THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD CUTS His SPEECH TO THE MAYOR and Corporation of Newport; AT HIS Majesty's Castle of Carisbrook In the ISLE of WIGHT, Upon the Swearing of Captain THOMAS READ Into the Office of MAYOR, According to the Ancient Custom and Charter of that Corporation.  
LONDON, Printed by William Redmayne in Jewen-street, 1698.   

THE Right Honourable THE Lord Cutts' Speech, etc.  
Mr. Mayor and You Gentlemen,  
IT is with a great deal of Satisfaction that I meet you here to day, there being such a Union Established between Me and the Gentlemen, as well as other Inhabitants of this Island, as surpasses that of our Predecessors, and will be a just cause of Emulation to those that shall come after us; which is to be attributed to the Blessing of God, and the Serene and Auspicious Reign of King WILLIAM. I may say it with Justice, and therefore I ought to say it, no Prince that hath sat upon the English Throne hath been more Successful, and no Prince ever used his Successes with greater Moderation.  
I have done every thing that is fit for me to do, to settle Matters upon a lasting Foundation of Peace and Unity within this Island; I have examined Records and Living Witnesses, I have advised with some of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, with several of the most Experienced and Knowing Members of the Late Parliament, as well as with the prudentest and most considerable Persons here in the Country; and upon this Advice and Mature Deliberation I have endeavoured to redress all Abuses, that either by Violence or any other Methods have been introduced, and I have put all His Majesty's Subjects of the Isle of Wight upon the same Bottom, upon which His Majesty has been graciously pleased to put the rest of England, in which my Duty and not any private Interest has been my Motive and Direction. And I am sure in this I have done that which will be pleasing to the King my Master, who has done me the Honour to commit to me the Care of this Island.  
To these endeavours of mine I must confess I have met with suitable Returns from all the Gentlemen, in the greatest Marks of Respect and Affection that are possible, accompanied with the deepest Expressions of Duty and Loyalty to His Majesty; and if some Discontents and Animosities (which have lately happened in Your Corporation) were removed; I could say, to the great Reputation of this Island, that (as to the Concerns of the Public) we were all of one Mind, and in Peace and Unity within ourselves.  
I shall not intermeddle (however) with any Differences that have happened about the Affairs of your Corporation (though I have heard something of it;) But thus much I am obliged to say, not only as your Governor, but as a Christian, and an English Man, that every good Man, and every honest Man, should have his Eyes upon such Persons (if any such should be found) as Sacrifice the Affairs of the Public to their own private Interest or Passions, or as love Contention for Contention's sake, such Persons whenever their Party grows to any strength are more dangerous than public Enemies.  
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,  
There is one thing which I do most earnestly recommend to your serious consideration and diligent care, and that is the suppressing (as much as possibly you can) Profaneness and Immorality. The unspeakable Disorders and Extravagancies of this Age, and the Impudence with which Men of ill Principles do every day attack the very Foundation of our Religion, have made the KING think it necessary to recommend these matters from the Throne to the great Council of the Nation His Parliament; The Parliament have expressed their Sense of it in an Humble Address to His Majesty, and by passing an Act Pursuant thereunto; and 'tis indispensibly your Duty to God and Man, to your King and Country (and of every Member of your Corporation) to be Serious, Vigilant, and Active, on this Occasion. It will be no new thing to tell you (and therefore I only put you in mind of it) that the Accounts of all Histories, as well as the Experience of all Mankind, agree in the Confirming of this Truth; that Religion and Virtue promote the Happiness and Reputation of every Body-polltick, and that Irreligion and Debauchery are the Causes of their Misfortune and Disgrace. Let us make use of our Authority; and (every one of us) add the force of our own Example to it; and I pray God enable me always to show you the way.  
FINIS.