The House hath a true resentment of your prudence and conduct in this great
work, and have Commanded me to return to you their hearty thanks, and in
their names and by their commands, I give you hearty thanks. But I must not
end here; for they have also a full sence of those noble Commanders, Officers,
and Souldiers, both of their fidelity, valour and duty, in this expedition. And
as I have returned to you their thanks, so it is their desire, that you should return
the same to your Commanders, Officers, and Souldiers, who have been instrumental
in these Actions.
The Lord General Monck's speech delivered by him in the
Parliament, on Monday February 6. 1659.
Mr Speaker,
A Mongst the many mercies of God to these poor Nations, your peaceable Restauration
is not the least: it is his work alone, and to him belongs the glory of
it, and I esteem it as a great effect of his goodness to me, that he was pleased to
make me amongst many worthier in your service, some way instrumental in it. I
did nothing but my duty, and do not deserve to receive so great honour and respect
as you are pleased to give me at this time and place; which I shall ever acknowledg
as an high mark of your favour to me. Sir, I shall not now trouble you with large
Narratives, only give me leave to acquaint you, that as I marcht from Scotland
hitter, I observed the people in most Counties in great and earnest Expectations of
Settlement; and they made several Applications to me, with numerous Subscriptions:
the chiefest Heads of their desires, were, Fet a Free and Fu[unr] Parliament; and That
you would determine your sitting, A Gospel Ministry, Incouragement of Learning
and Universitles, And for admittance of the Members 1648. without
any previous Oath or Engagement. To which I commonly [unr], That
you are now in a Free Parliament; and if there be any [unr]on you,
I would indeavour to remove it; and that you had Ver[unr] to fill up [unr] House, and
then you would be a Full Parliament also; and that you had, [unr]mined
your Sitting and for the Ministry, their Maintenance the L[unr]w, a[unr]U [unr]ies,
you had largely declared in your last Declaration; [unr] would
adhere to it: but as for those Gentlemen secluded in the [unr] them you
had given Judgment in it; and all people ought to acq[unr] in that Judgment: [unr]
to admit any Members to sit in Parliament without a previous Oath or Engagement
to secure the Government in being, it was never [unr] door in England. And
although I said it not to them, I must say with pardon to you, T[unr] Oaths
and Engagements are imposed, (with respect had to be secu[unr]ity of [unr] C[unr]rmen
Cause) your Settlement will be the so[unr]tur a[unr]ained to. I am the [unr] particular
in these matters, to let you see how g[unr]full your pr[unr]sent Consul[unr]a[unr]ions about
these things, will be to the people. I know all the sober Gentry will heartily case
with you, if they may be tenderly and gently used; and I am sure you will so use
them, as knowing it to be our common Concer, to [unr]xpatiate, and not narrow our
Interests; and to be carefull neither the Cavalier nor Tha[unr]que Party have yet
a share in your Civil or Military Power; of the last of whole impatience to Government,
you have had so seven Experience.
I should say something of Ireland and Scotland: Indeed Ireland is in an ill condition,
and made worse by your sudden Interruption, which prevented the passing