Page:Trenchard Tracts 074-124.djvu/28

 When the Parliament met that Winter, they fell upon the examination of the Irih Affairs; and finding Commiary Shales was the caue of a great part of the Micarriages, they addreed his Majety that he would be pleaed to acquaint the Houe who it was that advied the imploying him, which his Majety did not remember. They then addreed, that he would be pleaed to order him to be taken into Cutody, and it was done accordingly; upon which Shales ent a Letter to the Speaker, deiring he might be brought over to England, where he would vindicate himelf, and jutify what he had done. Then the Houe addreed his Majety again, that he might be brought over with all convenient peed; and the King was pleaed to anwer, that he had given uch Orders already. Then the Houe referred the matter to a private Committee; but before any Report made, or Shales could be brought to England, the Parliament was prorogued, and after diolved; and oon after he fell ick and died.

The neglect of Ireland this Year made it neceary to raie more Forces, and increae our Etablihment, which afterwards upon pretence of invading France was advanced to eighty even touand ix hundred ninety eight Men. At lat by our great Armies and Fleets, and the contant expence of maintaining them, we were too hard for the Oeconomy, Skill, and Policy of France; and notwithtanding all our Difficulties, brought them to Terms both Safe and Honourable.

It not being to the purpoe of this Dicoure, I hall omit giving any account of the Conduct of our Fleet during this War, how few Advantages we reaped by it, and how many Opportunities we lot in detroying the French. Only thus much I will oberve, that tho' a great part of it may be attributed to the Negligence, Ignorance, or Treachery of inferior Officers, yet it could not o univerally happen thro' the whole coure of the War, and unpunihed too, not withtanding the clamours of the Merchants, and repeated complaints in Parliament, unles the caue had laid deeper: What that is, I hall not preume to enquire; but I am ure there has been a very ill Argument drawn from it, viz. That a Fleet is no ecurity to us.

As oon as the Peace was made, his Majety dicharged a great part of the foreign Forces; and an Advertiement