THE SPEECH OF His Grace, JAMES DUKE of ORMOND, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, To both HOUSES of PARLIAMENT, On Saturday the 27 of September, 1662. Upon His GRACES giving the Royal Assent to several Acts of Parliament.  
DUBLIN: Printed by John Crook, Printer to the KING'S most Excellent MAJESTY, and are to be sold by Sam. Dancer, 1662.   

THE SPEECH Of his GRACE James Duke of Ormond, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.  
My Lords and Gentlemen,  
THere is no duty incident to the Place I have the Honour to serve the KING in, to which I come with less willingness, or confidence, than to this of speaking to such an Assembly: And by that time I have done, you will acknowledge I have reason to be unsatisfied with the necessity imposed by custom upon all that sit in this Place, to make speeches; a Custom perhaps reasonably introduced by those that did, or at least thought they did it well; but somewhat hardly continued upon those that were sure they did it ill. And yet though I am in the Number of the last, I will rather obey the Necessity, than hazard the Imputation of Sullenness or Singularity. Besides, I do not know, but that to be silent at this time, and in this place, may be a greater Fault than any I hope I shall commit in speaking; for we are taught by Infallible Authority, and enjoined by Indispensable Precept, and it seems to be agreeable to the Dictates of Nature and Reason, as well as of Religion and Piety, that for all the Blessings we receive from the Divine Majesty, we should make as proportionable Returns as ●e within our Power: And therefore Public and National Blessings, do require Public and Solemn Celebrations. This was it that induced the Transmission of that Act for an Anniversary Thanksgiving for His Majesty's most Happy Restitution; and this is it, which if it be duly, that is, sincerely performed, is most like to perpetuate to us, and to our Posterity, all the Happinesses consequent to that Blessing.  
What these Happinesses are, or at least may be, if we Ourselves obstruct not the course of them, would be best discerned, and set off, by a Retrospect into the state of things for above twenty years past; and by opposing to that dismal Object of Our remembrance, the cheerfulness and Serenity of the Prospect forwards.  
If the Miseries and Desolations of those years could be enumerated in the time I mean to allow this Discourse; or if they could be described to the life, by so ill an Orator as I am, they would be fewer, and more supportable than I doubt the sad experience of too many have found them to be.  
I shall therefore only put you in mind of some more Remarkable and Fundamental deliverances and Restitutions, wrought by most wonderful Providence, as a thankful acknowledgement fit, as I conceive, to be the subject of the first discourse from this place, where I have the Honour, how unworthily, and how unresemblingly soever, to represent the Majesty of my Great Master.  
This very Seat of Royalty is delivered from some neglected corner, or contemptible use, or from a Profanation worse than either from the Usurpation of mean and low Aspirers, who having no shadow of right to it, had no other way to ascend it, than by treading down and destroying what ever was ordained by God or man, to fence and guard it; their extravagant Ambition transporting them, and darkening their understanding to that degree, as not to consider how short their possession of that Throne must be, to the disarming and violation of which, they themselves had but newly shown the way.  
We see this Throne now restored to its proper place, and Natural use, surrounded and supported by Peers and Prelates, by Officers, Magistrates and Judges, the Outworks, as well as Ornaments of Majesty.  
We see it restored to the approach, and I doubt not to the delight of the meanest of the Commons, whom you Gentlemen do, nor ought not disdain to represent; for they are the Foundation upon which Monarchy is built, the strength wherewith it is guarded, and the wealth whereby it is sustained, enriched and beautified.  
It is restored to the undoubted Lawful Possessor, the Offspring of a long continued Race of Princes; in whom all the Contested Titles of former Ages are met, without the pretence of a Competitor, and in whom all the Virtues of the Princes of those Ages are united, without the severity (to say no worse) of some of the Great and Warlike; & without the as harmful weaknesses of others of more devout and peaceable dispositions: A PRINCE that hath given frequent proof that though he loves and seek peace for his Subjects sakes, he fears not war for his own.  
This Sword▪ the Instrument of conferring Military Honour, and the Emblem of inflicting Punishment, is delivered from the ridiculous Stage-like Pageantry of later times, and from a more execrable and Tragical Abuse, from ●utting off the most Innocent, and defending the most guilty.  
We see it now by the visible, immediate hand of God restored, and put into that Hand that only had His Commission to bear and use it; and let it be Our Prayer. That he bear it long, and that he may bear it long, that he bear it not in vain, but to the terror and extermination if evil Doers, and to the support and Protection of those that do well.  
The King himself, whose Throne and Sword these are, is accountable to God, and We to God for him, for many and great deliverances: He is delivered from the Murderers of his Father, and the Usurpers of his Inheritance; from their restless endeavours to destroy his Person, and to blast his Fame; from their open violence, and secret contrivements against both from Exile, and all the Afflicting consequences of that miserable state of a King; from comfortless wander for Protection; from cold Receptions; from narrow supports, and from such applications for them, as were more unsupportable, than the want of them could be to him that was born, and delights to give, rather than receive them. He is delivered from a continual tormenting Anxiety for the danger of his Friends, and the oppression and slavery of his Country; from the importunity of impertinent Arguments, drawn from his misfortunes, to draw him from his Religion, and from a necessity of hearing, and bearing with the Reproaches and Revile cast upon our then Desolate Church, only because she was desolate, & made so by her own unnatural Children.  
