Subjects, as well as for the safety of the Government, made me think it necessary to encreas their number to the proportion I haue done; it is what I owed as well to the honour, as the Security of the Nation, whose reputation was so infinitely exposed to all our Neibours, by haveing laine open to this late wretched attempt, that it is not to be repair'd but by keeping such a body of men on foot, that none may haue a thought of finding us again so miserably unprovided; it is for the support of this great charge which is now more than double to what it was, that I ask your assistance in giveing me a supply answerable to the expences, it brings along with it; and I cannot doubt, but what I haue begun so much to the honour and defence of the government, will be continued by you with all the chearfullness and readiness that is requisite, for a work of so great an importance; let no man take exceptions that there are some Officers in the Army not qualifyd according to the late Tests for their imployments, these gentlemen I must tell you are most of them well known to me, and haveing formerly serued me on several occasions, and always proued the loyalty of their principles by their practices, I think them now fit to be imployed under me, and will deal plainely with you, that after haveing had the benefit of their seruices in such a time of need and danger, I will neither expose them to disgrace, nor myself to the want of them, if there should be an other rebellion to make them necessary to me. I am afraid some men may be So wicked as to hope and expect, that a difference may happen betwixt you and me on this occasion; but when you consider what advantages hath risen to us in a few months, by the good understanding we haue hithertoo had, what wonderfull efects it has already produced, in the change of the whole scene of affairs abroad, so much more to the honour of the Nation and the figure it ought to make in the world, and that nothing can hinder a ΤΟ Μ. III. 1685. further progress in this way to all our satisfactions but fears and jealousies amongst ourselves, I will not aprehend that such a misfortune can befall us as a division or a couldness betwixt you and us, nor that any thing can shake you in your steddiness and Loyalty to me, who by God's blessing will ever make you returns of kindness and protection, with a resolution to venter even my own life in the defence of the true intrest of this Kingdom. Both Houses seem'd much surprised at this Speech; the augmentation of forces, and the imploying of Papists, were not only new things, but what great endeavours and many Laws had been made to prevent, both Lords and Commons hesitated a little whether they should return his Majesty thanks for it as usual: it suffer'd indeed no long debate in the House of Lords, thō the King's ill willers sayd, it was procured rather by a jest of My Lord Halifax's than any intention of the Peers; for that Lord sayd, They had good reason to thank the King for his Speech, which shew'd so plainly what he would be at; but it was not so easily carryd amongst the Commons, for when the Earle of Middleton one of the Secretaries of State moued, not only that thanks might be given, but that they would take into consideration how to answer the ends of the Speech, it occasion'd a debate which was referr'd to a committee of the whole House, where My Lord Middleton renew'd his motion, and was seconded by My Lord Preston, Lord Renlagh and others; who Sayd, They had lately had an unfortunate proof how little the militia was to be depended on, and therefore must in reason agree to his Majestys increasing his forces to what they were, that France was formidable, and that Holland had augmented theirs, and that therefore England ought to doe the like in proportion, to preserve the peace both at home and abroad; that the harmony which hithertoo had been betwixt the King and Parliament, had contributed very much to those ends, that the news of it, and Monmouth's defeat had made the French King recall his Troops that were marching towards Germany, and put up the difference with the Spaniards about Hay and Founterabia; they Sayd, a Soldier was a trade, and must as other trads be learn'd, and that there could not be a greater proof of the insufficiency of the militia, than that the Duke of Monmouth thō he landed only with 83 men and 300t in mony, should in spight of the militia and in spight of all the other forces the King was able to spare, be able to bring it so far as he did; that if the French had landed then or at the business of Chatham, what would haue become of England? that an additional force was therefore necessary, and moued that a supply might be granted to support it. Others sayd, in opposition to this, That the revenue the King had already, was sufficient for all occasions, that the militia did considerable Seruice in the late rebebellion, and that his Majesty at his first entrance on the Throne tould them, he had been misrepresented, but