the charge of all this having been calculated unto you, you have professed unto his majesty, by the mouth of your speaker, your carefulness to support the cause wherein his majesty and his allies are justly engaged; your unanimous consent and real intention to supply his majesty in such a measure as should make him safe at home, and feared abroad; and that in the dispatch hereof, you would use such diligence as his majesty's pressing and present occasions did require.

And now, his majesty having erected a proceeding suitable to this engagement, he doth observe that in two days only of twelve this business was thought of, and not begun till his majesty by a message put you in mind of it, whilst your inquisition against his majesty's direction, proceeded day by day.

And, for the measure of this supply, his majesty findeth it so far from making himself safe at home, and feared abroad, as contrary wise, it exposeth him both to danger and disesteem; for his majesty cannot expect, without better help, but that his allies must presently disband, and leave him alone to bear the fury of a provoked and powerful enemy, so as both he and you shall be unsafe at home, and ashamed and despised abroad. And for the manner of the supply, it is in itself very dishonourable, and full of distrust; for although you have avoided the literal word of a condition, whereof his majesty himself did warn you, when he told you of your parenthesis; yet you have put to it the effect of a condition, since the bill is not to come into your house until your grievances be both preferred and answered.

No such thing was in that expression and engage. ment delivered by your speaker, from which his majesty holdeth that you have receded both in matter and manner, to his great disadvantage and dishonour; and therefore his majesty commandeth, that you go together, and by Saturday next, return your final answer, what further supply you will add to this you have already agreed on; and that to be without condition, either directly or indirectly, for the supply of these great and important

affairs of his majesty, which, for the reasons formerly made known unto you, can endure no longer delay. And if you shall not by that time resolve on a more ample supply, his majesty cannot expect a supply this way, nor promise you to sit longer together: otherwise, if you do it, his majesty is well content that you shall sit so long as the season of the year will permit, and doth assure you that the present addition to your supply to set forward the work, shall be no hindrance to your speedy access again.

His majesty hath commanded me to add this, that therein he doth expect your cheerful obedience, which will put a happy issue to this meeting, and will enable his majesty not only to a defensive war, but to employ his subjects in foreign actions, whereby will be added to them both experience, safety and honour.

Last of all, his majesty hath commanded me, in explanation of the gracious goodness of his royal intention, to say unto you, that he doth well know, that there are among you many wise and well-tempered men, well affected to the public, and to his majesty's service; and that those that are willingly faulty are not many: and for the rest, his majesty doubteth not, but, after his gracious admonition, they will in due time observe and follow the better sort, which if they shall do, his ma jesty is most ready to forget whatsoever is past.

DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM'S

Speech on being accused before the House of Lords.* My lords,

If I hold my peace, it will argue guilt; and if I should speak, it may argue boldness; being so foully accused. Your lordships see what complaints are made against me, by the house of commons; how well I stood in their opinions, not long since, your lordships know; and what * See page 12.

I have done since to lose their good opinion, I protest, I know not.

I cannot so distrust my own innocency and heart, which abhors guilt, as to offer to decline any course or court of justice; and, had they not brought my cause to your lordships, I so much trust in the justice and equity of this house, that it should have been my work to have done it: so as in this, only, they have done me a favour, to deliver me out of their hands into your lordships'.

And now, my lords, whilst I protest mine innocency, I do not justify myself from all errors, as if I was an angel amongst men. I know very well, that offices and places. of high trust and eminence, may be discharged by men whose abilities are better than the best of mine, and still the management of them may lie open to exceptions.

The king and the state shall have few to serve them, if for their favour, if for their reward of service, if for every particular that may happen in the success of things, for doing things better than some could wish; for refusing to do all they wish; they shall be given up in the time of their masters' wants, for a grievance or a sacrifice. For, this I shall confidently speak, from such crimes as truly deserve punishment from the state I hope I shall ever prove myself free, either in intention or act. My lords, I speak not this arrogantly; nor will I speak any thing else to cast dirt at those who have taken the pains to make me so foul; but to protest my innocency, in that measure which I shall ever hope to prove, nay, am confident of, being before such just judges.

I humbly beseech your lordships to be sensible* of me in this point, what dishonour I have sustained, not only at home but abroad; wherefore I humbly desire your lordships to hasten my trial, as soon as may be, that I may no longer suffer than I must needs; and yet I further desire of your lordships that no such precipitation may be used, as may disadvantage or may prejudice my cause.

* Regardful.

And here, my lords, I have a purpose to offer unto your lordships my voluntary absence from this place, even now in the beginning of the handling of my cause, as your lordships may perceive in part, by my former carriage towards the earl of Bristol. For, doubting least my presence might any way disturb him and put him into passion, or any other way disadvantage him in his cause, I did voluntarily, as your lordships saw, absent myself: but now that my accusers have, not only been content to make my process, but to prescribe to your lordships the manner of my judgment, and to judge me before I am heard; I shall not give way, in my own particular, to any of their unjust demands; but yet, I do submit myself in this, and in all things else, to your lordships' consideration.

SIR DUDLEY DIGGES,

Born in 1583, was made master of the rolls in 1636, and died in 1639. I have already given one or two specimens of the pompous stile; but as the following extract soars to. a still sublimer pitch, I could not resolve to omit it. After a slight introduction to the charge brought forward against the duke of Buckingham, his titles were formally enumerated, and then Sir Dudley Digges proceeded:

My Lords,

THE lofty titles of this mighty prince do raise me higher and now to speak with a paulo majora canamus, let it not displease your lordships, if for a foundation I compare the beautiful composition, and fair structure of this monarchy and commonwealth wherein we live, to the great work of God, the world itself, wherein there is the solid body of incorporated earth and seas, which I conceive in regard of our husbandry, our manufacture, and commerce, by sea and land, may yet resemble us the commons.

It is encompassed with air and fire, and spheres celestial, of planets, and a firmament of fixed stars; all which receive their heat, their light, their life, and lustre, from one great glorious sun, even like the king our sovereign lord.

That firmament of fixed stars I take to be your lordships; the planets, the great officers of the kingdom; that pure element of fire, to be the most religious and pious clergy; the reverend judges, magistrates, and ministers of law and justice, to be the very air wherein we breathe; all these encompassing round, with cherishing comfort, this body of the commons, who do in truth labour for them all, and though they be the footstool and the lowest, yet may they truly be said to be the settled centre of the state.

Now, my good lords, if this glorious sun, by his powerful beams of grace and favour, shall draw from the bowels of this earth an exhalation that shall take fire, and burn, and shine out like a star, it cannot be marvelled at if the poor commons gaze and wonder at the comet, and when they feel the effects, impute all to the corruptible matter of it.

But if such an apparition like that in the last age, in the chair of Cassiopeia, happen amongst the fixed stars themselves, where Aristotle, of the old philosophers, conceived there was no place for such corruption, then, as the learned mathematicians were troubled to observe the irregular motions, the prodigious magnitude and ominous prognostics of that meteor, so the commons, when they see such a blazing star in a court, so exorbitant in the affairs of the commonwealth, cannot but look upon it, and, for want of perspectives, commend the nearer examination to your lordships, that may behold it a better distance. Such the commons apprehend the great duke of Buckingham to be, against whom, and his ways, there are, by learned gentlemen, legal articles of charge to be delivered, which I am commanded first to open generally.