1685. There was a bitter Spirit in the three laft Parliaments, Anno 1 Jac. II. not yet well allay'd, and fo I conclude a confiderable Force needful besides the Militia. I call thofe raised, Guards, and would have a Supply given to fupport his Majefty's Extraordinary Occafions." The Navy wants 6 or 8ooooo 1. and I would give any Reafon for it, fo a Supply may without a Negative be given." hard. There is already a Law, that no Man fhall, on any Oc- Serieant Maycafion whatever, rife against the King. Lords and DeputyLieutenants have power to difarm the difaffected: If you give thus a Supply, it is for an Army, and then may not this Army be made of thofe that will not take the Teft? which Act was not defigned as a Punishment for the Papifts, but a Protection for ourfelves, and giving this Money is for an Army, I am against it.' Sir Richard I muft concur with the King, that the Militia, is not fufficient; I am for mending the Militia, and to make it fuch Temple. as the King and Kingdom may confide in it; to trust to mercenary Force alone, is to give up all our Liberties at once.' "If you provide a conftant Supply to fupport them, by fetting up an Army, Sir Thomas Meers has turned it into a Supply for the Navy. There is no Country in the World has a Law to fet up an Army, we have already made an ample Supply for the Government. 'Tis for Kings to come to the Houfe from time to time on extraordinary Occafions, and if this Army be provided for by Law, they will never more come to this House. I am for giving for the extraordinary Charge past. Armies are useful when occafion is for them, but if establish them, you can disband them no more. you I am for a Supply, but not on this fcore of the Militia; there was not a Company formed till 1588, and as foon as Queen Elizabeth had done with her Army, the disbanded it. Armies have been fatal often to Princes. The Army in the late King's time often turned out their Leaders. I am for moving the Houfe for leave for a Bill to mend the Militia.' The Beef-eaters at this Rate may be called an Army." The Colonel may fay what he will of the Beef-eaters, as he nick-names them, but they are establish'd by Act of Parliament.' Sir William Clifton. Mr. Thomas I can make out that the King's Revenue is fufficient to Mr. S. maintain the Force on foot.' The Queftion, That a Supply be given to his Majefty. The Committee divided. Yeas 156. Noes 225. It was carried in the Negative, and then these Votes paft. TOME II Bb 'That Anno 1 Jac. I. 1685. Addrefs. That a Supply be given to his Majefty, and that the House be moved to bring in a Bill to make the Militia useful. And then adjourned. The 13th, A Motion being made by the Earl of Middleton, that the Houfe fhould proceed to the further Confideration of his Majefty's Speech. The House thereupon refolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, and the previous Question being then put for the Houfe to go on with the Supply, or proceed to the next Paragraph. The Houfe divided. For proceeding to the Supply-182. For proceeding to the next Paragraph.. -183. The 14th, An Addrefs was moved in the Committee by Sir Edward Jennings. The Houfe refolved itself into a Committee on that Paragraph of his Majefty's Speech, which next follows the Supply. When Sir Edward Jennings moved for an Address humbly fhewing: That thofe Officers of the Army who are not qualified for their Employments, by the Acts for preventing Dangers which may happen, from Popish Recufants cannot, by Law, be capable of the faid Employments, and that it be part of the faid Addrefs: That his Majefty would be pleased not to continue them in their Employments. Others moved the inconveniency of it, if not granted, and fo let it alone. Others to have the Catholics, who had been fo useful and well known to his Majefty, named and compenfated. Some feemed to doubt his Majefty's Compliance. Others that it was not to be doubted, when addressed by fuch a House. At laft it came to this Conclufion, That Inftructions be given to a Committee, to draw an humble Addrefs to his Majefty; wherein the last Words in the above Motion were ordered to be alter'd as follows. That his Majefty would be graciously pleafed to give fuch Directions, that no Apprehenfions, or Jealoufies may remain in the Hearts of his Majefty's good and faithful Subjects. Then the Houfe adjourn'd. The 16th, Mr. Sollicitor reports, That the Committee appointed had drawn up an Addrefs to his Majefty: which was read and agreed to, and is as follows, viz. "Moft Gracious Sovereign, We your Majefty's most loyThe Commons al and faithful Subjects, the Commons in Parliament affembled, do in the first place (as in Duty bound) return your Majefty our most humble and hearty thanks for your great Care and Conduct in fuppreffing the late Rebellion, which threatned the Overthrow of this Government, both in Church and and State, to the Extirpation of our Religion as by Law Anno 1 Jac. II. establish'd, which is most dear unto us, and which your Ma- 1685. jeffy hath been pleafed to give us repeated Affurances you will always defend and maintain, which with all grateful Hearts we shall ever acknowledge. We further crave leave to acquaint your Majefty, that we have with all Duty and Readiness taken into our Confideration your Majefty's Gracious Speech to us: And as to that Part of it, relating to the Officers in the Armies not qualified for their Employments according to an Act of Parliament made in the 25th Year of the Reign of your Royal Brother, Entitled, An Act for preventing Dangers which may happen from Popish Recufants. We do out of our bounden Duty, humbly represent unto your Majefty, • That thefe Officers cannot by Law be capable of their Employments, and that the Incapacities they bring upon themselves that Way, can no way be taken off but by an Act of Parliament. Therefore out of that great