I Have Appointed this Meeting of the Parliament , assoon as ever the Affairs Abroad would admit of My Return into England , that you might have the more time to Consider of the Best and most Effectual Ways and Means for the Carrying on of the War against France this next Year .

I am willing to hope , that the good Success with which it hath pleased God to bless My Arms in Ireland this Summer , will not only be a great Encouragement to you to proceed the more Cheerfully in this Work ; but will be looked upon by you as an Earnest of future Successes , which your timely Assistance to Me , may , by Gods Blessing , procure to Us all . And as I do not doubt , but you will take Care to Pay the Arrears of that Army , which hath been so Deserving and so Prosperous in the Reducement of Ireland to a Peaceable Condition ; So I do Assure you , there shall no Care be wanting on My Part to keep that Kingdom , as far as it is possible , from being Burdensome to England for the future .

My Lords and Gentlemen , I do not doubt but you are all sensible , that it will be necessary We should have a strong Fleet next Year , and as Early at Sea as We had this Summer . And I must tell you , That the great Power of France will as necessarily require , that We should Maintain a very considerable Army , ready upon all Occasions , not only to Defend Our Selves from any Insult , but also to Annoy the Common Enemy , where it may be most sensible to them : And I do not see how it is possible to do this with less then Sixty five thousand Men.

I shall only add , that by the Vigour and Dispatch of your Counsels , and Assistance to Me in this Session of Parliament , you have now an Opportunity in your Hands , which , if neglected , you can never reasonably hope to see again , not only to Establish the future Quiet and Prosperity of these Kingdoms , but the Peace and Security of all Europe .