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 agreat Encouragement to you to proceed the more chearfully in this Work , but will be lookt upon by you as an Earnest of future Successes , Which your timely Assistance to Me , may , by Gods blessing , procure to Vs 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 .