THE SPEECH OF Sir CHARLES SIDLEY IN THE House of Commons.  
WE have provided for the Navy, we have provided for the Army, and now at the latter End of a Sessions here is a new Reckoning brought us, we must provide likewise for the Civil List: Truly, Mr. Speaker, it is a sad Reflection that some Men should wallow in Wealth and Places, whilst others pay away in Taxes the fourth part of their Yearly Revenue for the Support of the same Government; we are not upon equal Terms for his Majesty's Service, the Courtiers and great Officers Charge as it were in Armour, they feel not the Taxes by Reason of their Places, while the Country Gentlemen are shot through and through with them.  
The King is pleased to lay his Wants before us, and I am confident expects our Advice upon it: We ought therefore to tell him what Pensions are too great, what Places may be extinguished during this Time of War and Public Calamities. His Majesty is encompassed with, and sees nothing but, Plenty, great Tables, Coaches and six Horses, and all things suitable; and therefore cannot imagine the Want and Misery of the rest of his Subjects: He's a Wise and Virtuous Prince, but he is but a Young King, encompassed and hemmed in among a Company of Crafty old Courtiers, to say no more of them, with Places, some of three thousand, some of six, and some of eleven thousand: I am told the Commissioners of the Treasury have three thousand Pound a Year a Piece: Certainly such Pensions, whatever they may have been formerly, are much too great in the present Want and Calamities that reigns every where else, and it is a general Scandal, That a Government, so sick at Heart as ours, should look so well in the Face. We must save the King Money where ever we can, for I am afraid our Work is too big for our Purses, if things be not managed wi●… Thrift imaginable. When the People of England see that all is saved that can be saved, that there are no exorbitant Pensions nor unnecessary Salaries, that all is applved to the Use for which it was given, we shall give and they will cheerfully pay whatever his Majesty can want to secure the Protestant Religion, to keep out the King of France, I, and King James too: Whom, by the way, I have not heard named this Session, wheter out of Fear, Respect or Discretion I cannot tell. I conclude, Mr. Speaker, Let us save the King what we can, and then let us proceed to give him what we are able.   

LONDON, Printed for L. C. near Fleet-bridge. 1691.