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him, to pass any other that might tend to the Advantage Anno 12 Car.II. and Benefit of the People; in a particular Manner defiring, in his Majefty's Behalf, That the Bill of Oblivion, in which they had made fo good a Progrefs, might be expedited: That the People might fee and know his Majefty's extraordinary gracious Care to eafe and free them from their Doubts and Fears; and that he had not forgotten his gracious Declaration made at Breda, but that he wou'd in all Points make good the fame.'

That

What next employ'd the Houfe was the Act of Indem-: nity, the Disbanding the Army, and the fettling the Public Revenues: In the first of which they thought proper to include themselves; making a Refolution in Form, the Houfe doth declare, that they do, in the Name of ⚫ themselves and all the Commons of England, lay hold on his Majefty's gracious Pardon mention'd in his Declara'tion, with reference to the excepting of fuch as shall be excepted in an Act of Pardon!" Which Refolution of theirs was prefented to his Majefty,at the Banqueting-House in the Name of the House, by the Hand of Mr. Denzil Holles.

Such Difficulties however occurr'd in the Act of Oblivion, and fuch Advantages were taken of the Delay in feveral Pamphlets publish'd at that Time, which infinuated, that the King's Promifes at Breda, were not to be depended upon; that his Majefty thought himself obliged to quicken their Refolutions by a Meflage to the House, which was deliverd by Secretary Morrice, to the follow

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neral Pardon.

ing Effect: He, the King, had too ample a Manifefta- The King's tion of their Affections and Duty towards him, to make Meffage, rethe leaft Doubt of the Continuauce and Improvement there- lating to the geof, or in the leaft degree to diflike what they had done, or to complain of what they had left undone. He knew well the Weight of thofe Affairs which depended upon their Counfels, and the Time that muft unavoidably be fpent, where there must be naturally Difference of Opinions and Judgments amongit thofe, whofe Defires of the Public Peace and Safety were the fame. And that neither He nor They must be overmuch troubled, if they found the good Intentions and unwearied Pains, taken to reduce thofe good Intentions into real Acts, for the Quiet and Security of the Nation, mifreprefented, and mif-interpreted, by thofe who are in truth much afflicted to fee the public Diftractions, by God's Bleffing, fo near an end; and by others upon whofe Weakness, Fears and Jealousies, the Activity and Cunning of thofe ill Men hath had too great an Influence. That how wonderful and miraculous foever the great Harmony of Affections between him and TOME I.

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Anno 12Car.II. his Subjects is; yet it is not to be thought that God ALmighty had wrought that Miracle to that degree, that a Nation fo miferably divided for fo many Years, wou'd be fo foon and entirely united in their Affections and Endeavours, as were to be wifhed; but that the evil Consciences of many continu'd fo awake for Mischief, that they would not be willing to take Reft themselves, or fuffer others to take it: That they all had too fad Experience of the unhappy Effects of Fears and Jealoufies, how groundless and unreasonable foever, not to think it very neceflary to apply all timely and proper Remedies to thofe Diftempers, and to prevent the Inconveniences and Mischiefs which fo naturally flow from thence: That he well forefaw, that the great Violation, which the Laws of the Land had for fo many Years fuftain'd, had fill'd the Hearts of the People' with terrible Apprehenfions of Infecurity to themselves, if all they had faid and done fhou'd be liable to be examin❜d and punish'd by thofe Laws which had been fo violated. And that nothing cou'd establish the Security of King and People, but a full Provifion, that the returning to the Reverence and Obedience of the Law, which is good for All, fhou'd not turn to the Ruin of any who were willing and fit to receive that Protection hereafter from the Law; and to pay that Subjection to it, which were juft and neceffary. And therefore he made a free Offer of a general Pardon, in fuch a manner as was exprefs'd in his Declaration; and how ready and defirous he was to make good the fame, appear'd by his Proclamation iflu'd out upon and according to their Defire. However, it was evident, That all he had offer'd or did offer, did not enough compofe the Minds of the People; nor in their Opinions could their Security be provided for, till the Act of Indemnity and Oblivion was pafs'd.' He told them, He had found great Induftry ufed to perfuade his good Subjects, that he had no mind to make good his Promifes, which he defired to perform for his own fake as well as theirs. Therefore he did very earneftly recommend it to them, That all Expedition might he ufed in the paffing that most neceffary Act, whereby his good Subjects generally wou'd be fatisfy'd, that their Security was in their own Hands, and depended upon their future Actions, and that they were free for all paft; and fo the Endeavours of ill Men wou'd be disappointed, who wou'd perfuade them not to do well now, because they had done amifs heretofore. And that he was the more engag'd to this Recommendation, becaufe upon the Reflection of their eminent Zeal and Affection for his Service, and hearty Concurrence with him in all things defired from them, Men were apt to perfuade others, tho not believing it