that he would preserue the Government in Church and State as now established, and mentain the people in all their just rights and priviledges; that overjoyd at this, they ran in hastely to him, and gaue him four millions at once (reckoning what was added to the former revenue for life was worth) that the present income was near two millions, that the charge of the Government (admiting the Army kept up) could not amount to more than therteen hundred thousand pounds per annum ; but that when the debate was formerly about the Bill of Exclusion, the main argument for it, was that in case of Popish Successor, there would be a Popish Army, which they said they were in a fair way too; for that in order to it the Test Act was already broke: which the late King when he pass'd it, assur'd them, would be an impregnable bulwork against Popery; but that they began to find the contrary, and TO M. III. 1685. TOM. 1685. that it was very afflicting to see, so early a breach of their liberties, and so great a difference betwixt this Speech, and those made before, which argued a dangerous change of Councel and seem'd to stricke at their all; they wonder'd how any man durst venter to take an imployment, not being qualifyd for it, and therefore moued, the question might be put, That a standing Army was destructiue to the Country. It was Sayd in answer to this, That the Standing forces were now not aboue 14 or 15000 men, and were half as many before, that such an adition was but a necessary reinforcement to the militia for the general safety, and that the charge would not be great, being Sixty thousand pound per annum would mentain them but others thought this a reflection on the militia, and thō many were for a supply, yet they dreaded a standing army, and pretended it was needless; the late rebellion, they sayd, had contributed to their future peace, that those engaged in it had sung their penitential Psalme, that their punishment was rejoiced at by all good persons, that the militia was not to be rejected but new moddel'd, that they would rather pay double to them from whom they fear'd nothing, than half as much to those of whom they must ever be affraid; that the former force had preserved the peace and had been sufficient to do it, in the late King's time, and therefore might be presumed to be so still; that all the security of the Nation, was in the shipping, and that if there had been the least frigat in the Channel, it would haue disapointed the enterprize; that mentaining an army was mentaining so many idle persons to Lord it over the rest of the Subjects, that the King had declar'd no Soldiers should quarter in priuate houses, however they did, that they should pay for what they tooke, but that they payd nothing for almost all they tooke, so that if those men proued good and kind it must proceed from pure generosity; in fine, that the imploying of Officers who take not the Test was a dispensing with all the Laws at once; and lastly, that it was treason to be reconcil'd to the Church of Rome, the Pope (by law) being declared an enemie to the Kingdom: they concluded therefore, that the granting a supply as moued for, would be a kind of establishing an Army by Act of Parliament, whereas there was (they Sayd) no Country in the world, that had a Law for setting up an Army, and when once that Sort of people had got the power in their hands, the reste of the Kingdom must liue at curtesie. * On the other hand it was again represented, that the late long Parliament always agreed, that some force was necessary, and that it did not belong to them to fix the number, that the King was best judge of that, a great Soldier, and a great Prince; that there was a bitter spirit in the three last Parliaments not yet well allayd, and therefore an additional force seem'd absolutely necessary for the King and Kingdom's Security: At (last) the question was put, If a Supply should be given to his Majesty? and it was carryd in the affirmatiue, but at the same time resolved, to bring in a Bill to make the militia more usefull. They were unwilling to quarell with the King, yet their hearts were against an Army, and therefore the next day instead of either going on with the Supply, or proceeding to a further consideration of his Majestys Speech, it was resolued to present him an adress against imploying Popish Officers; some indeed opposed it as thinking the King would not grant it, and if so, might probably make things worse, others thought the request of that House would weigh mightely with him, and a third partie were for compensating such Catholicks as had been usefull to the King; but at last it was carryd to present the address as follows. We your Majestys Most Loyal and faithfull Subjects the Commons in Parliament assembled, do in the first place (as in duty bound) return your Majesty our most humble and hearty thanks, for your great care and conduct in suppressing the ΤΟ Μ. III. 1685. The Commons address against the imploying Papists. |