THe unwarrantable Proceedings of the laſt Houſe of Commons, were the occaſion of My parting with the laſt Parliament. For I, who will neyer uſe Arbitrary Government My Self, am reſolved not to ſuffer it in others. I am unwilling to mention particulary, becauſe I am d • ſ • rou • to forget faults. But whoſoever ſhall •••• ly conſider what Offers I have formerly made, and what Aſſurances I renewed to the laſt Parliament, how I recommended nothing ſo much to them, as the Alliances I had made for preſervation of the general Peace in Chriſtendom, and the further exanimation of the Popiſh Plot, and how I deſired their Advice and Aſſiſtance cancerning the preſervation of Tangi • r, and ſhall then reflect upon the ſtrange un • i •• able 〈◊〉 m • de to ſuch Propoſitions, by men that were called together to Conſult; perſhaps may wonder more, that I had patience ſo long, th • n that at laſt I grew weary of their Proceedings.

I have thought it neceſſary to ſay thus much to you, That I may not have any new Occaſion given Me to remember more of the late M ••… a •••… ges. If is as much My Intereſt, and ſhall be as much My Care as yours, to preſerve the Liberty of the Subject, becauſe the C 〈7… letters〉 never be ſafe when that is in danger. And I would have you likewiſe be convinc'd, that neither your Liberties nor Properties can ſubſiſt long, when the juſt Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown are invaded, or the Honour of the Govern •••• brought low, and into Diſreputation.

I let you ſee by My calling this Parliament ſo ſoon, that no Irregularities in Parliaments ſhall make Me out of Love with Them; and by this Means offer you another Opportunity of providing for Our Security here, by giving that Countenance and Protection to Our Neighbours and Allies, which you cannot but know They expect from Us, and extreamly ſtand in need of at this inſtant; and at the ſame time give one Evidence more, that I have not neglected My part, to give that general Satisfaction and Security, which, by the Bleſſing of God, may be attained, if you, on your parts, bring ſuitable Diſpoſitions towards it: And that the juſt Care you ought to have of Religion, be not ſo managed and improv'd into unneceſſary Fear •• as to be made a pretence for changing the Foundations of the Government.

I hope the Example of the ill Succeſs of former Heats, will diſpoſe you to a better Temper, and not ſo much to Inveigh againſt what is paſt, as to Conſider what is beſt to be done in the preſent Conjuncture.

The further proſecution of the Plot, the Tryal of the Lords in the Tower, the Providing a more ſpeedy Conviction for Recuſants; and, if it be practicable, the Ridding Our ſelves quite of all of that Party, that have any conſiderable Authority and Intereſt amongſt Them, are Things, though of the higheſt Importance, that hardly need to be recommended to you, they are ſo obvious to every mans Conſideration, and ſo neceſſary for Our Security. But I muſt needs deſire you not to lay ſo much weight upon any one Expedient againſt Popery, as to determine, that all other are inefectual: And among all Your Cares for Religion, remember, that without the Safety and Dignity of the Monarchy, neither Religion nor Property can be preſerved.

What I have formerly, and ſo often declared touching the Succeſſion, I cannot depart from. But to remove all reaſonable Fears that may ariſe from the poſſibility of a Popiſh Succeſſor's coming to the Crown, if means can be found, that, in ſuch a Caſe, the Adminiſtration of the Government may remain in Proteſtant Hands, I ſhall be ready to hearken to any ſuch Expedient, by which the Religion might be Preſerv'd, and the Monarchy not deſtroy'd.

I muſt therefore earneſtly recommend to you, to provide for the Religion and the Government together, with regard to one another, becauſe they ſupport each other: And let Us be united at home, that We may recover the Eſteem and Conſideration We uſed to have abroad.

I conclude with this one Advice to you, That the Rules and Meaſures of all your Votes, may be the known and eſtabliſhed Laws of the Land, which neither can, nor ought to be departed from, nor ch • ng'd, but by Act of Parliament: And I may the more feaſ • bly require, That you make the Laws of the Land your Rule, becauſe I am reſolv'd they ſhall be Mine.