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themselves, That the paffing this Act was therefore not de- Anno 12Car.II.
fired, becaufe he did not enough prefs the Difpatch of it;
which he did desire from his Heart, and was confident they
would the fooner do it, upon his earnest Recommendation."
To this fucceeded a fecond Meffage to both Houses,
which, as it appears, took its rife from fome infinuating
Advices given to his Majefty from the Houfe of Peers,
which will be beft explain'd by the King's own Words, viz.

His Majefty is well-inform'd of the Value of thofe Con- A fecond Mef
ceffions, which are to pafs in the Act of Indemnity, which fage, releafing
relate entirely to his Majefty's Profits, and which have little all Arrears to
or no Relation to the War: He knows, well that the Ar- the Crown.
rears of the Wars, the Alienations with Licenfe, Purvey-
ance, Refite of Homage, the Arrears of the Rents still in
the hands of the Tenants, and the other Particulars,
amount to a vaft great Sum; all which are releas'd and
difcharg'd by this Act. But his Majefty is fo well fatisfy'd
of the good Affection of the Houfe of Commons, and of
their Intentions and Refolutions to fettle fuch a Revenue
upon his Majefty, as may preferve the Crown from Want,
and from being undervalu'd by its Neighbours; that he
is refolv'd not to infift upon any Particular, which the
Houfe of Commons defir'd his Majefty fhou'd releafe: and
therefore as his Majefty thanks the Houfe of Peers for the
Information they have given him, and for the Care they
have exprefs'd for his Majefty's Profit, fo he is well con-
tented that that Claufe fhall pafs in fuch a manner as the
Houfe of Commons have fet down; and continues his earnest
Deares, that all Expedition be used in paffing the faid Act
in the manner he hath formerly exprefs'd.'

His Majefty had not only the Thanks of the Houfe for this obliging Meffage, but they immediately order'd, That Ways and Means fhould be confider'd for the fettling fuch a Revenue on his Majefty, as may maintain the Splendor and Grandeur of the King's Office, &c.

After feveral Conferences between the two Houses, the Bill of Indemnity being at length prepar'd, as likewife certain others; as, That, for a Confirmation of judicial Proceedings; Another to pay the Arrears of the Fleet and Army, by a Poll Tax; a third to reftrain Ufury; and a fourth for a perpetual Thanksgiving on the 29th of May, to commemorate the Restoration; his Majefty came to the House of Peers, and from the Throne, deliver'd the following artful Speech.

I

My Lords, and Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons,

Have been here fometimes before with you, but never The King'a
with more Willingness, than I am at this time. And Speech,

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'there

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Anno 12 Car.II, there are few Men in the Kingdom have longed more im

1660.

