THE
SPEAKER's
SPEECH
To
Their
Excellencies
THE
LORDS
JUSTICES
In
the
LORD's
HOUSE
.
At
the
Presenting
of
the
POLL-BILL
FOR
THE
ROYAL
ASSENT
,
On
Friday
the
Third
of
December
,
1697.
May
it
please
Your
Excellencies
.
THE
Knights
,
Citizens
and
Burgesses
of
this
Kingdom
,
who
sit
in
Parliament
as
Representatives
of
the
Publick
Loyalty
of
the
Nation
,
by
Devoring
their
Hearty
Endeavours
to
the
Service
of
His
Majesty
,
and
Good
of
their
Fellow
Subjects
,
Do
now
Attend
Your
Excellencies
as
Representatives
of
the
Publick
Gratitude
,
in
Returning
their
Humble
Acknowledgments
to
His
Majesty
,
for
His
Royal
Favours
,
and
particularly
for
the
many
.
Excellent
Laws
they
have
had
,
Others
now
ready
to
Receive
Life
,
and
More
we
are
yet
in
hopes
of
under
Your
Excellencies
Just
and
Prudent
Administration
.
Our
Religion
and
Civil
Rights
are
Secured
,
our
Remedies
made
Clear
and
Easie
;
The
Snares
of
Forms
in
Legal
Proceedings
Removed
;
The
Way
to
Justice
mark'd
out
so
,
that
no
Excuse
is
left
for
such
as
shall
Tread
beside
it
:
And
if
,
by
an
Over-Tenderness
,
we
are
not
wanting
to
our Selves
,
we
may
still
hope
for
an
Opportunity
to
Secure
us
and
our
Posterity
against
the
Danger
of
Future
Rebellions
.
To
Crown
All
,
We
now
enjoy
the
Blessings
of
an
Honourable
and
Glorious
Peace
;
The
Happy
Effects
of
His
Majesties
Invincible
Courage
and
Admirable
Wisdom
.
And
We
cannot
but
Esteem
,
as
an
Extraordinary
Mark
of
Princely
Favour
,
and
Encouragement
to
the
Protestant
Subjects
of
this
Kingdom
,
His
Majestys
'
Placing
Your
Excellencies
to
be
our
Chief
Governours
;
who
in
Times
of
Imminent
Danger
,
have
given
Uncommon
Proofs
of
Your
Firmness
and
Concern
for
the
Protestant
Religion
,
and
Legal
Constitutions
of
Your
Country
,
against
Popery
,
and
Arbitrary
Power
,
to
the
Hazard
of
Both
Your
Lives
,
and
Total
Loss
of
One
of
Your
Fortunes
;
And
We
reap
the
Fruit
of
Your
Steady
Principles
by
Your
Unbounded
Application
,
to
provide
Effectually
for
the
Security
of
Our
Religion
,
and
Properties
.
By
this
His
Majesty
is
pleased
to
give
Us
,
and
all
His
Subjects
,
an
Undoubted
Assurance
,
that
the
Advancement
of
the
Protestant
Religion
is
His
Main
Business
and
Concern
;
and
the
Laws
of
the
Land
,
the
Measures
of
His
Government
.
May
it
please
Your
Excellencies
,
His
Majesties
Most
Faithful
Commons
,
having
Considered
the
Debt
due
to
the
Civil
and
Millitary
Lists
in
this
Kingdom
,
laid
before
them
by
Your
Excellencies
,
have
given
His
Majesty
a
Supply
to
be
Raised
by
way
of
Poll
,
to
Compleat
what
they
Granted
at
their
First
Sitting
.
Which
they
humbly
offer
to
His
Majesties
Gracious
Acceptance
,
and
beseech
Your
Excellencies
,
to
Assure
His
Majesty
,
That
We
are
,
and
shall
always
Continue
Unalterable
in
our
Sincere
Loyalty
,
and
Dutiful
Affections
to
His
Royal
Person
and
Government
,
and
Intirely
Devoted
to
His
Service
and
Interest
.