House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 12 June 1663

Veneris, 12 die Junii, 15 Car.

Prayers.

Devon Charity.

ORDERED, That Leave be given for the bringing in a Bill for the settling a charitable Use for erecting a Workhouse in the County of Devon.

King appoints to be attended.

Mr. Secretary Bennett did acquaint the House, from the King's Majesty, That it was his Majesty's Pleasure, that the House should attend his Majesty in the Banqueting House, this Morning at Ten of the Clock.

Jacob's, &c. Nat.

A Bill for the Naturalization of Dame Elizabeth Jacob, and others, was this Day read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the said Bill be committed to the Committee to which the former Bill for Naturalization of George Willoughby, and others, was formerly committed: And the said Committee are for that Purpose revived: 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.

Ordered, That the Children of Sir Thomas Orby, and Sir Thomas Bond, and * Tarteran, and Mrs. Anne Lloyd, Daughter of Sir Richard Lloyd, be inserted into the Bill of Naturalization.

Loyalist Officers.

An additional Bill for the Explanation and Supply of an Act for distributing Sixty thousand Pounds, and assessing Offices, for the Use of the indigent loyal Officers, was read the First time.

Ordered, That this Bill be read the Second time To-morrow Morning.

Poor Relief.

A Bill for explaining and supplying one other Act for the better Relief of the Poor of this Kingdom, was read the First time.

Ordered, That this Bill be read again the Second time on Monday next.

Howard's Estate.

Ordered, That the Committee to which the Bill to confirm a Sale of Land, made by Sir Robert Howard, is committed, be revived; and do meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in the Place formerly appointed.

Fowler's, &c. Letters Pat.

Ordered, That the Committee to which the Bill to make void Two Letters Patents, granted to Walter Fowler and Sir Garrett Kempe, by his Majesty, is committed, be revived; and do meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in the Place formerly appointed.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees, which are discontinued, be revived; and do meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in the Places appointed.

The King attended.

Mr. Speaker, with the whole House, went to attend his Majesty, in the Banqueting House at Whitehall.

And Mr. Speaker, with the House, returning;

Mr. Speaker reports, from his Majesty, That his Majesty had been pleased to deliver unto him the Speech, which he made to the House at Whitehall, all of his own Hand-writing:

Which being twice read, very distinctly, by Mr. Speaker, to the House;

Ordered, That his Majesty's Gracious Speech be entered in the Journal of this House:

Which was as followeth; viz.

The King's Speech.

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

I HAVE sent for you, this Day, to communicate with you, as good Friends ought to do, when they discover the least Jealousy growing, which may lessen their Confidence in each other. It is a Freedom very necessary to be used between Me and you; and you may all remember, that when there was lately a little Jealousy amongst you, upon somewhat I had said or done, I made all the Haste I could to give you Satisfaction: For which you all returned Me your hearty Thanks; and were, I think, really satisfied.