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patiently to have thofe Bills pafs'd, than I have done to
pafs them; and I hope they will be the Foundation of
Peace and Security to us all I do very willingly pardon
all that are pardon'd by this Act of Indemnity, to that Time
which is mention'd in the Bill: Nay, I will tell you,
That, from that Time to this Day, I will not use great
Severity, except in fuch Cafes where the Malice is noto-
rious, and the Public Peace exceedingly concern'd. But
for the Time to come, the fame Difcretion and Conscience,
'which difpos'd me to the Clemency I have exprefs'd (which
is moft agreeable to my Nature) will oblige me to all Ri-
· gour and Severity, how contrary foever it be to my Na-
ture, towards thofe who fhall not now acquiefce, but con-
⚫tinue to manifeft their Sedition and Diflike of the Go-
vernment, either in Actions or Words. And I must con-
jure you all, my Lords and Gentlemen, to concur with me
in this juft and necefiary Severity; and that you will, in
'your feveral Stations, be fo jealous of the Public Peace and
of my particular Honour, that you will caufe exemplary
Juftice upon thofe who are guilty of feditious Speeches or
Writings, as well as thofe who break out into feditious Acti-
ons: And that you will believe those who delight in re-
'proaching and traducing my Perfon, not to be well-affected
to you and the public Peace. Never King valu'd him-
felf more upon the Affections of his People than I do:
Nor do I know a better Way to make myself fure of your
Affections, than by being juft and kind to you all: And,
whilft I am fo, I pray let the World fee, that I am pol-
fefs'd of your Affections. For your Poll-Bill, I thank you
< as much as if the Money were to come into my own Cof-
'fers; and wish with all my Heart that it may amount to as
great a Sum as you reckon upon.-I pray you very earnest-
ly, as faft as Money comes in, to discharge that great Bur-
den of the Navy, and disband the Army as fast as you
can; and till you can disband the reft, make a Provifion
for their Supply. I do conjure you, as you love me, let
'mé not hear the Noife of Free Quarter, which will be
imputed to my want of Care and Government, how in-
nocent foever I am. I am fo confident of
am fo confident of your Affections,
that I will not move you in any thing that immediately re-
lates to myself: And yet I must tell you, That I am not
richer, that is, I have not fo much Money in my Purse,
as when I came to you. The truth is, I have liv'd prin-
cipally ever fince upon what I brought with me, which
was indeed your Money; you fent it to me, and I thank
you for it.
The weekly Expence of the Navy eats up all
you have given me by the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage:
Nor have I been able to give my Brothers one Shilling

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⚫ fince

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fince I came into England, nor to keep any Table in my Anno 12 Car.If. Houfe but where I eat myfelf. And that which troubles < me moft, is, to fee many of you come to me at Whitehall, and to think you must go fomewhere else to feek a ⚫ Dinner. I do not mention this to you, as any thing that troubles me: Do but take care of the Publick, and for what is neceffary for the Peace and Quiet of the Kingdom, aud 'take your own Time for my own Particular, which I am fure you will provide for with as much Affection and • Frankness as I can defire.'

At the fame time the Speaker, Sir Harbortle Grimstone, harangu'd his Majefty with a Speech, which, above all others, difplays the new Turn that the Times had taken, as may Part of the be gather'd from the enfuing Paffage, which may be Speaker's call'd a Mafter-piece of Court-Rhetoric. There is an- Speech on pafother Bill intitled, an Act of Free and General Pardon, Pardon. fing the general Indemnity, and Oblivion: It may well be called a free Pardon, for your Majefty was pleased to offer it before we had Confidence enough to ask it, and at a Time when your People had moft need of it; and it may as truly be called a general Pardon in refpect of the Extensiveness of it. But, looking over a long, black, prodigious, difsmal Roll and Catalogue of Malefactors, we there met not with Men, but with Monfters, guilty of Blood, precious Blood, precious Royal Blood, never to be remember'd without Tears; incomparable in all kinds of Villanies that ever were acted by the worst of Mifcreants, Perverters of Religion, Subverters of the Government, Falfe to God, Dif loyal to the best of Kings, and perfidious to their Country. And therefore we find an abfolute and indifpenfible Neceffity incumbent on us to except and fet fome apart for an Antidote to expel the Poifon of Sin and Rebellion out of others, and that they may be made Sacrifices to appease God's Wrath, and fatisfy Divine Vengeance.'

After this the Houfe, having received Intimation from his Majefty, that they were to have a speedy Recefs, refolved to make good Ufe of the Time, taking firft into Confideration the disbanding the ftill-formidable Army, and then the fettling the Revenues of the Crown; on which last Head, wifely concluding that the Misfortunes of the late King were originally owing to Want of Money, (his whole Revenue, communibus Annis, from the Year 1637 to 1641, amounting but to 895,8191. and the prefent Revenue, together with the Compofition for the Court of Wards, amounting to no more than 819,389 1.) they refolved to make a very confiderable Addition; but, before they had brought this grand Affair to an Iffue, feven or eight other Bills being ready for the Royal Affent, his Majefty

came