IF any thing could add to the E­steem and Affection I have for Parliaments, and particularly for this, they would be much en­creased by the Kindness you shew to me, and the Zeal you express for the Publick Good, in the Address you have made, which in the Manner, as well as the Matter, hath eve­ry [Page 4] thing in it that ought to recommend it to Me.

I will assure you that I will never abuse the Confidence you shall put in me, being fully per­suaded, that there is no sure Foundation of a good Agreement between a King and his Peo­ple, but a mutual Trust; when that is once bro­ken, a Government is half dissolved; it shall therefore be my chief Care never to give any Parliament cause to distrust me: And the best Method I can use for that purpose, is never to expect any thing from them but that which shall be their own Interest to grant.

I came hither for the Good of the Kingdom, and since it is at your desire that I am in this Station, I shall still pursue the same ends that brought me.

God hath been pleased to make me instru­mental to redeem you from the Ills you feared, and it is still my Desire, as well as my Duty, to endeavour to preserve your Religion, Laws, and Liberties, which were the onely Induce­ments that brought me into England, and to those I ascribe the Blessings that have attended this Undertaking.

When I spoke last to you, I told you of the necessity of Assisting our Allies, and more espe­cially the States of Holland, whose readiness to relieve you, at their so great Hazard and Ex­pence, [Page 5] from the Extremities you lay under, needs no other Arguments to move you to the consi­deration of it.

As I was then a Witness of their Zeal and Af­fection to promote the Expedition, and to second my Endeavours even with a Neglect of their own Safety, so I am now sensible of the inevitable ruine they have drawn upon Themselves, by giving you this assistence, if you should not return it to them.

They really exhausted themselves to such a Degree, both as to Men and Money, that it is not easily to be imagined, and I am confident your Generosity will have as little bounds to­wards them, as theirs had towards you; and that you will not only enable Me to make good the Treaty with them, and repay what they have actually laid out upon this occa­sion, of which our Account shall be given to you, but that you will farther support them, to the utmost of your Ability, against the Power of their Enemies, who must be yours too, by their Interest, and by their Religion; and do certainly design the Ruine of Holland to be a step to your destruction.

I need not take pains to tell you the deplora­ble condition of Ireland, which by the Zeal and Violence of the Popish Party there, and by the assistence and encouragements they have from France, is brought to that pass, that it is not [Page 6] adviseable to attempt the Reducing it, other­wise than by a very considerable Force, which I think ought not to be less than Twenty Thou­sand Horse and Foot; which by the Blessing of God, will make the Work shorter, and in con­sequence, the Charge easier, though the first Ex­pence must of necessity be very great.

You are to consider that towards the more speedy and effectual success in relation to Ireland, as well as with a regard to France, there must be such a Fleet as may, in Conjunction with the States, make us so entirely Masters of the Sea, that nothing can be sent from France, either to Ireland, or any where else, that may give di­sturbance to us, or our Allies.

I must also recommend the Consideration of the Revenue to you, that it may be so Set­led, as that it my be Collected without di­spute.