavours, even with a Neglect of their own Safety, so I am now sensible of the inevitable Ruin they have drawn upon themselves by giving you this Assistance, if you should not return it to them.

They have really exhausted themselves to such a Degree, both as to Men and Money, that it is not easily to be imagined: And I am confident your Generosity will have as little Bounds towards them, as theirs had towards you; and that you will not only enable Me to make good the Treaty with them, and repay what they have actually laid out upon this Occasion, of which an Accompt shall be given to you, but that you will further support them, to the utmost of your Ability, against the Power of their Enemies; who must be yours too, by their Interest, and by their Religion; and do certainly design the Ruin of Holland to be a Step to your Destruction.

I need not take Pains to tell you the deplorable Condition of Ireland, which, by the Zeal and Violence of the Popish Party there, and by the Assistance and Encouragements they have from France, is brought to that Pass, that it is not adviseable to attempt the Reducing of it otherwise, than by a very considerable Force; which, I think, ought not to be less than Twenty thousand Horse and Foot: Which by the Blessing of God will make the Work shorter, and, in consequence, the Charge easier, though the first Expence of Necessity must be very great.

You are to consider, that, towards the more speedy and effectual Success in relation to Ireland, as well as with a regard to France, there must be such a Fleet, as may, in Conjunction with the States, make us so entirely Masters of the Sea, that nothing can be sent from France, either to Ireland, or any-where else, that may give Disturbances to Us, or Our Allies.

I must also recommend the Consideration of the Revenue to you, that it may be so settled, as that it may be collected without Dispute.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

These Things will amount to a great Sum; and must, of consequence, be a present Weight upon the People: But, considering that neither your Religion, nor your Safety, can probably be secured without these Means, I conclude, you will think nothing can be too great a Price for their Preservation: And I will engage My solemn Word to you that whatever you shall give, in order to these publick Ends, shall be strictly applied to them; and that, as you so freely offer to hazard all that is dear to you, so I shall as freely expose My Life for the Support of the Protestant Religion, and the Safety and Honour of the Nation.

The King's Speech to be considered.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, at Eleven a Clock, take into Consideration his Majesty's Speech.

Privilege of Witnesses.

Resolved, That it is the undoubted Right of this House, that all Witnesses summoned to attend this House, or any Committee appointed by it, have the Privilege of this House, in coming, staying, and returning.

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