A SPEECH AGAINST PENSIONERS,  
WIthout Doubt the last Parliament had great Matters in Agitation, and the Enquiry they made about the Pensioners of the preceding Parliament was no small one, but rather one of the chief things they had in hand; for had they been permitted to have perfected that, it had been a good Recompense for the disappointment which the Nation sustained in their other Expectations, by the sudden Prorogation: And without all question, nothing is fit for the Thoughts of a Parliament, than to take into Consideration how to punish them that had proved the Pest, and had almost (if not altogether) ruin'd the Nation; and how to prevent the like mischief for the future.  
The Name of a Pensioner is very distasteful to every English Spirit; and all those who were Pensioners I think are sufficiently despised by their Country men: And therefore I mention only two or three things that will lie at their doors; before I offer my Advice what is to be done.  
Breach of Trust is accounted the most infamous Thing in the World, and this these Men were guilty of to the highest degree; Robbery and stealing our Law punishes with death, and what deserve they who Beggar and take away all that the Nation has, under the pretention of disposing of the People's Money for the Honour and Good of the King and Kingdom: And if there were nothing more than this to be said, without doubt they deserve a high Censure.  
Besides the giving away such vast Sums, without any colour or reasonable pretence: There is this great mischief will follow upon it; Every man very well knows that it has put the KING into an extraordinary way of Expense; And therefore when he has not such great Supplies. it must of necessity bring Him Into great Want and Need: And shall not only give Him an ill Opinion of all Parliaments that do not supply Him so extravagantly, but perhaps put Him to think of ways to get Money that otherwise would never have entered into His Thoughts; so that whatever ill may happen of this sort, these Pensioners are answerable for it.  
Furthermore, they have laid us open to all our Enemies, whoever will invade may not doubt to subdue us: For they have taken from us the Sinews of War, that is Money and Courage, all our Money is go, and they have exhausted the Treasure of the Nation: And when People are poor, their Spirits are low, so that we are left without a defence, and who must we thank for bringing us into this despicable Condition, but these Gentlemen, who notwithstanding this, have the Face to style themselves His Majesty's Friends, and all those who oppose their practices are factious and Seditious. They have brought it to that pass, that Debates can not be free; if a Gentleman's Tongue happen to lie a little awry In his Mouth, presently he must be called to the Bar; or if that would not do, whensoever any Gentleman that has a true English Spirit happens to say any thing that is bold, presently away to tell His Majesty of it, and often times more than the Truth: And thus they endeavoured to get an ill Opinion in His Majesty of his best Subjects. And their Practice was the more abominable, because their Words and Actions gave the occasion to force those smart Expressions from the Gentlemen that spoke them, for their honest hearts were fired with true Zeal to His Majesty and Country▪ when they beheld the Impudence and falseness of these Pensioners.  
As for Example, We find that in or about the 10th. year of Richard 2; of England. it was endeavoured to get a Corrupt Parliament; for the English Story says, That the King seat far the Justices and Sheriffs; and enjoined them to do their best. that none should be chosen Knights and Burgesses, but such as the King and his Council should name; but we find it could not be effected.  
The next that occurs to my thoughts, is that in the 4th year of Henry 4th. the Parliament that was called at Coventry, named the laymen's Parliament, for the Sheriffs were appointed that none should be chosen Knights or Burgesses, that had any skill in the Laws of the Land.  
The next that I remember, is that in Henry 4's time, in the year 1449 or 50, when the Duke of Suffolk was accused by the Commons, and committed to the Tower, the King dissolved that Parliament, not far unlike our Case of my Lord D—, but it differs in this, that Suffolk was committed to the Tower, as of Right he ought, but we were denied that Justice against D— only Henry made the case thus far even, that he set Suffolk at Liberty after he had dissolved that Parliament. Soon after a Parliament was called, wherein great care was taken in choosing of Parliament Men that should favour Suffolk: But they so far failed of their Purpose. that his Appearance at the Parliament gave great distaste to the House of Commons; and they were so far incensed, that they began the Parliament with a fresh Accusation against him and others; So that you may see that it is not alwise in the power of the Court continually to corrupt the Members of Parliament.  
In the time of Henry 8th, about the 20th Year of his Reign when the Parliament was active against Pluralitys. and Non Residence; There was an Act passed to release to the the King all such Sums of Money as he had Borrowed at the Loan, in the 15th year of his Reign; it's said that it was much opposed, but the reason that is given why it passed is. 〈◊〉 the House was mostly the Kings Servants, but it gave great disturbance to the Nation: And this is the only case that I can remember that comes any thing near to our Pensioners; but 〈◊〉 cannot find that they or any Parliament took Money to Votes So that we must conclude that there was never any Pension●●● in Parliament till this Pack of Blades were got together.  
Therefore Sir, what will you do? Shall these Men Escape, shall they go free with their Booty: Shall not the Nation have Vengeance on them, who had almost given up the Government. It was they who had perverted the ends of Parliament: Parliaments have been and are the great R●fuge of the Nation, that which cures all its Diseases, and heals it Sores: But the Men had made it a Snare to the Nation, and at best had brought it to be an Engine to give Money; It therefore these go away unpunished, we countenance what they have done, and make way to have Pensioners in every Parliament; but for be any such Thought from any Man that sits within these Walls: And having said this, I will in the next place humbly offer my Thoughts what is to be done.  
In the first place I do propose that every man of them shall on their knees confess their fault to both House, and that to be done at the Bar one by one.  
Next, That as far as they are able, that they refound all the Money they have received for secret Service. Our Law will not allow a Thief to keep what he has got, by steal●●● but of course orders Restitution, and shall these proud Robbers of the Nation, nor restore their ill gotten Goods?  
And lastly, I do propose that they be Voted incapable of serving in Parliament for the Future, or of enjoying any Office Civil or Military, and order a Bill to be brought i● to that purpose: For it's not fit, that they who were so fal●● and unjust in that Trust, should ever be Trusted again. The Sir is my Opinion, but if the House shall incline to any 〈◊〉 that way, I shall readily comply, provided a sufficient ma●● of Infamy be set on them, that the People may know w●● Bought and Sold them.  
FINIS.