His Majesty's MOST GRACIOUS SPEECH To both Houses of PARLIAMENT, On Thursday the Second of October, 1690.  
 monogram of 'W' (William) superimposed on' M' (Mary) RR  DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms 
LONDON, Printed by Charles Bill and Thomas Newcomb, Printers to the King and Queens most Excellent Majesties. 1690.   

His Majesty's MOST GRACIOUS SPEECH To both Houses of PARLIAMENT.  
My Lords and Gentlemen,  
SInce I last met you, I have used My best Endeavours to Reduce Ireland into such a Condition this Year, as that it might be no longer a Charge to England. And it has pleased God to bless My Endeavours with such Success, that I doubt not, but I should have been fully possessed of that Kingdom by this time, had I been Enabled to have gone into the Field as soon as I should have done, and as is more especially Necessary in Ireland, where the Rains are so great, and begin so early.  
I think Myself obliged to take Notice, how well the Army there have behaved themselves on all Occasions, and born great Hardships with little Pay, and with so much Patience and Willingness, as could not proceed but from an Affectionate Duty to My Service, and a Zeal for the Protestant Religion.  
I have already made it evident, how much I have preferred the Satisfaction of My Subjects before the most solid Advantages of the Crown, by parting with so considerable a Branch of its Inheritance; And it is no less apparent, that I have asked no Revenue for Myself, but what I have readily subjected to be Charged to the Uses of the War.  
I did at My Departure give Order for all the Public Accounts to be made ready for Me against My Return, and I have Commanded them to be laid before the House of Commons; by which they will see, that the real Want of what was necessary beyond the Fonds given, and the not getting in due time that for which Fonds were Assigned, have been the principal Causes why the Army is in so much Arrear of their Pay, and the Stores both for the Navy and the Ordnance not supplied as they ought to be.  
Now, as I have neither spared My Person, nor My Pains, to do you all the Good I could; so I doubt not, but, if you will as cheerfully do your Parts, it is in your Power to make both Me and yourselves Happy, and the Nation Great: And on the other hand, it is too plain, by what the French have let you see so lately, that if the present War be not prosecuted with Vigour, no Nation in the World is exposed to greater Danger.  
I hope therefore, there will need no more upon that Subject, than to Lay before you, Gentlemen of the House of Commons, the State of what will be Necessary for the Support of the Fleet and Arms; which cannot possibly admit of being Lessened in the Year ensuing; and to Recommend to your Care the Clearing of My Revenue, so as to Enable Me to Subsist, and to Maintain the Charge of the Civil List; the Revenue being so Engaged, that it must be wholly Applied, after the First of November next, to Pay off the Debts already Charged upon it: And therefore a present Consideration must be had of the Arrears of the Army, which shall likewise be laid before you, and for all which I must desire a sufficient and timely Supply.  
It is farther Necessary to inform you, That the whole Support of the Confederacy abroad, will absolutely depend upon the Speed and Vigour of your Proceed in this Session.  
And here I must take Notice, with great Satisfaction, of the Readiness which My Subjects of all Degrees have shown both in this City, and in their several Countries, by giving their Assistances so cheerfully as they did in My Absence, while the French Fleet was upon Our Coasts. And besides this so convincing Mark of the good Inclinations of My People, I have found through all the Countries where I passed, both at My Going into Ireland, and in my Return from thence, such Demonstrations of their Affection, that I have not the least Doubt, but I shall find the same from their Representatives in Parliament.  
I cannot conclude, without taking Notice also, how much the Honour of the Nation has been exposed by the ill Conduct of My Fleet, in the last Summer's Engagement against the French; And I think Myself so much concerned to see it Vindicated, that I cannot rest satisfied, till an Example has been made of such as shall be found faulty upon their Examination and Trial, which was not practicable while the whole Fleet was abroad, but is now put into the proper Way of being done as soon as may be.  
My Lords and Gentlemen, 
 I look upon the future Wellbeing of this Kingdom, to depend upon the Result of your Counsels and Determinations at this time: And the Benefit will be double by the Speed of your Resolutions, insomuch, that I hope you will agree with Me in this Conclusion, That whoever goes about to obstruct or divert your Applications to these Matters, preferably to all others, can neither be My Friend nor the Kingdoms.  
FINIS.