From this dejected, despised, and in all humane appearance, desperate condition, he is raised and restored to the Throne of his Fathers, to his Native Country, become more dear and valuable to him, by his experience of others, to the free and uncontrol'd exercise of the Religion he was bred in, to a capacity of making Royal Retribution for any kindness he hath received abroad or from home: And which is the greatest earthly Felicity, so good a KING as he could wish, he is not only restored to, but by the love of his People, without the chargeable, and many times dangerous assistance, of Strangers, who are not over tender, not much distinguishing betwixt the party they come to assist, and that they come to subdue, when they are made Umpires in such Quarrels; for they rarely employ their Auxiliary Treasure and blood, purely out of Generosity and Justice, which may in Romance be found the ultimate end of such Assistance, but seldom in the truth of History.  
Here it may be observed, that if the revolt and deviation of our Nations from their KING, and from Monarchy itself, was the most unreasonable and prodigious that any age hath known, their voluntary uncompelled Return to both, is as much without example; nor indeed could the Return have been so miraculous, if the Revolt had not been so prodigious: And it may also be worth the observing, that as the first most bloody Eruption from Peace to Rebellion, took birth in this Kingdom, so from hence came the first Overtures to Peace and Submission.  
By, and with the King's deliverance and Restitution, our Church is delivered from Contempt, Sacrilege and Desolation, and restored to a due veneration, a competent improving support, and to fair beginnings of Decency and Order.  
Our Laws are delivered from corrupt, incompetent Interpreters, from monstrous, unnatural expositions and applications, and Justice is restored to the distribution of upright, learned, lawfully sworn and authorized Judges.  
The noblest acts of Loyalty shall now no more receive the judgement due to the foulest Treason, due to the unrighteous Judges, that pronounced it without Authority in the Persons, or Justice in the Sentence. High Courts of Justice shall no more usurp that name, nor our Benches be crowded or oppressed with the throng and wicked weight of those that ought rather to have stood manacled at the Bar. A happy change to those for whose destruction those extravagant Tribunals were erected, and a secure change to all; for it hath been often an observed method in Gods never failing Justice, to catch Cruelty and Oppression in those very snares they had prepared for others.  
All men are delivered from the entanglements of two-edged Oaths; from the conflicts raised by them in men's breasts, betwixt Conscience and conveniency, betwixt the prostitution of Conscience, and the ruin of their Fortunes; than which a harder, a more Tyrannical choice cannot be obtruded upon Christians: For here the election was not, Swear thus against your Conscience, or you shall have no part in the Civil Government, no Office in the Army, no Benefice in the Church; but, Swear thus, or you shall have no house to put your head in, no bread to sustain yourselves, your wives and children.  
To conclude these Observations, Who is not delivered from some Oppression, and restored to some Advantage; even those that shall lose the wages of iniquity, their ill got possessions, shall be delivered from the oppression of a bad, and if they have any, shall be restored to a good Conscience; if they have none, they were not in the Kings, and I hope will not be in Your care.  
Those that shall be kept out of their ancient Estates, the Inheritance of their Fathers, through defect of their Qualifications, and by the All-disposing Providence of God, who was not pleased to make them active Instruments in this Happy Change, are delivered from Tyrannous Confinements, causeless Imprisonments, and a continual fear of their lives: The good Land lies afore them, their industry is at Liberty, and they are restored to the freedom of Subjects, and protection of the Laws: If an Irish Papist be oppressed, they shall relieve him; if the blood of the meanest of them be shed, it shall be strictly enquired after; Let this state be compared with that they were in before the King's Restitution, and it will be found the greatest loser has got something by it.  
As it is our duty thus thankfully to commemorate these great things done for us; so it is our duty to endeavour in our several Stations, to improve and secure them to Ourselves, and Our Posterity: And sure the most Natural way to that end, is to call to mind, and avoid those Errors that brought us into those miseries from which we are redeemed.  
Many are the causes too boldly assigned, for the Calamities these Nations so long laboured under: But in such Inquisitions the verdict is seldom impartially brought in, the Jury are too often the Criminals: But I think I may safely say, that one, and that a fundamental cause, was, that the late King was maliciously represented to the People; I am sure the Freedom, Peace, Plenty, and Happinesses they were told they should enjoy without him, proved miserable and fatal delusions.  
Let us mistrust those that shall use the same Arts, lest they involve us in the same misery; and let us judge of the King's intentions to his people, by his Public Acts of grace and bounty; by his mild and easy Government; by his desire and endeavours to make his Subjects happy at home, and renowned abroad; and by the reluctancy of his Nature to just severity, when the wickedness or frenzy of the worst Offenders extort it from him.  
