His
Majesties
MOST
GRACIOUS
SPEECH
To
both
Houses
of
PARLIAMENT
.
My
Lords
and
Gentlemen
,
OUR
great
Misfortune
in
the
Loss
of
the
Duke
of
Gloucester
,
hath
made
it
absolutely
Necessary
,
that
there
should
be
a
further
Provision
for
the
Succession
to
the
Crown
in
the
Protestant
Line
after
Me
and
the
Princess
.
The
Happiness
of
the
Nation
,
and
the
Security
of
Our
Religion
,
which
is
Our
chiefest
Concern
,
seems
so
much
to
depend
upon
this
,
that
I
cannot
Doubt
but
it
will
meet
with
a
general
Concurrence
,
and
I
earnestly
Recommend
it
to
your
early
and
effectual
Consideration
.
The
Death
of
the
late
King
of
Spain
,
with
the
Declaration
of
his
Successor
to
that
Monarchy
,
has
made
so
great
an
Alteration
in
the
Affairs
Abroad
,
That
I
must
desire
you
very
maturely
to
Consider
their
present
State
;
and
I
make
no
Doubt
but
your
Resolutions
thereupon
will
be
such
,
as
shall
be
most
conducing
to
the
Interest
and
Safety
of
England
,
the
Preservation
of
the
Protestant
Religion
in
general
,
and
the
Peace
of
all
Europe
.
These
things
are
of
such
Weight
,
that
I
have
thought
them
most
proper
for
the
Consideration
of
a
new
Parliament
,
to
have
the
more
immediate
Sense
of
the
Kingdom
in
so
great
a
Conjuncture
.
I
must
Desire
of
you
,
Gentlemen
of
the
House
of
Commons
,
such
Supplies
as
you
shall
judge
necessary
for
the
Service
of
the
Current
Year
,
and
I
must
particularly
put
you
in
mind
of
the
Deficiencies
and
Publick
Debts
occasioned
by
the
late
War
,
that
are
yet
unprovided
for
.
I
am
obliged
further
to
Recommend
to
you
,
That
you
would
Inspect
the
Condition
of
the
Fleet
,
and
Consider
what
Repairs
or
Augmentations
may
be
requisite
for
the
Navy
,
which
is
the
great
Bulwark
of
the
English
Nation
,
and
ought
most
especially
in
this
Conjuncture
to
be
put
in
a
good
Condition
;
and
that
you
would
also
Consider
what
is
proper
for
the
better
Security
of
those
Places
where
the
Ships
are
laid
up
in
Winter
.
The
Regulation
and
Improvement
of
Our
Trade
is
of
so
Publick
Concern
,
that
I
hope
it
will
ever
have
your
serious
Thoughts
;
And
if
you
can
find
proper
Means
of
setting
the
Poor
at
work
,
you
will
ease
your selves
of
a
very
great
Burthen
;
And
at
the
same
time
add
so
many
useful
Hands
to
be
employed
in
Our
Manufactures
and
other
Publick
Occasions
.
My
Lords
and
Gentlemen
,
I
hope
there
will
be
such
an
Agreement
and
Vigour
in
the
Resolutions
you
shall
take
upon
the
Important
Matters
now
before
you
,
as
may
make
it
appear
We
are
firmly
United
among
Our Selves
,
and
in
My
Opinion
nothing
can
contribute
more
to
Our
safety
at
Home
,
or
to
Our
being
considerable
Abroad
.
FINIS
.