The Earl of Warwick, on the Habeas Corpus
Mr. Rouse, against Mr. Manwaring -
Sir John Elliot, on Public Affairs

Sir Benjamin Rudyard, on the State of Religion
in favour of Moderation

Mr. Waller, on the Supply -

in his own Defence

Lord Digby, on frequent Parliaments

on the Earl of Stafford's Impeachment

Sir John Wray, on the Success of Parliament

The Earl of Stafford his last Defence of himself before the

House of Lords

Bishop Hall, on the Exclusion of Bishops from the House of

on the low State of the Church

Mr. Whitlocke, on the Militia

-

on changing the old Law Style

Mr. Lenthall's (the Speaker) Address of Thanks to General

Fairfax -

on the Inauguration of Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell, on the Army -

against Delay

complaining to the Parliament

- 102

-

121

148

123

125

151

Secretary Thurloe's Vindication of the Bill to tax the Royalists 143

Richard Cromwell, on meeting the Parliament
Charles the Second's Speech to both Houses
Lord Clarendon's Speech at the Restoration

The Duke of Buckingham, on the Privileges of the Lords

on dissolving the Parliament

Lord Bristol, on the Test Act -

Earl of Nottingham's (Lord Keeper) Address to both Houses 175

another on the same Occasion 179

First Earl of Shaftesbury, on the State of the Nation

Sir Francis Winnington, on the Pension Bill

- 206

· 211

Earl of Warrington, on being excluded from the Commission of

Sir Charles Sedley, on the Taxes.
Sir John Knight, on the Naturalization Bill
Queen Anne's Speech on her Accession -
Lord Belhavan, on the Scottish Union
George the First's Speech from the Throne
Earl of Oxford's Defence of himself -
Sir Thomas Hanmer, on bringing up the Supplies
on the Reduction of the Army

Sir Richard Steele, on Annual Parliaments

Sir Robert Walpole, on the Bill to limit the Number of Peers

on the Army -

on the Establishment of the Excise

on long Parliaments

on Religious Tests

Bishop Atterbury's Defence of himself

-

Lord Bathurst's Speech in favour of the preceding

on the Standing Army

Duke of Wharton, on the Mutiny Bill -

George the Second's Speech to his Parliament

Mr. Shippen, on the Address

on the Army

-

-

Sir W. Wyndham, against the Address
Lord Falmouth, on the Pension Bill
Earl of Strafford, on the Mutiny Bill -
Mr. Horace Walpole, on the Army

in Defence of the Ministry
on Parliamentary Enquiries

Mr. Pulteney (afterwards Earl of Bath,) against a Standing Ar- 317

Earl of Bristol, on the same -

liament -

321

- 324

329

- 340

342

347

- 350

- 416

Mr. Campbell, on excluding Officers of Government from Par-

Mr. Sandys, in Reply -

Earl of Chesterfield, on the Marriage of the Princess Royal

on the Play-House Bill

-

Duke of Newcastle, on the Army Regulation Bill -
Earl of Anglesea, on removing certain Officers from their Regi-

356

- 357

360

- 363

- 396

Sir Watkin William Wynne, eň shortening the Duration of Par-

liaments

Mr. Pitt (afterwards Lord Chatham,) on the Prince's Marriage 394
- on the Motion for an Address

-

Duke of Bedford, on the Address

Earl of Hardwicke, on a Prosecution for a Libel

Duke of Argyle, on the Address

on the Army

Reply by Mr. Fox (afterwards Lord Holland)

-

479

-

- 519

Mr. George Townshend, on regulating the Army

Colonel Conway, on the same -

Earl of Egmont-part of his Speech on the Naturalization of the

Jews

Parliamentary Speeches.

KING CHARLES 1.

Came to the crown in 1625, and was beheaded in 1648. The following is his speech from the throne on meeting his first parliament. It contains nothing very remarkable, but may serve as a specimen of the style that was in use at the time. The chief subject of the speech is the war with Spain, in which the country was then engaged. There is also an allusion to the plague, which at that time prevailed in London.

King Charles the First's Speech at opening the Session. My lords spiritual and temporal, and you gentlemen of the house of commons, in this parliament assembled : I may thank God, that the business to be treated on at this time is of such a nature, that it needs no eloquence to set it forth; for I am neither able to do it, nor doth it stand with iny nature to spend much time in words. It is no new business, being already happily begun by my father of blessed memory, who is with God, therefore it needeth no narrative I hope in God you will go on to maintain it, as freely as you advised my father to do it. It is true, he may seem to some to have been slack. to VOL. I.

1

begin so just and so glorious a work; but it was his wisdom that made him loth to begin a work, until he might find a means to maintain it. But after that he saw how much he was abused in the confidence he had with other states, and was confirmed by your advice to run the course we are in, with your engagement to maintain it, I need not press to prove how willingly he took your advice; for, the preparations that are made are better able to declare it, than I to speak it. The assistance of those in Germany, the fleet that is ready for action, with the rest of the preparations, which I have only followed my father in, do sufficiently prove, that he entered (not superficially, but really and heartily,) into this action.

My lords and gentlemen, I hope that you do remember, that you were pleased to employ me to advise my father to break off those two treaties that were on foot, so that I cannot say that I came hither a free unengaged man. It is true, I came into this business willingly and freely, like a young man, and consequently rashly; but it was by your interest, your engagement: so that though it were done like a young man, yet I cannot repent me of it, and I think none can blame me for it, knowing the love and fidelity you have (ever) borne to your kings; having myself, likewise, some little experience of your affections. I pray you remember, that this being my first action, and begun by your advice and intreaty, what a great dishonour it were (both) to you and me, if this action, so begun, should fail of the assistance you are able to give me. Yet knowing the constancy of your love both to me and the business, I needed not to have said this, but only to show what care and sense I have of your honours and mine own,' I must intreat you likewise to consider of the times we are in, how that I must adventure your lives (which I should be loth to do) should I continue you here long; and you must venture the business, if you be slow in your resolutions. resolutions. Wherefore I hope you will take