That something will be amiss in the Administration of the most perfect Government in this world, must be expected; but whoever shall think that those things are to be rectified by force upon the Government, and than effected, proposes to acquiesce, and return to Obedience, cannot know himself so well, as to be sure, that Opportunity and success may not suggest more inordinate Appetites to him; And there are those alive that know, how far further than their first intention, the Reformers of our times were led on, till the unwarrantable force they had raised, grow too strong for their Management flew in their faces, and in conclusion jucted those villainies, that I dare say their Souls abhorred; but neither their Policy or Power could restrain.  
We have had sad experience, and let as be the wiser for it, in how short a time, in how few days, the industry of many years, nay, of an Age, may be destroyed and laid waste, when Rage and Rapine are let lose. If once Sedition grow too strong for the Law, and Rebellion for the Magistrate, so that the Law is silenced, or the language of it corrupted, or inverted, and the Magistrate removed as burdensome and unnecessary, let us remember what variety of misery and mischief is brought upon the people, how unsupportable their sufferings are, and how intolerable their fears of suffering they know not what more, by whom, or how long. Let the people remember how many, and how chargeable their Masters, nay how many and chargeable the changes of their Masters were, when once they foolishly affected the misery, indeed the impossibility of having none,  
When Misrepresentations had taken place and root in the minds of the people, their hearts grew narrow and barren, towards the King; those that soon after robbed them both persuading them to keep their purses full for them to empty.  
This close Oratory is seldom unsuccessful, but what the people got by following this thrifty counsel, some have taken the pains to compute, and it is found, that the Impositions laid and levied upon the people, to support Usurpation and Tyranny, in a few bad years came to more, than the most chargeable Princes had raised in some Ages to conquer Enemies and Infidels abroad, whilst this was employed to make Enemies of Friends, and little better than Infidels of Christians at home.  
I confess, this Animadversion is not so seasonable now, or proper to be applied to you, who in your Liberalities, have out gone all Example, and prevented even the King's wishes; nor are those Liberalities the less, but the more valued by Him, that he intends to apply them entirely to the security and improvement of a true Protestant, and a right English Interest in this Kingdom.  
There is nothing that declares, indeed that constitutes perfect union, and a happy Harmony, so much as mutual trusts and confidences, and the interchange of gifts and benefits; it is so in private Friendship, and it is much more so, in that good Intelligence which must make a King and his people happy.  
The King has trusted you as far as even King trusted Subjects, and He has given you more than ever any King or Lord of Ireland had to give.  
You have trusted the King with all you had, and all you had to pretend to; and you have given Him more than he thought of to desire; Let it not therefore be apprehended, that this Commerce must cease by the Prodigality on both sides, as if there were no more to be given or received▪ No, my Lords and Gentlemen, protection from Foreign Invasion and Rebellion at home, the due and uncorrupt administration of Government, and of the Laws, and under them the advancement and encouragement of Piety and Learning, Trade, and all sorts of Industry and Improvements, are benefits that may to the end of time, descend from the Throne to you and yours: And a due subjection to that Government, and obedience to those Laws, and application to that Piety and Learning, to that Trade and Industry, and to those Improvements, may be as lasting Retributions from the People to the Throne.  
I should here end this unusual Exercise, but that I am commanded by the King to let you know; that as he is abundantly satisfied with those demonstrations of Duty, Loyalty and Affection you have given him, during the whole time of your sitting, so he looks with great Pleasure & Delight upon those Acts of Grace and Bounty that have passed from him to you; and he commands me to be sure not to forget to assure you, upon all Proper Occasions that all his Promises shall be inviolably observed; and that the will consent to whatever else may make this Kingdom flourishing and happy, whether it shall be the Enacting of new and profitable, or the repeal of old, unuseful, or burden some Laws.  
To say any thing of, or from myself in this place, may be Presumption; but to say nothing to you, my Lords and Gentlemen, to whom I own so much must be Ingratitude. You have before and since my Arrival, been pleased to make many and obliging Expressions of your Approbation of the King's choice of Me for this Government: I have great reason to fear, both the King and you consulted your Indulgence to Me, more than your judgement of Me.  
Yet without much presumption or vanity, I think I may say, thus far the King and you may be excusable, that He chose, and You approved a Person, whose Fortune and Family must prosper or decay, must ruin or subsist by and with this Kingdom. This has not perhaps always been 〈◊〉 case, and it is possible mean Abilities thus stimulates, 〈◊〉 be more profitably industrious than greater, actuated, 〈◊〉 less, or by contrary Incentives. There are upon me all ●●●ginable Obligations to apply all that is in me, to the 〈◊〉 and prosperity of this Kingdom: Those of duty, fidelity and thankfulness to the best, and most bountiful Master in the world; those of Retribution and Gratitude to you, for extraordinary and liberal manifestations of kindness and affection, and those of self-preservation and happiness Hence it may be concluded reasonably and naturally, that my endeavours will be hearty and faithful and my failing which shall be as few as I can unvoluntary, and therefore the more pardonable.  
You will presently, when I am retired, be at liberty at ●●journ yourselves to the time you desired.  
FINIS.