Reverence and Duty we owe unto your Majefty, who has been gracioufly pleas'd to take notice of their Services to your Majefty, we are preparing a Bill to pafs both Houfes, for your Royal Affent, to indemnify them from the Penalties they have now incurred, and becaufe the continuing of them in their Employments may be taken to be a difpenfing with that Law without an Act of Parliament, the Confequence of which is of the greateft Concern to the Rights of all your Majefty's Subjects, and to all the Laws made for the Security of their Religion. We therefore, the Knights, Citizens, and Burgeffes of your Majefty's Houfe of Commons, do moft humbly befeech your Majefty, that you would be moft graciously pleafed to give fuch Directions therein, that no Apprehenfions or Jealoufies may remain in the Hearts of your Majefty's most loyal Subjects.' A Motion being made for going to the Lords for their Concurrence. Some debated, that it would carry with it the greater Weight, and be more likely to have good Effect, and if the Concurrence of the Lords were asked, the Judges in the Lords Houfe would have an Opportunity of fpeaking their Opinion to it. Others oppos'd it, for the Lords having already given their Thanks to the King for his Speech, as being contented therewith, and that it would be more for the Honour of the House of Commons to Addrefs alone. Bb. 2 Thofe Anno I Jac. II. 1685.* Debates on the Lord Campden. Sir J. Ernley. Sir T. Courtenay. Sir Edmund Lord Prefton. Thofe that were against the thing itfelf when it past firft, were about going to the Lords for their Concurrence. The Houfe divided. For asking Concurrence, Yeas 138, Noes 212. It pafs'd in the Negative. Then the Members of the House that were of his Majefty's Privy-Council, were ordered to know when his Majefty would be pleas'd to be attended therewith. Mr. Sollicitor in the Chair. The Houfe being refolved into a Committee of the whole Houfe, to confider of a Supply for his Majesty. Moved, 200,000l. to be given to the King for a Supply, which with 200,000l. confeffed of what was given for fuppreffing the late Rebellion, makes 400,000l.' Moved, that 1,200,000l. was needful, and that fuch a Sum had been given before in the fame Seffion, when there was an Addrefs of this kind made to the late King We have this Seffion already given Customs and Excifes for his Majefty's Life.' Additional Duty on Yearly 150,0001. Yearly 200,000l. Yearly 12,000l. In all fix Millions. Let us give little now, to have Opportunity to give more another time; for if we give too much now, we hall have nothing left to give; and if we proceed thus, what we have more will be taken from us.' To give 1,200,000l. now, becaufe fuch a Sum has been given, is no Argument; once 2,400,000l. was given here, and therefore fhould it be fo now? 200,000l. with what is already confefs'd to be in Cafh, makes 400,00 l. and that will maintain the Charge one Year and better; and giving all at once is doubting the Affection of the People.' You unanimoufly voted a Supply laft Night, and naming fo little now, is not fo ingenuous a Way of proceeding. We are told fix Millions have been this Sellions given; I would have you, Gentlemen, take notice, the giving his Majesty what the late King had, is but fettling a Revenue that before was not fufficient for the Support of the Government; what was given befides, was part for the late King's Servants, part for the Fleet and Stores, and part for fuppreffing the late Rebellion. To give fo little now, is not to enable the King to defend and preferve us, which he has promised to do. I am for 1,200,000 1. The The Question is for 200,000l. or for 1,200,000 1. What has been given already, ought not to be weighed in this Matter at all; and what is called fix Millions, had all Uses (when given) tack'd to it. The Revenue his Brother had, had Uses enough, as- And the Additional Duty on French Linnen and East-India So there are Ules for all that; and what is now given, must be taken for fupporting the Forces. And therefore I am for 1,200,000l.' Anno 1 Jac. II. 1685. Lord Ranelagh. Two hundred thousand Pounds is much too little : Soldi- Sir William ers move not without Pay. No Penny, no Pater Nofter.' Clifton. • Moved for 700,000l. and mention'd to have it rais'd Mr. Ewers. upon the new Buildings, which might produce 400,000 1. and a Poll-Bill for the other 300,000l.' If I knew the King's Revenue were fhort, I would give Mr. Wogan. as far as any Man; but now we are going for this particular Ufe, and if this 200,000l. will not do, how can we be fure that 1,200,000l. will? 'If we give too little now, hereafter, if we fee Occafion, we may give more; but if we now give too much, I do not fee how we shall ever have it again, though I have heard of fuch a thing in Queen Elizabeth's time, The King (reckoning what he had of his own into it) has 600,000 1. yearly, more than the late King had, and when there is need, I am for more; but now only 400,000l. and to raise that eafy you will be put to it: How will you do it? If you lay it upon Trade, that will make it Revenue, and when once in the Crown for fome time, it will never get out again. I am for only 400,000 1.' If the King wants 200,000 l. I would give him 200,000l. Lord Caftleton. bu I am for giving no more than he really wants.-' We give becaufe we are ask'd; I am for the leaft Sum, Mr. Wyndham, because for an Army, and I would be rid of them as foon of Salisbury. as I could; and am more now againft it than I lately was, being fatisfy'd that the Country is weary of the Oppretion of the Soldiers, weary of free Quarters, Plunder, and fome Felonies, for which they have on Complaint, no Redrefs: And fince I heard Mr. Blathwaite tell us, how ftrict Rules were preferibed them by the King, I find by their Behaviour, the King cannot govern them himself, and then what will becoine of us? The |