Gentlemen,

It is in no Man's Power, no not in your own Power, to make me suspect, or in the least Degree imagine it possible, that your Affection or Kindness is lessened or diminished towards me. I know, very well, that the People did never, in any Age, use that Vigilance and Circumspection in their Election of Persons of known and tried Affection to the Crown, of your good Principles and unquestionable Inclinations to the Peace of Church and State, for their Representatives in Parliament, as they did, when they chose you. You are the very same Men who, at your first coming together, gave such signal Testimonies of your Affection and Friendship to My Person, of your Zeal for the Honour and Dignity of the Crown, and liberal Support of the Government, and of your Horror and Detestation of those Men whose Principles, you discerned, keeps them awake, to take all Occasions to disturb the Peace of the Kingdom, and to embroil us all in a new Civil War: Which is as much their Endeavour now as ever; and it may be not enough abhorred by others whose Principles and Ends are very different from them. You are the same Men who, at your first Meeting, by a wonderful and cheerful Harmony and Concurrence in whatsoever I could wish, gave Me Reputation Abroad, and Security at Home; made our Neighbours solicitous for our Friendship; and set a just Value upon it: And, trust Me, such a Reputation is of a vast Importance; and made my evil Subjects even despair of bringing their wicked Purposes to pass. And is it possible, that the same Persons can continue together, without the same Affection for me, or Prudence for the publick Peace and Prosperity? I am sure it is impossible: And yet I must tell you, the Reputation I had from your Concurrence and Tenderness towards Me, is not at all improved since the Beginning of this Session; indeed it is much lessened: And I am sure I never stood more in need of That Reputation than at present, to carry me through many Difficulties, in which the Publick is, at least, as much concerned as Myself: Let Me and you think never so well of Ourselves, if all the World knows, or believes, that we are poor, that we are in Extremity of Want, if our Friends think We can do them no Good, and our Enemies believe we can do them no Harm, our Condition is far from being prosperous. You cannot take it a miss (you shall use as much Freedom with Me, when you please), that I tell you, there hath not appeared that Warmth in you of late, in the Consideration of My Revenue, as I expected, as well from some of your Messages, as from My own Confidence in your Care and Kindness. It hath been said to Myself, that it is usual for Parliaments to give the Crown extraordinary Supplies upon emergent Occasions, but not to improve the constant Revenue of the Crown. I wish, and so do you, that nothing had been lately done in and by Parliaments, but what was usual. But, if ill Parliaments contrive the Ruin and Disinherison of the Crown, God forbid but good Parliaments should repair it, how unusual soever it is. If you yourselves had not, in an extraordinary manner, improved My Revenue, the Government could not have been supported: And if it be not yet improved in the Proportion you have designed, I cannot doubt but you will proceed in it with your old Alacrity. I am very well contented, that you proceed in your Inspection: I know it will be to my Advantage; and that you will neither find My Receipts so great, nor My Expences so exorbitant, as you imagine. And, for an Evidence of the last, I will give you presently an Account of the Issues of the Twelve hundred thousand Pounds, you so liberally gave Me; not One Peny whereof was disposed, but upon full Deliberation with Myself, and by my own Order; and I think you will all say, for the publick Service. But, Gentlemen, this Inquisition cannot be finished in the short time, we can now conveniently stay together: And yet, if you do not provide, before we part, for the better Paying and Collecting what you have already given Me, you can hardly presume what it will amount to: And if you do not support even what you have already given Me, by some Addition, you will quickly see lawful Ways found out to lessen the Revenue, more than you imagine: And therefore I cannot but expect, that your Wisdom will seasonably and speedily provide a Remedy for that growing Mischief. Believe me, Gentlemen, the most disaffected Subjects in England are not more unwilling to pay any Tax or Imposition you lay upon them, than I am to receive it: God knows I do not long more for any Blessing in this World, than that I may live to call a Parliament, and not ask, or receive, any Money from them: I will do all I can to see that happy Day. I know the vast Burdens the Kingdom hath born these last Twenty Years, and more; that it is exceedingly impoverished: But, alas! what will that which is left do them good, if the Government cannot be supported; if I am not able to defray the Charge that is necessary for their Peace and Security. I must deal plainly with you; and I do but discharge my Conscience in that Plainness: If you do not, besides the improving my Revenue, in the manner I have recommended to you, give Me some present Supply of Money, to enable Me to struggle with those Difficulties I am pressed with, I shall have a very melancholick Summer, and shall much apprehend the publick Quiet. You have heard, I presume, of the late Design in Ireland, for the Surprize of the Castle of Dublyn; which was spread over all that Kingdom; and many Parliament Men there engaged in it: There is an absolute Necessity, that I forthwith send over a good Sum of Money thither, for the Payment of that Army, and putting the Garisons there in good Order. You will not doubt but that those seditious Persons had a Correspondence with their Friends here; and, I pray, let us not be too careless of them. I assure you, I have so great Occasion of Money here, which My Revenue cannot supply Me with, that I every Day omit the doing somewhat that is very necessary for the Publick Benefit. These, sure, are just Motives, to persuade you to give Me a Supply, as have ever moved a House of Commons; and therefore I conjure you to go chearfully about it, and let Me not be disappointed in My Confidence of your Affections. And, I pray, remember the Season of the Year, and how necessary it is, that we make a Recess in or about Midsummer. I have enlarged much more to you upon this Occasion, than I have used to do; and you may perceive it hath not been very easy to Me: But I was willing you should understand, from Myself, what I desire and expect from you; and the rather, because I hear some Men have confidently undertaken to know My Mind, who have had no Authority from Me; and to drive on Designs very contrary to My Desires. I do pray you heartily, that the Effect of this Day's Conversation may be the renewing our Confidence in each other, and raising our joint Reputation; which will be our strongest Security, with God's Blessing, the Kingdom can have for its Peace, Plenty, and full Prosperity; and, upon My Word, you will all have great Comfort in what you shall do for Me, upon this My very earnest and hearty Recommendation.

Supply.

The House taking that Part of his Majesty's Speech, which concerns a present Supply for his Majesty, into Debate;

The Question being propounded, That the King's Majesty shall have a present Supply granted him;

The Question was put, Whether that Question be now put:

The House was divided.

The Noes went out.

And so it was resolved in the Affirmative.

The main Question being put, That the King's Majesty shall have a present Supply granted him;

It was resolved in the Affirmative, Nemine contradicente.

Resolved, &c. That this House will, on Monday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Manner of the King's Majesty's present Supplies.

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