Queftion be, That the Safety of the Kingdom does not 1685. confift with a Standing Force. To this the King's Creatures replied, That His Majefty in his Speech only Said, That the Militia was not fufficient. That the late long Parliament always owned fome Force neceffary. That they were not to name the number that the King was the best Judge of that, being a great Soldier, and a good Prince. That there was a bitter Spirit in the Toree laft Parliaments, not yet well allay'd, fo that a confiderable Force was needful, befides the Militia. That the Principle of the Rebel Party was never to repent; that an Island may be attack'd, notwithstanding any Fleet; that new Troops are not fo good as old, and more fubject to commit Diforders; and fo they infifted upon a Supply. It was anfwer'd, That there was already a Law, that no Man fhall on any Occafion whatfoever rife against the King; That Lords and Deputy-Lieutenants have Perver to difarm the Difaffected; That if they gave thus a Supply, it was for an Army; and then might not that Army be made of those that would not take the left? Which Act was not defign'd a Punishment for the Papifts, but a Protection for Proteftants; That they were for mending the Militia, and make it fuch as the King and Kingdom might confide in it; That to truft to mercenary Force alone, was to give up all their Liberties at once; That 'twas for Kings to come to that Houfe from time to time, on extraordinary Occafions, which they would not do any more,if that Army was provided for by Law;That Armies are useful,when Occafion is for them; but if they establish'd them, it would be no more in their Power to disband them; That there was not a Company form'd till 1588. and as soon as Queen Elizabeth had done with her Army, the disbanded it; That Armies had often been fatal to Princes; and that the Army in the late King's time often turn'd out their Leaders. As to the Supply, fome were for giving it for the extraordinary Charge paft only; others to reward the Officers not qualified, or to take them off fome other way; others faid that the King's Revenue was fufficient to maintain the Force on Foot. However the Queftion being put, That a Supply be given to His Majefty, it was carried in the Affirmative; 1685. mative; but thefe Words, towards the Support of the additional Forces, (which one of the Members moved might be added) were rejected, and instead of them it paft, That the Houfe be moved to bring in a Bill to make the Militia useful. The Sum demanded by the King's Agents was 1200000 1. which the reft thinking exorbitant, faid, That the Measure of their Supply was their Security; that the Ufe was to direct the Quantum; that therefore 400000l. was enough to maintain the additional Forces Two Years, till the Militia be made useful; that they ought to leave the Door open for coming thi ther another time: Others faid, That they bad, that Seffion, already given Customs and Excifes for His Majefties Life, which amounted to Six Milli. ons; that they ought to give little now, to have Opportunity to give more another time; for if they gave fo much then, they should have nothing left to give; and if they proceeded thus, what they had would be taken from them. But nevertheless, after a long Debate, the Queltion was put for 7000col. and no more, to be given to His Majefty, which pass'd in the Affirmative. As to the Roman Catholicks in the Army, befides what I have already mention'd, it was represented by one of the Members, That His Majesty on bis first Acceffion to the Crown told them, He had been mifreprefented, and that he would preferve the Government in Church and State now eftablish'd by Law, and to maintain them in all their juft Rights and Priviledges; That overjoy'd at this, they ran baftily to him, and were fo forward to give, that the King's Ministers put their top to it; that they ought not to forget that there was a Bill of Exclufion debated in that Houfe; that the Arguments for it were, that they should, in cafe of a Popish Succeffor, Popish Army; that they faw the Act of the Teft already broken; but pray'd them to remember what the late Lord Chancellor told them, when the late King past that Act: By this Act (faid the Chancellor) you are provided against Popery, that no Papift can poffibly creep into any Employment; that he was, greatly afflicted at the Breach of their Liberties, and have a feeing fo great Difference between this last Speech, and 1685. thofe heretofore made, could not but believe this was made by fome other Advice; that what the thing ftruck at there, was their All; that he wonder'd there had been any Men fo defperate, as to take any Employment not qualified for it; and concluded to have a Standing Army voted deftructive to the Country. In the middle of these warm Debates an Address was mov'd by Sir Edward Jennings. Others mov'd the Inconveniency of it, if not granted; others to have the Catholicks, who had been fo useful and well known to His Majefty, nam'd and compenfated; fome feem'd to doubtHis Majefties Compliance; others faid, that it was not to be doubted, when addreffed by fuch a Houfe. At laft it came to this Conclufion, That Inftructions be given to a Committee, to draw an humble Addrefs to his Majefty, which was accordingly done,and was to this Purpose: That they return'd His Majesty their most humble and The House hearty Thanks for his great Care and Conduct, in fup- of Commons preffing the late Rebellion, which threatned the Over- Addrefs. throw of this Government both in Church and State, to the Extirpation of their Religion, as by Law eftablish'd, which was most dear to them, and which His Majesty had been pleas'd to give them repeated Affurances he would always defend and maintain; that they had with all Duty and Readiness taken into Confideration His Majefties gracions Speech; and as to that part of it, relating to the Officers of the Army not qualified for their Employments, according to the Act of Parliament made in the 25th Year of the Reign of his Royal Brother; they, out of their bounden Duty, did humbly reprefent to His Majefty, that thefe Officers by Law could not be capable of their Employments, and that the Incapacities they bring upon themfelves that way, could no way be taken off but by an Act of Parliament. That therefore out of that great Reverence and Duty they owed to His Majefty, who had been graciously pleafed to take notice of their Services, they were preparing a Bill to indemnifie them from the Penalties they had now incurr'd; and because the continuing them in their Employments may be taken to be a difpenfing with Law, without an Act of Parliament, the 1685. the Confequence of which was of the greatest Concern to the Rights of all his Subjects, and to all the Laws made for the Security of their Religion; therefore they did moft bumbly befeach His Majesty, that he would be graciously pleas'd to give fuch Directions therein, that no Apprehenfions of Jealoufies might remain in the Hearts of His Majefties Subjects. Over and above what was contain'd in this Addrefs, 'tis faid, the Houfe of Commons were wil ling to capacitate by an Act of Parliament, fuch a Number of the Roman Catholick Officers as His Majefly thould give a Lift of; nevertheless, the King was to offended, that they fhould offer to question his Demands, and controul his Affection to his Popijh Subjects, that he could fcarce forbear fhewing openly his Refentment: But Prudence taught him to cool his Temper; and when the Houfe attended him with their Addrefs, for fear of provoking them too far, he was contented to The King's tell them, That he did not expect fuch an Address Answer from a House of Commons; for having fo lately recommended to their Confideration the great Advantages a good Understanding between him and them had produc'd in a very short time, and given them warning of Fears and Jealousies, he had reafon to hope that the Reputation God had blefs'd him with in the World, would have feated and confirm'd a good Confidence in them for him, and of all that he faid to them. This Antwer was read with all due Reverence and Refpect; and after a profound Silence, which lafted for fome time, one of the Members mov'd, that a Day might be appointed to confider of it. Mr. Coke's Mr. Coke feconded this Motion, adding, He hoped bold Speech. they were all true Englishmen, and not to be frighted out of their Duty by a few high Words. Tho' this Speech was no more than what was confiftent with the Freedom of an English House of Commons, and fuch as became a true Patriot, yet the Lords Prefton and Middleton, and fome other Courtiers, took prefent Exceptions against it; urging, That the He is fent to Meaning of it feem'd like an Incendiary, and procur'd the Tower. an Order that Mr. Coke hould be fent to the Tower. However, this unjuft Proceeding did not deter the the rest of the Country Party from infifting upon a 1685. not to them fatisfactory. The King fearing the Con- The Parlia To feel the Pulfe of his English Subjects, King Affairs of Mor |