A SPEECH to the House of Commons,

April 22, 1640.
Mr. SPEAKER,
I

for something in which they have a particular interest : I will only propose what I conceive fit for the House to consider ; and shall be no more concerned in the

event, than they that shall hear me.
Two things I observe in his Majesty's demands.
First, The Supply.
Secondly, Our speedy dispatch thereof.

Touching the first : His Majesty's occasions for money are but tov evident. For, to say nothing how we are neglected abroad, and distracted at home; the call. ing of this Parliament, and our sitting here (an effect which no light cause could in these times have produced) is enough to make any reasonable man believe, that the Exchequer abounds not so much in money, as the State does in occasions to use it. And I hope we shall all appear willing to disprove those who have

thought

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thought to diffuade his Majesty from this way of Parliaments, as uncertain; and to let him fee, it is as ready, and more fafe for the advancement of His affairs, than any new, or pretended old, way whatfo

ever.

For the speedy dispatch required, (which was the fecond thing) not only His Majefty, but, " res ipfa lo"quitur," the occafion feems to importune no less. Neceffity is come upon us like an armed inan !

Yet, the use of Parliaments heretofore (as appears by the Writs that call us hither) was to advife with His Majefty of things concerning the Church and Commonwealth. And it hath ever been the custom of Parliaments, by good and wholfome laws to refresh the Commonwealth in general; yea, and to defcend into the remedies of particular grievances; before any mention made of a Supply. Look back upon the best Parliaments, and ftill you shall find, that the last Acts are for the free gifts of Subfidies on the People's part, and general Pardons on the King's part. Even the wifeft Kings have firft acquainted their Parliaments with their designs, and the reasons thereof; and then demanded the affiftance, both of their counsel and purfes. But Physicians, though they be called of the lateft, must not ftomach it, or talk what might have been, but apply themselves roundly to the cure.

Let

they esteem themselves now out of poffeffion. One need not tell you that the propriety of goods is the mother of courage, and the nurfe of industry; makes us valiant in war, and good husbands in peace. The experience I have of former Parliaments, and my prefent obfervation of the care the country has had to choose perfons of worth and courage, makes me think this House like the Spartans, whofe forward valor required fome fofter mufic to allay and quiet their fpirits, too much moved with the found of martial inftruments. 'Tis not the fear of imprisonment, or, if need be, of death itfelf, that can keep a true-hearted Englishm an from the care to leave this part of his inheritance as intire to pofterity, as he received it from his ancestors.

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This therefore let us first do; and the more speedily, that we may come to the matter of Supply. Let us give new force to the many laws which have been heretofore made for the maintaining of our rights, and privileges and endeavour to restore this nation to the fundamental, and vital liberties, the propriety of our goods, and the freedom of our perfons: no way doubting but we fhall find His Majefty as gracious, and ready, as any of his royal progenitors have been, to grant our juft defires therein. For, not only the people do think, but the wifeft do know, that what we have fuffered in this long vacancy of Parliaments, we have suffered from his Minifters. That the perfon of no King was ever better beloved of his people; and that no people were ever more unsatisfied with the ways of levying monies are two truths which may ferve one to demonftrate the other. For, fuch is their averfion to the prefent courfes, that neither the admiration they have of His Majefty's native inclinations to juftice, and clemency; nor the pretended confent of the judges; could make them willingly fubmit themselves to this late tax of Ship Money. And such is their natural love, and just efteem, of his Majesty's goodness, that no late preffure could provoke them, nor any example invite them, to difloyalty, or disobedience.

But

But, what is it then that hath bred this misunderftanding betwixt the King and his people? How is it, that having fo good a King, we have fo much to complain of? Why, we are told of the fon of Solomon, that he was a Prince of a tender heart; and yet we fee, by the advice of violent Counsellors, how rough an anfwer he gave to his people. t "That his finger "fhould be thicker than his father's loins," was not his own, but the voice of fome perfons about him, that wanted the gravity and moderation requisite for the Counsellors of a young King. I love not to prefs allegories too far; but, the resemblance of Job's story with ours holds fo well, that I cannot but obferve it to you. It pleafed God to give his enemy leave to afflict him more than once or twice, and to take all he had from him and yet he was not provoked to rebel, so much as with his tongue; tho' he had no very good example of one that lay very near him, and felt not half that which he fuffered. I hope his Majefty will imitate Gon in the benigner part too: and as he was severe to Job only while He difcourfed with another concerning him; but when He vouchased to speak Himself to him, began to rebuke those who had mistaken and mif-judged his cafe, and to restore the patient man to his former prosperity fo now that His Majefty hath admitted us to his prefence, and spoken face to face with us, I doubt not but we fhall fee fairer days, and be as rich in the poffeffion of our own as ever we were.

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